Catherine's Recipe Box

Note: This is delicious for any meal of the day.  It also re-heats well in the toaster oven or microwave. Ingredients 1 unbaked pie shell 1/2 c  Mayonnaise  or  Miracle  Whip 1/2 c Milk 4 eggs, lightly beaten 8oz cheese (cheddar, swiss, mozzerella all work well) 14oz of cooked veggies (spinach, mushrooms, & onions is my favorite combo) 4oz cooked meat (ham or turkey) - optional Directions Set oven to 400degF. Whisk  Mayonnaise, Milk, and eggs together in a bowl. Put unbaked pie shell in a pie plate and place pie plate on a cookie sheet for easy transfer into the oven. Layer veggies, meat, and cheese into the pie plate. Slowly pour egg mixture over top of the veggies letting the egg get in between all the veggies. Bake covered for 45 minutes.  Uncover and bake for 10-15 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let set 5-10 minutes before cutting. source: inspiration from many online recipes, but I claim this as my own!

Note: This was delicious and moist. Next time, though, I will set the rack lower in the oven because the top got a little too done. Ingredients 2 cups flour (all-purpose, whole-wheat, or a mixture of both) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or butter) 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten 3-4 bananas, mashed 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 Tablespoons milk Directions Stir together dry ingredients. Beat together remaining ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until just combined. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack. source: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/06/baking-day-waffles-and-banana-bread.html

Note:  I made this for a church gathering and it was a big hit.  It also reheated well as I made it the night before. Ingredients 3 cups quick cooking oats ½ cup brown sugar 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter 2 eggs 2 teaspoons baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ginger ¼ teaspoon cloves ¾ cup canned pumpkin ¼ cup brown sugar (for the top) Directions In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top. Spread into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with milk and enjoy! source:   http://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2010/11/baked-pumpkin-oatmeal.html

Note: This is less of a recipe and more like instructions!  They are simple to put together and I had dinner on the table after about 5 minutes of prep work and 15 minutes in the oven.  Serve with normal breakfast fare. Ingredients 1 egg per egg puff 1 slice of ham or other deli meat per egg puff, thinly sliced 1 handful of shredded cheese (cheddar is my favorite, but any kind will work!) Optional - your favorite omelet fillings Directions 1) Preheat the oven to 375.  It will probably take longer for the oven to heat than for you to put these together! 2) Take out your muffin tin and line one cup with ham per egg puff you are making.  Spread them out if you are not using the whole pan. 3) Crack an egg into each lined cup.  If you prefer scrambled, scramble up the egg before you pour it in. *Optional Step* Put a few pieces of omelet fillings in each cup - a few pieces of pepper, mushroom or even more ham! 4) Top each cup with a handful of shredded ...

Note: These were delicious!  I have never had banana pancakes before and it was like having banana bread in the form of a pancake.  Delish!  This recipe made about 10 large pancakes (I used my ice cream scoop to portion out the batter), so double it if you need to. Ingredients 2 bananas, mashed 1/2 cup milk 1 cups flour* ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 1 eggs ¼ tsp salt *If your bananas were frozen, add another 1/2 cup of flour to account for the extra liquid that usually results from defrosting. Directions 1)  Beat together wet ingredients (mashed bananas, milk, and eggs) and add the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined. 2) Heat your pan or skillet to medium heat (about 350 if you have an electric griddle) and cook as usual.  I portion the batter with an ice cream scoop.  After the batter has been on the skillet for about 15-30 seconds, this is the time to add in some chocolate chips, blueberries or whatever you like! 3)These do...

Note: The dough was hard to roll out, so definitely err on the side of 1/2 cup of milk!  You could always add more flour if it ends up too sticky. Ingredients 3 c. flour 1 T. baking powder 1/2 t. salt 1/2 c. butter or margarine, cut into pieces 1/3 – 1/2 c. milk 1 lb. bulk pork sausage, cooked, drained and crumbled small 2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded Directions 1) In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.  2) Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly.  3) Add milk as need until a soft but not sticky dough forms. Knead dough one minute. 4) Divide dough in half and roll out. Top with half of the sausage and half of the cheddar.  5) Roll up jelly roll style and slice into pieces, about an inch thick.  6) Place onto a cookie sheet lined with foil and greased. 7)  Repeat steps 4-6 with the second half of dough and fillings. 8) Bake at 375 degrees for 15 – 18 minutes, until golden brown. source:   http://st...

Note: These are a great quick breakfast when you need something you can hold in your hand. They take a whole 3-5 minutes to put together depending on your meat. Ingredients 1 English Muffin or biscuit 1 Egg Cheese (whatever kind you like. Cheddar or American work well) Sausage, bacon, or ham (optional) butter, for spreading Directions 1) Crack an egg into a glass, microwave-safe custard dish*, and beat well. 2) Prepare the meat for the sandwich and toast your English muffin & butter it. Have the cheese at the ready! 3) Microwave the egg (cover it!) for 2 minutes on high. You will hear popping and sizzling - it's Okay! 4) Carefully remove the egg from the microwave with a pot holder - the glass is HOT! 5) Add cheese on top of the egg quickly so that it can melt. 6) Remove the egg from the custard cup carefully with a butter knife or a fork. 7) Assemble your sandwich and enjoy! *If you don't have a custard dish, any microwave-safe glass dish will work as long as it is app...

Note: I didn't get a picture because they were gone SO FAST. Mike never had crepes before and I was going to make them this weekend whether I was out of all purpose flour or not! This recipe convinced me that whole wheat flour can do no wrong. They were light, smooth, rich, and everything a crepe should be. Other than the slightly-dark color, you would never know these were whole wheat. Seriously. I did modify this a bit, of course, but only because I knew I wanted them on the sweet side. Ingredients 3 eggs 1 cup milk 1/4 cup water 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 2 T. melted butter (butter for the pan) Directions 1) Whisk all ingredients together VERY WELL. 2) (optional step) Refrigerate the batter for 30 minutes or more for a more tender crepe. 3) Heat pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, butter it and add between 1/4c and 1/3c of batter to the pan, tilting to cover the pan. 4) Cook until the bottom of the crepe is lightly brown ...

Note: I halved this recipe from the original over at Stop and Smell the Chocolates (which she got from a cookbook, but credit where credit is due!). When I'm done, it fits in a small oat container and then I just make more when it gets emptied. Ingredients 3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried apples 1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer (use vanilla flavored for an extra kick!) 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoons salt Directions Combine ingredients in large bowl. Store in airtight container. For breakfast: Place 1/2 cup oatmeal mix into bowl, add 1/2 cup water, and microwave for 1 minute on high. Let stand for 1 minutes to thicken; stir again. source: http://stopnsmellthechocolates.blogspot.com/2009/03/works-for-me-wednesday-instant-oatmeal.html

Note: I made these twice using a cup of natural pumpkin puree and I found that they didn't have as much flavor as the other pumpkin muffins that I make. However, this recipe has a lot less ingredients, a lot less sugar, and is really easy to throw together! Unfortunately, I didn't even think to take a picture. Ingredients 1 cup flour 3 T canola oil 1/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup mashed or grated fruit or veggie 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350. 2. In bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar and mashed fruit or veggie. Whisk. Mix well. 3. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix until it forms into batter. Add nuts if you like. 4. Pour into muffin cups. 5. Mini muffins: Bake 8-10 minutes. Regular muffins: Bake 15-2o minutes. Tops will turn golden. 6. Cool on cooling rack and then serve. source: http://www.5dollardinners.com/2008/12/fruit-and-veggie-muffin-recipe.html

Note: Yum! Ingredients 1 cup flour 1 cup oats (quick or regular) 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup Butter Fruit Jam Directions 1) Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. 2) Cut in butter until combined. 3) Reserve out 1/2 cup of mixture. 4) Press the rest firmly into an 8X8 pan. 5) Spread on a thin layer of fruit jam & sprinkle reserved oat mixture on top. Be careful not to get jam on the sides of the pan. 6) Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. 7) Let cool & cut into bars. (You will probably need to use a sharp knife.) source: http://www.frugalupstate.com/2009/05/recipe-oatmeal-fruit-bars.html

Note: Mike LOVED these - I believe the words "awesome" and "delicious" were used. I wasn't all that impressed, but they are good. The original recipe called for whole wheat flour, which I never buy, so this recipe is edited to reflect my substitution. Also, these did not spread at all. Ingredients 1 ripe banana, mashed ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup brown sugar ½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup water 1 egg 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour ¼ cup wheat germ ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups rolled oats (quick or regular) ½ cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, peanuts, whatever you like!) 1 cup raisins (or dried cranberries, or chocolate chips) Directions 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2) In a mixing bowl, mash the banana. Mix in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, water and egg. Stir until creamy. 3) In a seperate bowl, mix the flour, wheat germ, baking soda and salt. Mix thoroughly and add to the wet mixture. Stir until c...

Note: I hate to even say it, but I liked the way these came out even better than Alton's ! Sorry, Mr. Brown. I left mine out in the open for a few days, though, and you could probably chip a tooth with them. But they are still fabulous. Don't forget to put them in an air-tight container! Ingredients 2 cups oats ("old fashioned" is best, but anything you have around will work) 3/4 cup wheat germ 3/4 cup sunflower seeds 1 cup nuts, in small pieces 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 4 Tbsp butter 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp Kosher salt 1 cup dried fruit Directions 1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 2) Mix oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and nuts on a cookie sheet (one with sides). Toast them in the oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. 3) Line a 13x11 casserole dish with Reynolds Release foil. This stuff is amazing. You will be so happy. 4) Bring brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt to a simmer in a saucepan large enough to hold t...

Note: I used walnuts, but I didn't have a full 3/4 cup, probably only about 1/2 a cup. This would be awesome with chocolate chips, too. Of course, what isn't better with chocolate chips?? These are amazingly light and fluffy. Ingredients 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup water 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup chopped cashews or walnuts (optional? I think not) Directions Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine wet ingredients - eggs, oil, water, pumpkin In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients - flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet and incorporate. Add nuts (and chocolate chips?), stir. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Do not overbake. Cool on wire rack. source: http://allrec...

Note: The batter for this recipe stores very well in the refrigerator. In fact, the original recipe is for 48 muffins to be made over the course of no more than 6 weeks. A great idea if you have room in the refrigerator and your family prefers fresh muffins. Personally, I made them all at once and put some of them in the freezer and some of them went to work with me. The following recipe makes about a dozen and a half muffins. I found the batter much easier to work with after it was in the refrigerator for about a day. It is important to note that if your granola has sunflower seeds in it, they may turn green when they come in contact with the baking soda - this reaction has to do with pH levels and is perfectly safe to eat. Ingredients 2 cups granola cereal 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoons baking soda 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 cups buttermilk (or substitute ) 2 eggs 1 cup blueberries (optional - or raisins, or cut up apricots, or chocolate chips, or your...

Note: This has coconut in it! I like it! It's a miracle. I'm not usually a fan of coconut. If you aren't sure where to get sesame seeds, you can get them in the spice aisle (I hit up the dollar store), or the "international foods" aisle. I liked this recipe much better than the last one I posted. It wasn't too much, there are more textures (the sesame seeds and the coconut add a nice touch), and it clumped better. I'm still not satisfied, though. When I'm finished eating this batch, there will be more testing! Ingredients 2 cups rolled oats 1 cup sliced (or chopped) almonds 1/4 cup sesame seeds 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 1/2 cup coconut 1/4 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup dried fruit 1/4 cup cooking oil 1/2 cup honey Directions 1 Mix oats, nuts, & grains together. Coat with honey & oil. 2 Bake at 300° for 35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes 3 Add fruit & stir to combine source: http://community.livejournal.com/poor_skills/24728...

Notes: This recipe is from Mike's mom. I made it at least once, and it did come out a little runny but once they baked up, they were really good. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Bisquick 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup cocoa 3/4 cup of water 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 eggs Directions Beat all ingredients with a wire whisk or hand beater until almost smooth. Pour batter onto center of hot waffle iron. Bake for about 2 minutes (follow the directions for your waffle iron, though!). Serve this as a dessert with sliced strawberries, apple topping or ice cream on top while still warm and melt it a little. 8-ish servings.

Notes: I am surprising myself in saying this, but I modified this recipe to half the original amount of chocolate chips. It was just too rich and too dense with an entire bag of chips. Half a bag would be fine. And then just eat the other half of the bag while you are waiting for these to bake. :-) Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup light-brown sugar 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup milk 1/2 cup butter -- melted and cooled 2 eggs - beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 package (6 oz) chocolate chips 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans -- chopped (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 400 F. and grease up twelve muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, stir together milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon batter into muffin cups; bake 15-20 minutes, or until a knife insert...

Note: This is a family recipe. I have modified it for a 2-quart pan as well. Also, the original version called for cutting the crust off of the bread, but it has been found to be unnecessary and a waste. Any type of bread may be used, however, white bread was originally intended. Bread is easier to cube when it is frozen. Also, any type of cheese can be used to give the dish a different feel, but cheddar is my personal favourite. Ingredients 16 Slices of Bread 3/4 lbs Grated Cheddar Cheese 5 Eggs 2 cups Milk Butter Directions Butter a 9x13in pan. Cut slices of bread into cubes. Layer bread cubes and grated cheese in pan, every-other-one ending with bread. Beat together Eggs and Milk. Pour the mixture evenly over the layers of Bread and Cheese. Place pats of butter on the top. Place in refrigerator overnight or until ready to bake. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bake Egg Puff for approximately 45 minutes. You will know it is done when the top is golden brown and the cheese is b...

Note: The original recipe called for a full cup of walnuts and that was WAY too many (even the boyfriend who loves walnuts thought so). Ingredients: 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed 1/3 cup melted butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 Tbsp espresso or strong coffee (optional) 1 teaspoon baking soda Pinch of salt 1 1/2 cup of flour 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts Directions: No need for a mixer with this recipe. 1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. 2) Mix in the sugar, egg, espresso and vanilla. 3) Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. 4) Add the flour, mix until it is just incorporated. Fold in the chopped walnuts. 5) Pour mixture into a prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack. Makes 12 muffins. source: http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/004...