Janean's Salad

Okay, so you all don't know who Janean is, but her husband is in dental school here at Case Western Reserve University with my husband. Anyway, she makes this awesome salad and brings it to every potluck and party. I am in love with it and it is very versatile. You can add what you like to it and omit what you don't. You can even add things to it that aren't in the recipe, if you like! It serves 8-12 depending on portion sizes.

2 bags salad- "Spring Mix" works best
2 cups pecans
1/2 cup sugar
Kiwi, chopped (optional)
Strawberries, sliced (optional)
Grapes, quartered (optional)
Mandarin oranges, drained (optional)
Feta (optional)
Craisins (optional)

Dressing:
3 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper (optional)
2 Tbsp apple cider or white vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Combine salad ingredients to your liking. For pecans, melt sugar with pecans in a pan on low until sugar melts and crystallizes. Watch closely, as this will burn quickly after it melts. Mix dressing ingredients and shake well in a container. Pour on salad just before serving.

Sour Cream Banana Pancakes

So I initially got this recipe out of one of Ina Garten's cookbooks, but I like to call it my own because I've made it enough times to have the recipe memorized (that makes it mine, right?). These are kind of rich, so they can even be used for brunch or dessert. Enjoy!

1 1/2 cups flour
3 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp milk
2 extra-large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon zest
Unsalted butter
2 ripe bananas, diced, plus more for serving
Pure maple syrup

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined.

Melt 1 Tbsp of the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Ladle the pancake batter into the pan to create 3-4 pancakes. Distribute a rounded tablespoon of bananas onto each pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute until browned. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, add more butter to the pan, and continue cooking pancakes until all the batter is used. Serve with sliced bananas, butter and maple syrup.

**Just as a side note, I just use my pancake griddle, not a large skillet. And if I'm feeling lazy I will just throw all the diced bananas in the batter, but the downside is you don't know how many bananas get into your pancake and since the bananas are now covered in batter, they don't caramelize like they do when you just place them on top. It's up to you.

Hearty Tomato Soup

I love homemade tomato soup, but this recipe ROCKS THE BOAT!! I would make it every night if my husband would let me. Try it. It's yummy!!

2 Tbls. butter
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp. paprika
2 c. milk
2 cans condensed tomato soup
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) crushed tomatoes

-Melt butter and cream cheese in a sauce pan. Stir in garlic, basil, and paprika. Gradually stir in milk and soup. Beat with a wire whisk unitl smooth. Stir in tomatoes and stir until hot.
I like to grate cheese on top before serving.
-You can easily half the recipe for a smaller group

Taco Burgers to Spice Up Your Night!

So I love burgers and I am so glad that Stina decided to start this blog with burgers!!! I made these the other night when I wanted burgers but didn't have any buns - but I did find a pack of tortillas in the back of my fridge! Enjoy!

1 pound ground beef
2-3 green onions, chopped
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
2 tsp cumin (if you don't have chili powder or cumin, use taco seasoning instead)
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Cheddar cheese or Pepperjack cheese

Mix ingredients, form into four burgers and cook 7-8 minutes on each side. Place cheese on top and let it melt. Place burgers in the middle of a tortilla (bigger tortillas work best). Top with grilled onions, tomato, avocado or guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. Cilantro is good too (unless you are Kelli). I even like these without the tortillas on or bun or with just the burger. P.S. My blog is coming!!!

Betty Crocker's Hamburgers

Who makes their own hamburgers? I used this when I didn't have any frozen ones and they're our favorite now! Especially if cooked right--they're nice and juicy!


1 lb ground beef, pork, or turkey
3 TBSP finely chopped onion
3 TBSP water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 slices cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Mix all ingredients except cheese and buns. Shape mixture into 4 patties, each about 3/4 inch thick. Broil, panfry or grill. Grill patties about 4 inches from medium coals 7-8 minutes on each side for medium, turning once, until no longer pink in the center and juice is clear. Brush bbq sauce on patties before and after turning, if desired.

Introduction

One of my favorite things to do is collect friend's and family's recipes to try out. Who isn't looking for something new and delicious to cook up? And here, we can have them anytime we need them. We'll only post our favorites--that way we'll have the best of the best to pick from. Hope this works. It should be fun!