Turkey and Rice Casserole

Posted on December 28, 2011 by okieranchwife

I know that many people like do something different from turkey for the big Christmas meal. But this year my husband wanted turkey again. So I have frozen leftovers from Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is a nice easy dish for a one baking dish meal.

  • 2 cups cooked bite size pieces Turkey
  • 1 1/2 cups homemade or store bought Gravy
  • 2 cups cooked White or Brown Rice
  • 1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 cups Broccoli florets
  • 1 large clove Garlic, peeled and pressed
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground Sage or 5 fresh leaves fine chopped
  • Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine turkey, rice, gravy, 1/2 cup cheese, broccoli and seasonings in a medium bowl and mix well. Scoop into a greased 8X8 baking dish or similar size casserole dish. Cover with rest of cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until cooked through and brown on top.

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Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2011 by okieranchwife

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas packed full of good wishes, good times and good food!

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New Post

Posted on December 22, 2011 by okieranchwife

Please check back last on Friday for more recipes. We had several doctors appointments over the past week. Sooooo, I will make it up to you tomorrow.

Thank you for understanding!

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Cheese Puffed Mashed Potatoes

Posted on December 19, 2011 by okieranchwife

A friend gave me an old back issue of the Grit magazine from 2006. I always go to the recipe section before I read anything else. This time I found this little gem for mashed potatoes. This is going to be on our Christmas table!  I added the cheese.

  • 1 Egg, separated
  • 2 cups Mashed Potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon Butter
  • 1/2 (or more) grated Cheese of your choice. I like Cheddar or Gruyère

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter 2 quart baking dish.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Beat egg yolk until light and creamy. Fold egg white and yolk into the mashed potatoes. Heap into the baking dish. COver with grated cheese and dot with butter. Bake for 30 minutes. Can be easily doubled for company.

 

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Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies

Posted on December 14, 2011 by okieranchwife

This is such as easy recipe for great tasting cookies. Great at Christmas but wonderful at any time of the year!

  • 2 sticks Butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup Sugar or Splenda
  • 1/2 cup packed Dark Brown Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 3 cups Oatmeal
  • 2 cups Butterscotch pieces

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a large mixing bowl or your stand mixer, mix the butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla nd beat well. In a different bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt.  Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Mix in oatmeal and butterscotch pieces.

Using a tablespoon, drop batter onto ungreased cookies sheets. Bake 8 minutes for chewy cookies. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Transfer to airtight container.

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Spicy Apple Butter Muffins

Posted on December 11, 2011 by okieranchwife

In the fall I always try to can apple butter, unfortunately, I could not do that this year. But I still have some jars from last fall sitting in cupboard just waiting to be used. If you don’t have apple butter, you can substitute apple sauce but the muffins will have a less intense spice.

  • 1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated Nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt or Kosher
  • 2 large Eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 stick and 3 tablespoons melted Butter, unsalted
  • 1 cup Apple Butter
  • 1 cup chopped Nuts, your choice (I use our own Black Walnuts)

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Mix together the first 7 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together eggs and brown sugar until well mixed. Add in apple butter. In a steady stream add melted butter and whisk until well combined and creamy.  Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until blended. Add nuts. Stir until mixed. Evenly divide the batter into muffin tins, using non-stick or muffin papers.  Bake about 20 minutes until golden.  Cool and garnish with your choice of frosting. I love cream cheese frosting with these.

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Horseradish Cream Sauce

Posted on December 11, 2011 by okieranchwife

My husband and I are normally not “sauce” people when we have steaks, but we make an exception for this sauce. Equally great on beef or bison!

  • 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt or Kosher
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red Cayenne Pepper or Black Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream (go for it use the full fat type!)
  • 2 tablespoons Prepared Horseradish, drained

Whisk all ingredients together. You can warm this gently or chill it whatever your preference.

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Cilantro Vinaigrette

Posted on December 7, 2011 by okieranchwife

I like using this slightly spicy vinaigrette instead of store-bought salad dressing. Goes great with a salad made of romaine.

  • 1/3 cup White Wine Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Cilantro, chopped fine
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh Thyme, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Red Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine Sea Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 3/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Whisk together all ingredients except the EVOO. After whisking gradually add the EVOO in a steady while whisking all together. Serve immediately. Makes about a cup.

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Blue Cheese Chicken Salad

Posted on December 3, 2011 by okieranchwife

I confess I love Blue Cheese. Yes, I know, I know, it’s an acquired taste. But team it with BACON!  Ohhhhh!

  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil Mayonnaise (add a bit more if you think it is too dry)
  •  1 1/2 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
  • 6 ozs crumbles Blue Cheese
  • 2 1/2 cup cooked diced Chicken
  • 6 strips thick cut Bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 1/2 cups Grapes, cut in half
  • 1 medium Apple, un peeled & diced (I like Granny Smith)
  • 2 ribs Celery, fine diced
  • fresh Flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped
  • Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Sunflower or Pumpkin Seeds to garnish

In a large bowl mix the mayo, vinegar and blue cheese. Mix well. Add the rest of ingredients except seeds. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with seeds before serving.

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Hearty Minestrone

Posted on December 2, 2011 by okieranchwife

There is bad weather heading across Oklahoma this weekend. And this is a soup that will warm you up!

  • 2 ribs Celery, chopped
  • 2 large Carrots, chopped
  • 1 large Potato, unpeeled and diced
  • 1 large Red Onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
  • 1 can (14 ozs) Italian style Tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 quarts low sodium Chicken stock
  • 3 cloves Garlic, peeled and pressed
  • 1 medium Zucchini, sliced
  • 1/4 pound fresh Green Beans, cut to 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup or 1 can cooked White Beans, Northern or Canolinni
  • 1 cup Shell Pasta
  • 1 teaspoon dried Marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon dried Oregano
  • Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

Saute the celery, carrot, potato and onion in the EVOO in a large soup pot over medium. Cook for about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, chicken stock and garlic. mix well and cook for 20 minutes. Add the zucchini and beans. Cook for 5 minutes. Add pasta and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. cook for 10 minutes.  Turn off the heat and the soup stand for 10 minutes to blend the taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheese.

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