Hamburger and Pepperoni Stromboli

This is a family favorite and I have been making it for years. It is fairly easy and I must say very delicious.

Ingredients:
Bread Dough
1 to 1 1/2 pound hamburger
1 small chopped onion
1 package 3 1/2 ounces of sliced pepperoni (I like to use turkey pepperoni)
3 cups shredded cheese (I use mozzarella but, a mixture can be used)
eggs, oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, ground mustard and oregano

My trusty bread machine, I use it often. I like to make homemade dough but often don't have the time. I  start my machine in the morning and it does all the work for me.

I make a 2 lb. basic dough recipe that uses milk. Frozen bread dough can be used.

Cook hamburger with onion. Drain. I like to do this a day or two before.

Slightly beat eggs

 add oil

and 1/2 tsp of each seasoning 

Half the bread dough, roll out to approximately a 15 x 12 inch rectangle. Brush egg mixture over dough to 1/2 inch of edges.  

Add hamburger, pepperoni and cheese to 1/2 inch of edges.

                                                   

Roll up from long side. Seal the ends by folding under and place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. 

Brush with remaining egg mixture. 

   Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool 5-10 minutes before cutting.

                          

Planting Potatoes

For us in Oklahoma it is time to plant cool season plants, one of which is potatoes. You can purchase seed potatoes by the pound at local agricultural stores, nurseries and home improvement centers. Potatoes you buy from the grocery store can not be used, they have been treated not to sprout. Seed potatoes are treated to be disease free. They can be planted in the ground or in containers.

You want to plant your potatoes in loose, well drained soil in a sunny  location. Plant when the ground is not wet. Cut your potatoes so you have 2-3 eyes on each piece, after you cut them let them callus over for a day. This will help to keep them from rotting in the ground. Plant 5-6 inches deep, as potatoes start to grow they need to be hilled. Use a hoe to bring soil around plants, this is gives the potatoes plenty of room to grow and be productive. It is a necessary and constant chore but worth it. 

The past few years we have planted potatoes in our garden but this year I decided to use an old tub. My yield won't be many but our garden spot is small and I wanted other vegetables. 

A few years ago my son planted red, white and blue  potatoes in the same tub along with 5 gallon buckets.  If you don't have much space this a great way to grow some of your own produce. Place 5-6 inches of soil in bottom of bucket, trash can or any tall container. Make sure there are drain holes in the bottom of anything you use. Put pieces of potatoes 5-6 inches apart on top of soil and add 3-4 inches of soil, make sure potatoes are covered well. Water. As potatoes start to grow, continually add soil until you reach the top of your container. After the tops of your plants die off it is time to harvest, it will take 2-4 months.  It was a great learning experience for my son.

Eggplant Parmesan (regular/gluten free)

I have wanted to make Eggplant Parmesan for a long time. Using  2-3 different recipes I pulled things from each and adapted them to my own recipe. My husband doesn't like the taste of parmesan so the name is in theory only. The result was very tasty. My husband and son were skeptical to say the least but I know when a recipe is a winner when they ask for seconds.

Choose an eggplant that isn't too big in diameter. Slice eggplant 1/4"-1/2" slices, salt and let sit for 15-30 minutes, pat dry.  Mix 1 egg and 2 tablespoons milk, dip eggplant in egg mixture and then in Italian bread crumbs, fry in oil until golden brown on each side. Drain on paper towels.

To make this gluten-free  use 4 cups of  crushed Corn Chex with 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning instead of flour to coat the eggplant. The Chex does soak up the oil while frying, more oil may need to be added.

Marinara Sauce
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Saute in 2-3 tablespoons olive oil until tender.
Add:
 28 oz diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Bring to a boil and simmer 30 minutes.

Remove bay leaf and put sauce in blender, blend until large chunks are gone.

In 9x12 casserole dish, layer sauce, grated mozarella cheese and eggplant, repeat ending with cheese. Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce bubbles.

I will sharing this recipe on:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Made by You Monday
Creative Blogger's Party & Hop
Recipe Sharing Monday
Foodie Friday
Frugal Friday

Spring

Welcome Spring
Spring officially begins today! In northern Oklahoma our daffodils our blooming and the temperature has been in the seventies. The funny thing is that they are predicting 5-8 inches of snow for today. Hopefully the ground will be warm enough for the snow not to stick.

Daffodils are very easy to grow and come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. The bulbs can be planted in shade or sun. In Oklahoma we don't have to dig up the bulbs after they bloom. We wait until the foliage starts to turn yellow and mow them down. The great thing about daffodils is that they multiply and can be divided.

Daffodils make a colorful and springy arrangement but, they are not long lasting.

Julia Child (Ground Beef with Onions and Herbs)

The French name of this recipe is Bifteck Hache a La Lyonnaise, which is Ground Beef with Onions and Herbs.  According to Mrs. Child the french eat hamburgers but to me this is a Hamburger Steak. They were very good and something I will make again.

1/4 cup finely minced yellow onion 

2 Tablespoons butter

Cook onions slowly in the butter for about 10 minutes until very tender but not browned. Place in a mixing bowl.

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 Tablespoons softened butter, ground beef suet, beef marrow or fresh pork fat. (I used butter)

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon thyme

1 egg

Add the beef, butter or fat, seasonings, and egg to the onion in the mixing bowl and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon to blend thoroughly. Correct seasoning. Form into patties 3/4 inch thick. Cover with waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to use.

1/2 cup flour spread on a plate

Just before sauteing, roll the patties lightly in the flour. Shake off excess flour.

1 Tablespoon and 1 Tablespoon oil, or sufficient to film the butter of the skillet

1 or 2 heavy skillets just large enough to hold the patties easily in one layer (I used my cast iron skillet and cooked the patties at two separate times.)

 Place butter and oil in the skillet and set over moderately high heat. when you see the butter foam begin to subside, indicating it is hot enough to sear the meat, saute the patties for 2 to 3 minutes or more on each side, depending on whether you like your hamburgers rare, medium, or well done.

Arrange the hamburgers on the serving platter and keep warm for a moment while finishing the sauce.

1/2 cup beef stock, canned beef bouillon, dry white wine, dry white vermouth, red wine, or 1/4 cup water. (I used beef stock)

2-3 Tablespoon softened butter.

Pour the fat out of the skillet. Add the liquid and boil it down rapidly, scraping up the coagulated pan juices, until it has reduced almost to a syrup. Off heat, swirl the butter by half-tablespoons into the sauce until it is absorbed. Pour the sauce over the hamburgers and serve.

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

I found a recipe for this cupcake that was fairly complicated. I simplified it by using a cake and pudding mix. I am posting this recipe on Cupcake Tuesday, http://hoosierhomemade.com/
I used a lemon cake mix and lemon cook and serve pudding mix. Use directions on both boxes, let cupcakes and pudding cool completely.

 Use a knife to cut a hole in middle of cupcake.

Fill hole with pudding.

Meringue

Beat 3 egg whites with 1/2 teaspoon cream of  tartar until frothy. Gradually beat in 6 tablespoons sugar, a little at a time.

Continue beating until stiff and glossy. Beat until sugar is dissolved.

Top each cupcake with meringue.

Bake at 400 degrees, for  8-10 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Watch carefully it is easy to burn meringue.

Crockpot Spaghetti Caserolle

I recently tried my Spaghetti casserole recipe in the crock pot,  you will find  the recipe under the casserole section  I usually bake it in the oven but wanted to experiment with it in the crock pot.  I set the temperature on low and baked it for 4 hours, it turned out very well.

I also want to recommend crock pot liners. They are great and make clean up a breeze.  

Ham and Cheese Pie

This is a very simple recipe using only five ingredients. It can be eaten alone or with a salad or vegetable. It is a recipe that is easy for young cooks to begin with.



Ingredients:
1 package crescent rolls
2 slightly beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
8 oz cubed mozzarella cheese
8 oz chopped ham lunch meat
salt and pepper to taste

Spray a glass pie pan with vegetable oil spray. Use all but two of the crescents rolls as your crust. Spread out into pie pan. Slightly beat the eggs, add onion, lunch meat and cheese, stir, add salt and pepper. Pour into pie pan. Cut the two remaining rolls into strips and place on top of pie. Bake @ 320 degrees for 40 minutes. The pie is done when a knife come out clean from center of pie.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

The "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder are my favorites, even now I can pick up any one of them and read it as if for the first time.  So it seemed only fitting that they would be my first pick for the "Book Club".  They are wholesome, historic and easy to read.

I would like to share how I discovered the "Little House" books. From 1966-1974 my family and I lived in a teacherage in rural Oklahoma, my dad was the principal/ teacher and my mom was a teacher. It was only a community with a school and one church,  population to small to be counted. Living on the school grounds had it's perks. One being the "Bookmobile", it came to the school for the community to check out books. I loved it. It was big, red, full of books, and when it came in the summer it was cold inside, I was fascinated. I happened to find the "Little House" books when I was in 3rd or 4th grade and read them all. Even though I know I read others they are the only books I remember checking out.

Here is a link to read  and see pictures about Bookmobiles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmobile

One suggestion is to check out tapes of the "Little House" books and listen to them  while in the car. An interesting story can sometimes keep young minds on something else other then what a sibling may be doing. 

You can also read the books on the computer.

http://books.google.com/books?id=KO0tMOWl5AEC&dq=little+house+on+the+prairie+cast&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=VPaOS7LCB8mztgesrq2bCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&ved=0CEMQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Activities:

Laura writes about freshly made cheese and butter. Research for a dairy in your area, even a small private dairy may give you a tour.

I have owned this cookbook for years and it is worth buying or checking out from the library. You will find recipes for making butter, cheese, pies and many recipes from all of Laura's books.
http://www.christianbook.com/the-little-house-cookbook/barbara-walker/9780064460903/pd/60908

Make Bread, here is an easy recipe to use with small children. I have used this for small and large groups and the children always enjoy it.
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/02/16/making-bread-in-a-bag/

Plan  a picnic where each family brings a dish from one of the books.

Try to spend a whole day without the tv, computer, radio or using lights.

Plan an old fashioned party using the food and games from Little Town on the Prairie.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2044544_play-blind-mans-bluff.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4481209_play-drop-handkerchief.html


Grow a garden, even if you don't have garden space, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes etc can be grown in pots or 5 gallon 
buckets. (I have been given buckets from Wal Mart's bakery section) You could even try Alamanzo's plan for growing a prize winning pumpkin. Enter your produce in the county fair, if you are not in 4-H there should be an Open Class 
Area.


Use the Ingall's travel to study geography. Laura speaks of many different animals, if you have someone interested in
animals study how their habitats have changed.

Visit one or all of the Ingall's/Wilder homesites. Many of them have celebrations each year to attend.
http://www.littlehouseontheprairie.com/
http://www.pepinwisconsin.com/
http://www.walnutgrove.org/
http://www.ingallshomestead.com/

Hope you find some of these activities useful.
Happy Reading, Rhonda

Yummy in your Tummy Cookies

I have been making this yummy cookie for years. I sneak in oatmeal, oat bran and wheat bran. Whole wheat flour can  be used for 1 cup of the flour.  Instead of dried cranberries you could use dried blueberries.




Ingredients:

1 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1  1/2 cup brown sugar
1  1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
3 1/2 cup flour
1  1/2 teaspoon soda
1  1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup old-fashion oatmeal
1/3 cup wheat bran
1/3 cup oat bran
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup  broken pecans



Cream together shortening, butter, sugar, brown sugar ( I like to use dark brown sugar)
and vanilla.

 Add eggs, mix well.

Mix in the flour, soda, and salt. Add oat bran and wheat bran, mix.
Oat bran and wheat bran can be bought at health food stores and most grocery stores. I store mine in the refrigerator to help keep it fresh.

Add pecans, cranberries and white chocolate chips, mix, you may need to do this  by hand.

Bake  350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

YUMMY!