Follow Up on Stick of Butter Rice

Well, I have now gone through 3 different versions of the Stick of Butter Rice and I think I finally have a winner.

Beefy Rice
1 pound of stew meat
1 envelope of French Onion Soup Mix
1-10oz can of Beef Consomme
1-3/4 cups of Beef  Broth
1 cup of Rice
1 Tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce
Mix all the ingredients in a casserole dish and bake, covered for 45 minutes at 350.

This turned out creamy and delicious. You can leave the meat out and serve it as a side dish, and frankly, that is how I prefer it.

Stick of Butter Rice? Not so much

I was really intrigued when I saw this recipe on Pinterest...

I mean, Stick of Butter Rice....everything is better with butter, right?  At least that's what Paula Deen says.  No, it's not.  I was excited for this recipe.  It was simple.  A can of Beef Broth, a can of French Onion Soup, a cup of rice and a stick of butter.  BOOM!  4 ingredients and 1 hour.  I was so disappointed.  The texture was lovely but it really lacked any flavor.  And, as it cooled, the butter pooled everywhere and was very unsightly.

So, here is my mission.  Take these ingredients, add, subtract, divide and conquer this recipe into something SPECTACULAR.  Stay tuned...

Homemade Granola Bars

My husband eats a lot of granola bars, like 4 a day.  Well, after reading the labels and determining he was getting way too much processed sugar, I decided to try to make my own.  These are my first attempt and were "safe" ones.  I think they turned out really good and I will venture into other recipes after this.

The one on the left is a Honey Peanut Butter and the other is a Chocolate Coconut Bar.  The Honey Peanut Butter bar did not set up as solid as I would have liked but it is still delicious.  The Chocolate Coconut Bar is probably one of the best things I have ever tasted.  The texture is so creamy and it has such a great flavor.

Honey Peanut Butter Bar

1 cup Peanut Butter (You can use natural, crunchy or smooth)

1 cup honey

3 cups oats (I used Old Fashioned Oats)

Heat the Peanut Butter and Honey either in a  saucepan or in the microwave until it is smooth and liquid.  Stir in the oats and then flatten into a foil lined baking dish.  Cover and refrigerate overnight, cut and enjoy.  For thicker bars, just use a smaller pan.  I used a 9x13 casserole dish and cut it into about 24 bars.

Chocolate Coconut Bars

1 cup Peanut Butter (You can use natural, crunchy or smooth)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup butter (or you could use coconut oil)

2 cups oats (I used Old Fashioned Oats)

1 cup coconut

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

1-1/4 cup chocolate chips (You can use any flavor you want, I had semi-sweet on hand)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt the peanut butter, honey and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  While that is warming up, put the oats, coconut and nuts in a bowl and combine.  Then, make a well in the middle and put the chocolate chips in the well.  Once the mixture on the stove has melted together and is hot, remove it from the heat and pour over the chocolate chips.  Stir the mixture so that the chips melt, add in the vanilla and then combine the entire bowl together until it is mixed thoroughly.  Spread into a 9x13 pan and leave in the fridge overnight.  Cut into bars and enjoy.  This made about 24 bars as well.

Yum!  Look at those delicious bars.

Happy New Year....Can I Still Say That?

Well, it's 2014 and I have been on hyper-drive since late November.

We spent Thanksgiving with my Dad and had a wonderful time.

 

Santa even came to visit...

 

The first weekend in December, we went on a weekend trip to Leavenworth, WA...

 

 

And before I knew it, it was Christmas.  We didn't even have time to get a Christmas tree, that's how insane it was.  We celebrated 8 different times in 2 weeks, ncluding 3 on Christmas day.  But my nephews make it all worth it.

(One is a doll and the other is my nephew....hmmmm)

Planning big things for 2014.  My husband and I are both officers in our Car Club so there will be lots of activities and cruises to come.  We will start out the year with a Super Bowl party with my beloved Seahawks, then the Daytona 500 followed by a Mardi Gras themed Party in March.  We have a trip planned to the beach in February for our 9th Anniversary and I am taking a Girl's trip in March. I am already working on some new recipes and hope to share them soon.  I have so many things pinned on my Pinterest boards that I really wanna get to.  My cousin is having a baby and I have so many baby projects I want to do.  Hopefully I will get back into it.  The last few months, I have just been lazy and uncreative.  Is this a resolution?  I don't know. 

Cookbook Discoveries: No Bake Cookies

Back in Elementary school, as a fundraiser, the PTO published and sold a cookbook.  It has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I even have several recipes in it.  As you can see, it is well used.

A family favorite out of this book is No Bake Cookies.  They are so easy and absolutely delicious.

No Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups rolled oats
Mix sugar and cocoa in a sauce pan.  Add milk and margarine and heat over medium until it starts to boil.  remove from heat and cool for 1 minute.  Mix in vanilla and peanut butter until incorporated, then stir in the oats.  Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let set up.

 

Here is a few things I learned.  In the book it calls for quick oats.  When I used these, the cookies never set up.  They remained gooey. You want these to be fairly solid.  My next batch, I made with Old Fashioned Rolled Oats and they set up perfectly.  Also, you don't want them too big.  As you can see below, I scooped them with an ice cream scoop and then flattened them with a piece of wax paper.  I know you will love these.

Here is the difference in the oatmeal.  The one above is the quick oats that never set.  Below is the Old Fashioned Rolled oats, the correct ones.

Best Crock Pot Roast

If you follow my blog, you know my love/hate relationship with my Crock Pot.  We have had some fantastic stuff but we have also had some downright awful stuff.  This recipe is honestly the best thing that has ever came out of my Crock Pot.

Best Crock Pot Roast
1 envelope Savory Pot Roast
1 envelope Au Jus mix
12 oz Diet Caffeine Free Coke
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
4 Tbsp Milk
2-3 lb Chuck Roast

Place the roast in the bottom of the Crock Pot.  (Mine was frozen).

Mix the 2 envelopes and the soda in a separate bowl and then pour over the top of the roast.  Cook on low for 7 hours.  Take the meat our of the Crock, make a slurry of the milk and corn starch and whisk it in to the juices in the Crock.  Turn Pot to high and put the meat and any juices back in the Crock.

 Leave for about 20 minutes until it is gravy consistency.  Serve with Mashed potatoes, rice, noodles or over bread.

Here is a great hint that I found.  I went to the hardware store and for $4 bought a light/lamp timer.  I don't know about you but I am gone from my house for more that 6-8 hours so my food was always overcooked.  This little guy lets me set it to start at a certain time and end at a certain time. It has been a dinner saver.  :)

Cookbook Discoveries: Banana Bread

A few months ago my Aunt Sharon from Iowa sent me a giant box of cookbooks.  I collect cookbooks so I was so excited to dig through them.  With the internet, I don't use my cookbooks as much as I should so I decided to go through and use them.  We had some browning bananas so I decided to make some Banana Bread.  My husband was thrilled.

The cookbook is from my Aunt and the bowl is from my husband's Grandma so it all felt very homey.

Banana Bread

2 eggs

3 bananas (mashed)

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1-3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Optional:

1 cup chopped walnuts

1cup chocolate chips

Beat eggs and bananas until light and fluffy.  Add sugar and oil and beat well.  Add dry ingredients and mix only until moist.  Fold in optional ingredients if using.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

 

I used 2 foil pans, sprayed with cooking spray.

 

Golden brown and delicious.