Baked Chicken

This will work whether you are baking a whole chicken, chicken breasts, or tenderloins. Great flavor and very moist.

Chicken
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Bay Leaves
Paprika
Basil
Onion

Place foil in a baking dish; spray with cooking spray. Place chicken in the dish and season with the garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and basil- to taste. Add 2 bay leaves. Slice 1 onion into rings or chunks and arrange around and on top of the chicken. Add 1/2 cup of water. Check throughout baking to see if more water is needed.
Bake at 375:
Whole Chicken: approx. 2- 2 1/2 hours
Split Chicken Breasts: approx 1 1/2 hours
Tenderloins: approx. 30minutes

Chicken is done when tender and juices run clear

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This bread is oh-so-soft, a beautiful deep chocolate color, and has excellent taste and texture. I love it! It was a big hit with my husband and kids, too. If you prefer to make it more like traditional zucchini bread, I've included those notes below, as well. The recipe makes 2 loaves, so it is great to make one for your family, and one to share with a neighbor or friend!
Enjoy!
~Kari

2 cups shredded fresh zucchini
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour flour
1 cu whole wheat flour (I like to use King Arthur Whole Wheat flour)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 c. cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Shred zucchini; place in strainer and press or squeeze with hands to get rid of some of the extra liquid. In a mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, and oil together. Stir in the flours, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa, mixing just until all ingredients are combined. Add vanilla; mix; Add drained zucchini. Mix well. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pans. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes at 350°, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.


Notes for non-chocolate version.
Simply omit the cocoa.
You could also add about 1/2- 3/4 c. raisins and/or walnuts or pecans, if desired

Peach Blueberry Muffins

For me, one of the wonderful things about summer is enjoying lots of fresh fruit in many different ways. These muffins, for instance, are bursting with fresh summer fruits- peaches and blueberries!

~Kari

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped fresh peaches

3/4 cups fresh blueberries

In a bowl, beat egg; add milk and oil; mix well. Add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Stir in the peaches and blueberries. Fill greased muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400° (375 for dark pans) for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5-7 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 10 muffins-12 muffins

Big Batch Birthday Brownies

Here is a great dessert for a large family, like ours! This was Adam's (age 4) birthday dessert this year. The made-from-scratch icing really makes this easy dessert extra special.

Brownies:
3 boxed brownie mixes (9x13 size ea.)

Lightly grease a 12x18in. sheet pan (i know that might be a harder-to-find size- but if you have a large family, it is a great pan and would be worth the purchase..find it here)


Prepare and bake brownies according to package directions

Allow to cool completely

Chocolate Butter Cream Icing:
1 stick margarine, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pound (about 4 cups) confectioners sugar
6-8 T. cocoa
2 T. margarine, softened
Dash of salt
Milk

Place 1 stick margarine, 1/4 c. milk, 1/4 tsp.salt, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Cover with about 2 cups of sugar. Begin mixing slowly- add the other 2 cups of sugar and slowly mix until sugar is moistened. Increase mixing speed and mix until blended and fluffy.
In a small bowl, mix the cocoa, 2 T. margarine, and dash of salt. Add this to the prepared butter cream mixture and mix well. Add milk a Tablespoon at a time until frosting reaches spreading consistency (approx. 1 or 2 Tbs.)
Spread over cool brownies

Topping:
1 large bag of M&Ms

Immediately after icing the brownies, sprinkle with your choice of M&Ms.

Serves approx: 30 people

Caramel Squares

This is usually the dessert our second son, Tim, requests for his birthday. These bars boast a soft short-bread like bottom, gooey caramel in the middle, and rich chocolate to top it off. What's not to like!?

Crust:
3/4 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
3/4 c. confectioners sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. milk

Cream butter, gradually adding sugar. Add vanilla, milk and salt. Blend in flour; mix well. Press into bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake 20 minutes at 350.

Filling:
28 caramels
1/4 c. butter
1 c. chopped pecans
1/4 c. evaporated milk
1 c. confectioners sugar

Combine caramels and milk in top of double boiler. Heat until caramels melt, stirring occasionally. remove from heat and add butter and sugar. Mix well. Add nuts. Spread over crust.

Icing:
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. evaporated milk
2 Tbs. butter
1/2 c. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Combing chips and milk- melt. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well. Drizzle over the caramel. Cool. Cut into squares before serving.

Potato Casserole

Even when making 2 batches of this yummy casserole, there is rarely any left! It is great for breakfast, brunch, or as a side dish at dinner. (this recipe can be found in Homemade with Love: Treasured Family Recipes of Marilyn Boyer )

2 lb. frozen hash browns
3/4 c. melted butter, divided
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1pint (16 oz.) sour cream
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Thaw potatoes. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, salt, pepper, onion, soup, 1/2 c. of the butter, sour cream, and cheese. Place in a 3 qt. casserole dish. Mix remaining butter and corn flakes. Sprinkle over the potato mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. YIELD: 12 servings.
* To prepare ahead of time, cover with foil and store in the refrigerator. Allow more time to bake if cold.

Light Whole Wheat Bread

This is an excellent recipe for a good wheat bread. I make it often
~Kari

In bread machine combine the following ingredients:

1 1/4 c. water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbs. honey (or sugar)
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
1 1/2 Tbs. dry milk
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. yeast

Set bread machine on dough cycle. When completed, lightly knead and form into a loaf. Place in a greased loaf pan. Let rise in a warm place (30minutes- 1 hour) Bake at 350 until done (approx. 25-30 minutes)

Snow Cream

In Virginia, we have had a LOT of snow this year. In our home, for many years now, when it snows, that means lots of sledding and it also means Hot Chocolate and Snow Cream! We reserve a nice clean patch of snow with the promise of this treat in mind. We made the recipe up when our oldest boys were little. Everyone looks forward to when Dad cooks up this special treat. Give it a try!
~Marilyn

1 1/2 to 2 c. sugar
2 Tbs. vanilla
2 c. milk
2 eggs
3 qt. clean snow

Combine sugar, vanilla, milk and eggs in saucepan. Boil until sugar is dissolved (about 5 minutes). Cool completely; set pan outside in snow to chill. When cold, combine syrup and snow. Mix thoroughly. Serve immediately.