English Toffee

Milk Chocolate bars or chips, melted
2 c roasted almonds, reserve some ground almonds

Place whole almonds on a greased cookie sheet

Combine:
1 lb real butter
2 1/2 cup sugar

On medium heat, stir at 180* until all mixed.  At 280* stir like crazy until 300*.  Immediately pour onto almonds as evenly as possible.  Cool 5 minutes and then pour on melted chocolate.  Score with a pizza cutter.  Sprinkle with ground almonds.

-start at medium heat and once it is all mixed to to high heat.
-melt butter then add sugar.
-use whisk starting at 250*.

Empanadas

This is Chilean typical beef style empanadas.  I got the recipe from my Mom, my parents lived in Chile for 3 years.

3/4 lb ground beef
1/4 c red wine (can substitute with cider or red wine vinegar)
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 ts thyme
1/4 ts cumin
1/4 ts chili powder
1 t salt
dash hot pepper sauce
dash Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheese (optional, I have never added this)
olives
raisins
hard boiled eggs, sliced
egg, beaten
Empanada dough or rounds

Brown meat, and drain fat.  Add wine, onion, garlic, thyme, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce.  Cook until onion is soft and excess liquid has evaporated.  Cool completely.

Roll dough out as thin as possible, 1/8 inch.  Cut into 4 inch rounds.  Place a spoonful of meat mixture on one side of round.  Add one olive, one slice of egg and a couple of raisins.  (You can also add raisins into the meat mixture while cooking if you prefer.)

Fold dough over to make a half circle.  Dip the end of a fork into some flour and use tines to seal edge.  Place on a greased cookie sheet and brush top with beaten egg.  Bake in a preheated oven 375* for 25 minutes.

My Fav Salsa

So I have been on the look out for salsa like you get at Mexican restaurants for years.  This is the closest one I have found.  I got the basic recipe from my friend Jenny but I like spicy salsa so I added jalapenos and made a few other changes.

1 can Mexican stewed tomatoes, drained (I use Kroger brand, have tried with other types of tomatoes it's not as good)
1/8 cup roasted green chili's
1 TB fire roasted jalapeno (more or less depending on how spicy you like it.)
1-2 green onions
1/2 of juice from a lemon
1 garlic clove
small handful of cilantro
1/2 ts salt
1/2 ts sugar
Dash fresh ground pepper

Throw it in a blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips.

Pineapple Chicken Curry

• 1/4 cup red curry paste
• 2 cans light coconut milk
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
• 3 TB fish sauce
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
• 1 red or green bell pepper, julienned
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
• Jasmine rice, cooked according to package directions

In a bowl, whisk together curry paste and 1 can coconut milk.  Transfer to a wok, or large skillet, and mix in remaining coconut milk, chicken, fish sauce, sugar and bamboo shoots.  Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear.

Mix the pepper and onion into the wok.  Continue cooking 10 minutes, until peppers are tender.  Remove from heat and stir in pineapple.  Serve over rice.

I like to double this and freeze the extras!

Sloppy Joes

This is my Grandma Cook's recipe.

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup catsup
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 TB dry mustard
• 2 TB vinegar
• 2 TB Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ts salt
• 1/4 ts pepper
• 1 ts Chile powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Brown been and onion, drain fat or run under hot water in a colander.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer 1-2 hours.  Or you can put all ingredients into a crock-pot and simmer all day.  Freezes well.

Serves 8-10 people

Italian Style Kielbasa over Rice

• 1 lb turkey kielbasa, sliced
• 2 cans green beans, drained
• 1 cup your favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1 can mushrooms, drained
• 1/2 ts pepper
• Hot Rice

Place everything in a slow-cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve over hot rice.  Freezes well.

Pizza Factory Bread Sticks

My friend Emily gave this recipe to me. It is super easy and very yummy.

Combine:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 TB sugar
1 TB yeast

Let stand 5 minutes. Then add:
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt

Mix until smooth then let rise for 10 minutes. Roll out dough into a large square on a floured surface. Brush with melted (real) butter mixed with fresh minced garlic and then sprinkle with kosher salt. Fold in half and cut into 1 inch strips. Twist and place on a cooking sheet. Let sit 15 tp 20 minutes to rise. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately after baking brush with more garlic butter and sprinkle with kosher salt and grated Parmesan cheese.
(I used 4 TB melted butter with 2 cloves garlic for both brushing on top and rolled out dough.)
Serve with marinara, Alfredo sauce, or ranch for dipping.

Dough can be used as pizza crust.