Saturday, November 8, 2025

Butter Toffee Pretzels

 

Ingredients

  • 4 cups pretzels (any favorite type)
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: dark  chocolate for drizzling

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange pretzels on the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Melt butter and sugar in a saucepan, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly.
  4. Pour the toffee mixture over the pretzels, ensuring even coating.
  5. Bake in the oven until toffee is set and bubbly.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
  7. Optional: Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the pretzels.
  8. Once cooled and hardened, enjoy the butter toffee pretzels.
  9. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Overnight Challah French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese

https://www.theworktop.com/breakfast-brunch-recipes/challah-french-toast-casserole/

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Greek Cabbage Pie

 Easier to prepare than individual roll and full of Mediterranean flavor.

Ingredients

1 cabbage cored removed

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup rice

1 tsp salt

Black pepper

Handful of parsley, finely chopped

1 tsp dried dill

Olive oil as needed

Juice of 2 lemons, 1 for the filling, 1 for baking liquid 

1 cup water


For the avgolemono sauce:

2 cups chicken stock

Juice of 1-2 lemons (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup, adjust to taste)

2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Salt and pepper to taste


Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the corned cabbage, core side down, and boil for 15 minutes. Flip and boil for an additional 15 minutes or until the leaves release easily. Drain in a colander and set aside.

To make the filling, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink. Stir in the rice, salt, juice of one lemon, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley and dill. The rice will be partially cooked. 

Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish or a 15 inch round pan with olive oil. Line the bottom with cabbage leaves. Add the filling in an even layer, then cover the top with more cabbage leaves. Drizzle with olive oil, the juice of 1 lemon, add 1 cup water. Invert a heatproof plate over the pie to hold it down during baking. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and plate, and bake uncovered for another 30 minutes until golden.

Carefully remove the plate and let the pie rest for 10 minutes before slicing into portions. 

To make the avgolemono sauce: in a mixing bowl or pitcher, whisk together the egg yolks, cornstarch, the lemon juice until smooth. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a simmer. Slowly ladle some hot stock into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to temper it. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the pot and cook over low heat, stirring until thickened. Do not boil. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Pour the sauce over the cabbage roll pie before serving, or serve it on the side.

Maple Bacon

 8 slices bacon works best with thick bacon

3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tsp brown sugar


Preheat oven to 400°

Line a pan with parchment paper

Lay bacon flat on baking pan in a single layer

Bake for 12-15 minutes

Remove bacon from oven and brush with maple syrup

Sprinkle top with brown sugar and optional pepper

Place back in oven and continue baking for 4-6 minutes until bacon is brown and sticky

My Neighbor Judy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies - THE BEST COOKIES

 Cream 1 stick softened butter

2 cups light brown sugar


Mix with 2 eggs and 1.5 teaspoons vanilla


Mix

2.5 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt


Add to wet ingredients

Then add 1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips


Drop by teaspoonful on baking sheet and bake at 350° for 8 to 9 minutes. Take them out when the tops are a little touch of brown. Let them sit on the cookie sheet to finish cooking.

Melissa’s Texas Breakfast Casserole

 1 can crescent rolls

3/4 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1 pound sausage, cooked and drained

6 beaten eggs

1 can cream onion soup

Fresh sliced mushrooms


1. Line a 13 x 9 dish with rolls, seal perforations

2. Cover with sausage

3. Mix eggs with soup and pour over casserole

4. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top

5. Bake at 350° for 1 hour

6. For variation, you could use, crumbled bacon, or bite size ham instead of sausage. 


See this recipe. I added the green chilies and seasonings and some milk. 

https://ourbestbites.com/overnight-sausage-and-egg-casserole/

Monday, October 20, 2025

Graham cracker chocolate chip bars

 2 sleeves crushed Graham crackers

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 bag chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla


Mix well together. Bake in 9 x 13 well greased pan at 350° for 30 minutes. Very good

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Canning Tomatoes in the Oven

 Wash and sterilize jars

Boil water and dunk tomatoes to split skins and peel

Add 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and basil in bottom of jar

Clean tops of jar

Put on lids and screw ring top

Put jars on a tray in the oven at 275° until tomatoes bubble for about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

You will hear lids pop as they cool

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Focaccia Appetizer

 Focaccia bread from Aldi

Spread Boursin garlic and herb spread

Mix together pesto and feta

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and mozzarella and bake until bubbly. 

Pulled Pork in Crockpot made on 09/26/2025

 Boneless pork butt cut into chunks

Rub with rib rub and sear pork in hot oil 

For the liquid I used apple juice, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and mustard.

Mix well and pour around the pork. 

Cook on low for about 6 hours,  pull apart with two forks. 

Before serving, mix in Barbeque sauce. 

Serve on Hawaiian rolls.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Whipped cream frosting

 

2 cups heavy cream, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, and 1 small pack (1/2 cup) of pudding mix(any flavor)

Very stable and pipes beautifully 


Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Pulled Pork Sliders

 

pulled pork sliders

  • Author: Lora
  •  
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  •  
  • Yield: 12 sliders 1x
  •  
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Pulled Pork Sliders are bite-sized sandwiches filled with delicious pulled pork, gooey provolone cheese, and topped with a flavorful glaze. Perfect for gatherings or game day!

INGREDIENTS

SCALE
  • 12 slider Hawaiian buns
  • 4 cups cooked pulled pork
  • 9 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Slice Hawaiian buns in half, creating top and bottom layers.
  3. Place the bottom layer of buns in a 9×13 baking dish.
  4. In a mixing bowl, mix together 4 cups cooked pulled pork and 1 cup BBQ sauce until combined.
  5. Spread the pulled pork on top of the bottom layer of Hawaiian buns evenly.
  6. Top the pulled pork with slices of provolone cheese and then place the tops of Hawaiian buns on.
  7. In a small mixing bowl, melt the ¼ cup butter and mix with garlic powder, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Brush half of the glaze on top of Hawaiian buns.
  8. Sprinkle sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes on top of the buttered buns.
  9. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, uncovering for the last minute to achieve a golden finish on the buns.

NOTES

  • Microwaving the pulled pork can help it warm faster in the oven.
  • Feel free to adjust the heat level by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
  • These sliders can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.

NUTRITION

  • Serving Size: 1 slider
  • Calories: 250
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 750mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Cholesterol: 40mg

Crock pot pulled pork

 https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/easy-slow-cooker-pulled-pork-sandwiches/



Pesto Feta Dip



https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a65551455/pesto-feta-dip-recipe/


Or you can spread it on a focaccia from Aldi. Spread cheese on base of focaccia, add pesto dip, top with mozzarella and grated cheese. Garnish with sun dried tomatoes. Bake at 350° until bubbly. 

Monday, September 15, 2025

Dee’s Beef Short Ribs

 

Flour, salt, pepper and Brown

Remove from pan

Sauté Carrots, celery, onions, season with garlic powder, adobo, parsley. cook and deglaze pan with tomato paste and about 2 cups beef broth and red wine

Cook 3 hours fall off bone

350 degrees

Use Dutch oven

Friday, September 12, 2025

Italian Butter Cookies by Monday Night Baking

 Classic Italian butter cookies

Ingredients
For the cookie dough 
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2–3 tbsp whole milk, if needed for piping 
For optional decorations 
  • Melted semi-sweet or white chocolate
  • Seedless raspberry or apricot jam
  • Rainbow sprinkles
  • Candied cherries
  • Chopped nuts (pistachios, almonds)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture and continue mixing until just combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together. If the dough is too stiff to pipe, add milk one tablespoon at a time until it reaches a thick, pipeable consistency.
  5. Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the dough onto the prepared baking sheets in various shapes, such as rosettes, S-shapes, or strips.
  6. If using candied cherries, press a half-cherry into the center of the rosette cookies before baking.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden. The cookies will be pale in the center.
  8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 
Decorating ideas
Once the cookies are completely cool, you can decorate them in several ways: 
  • Chocolate-dipped: Dip half of a cooled cookie into melted semi-sweet or white chocolate. Immediately add sprinkles or chopped nuts before the chocolate sets.
  • Sandwich cookies: Spread a small amount of raspberry or apricot jam on the flat side of one cookie and top it with another cookie. For a bakery-style touch, dip half of the assembled sandwich in melted chocolate.
  • Ganache-filled: For a richer sandwich cookie, use a thick chocolate ganache instead of jam.
  • Powdered sugar: Keep it simple by dusting cooled, plain cookies with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

Italian Biscotti by Grandma Jackie

 Mama Jackie's traditional almond biscotti recipe

This recipe was posted by TikTok user @momma.jackie65.
Ingredients: 
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 splash almond extract 
Instructions:
  1. Combine the ingredients to form the dough.
  2. Shape the dough into logs.
  3. Perform the first bake.
  4. Remove the logs from the oven, slice them, and return them for a second bake to achieve the classic hard, crunchy texture. 
Grandma Jackie's biscotti recipe
This is a slightly different recipe posted on the website grandmajackiesrecipes.com.
Ingredients: 
  • Dry: Flour, baking powder, salt, roughly chopped slivered almonds.
  • Wet: Softened butter, sugar, and eggs. 
Instructions:
  1. Prep the almonds: Roughly chop the slivered almonds and set them aside.
  2. Combine dry ingredients: In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Combine wet ingredients: Cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time.
  4. Finish the dough: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in the almonds.
  5. Bake: Form the dough into logs and perform the two-step baking process to create a crispy finish. 
How to find the recipes
If you need additional detail on these recipes, you can:
  • Search for the specific videos: Look for TikTok videos from @momma.jackie65 or YouTube videos linked to the family recipes.
  • Visit the website: Check the recipe on grandmajackiesrecipes.com for the "Grandma Jackie" version.