Thursday, March 3, 2011

Giveaway *WINNERS*

The *WINNER* of the "Home Baked Family Favorites" recipe book is:

dlpower who said...

New follower! Heard about your site from a friend. Love it. I would love cookbook #1. I love using Rhodes Rolls on Sundays for family dinners. Delicious


The *WINNER* of "Kids' Ideas with Frozen Dough" is:

Tauna who said...

I became a follower even though I have been following for awhile, I want the kid's ideas

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please contact us at howetocook@gmail.com with your mailing address!

Thanks to everyone who entered!


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Cheesy Potatoes

I know there are a million versions/recipes out there for cheesy potatoes, but when Aunt Di passed this one on my mom we all thought we were in heaven! Now, they are FOR SURE a family favorite. Mmmmm......

(image found here)


2 pks grated hashbrowns (we prefer Simply Shreds!)
1 cube of butter
1 bunch of green onions
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
16 oz. Sour Cream
Lots of grated cheddar cheese (I would guess 2-3 cups!)

**Chop onions VERY fine and sautee in butter until onions look clear
**Mix soup and sour cream together, add cooked onions and butter
**Pour over hash browns (either frozen or thawed) and stir together.
**Sprinkle in cheese and salt and pepper until it looks plenty cheesy!
**Bake at 350 for 1 hour (plan an extra half hour if they are frozen!) Stir occasionally as they cook!

Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!

PS, Don't forget to enter our giveaway here!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Giveaway Reminder. Woo!

Don't forget about our giveaway! It ends tomorrow night, so go enter!

Check it out here!

Monday, February 28, 2011

Meal Tip Monday--Cooking for Two

When cooking for two, simply cook less food. It sounds simple, but so often I hear young couples my age talk about not wanting to cook because of the mass amount of leftovers. We usually eat the meal and have enough leftovers for one or both of us to have for lunch the next day, simply because I half almost every recipe I make. Very seldom do I throw out leftover food. So if your recipe calls for a 9X13 pan, make it in an 8X8. If it call so for 2 cans of something, only use one. Like I said, it sounds simple and maybe seems silly or even down right dumb to even mention, but I think it's one of those things we don't always think about. So don't live on frozen pizza just because you don't like leftovers; just cook less!

P.S., Don't forget to enter our giveaway here!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Giveaway!

Is there anything more fun that winning free stuff?
I submit that there is not!

Today's giveaway is brought to us by Rhode's Bake-N-Serve! Because we've posted a few recipes in which we use Rhodes dough, Rhodes sent us some free cook books and coupons. How nice is that?! We figure we shouldn't hog them, so we're giving them away to you instead! We have two different cook books to give away, so we'll choose 2 winners. That just doubled your chances of winning!
Cookbook #1--Home Baked Family Favorites
Cookbook #2--Kids' Ideas

The Family Favorites has some yummy looking recipes, and the Kids' Ideas has some really fun recipes! And, bonus, both books include coupons for .50, $1, and $2 off Rhodes dough! That alone makes it worth it, right? :) Both are great and will be fun to have. So let's get to it and enter already!

There are 3 ways to enter; you can enter 3 times!
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry.)

#1--Become a follower and leave a comment letting us know. If you are already a follower, you can still enter! Just leave us a comment letting us know!
(If you don't know how to become a follower, check out our sidebar
<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See where it says "Follow" and then below it there are small pictures of our followers? Just click that gray "Follow" button, it will ask you to enter your email address, and click done. You are now a follower of Howe to Cook!)

#2--Tell us your favorite way to use Rhodes frozen dough.

#3--Blog, Facebook, or Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment letting us know.

Make sure that in each comment you let us know which cook book you are hoping to win. Giveaway ends Wednesday night at midnight.

Good luck!

Mexican Crock-Pot

This recipe comes from our fabulous sister-in-law, Tif. I am all about an easy throw-it-all-in-the-crocker-and-go kinda meal, so I was happy to be introduced to this one. I have heard of a few names and variations of it, but here's how I do it. I put this in yesterday around 11:00, and by noon my house already smelled delicious! The other thing I like about it is that it's versatile; you can eat it in a tortilla with cheese, avocado, and sour cream (that's what we do), you can eat it like you would eat taco soup--crunch up some Frito's or tortilla chips on top, or you can eat it over rice. Either way, it is delicious! And the best part is, it makes quite a bit and the leftovers are yummy. I really don't think you can go wrong with this one!
image found here

Ingredients
2 cans corn, drained
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 jar salsa (1-2 cups)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

I layer it in the order of the ingredients, but I really don't know that the order matters. Cook on low all day. Mine cooked for about 7 hours. My chicken was frozen, and it turned out perfect. If your chicken wasn't frozen, it would probably take 4-5 hours. Stir everything together, shred your chicken using a fork, and eat it up.
You won't be disappointed. Trust me.



Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Monterey Chicken

I got this recipe from our new Ward Cookbook. This particular recipe comes from one of the *sweetest* people in my ward!
(Thanks, Heather!)

(image from here)


Here's what you need:
4 chicken breasts
8 pieces of cooked bacon
BBQ sauce (We LOVE Sweet Baby Ray's!)
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

**Pound chicken breasts out until they're pretty flat
**Spray a frying pan (or grill pan) with Pam and cook the chicken seasoning it with salt and pepper.
**Place cooked chicken on a baking sheet. Top with BBQ sauce, 2 strips of bacon, and both kinds of cheese.
**Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.
**Top with chopped tomatoes and chives or green onions!


Monday, February 21, 2011

Meal Tip Monday: Speedy Rolls

If you haven't noticed by now, we Howe girls use frozen roll dough for everything. O.K, let me rephrase, not for everything...but alot. And more times than not when planning to use it, I am running late, behind schedule, and forgot to pull out my dough in enough time to thaw and raise. So, I have had to get creative. I will let you in on my amazing little secret that we sisters all now LOVE!

Pull your rolls out and put them on a plate. Microwave the rolls for 1 minute. Check to make sure they're not completely thawed or they will start to bake. Turn over and zap for 30 - 60 sec. By this point they should be soft enough to stretch for scones or pull into breadsticks. If making rolls and you want them to rise quickly, here is what I do. I turn my oven on and let it heat up. Then I open the door and set the pan on the door. They raise really quickly from the heat but don't bake. If you have little ones and can't leave the over door hanging open, follow the instructions on the bag which tell you to heat up your oven, then turn it off and put the rolls inside to rise. Happy Baking!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Easy Peasy Chili

This is a super quick and easy chili that I love to make (and it also happens to be very yummy). I am sure there are even better recipes out there, but every one I have ever looked at is super complex and would take way too much time!
You will need:

1 lb. hamburger
1 sm. onion, chopped
2 cans chili beans in sauce
2 cans diced, stewed, or whole tomatoes
1 scant T. chili powder

In an large pot brown hamburger and onion until done. Add beans, tomatoes, and chili powder. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Serve with diced onion, cheese, and sour cream. I always make corn bread with this too, but that's just me. Enjoy!





Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Symphony Brownies

What would we do without the internet/blogs on which to find new recipes to indulge our cravings and expand our waistlines? I saw these on a blog and the next thing I knew they were in my oven baking for the Superbowl party we went to. They are super rich, but oh-so-divine!


Here's what you need:
1 box of brownie mix
3 King Size Symphony bars
(You can use the ones with or without the nuts and toffee.)

Here's what you'll do:
**Mix brownie mix as per the instructions on the box.
**Pour half of the brownie mix into the bottom of a Pammed 9x13 baking dish.
**Lay the symphony bars on the batter.

**Spread the remaining batter over the candy bars.
**Bake as directed on the box.

Oh. My. Goodness!!!


Monday, February 14, 2011

Molten Chocolate Cake

aka HEAVEN!

I'm not gonna lie, I totally stole this recipe from another blog written by a friend from Manti and her family/friends--you can find it here.

I saw these. Had to make these. Made these. Devoured these. Now I'm sharing them with you. It's the perfect Valentine treat for you and your sweetie (and 2 friends)!



Just look at that fudgy goodness that couldn't wait to run out of the center!

Here's what you need:

4 oz. Semi-Sweet baking chocolate squares
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 C. powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tbs. flour
Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream

**Preheat oven to 425*. Butter four 3/4 c. ramekins (mine were 10 oz. found at good ol' Wal*Mart). Place on baking sheet

**Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in powdered sugar until well blended. Blend in egg and egg yolks with wire whisk. Stir in flour. Divide batter among prepared custard cups.

**Bake 13-14 minutes or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 minute. Carefully run a small knife around the cakes to loosen them. Invert the cakes onto dessert dishes. Serve immediately topped with whipped cream or ice cream!



Sunday, February 13, 2011

Breadsticks

These are a serious staple at our house. As in..we eat them at least once a week, but usually more. Usually when you think breasticks, you think Italian food, right? You don't? Shame on you, then! Well anyway, these breadsticks are not just for Italian food. They go with anything. Honestly. I learned about these beauties from my fabulours in-laws. The first time I had them I was hooked. And when I found out how to make them? Well that right there sealed the deal. Talk about 100% easy, fast, and totally doable!

What you need:
Frozen Rhodes rolls--You can make 1 or 20 or 1000. It is up to you!
Melted butter--no measurment. It depends on how many you're making.
(For my SIL who says saying 'no measurement' is not helpful, for 5-6 rolls/breadsticks I use about 1 Tbsp. butter)
Salad Supreme

Now you're thinking, Hold the phone, lady! Salad Supreme? #1- What is that?! #2- Isn't that for salad? I know. I kind of thought the same thing. It sounded a little like something my gma would add to soggy leftovers. But it is better than that! Salad Supreme does not get the credit in the spice aisle that it deserves!

Okay. I've calmed down. Want to hear the rest of the recipe?

Set rolls out to thaw (as package directs. They actually don't even need to raise completely.), and then stretch and twist each end in opposite directions (so that it looks spiraled)
 Notice the melted butter already splattered on the cookie sheet? That is so you can roll the dough in the butter immediately after twisting it. Once you've stretched and twisted and then rolled it in the butter, line each roll/breadstick up on the pan and then sprinkle generously with Salad Supreme. Don't skimp on the SS!
 Next, bake at 350* for 12ish minutes. Mine usually take closer to 15-17, but I start checking them at 12 to make sure they don't burn. When they are golden brown, remove from the over and serve!
Ta-da!

Okay. The instructions might seem confusing or weird. Please leave a comment and let me know if they do! I make them all the time, so it makes sense to me. But if it is confusing to anyone else, don't hesitate to ask. I promise! You don't want to miss out on these delishies!

Also, if you have an allergy to Salad Supreme or something, you can do garlic powder or grated parmesan cheese instead. Either way, they will turn out yummy. I don't think it's possible to mess these babies up!