Category: RECIPES

HARVEST APPLE CAKE & PINEAPPLE VANILLA RUM SAUCE

One of the things I look for when we’re antiquing is old recipe boxes. Not just any old recipe boxes, but old recipe boxes FULL of handwritten recipes. This recipe came from one of those boxes. I have no idea who owned the box, just that MANY of their recipe’s were in the same handwriting and referenced Mrs. Gibson who must have been an excellent cook based on the recipes I’ve tried so far!

HARVEST APPLE CAKE & PINEAPPLE VANILLA RUM SAUCE

CAKE
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup CRISCO*
2 eggs, unbeaten
1/3 cup WHOLE milk
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 heaping teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
4 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples
1/2 cup golden raisins

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Cream together the sugar and crisco, it will be a bit grainy.
  • Add milk until smooth.
  • Add in the eggs until well blended.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  • Blend flour mixture into the creamed mixture.
  • Fold in apples and raisins.
  • Pour into 9×13 baking dish and spread even.
  • Bake 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • COOL to lukewarm before pouring sauce over top and serving.

SAUCE
1 stick (8 tablespoons butter)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pineapple vanilla
1 teaspoon Malibu pineapple rum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

  • In a small saucepan melt butter.
  • Whisk in sugar until dissolved.
  • Whisk in remaining ingredients until smooth and heated through. DO NOT BOIL.

NOTES:

  • Based on the age of the recipe card and style of writing I decided whole milk and PURE vanilla extract were a MUST for the texture and flavor of this recipe to be best.  Her original recipe was extremely flavorful, but also extremely dense.  The milk helped lighten it and made it fluffier too.
  • I use the crisco sticks.
  • The cinnamon, raisins, flavored rum and flavored vanilla are MY additions and I sometimes alternate them with craisins for even more oomph in flavor.

BBQ CHICKEN SLIDERS

BBQ CHICKEN SLIDERS

12 King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls OR 6 King’s HAWAIIAN buns
3 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
½ cup Sweet Baby Ray’s original barbecue sauce
½ red onion, thinly sliced
6 slices Baby Swiss or Gruyere cheese
3 ears baby white corn cut from cob or 2 cans white shoepeg corn
2 green onions, minced
FRESH ground salt and pepper
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Bragg’s amino acids
2 +1 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Over medium high heat melt 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Add corn and green onions, generously seasoning with FRESH ground salt and pepper.  Cook until staring to turn golden brown.
  • Add apple cider vinegar and Bragg’s amino acids to the skillet, stirring to combining and cooking JUST until liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Slice the rolls in half lengthwise.
  • Place the bottom half in a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rimmed baking dish.
  • Combine chicken and BBQ sauce until well mixed.
  • Spread the chicken evenly over the rolls, followed by the red onion, corn and then the sliced cheese.
  • Top with the remaining rolls.
  • Brush the tops with melted butter mixture.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, until the bread is golden brown.
  • Slice into individual sliders.
  • Enjoy!

CHEESE & POTATO STUFFED PORK CHOPS

CHEESE & POTATO STUFFED PORK CHOPS serves 4
adapted from Bake At Midnite

4 center cut bone-in pork chops (about ¾-inch thick)
2 medium potatoes, sliced VERY thinly (See note)
4 green onions, sliced thin
½ cup shredded Fontina cheese
4 slices Gruyere cheese
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons melted butter, divided
4-6 sprigs FRESH thyme

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Lightly spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
  • Make a “pocket” in the chops to hold the filling.
  • Peel the potatoes if you wish.
  • Slice the potatoes ULTRA thin…so you can read through them.
  • Place potatoes in a medium bowl.
  • Add green onion pieces, the cheeses, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon of the melted butter.
  • Stuff each chop with a quarter of the potato-cheese mixture.
  • Heat butter over medium-high heat.
  • Quickly sear each side of chops and then place them in prepared pan.
  • Brush with remaining melted butter.
  • Top with thyme sprigs.
  • Sprinkle lightly with additional salt and pepper.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes.

NOTES: You may also substitute 2 cups frozen shredded potatoes that are thawed and dried of ALL moisture if you don’t want to bother with the thin slicing.

SLOW COOKER METHOD:

  • Proceed as above except place chops in a 5-7 Quart slow cooker. Try to angle the chops with the stuffed pocket angled upward.
  • Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hrs.

BACON RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

BACON RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE
8 ounces pasta, prepared per package instructions
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 small shallot, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound shredded rotisserie chicken pieces
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
12 ounces evaporated milk
1 Hidden Valley ranch dressing seasoning mix
1/3 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s hot sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven 350°.
  • Spray 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

  • In a large skillet cook bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on paper toweling.
  • Add shallots and garlic, quickly sautéing.
  • Drain of excess grease.
  • Add chicken pieces and cook several minutes until golden and cooked through.
  • Whisk together the milk, ranch dressing mix and hot sauce. Pour over chicken and stir together.
  • Remove from heat and add the pasta, mixing well.
  • Top with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese and most of the bacon, stirring to combine.
  • Pour into prepared baking dish, top with remaining cheese and garnish with remaining bacon.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
  • Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

PORK & CHARRED PINEAPPLE SLIDERS

PORK & CHARRED PINEAPPLE SLIDERS

1/4 cup jalapeño ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 (1+2) tablespoons pineapple juice
2 (1+2) tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 ounces ground pork
1 LARGE bunch green onions, sliced and divided
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
8 slices pineapple, 1/4 inch thick
1 cup shredded red cabbage
8 KING’S Hawaiian small hamburger rolls or (12) buns, split

  • Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon pineapple juice and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
  • Combine cabbage, 2 tablespoons pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1/2 of the green onions, salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
  • Combine pork, remaining green onions, salt and pepper together. Form 8 patties or 12 squares if using rolls.
  • Spray heavy skillet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Heat skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add pork patties and cook 2-3 minutes until slight charred.
  • Flip and cook another minute.
  • Transfer patties to plate and keep warm.
  • Add pineapple slices to skillet and cook 2 minutes until slightly charred.
  • Top pork patties with pineapple slices.
  • Generously brush buns with ketchup mixture.
  • Add a pork patty to each bun bottom.
  • Top with cabbage mixture and roll top.

GRILLED GENERAL TSO’s CHICKEN

GRILLED GENERAL TSO’s CHICKEN

4 pounds of your favorite chicken pieces (we like legs and thighs) 😀
3 tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1/4 catsup jalapeno ketchup
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 – 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt
LARGE bunch green onions, sliced for garnish
Sesame Seeds, to garnish

  • Whisk together the liquid aminos and oil.
  • Pour into a large ziploc bag.
  • Add chicken pieces, seal and chill 2 hours.

 

  • Whisk together the ketchup, corn syrup, vinegar, garlic, crushed red pepper and salt until smooth. Set aside.

  • Drain chicken and discard marinade.
  • Pat chicken dry.
  • Preheat gas grill.
  • Oil grates.
  • Place chicken on grill, skin side down.
  • Grill 10 minutes uncovered on the hot side of the grill, rotating (NOT flipping) often to avoid burning, until skin is crispy.
  • FLIP chicken to cooler side of the grill, cover and continue grilling 30 minutes or so until you reach 165°.
  • Brush chicken with sauce during last 5 minutes.
  • Arrange chicken on platter.
  • Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
  • Serve with remains sauce.

HOMESTYLE CHICKEN & MUSHROOMS ala SLOW COOKER

HOMESTYLE CHICKEN & MUSHROOMS ala SLOW COOKER serves 4-6

4 THICK boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin steaks OR 8 thighs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope LIPTON french onion soup
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 small bunch green onions, thinly sliced (keep whites and greens separate)
crumbled bacon

  • Whisk together the canned soup, pepper and the dry soup mix.
  • Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Spread soup mixture into slow cooker.
  • Add chicken and turn to coat well.
  • Cover and cook on low 4 hours.
  • Add green onion whites and mushrooms.
  • Cook another 30 minutes.
  • JUST before serving stir in sour cream.
  • Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.
  • Garnish with greens from the green onions and bacon pieces.

NOTES: The sauce seems super thick when you first begin the recipe, but don’t worry it thins out during the cooking time to the perfect consistency.

CREOLE PORK CHOPS

This is another “antique” recipe find. I loved the title, but it fails to actually deliver the flavor in today’s spice packed world of cooking. This was a good alternative for flavor in the early 20th century I’m sure, but bland by today’s standards! I have manipulated the recipe significantly to add MORE flavor.

GOOD LUCK MARGARINE was originally a Newfoundland company and through different mergers and acquisitions eventually became a Canadian company. There were several of these waxed cardboard recipes in the file I recently purchased, but this is the first I tried and had to change to add the necessary flavor.

CREOLE PORK CHOPS ala GOOD LUCK MARGARINE 😀 (sort of) serves 4

4 loin or shoulder chops, bone in
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to season
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup long grain rice
4 thick slices tomato
1 small onion halved, and sliced
4 rings green pepper OR equal amount of sliced mini peppers
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 – 8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on preference)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups boiling salted water

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Generously sprinkle chops with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Dredge in flour.
  • Melt butter in skillet.
  • Add chops and sear on both sides.
  • Cook rice in boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Do not drain.
  • Place pork chops in a single layer on the bottom of a deep casserole.
  • Place a slice of tomato and peppers on top of each chop.
  • Scatter onions over top.
  • Whisk tomato sauce with the cornstarch, basil, paprika, white pepper, cumin and cayenne, to taste.
  • Stir in garlic.
  • Replace the removed water with the tomato sauce mixture, stirring to blend.
  • Pour rice and tomato sauce water mixture over chops.
  • Cover and bake for one hour or until rice and chops are both tender.

SWEET & SOUR CARAMELIZED CHICKEN

I originally posted this recipe years and years ago (2009 or 2010) on my original blog, but seriously, it needed an update picture so I made it specifically for that reason now.  😀 as well as updating the technique a bit.  I’m still NOT thrilled with the picture, but it IS better than the old one 😀

This really is an easy and quick meal to make, but it looks & tastes like you worked all afternoon so it’s perfect for company.  I should have taken a picture of the baking dish full of chicken, caramelized onions and gravy – much more impressive looking.  Oh well, next time.

SWEET & SOUR CARAMELIZED CHICKEN
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 LARGE sweet Walla Walla or Vidalia onion, halved and sliced thin
2-3 LARGE cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup chicken broth
4 tablespoons WONDRA flour
Juice of 1 lemon (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons rice wine balsamic vinegar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
avocado oil
1 LARGE egg
1 teaspoon cornstarch

  • Between 2 sheets of wax paper flatten chicken breasts if they are too thick. If they are too thick they will take longer to cook.
  • Whisk together the egg and cornstarch. Soak chicken breasts in mixture for an hour before cooking. This mixture seals in the moistness and keeps the chicken juicy throughout.

 

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • In a oven proof skillet (or transferring to a baking dish) coat the bottom of the pan with avocado oil.
  • Generously season chicken with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • When the oil is hot, brown both sides of the chicken breasts including all the sides.
  • When breasts are browned, put the pan in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Add onions to skillet over medium high heat to caramelize. You want to gather all the little browned bits on the bottom of the pan also.

 

  • Reduce the heat to 300°.
  • Whisk together the hot water, bullion, flour, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and pepper.
  • Pour liquid mixture over the chicken and cover tightly with foil.
  • Return it to the oven for additional 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Sauce will be thick.

NOTE: I have used breast tenders in a pinch and they work well, but they cook faster so keep a close eye on them.

SHEET PAN PORK with BROCCOLI & BEANS

SHEET PAN PORK with BROCCOLI & BEANS

1 1/4-1 1/2 pound pork tenderloin
1/4 cup avocado oil
3-4 cloves garlic, 3 minced and 1 large peeled
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
8 pickled red peppers plus 1 tablespoon of the brine
4 cups broccoli florets
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped Parsley
Juice of 1 lemon plus the zest
1 or 2  – 15 ounce can(s) small navy beans or cannelini, drained and rinsed

  • Preheat oven broiler.
  • Generously season pork roast and place pork on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl mix 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil, the minced garlic, paprika, oregano and 1 tablespoon of the pepper brine. Rub all over pork roast and let stand 5 minutes.
  • Broil 8 minutes until lightly browned, 7-8 minutes.

  • While pork is broiling toss the broccoli florets with the peppers, navy beans and remaining garlic, 2 more tablespoons avocado oil salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl.
  • Flip pork tenderloin and arrange broccoli mixture around pork and return to the oven.
  • Return pan to oven and broil until pork reaches 145° and broccoli is slightly charred, 8-10 minutes more.
  • Whisk together the remaining pepper brine, avocado oil, parsley, lemon juice and zest. Season to taste.
  • Slice the pork and serve with broccoli drizzled with the herb sauce.

CANTONESE CHICKEN STIR FRY

There are so many different provinces in China and different versions of this same chicken dish. This combination of veggies and flavors is one of our favorites.

CANTONESE CHICKEN serves 4
1 1/4 pound chicken tenders cut into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup oyster sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 LARGE bunch green onions, sliced in large diagonal
2 large carrots, sliced thinly on the diagonal
8 thin slices, peeled garlic
1-2 cups sliced mushrooms (see note)
1/2 pound Bok Choy, sliced 1 1/2 inches long diagonally
1 1/4 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons BRAGG’s liquid aminos
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
Prepared rice

  • Toss chicken with oyster sauce and BRAGG’s liquid aminos.
  • Whisk together cornstarch and water.
  • Heat wok and peanut oil until hot.
  • Add carrots, stir frying 2 minutes.
  • Add green onions, ginger and garlic, stir frying 20-30 seconds.
  • Add chicken mixture and stir fry 2-3 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
  • Add mushrooms and bak choy.
  • Add chicken broth and sesame oil.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Add cornstarch mixture and return to boil, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until chicken is completely cooked through, sauce thickens and is glossy.
  • Serve over rice.

NOTE: I like beech mushrooms as you can leave them whole and they have a wonderful nutty flavor.

CREAMY ROQUEFORT DRESSING

CREAMY ROQUEFORT DRESSING

I truly LOVE adapting old historical recipes to a modern day scratch versions. Many times I already have a version of the recipe in my own stash.  But, using the older recipe as a guide I can pick and choose ALL of the best  ingredients to make an even better recipe.

I “adjusted” the recipe to include actual amounts and specified ingredients as the recipe card is vague.  I left the ingredients with approximate amounts to account for personal tastes.  I highlighted my adaptations in blue so you can see the differences from the original recipe.

3/4 cup Duke’s Mayonnaise
scant 1/3 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese
1/3 + cup WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

  • Whisk mayonnaise, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder together.
  • Fold in crumbled cheese.
  • Chill.

NOTE:

  • Hubby loves the larger crumble of the cheese, while I prefer a smoother dressing. Adjust the instructions to use a small food processor if you too prefer the smooth version. 😀
  • Add additional milk as necessary for desired consistency.