The Cooking Family

Sweet Carrots

 

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Sweet Carrots
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Author: Linda
Ingredients
  • 1 bag baby carrots
  • 1 lump of butter
  • 3/4 tsp. sugar
  • salt to taste
Instructions

  1. Cover carrots with water in small pot and bring to a boil.

  2. Turn down to medium/low and cook for 15-20 minutes for thick carrots or about 12 minutes for thin. If fork goes through a carrot easily, then it is done.

  3. Add a lump of butter and sprinkle with salt.

  4. Add the sugar and stir. You can add pepper if you want.

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Author: Walter
Ingredients
  • 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 lb. strawberries with stems (about 20)
  • 3 oz. white chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts/pecans (optional)
  • sprinkles (optional)
Instructions

  1. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.

  2. Wash and dry your strawberries well.

  3. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave safe bowl at half power, for 2 minutes, stir and then continue heating until melted. I would recommend small increments and stir between each heating time.

  4. Hold the strawberry by the stem, dip each one into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any extra chocolate drip back into the bowl.

  5. Place the chocolate dipped strawberries on the parchment paper.

  6. If you want to drizzle white chocolate over your strawberries, heat the white chocolate chips the same way as above. Then dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries. (optional)

  7. If you want to top with nuts or sprinkles, sprinkle the topping of your choice on the semi-sweet dipped strawberries.

  8. Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, for about 30 minutes. If they still have not fully set, you can put them in the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until they have set.

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Oven Baked Barbecue Ribs

 

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Oven Baked Barbecue Ribs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Tracy
Ingredients
  • 4 - 6 lbs. country style pork ribs
  • 2 Tbsp. smoked paprika
  • 2 Tbsp. onion powder
  • 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
  • 2 Tbsp. black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. hickory liquid smoke
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

  2. Cover the ribs with olive oil on the front and back sides.

  3. Mix all of your dry seasonings in a bowl and rub the ribs in the mixture. If you prefer your ribs to have more of a kick to them, you can add 1 1/2 tsp. of red pepper flakes as well. 

  4. Place the ribs on a cooking dish.

  5. Mix the liquid smoke and apple cider vinegar together in a bowl and brush over the ribs.

  6. Cover the ribs with foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

  7. Remove the ribs from the oven, and uncover. Brush on the barbecue sauce.

  8. Turn the oven on broil. Broil the ribs until the sauce is sticky. Remove the ribs from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes.

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Homemade Mashed Potatoes

 

Homemade Mashed Potatoes
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Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Author: Linda
Ingredients
  • 4-6 regular sized russet potatoes
  • butter (3rd of a stick, chopped into pieces)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions

  1. Take 4-6 regular size potatoes. Scrub and peel them into thirds going the long way. Turn them onto the sides and slice in half. Then slice the potatoes into chunks so they look uniform in size.

  2. Put the potatos into cold water and bring to boil. Add salt.

  3. Cook for about 15 minutes on low boil with no lid. You don't need to stir.

  4. Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return potatoes to pot.

  5. Add salt, butter, pepper, and milk (start with 1/2 cup and keep adding if dry). Mash potatoes and serve.

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Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

 

Bacon Chicken Appetizers
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Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

Here's a delicious appetizer that everyone is sure to enjoy! However the prep for this recipe takes quite a while so make sure to plan ahead.

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Author: Tracy
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
  • 1 lb sliced bacon
  • 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 12-15 toothpicks
Instructions

  1. Soak toothpicks for 20 minutes.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  3. Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes.

  4. Cut each bacon slice into thirds.

  5. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and insert a wooden pick to hold it together. Roll each wrapped chicken in brown sugar.

  6. Coat a broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken wraps on rack in a broiler pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

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Broccoli Casserole

 

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Broccoli Casserole
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

We typically eat this as a main course, but it also makes an excellent side dish.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 20 oz. frozen broccoli
  • 2 cans cheddar cheese soup
  • 1 soup can full milk
  • 1 stick butter
  • 7 oz. box Minute Instant Rice
  • 6-8 slices American Cheese (I prefer Kraft.)
  • Lawry's Seasoned Salt (to taste)
Instructions

  1. Mix all the ingredients except the sliced cheese and cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

  2. Top with sliced cheese.

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Barbecue Baked Potatoes

 

Barbecue Potato
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Barbecue Baked Potatoes
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
23 mins
 

This recipe is very versatile. In this recipe we place the barbecue chicken over baked potatoes for a variation on a loaded baked potato, however it also tastes great over tortilla chips. After you've prepared the chicken simply place the chicken on top of tortilla chips, sprinkle on some shredded taco or cheddar cheese and microwave for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Author: Tracy
Ingredients
  • 4 large baking potatoes
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/4 Tbsp. salt
  • 1/4 Tbsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions

  1. Cook your baking potatoes as normal.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  3. Heat the oil in a pan on high heat.

  4. Season your chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili powder and cook in the hot skillet for two to three minutes.

  5. Add the barbecue sauce and cook until the sauce has been reduced by half, about five minutes.

  6. Remove from heat.

  7. Place chicken on baking dish and cook in oven for 15 minutes.

  8. Serve over baked potatoes. Add the shredded cheese to the top and microwave for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.

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Apple Muffins

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Apple Muffins
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 

These are a family favorite. They do take a while to make, but they are worth it!

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Author: Linda
Ingredients
To make muffins:
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil (can use coconut or avocado)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 large peeled diced apple (or approx. 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans/walnuts (optional)
To make topping:
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. melted butter
Instructions

  1. Combine in a large mixing bowl brown sugar, vegetable oil and egg.

  2. Combine in a small bowl buttermilk, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and vanilla extract. You can make sour milk if you don't have buttermilk by putting 1 Tbsp. of vinegar in the bottom of a measuring cup and adding up to the 1 cup mark with plain milk.

  3. Using a small bowl, measure out 2 1/2 cups flour.

  4. Add milk and flour in 1/3 increments alternately to the sugar mixture, which is in the bigger bowl. Stir well with a rubber scraper after each addition.

  5. Fold in the apple. Can fold in chopped pecans or walnuts. This is optional and I use nuts if I have them on hand. Nuts can be expensive so I make them both ways and we love them both ways.

  6. You can either use muffin papers or spray a muffin tin. Fill the cups about 2/3 full.

  7. Mix the topping and sprinkle a little on top of each muffin before you put them in the oven.

  8. Bake in a 350 degree oven approximately 30 minutes.

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Chicken Fricassee

 

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Chicken Fricassee
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 package McCormick or similar brand chicken gravy mix
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/8 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch (with 1/4 cup water) - to thicken gravy
  • 1 large cooking bag
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Mix soup, gravy mix, water and flour in a bowl until smooth.

  3. Add chicken and mixture to the cooking bag.

  4. Cook at 350 for 45 minutes for boneless chicken or 1 hour 15 minutes for bone-in pieces, or until done.

  5. Mix cornstarch and water in a bowl until smooth. Once chicken is done pour cornstarch mixture into the sauce and stir until smooth and proper consistency.

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Sweet Potato Pineapple Rings

 

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Sweet Potato Pineapple Rings
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

This is another family favorite, especially around the holidays. We typically double this recipe for large family functions.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Author: Steve
Ingredients
  • 1 can sliced pineapple (very well drained)
  • 1 #2 can sweet potatoes, drained (1 lb. 4 oz.)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • miniature marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions

  1. Mash sweet potatoes in a large bowl until smooth.

  2. Add sugar, vanilla, melted butter, cinnamon, egg and pecans and mix well.

  3. Arrange pineapple rings in a baking dish and cover rings with mounds of sweet potato mixture.

  4. Bake 20-25 minutes in 350 degree oven.

  5. Remove from oven and cover sweet potatoes with marshmallows and bake another 5 minutes.

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