Lime French Toast

My mom makes this for special occasions and it is always delicious!! You must prepare it the night before and bake the next day for the best flavor.

1/4 c. butter
1/4 c light corn syrup
4 TB frozen limeade concentrate*
1/2 c light brown sugar, packed
Zest of 2 limes
1 1/2 c. milk
5 eggs
1 TB vanilla
Dash of salt
1 loaf French bread cut into 1” slices

Spray lightly a 9X13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

In a medium saucepan, over low heat, place the butter, brown sugar, syrup, limeade and zest. Cook until butter and sugar have barely melted (3-5 minutes). Pour into the baking dish.

In a bowl, mix eggs, milk, vanilla and a dash of salt.

Arrange the bread slices in one layer over the syrup mixture and pour the egg mixture over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Half hour before baking, remove the French toast dish from the refrigerator.
Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with whipping cream and strawberries.

VARIATION:
* Instead of frozen limeade, use 1/3 cup of key lime juice and 3 TB of sugar

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
1 (15oz) can of pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c applesauce
2/3 c water
3 c white sugar
3 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tst salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Directions:
1-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 7x3 in loaf pans. ( I used smaller pans, and one large pan, just adjust the batter to whatever size you want to use)
2- In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water, applesauce & sugar until well blended (be careful will splatter!!)
In separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves & ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3- Bake for about 50 minutes. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cinna-Spin Cookies

Cookies

1 Pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg slightly beaten

1 T ground cinnamon

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 T milk

1/4 tsp vanilla

1- Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, mix cookie mix and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir in butter and egg until soft dough forms. On piece of waxed paper, shape 1 tablespoon cinnamon into a line about 5 inches long.

2- Using floured fingers, shape 1 tablespoon of dough into a rope 5 inches long. Press one side of dough rope into cinnamon. On ungreased cookie sheet, coil dough rope tightly, cinnamon side facing center, into cinnamon-roll shape.

3- Press end of rope into roll to seal. Repeat with remaining dough. Place cookies 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.

4- Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5- In small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cookies.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease butter to 1/3 cup.

Freestyle Apple Tart

1 ready-to-use refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 15 oz pkg.)

4 oz. (1/2 of 8 oz pkg.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

3 red and/or green apples (1 1/4 lb), thinly sliced

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1 tsp. cinnamon sugar

1 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping

1 - Heat oven to 450. Line 9 Inch pie plate with crust. Carefully spread cream cheese in 6-inch circle in center.

2- Toss apples with sugar and flour; spoon over cream cheese.

3- Fold crust partially over apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 25 min., covering loosely with foil for last 5 in. Cool. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerat leftovers.

Sweet Pork Burritos or Salad (Costa Vida Style)

Tried these, LOVE them, and they are so much cheaper than a trip to the restaurant! It makes a TON (like 12-15 burritos) so you can freeze some for later too. Also, it ends up being between $1.50-$2.00 per burrito verses $6.99 in the restaurant! These are very similar to the real thing, which would have been nice to have this recipe in TX since they don't have a Costa Vida or Cafe Rio in San Antonio!!

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To make a Sweet Pork Burrito...

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Add the following to your tortilla

1. Black or Pinto Beans (we just bought Bush's Black Beans in a can)
2. Cilantro Lime Rice (recipe below)
3. Sweet Pork (recipe below)
4. Green Chile Enchilada sauce (just buy a can from the store)
5. Mozzarella Cheese (We used the Mexican Blend Cheese from Kraft)

Smother with additional sauce and cheese if desired.

Put it in the oven or microwave to melt the cheese.

And on the side (if you want to):
Green Leaf Lettuce
Pico de Gallo

SWEET PORK MEAT:

4 lb. pork roast (make sure it's the butt/rump roast)

I made the roast the day before to cut back on time the day of making these

2 cups brown sugar

1 (12-14 oz.) jar salsa

1 can Coke (12 oz.)

Place roast in crock pot, fill half way with water and cook for 6-8 hours on high

Discard water and shred meat; return to the crock pot

Combine sugar, salsa, and coke in a separate bowl.

Add mixture to the meat in the crock pot.

Cook an additional 3 hours. Stir occasionally.

CILANTRO LIME RICE:

2 cups rice

4 cups water

1/2 cup lime juice

chopped cilantro (use about 1/4 of the bunch)

Add everything to a pot and cook according to package directions

***SALAD***SALAD***SALAD***SALAD***

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Do everything you did above, except instead of making a burrito, add it to some green leaf lettuce and make the following dressing...

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TOMATILLO RANCH DRESSING

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In a blender combine:

1 Buttermilk Ranch Mix packet

2 cups mayo

2 cups buttermilk (or 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup milk)

2 tomatillos

1 jalapeno, seeded

1/2 - 1 bunch cilantro

1 Tbs lime juice

1 clove garlic, crushed

(I didn't add garlic and it still tasted YUMMY!!)

5 MINUTE COFFEE CUP CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons chocolate chips ( optional )
3 tablespoons oil
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips ( if using ) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your coffee mug into the microwave for three minutes at 1000 watts.
(vary the time just a little either way according the the wattage of your microwave ) The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed.

Allow to cool and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! ( This can serve 2 if you want to feel sightly more virtuous ).

Why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!!!

Tiffany's Pumpkin Pie Cake*

1 Yellow cake mix (hold out 1 cup)
1 egg
1/2 cup butter; softened

--Mix and press in 9x13 pan

1 (30oz) can pumpkin
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
2 1/2 c. evaporated milk

--Mix and pour the above mixture over the cake

Topping:
1 c. "reserved" cake mix
1/4 c. butter; softened
2 Tbs. sugar

--Cut together and sprinkle over pumpkin mixture

Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes. Do NOT over bake. It will thicken more when it cools.

Serve with whipped cream.

*Tiffany Caraway's recipe stolen from the greatest ward cookbook ever...Leon Valley 2004!!!

Zucchini Pineapple Jam

Ingredients:

6 cups seeded, shredded, peeled zucchini
6 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
1 pkg. (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin

In a large kettle, bring zucchini and sugar to a boil. Boil and stir constantly for 6 minutes. Add the lemon juice and pineapple; cook and stir for 8 minutes. Add gelatin; stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam; fill jars or plastic containers. Cool before covering wth lids. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks.

Yield: 8 1/2 cups

Amish White Bread

2 cups warm water
2/3 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. and 1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast (or 2 pkgs. Rapid Rise yeast**)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Add yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Work in 5 to 6 cups flour. Knead dough on a lightly floured, level surface. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two well-oiled 9x5 loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

**Rapid Rise yeast should be mixed into the dry ingredients. When using it, you may omit one rising but allow ten minutes for the dough to rest after kneading.

Mouth-watering slow-cooked beef short ribs

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs. beef short ribs, browned
1 c. beef broth
2 Tbsp. ketchup
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 chopped onion
1/2 tsp. horseradish
1 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 Tbsp. beef base (or 2-3 beef bouillon cubes)
1 tsp. sweet leaf basil
1 Tbsp. molasses

Combine everything but the ribs in a skillet and bring to a boil. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour sauce over ribs and cook on low for 6-8 hours until the meat is falling off the bones.

If desired, add potatoes and carrots a couple of hours before serving, then remove the ribs and vegetables when done and use 1/4 c. flour/water slurry to thicken the juices for gravy.

Scented Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 small packets Kool-aid (see list at bottom for color suggestions)
2 cups water
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Heat oil over medium heat. Mix dry ingredients together, then add water. Pour mixture into oil and stir over low heat constantly until it forms a ball. Remove from heat and let cool. Knead.

Red-Cherry Kool-aid
Green-Strawberry Kiwi Kool-aid
Yellow-Yellow food coloring
Purple-Grape Kool-aid
Pink-1/2 pkg. cherry Kool-aid
Blue-Berry Blue Kool-aid
Orange-Orange Kool-aid

Nancy's Bread Sticks

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. Yeast
2 Tbsp. Sugar
3 cups Flour
1 1/2 cup warm water
1/2 tsp. Salt


Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix and knead all ingredients in bread mixer for 3 minutes. Let rest for ten minutes.

Melt 1 cube butter and pour onto baking sheet. Roll dough into a rectangle (same size as cookie sheet). Cut in 1: x 4: strips. Roll in butter and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese. Let rise 15 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Party Potatoes

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen shredded potatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
crushed corn flakes or bread crumbs

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix everything but the corn flakes together and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Cover with foil and cook for 55 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle corn flakes or bread crumbs. Return to oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Honey Wheat Bread

INGREDIENTS

* 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
* 1 teaspoon white sugar
* 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup melted shortening
* 1/4 cup honey
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 2 cups whole wheat flour
* 3 cups bread flour
* 2 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water.
2. Combine milk, 1/4 cup water, shortening, honey, salt and wheat flour in food processor or bowl. Mix in yeast mixture, and let rest 15 minutes. Add white flour, and process until dough forms a ball. Knead dough by processing an additional 80 seconds in food processor, or mix and knead by hand 10 minutes. Place the dough in a buttered bowl, and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 45 minutes, or until almost doubled.
3. Punch down, and divide dough in half. Roll out each half, and pound out the bubbles. Form into loaves, and place in buttered 9x5 inch bread pans. Butter the tops of the dough, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm area until doubled; second rise should take about 30 minutes.
4. Place a small pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until tops are dark golden brown. Butter crusts while warm. Slice when cool.