Kitchen Adventures 8.2

As I sat down to share recipes today, I realized that I am not a very good blogger. A good blogger would post daily, or at least weekly. A good blogger would not store up so much information that multiple posts come out in quick succession in one day. However, that's how I roll. With a busy life and sometimes not really feeling like sitting on the computer at home after I have been sitting on one all day at work, rapid posts all at once is the end result. Also, I don't cook enough to have multiple posts a week. You'll notice most of the things I make feed more than one person. Since I only have to feed myself, things last longer. That's part of my plan--cook once a week and make it last. I have some family members that couldn't do it (ahem, Karen :) ), but it works for me.

Hence, here is the second post of the new year, shortly after the first. This is another good one from the Triple T youth group cookbook. This is also a recipe I have used for several years. This one was submitted by my Nana. Looking back, I'm really glad that we accepted recipes from many contributors for our cookbook when we were fundraising. This is how I have received most of the recipes I have from my Nana, and for someone working with history having little things like recipes passed down through generations is significant. The funny thing is, my mom also has a very similar recipe in the cookbook but I always use Nana's. Sorry Mom, your version was delicious at Christmas!

On a slightly irreverent note, this recipe recently has been making me think of a great Saturday Night Live skit. It's one of the great Alec Baldwin skits panning "Delicious Dish" on NPR. The innuendo throughout is ridiculously funny. Go to Youtube and search for "Schweddy Balls" and you will understand. I don't think a SNL affiliated person posted the video, so I'm not linking directly to it so I don't get in trouble with the Internet police. :)

Here, finally, is the recipe. Thanks again, Nana!

Barbequed Meatballs

Ingredients:

Meatballs--
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 c. milk
2/3 c. oatmeal
1 egg
1/3 tsp. salt
1/3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 T. chopped onion (I omitted this)
1/3 tsp. chili powder
1/3 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Sauce--
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. ketchup
1/2 tsp. dry mustard (I omitted this)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

Mix meatball ingredients well in large bowl and them form into small balls (2 inch). Place in greased casserole dish. I use a 7"x1" dish and it's perfect.
For the sauce, mix the ingredients and heat in small saucepan over medium heat. As soon as it starts bubbling remove from heat. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Kitchen Adventures 8.1

Here's to the first post of 2011! It's belated, I know. I seem to be doing lots of things belatedly thus far this year. Hopefully that will soon change! It's not that I haven't had time--three working days off in the past two weeks is really no excuse--but other more pressing issues always seem to arise to fill the days. And it's not even shopping (though a new pair of shoes would be nice, and maybe some jeans...). But I digress.

The first recipe contribution of the year comes from my trusted Triple T youth group cookbook, Homemade with Love. This recipe is one I have used for several years now, and every time I think about adding in spices and never do. So, if you make this, add in some different spices and let me know how it goes! This recipe was contributed by a family friend, and it was one of her family recipes. I hope you enjoy it!

Sunday Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1/4 lb. melted butter (1 stick)
1 1/2 c. minute rice
1/2 c. milk
6 chicken breasts
paprika
salt and pepper

Directions:

Mix together the soups, butter, milk and rice in a fairly large bowl. Pour this mixture into a greased 9"x13" baking pan. Place the chicken on top and season with paprika, salt and pepper. Be generous with the salt and pepper; I never seem to use enough. Bake covered with foil for 1 hour at 325 degrees, then remove the foil and continue baking for another 20 minutes.