Better Than Nestle!

I've been making "homemade" hot chocolate for years now. It's real simple, just a few ingredients;

Hot Chocolate

1-2 tsp sugar

1-2 tsp powdered milk(preferred) or Coffee Creamer

1/2 tsp powdered baking Cocoa

In one cup mix the above ingredients, in another microwave a cup of boiling water and add to the mixture. Add marshmallows and enjoy!

I got this idea years ago from Miserly Moms or Tightwad Gazette, don't recall which. We haven't bought hot cocoa mix for years. For Christmas this year, a good friend got us some European hot cocoa mix that the kids couldn't wait to try. Their response? "Could you make yours please mom?" I don't know if they're just used to mine or if it's really that much better, but it sure is cheaper! With this cold weather, it makes an easy, inexpensive treat!

Pizza Bake

While I have only recently began to post recipes with poultry, I have yet to post one with beef as I just have not taken to eating mammals just yet, but I made this dish for a potluck the other evening with some modifications and just had to share it here as it is quite good!

Pizza Bake

1 lb ground beef(I used ground turkey and got no complaints!)

2 tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits( I used 1-1/2 grands)

1 can/jar pizza sauce(15 ounces)

1 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 pkg sliced pepperoni(3-1/2 oz, I have yet to find a veggie or poultry sub)

1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In skillet cook beef or turkey over medium heat until no longer pink. Meanwhile, quarter the biscuits; place in greased shallow 3-qt baking dish. Top with pizza sauce. Drain meat, sprinkle over biscuits and sauce. Layer with green pepper, onion, pepperoni and cheeses. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

This is a hit with young and old alike! Great for potlucks or company.

For a Day Such As This

We woke up to lots of snow and even more falling, so while we were planning on making baked beans for a potluck tonite, it looks like we will be house bound and this weather is just calling for an old favorite recipe of mine! I got this one from a very old issue of Keepers At Home Magazine.

Grandma's Chicken & Dumpling Soup

2-3 lbs chicken cut up(I just use Chicken Breasts)

6 c cold water

3 chicken bouillon cubes

3 whole cloves

Soup Base

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup chopped celery

1-1/2 cups chopped carrots

1/4 cup onion

1 cup chopped potatoes

1 sm bay leaf

seasoning salt

Feather Dumplings

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp pepper

1 egg well beaten

2 Tbs butter melted

1/4 cup milk

Place chicken, water, bouillon, pepper corns, and cloves in kettle and bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer until chicken is tender. Cool chicken just slightly, cut into bite sized pieces and set aside. Strain and skim chicken broth. Put the reserved chicken and broth in large kettle. Add cans of broth, cream of chicken and mushroom soups, celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, bay leaf, and seasoning salt. Put cover on kettle and simmer soup on low for 2-3 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, mix up feather dumplings by sifting dry ingredients together and adding egg, melted butter, and enough milk to make a moist but stuff batter. Drop by teaspoon fulls into the boiling liquid. Cook covered without peeking for 18-20 minutes or until the dumplings are done. YUM! Enjoy!

My Famous Lemon Cake

I can't really take credit for this one, as it is yet another yummy recipe from an old issue of Taste of Home. This is another that always gets rave reviews.

Lemon Cake

1 package light yellow cake mix

1 package(3.4 oz)instant lemon pudding mix

1-3/4 cup water

3 egg whites

3/4 cup cold milk

1/2 tsp lemon extract

1 package(1 oz) instant sugar free vanilla pudding mix

1 carton(8oz) frozen light whipped topping, thawed.

In mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, lemon pudding mix, water and egg whites. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Pour into a 13x9x2 in baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 23-28 minutes. Cool. In a mixing bowl, combine mile, extract and vanilla pudding mix. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Store in fridge. Enjoy!