Marci's Crock Pot Apple Butter

A great way to use up all the extra aples this time of year!

Peel, core, and slice apples
Fill a large crock pot almost to the top with apple slices
Add 3 c. sugar
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
dash of salt
Slow cook 12-14 hours
Take lid off to cook the last hour to cook off a little of the liquid
Blend with a hand blender until all the chunks are gone.

ENJOY!

Oatmeal Cake (Dutch Oven)

This can be used for a 9x13 pan in the oven ....or it works awesome in the dutch oven!

Add water to 2 c. dry oatmeal and let stand 20 min.
Cream together:
1/2 c. shortening
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
add prepared oatmeal.
Stir in :
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Pour into dutch oven (we used 12 inch) or a 9x13 cake pan

Bake 350 for 35 min. Or in a dutch oven 35-40 min, with 15-18 coals on top and 8 on bottom.

TOPPING:
In saucepan combine:
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cream
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 - 2 c. coconut (optional)
1 c. chopped pecans
We also put small caramel pieces on top and they were yummy!
Boil in pan until brown and bubbly. Pour over baked cake and broil until browned, about 5 min. (To broil in a dutch oven move all the coals to top)

Leftover- roast vegetable soup

Michelle gave me this recipe....and it is hands down the best vegetable beef soup I have ever had. Thanks Michelle!

1 pound shredded leftover pot-roast (or you could use cooked stew meat, or browned hamburger.....but I recommend the pot-roast.yummy.)
4 cups beef broth
4 cups water
2 (1 ounce) packages dry onion soup mix
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables (or fresh veggies of your choice)
1 c. ditalini, macaroni, or your favorite kind of pasta

In a large stock pot or your crock pot, combine roast, beef broth, water, onion soup mix, tomato sauce, celery, onion, frozen vegetables and pasta. Bring to a boil and then simmer until pasta is done.

I put mine in the crock pot most of the afternoon, and just threw the pasta in about 1/2 hour before I was ready for dinner!
(couple of hints for everyone) - when I buy celery, I chop it in my cuisinart immediately and store in serving size portions in the freezer. That way I always have some on hand and my kids can't freak out about seeing celery in their food, but we still get the flavor of it. Also, I never use fresh onions in anything. I use onions that I have minced and dried out of my garden and I think it still tastes fantastic!

Honey-Oat wheat Bread

Got this one off of the Tasty Kitchen website...(tweaked it slightly) LOVE IT! Very light and soft!

* 4-½ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
* 1 heaping T. vital wheat gluten
* ½ cups Honey
* 4 Tablespoons Butter
* 2-¼ cups Water
* 1 Tablespoon Salt
* 2-¾ cups Bread Flour
* 4 cups Whole Wheat Flour
* 1 cup Quick Cooking Oats (I used a rounded 1/2 c. finely ground oat flour)
* 1 whole Egg

Preparation Instructions

In the microwave, heat the butter and honey until the butter is melted. Add the water; the mixture should be warm (120-130 degrees). Stir in the yeast and let sit until bubbly, about 10 minutes (this is called making a sponge).

In your mixer, combine salt, yeast mixture, 2 cups whole wheat flour and 1 cup bread flour. With mixer on low, gradually blend liquid into dry ingredients until just blended. Increase the speed to medium, beat for two minutes, occasionally scraping bowl. Gradually beat in the egg and one cup of whole wheat flour to make a thick batter. Continue beating for two minutes. Stir in oats, 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup all purpose flour. Knead till smooth and elastic. (dought should be following the hook around the bowl ) Use more flour if dough is too sticky
Place in a greased bowl and cover. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down and let rise again until doubled. (will raise faster than last time)

Shape into loaves and let rise for 1 hour in greased loaf pans. This makes two REALLY big loaves...or 4 medium ones.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
Make sure to eat some while it is hot. ITS FANTASTIC!

Hint for oven frying

An interesting baking hint I found today at cafe zupa's blog.....I'm definitely trying it

Have you ever taken a food that the recipe said to fry and baked it instead to save a few calories? I’m sure all of us have done that a time or two. But unfortunately, what you usually get is not crispy at all, like the fried counterpart would have been. But there is a way to get those oven “fried” foods nice and crispy!

All it takes is a baking sheet and a cooling rack. Just place the cooling rack on top of the baking sheet (you can line the baking sheet with foil to make clean up a breeze!) and set your food on top of the cooling rack. Into the oven it goes, and out comes crispy food! Since the food is up off the surface, the air is able to move around the food and keep it crispy, instead of getting soggy where the food would normally just lay on top of the baking sheet. Try it next time you are making some crispy chicken tenders or french fries at home - you’ll be amazed at the difference!:

75 uses for Baking Soda

75 uses for Baking Soda
Health Uses
1. Use it as an antacid.
2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.

3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste.
4. Use it as a face and body scrub.
5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.
8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.

13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
14. Use it to relieve bee stings.
15. Use it to relieve windburns.
16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.
17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.
In the Home
18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.
20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.
22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.
25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.
27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.
34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.
In Cooking
35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it.

37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.
38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.
40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid.
41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.

43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda.
Cleaning Purposes
44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.

45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs
46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.
47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
48. Remove grease from pots and pans.
49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.
53. Clean your shoes with it.
54. Clean garbage cans with it.
55. Use it to wash diapers.
56. Clean the fridge with it.
57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.
58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.
59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.
60. Absorb it with a damp sponge
, then clean Formica countertops with the sponge.
61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.
64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.
65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.
67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.
68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.
69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.
70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rug to clean the toaster.
72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.

73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.
74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.
75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.
The most amazing thing about baking soda is that it’s very cheap. You can do all these things for a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not.

LEFTOVER TURKEY POT PIE

Found this one off of p.w.'s blog. Shay loved it.



1 pie crust (1/2 of Perfect Pie Crust recipe)
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup diced celery
2 cups leftover turkey
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken or turkey broth
splash of 7-up
1 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
Frozen peas (optional)
1/2 - 1 tsp. thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt butter in a skillet or dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until translucent (a couple of minutes.)
Add turkey and stir. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour in chicken or turkey broth, stirring constantly. Splash in 7-up. Pour in cream. (May add frozen peas at this point if you’d like.)
Bring to a slow boil and allow mixture to cook and thicken for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not underseason), and fresh or dried thyme to taste. Do one final taste at the end and add what it needs.
Pour mixture into a casserole dish or deep pie pan.
Roll out crust so that it’s about 1 inch larger than the pan you’re using.
Place the crust on top of the pot pie mixture, and press crust into the sides of the dish. Cut vents in the top of the crust.
Bake for 30 minutes or until very golden and bubbly.
Allow to cool for a little bit before serving.

PERFECT PIE CRUST (1/2 the recipe for this pot pie)
Ingredients

* 1-½ cup Crisco
* 3 cups Flour
* 1 whole Egg
* 5 Tablespoons Cold Water
* 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
* 1 teaspoon Salt

Preparation Instructions

In a large bowl, with a pastry cutter, gradually work the Crisco into the flour for about 3 or 4 minutes until it resembles a coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat an egg with a fork and then pour it into the flour/shortening mixture. Add 5 tablespoons of cold water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together gently until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Separate the dough into thirds. Form 3 evenly sized balls of dough and place each dough into a large Ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin, slightly flatten each ball of dough (about ½ inch thick) to make rolling easier later. Seal the bags and place them in the freezer until you need them. (If you will be using it immediately it’s still a good idea to put in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes to chill.)

When you are ready to use the dough to make a crust, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for 15 minutes. On a floured surface roll the dough, starting at the center and working your way out. (Sprinkle some flour over top of the dough if it’s a bit too moist.) If the dough is sticking to the countertop use a metal spatula and carefully scrape it up and flip it over and continue rolling until it’s about ½ inch larger in diameter than your pie pan.

With a spatula, lift the dough carefully from the surface of the counter into the pie pan. Gently press the dough against the corner of the pan. Go around the pie pan pinching and tucking the dough to make a clean edge.