Here are my 2 fave Cafe Zupas soup knock-off recipes. They do not disappoint!! They've become part of our monthly recipe rotation, much to my husband and kiddos chagrin. =)
Here is a healthy alternative to using whipping cream and tons of butter in homemade Alfredo sauce. This is from my friend AK. =)
2 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 oz Neufchatel or regular cream cheese
1 tablespoon flour
Dash of pepper
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
Combine milk, flour, salt, pepper and whisk until smooth. In a pan melt butter, add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add mix and cook 6-8 minutes. Then add Parmesan and cream cheese. Add choice of pasta, cooked chicken (or not) and eat!!
This is now one of my fav soups. So easy and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Tastes just like lasagna but without the fuss of layers and putting it together.
1 lb ground meat of choice
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon thyme (I use less, but that's just me!!)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
4 cups chicken broth
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced stewed tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
7 lasagna noodles, broken up
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 cups mozzarella cheese, for topping
Put ground sausage, onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic into a pot. Cook the mixture over
medium high heat until the sausage is browned and the onions are
translucent.
Then add thyme, brown sugar, stewed
tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt and chicken broth and bring to a boil over
medium high heat. Reduce and let simmer for 20 minutes.
Then add broken lasagna noodles to pot and let simmer for another 10 minutes.
Finally add Parmesan cheese to the pot. Give it a stire and allow the cheese to melt. Remove from heat and ladle into serving bowls and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Done!!
I love The Old Spaghetti Factory and I especially enjoy their house salad dressing. My sister has been making it for years and I finally got around the putting the recipe on here. YUM.
3/4 cup oil
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons crushed dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
Whisk together oil and mayonnaise. Add buttermilk, cheese, basil, salt,
garlic and hot pepper sauce to taste. Mix thoroughly. Refrigerate
overnight before serving.
"Souper" yummy!! hahaha. This soup is great especially because I usually have all the ingredients on hand. =)
5 cups water
5 teaspoons chicken bouillon
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups chopped carrots
5 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1 cup cold milk
1/2 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Bring water and bouillon cubes to a raging boil. Toss in onion, carrots and potatoes and let cook for 20 minutes or until fork tender.
2. In a separate bowl combine milk and flour together. Whisk until lumps are gone.
3. While soup is boiling, slowly pour flour mixture over top and stir constantly. Boil for 3 minutes to allow soup to thicken.
4. Reduce heat and simmer. Stir cheese into soup and simmer until melted. Garnish with cheese over top prior to serving.
Makes 8 healthy servings.
So this is my new fav recipe for PB bars!! There is another one on WeRecipe but I might have to delete it. This one is 10x better!! Seriously. This recipe is from a friend at the PD and he brings them to everything. Try it for yourself but try not to eat the whole pan. =)
2 packages of graham crackers, smashed into crumbs
1 ½ - 2 cups of creamy peanut butter
2 sticks of butter (NOT margarine), melted
2 cups powdered sugar
1 package of chocolate chips
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
In a medium bowl mix together peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs. Then pour in melted butter and mix together. Add powdered sugar until it's the consistency of cookie dough. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased or parchment-lined 9x13 pan. Put in the fridge for about 5-10 minutes. Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.
This is my new fav salad, FO SHO. =) I love the homemade pink dressing and the combo of sweet and salty in this salad is divine.
Salad:
1 head romaine chopped
1/2 cup bacon crumbles
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cup sugared almonds
Dressing:
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil
Ever wanted to make the PERFECT, PREDICTABLE chocolate chip cookie?? Head over to My Sister's Cafe at the link below. They have an awesome recipe and some tips and tricks to make the best cookie ever. Who'da thunk that refrigerating your cookie dough overnight could make such a difference??
http://tinyurl.com/45y4gno
***Update 9/2012
After trying this recipe over and over again with my MIL I decided to update this post with my findings.
1) In St. George I omit the 2 tablespoons of cake flour. In SLC I keep it in.
2) I prefer Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips but sometimes mix in 1 cup of Guittard milk choco chips to keep things spicy.
3) I make the dough a day ahead and use a 1/3 cup to measure out the dough. I save 12 pre-made cookies for the next day (cover with plastic wrap on a plate in the fridge) and flash freeze the rest in their pre-made state. Then when I want a fresh cookie I take a couple out of the freezer, let them sit for 30 minutes, sprinkle with sea salt, and cook!! Nothing like a fresh cookie.
4) Convection ovens are tricky. My Mom's convection oven in SLC makes these cookies very nicely. The convection oven in St. George does not do so well. I bake mine in my normal oven for 13 minutes.
Lately I've been trying to lower our intact of high-fructose corn syrup, additives, pesticides, nitrates, etc. I found this recipe for homemade maple syrup and it is awesome!! I love that it uses honey and it's pretty cheap to make considering REAL maple syrup is $15+ a quart. So enjoy!!
8 cups granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 cups water
2 teaspoons pure maple extract (or Mapleine)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
In a large pot combine the sugars, honey and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat and gently simmer for 15 minutes, covered. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for 20 minutes before stirring in the maple (Mapleine) and vanilla extracts. Let the syrup cool for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fill containers and cool to room temperature uncovered.
Store in refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 months in the refrigerator. Makes about 10 cups.
These are my MIL's legacy. These are my husbands absolute favorite food so I had to learn how to make them. Here is the recipe. =)
4 large potatoes
Scrub, bake at 425 degrees for 40-60 minutes. Scoop out innards and add:
1/2 cup sour cream
milk to creamy
1/2 cube of butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
Mix all ingredients together and put back into potato skins. Top with cheese and green onion. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Ok, so usually I HATE taco soup...so bland, runny, and too much meat for my liking. This recipe is SO flavorful and yummy...and the best part, it's EASY!! Throw it in the crockpot and forget about dinner!!
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 15 oz can black beans, drained
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can of corn, undrained
1 4 oz chopped green chili’s
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1b ground beef, browned
1/2 onion, diced, cooked/softened with beef
1 package of dry taco seasoning mix
Brown ground beef and diced onions in a large skillet.
Throw skillet contents, and remaining ingredients into a crock pot/slow-cooker and cook for at least 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Serve with corn chips, sour cream, and grated cheese.
Here is yet an
other "recipe" for pinching some pennies. This is a great way to lessen the costs of laundry and help save the environment. If you make your own dryer sheets AND laundry soap a family of four can easily finance a year's worth of laundry on $5 or less.The savings are substantial!!
A cheap sponge
Liquid fabric softener
Clean container (baby wipes, formula, #10 can, etc)
Add 1 part fabric softener to 3 parts water and mix in container. Cut sponge into little pieces (I do three) and then put in container and soak. Just squeeze out a sponge and put it into the dryer with your wet clothes and you are good to go!! YAY. =) FYI: I've also heard of people doing this with strips of flannel but I've never tried it.
T
his recipe is from Pioneer Woman. It is my favorite pizza crust recipe right now. I use half whole wheat flour and it works out well. Enjoy!! =)
1 teaspoon yeast
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
⅓ cups extra virgin olive oil
Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm (not lukewarm) water.
In a mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour. Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined.
Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat dough in olive oil and then cover bowl with moist dishcloth and let rise for 1-2 hours. It's even better if wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and stored in fridge until needed.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
Drizzle olive oil on a large baking sheet and use fingers to coat thoroughly. Remove HALF the pizza dough from the bowl (save the other half in the fridge/freezer or make another pizza.) Press dough onto baking sheet. Top with pizza sauce and favorite toppings.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Remove from pan and slice with a pizza cutter. Serve immediately!
Here's probably the best brownie recipe I've ever tasted, and I've tasted lots of them. I got it from my daughter-in-law.
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cup flour
powdered sugar
Combine sugar, butter, and water. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine cocoa, baking powder, salt, and flour. Add to sugar mixture. Spread in a greased 9 by 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out slightly sticky. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut.
Mom
These little yummies are so easy to make and super scrumptious. =) Great for neighbor gifts or for something sweet to have around.
Small pretzels
1 bag of Rolo's
Nuts, M&M's, raisins, etc.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on a baking sheet. Top with a Rolo. Let bake in oven for about 3 minutes. Take out and gently press nut/M&M/raisin on top. Let cool and enjoy!!
YES FOLKS, it's true...and it really works!! This recipe makes 10 gallons of liquid laundry detergent for just a little over $2 (which is less than a penny a load!!!!!!!!!!!) I found all the ingredients at Macey's and it only takes about 1 hour to make.
4 cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
Grate Fels-Naptha and add to saucepan with water. I cut mine up and throw it in the food processor. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
Stir again then fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use because it will get lumpy and/or gel.
You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons once soap has cooled. I don't because I personally like the citrus-y smell of Fels-Naptha. Ideas: lavender, citrus, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, etc…
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 1/3 cup per load
-Front Load Machines- 1/4 cup per load
FYI: You NEED to use Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda." Baking Soda will not work nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent. It must be sodium carbonate!!
My M
om and I could hardly believe that we didn't have this recipe on here!! Whoops!! Please forgive us. This is one of our faves.
1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
3 strips bacon (fried and diced)
5 oz frozen peas
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 oz. Swiss cheese slices, cut in strips
2/3 cups chopped green onion
1/4 cup Mayo
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
Put lettuce in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar, salt, and pepper. Run hot water over frozen peas and drain. Add peas, cheese, onion, mayo, and Miracle Whip (these ingredients can be layered with the mayo/Miracle Whip spread on last then covered and refrigerated overnight.) Toss and garnish with bacon. Makes 8 servings.
**Update: I originally posted the recipe from the Pioneer Woman but then I made it using her recipe and realized it is not my favorite recipe. So here is my fav recipe. Ff you want hers click here.
No picture or description can do this dessert justice!! Seriously!! Just make it. You'll see. =)
This is hands-down my husbands favorite cake. It really is delicious and very rich.
I used to snack on this stuff all the time in college. I haven't made it in awhile...maybe if I post it on here I will make it more often. =)
Oh man, a great friend from KS made these for me when I was 9 months pregnant. They were great but definitely sinful. Make them only if you want to eat 10 of them!! hehehe.
This is definitely a family favorite and so easy. My mom says that in some funky restaurants this is served in individual serving sized bags of Fritos. Slit the bad on one side and pile the ingredients in and eat it right from the bag !! Great for camping!!
This recipe is a spin-off of Parmesan Chicken from my mother-in-law. We usually eat it plain but you can add spaghetti sauce and serve over noodles.
Simple yet yummy...that's what I like!!
This is a recipe for some cookies that my mother, Francis Hayward Tippets, used to make and that we all liked. It's a lot like J's Famous Blondies except that it calls for oatmeal and you sprinkle the chocolate chips on the top after baking, let them melt, and spread them like frosting instead of sprinkling them on top before baking.
1 1/2 cups shortening or butter (I usually use half of each.)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour (I usually use half whole wheat and half white.)
1 1/2 cups uncooked rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream butter/shortening, sugars, vanilla, and salt. Mix in eggs. Mix in flour and oatmeal. Spread in a greased 10"x15" inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and allow to melt. Spread with a knife. When cool cut into bars.
Mom
I've always stuck to my roll recipe (Lightest Hot Rolls) because they are a family favorite and I know how to make them. Last night I made Lion House Rolls and they were great for a change. Here is the recipe.
2 tablespoons active-dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or shortening
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
5-6 cups flour
In the large bowl of an electric mixer combine yeast and water. Let stand 5 minutes. Add sugar, butter/shortening, salt, dry milk, 2 cups flour and egg. Beat together until very smooth. Add remaining flour gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) until a soft but not sticky dough is formed. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until it is smooth and satiny (I simply use my very-well-loved Kitchenaid mixer to knead for me.) Return dough to an oiled bowl and cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Separate dough into two portions. Roll out each portion into a circle and cut into 12 pie-shaped pieces. Roll up crescent-style and place on baking sheet. Cover with saran wrap that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes - until nicely browned. Makes 2 dozen rolls.
I am HUGE fan of Little Caesars. I know to some it might be bottom of the totem pole but I love it. Here is the recipe for their pizza sauce. It's great. =)
1 12 ounce can Hunts tomato paste
1−1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon Accent (AKA MSG, I don't use it)
Pre−mix the dry ingredients and set aside. In a smal saucepan combine tomato paste and water. Bring to a simmer. Add the pre−mixed spices and stir well. Reduce heat to low and simmer 35−40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate until needed. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.
Who doesn't like a crescent roll every now and then??
1 pound boneless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
4 ounces cream cheese (half a block) softened to room temperature
1 cup plus 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 plus 1/2 cup milk
2 packages refrigerated crescent roll
1 can cream of chicken soup
In large bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded chicken and 1 cup
shredded cheddar Stir in 1/4 cup of milk a bit at a time until mixture
can be formed into spoonfuls without crumbling
In a separate bowl, whisk together cream of chicken soup and 1/2 cup milk
Unroll crescents and place a spoonful of chicken mixture on each. Roll up and place in 13×9 dish. Cover crescent roll-ups with creamy soup mixture. Sprinkle remaining half cup of cheddar and 1/4 cup of parmesan over roll.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tops of rolls are browned and sauce is bubbling.
I made these for holiday neighbor gifts this year and got a great response. They're not too difficult if you enjoy dipping chocolates. Here is the recipe.
This is such a simple and yummy crock pot recipe. It's a GREAT recipe to fix on Sunday's since you just put some ingredients in a crock pot and let em' cook. Enjoy!!
1 pkg. Italian dressing mix
1 chopped onion
1-2 stalks of chopped celery
4 chopped carrots
5-6 frozen chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup (low fat is a great option)
2 8 oz. boxes of cream cheese (1/3 reduced fat works great too)
Put chicken, onion, celery, and carrots in crock pot and cover with water. Stir in dressing mix. Cook for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. Pour off some broth but keep some in reserve just in case you need it later. Add other ingredients and stir. Chicken should shred. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. Serves 8 easily.
I just tried this recipe last night...sooooooo moist and yummy.
Cheers to my friend, Rachel, for making this dessert for me!! Seriously...SO GOOD.
1 box graham crackers
9 oz Cool Whip
3 cups milk
2 boxes instant vanilla pudding
Blend vanilla pudding and milk. Fold in Cool Whip. Line a 9x13 pan with graham crackers. Put half of the pudding mix into the pan. Put graham crackers on top. Pour in remaining mixture. Put on final layer of graham crackers.
TOPPING:
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Melt butter; add remaining ingredients. Mix. Put topping on and chill AT LEAST overnight. It's even better if you wait 24 hours.
This recipe has been in S's family for a long time!! It is a great family tradition. I used to make these every Sunday when we were first married but then we got sick of them. Now it's more of a monthly thing. Enjoy!!
Who you callin' fat?? hehehe. This ice cream recipe is a family tradition. We just love it.
