Dinner Tonight - Cinnamon Buns

Once again I will not be cooking dinner tonight - its our anniversary - so I made a yummy dessert so the kids wont feel completely left out ;-). I made Gooey Cinnamon Buns. Hope everyone enjoys!

3 cups flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
cinnamon and sugar mixture
1/3 cup oil for filling

In the bowl of a mixer, mix flour, 1/4 cup sugar. salt, oil and eggs. In a separate bowl activate yeast in warm water with 2 tbs sugar. Once activated add to mixer with rest of ingredients. Let rise for 2 hours. Roll out into rectangle. Spread oil on dough and top with cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll jelly roll style and cut into circles/buns. place in greased 9x13 pan and brush with oil and bake for 1/2 hour. Pour glaze over warm buns.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbs oil
2 tbs boiling water

mix to create smooth glaze.

Dinner Tonight - Chocolate Chunk Pudding Cookies

For dinner tonight we are having shabbos leftovers. We usually have leftovers on Sunday night, but because of Lag Baomer we went to a BBQ. Monday night is officially leftover night this week. I did want to post something though, so I made a batch of Chocolate Chunk Pudding Cookies!!!! This way we have something new for dessert. Enjoy!!!

1 stick margarine

1/2 cup oil

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 package instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 tbs vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup chopped chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Beat together margarine, oil and sugars. Add in vanilla pudding, extract and eggs. combine dry ingredients and add to margarine mixture. Fold in chocolate chunks. Form into 45 cookies and bake on greased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. 

Shabbos Menu - 4/26

I am hosting a birthright Israel NEXT Shabbat Meal this week so I am having a bunch of company. Here is my menu. Hope you all have an amazing shabbos!

Corned Beef

Marinated chicken  - for salad bar

mixed veggies

Biscotti

Cin twists

chicken with rice

Salad bar

garlic dip

chumus

roasted red pepper dip

black olive dip

basil dip

chicken with rice

potato kugel

chulent 

corned beef

carrot muffins

apple crisp

onion roll

mixed veggies

Cole slaw

creamsicle

biscotti

cin twists

popcorn

Dinner Tonight - Rib Steaks

I am in the middle of cooking for Shabbos so I needed a quick dinner. I threw up some Rib steaks (just spiced with salt and pepper and broiled) and I am serving it with cous cous and cut up veggies. Enjoy!

Dinner Tonight - Pancakes

For dinner tonight we are doing "breakfast for dinner". I am making pancakes with lots of different toppings. The kids (and adults!) can choose from, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, strawberries, M&M's, whipped cream, syrup, butter, jam and marshmallows. I am also making eggs (so there is a little protein involved!). For dessert I made this fabulous popcorn. It tastes so gourmet and is really easy to make. Enjoy!

8 cups popped popcorn

1/2 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbs butter

2 tbs corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Spread popcorn and nuts evenly on sprayed cookie sheet. Bring sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil over medium heat. Let cook for 4 minutes without stirring. Turn off flame and add in baking soda. quickly toss with nuts and popcorn - being careful not to burn yourself with the caramel. Bake on 300 degree for 20 minutes, stirring twice through out. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over popcorn. Let sit out and set for 3 - 4 hours then break up popcorn into smaller pcs. 

Dinner Tonight - Mushroom Calzones

I have made calzones many different times before in many different varieties  For dinner tonight I am making mushroom calzones, a new recipe that I found in one of my cookbooks. I took the easy way out by using store bought pizza dough. If you want to make your own dough use this simple and delicious recipe: http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinner-tonight_10.html
ENJOY!!!

2 lbs Pizza dough (double recipe)
1 medium onion diced
2 tbs oil
10 oz fresh mushrooms diced
1/4 tsp salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp + dash of oregano
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 scallion sliced
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 egg beaten

saute onions in oil for 2 minutes. Add in mushrooms and continue to saute for 10 minutes. Season with salt pepper and 1/4 tsp oregano. In a small bowl combine cream cheese, ricotta and scallions. season with pepper and dash of oregano. Divide dough into 8 pcs. roll dough into an 8 inch circle. Smear with 1/8 of the cream cheese/ricotta mixture. sprinkle with 1/8 mozzarella cheese and top with 1/8 of mushrooms. Fold in half (like a half moon), crimp edges with a fork to seal and place on greased cookie sheet. Cut slit in center of each calzone (to vent) and brush with egg. Bake on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Dinner Tonight - Pepper Steak!

I love pepper steak. The only problem with making pepper steak at home, is that if you don't do it just right, your meat is dry and tough. This recipe from my bro, takes all the guess work out of it. You boil it in the liquid for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, ensuring that all the meat is juicy and tender. I am serving it over rice. Enjoy!

2 lbs pepper steak meat
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs onion powder
1 tbs salt
1 tbs onion soup mix
2 tbs brown sugar
pepper
crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup white wine
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2-3 green peppers
1/2 red pepper
1 large onion
corn starch

place first 11 ingredients into pot. Add enough water to cover all meat. Bring to boil and simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Cut the peppers and onions into strips. Sautee for 1-2 minutes; just to take the initial bite out. Add peppers/onions into meat and cook for an additional minute or two. Make a cornstarch/cold water mixture. Pour into pot and let sauce thicken.

Dinner Tonight - Shabbat Menu!!!

It's a pretty quiet shabbos. Not a huge menu but I did try a few new recipes. For dinner tonight I am making  Apricot Chicken, Kolichel, Zucchini Mushroom bake, pasta/rice dish, carrot muffins, chocolate chip biscotti, peanut butter squares and creamsicle dessert. If you want any of the recipes, let me know. Hope you have an amazing shabbos. Enjoy!

Dinner Tonight - Hot Dog Kebabs!!!!

For dinner tonight I am making Hot Dog Kebabs (another one of my brothers wonderful creations). I like how its kid friendly and you can personalize it. My son wont eat most of the veggies so for him I will only put what he eats. Its also super quick to throw together. I am serving it with rice and baked beans. Enjoy!

Hot Dog Kebabs:
1 pack hot dogs
green pepper
red pepper
grape tomatoes
onions/pearl onions
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup duck sauce

cut each hot dog into 5 pcs. Place on a skewer alternating with different veggies of choice. Place on cookie sheet. Combine BBQ and duck sauce. Brush skewers with sauce. Bake on high temp for 15 minutes or broil.

Dinner Tonight - Best Mac and Cheese!!!!

I have, What I feel, is the best Macaroni and Cheese recipe (http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinner-tonight_22.html). My brother claims he has the best recipe. So for dinner tonight I decided to try my brothers recipe and see what the verdict is. His is very creamy and has a great depth of flavor. Mine is a bit more sophisticated. Either way you cant go wrong with these two great recipes. I am serving it with homemade garlic knots and corn on the cob. Here is his winning recipe. Enjoy!

1 lb macaroni - cooked and drained according to directions
12 oz American cheese
1 1/4 cup whole milk
2 oz butter
1/2 tsp salt
pepper
drop of yellow food coloring (optional)

Warm up butter and milk until slightly boiled. Add in cheese until melted, add in salt pepper and food coloring if using (gives it a real "mac and cheese" color). Pour into 9x13 pan and bake covered for 20-25 minutes.

Dinner Tonight - Lemon Herb Chicken

In honor of Israeli independence day, I wanted to stick with an Israeli theme. For dinner tonight I am making Lemon Herb Chicken (my brothers AMAZING recipe) in Pita with chumus. I am serving it with Israeli salad and Israeli cous cous. This chicken is so moist and delicious, my whole family loves it. The longer it marinates the better (I put mine up last night!) Enjoy!

2 oz lemon juice
1/2 cup oil
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
2 Tbs. sugar
pinch of pepper
pinch of basil
pinch of oregano
1/2 tsp. salt

Chicken cutlets
Instructions

Mix all ingredients together besides for cutlets.

Marinate cutlets for 8 hours or overnight.

Broil, bake or grill cutlets.

Dinner Tonight - Pasta Bolognese!!!

For dinner tonight I am making Pasta Bolognese. Its a delicious meat sauce that is easy to prepare and inexpensive to make (will feed my family of 5 for about $8!). The sauce makes enough to cover 3 box's of pasta so I will be freezing the leftovers (in two separate containers) for 2 future meals. Just add a salad on the side and you have a complete meal.  Enjoy!

1 lb ground beef
2 tbs oil
1 cup onion - diced
1 tbs minced garlic
1 carrot shredded
1 tbs oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf
sand and pepper
43 oz crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
1 box pasta - made according to directions on box
1 tbs margarine

Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add in 2 tbs oil, beef, onion, garlic and carrot. cook and stir until beef is crumbly and evenly browned. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the spices. Add in Tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil, cover and let simmer for 1 1/2 hours. set aside 2 1/2 cups of sauce (the rest you can freeze. Stir in 1 tbs margarine and toss with pasta until well coated.

Baking: Chocolate - Hazelnut Thumbprints

I saw this recipe in one of my magazines I was reading over the weekend, and I just had to try it. So this morning, when my house was quiet/calm I decided to whip up a batch. It was very quick to make and they came out delicious. I made them parve, but they would probably be AMAZING in dairy. Enjoy!

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla 

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup flour

1/3 cup chopped chocolate or mini chips

1/4 cup nutella (or parve version)

Preheat to 350 degrees. Beat Butter with sugar for 30 seconds. Add vanilla and salt and yolk. Beat in flour on low speed until all combined. stir in chocolate chips. Shape into 24 round balls. Place on greased cookie sheet. Use thumb to make an indentation in center and fill with nutella. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Let cool.

Dinner Tonight - Shabbos Menu!!!!

Hey all!!!! Long time no "speak". My life has been so busy the last few months (whose hasn't been?!?!?). Along with all the holidays, Iv'e also been traveling a lot. I was in NY more in the last couple months then I was in Florida (people were even asking me if we are moving back!!!!). Well, I was going to start posting again earlier in the week, but, my dinners this week were kind of boring (Monday - macaroni and cheese (http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinner-tonight_22.html), Tuesday - wings (http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinner-tonight_16.html), Wednesday - pizza bubble ring (http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/11/dinner-tonight-1120.html), Thursday - spaghetti and meatballs (http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/07/dinner-tonight-717.html), so I decided that I would post my Shabbos menu instead. Then we were invited out for Dinner! So Shabbos lunch is a small menu (it's just us) but I did try a couple of new recipes that I thought were worth sharing.  I am having challah, chulent, butternut squash kugel, cauliflower latkes, and a new chicken cutlets. I will probably throw together a salad to go with it. I am making bark for dessert. Hopefully I will "see" you next week with some more new and creative ideas. Have an amazing Shabbos!!!!! Enjoy!

Cauliflower Latkes:

2 lbs of cauliflower - steamed

5 eggs

1/3 cup flour/ matzoh meal

salt and pepper 

oil or Pam for frying (I used Pam)

Mash cauliflower and add rest of ingredients  Fry in oil or Pam until golden brown on each side.  

Asian Chicken: 

2 lbs chicken cutlets

1 cup flour

2 egg whites - beaten

Sauce:

6 tbs sugar

4 tbs vinegar

4 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs mustard

Cut chicken cutlets into strips. dip in flour and then in egg white. Fry on both sides until golden brown (I used  Pam). Mix all sauce ingredients together. Pour over chicken and bake on 350 for 10 minutes.