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Cooking With Courtney

Cooking With Courtney

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Cornedbeef and Brussel Sprouts


1. In a dutch oven place corned beef roast with spices and 1-2 cups water (depending on size of roast)
2. Roast in a 225 degree oven for a total of 6 hours.
3. Rinse mini potatoes and sprouts (and remove a few of the outer leaves).
4. Add to the dutch oven about 3-4 hours into the cooking process (depending on the size of potatoes they need to cook 2-3 hours)
5. Remove from juices and serve with Guinness mustard sauce

**Could also be cooked in a crockpot on low for 8 hours.

**Speed Method 
I forgot to put mine in at noon, so I bumped up the temp to 275 degree for 4 hours and it was still very tender.  Put the potatoes and sprouts in for around 2 hours for small or the full 4 for large.




Guinness Mustard Sauce
1 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp yellow mustard
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup dark Guinness Beer
1 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1-2 Tbsp cornstarch

1. In a saucepan over medium heat melt butter
2. Add brown sugar, mustard, dry mustard, vinegar and beer
3. Whisk until combine and sugar is dissolved.
4. Whisk in cornstarch and allow sauce to thicken.

**This would be great on bratwurst or soft pretzels.

Sunday, February 2, 2025

I Dip, You Dip, We Dip Game Day Spread

 


Apple Pie Recipe link Here


Six Layer Bean dip

This is a crowd favorite! We usually have it around Christmas time but it is great for anytime! 

Ingredients 

1 can Frito bean dip

¼ cup miracle whip

¼ sour cream

½ packet of taco seasoning

1 can of diced black olives

1-2 cups diced tomatoes (cherry and grape tomatoes work great for this)

1 bag of shredded lettuce

1-2 cups grated chedder/jack cheese


Directions

1. In a small bowl mix together miracle whip, sour cream and taco seasoning

2. Start spreading out layers in a flat platter

a. Bean dip

b. Taco seasoning mixture

c. Diced Olives

d. Diced tomatoes

e. Lettuce

f. Cheese

3. Serve with tortilla chips and watch it disappear


Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients and Directions

1. In a mixing bowl mix together 1 brick of softened cream cheese, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken and 1 recipe of Courtney's Hot Wing Sauce (recipe Here )

2. Spread in a glass baking dish

3. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and bake at 350 for 30 min

4. Service warm with crackers, carrots and celery


Mango Crab Rangoon Dip

Ingredients and Directions 

1. In a food processor, dice up 1 package cook crab (real or imitation) and 1 cup frozen mango

2. In a mixer combine crab mix and 1 brick softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce

3. Spread in a glass baking dish and bake for 30 min at 350

4. Top with more sweet chili sauce and serve warm with wonton chips. 




Saturday, February 1, 2025

Touchdown Party Favorites

 Here's a compilation of some of my best football party food ideas! Go Chiefs! 



Courtney's Chili

1. Brown 1/2 lb ground beef (remove and discard grease) and add 1 Tbsp steak seasoning
2. In a dutch oven saute 3 sweet peppers and 1/2 small onion until tender
3. Add 1 can pork-n-beans, 1 can of red kidney beans, 1 jar of tomatoes and the ground beef. 
4. Stir in the following spices: 
2 Tbsp Chili Powder, 1/2 Tbsp season salt, 1 tsp cumin, 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp oregano
5. Cover and let simmer for at least 10 min. 
6. Then serve with your favorite fixin's.  My favorites are sour cream, brown sugar, shredded cheese and crushed ritz crackers. 
**For some heat add cayenne pepper

Courtney's Hot Wings

1. fill deep fryer to max fill line with canola, vegetable or peanut oil and turn heat to 375 degree.  (Fry outside to avoid stinking up your house)
2. In a large bowl combine flour and seasoned salt
3. Add wings (40 count) and coat with flour or dredge
4. In a saucepan add 1/4 cup butter, 1 bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce and 2 Tbsp (or more) agave nectar or honey. Turn the heat to medium and stir until butter is melted and sauce is combined.  Turn heat to low to keep warm while wings are frying
5. When the oil it hot add wings (fry in shifts of 6-8 wings of similar size)
6. The wings are done when they float to the top and turn a golden brown color (anywhere from 4-7 or more min depending on size)
7. Remove wings and drain on a paper towel
8. Coat in sauce
9. Serve immediately with celery and ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Yummy Ham Rolls

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree

2. Melt 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter and add 1/2 Tbsp mustard, 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp onion powder and 1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds

3. Place sandwich rolls on a baking sheet and layer ham and cheddar cheese

4. Brush some of the butter mixture on the top of each roll and place on the ham and cheese

5. Brush the remaining butter mixture over the tops of each sandwich

6. Cover in foil and bake for 15 min

7. Remove more and bake for another 10 min

Serve immediately


Soft Pretzels 

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cup warm water

4 cups flour

Baking soda

Sea Salt

Directions

1. I a stand mixer combine warm water, brown sugar and yeast.  Let stand 5 min until it become frothy

2. Add 2 cups flour and mix. Then add remaining 2 cups flour and mix. 

3. Using the dough hook attachment, knead until well combine and forms a tight ball

4. let dough rest 5 min

5. Meanwhile preheat oven to 450 degrees and bring 4 cups water and 6 Tbsp baking soda to a boil

6. divide  dough into 12 equal pieces

7. Roll each section into a long string. Twist into pretzel shape.  

8. Place each pretzel into the boiling soda water for about 10-15 sec. Remove and place on a cooling rack.  While its still wet sprinkle with salt.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (6 pretzels per baking sheet)

9. Bake for 8 mins. 

10. Let cool just a bit and enjoy the warm, soft, salty goodness that is a soft pretzel. 


Guacamole 
1. Chop 6 cherry or grape tomatoes, 2 slices of onion, 1-2 Tbsp cilantro and place in a bowl
sprinkle with 2-3 Tbsp lime juice and let soak for an hour or so
2. Mash 2 ripe avocados and add to the vegetables. 
3. Mix and add salt to taste.  

Salsa
Ingredients 
2 large tomatoes or 1 large can of tomatoes
½ yellow or orange bell pepper
1 jalapeno (leave out for mild, add for spicy)
¼ cup diced onion
1-2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp lime juice
Directions
1. place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until at desired consistency
2. Serve with tortilla chips
*for those wanting extra spice try adding a habanero pepper! 

I Dip, You Dip, We Dip - Dip Recipes Here



Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Breakfast Yo! - Cinnamon Rolls




Homemade Cinnamon Rolls




1. Dissolve 1 package of active dry yeast in 1/2 cup warm water (not hot because that will kill the yeast)
2. Add 1 tbsp brown sugar and let sit 5 min (this helps feed the yeast) 
3. Scald and cool 1 cup milk - heat milk in a saucepan until you start to see steam, don’t let it boil, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. (This helps weaken the whey protein that can inhibit the yeast. Also, When cooled to around room temperature, it works much better in the recipe than cold milk to combine the shortening and activate the yeast) so don’t skip this step 😊
4. In a mixing bowl mix together 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shortening and 1 egg, add to the cooled milk, mix.
5. Add that to the yeast and mix
6. add 2 cup flour and mix
7. Add another 2 cups flour and 1 tsp salt, mix
8. Knead dough for 5 min. (it will be a sticky dough)
9. Place in a greased glass bowl and allow to rise to double (about an hour)
10. Turn out dough on a well floured surface and roll out into a rectangle 
11. Cover dough with butter, sugar and cinnamon. Carefully roll dough up (long side of the rectangle) then slice about 2 inch thick (about 12-15 rolls)
12. Place rolls in a greased baking dish an allow to rise (double in size) 
13. Bake at 375 for about 15-20mins.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Whip the following ingredients in a mixer - 2 oz softened  cream cheese, 2 Tablespoons butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and water to make it the consistency you desire (Start with 1 Tbsp)


*Sourdough Discard Alternate Recipe
(In a bread maker dough setting) 

1. In a bread maker add the following ingredients in the following order
  • 1/2 cup discard. 
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
2. Mix together on the dough setting
3. Roll out dough into large rectangle
4. spread butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon
5. Roll up and cut 12-15 cinnamon rolls 
6. Allow to rise in a greased baking dish
7. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 min. 

*I’ve also had great results in a bread maker on the dough setting (even without warming the milk)


Thursday, January 2, 2025

Meal Planning



 Dinners around the table with family don't need to be a thing of the past.  Watch this video for a simple plan to cook at home and enjoy family dinners.  






Shopping List 

Meal Planning Sheet 


My cookbook is available 
https://mascotbooks.com/mascot-marketplace/buy-books/cookbooks/all/homemade-the-american-family-cookbook/



Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Soup, There It Is! - Chicken and Noodles




Chicken and Noodles
Your favorite cut of bone-in skin on chicken (I used a 1/2 chicken)
A couple stalks of celery with leaves attached
a couple of un-peeled carrots
1/2 large dice onion
1 cup water 
1 chicken bullion cube
1 package of your favorite egg noodles
Seasoned salt
Extra chicken stock (if needed)

Directions
1. Add chicken (sprinkled with seasoned salt) vegetables,  water and bullion cube to a crock pot and cook for 6 hours on low. 
2. Strain liquid into a stock pot
3. Discard the vegetables 
4. Remove all the bones from the chicken and shred chicken with a fork
5. Bring your liquid up to a boil and add the noodles, boil for about 20 mins
6. Add the chicken and more stock if needed. 
Serve and enjoy!

You say tomato, I say tomato: Canned Tomato Recipes


Courtney's Chili

1. Brown 1/2 lb ground beef (remove and discard grease) and add 1 Tbsp steak seasoning
2. In a dutch oven saute 3 sweet peppers and 1/2 small onion until tender
3. Add 1 can pork-n-beans, 1 can of red kidney beans, 1 jar of tomatoes and the ground beef. 
4. Stir in the following spices: 
2 Tbsp Chili Powder, 1/2 Tbsp season salt, 1 tsp cumin, 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp oregano
5. Cover and let simmer for at least 10 min. 
6. Then serve with your favorite fixin's 

Chicken and Tomatoes


1. Using your choice of bone-in/skin-on chicken place in a glass baking dish, dot with butter and sprinkle with season salt. Bake at 275 degrees for an hour or until the internal temp reaches 165 degree. 
2. Remove the skin and remove bones. Dice chicken
3. In a dutch oven add 1 package of dry onion soup mix and 2 cups of water
4. Add 1 can of home canned tomatoes and 1 can of store bought canned tomatoes
1 tsp basil and the diced chicken
5. Cover and simmer for about 45 min or until the liquid reduces to form a stew consistency
6. Serve over rice. 

Slow Cooker Swiss Steak



1. Cut 1 lb or more of round steak into portion size piece, salt and pepper each side. 
2. Dredge in flour and brown for a couple of min on each side in hot oil. 
3. Thinly slice 1 medium onion and 2 bell peppers. 
4. In a crock pot layer steak, peppers, onions and tomatoes until all in in the pot. Salt and pepper
5. Allow to cook for 6-8 hours
6. Serve over mashed potatoes 

For a how to video on Mashed Potatoes see my Easter Feaster video

 Hats (Aka Macaroni and Tomatoes) 


1. Cook 1/2 lb of pasta to al dente, drain and put back in the pot
2. Add 1/4 cup butter and stir until melted
3. Add 1 jar of canned tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste
4. Can be served with or without shredded mozzarella cheese