Doug's Famous Texas Sheet Cake

 

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c sour cream

2 eggs

1 cup butter

1 cup water

5 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

FROSTING

5 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

6 TBSP milk

1/2 C butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 c chopped walnuts

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch pan.

• Step 2

  Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in the sour cream and eggs. Set aside. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan, add the water and 5 tablespoons cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir cocoa mixture into the egg mixture, mixing until blended.

• Step 3

  Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

• Step 4

  For the icing: In a large saucepan, combine the milk, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1/2 cup butter. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then fold in the nuts, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake.

Recipe Source

All Recipes

Orange Dipping Sauce (for Coconut Shrimp & Spring Rolls)

 

1/2 c orange marmalade

1/4 c honey

1/4 c dijon mustard

4 drops hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)

Mix orange marmalade, honey, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce in a bowl. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

All Recipes

Holiday Chex Mix

 

3 cups Rice Chex cereal

3 cups Corn Chex cereal

3 cups Golden Graham cereal

1 1/2 cups mixed unsalted, or lightly salted nuts (a nut blend is really good!)

2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup melted salted butter

1 tsp vanilla (optional)

1.  In a large mixing bowl, toss together the Rice Chex cereal, Corn Chex cereal, Golden Graham cereal, mixed nuts and coconut.  

2.  In a medium sauce pan combine granulated sugar, butter and corn syrup.  

3.  Bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.  Allow mixture to boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

4.  Remove from heat and carefully pour sugar mixture over cereal mixture and toss evenly to coat.  

5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.  

Tips for this Recipe

• Don’t just simmer the mixture for 2 minutes let it come to a boil then start counting down the two minutes.
• Don’t skip the coconut even if you aren’t normally a fan. It’s not overpowering here, it blends in with the flavors nicely.
• You can use one type of nut, but if you have multiple on hand go for a blend. Peanuts, sliced/slivered almonds, cashews, pecans or walnuts are all great choices.
• You can use unsalted butter if that’s what you’ve got on hand. Then just add a heaping 1/4 tsp salt to the sugar mixture before cooking.

Recipe Source:

Cooking Classy

Crab Salad

 

1 pound imitation crab

1 shallot minced (or sub red onion)

1/2 c mayonnaise

1/2 c celery minced

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dill

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1.  In a large bowl, add all the ingredients together gently, stirring until well coated.  

2.  Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.  

Recipe Source:

Dinner Then Dessert

Shonk's Green Bean Casserole

 

Makes one large 8 x 10 pan big enough for leftovers

Can half recipe if serving a smaller group

2 cans (10 1/2 oz) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 C milk

2 tsp soy sauce

dash of black pepper

8 cups cooked cut green beans (I like French cut beans from the freezer section)

2 containers French's French Fried Onions

about 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but makes it yum!)

Step 1:  Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, thawed green beans and cheese in an 8x10 casserole dish.  Cover with aluminum foil.  

Step 2: Bake at 350 degrees for 40ish minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling.  If halving the recipe, only 25ish minutes are needed for baking.  

Step 3: Uncover.  Add second container of French Fried Onions on top.  Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.  

Recipe source: Campbells.com

Meatballs

I recently made this recipe when our local tiny commissary in South Korea was out of meatballs and I needed them for a baby shower for my friend Diana!  Many people said they liked them and I realized maybe I should make homemade meatballs more often vs buying store bought ones haha!  This recipe is easy and versatile.  Use these for party meatballs, spaghetti and meatballs, meatballs subs, etc. My new go-to meatball recipe!

1 beaten egg 

1/2 c bread crumbs (Garlic & Herb for party meatballs, Italian for spaghetti)

1/4 c finely chopped onion

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp black pepper

8 oz lean ground beef

If putting meatballs in a sauce of some kind, you don't need to add any additional salt.  If you were having them as a stand alone item without any sauce, add a little bit of salt, maybe 1/2 tsp or so.  

Place all items in a big bowl and mix with hands until well combined.  Then form standard sized meatballs (about golf ball sized or a little smaller)  and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Recipe Source: Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, page 492 (adapted by me)

Picture Source: I Heart Nap Time

Apple Fritters

 My husband made it for me for Mother's Day and he said that the hardest part was getting the oil temperature right.  They were SO yummy!!


Servings: 35 donut holes
prep time: 13 minutes
cook time: 2 minutes

Fritter Ingredients
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c buttermilk
1/4 c granulated sugar
3 TBS melter butter
1 15 oz can apple pie filling

3-4 C vegetable oil for frying

Glaze for Apple Fritters:
1/4 c whole milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 c powdered sugar

Glaze Instructions:

1. Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm. Sift confectioners' sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined. Remove the glaze from the heat and set over a bowl of warm water. Dip doughnuts into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan for 5 minutes before serving.
2. 
   

FRITTER INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Prepare glaze.  Leave glaze in pot on stove to stay warm.  Cut up apples from apple pie filling.  Set aside.

2.  Pour 1/2 inch oil into a large sauté pan or pot and heat over medium heat to 350-360 degrees, keeping an eye on it as it is heating. Meanwhile, prepare the donut dough.

2.  In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.

3.  Separately whisk together buttermilk and melted butter.  Pour buttermilk mixture into flour mixture and using a fork, stir in dry ingredients and mix just until combined (be careful not to over-work dough).  Add in cut up apple pie filling (the amount of apples you add from the pie filling can is up to you), stirring gently.

4.  Gently roll dough into 1/2 Tbsp balls.  Once the oil has reached 350 degrees F, fry about 1/2 the balls at a time.

5.  Fry until just golden brown on bottom, then flip and cook reverse side until golden brown.

6.  Carefully remove with a spider strainer or metal tongs and drain onto a paper towel lined baking sheet.

7.   While the fritters are still hot, roll them in glaze and set on lined tray.


*If desired, you can leave out the cinnamon and apples and make into regular donut holes.  Roll in sugar after frying if desired instead of glaze.

Glaze Recipe Source: Food Network
Picture Source: Souffle Bombay