Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala over rice, served with naan bread


Chicken Tikka Masala

The new McCormick Recipe Inspirations are amazing!! When I saw the one for Chicken Tikka Masala I knew I had to get it for my hubby and brother-in-law! My brother-in-law asked me where I found all the spices to make Chicken Tikka Masala (traditional Indian dish) and he was shocked when I replied "Walmart"! I'm wanting to try more of the McCormick Recipe Inspirations. There are twelve total to choose from, some Italian, Mexican, Indian, Asian, Carribean, and typical American. Basically it's a card that includes the recipe and all the spices needed so you don't have to make sure you have every spice at home. And the recipe card/spices are really well priced and can be found at almost every grocery store now!

McCormick Spices:
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)

Other Ingredients:
2 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 c. heavy cream
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, onion and lemon juice; cook and stir 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add all of the spices except the red pepper (save for later if desired); cook and stir 1 minute.
2. Stir in tomatoes until well mixed. Stir cream into cornstarch and salt until smooth. Gradually stir into skillet. Stir in red pepper to taste, if desired. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; stirring frequently, simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
3. Serve with cooked rice and/or naan bread, if desired.

Watergate Salad

WATERGATE (PISTACHIO) SALAD

I grew up eating this at church and family pot-luck dinners. It's one of my favorites and it has a lot of sweet memories to go along with it!

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1743,149171-241194,00.html
Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1 sm. box instant pistachio pudding mix
1 (12 oz.) Cool Whip
1 sm. can crushed pineapple
1 heaping c. miniature marshmallows
3/4 c. chopped nuts (I prefer pecans)

Combine pudding mix and Cool Whip. Pour pineapple and pineapple juice over mixture. Combine. Add other ingredients and mix together. Cover. Refrigerate until serving.

Shamrock Stained Glass Cookies

Put the crushed candy pieces in the middle.




picture of the back


Here's a picture of my first attempt. I wanted one shamrock inside another one. It was much harder than the circles because the length from the inside out was shorter and they easily fell apart. The one small Shamrock inside a circle worked much better!

Shamrock Stained Glass Cookies

Ingredients & Supplies Needed:

6 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
1 tube of Betty Crocker Decorating Gel Green Icing
1 small jar Cake Mate green Decorating Decors sugars
30 Brach's Star Brites Spearmint candies
mini Shamrock cookie cutter

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add eggs and vanilla.
3. Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture.
4. Mix well.
5. Chill for 1 to 2 hours.
6. Roll to desired thickness. Form a ball and then flatten. Use mini Shamrock cookie cutter in the middle. Take out center piece. Add crushed spearmint candy pieces in the middle of the cookie.
7. Bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until just beginning to turn brown around the edges and candy completely melted in center.
8. Once cooled, add icing and decorating sugar.

Garlic Knots

Garlic Knots

Here's a great recipe to go along with any type of Italian meal!
First make your dough. This is the same dough recipe I use for my pizzas.

Ingredients for dough

* 1 cup warm water
* 1 tsp. sugar
* 1 1/4-oz. packet active dry yeast
* 3 tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for coating
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
* 1 tsp. salt

Ingredients for butter mixture topping
The proportions I enjoy are 1 tbsp. minced garlic mixed with 1/2 stick of butter. Then add salt as needed.
* garlic (fresh or minced)
* 1 or 2 sticks of butter (depending on how many garlic knots you want to make)
* salt

Instructions

1. Place 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Stir in the sugar until dissolved, then sprinkle the yeast onto the surface of the water. Let the yeast float there for 1 minute, then stir it into the water. Let the yeast "proof" for 10 minutes. It should bubble a bit; if it doesn't, the yeast is outdated and inactive.
2. Pour the yeast mixture into a large bowl, then stir in the remaining water, and add the olive oil, flour and salt. With a wooden spoon, mix the dough until it forms a ball. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.

Coat the inside of a large glass or ceramic bowl with olive oil. Press the ball of dough into the bottom of the bowl, then flip the dough over so the oiled side is on top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Makes 1 1/2 pounds of dough.

After the dough has risen, knead the dough again. Then break off small pieces and roll into a snake. Tie those pieces into knots. Bake at 450 degrees until slightly brown on top. Take it out of the oven and then pour butter mixture on top. Enjoy!!!

Need help with the process? I found this great video tutorial.
http://www.ehow.com/video_2340972_bake-knot-rolls.html

Hamburger Corn Casserole

Hamburger Corn Casserole
from: Jessi Nickelson

This is a very easy and delicious casserole. It's a whole meal in itself!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. onion, chopped
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
6 oz. egg noodles
1 c. sour cream
bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Brown the meat and onion.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine meat, onion, corn, soups, sour cream, and noodles.
4. Pour all the ingredients in a baking dish and top with bread crumbs.
5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Heartwarming Pizza

We made daddy (and ourselves) a Valentines pizza! What's that saying again??..."A way to a man's heart is through his stomach." haha


Check out this kneading action!! "Go Sawyer go, Go Sawyer go!"




Heartwarming Pizza

A fun food idea from FamilyFun magazine! My Valentines sure did enjoy it!

Perfect Pizza Dough


Kids can push, pull and twist this basic pizza dough all they want--the more you handle it, the better. Use it for pizza, breadsticks, calzones and even focaccia.

Ingredients

* 1 cup warm water
* 1 tsp. sugar
* 1 1/4-oz. packet active dry yeast
* 3 tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for coating
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
* 1 tsp. salt

Instructions

1. Place 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Stir in the sugar until dissolved, then sprinkle the yeast onto the surface of the water. Let the yeast float there for 1 minute, then stir it into the water. Let the yeast "proof" for 10 minutes. It should bubble a bit; if it doesn't, the yeast is outdated and inactive.
2. Pour the yeast mixture into a large bowl, then stir in the remaining water, and add the olive oil, flour and salt. With a wooden spoon, mix the dough until it forms a ball. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.

Coat the inside of a large glass or ceramic bowl with olive oil. Press the ball of dough into the bottom of the bowl, then flip the dough over so the oiled side is on top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Makes 1 1/2 pounds of dough.

Now to construct the pizza.

Ingredients

Perfect Pizza Dough (the recipe above)
olive oil for coating or cornmeal for dusting
1 c. homemade or store-bought tomato pizza sauce
3 c. cheese (of your choice)

Directions

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Punch down the risen dough, knead it a few times to remove all the air, and divide it in two. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll one portion into a 12-inch round. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and shape into a heart. Take some more dough in your hands and roll the dough in a snake shape to make the crust around the edges.

Spread a thin layer of sauce on the crust--not too much, or else your pizza will become soggy. (A word on sauce: if you don't have time for homemade, spruce up a 14-ounce jar of store-bought by adding garlic and dried oregano.)

Top your pizza with cheese and your choice of any additional toppings. Bake 12 to 15 minutes; subtract a few minutes if you're using a pizza stone. When done, the crust will be golden underneath. Makes two 12-inch pizzas.

Valentine Brownie Cupcakes

Valentine Brownie Cupcakes


You'll make yourself and your Valentine very happy with these!

Make the pan of brownies ahead of time so that they can thoroughly cool.
Best Brownies
Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 cup white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. Allow these to cool thoroughly, preferably until the next day.
5. Take a small heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out the hearts.

Next, bake your cupcakes. The cupcake recipe is from Kelly Eason. She substitutes margarine and soy milk, instead of butter and regular milk, to make this recipe work for her lactose intolerant child.
Cupcakes
Ingredients:

* 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
* 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 3/4 c. butter, softened
* 1 3/4 c. sugar
* 3 large eggs, room temperature
* 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
* 1 1/4 c. milk
* 1 container of Pillsbury Valentine's Funfetti Frosting (sprinkles included)
* 1 bag of Jet-Puffed HeartMallows (Marshmallows)Strawberry Flavored


Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375°F.

In bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt with a wire whisk.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix until completely combines. Slowly add flour alternately with milk. Mix until smooth. Bake until slightly brown on top.

Once the cupcakes have cooled, add frosting. Then with a butter knife, cut a small indention in the top and add a brownie heart standing up. Add sprinkles or sugar crystals if desired.

Enjoy!