Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

I found this recipe on a friends blog and couldn't wait to try it! I'm so glad I did.  Its super yummy.  I want to try it with a few different flavors.  I think it would make a super yummy crust for Cheese Cake too.  



Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Crust:

2 2/3 cups pretzel sticks, finely chopped (1 bag)

3 Tbsp. sugar

3/4 cup butter, melted

Cream sugar and butter together. Add pretzels. Mix well and Press into a 9X13 dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Middle Layer:

1 (8 oz.) container cool whip

1 cup sugar

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

Mix together and carefully spread on cooled crust. (don't lift spatula, or it will pull up the pretzel crust)

Top Layer:

1 (6 oz.) package strawberry jello

2 cups boiling water

1 pint frozen (or fresh) strawberries, thawed and chopped

Dissolve jello in water. Chill until partially set. Add strawberries. Pour on top and chill until firm

Mini Daddy

I'm sure you are saying "what the what is a Mini Daddy?" For those of you Gila valley fans, you know exactlly what I am talking about, don't ya?  There are a few restaurants in Safford/Thatcher, that have these gargantuous tostades, called Big Daddy's.  At least they seemed gargantuous when I was a kid.  They also have some smaller ones called "Little Daddy's".  I made my version of a "Mini" Big Daddy tonight for dinner.  Can you say yummo?

I tell you what, anything deep fried, and I mean anything... is delicious!  Even ice cream!  ooohh that give me an idea of something else to post in the future! Anyway, I love their deep fried huge tortillas on those Big Daddy's.  They are so yummy!  /they totally make the dish.  So those of you tryibg to eat healthy... better find a different post to try,

Mini Daddy

Small flour tortillas
oil for frying

Toppings (as desired)

Green Chile Meat or taco meat

Refried Beans

shredded cheese

sour cream

diced tomatoes

shredded lettuce

Deep fry tortilla on medium high heat until golden brown and crisp.  Top with beans, meat and desired toppings. 

Savory Cheese Ball

There is something about cheese balls that just warms my heart.  They are so good!  I haven't met a cheese ball that I haven't liked.  This one is by far my favorite though.  My former neighbor used to make this for me every Christmas.  I looked forward to it every year!

Savory Cheese Ball

2 (8 oz) blocks of cream cheese (softened)

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1/2 small yellow onion chopped

1 (2 oz) package of corned beef (deli meat) chopped

Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix with an electric mixer.  Separate mixture into two balls and roll into crushed pecans or walnuts. Serve with crackers.

Hearty Beef Stew

This is my mom's recipe.  It is so good!  We will often can a bunch of jars at a time,  It makes to the fastest meal in the west.  And one of the best I might add.  I've also split this recipe into two freezer bags and just frozen them.  It makes for a fabulous crock pot freezer meal.  This recipe, makes quite a bit of stew.

Hearty Beef Stew

1 (5 lb) roast, cubed

6 large carrots sliced

4 large baking potatoes

1 large can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 (46 oz) can V-8

1 tsp Parsley

salt and pepper to taste

 For all methods of cooking:  Stir soup, V-8 and seasonings into a large pitcher. 

Crock pot: toss meat and vegetabless into a large crock pot. Pour over the liquid mixture.  Cook on low for 8 hours. (or on high for 4 hours)

For a crock pot freezer meal- toss all ingredients (raw) into two (gallon) freezer bags. Pour liquid mixture into both bags evenly.  Freeze. When ready to eat, toss in the crock pot and cook for 9-10 hours on low and 5-6 hours on high.  

For canning:  Put desired amount of vegetables and meat into each jar.  Pour liquid mixture into the jars leaving a half inch of head space.  Process in a pressure canner for 75 min (pints) or 90 min (quarts)  Remove and allow them to cool on a towel on the counter. 

Better Than Sweet Rolls

I volunteered to make some bread for our Relief Society activity night this month.  I decided to experiment a little and make some yummy sweet rolls.  Not the best time to experiment, but I'm so excited that it was a huge success!

When we lived in Provo, my all time favorite place to go was good ol' Chuckarama.  Seriously, what kind of name is that?  We used to call it "Up-Chuckarama". Really though, the food was great. We just liked to call it that.  You know like "Snot in the Box" or "Tomatobees" (that one is actually 2 different restaurants. My kids get them both mixed up). Anyway... you didn't come here to read about my random quirks. Back to Chuckarama.  I absolutely loved their rolls.  And their honey butter... HEAVEN!!!

Not to toot my own horn (Toot Toot). All I could say when I first tried these rolls was "Eat your heart out Chuckarama!" They we SO good!!!  I took my Cinnamon Rolls recipe and played with it a little.  Try them, you'll love em!



Better Than Sweet Rolls 

2 tbsp, saf instant yeast. 

2 1/2 C. Warm Water

1/2 C. Canola oil

2 eggs

1 C sugar

1/4 c. milk

1 tsp Salt

9 c. flour approx

Mix 4 cups flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.  Add Water, oil, milk and eggs.  Mix thoroughly and add flour just until it pulls away from the sides of the mixer.  Knead/Mix on Medium speed for 6-8 minutes. Lightly grease a large bowl.  Move dough to the bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled, then punch down dough.

Roll into balls and place next to each other on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 2-3 dozen

Tip:  You may need more or less flour depending on humidity and other factors.  You'll want the dough to be a sticky as possible but still able to handle.  I coat my hands with a little flour, so that I can handle it easier. The less you add, the lighter the rolls will be..

Cheese Crisp Tacos

The quote "Cheddar makes everything better" comes to mind on this one.  Cheese crisps, mean two different things to me and my husband, at least they used to.  My cheese crisps are a crunchy tortilla with cheese melted on it.  His is crispy cheese.  Go figure.

I'm now a sucker for a nice cheese crisp, Trever style! The secret to making these delectable snacks of scrumptiousness, is Dixie. No no, not the good ol land of Dixie, but the paper plates.  There is something about the Dixie plates that allows the cheese to melt without sticking to the plate. I'm sure its the waxie surface. 

My husband was experimenting with these one day, and in the words of Emerill... "BAM" this crunchy, cheesy sensation was born.

Cheese Crisp Tacos

1 lb ground beef (or turkey)

1/2 medium onion (diced)

2 cloves garlic

cheddar cheese

toppings of your choice

Brown meat and onion together until no longer pink.  Add garlic. Stir well and cook one minute.  Remove from heat.  Using a Dixie plate (whichever size you like) cover the bottom of the plate with a layer of cheese.  Microwave on high for about1-1 1/2 minutes. Checking on it every 30 seconds. It's done when the cheese is still soft but no longer gooey.

Dab a paper towel onto the cheese to remove excess grease.  Remove cheese (quickly) and fill with desired meat and toppings. Fold over. The cheese will harden as it cools. 

Giveaway!!

It's about that time for another Giveaway!!  This time I have a real treat for you.  The prize is a free pass to our next cooking class!!!  We are doing some amazing dishes.  Lasagna, Macaroni and Cheese and Bagel Bite Pizzas.  The class costs $35.  If you win this giveaway, it's yours for FREE!!! 

This giveaway is just for the locals. Sorry. Unless you are willing to travel :)  Or fly me and my family to you for a one on one class.  hehehe

There are two ways to win this prize...

1) leave a comment telling me 2 new dishes that you would like me to post a recipe for.

2) email me at jennieplastow@gmail.com with YOUR favorite recipe that you would like me to try. Then leave a comment with the name of the recipe, for others to see.

This giveaway ends at Midnight Wednesday night.  Check back Thursday morning for the results.