Recipe Collections

I collect recipes. I collect collections of recipes (otherwise known as cookbooks). I have a 6-foot tall bookcase in my kitchen full of cookbooks. I don’t cook like I used to, but the memories held are worth the space that they take.

I can tell you the origination of each and every cookbook and recipe card – where it was purchased or who gave it to me. Of course, it helps that I’ve written that information on every index card and in the front cover of every single book … Come on, give me a break – I’ve had some of those cookbooks since I was 17!!  Some people buy t-shirts and coffee mugs when traveling – I buy cookbooks (and magnets, but that would be the subject of another post someday).

I learned how to type (I think it was while in elementary school only because when I took typing in junior high I already knew how to do it!), on an old manual typewriter by copying my mother’s recipe cards … before you could easily insert a degree symbol such as this —  ° .

Here are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head … Although many of my recipes are from “everyday” friends, I’m sure that there are many individuals who have previously been part of my life who wouldn’t even be a dim memory at this point if not for the fact that they regularly join me in the kitchen …

• Charlene C. and I make Zucchini Bread every summer, and Leslie H. helps me put a dent in those pounds of blueberries with Blueberry-banana Bread (and I haven’t seen either of them in decades).
• When the temperatures cool it is time for Sis M. and I to throw together a pot of Tortellini Soup, and it isn’t autumn unless someone in the family makes S-I-L Rhonda D.’s Autumn Soup and a big batch of sticky popcorn.
• We can’t have a tailgate party without Jill F.’s hot Hamburger Cheese Dip.
• Heather P. helps out every time I sign up to bring Chinese Chicken Salad to a work function.
• Guests wouldn’t get out of bed if Penny C. hadn’t contributed Bubble Bread to the collection. 
• I had to caution Mary L. against adding olive oil to a brownie mix, but her Chicken Enchilada recipe is to die for, and her Potato Soup defies description.
•  I bet Kalondia F. didn’t know how many times she has been in my kitchen – her Chicken Divan Casserole is a family favorite (only we turned it into a casserole instead of layering, see Jen’s earlier post).
• Every time I buy an avocado I think of Donna O. – can’t beat her Guacamole, and at Christmas we’re in the kitchen making batches of Cranberry Bread to share with neighbors and co-workers.
• Beth R. was the first person to get Marissa to eat spinach … if I’d only known that all I needed to do was roll it up into her Spinach Balls, and every winter I have to make at least one big pot of her Red Beans and Rice.
• Chris the Sis spent years saying she couldn’t cook, but her unusual Cheese Ball is a holiday favorite and I LOVE her Chicken Taco Soup.
• Pat S. shared her Poppyseed Bread and friendship during a tough time – now it is a holiday staple.
• It isn’t a baby/bridal shower without Carol Q.’s punch.
• Jackee H. called it “Gourmet Pizza Dough” but in truth, it didn’t even need any toppings!
• I wonder if Cathy W. remembers her Apple Crisp recipe … we “Stitched and Bitched so that we could Meet to Eat.”
• Debbie C.’s Oreo Dessert often replaced birthday cakes at our house.
• And from Dianne L. where do I start … my “recipe exchange” friend –  we were buddies in junior high and “pen pals” before it was fashionable.
• Eileen S. and I used to share leftovers at lunch (I miss having a lunch buddy!) and Cindy H., the Martha Stewart of Quail Run, taught us that a lack of electricity was no excuse for not eating well after a hurricane!

I know that some people feel strongly about having secret family recipes, but I don’t really see the point. No secrets at my house.  If I’m not home and you want to find our favorite family recipes just look for the pages that are stuck together, or for the cards splattered with goodness!

Tags: collection, cookbooks, Cooking, friendship, Recipes

Stitch-A-Long: Month 6

Five grants submitted … check! Written exams, taken and passed … check!  Oral exam, taken and passed … check! Just had the opportunity to tack a couple of days on the end of a workshop held down in Lakeland (between Orlando and Tampa) to visit a dear friend in Tampa. We spent a couple of wonderful days just sitting and chatting, and I took the opportunity to get some stitching done. So here is Month 6 of the Stitch-A-Long (yes, I know that we are now in Month 8 … I didn’t say that I was caught up!).

Tags: cross-stitch, Debbie, needlework, Stitch-A-Long

Chicken Divan Casserole – Freezer Food Friday!

I am going to say that this will be one of our new features here at Threaded Together, but I am not going to fool myself!  I will try…that is all I will say!

Since I have been staying at home, I have gotten into cooking meals that can be frozen and eaten later.  We don’t always eat homemade frozen meals but when I am not in the mood to cook a meal it is great to be able to pull out a meal that is ready to pop in the oven without any prep or fuss!

Chicken Divan Casserole is one of our favorite meals.  This is my version…both my mom and my sister make theirs a little differently.  Hopefully they will comment on the post or write their changes in the comments.  This recipe is great.  You can throw it together and cook it in the same day, throw it together and freeze it, or throw it together and take it to a friend who needs a prepared dinner.

Chicken Divan Casserole

2 cups of rice, cooked

2-4 chicken breasts (I usually only add two chicken breasts to make the meal stretch more), cooked and chopped

one bag or box of broccoli, steamed

one can of condensed chicken soup

about a cup of mayonaise

one and a half blocks of extra sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

2.  Place mixture in a lightly greased 9×13 pan. 

3.  If you are going to eat immediately, bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  If you are not eating immediately, follow the freezing tips. 

I walked into the kitchen to take a picture of the finished product and this is what I found.  The rest of my family was already seated in the dining room.  You can see that this is definitely a family favorite in this house!

Freezing Tips:

If you are going to freeze the meal, freeze before baking.  When ready to eat, bake at 350 degrees for about 45m or under heated through. 

I have also frozen individual serving sizes of the casserole for my hsuband to take to work after it was been cooked.  Once it has been cooked, cut into individual serving sizes and place on a small tray or plate.  Cover with tin foil and leave in freezer for a few hours.  Once the individual serving sizes are frozen, separately bag in freezer bags.  When you are ready to eat, reheat in microwave for a few minutes until heated through.   

Linking up to:

Tags: Baking, Cooking, Freezer Meals

Recycle Your Meat and Veggie Trays

My mom passed down many crafty ideas to my sister and I but one of our favorites is the meat/veggie tray turned paint tray.  It is a great way to reuse those styrofoam trays that your raw meat or vegetables come in.  I just clean them up with dish soap and water and then I put them away for using as paint trays when I work on my next project.

We are linking up to the following:

Tags: Jennifer, Painting, recycle, Repurpose, reuse

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This recipe originated with my dear friend and walking buddy, Mary L.  (and today, August 7, is her birthday!) … it is her fault that I never walk anymore … cuz she lives in CA and I live in FL!  Mary made this yummy recipe after I had some surgery … it was almost worth getting cut open!  :-)

 I know that I have written before about my aversion to “rolling out” anything (such as sugar cookies and pie crusts). That aversion extends to “rolling up” (such as enchiladas and wraps). Along with the “doing hair” gene, I missed out on the “rolling” gene!

 The first time I made this recipe myself it was a mess of falling apart rolled up enchiladas. I realized it would be impossible to serve the enchiladas as appetizing-looking individual servings so I cut up them up. EUREKA! When I made the first cut I realized I had the solution to rolling … I am a magnificent “layer-er” (get your minds out of the gutter, I meant as in lasagna). So here is my version of Mary’s awesome chicken enchilada recipe. Directions are included at the bottom to make a “red” version of this recipe.

 Ingredients

 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 cups (12 oz.) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

½ cup onion, chopped

2-3 cans (10 oz.) green chile enchilada sauce (mild)

1 cup sour cream

1 small can chopped green chiles

18 corn tortillas

 Directions

Salt and pepper chicken breasts to taste. Bake in a greased baking pan about 20-25 minutes @ 350°; cool and cut into bite-size pieces. Note:  When I return from a grocery shopping trip that involves bringing home meat, I usually try to do some prep work before it ever gets put away. Otherwise, I would never cook a meal during the week! So, my “directions” for this part would be:  Take bag of pre-prepared/cooked chicken out of the freezer and defrost.

In a bowl, combine the chicken, 2 cups of the shredded cheese (I usually shred my own; don’t care for the taste/consistency of the preshredded stuff, plus it is cheaper to do it myself), chiles (I drain off a bit of the liquid, but that is a personal taste) and chopped onion.

Grease a 9×13 baking dish. Pour a little bit of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan and spread to lightly coat. Pour sauce into a shallow dish (I use a dinner plate). Coat both sides of six (6) of the corn tortillas and place in the bottom of the baking dish, overlapping.

Spoon half ( ½ ) of the chicken mixture over the layer of corn tortillas. Dot (by spoonfuls) with half cup of the sour cream.

 Repeat process with second layer.

Coat both sides of remaining six (6) tortillas for the top layer. Pour remaining sauce over the top. This is where the “optional” third can of sauce comes in … who knows, might be a humidity or temperature thing, sometimes I need the third can for coating, sometimes I don’t. If I’ve had to open the third can, I am conservative with adding all of the remaining sauce over the top of the whole casserole, only because I’m also missing the “gravy” gene. If you don’t need to open the third can, then you’re ahead of the game for next time (because I know you’re going to want to make it again!).

Sprinkle the top with the remaining cup of cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350°. If you want all of the tortillas to be completely soft, cover dish with foil. I prefer the top layer to get a little bit crispy around the edges (I like my lasagna the same way!) so forego the foil. Serve with a green salad and you’ve got a family-sized meal to enjoy (and the leftovers are just as good !).

 The “Red” Version

 Jen and her family are not fans of the green chile sauce. So she has changed this up to make a red version:

*substitute hambuger (cooked/drained) for the chicken

*substitute red chile enchilada sauce for the green

*substitute flour tortillas for the corn tortillas

Tags: Chicken, Cooking, Debbie, Friend, Mexican Cooking

Crafting, crafting, crafting!!

Here is a little sneak peek of the crafty project that I am working on for Week 2 of my Christmas Craft Challenge!

Any guesses what this is going to become when I am finished with all of it?!?!

Tags: Crafts, Jennifer, Kids, Paper

Garter Ridge Baby Hat and Booties

So I have finally rejoined the world of the “threaded” part of together as well!  I wish I could say I have taken a break from baking to pursue my other crafty interests.  Unfortunately, I have created a monster in my husband who now expects dessert  after every meal pretty much!  Our favorites that we have revisited at least once from 30 Days and 30 Bites: Chocolate Bombs, Pistachio Muffins (made with a chocolate topping this time!), peanut butter cupcakes, and Grandma Johnson’s Scones (a vanilla thyme variation and a completely chocolate one).  They are all so yummy and fantastic and we just cannot get enough!  Naturally, this is cutting into the other projects I want to complete and I have had to spread them out so it takes quite a while to finish them!  I finally finished another one last night that I have to get in the mail ASAP for a great friend in California. 

I am at that age in my life where EVERYONE around me is pregnant!  Yes, it often feels like even the men themselves are popping children out left and right.  All of my high school and college friends have tied the knot in the last year or two and I swear to you every other day I find out a new one is PREGGERS!  My poor husband has to deal with me oooohing and aaaahhhhhing over these wonderful little bundles of joy and staring at them with googly eyes.  He constantly reminds me that he doesn’t have to change the diapers of our 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter!  Alas, I have to settle with the tough job of keeping up with these baby-factories and trying to get the gifts made in time (hopefully at all!).  It feels like 9 months is not long enough to make a homemade present from the heart.  This is, of course, my chance to officially apologize to those of you that I did not crank your gift out in time.  Remind me (6 months in advance) of your child’s first birthday and I will do my best to get on top of this!!! :)

Luckily, I have found a good project recently that isn’t TOO time consuming and I can knock out in a few nights of knitting and watching TV after the kids go to bed.  I made a few changes to the original pattern that I found and fixed a few problems.  Also, it came from a “Page a Day” calendar that I received as a Christmas present.  I tried finding the pattern online to link to and was unsuccessful, so I am going to just rewrite it with the changes I made.  I hope I am not breaking any copyright rules but when it comes to knitting patterns  (with the changes and the fixes), I don’t think I am.  Let me know if I’m wrong!  Sorry for a lack of models, but the only "baby” I have around my house is a Cabbage Patch Kid!

GARTER RIDGE BABY HAT AND BOOTIES

• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Finished Dimensions: Newborn to 3 months
• Yarn: Sport weight soft yarn in a sold color (MC) and a multi-color (CC) or vise versa.
• Needles: Set of dpn: 3.5 mm/U.S. 4
• Gauge: 6 sts = 1” (2.5 cm)

Directions:

HAT:

With MC, cast on 68 sts.  Divide among three needles, join, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 10 rounds. 

Garter Ridge Pattern:

Round 1: With CC, k.

Round 2: With CC, p

Round 3: With MC, k

Round 4: With MC, k

Repeat these rounds of the Garter Ridge Pattern 9 more times for a total of 10 repeats.  Then rep Rounds 1 and 2 once more.

Decrease for Crown:

Round 1: With MC, *(k6, k2tog), rep from * to last 2 stitches, k2 (60 stitches)

Round 2: With MC, k.

Round 3: With CC, *(k5, k2tog), rep from * to last 2 sts, k2. (52 sts)

Round 4: With CC, p.  Cut CC, leaving an 8” tail for weaving

Round 5: With MC, *k2tog, rep from * around. (13 sts)

Round 6: K

Round 7: *K2tog, rep from * to last st, k1. (7 sts)

Round 8: K

Round 9: K1, (k2tog) 3 times. (4 sts)

Round 10: K

Arrange all 4 sts onto one needle and work I-cord for 1.4”.  Cut yarn leaving an 8” tail and thread tail back into center of I-Cord.  Tie I-cord into overhand knot.

Weave in all ends.

BOOTIES:

With MC, cast on 24 sts.  Divide sts evenly among three needles.  Join, being careful not to twist the stitches.  Knit 8 rounds.

Garter Ridge Pattern:

Round 1: With CC, k

Round 2: With CC, p

Round 3: With MC, k

Round 4: With MC, k

Rep rounds 1 – 4 three more times for a total of 4 repeats.  Cut CC leaving an 8” tail for weaving.

Heel Flap:

With MC, k6, turn.

Sl1, p5, then with same needle, p6 from next needle.  You will now have 12 sts on this needle.  These are your heel flap sts.  You will work back and forth on these sts.  Rearrange the remaining 12 sts onto 2 needles (6 sts each).  These are your instep stitches.

Row 1: Sl1, k.

Row 2: Sl1, p

Repeat these 2 rows 4 more times for a total of 5 times.

Turn Heel:

Row 1: K7, ssk, turn

Row 2: Sl1, p2, p2tog, turn

Row 3: Sl1, k2, ssk, turn

Row 4: Rep row 2

Row 5: Rep row 3

Row 6: Rep row 2

Row 7: Rep row 3

Row 8: Rep row 2

You will now have only 4 sts on the Heel needle.

Gussets:

K across the 4 heel sts.  Pick up and k6 sts along the side of the heel flap, plus “fudge” 1 st in the gap before the instep stitches.  With free needle, k across the 12 instep sts all onto one needle.  With free needle, make a “fudge” stitch in the gap and pick up and k6 sts along the other side of the heel flap and k2 sts from the next needle.  You are now at the center bottom of the /Heel/Foot and should have 9 sts on the first needle, 12 sts on the instep needle, and 9 sts on the last needle. (30 sts)

Gusset Decreases:

Round 1: K6, k2tog, k1, k12 instep, k1, ssk, k6. (28 sts)

Round 2: With CC, k

Round 3: With CC, p

Round 4: With MC, k5, k2tog, k1, k12 instep, k1, ssk, k5. (26 sts)

Round 5: With MC, k

Round 6: With CC, k4, k1, k2tog, k12 instep,k1, ssk, k4. (24 sts)

Foot:

Resume Garter Ridge Pattern at Round 2, working only the last three rounds of the pattern.  Repeat Garter Ridge Pattern 2 more times.  Work rounds 1-3 once more.  Cut CC leaving an 8” tail for weaving.

Toe:

Round 1: With MC, k3, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k3. (20 sts)

Round 2: K

Round 3: K2, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k2.

Round 4: K

Round 5: K1, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k1. (12 sts)

With the same needle, k across the 2 sts of the first needle.  You will now have 6 sts on each of the 2 needles.  Graft together.  Weave in ends.

Tags: Baby Hat, Booties, Garter Ridge, Knitting, Pattern, Simple

Christmas Crafts Week #1 – The Easiest Dress I Will Ever Make

So week #1 of my Christmas Crafts challenge is coming to an end and I have actually completed a Christmas gift!  Hopefully this momentum will keep up! 

For this week’s project, I made a few dresses.  One of them went straight to my daughter, but the rest are going to be put away.    The one my daughter is wearing in this picture is a long dress, but the majority of the other ones are shorter in length.  Even though they are summer dresses, they will still be perfect in the winter with a pair of leggings and a sweater.

Too cute, right?!?!

I am not a person who sews regularly, so I try to keep my sewing projects as easy as possible.  I know that there are some crafters that make their own shirred fabric, but I am not that ambitious!  I bought several cuts of fabric that already had the shirred bodice.  Some of the fabrics even come hemmed too!  Here are the steps I took to create the dress:

1.  First, I pinned the fabric around my daughter to size it.  Then I sewed down the edge of the fabric.  My daughter has a little curvy figure so I made sure that I did not sew a straight line down the dress. 

I had a lot of excess fabric because I wasn’t sure exactly how much to purchase, but I just cut it off when I was finished sewing.

2.  If the fabric needed a hem, I hemmed it.  Some of the fabrics already had a hem…those are my favorite!

3. For the straps, I sewed two pieces of ribbon on each side.  When she wears the dresses, we tie the straps at the shoulders!

It is really that easy!  

Tags: children, Jennifer, Kids, Sewing

Featured on Someday Crafts

First the Blogger with Substance award, and today we are featured on Someday Crafts!!  Debbie’s pillowcase tutorial was chosen as one of the features of the Categorically Crafting Pillow Show!  We are so excited! 

We love Someday Crafts!  It is a great collection of ideas and I often head there first when I am looking for a tutorial or crafty idea!

Tags: Featured

A Blog Award!

Thanks so much to Liz at Project Naptime for giving Threaded Together the Blog with Substance award!  What a great surprise for all of us here at Threaded Together.  We have just recently in the past few months really started working on getting this blog going and we have loved all of your comments.  Thanks so much for your support!

Five words that sum up our Threaded Together blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience:

•Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.

•Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.

•Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Tags: Blog Awards