Best Whole Grain and Nut Pancakes

 My most favorite pancakes ever! The oats and walnuts make them so light compared to the usual whole wheat pancakes. And They're so good for you! I am thinking about experimenting with changing the oil and sugar content.....

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Grind the oats in a blender or food processor until fine. In a large bowl, combine ground oats, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, milk, oil, egg, and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix wet ingredients into dry with a few swift strokes. Stir in nuts, if desired.
3. Lightly oil a skillet or griddle, and preheat it to medium heat. Ladle 1/3 cup of the batter onto the hot skillet; cook the pancakes for 2 to 4 minutes per side, or until brown. 

Roasted Corn Salad

• 3 ears sweet corn
• 1/2 cut fresh basil
• 1 c cucumber cubed
• 1 c tomato cubed
• 1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
• 2 TBSP lime juice
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• extra olive oil for grilling

Brush corn with olive oil and grill, either on a grill or under the broiler until kernels are brown and begin to pop. Slice corn off of cob and combine in a bowl with basil, cucumber, and tomatoes. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Toss the salad with the sauce and refrigerate until chilled. 

Dutch Apple Pie

• 6 cups sliced, peeled, tart apples
• 3/4 cup sugar
  
• dash of salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  
• 2 Tbsp. margarine
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 crust pastry (9”)

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Stir in apples. Turn into pastry lined pie plate; dot w/margarine. Cover with crumble topping. Cover edge w/foil; remove foil last 15 min. of baking. Bake until crust and juice begins to bubble around the edge, 40 to 50 min.

Chicken Noodle Soup

• 2 breasts, 4 thighs, or 2 leg quarters
• 2 1/2 quarts water
• 2 T chicken bouillon
• 2 tsp sugar
• 4 celery
• 4 carrots
• salt and pepper to taste
  

Grandma Swenson's Homemade Noodles:

• 1 cup flour
  
• 1 egg
• 2 T butter
• 1/2 egg shell water

Add all ingredients except noodles to a pot. After chicken is cooked thoroughly, take the meat from the bones and return the meat to the soup. Mix together noodle ingredients, knead. Roll out very thin and slice into strips. Add to soup. Bring to a boil and cook until noodles are done.

Mexican Rice

• 1 generous cup of rice
  
• 2 1/2 c. hot water
• 2 1/2 t. chicken bouillon
  
• 1/3 c. oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
  
• 1 t. garlic powder
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
  
• 1/4 of a green pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 c. tomato puree (I use tomato sauce)

Heat oil in a frying pan. Brown rice and onion until rice becomes a golden transparent color--not too brown! Drain off oil. Put rice/onion mixture and all other ingredients into rice cooker and cook as usual, or, if preparing without a rice cooker, add other ingredients to the frying pan and simmer until done.

Grandpa McAndrew’s Irish Soda Bread (aka Spotted Dog)

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 t baking soda
• 2 T white sugar
  
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 c buttermilk
  
• 2 T margarine, melted
• 1/2 c raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pie tin. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and sugar. Toss the raisins with the flour mixture until coated. Make a well in the center and add the egg, buttermilk, and melted margarine. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are absorbed. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a few quick turns just to even out the dough. Handle the dough as little as possible. Pat into a flat circle, and place into the prepared pan. Bake the bread for 40 to 45 min. in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden

Whole Wheat Bread

• 2 eggs at room temp. plus enough 80 degree water to equal 1 cup and 2 tablespoons
• 2 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
  
• 3 Tbs. honey
• 1 Tbs. yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups + 3 Tbs. whole wheat flour

Use bread machine or mix eggs & water, oil, honey, yeast, and water in one bowl, and flour and salt in another bowl. Let yeast sit for 5 minutes. Add wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix together. Knead and then let rest 1 hr. Knead a 2nd time and let rise 1/2 hr. Punch down and let rise 15 min. Punch down and let rise 45 min. Bake at 350 degrees.

Honey Mustard Chicken

• 6-8 chicken breast (halves)
• 1 cube butter, melted
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup prepared mustard
• 2 Tbs. curry powder

Mix and pour over chicken. Bake at 325 for 1 1/2 hrs. Serves 6-8

Crisp Waffles

• 2 eggs (or egg whites)
  
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 2 cups milk
  
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 cup oil (or applesauce)
  
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups white flour (or 1/2 cup white & 1/2 cup wheat)

Heat waffle iron. Beat eggs with hand beater until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth. Pour batter from cup onto center of hot waffle iron. Bake until steaming stops, about 5 min. Remove waffle carefully.

Cranberry Chicken

• 8-9 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (or 3-3 1/2 lbs. chicken tenders)
• 1 16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce
• 1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
• 1 16 oz. bottle Catalina style French dressing

Wash and dry chicken. Place in 9 x 13 pan. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1-1 1/4 hours.

Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert

• One small package Oreo’s
• 2 Tblsp. melted butter
• 2 half-gallons peppermint candy ice cream

Crush cookies and add 2 Tblsp melted butter. Press into 9x13 pan. Freeze for 30 minutes or longer. Soften ice cream about 20 minutes. Spread ice cream over crust. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze. Serve with whipped topping and chocolate sauce drizzled over it.

Enchiladas

• 8 to 10 tortillas
• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 medium onion
• 1/2 cup dairy sourcream
• 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
• sprinkle of dried parsley
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
• 2/3 cup water
  
• 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
  
• 1 Tblsp. chili powder
  
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  
• Tomato-Chili Sauce (see end)

Brown hamburger and onion together. Drain. Add sour cream, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper and mix. Set aside. In a sauce pan combine remaining ingredients except Tomato-Chili Sauce. Heat to boiling stirring occasionally; reduce heat to simmering, simmer 5 minutes. Pour sauce into a pie pan. Dip tortillas in sauce, fill with 1/4 cup filling, and roll up. Place in a 9x13 pan. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas --cook uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Tomato-Chili Sauce

• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  
• 1 to 3 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
  
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 bunch cilantro
  
• onion, chopped (to taste)
• sprinkle of garlic powder
  
• salt and pepper to taste

Combine and chill. Store covered in fridge no longer than a week. Chopped avocado is also good in this.

I've always wanted to create a vegetarian version of this using beans and rice....

Trout Almondine

• 8 to 12 trout fillets
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 Tblsp. oil
  
• 6 Tblsp. butter
• 1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 Tblsp. lemon juice

Rinse fillets. Combine egg and milk. Dip fish in flour, egg-milk mixture, then in flour again. In a large skillet heat together oil and 2 Tblsp. butter. Fry trout in hot oil mixture until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork. In a skillet, cook almonds in remaining butter until nuts are golden brown. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice. Place trout on platter to serve; pour almond mixture over.

Mitzi's Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

Brownie batter:

• 1 c. margarine
• 1/3 c. cocoa
• 2 c. sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
  
• 1 1/2 c. flour

Cream margarine, cocoa, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Add flour and mix. Set aside.

Cheesecake:

• 2 8oz. pkgs. cream cheese
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 c. sugar
  
• 2 eggs

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs. Mix well. Grease and flour 9x13 pan. Spread 1/2 brownie batter into pan. On top of this drop big spoonfuls of cheesecake and brownie until each batter is used up. Take a utensil and run it through the batters to make a swirl design (don’t mix up to much!) Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes or until done.

Fajitas

• 1 medium to large onion, sliced
• 1 medium to large green pepper, sliced (red & yellow are great, too!)
• 1 can black beans
  
• taco or fajita seasoning mix packet
• tortillas

Directions:

Saute’ onions and peppers together with cooking spray or oil. Add chicken and crained beans when veggies are tender. Add seasoning mix (I use 1/2 packet) and water to chicken, beans, and veggies.. Stir and cook until all are well coated and water is mostly gone. Crisp tortillas in a frying pan if desired. Serve fajita filling in tortillas w/refried beans, sour cream, fresh tomatoes, salsa, taco sauce, guacamole, whatever you like!

Angel Hair Capellini with Marinara

Capellini: Bring water to a rapid boil. Salt can be added if desired. Add angel hair, return to rapid boil. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, 3-4 minutes. Drain. For salads and baked dishes, rinse in cold water, drain. For pour-over sauces, rinse in hot water. Drain.

Marinara Sauce:

• 1 c. chopped onion
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 c. olive oil
  
• 2 quart jars of tomatoes
• 1 Tbs. dried parsley
  
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• 1 Tbs. basil
  
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 small can tomato paste

Saute’ onion & garlic in oil until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Scalloped Potatoes

• 6 potatoes, sliced thinly
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can cream of chicken soup mixed with 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup grated cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Layer ingredients in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Top with cheese and return to the oven until cheese melts

Cinnamon Rolls

Combine:

• 1 cup mashed potatoes
  
• 1 cup warm water
  
• 2 Tblsp. yeast

Let stand. Scald:

• 1 cup milk
  
• 2 tsp. salt
  
• 2 Tblsp. butter

Mix above ingredients into 3 cups of flour. Add:

• 3 beaten eggs
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 6 Tblsp. shortening
  

Directions:

Add 5-6 cups flour until you have soft dough. Let rise ‘til double. Roll out on floured board; spread w/melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Roll up and cut into 2” slices. Place into pan and let rise until double. Bake at 325 degrees. Check at 30 minutes--keep checking until center rolls are done.

Glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  
• 2 Tblsp. margarine
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
• 1 tsp almond extract
  
• 1 to 2 Tblsp. water

Clam Chowder

• 1 medium onion
  
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 Tblsp. melted butter
  
• 2 cans clams with liquid
• 3 cups water
  
• 3 tsp. chicken bouillion
• 1 cup clam juice
  
• 3 med. potatoes
• 5 Tblsp. melted butter
  
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
  
• 1 cup half & half
• dash thyme
  
• dash salt/dash pepper

Directions:

Saute onion and celery in 3 Tblsp. butter until transparent. Add liquid from clams, clam juice, chicken broth and potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Melt butter in pan, add flour. Mix in milk and half & half until smooth. Add to clam mixture and stir as it thickens. Add clams & seasonings.

(can substitute skimmilk for milk and half &half to lower fat content of recipe)

Pecan Pie

• 3 eggs
• 2/3 c. sugar
• dash of salt
• 1 c. dark corn syrup
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup pecan halves
• Pastry for a single crust pie

Directions:

In a mixing bowl beat eggs slightly with a rotary beater or fork. Add sugar and salt; stir until dissolved. Stir in corn syrup and melted butter; mix well. Stir in pecan. Place a 9” pie crust on a oven rack; pour in pecan mixture. Do not prick pie crust! Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 min. Remove foil; bake about 25 min. more or until knife inserted off center comes out clean. Cool. Cover; chill to store