About Me

     Food is something I enjoy. One of the reasons I enjoy eating is because my family and I get to spend time around the table together. This is important to me because we get to talk about our day and other things that are going on in our lives. We often talk about where my parents families came from.

     My mom’s family has been in America for many generations. New Mexico, Kansas, and Tennesee are some of the states her family was from. Many ofthe recipies I enjoy today are from these family members. I also  enjoy recepies from my dads side.

All of my dads family emigrated from Holland starting with my great grandparents. I still have two great grandmas who are alive, one is 103 and the other is almost 100. My dad enjoyed many dutch themed meals from his grandparents. These recipies have been passed down to our family.

The recipies are special to me because I have spent many meals at my grandma’s house. This is a memorable time for me not just because of the delicious meals but because of the people I am sharing the meal with. My mom is passionate about eating healthy so as a family we are now creationg some of our own recipe’s. These recipes will be a great addition to the  recipies from my mom and dad’s families. That is why they are special to me.

Table of Contents

Breakfast: pgs 2-6

Lunch: pgs 7-9

Dinner: pgs 10-13

Dessert: pgs 14-17

               Breakfast

Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons cooking oil

How to make it:

1. In a medium mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another medium mixing bowl combine the egg, milk, and  cooking oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the dry mixture. Stir till just moistened (batter should be lumpy).
3. Pour about 1/4 of the mixture onto a griddle or heavy skillet and cook.

Why its important:

Because my Mom makes them and they taste good.

Waffles

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 egg yolks

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup cooking oil

2 egg whites

How to make it:

1. In a medium mixing bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another medium mixing bowl beat egg yolks slightly. Stir in milk and oil. add egg yolk mixture all at once to the dry mixture. Stir just till moistened
3. In a small mixing bowl beat egg whites till stiff peaks form. Gently fold beaten egg whites into flour and egg yolk mixture leaving a few fluffs of egg white, do not overmix.

Why its important:

On occasion we make these and they taste great.

Crepes

Ingredients:

2 beaten eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tablespoon cooking oil

How to make  it:

1. Combine eggs, milk, flour, oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; beat till well mixed. Heat a lightly greased 6 inch skillet; remove from heat. Spoon in 2 tablespoons batter; lift and tilt skillet to spread batter. Return to heat; brown on 1 side only. Invert on plate, repeat until out of batter.

Why its important:

We rarely make these but when we do they’re good.

French Toast

Ingredients:

2 beaten eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 teaspoons vanilla

1/8 teaspoons ground cinnamon

5 1inch thick slices french bread or 6 slices dry white bread

1 tablespoon butter, margarine, or cooking oil

Optional maple syrup

How to make it:

1. In a shallow bowl beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Dip bread into mixture coating both sides.
2. In a skillet or on a griddle cook bread in hot butter over medium heat for 2 to 3 min. On each side or till golden brown. Add more butter if needed, serve warm.

Why its important:

We make this on special occasions.

Cake Doughnuts

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2/3 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2 beaten eggs

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional powdered sugar

How to make it:

1. In a large mixing bowl combine 2 1/4 cup of flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a medium mixing bowl combine milk and melted butter. In another large mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer until thick. Add dry mixture and milk mixture alternately to egg mixture, beating just till blended after each addition. Stir in remaining 1 cup flour. Cover dough; chill 2 hours.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut dough with a floured 2 1/2 inch doughnut cutter, dipping cutter into flour between cuts. Re-roll as necessary.
3. Fry 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time in deep hot fat at 375 F about one minute on each side or until golden, turning once with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining doughnut holes. If desired, drizzle warm doughnuts with chocolate glaze or shake warm doughnuts in bag with powdered sugar. Cool on wire racks.

Why its important:

We make this once in a while and they are delicious.

Lunch

Beef

Ingredients:

1 lb beef sirloin tip, round steak, flank steak, or skinless chicken breasts

1 1/2 tablespoons oyster flavored sauce

Dash of black pepper

1 teaspoon sugar

1 can broth(beef for beef, chicken for chicken)

4 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot

2 teaspoons soy sauce

4 tablespoons cold water

How to make it:

1. Brown meat using stir fry method. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Mix together first combination of 1 1/2 tablespoon oyster flavored sauce. Add black pepper and 1 teaspoon sugar to skillet, heat quickly, let stand for 1 minute, covered.
3. In a separate container, mix second combination of broth or substitute 2 bouillon cubes with 2 cups water and reduce or eliminate salt in the first combination.
4. Add second combination to first, heat to thicken. Add meat back in and heat through. Serve over noodles, spaghetti, or rice.

Why its important:

Because it is my Grandma’s recipe.

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

3/4 lbs lean hamburger

2-3 cooked chicken breasts

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can diced green chili

Shredded cheddar

Tortilla chips

How to make it:

1. in a 10×13 pan/glass dish layer small amount of soup mixture, chips, or tortillas, meat soup mixture. Top with cheese
2. Bake 350 F – 375 F until bubbly and golden brown on top.

Why its important:

This was one of the family recipes that I love the most.

Mac n’ Cheese

Ingredients:

16 ounces elbow macaroni

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 freshly ground black pepper

2 cups milk

2 cups cheddar cheese

How to make it:

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions.
2. In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour, and cook for 3-5 minutes to form a roux; add salt and pepper; slowly add mild, stirring well after each addition.
3. Cook and stir until bubbly.
4. Stir in cheese a small amount at a time until fully melted.
5. Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce; stir to coat.

Why its important:

My Mom doesn’t make this often because it would make me fat but its so good.

Dinner

Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:

6-8 raw potatoes – sliced thin

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery

Shredded cheddar cheese

Celery salt

Onion salt

Fresh celery – diced small

Optional diced ham

How to make it:

1. Coat pan in butter or oil.
2. Layer – small amount of soup, potatoes, celery, seasoning, cheese, soup mixture – repeat next layer, end with cheese topping.

Why its important:

My mom makes it all the time and i love it.

Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

3/4 pound bulk pork sausage

3 cans tomato sauce

2 cans tomato paste

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 eggs

3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

3 cups small – curd cottage cheese

1 carton ricotta

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

6 slices provolone cheese

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

How to make it:

1. In a skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. add the next seven ingredients. simmer, uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. In a bowl, combine the eggs, parsley, cottage cheese, and Parmesan. spread 1 cup of meat sauce in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles, provolone cheese, 2 cups cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup mozzarella, three noodles, 2 cups meat sauce, remaining cottage cheese mixture, and 1 cup mozzarella. Top with the remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella. cover and bake at 375 F. for 50 min. uncover;bake 20 min. longer. Let stand 15 min. before cutting.

Why its important:

My mom makes this at family dinners and its always the main dish plus its delicious.

Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

2 large eggs

1 cup plain bread crumbs

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup ketchup

How to make it:

1. Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl mix meatloaf ingredients well. Press in ungreased 8×4 inch loaf pan. Bake 40 min.
2. Remove from oven. Spread 1/4 cup ketchup evenly over top. Bake an additional 15 to 20 min. or until meat thermometer inserted in center of loaf reads 160 F. let stand 10 min. before serving

Why its important:

Anytime we have mac n cheese we make this too and its a good side.

Desserts

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sweet cream butter, softened

3/4 cup pure sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl
3. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition
5. Gradually beat in flour mixture
6. Stir in chocolate chips
7. Drop rounded teaspoons on ungreased baking sheet
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown
9. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minute; move to wire racks to cool completely

Why its important:

We make them everytime we want cookies.

Orange Salad

Ingredients:

1 3 ounce package orange jello

1 3 ounce package vanilla pudding mix; not instant

2 1/2 cups water

1 9 ounce cool whip

1 can mandarin oranges; well drained

How to make it:

1. Combine first three ingredients and bring to a rolling boil. Cool until slightly thickened; fold in cool whip and oranges
2. Refridgerate for 2 hours prior to serving

Why its important:

This is a dish we often have on family holidays. It is often the first dish to go.

Grandpa’s Favorite Lemon Cake

Ingredients:

Cake Mix –

1 package yellow cake mix

4 eggs

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup oil

How to make it:

1. In a 9×13 pan combine and beat all cake mix ingredients.
2. Pour into 9×13 pan and bake for 10 minutes at 375 F. Then, continue baking for 35 minutes at 350 F.
3. Remove from oven and poke holes in the cake with a fork.

Topping –

2 cups powdered sugar

8 tablespoons lemon juice

How to make it:

1. Mix ingredients and pour onto cake once its removed from the oven.

Why its important:

Its my Great-Grandpa’s favorite cake and my Great-Grandma passed it onto my Grandma.

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

Cake –

1/2 cup butter melted

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

Topping –

1 cup butter melted

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Glaze –

2 cups powdered sugar

5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a large bowl mix all cake ingredients together until combined.
3. Pour into greased 9×13 pan.
4. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
5. Spread evenly on the cake batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes.
6. For the glaze, mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until consistency like pancake syrup.
7. While warmed drizzle and glaze over the cake and it will set into a harder glaze.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Why its important:

Its great on a cool fall morning with a nice cup of hot chocolate.