Sarah's Sweet and Saucy Cooking Secrets

I will get to it!

2008-10-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I am in the need to update my blog! It has been a while and I promise you there will be LOTS of posts. I have been baking lots of good food and yummy recipes. I have been really busy lately and I have been slacking big time. I promise you there will be lots of new stuff on here soon!

Banana Banana Bread

2008-02-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to make this banana bread for a long time now. I saw my very ripe bananas and knew I just had to make the recipe now. It was so easy to make and soooo yummy! My friend came over last night and almost ate half the loaf. She has it was the best banana bread she has had in a long time. It came out so moist! Was not dry at all!

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2008-01-31T06:21:00.001-08:00

Im baaaaack! I have not posted some cooking since November. I have been truly busy. I moved into my house in December and I have been busy ever since. I decided to make Chicken Cordon Bleu last night. It was pretty good though I am not a fan of swiss cheese. I am thinking maybe use a different kind next time.

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 slices Swiss cheese

4 slices cooked ham

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 7x11 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.

3. Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast. Roll up each breast, and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly with bread crumbs.

4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately.

Dorito Chicken

2007-11-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

Jeremy has been craving this recipe ever since he came across it. I finally made it for him and he loved it! I used cheese doritos. He told me that next time, we should try a different flavor of dorito chips. This recipe was so easy to make. I served this with italian potatoes and macaroni n cheese... YUMMMM

INGREDIENTS

1 Egg + 1 T water (egg wash)

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

3/4 cup crushed baked Doritos- I put the chips in a pan and crushed them with the bottom of a glass.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

Spray a baking pan with pam

Preheat oven to 350

Dip chicken in Egg wash and coat in Doritos

Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through.

Recipe from Iheartcooking and picture- my kitchen

Salsa Chicken

2007-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was planning to only cook for 2 adults and 1 child. It turned into 6 adults and 1 child in a 30 min period. I love cooking for my family. I saw this recipe on many other blogs and wanted to try it. It was so yummmmy! I also made spanish rice to go along with it. The rice was as good as the Mexican resturant that I eat at all the time.

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, skinless
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup low fat cheddar cheese
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tbsp cumin
1 green pepper, sliced

Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Brown chicken in skillet (no need to cook through). Toss chicken with seasonings, then add to casserole or baking dish. Add salsa and green pepper. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes. Add cheese and bake for an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Spanish Rice

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup chunky salsa

Directions

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.Mix rice into skillet, stirring often. When rice begins to brown, stir in chicken broth and salsa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed.

Recipe from Winointhekitchen and allrecipes.com Picture from my kitchen)

Baked Penne

2007-10-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

I love Italian food. I have seen this recipe and wanted to try it. It turned out so good! Jeremy, Jordan, and I kept eating it. Plus we have leftovers for lunch.

Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Penne pasta

1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 lb ground beef ,1/2 lb pork sausage
Salt, black pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes (all to taste)
12 oz cottage cheese (or ricotta if you prefer)
1/2 cup (4 oz) mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
8 slices provolone cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 and grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 casserole dish.- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, season water with salt, boil pasta till al dente; drain and set aside.- Meanwhile brown sausage and ground beef in skillet and season with desired amounts of salt, black pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes. Drain excess grease away from meats and return back to skillet. Add the jar of spaghetti sauce and let simmer until you are ready to assemble the dish.- Place enough sauce mixture on the bottom of the pan so the noodles won't stick. Then assemble the rest of the dish- half of the cooked noodles, all of the cottage cheese, 4 slices of provolone cheese, 1/2 of the remaining sauce, remaining noodles, half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, remaining sauce, remaining cheese.- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let set 10 minutes to cool before serving.

(recipe from Winosinthekitchen, picture- my kitchen)

Funfetti Cookies

2007-10-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is by far one of the BEST cookies I have made in a long time! They were so yummy! My whole family could not stop eating them.

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (I use Funfetti)

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil (I used canola oil)

Canned frosting and sprinkles (I used the funfetti frosting with sprinkles, you do not have to frost them)

Directions

Mix together the first 3 ingredients.

Roll the batter into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Flat with bottom of glass with flour to make an 1/4 inch cookie.

bake on 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool then frost them and add sprinkles.

(recipe- back of funfetti cake mix box, picture- my kitchen) Sorry the picture is blurry

Aunt Dody's Rum Cake

2007-10-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

This cake is a always a huge hit for parties. My mother made this for boss's day.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Cold water

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup Rum

1 cup pecans

1 box Super moist yellow cake mix

1 pks instant vanilla pudding

Glaze:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 water

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup rum

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325, grease and flour 12 cup bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan, mix remaining ingredients and pour over nuts. Bake 1 hour and cool. Prick holes in top of cake and pour 1/2 of glaze over. When cool, remove from pan and prick holes on balance of cake, pour balance of glaze.

Glaze: Melt butter, stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring, remove from heat and add rum.

(recipe from http://www.fooddownunder.com/ picture-my kitchen)

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

2007-10-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

I know I said this before, but I LOVE chicken! There are so many great recipes that you can do with this kind of poultry! My parents brought home a bottle of Jamaican Jerk BBQ sauce from Jamaica. Since it was nice out in the month of October, I cooked these on the grill. They were so easy to make. I made some steamed rice to go with it.

Ingredients:

Skinless boneless chicken breasts

Italian dressing

Jamaican Jerk sauce

Directions:

1. Spread a little of the italian dressing on the chicken so they dont stick on the grill.

2. Place the chicken on the grill. Cook for 6 min. Turn the chicken and coat the chicken with the Jamaican Jerk Sauce. Cook for 6 min then flip. Repeat and keep coating the chicken with the sauce until the chicken is done.

(Recipe-my mother, picture my kitchen)

Pot Roast and Pumpkin Pie

2007-10-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge fan of pot roast, but this actually came out really good and juicy. I am actually not a huge meat person, but my husband is. I actually took the picture after dinner in my husbands lunch container since I forgot to take a picture beforehand.

Pot Roast

INGREDIENTS
4 pounds boneless chuck roast
2 cups water
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped ( baby carrots was actually used nstead)

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Score roast on top and sides, and place in a medium sized oven bag. Combine water, soup mix, and Worcestershire sauce; pour over roast. Arrange vegetables around meat. Place oven bag on a roasting pan.
3. Place roast in oven, and immediately reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Bake for 1 1/2 hours for medium well done, or adjust time for desired doneness.

Pumpkin Pie

INGREDIENTS
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, EAGLE BRAND®, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.
2. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

(recipes from allrecipes.com and pictures from my kitchen)

Oven roasted red potatoes

2007-10-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

Jeremy loves these! I have made them with many meals as a side dish. Thanks to my mom, I know now how to even make mashed potatoes. She has tried numerous times to get me in the kitchen when I was younger to learn how to cook. She does such a great job. I have been learning so much now and actually paying attention to the stuff that she makes. Sometimes I feel like an idiot because these things are so easy.

INGREDIENTS
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
2 pounds red potatoes, halved
1/3 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. In a large plastic bag, combine the soup mix, red potatoes and olive oil. Close bag, and shake until potatoes are fully covered.
3. Pour potatoes into a medium baking dish; bake 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally.

(recipe from allrecipes.com, picture- my kitchen)

Banana Crumb Muffins

2007-10-12T11:27:00.001-07:00

I got this recipe a few months ago and I am going to make them soon. They look so yummy!

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

(Recipe and picture from allrecipes.com)

Roast Beef

2007-10-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

MMMM, I love roast beef! I made this for dinner last night and it came out perfect. I bought a 3 lb bottom round roast beef yesterday at the store. This is easy to make. I made mashed potatoes and green bean caserole.

Ingredients:

Roast beef (bottom or top round)

salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Place the roast beef in a cooking dish the with fat on top (lets the juices run down the roast)

3. Put salt and pepper to season

4. Cook 20 min/lb. This took a little over an hour for a 3lb roast

(Recipe- my mom and picture- my kitchen)

Parmesan Chicken

2007-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love chicken! Parmesan chicken is so easy and it is a favorite in our household. Jordan can not get enough of it! Its his favorite food. Too bad he was not with us Monday when I made this meal.

Ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken

2 eggs

flour

seasoned bread crumbs

Parmesan Cheese

Shredded mozzarella Cheese

Olive Oil

Marinara sauce

Directions:

1. Set Oven to 350 degrees, Cook for 45min- 1 hour

2. Whisk the egg in a bowl and place some parmesan cheese in with the egg

3. Set 2 different plates. One for the flour and the other for the bread crumbs

4. Place the chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs.

5 Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet to brown the chicken

6. Place some marinara on the bottom of the cooking dish. Place the chicken on top

7. Cover again with more sauce.

8. Add the mozzarella cheese when there is 10 minutes left on the chicken

I will usually add a caeser salad and noodles with this meal.

(recipe from my mother and picture my kitchen)

Beer Butt Chicken

2007-10-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is a MUST try if you have not done so already. The meat comes out so juicy! My mom is making this for dinner tonight for the family. From the request of my husband. He is getting spoiled this week. I will update later with a picture. Here is the recipe. This is from allrecipes.com. My mom does add a potatoe on the top of the chicken.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
1/2 (4 pound) whole chicken

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat an outdoor grill for low heat.
2. In a small skillet, melt 1/2 cup butter. Mix in 1 tablespoon garlic salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Discard 1/2 the beer, leaving the remainder in the can. Add remaining butter, garlic salt, paprika, and desired amount of salt and pepper to beer can. Place can on a disposable baking sheet. Set chicken on can, inserting can into the cavity of the chicken. Baste chicken with the melted, seasoned butter.
4. Place baking sheet with beer and chicken on the prepared grill. Cook over low heat for about 3 hours, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).

**Updated** Here is the picture! Came out juicy as always!

Parmesean crusted Pork Chops

2007-10-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made my husband's favorite meal, pork chops! It is not my favorite kind of food, but since I love him so dearly and this is his birthday week, he will get what he wants. Plus the recipe for this is YUMMY, it makes me wonder why I never used to like them. I made smothered green beans, oven roasted potatoes, and biscuits with apple butter.

Pork Chops
Ingredients:

2 large eggs
3/4 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
4 pork chops
salt and pepper
3 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

Whisk the eggs in a bowl to blend. Place the bread crumbs in a plate. Place the parmesan cheese in another plate. Sprinkle the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Coat the chops completely with the cheese, patting to adhere. Dip the chops into the egg, then coat completely with the bread crumbs, patting to adhere.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pork chops, in batches if necessary, and cook until golden brown, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to a plate and serve with lemon wedges.

Smothered Green Beans

Ingredients:

4 thick slices bacon, chopped
1/3 cup onions, minced
3/4 teaspoon minced garlic
11 ounces fresh green beans
2/3 cup water
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 pinch ground black pepper

Directions:

Place bacon in a large deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until the fat begins to render. Stir in onions and garlic; let cook for 1 minute. Stir in beans and water. Let the beans cook until the water has evaporated and the beans are tender. If the beans are not tender once the water has evaporated, add a small amount more water and let them cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper (to taste) and serve.

Tip: I actually cooked the bacon first and drained out the extra fat except for maybe a tablespoon amount. I then put them aside until green beans were almost done and threw in the bacon.

This was very easy to make and yummy!

Recipe from allrecipes.com. Picture from my kitchen.

Monkey Bread

2007-10-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have heard so many raves about this breakfast food. This is a must try! Thank you Lorena for introducing me this recipe.
picture and recipe by http://foodbylorena.blogspot.com/2007/10/monkey-bread.html

Ingredients:

3 cans buttermilk biscuits (I used Pillsbury 50-cal biscuits)
1 cup cinnamon-sugar (1 cup white sugar, 1 tablespoon or more cinnamon)
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter

Cooking instructions:

Cut biscuits into 4 pieces each.
Roll each piece in cinnamon sugar (or put into ziploc bag and shake to coat).
Put into bundt or angel food pan.
Cook brown sugar and butter until caramelized.
Pour over biscuits
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Sweet N Sour Chicken

2007-10-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 pkg. onion soup mix
½ jar Smuckers Apricot preserves
2 chicken, cut up
½ bottle Kraft Russian Dressing
¼ can frozen orange juice (optional)
(Do not mix with water!!)

Directions:

Mix all of the above ingredients. Dip chicken in mixture. Pour the rest over all. Bake in oven UNCOVERED at 350-400 degrees for 1-2 hours until brown.

Noodle Kugel

2007-10-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful side dish.

Ingredients:

1 bag Wide egg noodles Cooked. (Do not rinse)
6 lg. apples peeled (cored chopped)
1 C sugar
1 C sour cream
4 eggs (beaten)
1 C raisin
2 tsp. Cinnamon

Directions:

Place cook noodles in a bowl. Mix all ingredients. Melt 1 stick margarine and pour in 9 x 13 baking dish. Add noodle mixture. Sprinkle with more cinnamon. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Fruit Pizza

2007-10-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite desserts. My mom got the recipe from pampered chef.

Ingredients:

1 Pkg. Pillsbury Ref. Sugar cookies 1 (8oz) cream cheese
¼ C sugar 2 Tbs. Cinnamon
Fresh Fruit: Strawberry, Kiwi, mandarin oranges, bananas, pineapple, or any other variety of fruits.

Directions:

Slice cookie dough and place on cookie sheet to cover entire cookie sheet. (I use a round cooking sheet). Bake in 350 degrees until brown. (See time on directions on cookies) and let stand cool. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and cinnamon. Spread over cooled cookie dough. Place sliced fruit over cream cheese. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Slice into squares.

Chicken Alfredo

2007-10-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

I LOVE chicken and pasta! What a great combination with a wonderful taste!

Ingredients:
3 whole chicken breasts 3 eggs, beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour ½ C grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
3 Tbls. Water ½ teaspoon salt
¼ C sniped parsley 3 Tbls. Butter or margarine
1 C bread crumbs 6 slices mozzarella cheese
2 Tbls. Vegetable oil

Cheese sauce:

1 cup whipping cream ¼ C water
¼ C butter or margarine ½ C grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
¼ C snipped parsley

Directions:
1. Coat chicken with flour. Mix eggs, water, cheese, parsley, and salt. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then into bread crumbs. Then heat butter and oil in a large skillet. Cook chicken breasts over medium heat until brown, about 15 min. Remove chicken to a baking dish, 11 ¾ x 7 ½ inches. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Make cheese sauce as follows. Heat cream, water, and butter in a 1 quart saucepan until butter melts. Add cheese; cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Stir in parsley.

3. Pour cheese sauce over chicken. Top each piece with a slice of cheese. Bake until cheese melts and chicken is tender, about 8 minutes.

4. Make some noodles and VOILA!

BBQ Pulled Chicken

2007-10-02T07:47:00.001-07:00

This is very easy and simple to make. Very yummy! We had this for dinner last night with some corn on the cob.

Ingredients:
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts
Half a bottle of BBQ sauce ( I use Sweet Baby Rays)
Dash of Salt and pepper
Hamburger buns

Directions:
1. Place chicken breasts, along with salt and pepper to taste, in a large pot of water and boil until fully cooked through. (Time will vary depending on whether you are using fresh or frozen chicken.)
2. Once the chicken is cooked, pull the meat apart until it is thickly shredded. Place the pulled chicken in a large bowl.
3. Add BBQ sauce until the chicken is fully coated.
4. Place on hamburger buns.

This makes approx. 6 sandwiches.

Someone's in the kitchen!

2007-10-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

I am new to this so bare with me. I have been starting to love cooking and gather new recipes to try. My Mom has always been a wonderful cook and I never seemed to inherit those skills. Now that I am married and have a family, I want to learn and create more meals!