The Nutty Cook

Charity's Homemade 3 Bean Chili

2011-01-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

1 (15 oz) Can Kidney Beans
1/2 Can Black Beans
1/2 Can Pinto Beans
2 Cans Diced Tomatoes (15 oz each)
1/2 Onion - chopped
1/2 Green Pepper- chopped
3 Garlic Cloves -minced
16 oz Tomato Sauce
1/4 Cup Ketchup
2 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper

Drain juice from all cans of beans and rinse. Do not drain the diced tomatoes. Add all ingredients to a large pot and bring to boil. Boil for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add 1/8 cup crushed Ritz Crackers

Serve and enjoy

***You can also cook in a crock pot on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours***

CHARITY'S ZUCCHINI BREAD

2010-09-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

3 Whole eggs
1 cup Oil
1 3/4 cups Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 cups Grated Zucchini
3 cups Flour

Preheat oven to 350
Mix ingredients together in the order shown, mixing well between each ingredient.
Grease and flour 2 loaf pans
Pour equal amounts of the mixture into each pan
Bake for 45 minutes

MILD CANNED SALSA

2010-09-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Makes about 6 Quart

24 Whole medium tomatoes
2 Bell Peppers
1 Red Pepper
5 Jalapeno Peppers
1 1/2 White Onion
1 Red Onion
12 oz Tomato Paste
1 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Salt
4 Tablespoons Cilantro
3 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)

• The tomatoes need to be skinned. You do this by boiling water in a large pot and then putting the tomatoes in the boiling water for 20-30 seconds. Place them in ice water afterwards. Then you can peel them.
• Cut all of the peppers and remove the seeds. If you don't remove the jalapeno seeds your salsa will not be mild.
• In a food processor or chopper, chop the bell peppers, onions, jalapenos, garlic and the tomatoes. They can be chopped by hand, but the food processor is easier. Also I don't like my salsa really chunky, so the food processor works better for me. If you want chunkier salsa you can chop half of the vegetables by hand.
• Put all ingredients into a large pot. Bring to boil and simmer for 25 minutes. This process boils off some of the liquid from the tomatoes.
• Place the lids and rings into a small pot with water and bring the water to a boil. This will get the lids soft so they will seal better. Leave them in the hot water until you place them on the jars.
• Also, start your water bath (canner) water on the burner at this time. It takes a while to get the water boiling.
• Pour the salsa into jars, leaving an inch of air at the top of the jar.
• Wipe the rim of the jars with a wet cloth to get any drips off and then seal them with the lids, making sure you screw them on tight.
• Place the jars into a water bath and bring the water to a boil again. The water in the bath needs to be at least an inch above the jars. Boil the salsa for 20 minuets for quart sized jars or 15 minutes for pint sized jars.
• Take the bottles out of the canner and place them on a towel. they will seal as the jars cool. You know they are sealed by pressing down on the lid of the jar. If it doesn't pop when you push on it then they are sealed.

GRILLED PORK CHOPS

2010-08-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is a great recipe for pork chops. I use the thicker boneless ones that are about as big as your fist.

4 Pork Chops
1/3 Cup Water
1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
1/8 Cup Oil
1 tsp Minced Garlic
2 Tbsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Mix all ingredients (except Pork Chops) together in a bowl. Add the Pork, cover and marinate for 1-2 hours. Grill and enjoy! Do not over cook the meat.

Easy Cheesy Manicotti

2010-01-17T16:46:00.001-08:00

EASY CHEESY MANICOTTI

8 ounces, fluid Chive And Onion Cream Cheese
4 ounces, fluid Regular Cream Cheese
3 cups Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
¼ cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese (or 1/8 Cup Of The Grated Sprinkle Kind)
1 package Manicotti Shells (8 Oz Package)
1 bottle Marinara Sauce 24 Oz (or Spaghetti Sauce )
1 Tablespoon Parsley

* Preheat oven to 400 degrees

* Cook Manicotti shells according to the package. Drain the water. I put mine on wax paper after draining so they don’t stick together.

* Soften (in the microwave) both kinds of cream cheese. You want it softened, not cooked, so be very careful.

* In a medium bowl combine 2 cups of Mozzarella Cheese, Chive and Onion Cream Cheese, Regular Cream Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, and parsley. Mix well.

* Pour a small amount of the marinara sauce into a glass casserole dish. Spread it around.

* Fill the pasta shells with the cheese mixture. I find the easiest way to do this is to put a glop into your hand and roll it out into the form of a snake then slide it inside of the shell.

* Place stuffed shells into the casserole dish

* Pour the remaining Marinara Sauce over the top.

* Sprinkle with 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

* Cover with aluminum foil and Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Recipe makes about 10-12 stuffed shells.

2009-12-21T09:42:00.001-08:00

Mint Surprise Cookies
1 C Butter
1 C Sugar
1 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
3 C Flour
1 package Andies Mint Squares

* Preheat oven to 375
* Unwrap Andies mints and cut mint rectangles in half, making squares.
* Soften butter, add sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda and salt.
*Mix with electric mixer until smooth.
*Add flour and stir until mixed.
* Chill for an hour in fridge ( you don't have to do this but it makes it easier to form balls.)

*Spoon dough and roll around a mint square by using the palm of your hand. Cookie balls should be about 1 inch to 1.5 inch balls. The mint should not be showing.

* Bake 375 for 10-12 minutes.

English Toffee
1 C Butter
1/4 C Water
2 Tablespoons Karo Syrup (Corn Syrup)
1 1/4 C Sugar
1 Bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
Smashed Walnuts
Candy Thermometer

*Melt butter in a medium size saucepan. You must use real butter for this.
* Add water, corn syrup, and sugar.
* Stir until boiling.
* Turn heat down a bit so that the sauce is still boiling but not extremely hard. (usually medium low)
* Put candy thermometer into the liquid. Make sure it is not touching the bottom of the pan.
* Cook to 285 degrees. This will take about 20 min or more.
* Pour onto lightly greased cookie sheet (must have four sides)
* The toffee will look bubbly for a minute or two but then will become smooth.
* Pour bag of chocolate chips on the top, wait for them to melt and then smooth them all over the toffee.
* Add crushed walnuts
* Allow the toffee to set, either by leaving it out for several hours or by placing it into the fridge. Once cooked and set you can cut it with a metal spatula or butter knife.

2009-08-16T11:38:00.001-07:00

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Serves 6

4-5 Chicken Breasts (cut up into bite sized pieces)
16 oz Frozen Broccoli
12 oz Can Evaporative Milk
8 oz Cream Cheese
1/8 Cup Chopped Onions
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Pepper (as much or as little as you like)
1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 tube Ritz Crackers

You will need 4 dishes for cooking this meal. 2 sauce pans (one for broccoli, one for the milk mixture) 1 skillet for the chicken and an 8x11 glass casserole dish

Empty crackers into a ziplock back and smash them. Set aside
Chop onion and set aside
In a medium sauce pan, over medium/low heat, heat evaporated milk and cream cheese until smooth
Add garlic powder to milk mixture.
While milk is heating, place raw chicken pieces in a skillet, add onion, pepper and salt to the chicken and cook until done.
While chicken is cooking, boil broccoli and then drain the water.
In an 8x11 glass casserole dish, layer chicken then broccoli. Pour milk mixture over the top. You may have to stir it to get milk on everything.
Top with cheese and crackers.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 min

CHARITY'S LASAGNA

2009-08-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

6 Lasagna Noodles
1 (can or bottle 26 oz) Spaghetti Sauce (I use Hunts Traditional)
1 Lb Ground Beef
¼ Onion Chopped
1 T Parsley
¾ C Zucchini (chopped into small triangles)
½ C Corn
½ C Yellow Squash (chopped into small triangles)
½ C Carrots (chopped)
½ tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 T Brown Sugar
1 T Flour
1 ½ C Mozzarella Cheese (grated)
1 ½ C Cottage Cheese
1 Egg
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Boil Lasagna noodles according to package directions.

In a small bowl stir together cottage cheese and egg. Set aside for later.

While noodles are cooking. In a deep skillet, on medium heat, combine raw ground beef, carrots, onion and parsley. Add Salt and Pepper to meat. Cook until meat is brown.

When meat is cooked add zucchini, corn, and yellow squash. Cook for 3 minutes stirring constantly.

Add Spaghetti sauce and stir.

To spaghetti sauce mixture add: Garlic powder, red wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Stir well.

Slowly add in flour. Stir well. Cook for 5 minutes.

Drain noodles and then layer in a greased 9x11 glass casserole dish as follows:

Lay three noodles on the bottom of the casserole dish, then use half of the spaghetti mixture and spoon over the noodles. Add half of the cottage cheese and then sprinkle with ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat again topping with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 40 minutes.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE

2009-07-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Another family favoite for you today. This is my BIL's favorite pie and he begs for it all the time. I'm giving it to you today.And it is so very easy and fast to make.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE
1 Grahm Cracker Crust ( or you can make your own by smashing graham crackers and mixing with butter)
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter- Creamy
4oz container of Whipped Cream Chease
2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
4 Tbsp Milk1.5 oz
Chocolate Pudding mix
1 3/4 Cup Milk (for pudding mix)

In a bowl, combine Peanut Butter, Cream Chease, Powdered Sugar and the 4 T of Milk.

After mixing, place in the bottom of the crust.Mix Chocolate Pudding with 1 3/4 C Milk. Stir well so that no lumps remain. Wait a minute until the pudding starts to thicken then pour over the peanut butter in the pie crust.

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

HONEY MUSTARD NUT CRUSTED SALMON

2009-05-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

Honey Mustard Nut Crusted Salmon
Serves 4
About 470 Calories per serving

4 (4 oz) Salmon fillets
¼ Cup Butter- melted
3 T Mustard
2 T Honey
¼ C Breadcrumbs
1/8 C Smashed Walnuts
1/8 C Smashed Pecans (or you can use ¼ C of just one type of nut)
1 T Parsley- chopped
Pepper
Salt
Lemon Juice or fresh lemons to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Combine butter, mustard and honey together in a small bowl
In a separate bowl combine breadcrumbs, walnuts, pecans, parsley, salt and pepper.

Place Salmon in a greased pan (or a pan lined with aluminum foil)
Brush butter mixture on each salmon fillet. You can be generous with the mixture! You will probably have some left over, which is okay.

Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on the fillets, make sure you get the sides.

Bake 15 minutes and serve with lemon juice.

BOURBON CHICKEN

2009-04-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

BOURBON CHICKEN (Serves 4)

2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 T Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Water

1/3 Cup Soy Sauce

1/4 Cup Apple Juice

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 T Cider Vinegar

2 T Ketchup1 Clove of Garlic (Or 1/2 T minced Garlic- the bottled stuff)

1/4 tsp Ginger

1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes= mild (1/2 tsp= medium hot & 3/4 tsp= hot)

3 Cups of Rice (Prepared as the box directs)

Heat oil into skillet. Cut chicken into small bite-sized pieces, add to oil and cook until they are a little browned.

While the chicken is cooking: Add the rest of the ingredients, in order, to a bowl and stir until they are well mixed.

Add sauce mixture to the browned chicken.

Bring to boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 20 min or until most of the sauce has reduced.

Cook the rice while the chicken is simmering.

Try not to slobber on yourself while you plate your food.... BTW, the chicken goes on TOP of the rice.AND HERE are the steps as I made it tonight!

For step by step pics go here http://www.charitymoon.blogspot.com/

CHARITY'S HOMEMADE POT PIE

2009-04-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect meal for a sick friend, as well as for your own family. You can put it together, stick it in the fridge and bake it the next day or you can bake it right away. You could probably freeze it too, although I have not tried to do that yet.

This has become a favorite among my neighborhood friends. Their husbands beg for it... It is pathetic really.

Because of their begging I finally wrote the recipe down and I'm sharing it with you as my first entry on my new cooking blog.

Charity's Homemade Pot Pie
Makes 1 large Pot Pie
By Charity M.

2 frozen pie crusts in pie tins (or make homemade if you like)
3-4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (Cut into bite sized pieces)
1 ½ - 2 Potatoes (Cut into bite sized pieces)
1/3 Cup Chopped Onions
1 (16 oz) bag Frozen Peas & Carrots
½ Can of Corn with water drained (or Frozen Corn)
2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup (10.5 oz)
1 stem of Celery, chopped (Optional)
1/8 Cup of Water
Parsley
Salt
Pepper

* Set pie crusts out to thaw.

* Chop Potatoes into bite sized squares and place in a boiling pot of water. Cook until tender. Do not let them get soggy, they still need firmness to them. Drain the water and set aside.

* In a large skillet with a small amount of oil, add chopped Chicken and chopped Onions. When chicken is fully cooked add Water, Celery, Peas, Carrots and Corn. Cook until the vegetables are thawed and tender stirring frequently.

* Stir Cream of Chicken Soup into the vegetable mixture, add parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the mixture is warm.

* Pour into one of the pie tins then use the second pie crust for the top of the pot pie. Make 2-4 slits in the top for venting.

* Place the pie on a cookie sheet before baking to prevent spillage.

Bake @ 375 degrees25 minutes (If the filling is still warm when you bake it)
45 minutes (If the pie is refrigerated before cooking)