Eggplant Zucchini Casserole and an Award!

Remember the photo contest I mentioned a while back, over at Rachel's blog? Well, one out of my four pictures took second!  Thank-you so much Rachel and to all who voted!

Now, on to other things...

Eggplant Zucchini Casserole

Even if you don't care for eggplant, don't run away yet! I'm not a huge fan of it but I really love this recipe. A wonderful bonus is: It's A vegaterian dish!  OK, here's the recipe. Try it out and let me know what you think! 

Three 8oz cans of tomato/spaghetti sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp oregano

2 cloves garlic minced

1 eggplant-peeled and cut into 1/4 m. slices

2 medium zucchini unpeeled - 1/4 in. slices

1 cup uncooked spaghetti broken into pieces

3 stalks celery chopped

1 green pepper chopped

8 oz. mozzerella grated or cut in slices

(Or combo of Swiss and mozzarella)

Combine tomato sauce/water/worcestershire sauce/salt/oregano/garlic.

Mix well.

Arrange 1/2 of eggplant in single layer in greased casserole dish.

Arrange 1/2 of zucchini/1/2 of sphagetti/1/2 of celery/1/2 of green pepper on top of eggplant.

Add 1/2 of cheese on top of that and Romano/or parmeson cheese.

Spoon on 1/2 of tomato mixture

Repeat layers

Cover and bake 1 1/2 hours at 375 degrees.

*Casserole will keep in oven for additional hour with heat turned off-depending on how you cook it, you may need to let it sit before cutting and serving.

This tastes even better the 2nd day! Freezes very well!

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HAPPY EATING!   :)

Great Pumpkin Dessert

Fall weather has probably shown up for you all, so I thought I would share a favorite dessert of our family's.  Enjoy!  :)

Great Pumpkin Dessert:

(Photo above is courtesy of  Taste of Home)

12-16 Servings Prep: 5 min. Bake: 1 hour

Ingredients

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter, melted

   1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts (we usually skip this ingrediant)

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

 Directions:

In a large bowl, beat first five ingredients until smooth.

Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with dry cake mix and drizzle with butter. Top with walnuts. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. Yield: 12-16 servings. 

 

 

 

Happy Fall!

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Since we are getting further into the Fall, and you all might be using the oven more, I thought I would share a favorite recipe of ours. They are very easy to make and so yummy! Another nice bonus is, since we buy alot of fruit, we usually have those few bananas that get really brown. (You know the kind, everyone refuses to eat it and it is being threatened to join the compost?) Don't throw them out! Use them in this recipe. The browner they are the softer the muffins.






Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins





1 cup butter softened (two sticks)



2 cups sugar



4 eggs



1 tsp vanilla



5 ripe bananas (the browner the better!)



2 cups white flour



2 cups wheat flour (you don't have to use half wheat flour, but we like to since it is a bit healthier)



2 tsp. baking powder



1 tsp. salt (I usually add half the amount of salt it calls for. In fact, I do this in most recipes, unless it is something meant to be salty.)



2 cups chocolate chips



3/4 cup chopped walnuts opt. I don't think we ever add these. It's a matter of personal preference. :)


Cream butter and gradually add sugar beating well at Med. Speed. Add eggs one at a timem. Beat after each addition. Stir in bananas. Combine all dry ingredients. (except nuts and chips) Gradually add dry mixture to creamed and blend well. Stir in chips and nuts. Pour into greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min. (may vary depending on climate)



Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen muffins.



I hope you enjoy this as much as we have!



God Bless,




Kelsey

Pizza!

Last week our family enjoyed pizza for dinner. I thought you might like to try out our recipe!

I didn't get pictures of the dough being made though. :) Keturah Helped me a bit.

About to go into the oven

Cooked!

Jonathan enjoying pizza

Enjoy!

Pizza Dough

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tablespoon of Yeast

1 teaspoon of salt

4 tablespoons of Oil

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon honey

Mix dry ingredients together then add wet ingredients. Knead for five minutes then let rest for five minutes. Roll out dough and add desired ingredients. Bake for twelve to fifteen minutes at 375 degrees. (I suggest adding the cheese ten to fifteen minutes before everything is cooked. )

***For Pizza Sticks***

Roll out dough and put melted butter on it or olive oil. Then herbs, and cheese. Fold in half and roll over with rolling pin. Put in the oven and bake. Slice into sticks. They taste great dipped in spaghetti sauce as well!

Mango Smoothie

One Mango

One cup Milk

1-2 tablespoons Nectar, or honey, or 1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup crushed Ice (you can crush it your self by putting the ice in a baggie and wrap a towel around it. Then, hammer it until it resembles snow! Preferably outside)

1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice

Blend it all together and enjoy! For an optional idea, make the smoothie without the ice. Instead, put it separately into a glass and pour the smoothie over it!)

Yum!

Popover Recipe!

Popovers
1 Cup all purpose flour-sifted
Place in large bowl:
1 Cup milk
Stir in flour with a wire whisk or egg beater
Add:
1 tablespoon confections sugar
½ teaspoon salt
Beat in four eggs one at a time. Beat batter well after each egg is added. Have ready six oven proof dishes. Spread with oil or cooking spray. Pour batter into dishes 1/3 Cup full. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. Then lower to 350 degrees and bake for 10 min. or more (or until done.)
Yum!

I love this recipe and it is a favorite in the Hoppman household! I made some on Easter, because it represents Christ's Resurrection; the tomb was empty! Just as these popovers should be like, inside when they are through cooking. If that doesn't happen though, that's OK. I still don't get it right all the time! I think the trick is not trying to fill the muffin pan up too much...

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

The Campbell House Scones

Here is a favorite recipe of our family.
Scones are wonderful with breakfast in the morning or even with dinner in the evening! We love the way the scones in this recipe come out large and fluffy! They tastes particularly good sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Enjoy!
c=cup
t=teaspoon


3 c All-purpose flour
1/3 c sugar
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3/4 t salt
3/4 c firm butter (1 1/2 sticks) cut into small pieces.
3/4 c dried fruit or nuts (we don't always do this. It taists really good with craisens!)
1 t grated orange peel (optional)
1 c milk

Mix first five ingredients. Cut in butter. Stir in fruit, nuts, and/or orange peel. Make a well in the center of mixture' add milk all at once. With fork, stir until dough pulls away fromt eh bowl. Gather dough into ball' turn onto a lightly floured board. Divide dough into four parts and pat each part into a circle. Cut each circle into four parts and place on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar (optional) Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes 16 scones. Serve warm. Yum!*


* Taken from the Christian Bed and Breakfast Cookbook