Category: Family Favorites

Family Favorites

Honeyed Ham Steak

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Honeyed Ham Steak was one of the first recipes I used early in our marriage. It was quick, economical, and easy to prepare after work. Pair with a starch and a vegetable or salad.  This time I served with Tangy Cauliflower (recipe to post Friday, April 26).

HONEYED HAM STEAK

Servings: 2-4
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 fully cooked smoked ham center slice, cut 1/2 inch thick (1 pound)

  • Heat first three ingredients in skillet, over medium heat, until blended.
  • Add ham; cook 5 minutes on each side or until heated and browned to your liking.
  • Remove heat to platter; pour mixture over ham.
Family Favorites · My Roots

Oatmeal Macaroons…crunchy deliciousness!

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I have fond memories of my Aunt Lora’s cookies, and all baked goods.  Several years ago while I was visiting family in Iowa, I stopped by to see Aunt Lora and Uncle Max and enjoyed her Oatmeal Macaroons.

They are delicious and the crunch of the toasted oatmeal and coconut are a wonderful combination.  Yummy and another fond Iowa memory.

OATMEAL MACAROONS

3 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Put the oatmeal on a cookie sheet and toast in a slow oven until lightly browned. Watch the oatmeal very closely so it doesn’t burn. Remove from oven.

  • Mix butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs. Add dry ingredients, oatmeal and coconut. Mix well.
  • Drop teaspoon of batter on greased cookie sheet until lightly browned (6-8 minutes).

Optional:  Add chocolate chips or white chocolate chips to the batter.

Family Favorites · My Roots

Crunchy Potato Casserole, aka Wedding Potatoes

cathysmaha1 Comment

Crunchy Potato Casserole is a yummy side dish and family favorite.  It has become tradition served with Christmas and Easter ham.  I typically make the casserole the day before.  Simple to make and bake.  To make it easy on myself, I typically make the casserole the day before, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Many folks refer to this dish as ‘wedding potatoes’, since it is often served as part of wedding feasts.

CRUNCHY POTATO CASSEROLE

1 large bag frozen hash browns partially thawed
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
8 ounces sour cream
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/4 cup butter, melted
crushed corn flakes (or seasoned bread crumbs)
parsley flakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Mix all ingredients together, except for 1/4 cup butter and crushed corn flakes.
  • Place mixture in lightly buttered 9″ x 13″ pan.
  • Sprinkle crushed corn flakes (or bread crumbs) over the potato mixture and top with remaining 1/4 cup melted butter.
  • Sprinkle with parsley flakes.

  • Bake for 50 minutes (or until hot in the center).
Family Favorites · Holidays · New Traditions

Baked Ham…Crockpot Style

cathysmaha1 Comment

Easter and Christmas holidays call for a baked ham.  Easy-peasy recipes allow the host/hostess to enjoy their family and friends and this recipe, coupled with the crunchy potato casserole (March 29, 2013 post), make preparation easy.

My family doesn’t enjoy spiral sliced hams, honey-baked hams, but they LOVE this recipe.  The leftover ham makes wonderful sandwiches, too.  Typically I purchase a Butt Portion Ham, often available for $.99-$1.39 a pound, a true friend of the family budget.

BAKED HAM CROCKPOT STYLE

Pour 1/2 cup water in Crock Pot. Wrap precooked 3-4 pound ham in foil; place in Crock Pot. Cover and cook on High 1 hour then turn to low for 6-7 hours or until ham is hot. If cooking a larger ham, cook 1 hour on high and 8-10 hours on low.

Cathy’s method: I follow the instructions above put typically have to cut a few slices off the ham to make it fit in the Crock Pot and . I start the process about an hour before bedtime and then turn to low and cook 12-14 hours. The ham is juicy, tender and delicious.

Adapted from Rival Crock Pot Cooking

Family Favorites · Holidays · My Roots

Irish Soda Bread…St. Paddy’s Day Tradition

cathysmaha3 Comments

Let me just say that I will eat almost any ethnic food any time, any where.  While I’m not truly Irish, my family would say that we are part ‘Scotch-Irish‘.  Like every good American, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day eating the traditional corned beef, cabbage and Irish Soda Bread.

Irish Soda Bread is tasty and simple.  The key is to make sure the bread is cooked through by testing with the ‘hollow sound’.  It’s delectable served warm with butter, but I love a piece drizzled in honey.

This St. Patrick’s Day:

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
–Irish blessing

IRISH SODA BREAD

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon butter, melted

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a large cookie sheet.
  • In large bowl, combine flour with soda, sugar, salt and cream of tartar, mix well.
  • Add buttermilk; with fork, stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn out dough only lightly floured board. Knead lightly until smooth, about 1 minute.

  • Shape dough into a ball; place on cookie sheet. With hands, flatten into a 7″ circle. With sharp knife, cutting 1/4 inch deep, mark into quarters.

  • Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until top is golden-brown and loaf sounds hollow when rapped with knuckle.
  • Remove loaf to wire rack. Brush top with butter; cool completely.

Yield: 1 loaf

Czech Heritage and Dishes · Family Favorites

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Cheater Dumplings

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I love sauerkraut and who doesn’t love dumplings? This Pork Chop with Sauerkraut and Dumpling recipe was something I created many years ago, probably when I was in a panic to cook something after a long day at the office.  Before kids, I made this recipe a lot but the kids weren’t fond of sauerkraut as children, but as adults they love it!

It was time to give this recipe a whirl again.  I enjoyed it thoroughly but daughter Sarah and I both thought we would enjoy just the sauerkraut and dumplings alone just as much as with the pork chops.

PORK CHOPS WITH SAUERKRAUT AND CHEATER DUMPLINGS

4 to 6 pork chops
1 can sauerkraut with caraway seeds (or add your own caraway)
1 tube refrigerated biscuits

  • Brown pork chops in large skillet. Salt and pepper.
  • Add undrained sauerkraut and additional water to cover pork chops.
  • Simmer until pork chops are tender and cooked through.
  • Add water to cover pork chops, again and place biscuits on top of sauerkraut.

  • Cover and cook over medium heat until biscuits are cooked.

 

 

Family Favorites · New Favorite · New Traditions · Rheumatoid Arthritis · Vegan · Vegetarian

Roasted Vegetables…always!

cathysmaha2 Comments

Fresh Vegetables have grown on me over time.  As a kid I would rather leave them, than take them.  My Mother grew wonderful fresh vegetables and they were typically used fresh or boiled and served with butter or creamed.

Over the past few years I have grown to love roasted vegetables.  The flavor of the vegetable is enhanced and enriched with the roasting process.  This time, I roasted broccoli, red peppers, eggplant and onions.  No recipe, per se’, just a process I use with the fresh vegetables I have on hand.  Always delicious, always healthy, always easy.

ROASTED VEGETABLES

1 eggplant (peeled and diced) and sprinkled with salt
1 red pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 – 2 cups broccoli pieces
Olive Oil
Fresh ground salt and pepper
Seasoning of choice (optional)

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Prepare the vegetables and place on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil , salt and pepper.
  • Roast for 30-45 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through and browned. Turn the vegetables halfway through the baking process.
Family Favorites · My Roots

Peanut Blossoms…a Valentine’s kiss!

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Peanut Blossoms have been a family favorite since I was a child.  I loved them, my children love them and the tradition continues.  What beats the combination of peanut butter and chocolate!  It seems fitting to make a batch of peanut blossoms for your sweetheart with the famous Hershey KISSES as Valentine’s Day approaches.

I was curious about the origin of Hershey’s Kisses.  Per Wikipedia, Hershey’s Kisses milk chocolates were introduced in 1907. The candy got its name because the machine made kiss sounds as the chocolate kiss is created.

These cookies are good anytime of year.  What is sweeter than a Valentine’s ‘kiss’!

PEANUT BLOSSOMS 

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 egg
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
chocolate stars or chocolate kisses

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl (except chocolate) and mix on low speed until well blended. Shape in round balls and roll in sugar.
  • Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.
  • Remove cookies and press in chocolate star or kiss in each cookie while cookies are still hot.

Yield: 4 dozen

Czech Heritage and Dishes · Family Favorites · My Roots

Roasted Pork Loin … Savory Deliciousness!

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Roast Pork was a staple on the farm, most often served with mashed potatoes, gravy and our beloved sauerkraut.  I don’t make it as often any more, but thoroughly enjoyed roasting this beautiful pork loin, prepared with olive oil and Bohemian Forest Rub from our local spice shop, Savory Seasonings.

SAVORY ROAST PORK LOIN

4-5 pound pork loin
olive oil
garlic salt
Bohemian Forest Rub (Savory Seasonings) or rub or choice

Pork Loin ready for the oven

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Rub Pork Loin with Seasoning.
  • Roast pork, uncovered, for 3 hours or until internal temperature is at 180 degrees.
  • Let roast sit for 10-20 minutes before slicing.
Family Favorites

Chicken Divine

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Chicken Divine starts by roasting chicken breasts with savory rosemary making your mouth water, anticipating the great final dish to come.  This dish takes a while but you could easily bake the chicken breasts ahead of time.

I do not recall where I found this recipe but it’s been a family favorite for the past 20 years.  Pair Chicken Divine with a green salad, crusty bread and a nice glass of white wine.  Dinner is served!

CHICKEN DIVINE

3 whole chicken breasts
rosemary to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 sliced onion
1 pound fresh or frozen broccoli
3/4 cup raw rice, cooked

CHEESE SAUCE:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated, sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

SAUCE:

  • Melt butter, add flour and stir until smooth. Cook 2 minutes. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Add cheeses and seasonings.

CASSEROLE:

  • Sprinkle chicken with rosemary, salt and pepper. Bake chicken at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool. Skin, bone and slice.
  • Cook broccoli in water with salt and onion. Drain.
  • Layer chicken, then broccoli, then rice in buttered casserole.
  • Pour cheese sauce over entire dish. Add more grated Parmesan on top if desired.

  • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.