Wedding Punch (Jello Slush)

Wedding Punch (Jello Slush) - From Janalee


1 1/2 cups sugar
6 cups water
2 (3 oz.) packages strawberry Jello
1 (46 oz.) can pineapple juice
2/3 c. lemon juice
1 quart orange juice
2 (2 liter) bottles Sprite or 7-Up

Mix sugar, water and jello together and bring to a boil.  Dissolve all the sugar.  Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice.  Split into two different gallon size freezer bags.  Freeze.

When ready to serve, set out for at least 30 minutes (60 minutes is better) so you can break it up.  Combine each gallon bag of frozen slush with a 2 liter bottle of pop.  Serve in a punch bowl. 

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Spinach Salad (from Bobbi)

1 head lettuce
1 bunch spinach
3/4 lb. Swiss cheese
1 red onion (medium)
3/4 lb. sliced mushrooms
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked & chopped
1 large can mandarin oranges (drained)
1/2 c. sugared almonds

Mix lettuce, spinach, cheese, onion, and mushrooms together.  Add the bacon and oranges on top, and add dressing and almonds  just before serving.

Sugared Almonds:

1/2 c. slivered almonds
3 Tb. sugar
1/4 c. butter

Melt butter and sugar.  Add nuts. stir until nut are coated.  Arrange on cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

Poppy Seed Dressing:
3/4 Tbs. poppy seeds
1/3 c. white vinegar
3/4 c. oil
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. onion (chopped)
3/4 tsp salt
2 Tbs. prepared mustard

Put all ingredients in a mixer to blend.

Orange Julius

Orange Julius

1/2 can frozen orange juice
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. sugar
Ice Cubes

Blend in a good blender.  My family of 7 requires a double batch.  Unless you have a Vitamix or Blendtec, I recommend making single batches at a time.

Holiday Party Drink (Wassail)

This is a favorite at our house in the winter.  We got the recipe from the Friend magazine, December 2008 issue.

5 quarts water
3 c. sugar
12 oz. frozen orange juice (thawed)
1 1/2 c. bottled lemon juice
2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbs. almond extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves

Heat all together over the stovetop in a large pan.  Simmer, but don't boil.

Note: I now only use 2 1/2 c. sugar.  I've tried using less, but it wasn't as good.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Super easy, super good, but not super healthy!  My kids love these as an after-school snack.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks
String cheese sticks cut in half
Italian seasoned bread crumbs
flour
beaten egg
oil for frying

Sorry, there are no measurements because this is kind of a no brainer, and it just depends on how many you want to cook.

Cut the cheese sticks in half.  Then prepare a small bowl of flour (I use a cereal bowl with no more than 1/2 c. flour), a small bowl of beaten egg, and a small bowl of Italian Bread Crumbs.

1. Dip the cheese in the flour, tap the side of the bowl to remove excess flour.
2. Dip the cheese in the egg.
3. Dip the cheese in the Italian bread crumbs.
4. Dip the cheese back into the beaten egg.
5. Dip the cheese back into the bread crumbs.
6. Fry on low heat about 2-3 minutes, or until a nice golden brown.

Remove from the hot oil onto paper towels to blot excess oil.

If the oil it too hot then the cheese won't melt very much inside before the breading is done.  If the oil is too cool then it will take a long time to cook the outside and will result in greasy cheese sticks.

Potato Wedges

This recipe is from a Facebook feed from "Tasty". For the original link, click here.

Potato Wedges

-3 large potatoes, cut into eight wedges

-3 Tbs. olive oil

-salt to taste

-2 tsp each of paprika, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

-1/2 c. Parmesan

Coat potatoes with oil in a large bowl.  Mix together the seasonings, and then sprinkle over top the wedges and mix well.  Sprinkle on the parmesan. 

Place on Tin foiled cookie sheet. Bake 400 degrees 30-40 minutes.

Cut each potato into 8 wedges.

Place in a bowl and coat them with oil.

Sprinkle all the seasoning over top and coat them evenly.

Arrange onto a cookie sheet that is lined with foil  Sprinkle on  the Parmesan cheese.  

Bake!

1 Hour Dinner Rolls

My new favorite roll when I'm in a hurry!  This is an excellent recipe.

1 c. warm water

2 Tbs. yeast

1/4 c. sugar

1/3 c. oil

1 tsp. salt

1 egg

3 1/3 c. flour

Add warm water to a stand-up mixer.  Sprinkle yeast over top, and the sprinkle the sugar over top of that.  Mix it around briefly so that the yeast all gets wet.  Add oil, salt, egg, and 2 cups of the flour.  Mix until smooth, then slowly add the rest of the flour until a soft dough forms.  Knead at least 5 minutes.  Shape and place on a greased cookie sheet.  Let rise in a slightly warm oven until almost double in size.  Take them out of the oven, and heat the oven to 375.  When preheated, bake 10-12 min.

Note:

I have a double oven, so I proof the rolls in one oven and then bake in the other oven.  If you have a single oven, turn it to the lowest possible temperature (100 degrees is ideal, but most ovens only go as low as 170).  Let the oven heat just a little and then turn it off.  Add the pan of dough and let the rolls rise about 20 minutes.  Remove from the oven, and then turn the oven on to 375 to preheat for the rolls.