Candy Cane Cookies - Monday Munchies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup margarine, butter, Crisco or butter Crisco
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (optional - green)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine (or whatever), white sugar and powdered sugar. Beat in the egg and *vanilla extract. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Cover or wrap dough and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets (or use parchment paper). Divide dough into halves. Color one half red by mixing in the food color (green for some too if you want). Roll a small amount of each dough about 3 inches long. Twist colors together like a rope and curve the end like a cane. Place onto prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven.

*If you like peppermint you can add peppermint extract, about a teaspoon in place of the vanilla.

3 Sides of Crazy Menu Plans

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
MONDAY	11/30	CEREAL	SANDWICHES	Salad
TUESDAY	12/1	TOAST	LEFTOVERS	Cocktail Meatballs with Tomato Saffron Sauce*
WEDNESDAY	12/2	YOGURT	SOUP	Chicken with Fiery Herb Sauce*
THURSDAY	12/3	FRUIT	CHEESE & FRUIT	Beef Tenderloins & Broccoli with Creamy Herb Sauce*
FRIDAY	12/4	OATMEAL	C.O.R.N.	Meatloaf with Mushroom Ragout*12/13
SATURDAY	12/5	Southern Scramble*	Chocolate Bacon*	Roast Beef Melts*
SUNDAY	12/6	Northern Scramble*	Turkey Melts*	Raspberry Chicken Sandwiches*

*Recipes to follow soon over at 3 Sides of Crazy and/or OuR KrAzY KiTcHeN!

Martha's Menu Plans

It sure is hard to plan a menu for the week after all the yummy Thanksgiving foods. I was lucky enough to have a some leftovers to freeze but not nearly as much as I expected. I cooked a 22 pound turkey, a half spiral ham, and more sides, breads and desserts than I can count at the moment. What's still left for future meals you ask - enough turkey to make open faced turkey sandwiches one night, a small bag of turkey crumbles (you know, all those little pieces) for Turkey nachos or quesadillas and the turkey stock for soup. There is one bag of ham left for some fried ham, eggs and biscuits, and the ham bone for soup, that's it! We've been eating well these last few days, I'm not ready for it to end!

I think after this weekend some beef is in order!

Monday - Garlic encrusted roast beef, baked potatoes and Caesar salad - quick and easy since I know the last thing I'll feel like doing is cooking after going back to work.


Tuesday - Beef stew made using a portion of the leftover roast beef served over puff pastry cups.

This is a beef stew made simply by cutting some leftover roast beef into bite sized chunks, plus 6 cubed potatoes, baby carrots, a package of mushrooms cut into halves, (or use whatever you like in your beef stew). I added the pan drippings from the roast (fat skimmed from the top), 4-5 cups of water, a packet of beef stew seasoning and thickened with a little cornstarch - simmered until the veggies were done (about 30-40 minutes) or cooked all afternoon in the crock pot. Serve in big shallow bowls over Pepperidge Farms puff pastry cups.


Wednesday - Leftover sliced beef served on toasted "everything" bagels with melted cheddar cheese, coleslaw

Thursday - Linguine Alfredo with sauteed mushrooms, salad, garlic knots

Friday - Homemade pizza night

Saturday - I think a nice big batch of Tamales is in order - Yum!

Sunday - Game day appetizer buffet

Is anyone else menu planning for this week? It sure makes busy days so much easier!

Stuffed Meatballs & Roasted Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

STUFFED MEATBALLS & ROASTED VEGGIE SPAGHETTI SAUCE

• I start with whatever vegetables I have in the vegetable bin. Today was Roma tomatoes, celery stalks, green onions and snap peas.
  
• Then I drizzle olive oil and salt and pepper over it all and bake it for an hour at 400 degrees.
  
• I started the sauce with a can of Contadina tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Better than Beef Bouillon paste, 2 cups orange juice and a V8. This truly was a clean out the fridge day.
  
• When done roasting add the vegetables to the sauce and set to simmer all day. The vegetables will continue to cook down into a uniform consistency with the sauce. Salt & pepper taste.

For the meatballs:
1 pound hamburger
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 large slices sourdough bread, crumbled
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley
1 bunch green onions, finely minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic, jar
mozzarella cheese, about 4 ounces, cut into 1 inch cubes

• Crumble bread into a large bowl.
• Toss in Parmesan cheese, parsley, green onions and garlic.
• Add meat and with your hands mix extremely well until you have a uniform mixture.
• Roll meatballs around a Parmesan cheese cube.
• Chill Meatballs until sauce is done.
• Just before the sauce is finished, brown meatballs.**
• Add the meatballs to the sauce and bring to a medium high simmer until meatballs are cooked though, about 20 minutes.
• Prepare pasta and Parmesan Cheese Bread while meatballs are cooking.
• Enjoy

**If you prefer you can add the meatballs directly to the sauce and SLOW simmer for a couple hours instead of browning.

Shredded Beef & White Bean filling~ Simple Saturday with girlichef

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving this week is starting to get back to sorts and finishing up those leftovers!! We actually didn't end up with too many leftovers this year...much to my chagrin. This is a simple dish that I never really even meant to blog...because it's so easy!! But the pictures turned out so mouth watering...as did the "filling" itself, that I just had to! It was one of those days where I wanted something filling and comforting...but I didn't want to spend too much time fussing over anything. I just took a few ingredients from the fridge and pantry and ended up with...

Shredded Beef & White Bean Filling
from the kitchen of girlichef (more of a process than a recipe)
-1 beef chuck roast

-various herbs & spices remember, I wasn't going to blog it, so I just added a bit of this and a bit of that...for the flavors I wanted, it was probably chili powder, cumin, oregano, marjoram...and I think I sliced a couple of onions and smashed a few garlic cloves in as well, although you could use garlic powder and dried onion if you wish

to serve:
-white beans (Cannellini, Great Northern, Navy), cooked
-white, melty cheese of some sort
-corn tortillas or gorditas or good bread or a starch...endless possibilities

Put a little fat (butter, oil, lard) into the bottom of a Dutch Oven over med-high heat. Season your meat with salt & pepper...and maybe some cumin (just be careful to add spices now, as the volatile oils could burn initially). Add to hot pan and sear until brown on all sides. Add remaining seasonings and a bit of liquid (water, stock, broth), put on the lid and cook for a few hours, until it's all gorgeous and fork-pull tender. Pull it apart a bit and add beans. Cook for a while longer to heat everything through. To serve, the first time, I piled a bit onto a corn tortilla, added some melty cheese and then another tortilla and toasted it over high heat on a comal or skillet until the tortilla is crisp. Perfect quesedilla filling! Later we used it in both flautas and gorditas...perfect!

Do you have anything simple and delicious to share today? I'd love to see it!!! Happy Saturday :D

Lemon Meringue Pie: What Did You Bake Today?

One of our favorite pies to have at all major family dinners is lemon meringue pie. The filling is made in the microwave lickety split. The meringue is made using America's Test Kitchen's no weep secret. The pie crust is our old tried and true prebaked.

Lemon Meringue Pie:

1 1/2 cup water

1 1/2 cup sugar

dash salt

1/2 cup cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cup water

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (we used more of those wonderful lemons from Florida)

4 egg yolks

1 Tbls butter

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine water, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil in the microwave (at this point, you can't ruin it, so just keep adding minutes until it boils). Add the cornstarch/water mixture and boil until clear (2 minutes at a time until it reaches that state). Add the lemon juice and egg yolks and cook until thick (1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute). Add butter, cool and fill a 9 or 10" baked pie shell.

For the Meringue:

4 egg whites, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbls cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Combine the cornstarch and water and microwave until it looks Vaseline (no joke!). Beat the egg whites and sugar until soft peaks appear. Add the cooled cornstarch mixture a dollop at a time and whip until stiff peaks form. Top the lemon pie while it is piping hot, sealing the edges (meringue to crust) and bake 325 degrees for 7 minutes.

What Did You Bake Today?

Party time!

REMEMBER THAT ALL REGULAR MEMES WILL DISPLAY JUST BELOW THIS PARTY LINK FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.

YAY!! WOOHOO!! It's finally here.

We're having a party here at the OuR KrAzY kItChEn and you're invited. Bring your favorite recipe, decorating idea, pictures, anecdotes and let's have some fun together.

• Do you have a special pumpkin pie recipe recipe?
• What is your favorite side dish recipe?
• Do you have a favorite apple recipe?
  
• Do you have special way to carve a turkey?
• How about a party punch that's perfect for the Thanksgiving crowd?
• What is your idea of a best decorating idea?

• Stop by the buffet table and grab a cup of cheer and an appetizer.
  
• Sign Mr. Linky and let us know what you're bring to the party using the following format. For example: Tamy @ 3 Sides of Crazy (Family Favorite Cheese Ball) or Martha @ Menagerie (Fool proof Gravy)
  

All of us here at ThEKrAzYkItChEn look forward to visiting with you and having a great time at this party. We hope you enjoy yourselves.

We interrupt this regularly scheduled meme to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe and happy holiday and Get your Spatulas ready!

We would also like to announce our upcoming new meme to kick off the new year. Dave from My Year on the grill will be joining our team for a weekly event. He will be featuring experiments with recipes he's collected from other bloggers. Dave recently guest hosted at Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? for us and has a wonderful sense of humor and will certainly give us all a run for our money.

Look for I CAN COOK THAT on Thursdays beginning New Year's Eve.

Chicken Chow Mein ~ Dieter's Delight

I'm filling in for Pam today so I hope you enjoy this recipe.



I use my salad spinner for draining pasta to get all the excess water out.

CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

3 tablespoons peanut oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 cup sliced celery
5-6 cups shredded Napa cabbage
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons cold water
1-2 cups shredded chicken pieces
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes +/-
1 pound spaghetti or vermicelli

• Prepare spaghetti according to package directions.
• Over a medium high flame heat the peanut oil in a heavy skillet.
• Saute' the celery, onions, bean sprouts and cabbage until cabbage is wilted.
• Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Add a bit more oil and saute' chicken pieces.
• Remove with a slotted spoon.
  
• Add the broth, sesame oil, soy sauce and sugar. Simmer for several minutes.
• Whisk the cornstarch into the cold water until smooth.
• Add to the broth mixture and bring to a boil.
• Add vegetable mixture and chicken pieces back in, heat through and coat well.
• Toss with prepared pasta and heat through.

Featured Recipes - Monday Munchies

I thought featuring a few of the recipes from Monday Munchies participants this week might bring you some good ideas for quick meals and some goodies to bring to your Thanksgiving feast. Check them out!

1. Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter bars - Meal planning with Connie

2. Stuffed Wrapped Jalapenos - girlichef

3. Cowboy Caviar - Daily Diner

4. Broccomole Dip - Finding Joy in my Kitchen

5. Simply Croutons - Ricepatty's Repertoire

6. Cucumber-Dill Shrimp Dip - Cook with Sara

7. Peppered Pecans - Marvelous Recipes

8. Spinach Latkes - Sweet And Savory Says It All

9. Taco Ring - 3 Sides of Crazy

I can't wait to see what kind of munchies you have to add!

It's almost Turkey day!!

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it! Have you made your grocery shopping list? Check out the Vons ad for your local store here. I did and found some wonderful sales! I am saving a bundle on preparing our feast. We are going to have a house full for several days and I want to make it special for everyone! There is also a helpful Meal Planning Guide.

Hurry, the FREE turkey with minimum purchase offer ends Monday, 11/23. I'm doing my shopping this week to avoid the crowds. I found everything I needed from yams and pumpkin pies to wheat thins and bread for turkey sandwiches the next day to prepare a terrific feast for my family easily and most of it was on sale. Using your club card will increase your savings even more.

One of the most amazing items they have is the recipe for their 2-Hour Turkey. It is a very simple recipe with excellent results. The whole crowd will think you spent the entire day in the kitchen!

You will also find some wonderful decorating ideas.

Not sure what to do with all the leftovers? Check out their recipes at the Leftovers Lounge.

I can't wait to try the Warm Turkey Bacon Salad and the Garlic Lover's Turkey Enchiladas.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

FULL DISCLOSURE: In the interest of full disclosure I was contacted and asked to voice my opinion and Domino Sugar links in exchange for a Domino Sugar gift card. I did this because I believe in the product and the recipes and not for payment.

Fudge Bottom Brownies & Peanut Butter Fudge Drops ~ Cookies that look like you spent all day in the kitchen, but there isn't even any baking!

Did you know that Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar are the same great pure cane sweet goodness? The name is based on where you live! You should head on over and check out their websites for some fun and creative recipe ideas from themed parties, cookies and edible ornaments to mixes in ajar for the upcoming holidays. Here is one of our favorite recipes from their recipe files to get you started.

FUDGE BOTTOM BROWNIES
BROWNIES
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup Domino® Granulate Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup Domino® Light Brown Sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups boiling water

TO SERVE
2 packages fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons Domino® Granulated Sugar
whipped cream
1 milk chocolate bar, for shaving
1/2 cup chocolate melting candies or almond bark, for hearts

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
  
• Combine first seven ingredients, stirring until blended.
  
• Stir in nuts.
  
• Spread mixture into an ungreased, 8-inch square baking pan.
  
• Whisk light brown sugar and cocoa. into boiling water.
  
• Pour over batter and bake 40 minutes or until cake portion is set.

• To serve, puree 1 1/2 packages of fresh raspberries with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  
• Puddle raspberry puree over the bottom of the plate and sprinkle edges of plate with chocolate shavings.
  
• Arrange a generous piece of warm brownie in the center of the puree and top with a large dollop of whipped cream.
  
• Arrange chocolate hearts in whipped cream and serve immediately.

• To prepare the chocolate hearts, heat chocolate melts in your microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring between intervals, until smooth.
  
• Pour melted chocolate into small freezer bag and snip one corner to create a pastry tube.
  
• Pipe heart shapes onto waxed paper and allow to cool until hard.
  

One of our favorite nieces is coming to visit this weekend so I whipped up these yummy cookies using her favorite Hershey's kisses. These are for you Kat! They are keepers too I'll use for our upcoming Christmas cookie party!

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE DROPS

2/3 cup Hot water
10 ounces Land of Lakes cocoa mix
2 cups JIF creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 cups C&H powdered sugar, divided 2cups + 1 cup
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 cups crushed ginger snaps
72 Hershey Kisses (I like the cherry cordials)

• Whisk together the hot water and cocoa mix until smooth.
• Add peanut butter and corn syrup. Blend until smooth.
• Add 2 cups powdered sugar and stir until well blended.
• Stir in cookie crumbs until well blended.
• Spray wax paper with PURE (these will be sticky so don't forget this step).
• Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto the wax paper.
• Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Roll each piece of dough into a ball and dredge in powdered sugar.
• Press your thumb into the center and fill with a Hershey's kiss.
  

Don't forget our Upcoming Cookie Party!

FULL DISCLOSURE: In the interest of full disclosure I was contacted and asked to voice my opinion and Domino Sugar links in exchange for a Domino Sugar gift card. I did this because I believe in the product and the recipes and not for payment.