My Chicken Stoup

ok I love Rachael Ray incase anyone didnt know that. If you watch her you know that she doesnt make soup and she doesnt make strew she makes STOUPS. what is a stoup you may ask its not runny enough to be a soup and not thick enough to be a stew. here is my take on the whole thing!

I boil a whole chicken or left over chicken whatever is floating around. I boil it till I cant boil it anymore! I add dry chicken stock to it for flavor.

Then I take out the chicken and let it cool and then peel all the chicken off.

then i cut up potatoes, carrots, and turnip and put it in. let it simmer almost all day lol

then I add frozen peas carrots and corn.

then add the chicken.

ok heres my BIG secret I add to packages of gravy (you know the kind that comes in the red packages)let it boil and then let it cool down a bit.

pretty simple eh?

now for the dumplings.... take a box of bisquick. on the side there is a recipe for biscuits use that BUT add 2 tablespoons of butter.

drop them in the stoup then cover and let cook on med high until cooked. DONOT LIFT THE COVER UNLESS YOU KNOW THEY ARE COOKED!!

2012

well its been a month into 2012 and what a year it has been already.
I have a job at a group home. This last year I have been tested beyond tested. I have almost walked out a few times. I didnt know how much longer I could hold on. I really didnt.
I am a christian. I believe that God wont give me more than I can handle. I believe that He is there for me always. I pray everyday. BUT I was starting to question Him. I would pray everyday at work that I could make it through. I prayed that I wouldnt kill someone. He had stopped me from walking out. And through the many drives home that I cried the whole 45 mins I could feel his arm around me saying "just a little bit longer" and I would say "God how much longer?"

Jan31st I recieved a phone call that changed my whole world. As soon as I got off the phone a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I cried that night as I prayed to God thanking Him for this opportunity. I cant really say too much about it right now. But I know this is where I want to be. I know that I will have great joy going to work everyday. I know that God designed this job just for me. and I know that I will give it my all. Its going to be  alittle difficult at first but I know I can do it. So please pray for me as I start this new adventure. I am very excited about it!

Now for some baking....
I have been baking but just regular staples that are in our house, cornflake cookies, cupcakes, butterscotch pie, choc chip cookies that usual suspects...

Molasses Cookies

you will need:
1 egg
2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp soda
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup molasses

directions:
preheat oven at 350
cream egg, shortening and sugar. disolve soda in warm water. add to cream mixture. combine dry ingrediatns and add to cream mixture. add vanilla and molasses. mix well. drop spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. bake for 10-12 mins

Rainbow Pinwheel Cookies

I just thought these were fun!

You will need:
1 pkg of betty crocker sugar cookie mix
Food coloring (whatever colors you want)
rainbow sprinkles

directions:
1. preheat oven at 350
2. make dough as directed
3. dived into 5 balls and add food coloring
4. roll each color into balls 14 grape size
5. combune a ball of each and quickly roll into a larger ball. it will look like a beachball
6. then roll that ball btw your hands and the roll out into a string that is 6 inches
7. roil the dough into a coil
8. roll edges in sprinkles
9. bake for 10 mins

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies were pretty basic BUT I didnt like that it had to chilled for 2 hrs. but over all super easy and very good!!

you will need:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Directions:

Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. Add egg and applesauce, mix until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Chill dough for about 3 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden and just set, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack set over parchment paper; let cool completely.

Make icing: Whisk confectioners' sugar, syrup, and 2-3 tablespoons water until smooth. Drizzle over cookies.

Rocky Road Fudge

I made this for christmas and it ended up being myfavorite thing I made for christmas. and it was so easy.. just a few ingrediants!

Rocky Road

17 to 21 ounce bar of milk chocolate or dark chocolate

3 cups miniature marshmallows

1 cup coarsely broken walnuts

Break up chocolate and melt in microwave. Heat in 30 second intervals until chocolate is completely melted. Stir until smooth. Stir in marshmallows and walnuts. Put in an 8x8 inch pan that has been lined with plastic wrap. Refrigerate till set. Cut into serving pieces. (Option: You can also use a chocolate with almond bar and forgo the walnuts!)

Whats a girl to do

2012 has been good to me. I have been busier than ever. I really cant wait to see what else is in store.

I have been sick for teh last week or so. I went to the doctor and she growled me lol. she told me that I was too busy and that I had to rest. I wasnt allowed to do anything. I spent 3 days doing nothing. i was bored. i did the basic house stuff but all i did was watch tv. a whole lot of nothing!

but now that I am feeling better I am back to editing and baking... it s abig job! lol
 in 2012 I am hoping to do much more baking and maybe selling it. like at the farmers market or special orders not quite sure yet.

Giant Double Chocolate Cookies


you will need:
1 cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cubed
1¼ cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup dark cocoa powder
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips ( used white chocolate chips)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the cocoa powder until well blended. Add the flour, salt and baking powder to the bowl and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula. Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead briefly by hand to be sure the ingredients are well combined.

Divide the dough into 4 ounce portions (or divide into 12 equal pieces). Roll each portion of dough into a ball and flatten just slightly into a disc. Place on the prepared baking sheets, a few inches apart. Bake 16-20 minutes. Let cool

Butterscotch Pie

I am afraid of pie. well afraid of making pie. But now that I have a kitchen aid mixer that I got for christmas I figured it cant be that hard. and it wasnt!



(1 cup) cold unsalted butter
2 cups) all-purpose unbleached flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup cold water

Cut the butter into 1/2-inch cubes. Dump the flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, if mixing the dough by hand). Mix for a second or two to blend the dry ingredients. Add the butter and then, running the mixer on low (or by hand with two knives or a pastry cutter), work the mixture until it's crumbly and the largest pieces of butter are no bigger than a pea (about 1/4 inch).

The butter should remain cold and firm. To test it, pick up some butter and pinch it between the thumbs and forefingers of both hands to form a little cube. If the butter holds together as a cube and your fingers are not greasy, then the butter is still cold enough. If your fingers look greasy, put the bowl in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up the butter before adding the water.

As the mixer turns on low (or tossing with a fork if mixing by hand), sprinkle the cold water evenly over the flour and butter. Work the dough until it just pulls together as a shaggy mass.

3/4 cup light brown sugar -- firmly packed

5 tablespoons flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups whole milk

2 egg yolks -- lightly beaten

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 baked pie shell -- 9-inch

 

Combine the sugar, flour, and salt in the top of a double boiler over boiling water; stir in milk slowly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Lightly beat the egg yolks in a separate bowl. Add about 1/4 to 1/3 of the hot mixture to the egg yolks, stirring quickly, then add the egg yolk mixture back to the pan. Cook for about 1 more minute. Add butter and vanilla; cool. Place filling in pastry shell and garnish with whipped cream or cover with meringue made from the egg whites. If you cover with meringue, bake at 325 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until meringue is nicely browned