Homemade: The Cookbook

I'm so excited to announce that the cookbook is available on my publisher's website. $39.99 plus tax 

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

Paying homage to the classic cookbooks of decades past, “Homemade: The American Family Cookbook” aims to inspire and teach current and future generations how to cook great meals at home for themselves and their families. This cookbook is full of tried-and-true tips and techniques to guide you through the recipes and is perfect for new and experienced cooks alike. The book is filled with classic American recipes that celebrate the midwest and family. 

Also available on Amazon 

Christmas Curry

 This is our traditional Christmas meal.  It started with my Grandma and Grandpa Gibson and now it's going strong 2 generations later.  The recipe was given to my grandma from a missionary friend of hers. We love this unique Gibson family tradition. 

1. Saute 3 diced onion and 3 cloves garlic in oil and 1 tsp chili powder, 3 Tbsp curry powder and 1 tsp salt until onions are tender

2. Add 1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat (or any cut of beef or lamb) and brown the meat

3. Add 2 cups tomato juice and 2 cups water and simmer until meat is tender (an hour or 2)

4. Add 1/2 head of chopped cauliflower and 4 diced potatoes and simmer until the veggies are soft

5. Meanwhile start on the cinnamon rice

6. In a stock pot boil 1/2 lb stew meat (chopped smaller), 1 diced onion, 3 cloves garlic, 4 whole cloves and 1 stick cinnamon until meat is cooked. 

7. Strain the solids and keep the liquid

8. Remove the garlic, cloves and cinnamon stick and add 1/2 cup peas to the meat and onions

9. Using the reserved liquid (2 cups) cook 1 cup rice (or more if needed)

10. Add the cooked rice to the meat and peas

Optional Salad topping

This gives the curry and nice zip and really adds to the dish

1. Dice 1 onion, 3 tomatoes and 1 bell pepper, add salt and pepper to taste

2. Add 3 Tbsp white vinegar and 1 Tbsp water

3. refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving

**We will typically make this Christmas Eve, refrigerate and reheat for Christmas Day.  This gives the flavors a chance to develop before serving and its nice not to have cook it Christmas Day! 

Christmas Parfait with Homemade Granola

 

Homemade Granola

1. In a bowl add 3 Tbsp oil,  2 Tbsp maple syrup, 2 Tbsp honey and whisk to combine

2. Add in I cup old fashioned oats, 1/4 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds and stir to coat

3. Spread out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 15 min at 325 degrees 

4. Let cool, break apart and serve 

Sweet Sweets: Christmas Candy Classics

I have many great memories of being in the kitchen with my mom and eating her yummy food and goodies.  Around Christmas each year she would make fudge and divinity just like her mother and grandmother before her.  The tradition will some day be passed on to me.  I loved having her as a guest host in this episode to show us how to make these delectable holiday candies.  Candy making can be tricky but knowing a few secrets can help.  We hope you try making these recipes with your loved ones and make unforgettable memories in the process. 

Chocolate Fantasy Fudge

3/4 cup butter
3 cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
7 oz jar marshmallow cream
1 cup chopped pecans

*optional for a slightly less sweet flavor add a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup cocoa powder 

1. In a saucepan melt butter, sugar and evaporated milk over medium hight heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning.  Once the mixture starts to boil reduce heat to medium.
2. Still stirring, bring to a full rolling boil for 4 min. or until candy thermometer reads 234 degrees.
3. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips stir until melted and combined
4. Add vanilla and marshmallow cream. Stir, stir and stir some more until it becomes smooth and glossy.
5. Add pecans and stir again. Stir until the mixture has cooled a little
6. Line a pan with foil and press the fudge evenly into the pan with a spatula
7 Allow to cool and cut into cubes. Store in a foil lined tin.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

•           1 1/2 c Spanish peanuts

•           1 c sugar

•           pinch of salt

•           1/2 c corn syrup

•           1 tsp butter

•           1 tsp vanilla extract

•           1 tsp baking soda

1. In a glass bowl add 1 1/2 cup Spanish peanuts, 1 cup sugar, a pinch of salt (or use salted nuts) and 1/2 cup corn syrup. Stir to combine.

2. Microwave for 4 min at 80% power, remove and stir, then microwave again for 4 min at 80% power.

3. Remove and stir in 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp vanilla and microwave a final time for 2 min at 80% power.

4. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

5. Add 1 tsp baking soda and stir until light and foamy and immediately turn out onto the grease pan, spreading as thinly as possible.

6. Allow to cool and break into pieces.

Divinity

•           1/2 c water

•           2 c sugar

•           1/2 c corn syrup

•           pinch of salt

•           2 egg whites

•           1 c chopped pecans

•           1 tsp vanilla extract

•           2 Tbsp powered sugar

1. In a saucepan over medium high heat combine 1/2 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup corn syrup, and a pinch of salt.  Bring to a boil the reduce the heat to medium (the syrup should continue to boil)

2. Meanwhile, beat 2 egg whites to stiff peaks

3. Bring to syrup to soft ball stage, using a candy thermometer. (10 min or so)

4. Slowly beat 1/2 of the syrup mixture into the egg whites.

5. Put the remaining half of the syrup back on the stove and bring to soft crack stag

6. Slowly beat the rest of the syrup into the egg whites

7. Add 1 cup chopped pecans and 1 tsp vanilla and continue to beat.

8. Add 2 Tbsp powered sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is no longer glossy.

9. Spoon onto wax paper and allow to cool. Store in a tin.

Holly Jolly Hot Chocolate

Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

In a large bowl mix 

    1 lb powdered sugar

    1 large box of dry Nestle Quick

    8 qt. box of powdered milk

    1 lb container powdered coffee creamer

    1/2 cup or more cocoa powder 

Store in an air tight container

Stovetop Hot Chocolate

(Makes 4 servings)

1. In a saucepan melt 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips over medium heat. 

2. Add 4 cups milk and 1/4 cup sugar

3. Heat milk to scalding but not boiling. 

4. Stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla 

5. Serve hot and enjoy!

Add crushed peppermints or raspberry gelatin to make different flavors 

Christmas Cookie Decorating

 Here is a video showing you some of my favorite Christmas cookie decorating techniques. 

Recipes can be found here 

Sweet Sweets: Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake

I love to bake all the time, but especially at Christmas.  I have a whole roster of things I make each year, but I can't eat it all myself so I enjoy sharing it with family, friends and neighbors.  This recipe is perfect for sharing.  It's like my version of fruit cake that actually tastes good.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake

1. Mix together 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup butter (softened) 3/4 cup sugar and 3 eggs

2. Mix in 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp almond extract, 1/2 tsp salt, 

1/2 tsp baking soda and 1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder 

3. Mix in 2 cups flour (can use glutten free flour)

4. Throughly mix in 3/4 cup milk)

5. Chop a 10 oz jar of maraschino cherries and mix in

6. Add 1 (or more) cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir a final time. 

7. Grease 4 mini loaf pans and divide the batter between them (about 1 cup in each)

8. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 min (until a toothpick comes our clean)

The Glaze

1. In a bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract and 2 tbsp water

2. Stir until smooth

3. Drizzle over cooled cakes 

4. Enjoy, share or freeze. 

Snowman Cheese Ball

 So cute for any winter party 

1. In a mixing bowl combine: 1 package softened cream cheese, 1/2  minced yellow pepper, 1/2 minced red pepper, 2-3 sliced green onion, 1/2 jar dried beef, chopped, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp garlic salt (optional)

2. Form into two balls (one bigger than the other) and roll in finely shredded gouda cheese

3. chill for at least 1 hour before serving

4. To serve: place larger ball on platter, insert and toothpick halfway into the top, place smaller ball on top of toothpick

5. For eyes and mouth use whole pepper corns, for nose use a carrot bit. 

6. Serve with crackers and enjoy. 

 

Sweet Sweets - Chocolate filled bon bon cookies

It wouldn't be Christmas time without some of these! My mom used to make them every year and now I make them with my kids. I love passing down traditions like this.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Hershey's Kisses
Powdered sugar (For rolling)

1. Cream together shortening, white sugar and brown sugar.
2. Beat in egg, vanilla extract and almond extract.
3. Sift in flour, salt and baking powder and mix
4. Mix in pecans
5. Take a small amount of dough and roll it around a hershey kiss and place on a cookie sheet.  Repeat with all the dough.
6. Bake for 12 min at 350 (they will not turn brown so don't over bake)
7. Let cool completely and roll in powdered sugar
**Best when warm, can warm in the microwave for about 10 sec.

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)

All Things Kefir

 Kefir has numerous health benefits.  I love to make it into Kefir Smoothies for my breakfast each morning to start the day off right.  Kiefer is derived from the Turkish word Keyif which means "feel good". 

I have had good success with a powered kefir starter but I wanted to try kefir from grains.  I documented my journey here.  

Kefir Smoothie Recipe

6 oz kefir

1/2 scoop collagen powder

2 scoops unflavored Whey protein

2 tsp fiber powder

2 Tbsp honey

Various Frozen fruits

Handful of spinach

5-6 oz coconut water 

Blend until Smooth