Top 20 Cookbooks

Happy Friday All!!! I have to share with all of you my love affair I have with cookbooks. I LOVE THEM. Though you can get almost any and all recipes online for free, there is something about a collection of recipes in a book. Especially one that has been used frequently in the kitchen. I know a cookbook rocks when it is stained and covered in food splatters. That means the owner uses this book often so the recipes must be good! (It also means the owner of the book needs to use lids on saucepans. :D ) I have a couple of these books in my kitchen. I have been collecting cookbooks since I was a teen. I used to grab those small cookbooks while standing in the grocery store line. Ahhhh memories.
I have started writing my own cookbook as well but it will not be available for a while. I am having fun and taking my time with it.
Here is my list and I hope you all enjoy. You can easily purchase any of these books using  my online store.

TOP 20 COOKBOOKS

1.Bob Warden's Slow Food Fast-This book is for the digital pressure cooker kitchen. All recipes in this book are strictly for the pressure cookers of America. :D Good recipes and I like how Bob features cooking times for rice, pasta, meats, etc. at the beginning of each chapter.



2. Gooseberry Patch-I have to warn you that I am a huge Gooseberry Patch fan. I get tinglees in my toes when I see a new cookbook from these fab ladies. The recipes are fun and yummy comfort food. These books make me want to throw on my apron and stay in the kitchen all day baking. :D



3. Paula Deen Cookbooks-Either you love her or hate her. I am on the side of love. She reminds me of my Mom folks...they could be sisters! Except for the cooking part LOL Paula always makes me smile and puts me in a good mood. Her obsession with butter is out of this world! I too like butter so we are kindred spirits. HA!




4. Slow Cooker Cookbooks-I have a ton of these babies in the kitchen. I use my slow cooker frequently. There is no better friend in the kitchen.




5. Dessert Cookbooks-My biggest weakness. Sweets. Love them! Enough said....



6. Entertaining and Parties-I want to do more entertaining this next year. I love having people over to my home and preparing fabulous food. The more "yummy" noises people create the better my night. :D

Read more »

Creamy Apple Cider

Twist on a classic. I had a craving for anything with Butterscotch Schnapps this weekend. I decided to buy a box of instant cider and make friends with my coffee mug. Quick, easy and full of love!

Creamy Apple Cider

1 package of instant cider mix
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup apple juice
2 Tablespoons of Butterscotch Schnapps
1 small scoop of vanilla ice cream (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! That simple.....

Read more »

Posted in: Beverages

Sour Cream and Onion Muffins

I had a bag of cornbread mix, frozen green onions and a plan! I made a really yummy country dinner the other night that included baked apples, mac and cheese and corn on the cob. Comfort food city! I needed a bread to join the fun. I decided to experiment and try this dandy muffin. It was very moist rich and full of flavor. Enjoy!

Sour Cream and Onion Muffins
(Makes about 8 muffins)

Preheat oven to 350F

1 Package of Martha White Buttermilk Cornbread Mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup chopped green onion
3 Tablespoons of sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Prep Muffin pan by spraying with Pam cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. Spoon into muffin pan-should make about 8 muffins filled 3/4 of the way. Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes.

Read more »

Posted in: Breads,Sides

Vegetable Pot Pie

Comfort food of Fall. Boy oh boy I could write about different recipes all day. From Mac and Cheese to soups and stews. One quick and easy recipe I make is vegetable pot pie. Now, for all of my meat fans out there, you can easily add a can of chicken to this to make traditional chicken pot pie. It is that easy. I must say, I had no idea how many calories were in a premade pie crust. Holy Moly! Almost 900 calories in just one crust! So I opt to not put a crust on the bottom of the pan, that and I do not like "doughy" crust. Even if you
prebake the bottom shell, it will still come out doughy to me.

Vegetable Pot Pie

2 cans of Veg All diced vegetables (12-14oz cans), drained
1 can cream of potato soup
1 small can cream style corn
1 Tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper (to taste)
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning or 1/2 teaspoon of sage
2 Tablespoons of milk
1 pre made pie shell (crust) such as pillsbury. Not frozen.

Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients(not pie shell of course). Prep Pie dish with butter or Pam spray. Pour combined ingredients into pie dish. Carefully cover with pie shell and form to edges to keep from running over. Either cut slots in pie shell at this time or cut out design in order to create a vent for pie. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until shell is golden brown.

Read more »

Posted in: Main Dish Recipes

Baked Apples

Today is Johnny Appleseed's Birthday. Born in 1774, John Chapman was a great example of charity. He loved apples and would randomly plant apple seeds in the Indiana, Ohio and Illinois area. He would plant nurseries and return every couple of years to tend these nurseries.
So on behalf of Mr. Johnny Appleseed, I am providing a great and yummy baked apples recipe for you all to enjoy. Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away! These apples, soaked in butterscotch and sugar will keep the blues away too! :D

Baked Apples
5-6 small apples cored and sliced (I use fugi or gala) (note: try to keep slices similar in size so they cook evenly)
1/2 stick of butter
1 Tablespoon of Truvia (or 3 Tablespoons brown sugar)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon is ok too)
2 Tablespoons butterscotch schnapps (optional)

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium low heat for about 20-25 minutes or until the apples are brown and fork tender.
These beauties are best served as a side dish or as a dessert with vanilla ice cream on top. :D

Read more »

Posted in: Desserts,Sides

Cheese Tortellini Soup

Autumn is approaching in TN and I love it! Fall is my favorite season so I have to celebrate. A few ways I celebrate this time is by decorating, cooking and cleaning. I know, I know, cleaning should be daily, but I mean deep cleaning. I love a clean house, smells of fall candles burning in each room and pumpkin spice in the oven.

I also really enjoy making my dollar go a long way by making meals that I can get several servings. One of these meals is a quick cheese tortellini soup. It is very simple to make, full of veggies and nutrients, and does not cost much to make.

Picture borrowed from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sun-dried-tomato-tortellini-soup-10000000689966/

Cheese Tortellini Soup
(Prepared in Pressure Cooker)

1 medium onion, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 box frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 can Italian style tomatoes, diced
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 cup vegetable broth
1 bag frozen cheese tortellini
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil

On "brown" mode on the pressure cooker, saute onions, garlic, mushrooms and zucchini in oil. Add salt and pepper. Add spinach and tomatoes and saute for about 4 minutes. Set pressure cooker for 8 minutes on high heat. Add remaining ingredients and set. That's all folks!

If you want to make on the stovetop, do the same steps as mentioned above on medium high heat for the saute. Turn down heat to medium low then let cook for at least 30-45 minutes. Stir on occasion.

Read more »

Posted in: Main Dish Recipes

Apple Dumplings

Happy Apple Dumpling Day! I have never made these before, nor have I yet. :D I am out of town this weekend but it doesnt mean I can not find a trusted recipe and repost it for you all, right? Celebrate the day with someone you love and eat an apple dumpling for me! :D

I have not tried this recipe but I will soon. This recipe is taken directly from Ree (The Pioneer Woman) so she gets 100% credit. Or should I say her Mom gets the credit? According to her blog, I think this one is from her Mom's collection. Now, what threw me is the use of Mountain Dew in this baby. I LOVE MD but in baked goods? I am willing to try if you are! :D Thanks ladies and I hope everyone has a great Apple Dumpling Day!!
Apple Dumpling Recipe

Read more »

Posted in: Desserts