Shrimp Boil

On Sunday (Feb. 27th) my family (Koehn's) had a Shrimp Boil to celebrate my Dad's radiation treatments being over. It was the first time we had done a shrimp boil with our family. Vi Penner gave me this recipe that was passed down to her from Pat Regier. It turned out so yummy!

1/2 cup Old Bay Seasoning

2 T. salt

4 Quarts Water

8 Medium Red Potatoes (I used a bag of the small red potatoes you can get at wal-mart)

2 Lg. sweet onions (I used a bag of small pearl onions you can get at wal-mart)

2 pounds smoked sausage (cut in 2 inch links)

8 whole ears of corn on the cob (I used a bag of mini frozen corn cobs you can get at wal-mart)

4 pounds large shrimp

In 8 qt. pot bring Old Bay, salt and water to a boil. Add potatoes and onions; cook over high heat for 8 minutes. Add smoke sausage to potatoes & onions; continue to cook on high for 8 minutes. Add corn to pot; continue to boil for 4 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for 4 minutes.

Makes 8 large servings.

Chocolate Mug Cake

I came across this recipe while surfing on the Internet one day a while back. I printed off the recipe and now for the life of me can't find the website I got it off of so I could give the lady credit for her awesome recipe. It's so easy and if you need a quick chocolate fix sometime this is the perfect recipe. Also, I think this would be a cute idea for a valentine gift too. Put the dry ingredients together in a bag in a cute valentine coffee mug and then attach the recipe with it.

4 Tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
sprinkle of cinnamon
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 generous Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp chocolate chips
splash of vanilla

In a microwave safe mug, mix together the dry ingredients. Mix in the eggs. Mix in the milk and oil. Add chocolate chips and vanilla. Mix together and cook in the microwave for three minutes. When you take it out, turn it upside down on a plate and drizzle on syrup if you want.

Favorite Monkey Bread

I grew up with my Mom making Monkey Bread on special occassions. It was heavenly! I recently found an easy recipe in the "Taste of Home - Simply Delicious" magazine that didn't take too long to bake and looked easy. I tried it and it is now the recipe I go to every time I make Monkey Bread.

2 tubes (12 oz. each) refrigerated flaky biscuits
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup cream
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Cut each biscuit into four pieces; dip each piece into the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture and then arrange evenly in a 10-in. fluted tube pan coated with cooking spray. After dipping all the biscuit pieces then take the remaining brown sugar/cinnamon mixture and mix with cream. Pour over the biscuits.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.

Natalie's Cherry Coke Salad

Natalie Church introduced us to this salad several years ago and it has become Brad's favorite salad ever. I recently made it for Hunter's 3rd Birthday Party and it was a big hit. Everyone went back for 2nd's and 3rd's.

1 can cherries, sour
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1 sm. pkg. cherry jello
2/3 c. coke
1-2 cans drained pineapple

Boil cherries, sugar and water. Pour over cherry jello. Add coke and pineapple. Chill in refrigerator until firm.

Note: I use splenda, sugar free jello, and diet coke to make it a little more less fattening. It doesn't change the taste of it.

Pine Bark Christmas Candy

This is my new favorite Christmas Candy. I was looking for Christmas Candy recipes on the web that would be quick, easy and yummy and I found this one! It is definitely ALL three!!!

Saltine Crackers (approx. 24)

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 lb. Butter (2 sticks)

12 oz. Pkg. Chocolate Chips (I also used the White Chocolate Chips on some)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

3. Cover bottom of pan with a layer of saltine crackers.

4. In sauce pan on stove combine 2 sticks of butter with 1 cup of brown sugar over medium heat. Stir continuously until butter melts. Boil mixture 3 minutes, stirring constantly (mixture will thicken).

5. Pour mixture over crackers.

6. Put in oven and bake for 7 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and sprinkle 12 oz. pkg. of chocolate chips over crackers. The chips will melt and then you can spread the chocolate with a knife evenly.

8. Put in freezer to firm up and then peel off foil and break into pieces.

ENJOY!!!

Sweat Pea's Chicken Chili

The snow falling on Tuesday made me hungry for soup. I searched through all kinds of cookbooks for a recipe that I had all the ingredients for. I was unsuccessful and since I wasn't able to run to the store since both boys were napping, I threw several ingredients together that I had on hand and came up with what I will call...Sweet Pea's Chicken Chili. Brad is not crazy about chicken but he said it was a keeper!

2 T. Butter

1 C. Chopped Onion

1 C. Chopped Green Pepper

2 Garlic Cloves Minced

4 1/2 C. Shredded Chicken

2 Cans Stewed Tomatoes

1 Can Kidney Beans (drained)

1 tsp. Chili Powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 pkg. Ranch Dressing Mix

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix

8 oz. Block of Cream Cheese

Saute onion, green pepper and garlic in the butter. Add all ingredients except cream cheese and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add the cream cheese and let it melt slowly in the soup. Serve with green onion and cheese sprinkled on top. Brad put picante sauce on his too.

Raisin Cream Pie

Yesterday was Papa Truitt's Birthday and I knew one of his favorite desserts was Raisin Cream Pie. I also was looking for a dessert that was gluten free that Mema Truitt could eat. I searched through all my cookbooks and found one! I made it and it is so yummy!!! I will be making again soon! 

1 c. raisins 

1 c. sugar 

1 c. water 

1/3 tsp. salt 

1 c. cream 

2 egg yolks, beaten 

2 T. cornstarch 

1 tsp. vanilla 

1 T. butter 

9 inch baked pie shell 

Cook raisins with sugar, water and salt until done. Mix egg yolks; add cream, cornstarch into raisins. Cook until thickened. Add vanilla and butter. Pour into pie shell. Top with meringue and brown. I opted for the easy way out and used cool whip!!!