Beef Stew in the Crock Pot

2 lb. stew beef
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 onion, quartered
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth or bouillon
1 tsp. salt, or to taste
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 -2 bay leaves
dash allspice, optional
6 carrots, cut in pieces
6 med. white potatoes, cut in pieces
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 cup flour

Combine flour, paprika and garlic powder in a plastic bag. Coat stew beef in flour mixture and brown in hot oil in a large skillet; transfer to the crock pot.

Add the remaining ingredients except for 1/2 cold water and 1/4 cup flour.

Cook on low for 9 to 11 hours.

About 30 minutes before serving, mix together the flour and cold water; add to the pot. Turn on high and cook until thickened. Serves 6-8.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I found this recipe here.

1 scant tablespoon instant or rapid rise yeast (1 packet)
3 1/2 cups (350g) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups (295mL) warm water (110 degrees)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
butter for pan and brushing on finished bread
1 egg white
1 cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1. In an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook and set to low speed, mix together yeast and 3 cups of flour. Pour in the water, oil, honey, and salt. Mix on low speed for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add up to a 1/2 cup more flour if needed.

2. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead by hand a few times. Drizzle the inside of the mixer bowl with a bit more oil. Roll the dough around in the oil and cover in plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

3. Butter a large loaf pan and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and roll out into a long rectangle the width of the loaf pan. In a small bowl, mix together the egg white, sugar, and cinnamon, and spread out evenly across the dough. Roll up carefully, and pinch the dough on the ends, and all along the edge to create a seam that will hold in the filling. Lay the dough, seam side down, in the prepared pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until almost doubled in size.

4. Bake for 25-30 Turn minutes, or until the top and bottom of the bread is golden brown. Brush the top of the bread with butter. Tilt the bread pan on its side and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Turn the bread out and allow to cool completely, if you can with that long.

Easter Eggs

This recipe is from here.

Ingredients

* 10 hard boiled eggs
* food coloring
* 1 tsp vinegar for each color you are using
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip or half of each (I use Miracle Whip)

Instructions

1. Remove the shells from the hard boiled eggs and slice each egg in half.

2. Remove the yolks from the egg halves and place in a bowl. Set the yolks aside.

3. Get enough glasses or mugs for the number of colors you want to use. Fill the mugs or glasses 2/3 of the way full with cold water.

4. Add 3 drops of desired food coloring along with 1 tsp vinegar to each mug or cup.

5. Place egg whites in the mugs and allow to sit in the food coloring until desired color is reached. I could fit 3 egg whites in each of my mugs at a time.

6. Remove whites from dye and drain on a plate lined with a couple of paper towels.

7. Take the reserved yolks and mash them with a fork. Then mix in the 1/2 cup mayonnaise with the mashed yolk.

8. Pipe or spoon the yolk mix into the colored egg whites. Makes 20 deviled egg halves.

Guacamole Burgers

Ingredients:
2lbs ground hamburger
salt and pepper (to taste)
8 slices bacon (cooked)
4 slices pepper jack cheese
4 hamburger buns
Guacamole-
3 ripe avocados (peeled and pitted)
The juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup onion (diced)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped)
2 roma tomatoes (diced)
1 teaspoon fresh garlic (minced)
1 pinch cayenne pepper

Step 1: To make guacamole- in a medium bowl mash avocados together with the lime juice. Add salt. Stir in cilantro, tomatoes and garlic. Mix in cayenne pepper. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Step 2: Shape the ground burger into 4 patties. Season on both sides with freshly ground salt and black pepper. Lightly grease the grates of your grill and heat the grill to medium high heat. Grill hamburger patties until they have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Within the last few minutes of cooking top patties with 2 slices of bacon and a slice of pepper jack cheese.
Step 3: Split the hamburger buns and lightly toast the halves on the grill. Remove from the grill and set aside. Place a burger patty on each bun. Top with guacamole and the top half of the bun.
Yield: (4 Servings)

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 pound (4 ounces) unsweetened chocolate

4 tablespoons ( 1/2 stick) butter

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pound bittersweet chocolate (chunks or chips)

1. In a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

2. In the bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a fork, combine the eggs, vanilla and sugar. Mix just until incorporated and set aside.

3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. Add the melted chocolate to the egg mixture and mix just until combined. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients and mix just until combined, then stir in the bittersweet chocolate.

5. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill thoroughly. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Divide the dough into 18 portions. Grease your hands (to prevent the dough from sticking) and shape the portions into balls. Place the balls on a greased, parchment-lined sheet pan, leaving 2 to 3 inches between each.

7. Bake until the edges of the cookies are just set and the center is still soft, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Place the cookies, still on the parchment, on a rack and cool completely before serving. They will be very soft.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen cookies

Each cookie: 251 calories; 4 grams protein; 29 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 42 mg. cholesterol; 92 mg. sodium.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
1 cup white hominy
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
crushed tortilla chips
sliced avocado
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
chopped green onions


Directions:
1. In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

Olive Garden Salad

Salad Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoon corn syrup
2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon Romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or one clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1 tablespoon lemon juice
sugar (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal taste, add a little extra sugar. You can enjoy your Olive Garden salad dressing for about 10 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Another great use for the Olive Garden salad dressing is as a marinade for vegetables or even meats that you might like to grill. So you can see the Olive Garden salad dressing can be used in more than one way.

Salad:
1 bag Dole American Blend Salad
4-5 slices red onion
4-6 black olives
2-4 pepperoncini (if you like a sweet pepper, you could use a banana pepper)
1/2 cup croutons
1 small tomato, quartered
freshly grated Romano cheese (Parmesan Cheese works well too!)

Chill one salad bowl in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Place bag of salad in bowl. Place on top of the lettuce the red onion, black olives, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Olive Garden Salad Dressing on top.