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Monthly Archives: December 2024

Cream of Anything Soup Mix

30 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by wrks4me in Soups, wrks4me - Recipes

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Make this soup mix and add your favourite fixings such as shredded chicken, diced celery or mushrooms. This can also be used as a starter base to gravies and sauces.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups dry/powdered milk
  • 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp pepper

Mix everything together and store in an airtight container.

To make:

  1. 1 cup chicken broth
  2. 1/3 cup soup mix
  3. 1/4-1/2 cup add such as celery, chicken, mushrooms

Combine all ingredients into a sauce pan along with your add-ins and stir over medium heat until thickened.

Additionally you can use as you would any cream-of soup in casseroles, crockpot meals, etc. Note: This recipe is the equivalent of one can of cream soup.

Note: I have also substituted the chicken bouillon powder for beef bouillon powder and then substitute beef broth for the chicken broth. This makes a great source of stock for casseroles, crockpot meals. Add caramelized onions to make a great onion gravy.

Chicken Pot Pie

30 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by wrks4me in Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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Tags

Chicken, dinner, food, Recipe, Recipes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped (1 tsp dry)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (1 tsp dry)
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half and half cream
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded or diced
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 1 cup frozen peas & carrots or mixed vegetables

Topping

  • Puff pastry or homemade pastry (see below)
  • Grated parmesan cheese for top
  • 1 egg
  • Sea salt or kosher salt for top

Directions

  1. If using frozen puff pastry make sure to thaw for at least an hour
  2. Meanwhile boil potatoes for 8-10 minutes until they are tender but not completely cooked.
  3. After they are cooked put into cold water while preparing the pie filling
  4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  5. In a large skillet or pot, heat butter and oil over medium heat
  6. Add onion, celery and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes
  7. Add the seasonings and herbs, stirring for about a minute
  8. Sprinkle flour into pan and combine with mixture
  9. Whisk in the chicken broth and half and half cream until smooth
  10. Bring to a boil until it thickens, about 2 minutes
  11. Add the chicken, potatoes and frozen peas and carrots
  12. Pour into an baking dish and top with puff pastry or homemade pastry
  13. Poke some vent holes with a knife
  14. Brush with egg wash and then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and sea salt
  15. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until browned and the pastry is cooked through

Homemade pastry

  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup pure lard or butter (I prefer lard)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp ice cold water
  • 1 Tbsp white vinegar

Directions

  1. Combine flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut lard or butter into flour with two knifes or pastry knife until mixture is uniform and resembles coarse crumbs
  2. Beat egg, water and vinegar together to blend. Pour all the liquid over flour mixture. Stir with fork until mixture is moistened
  3. If needed, divide dough in half and shape into a ball. Flatten each into a circle about 4″ and wrap and chill dough in refrigerator about 15 minutes for easier rolling
  4. Roll a portion of dough required (I use both portions together) to cover to of pot pie. Dust rolling pin and work surface lightly with flour. Roll dough to a uniform thickness.
  5. Gently place over pot pie without stretching and trim, flute and bake.

Note: Making dough in a food processor (easy)

  1. Add the flour mixture and small pieces of lard or butter into a food processor
  2. Pulse a few times to make a course mixture. Pour a little at a time the egg, water and vinegar mixture, while pulsing
  3. Remove dough and If needed, divide dough in half and shape into a ball. Flatten each into a circle about 4″ and wrap and chill dough in refrigerator about 15 minutes for easier rolling
  4. Roll a portion of dough required (I use both portions together) to cover to of pot pie. Dust rolling pin and work surface lightly with flour. Roll dough to a uniform thickness.
  5. Gently place over pot pie without stretching and trim, flute and bake.

Enjoy

Recipe Source

Kale Cranberry Salad

30 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by wrks4me in Salads, Side Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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Ingredients

  • Bowl of finely chopped kale with a pinch of salt
  • 3 Stalks of celery, quite fine diced
  • 1/2 a red onion, again quite finely diced
  • 1 cup of walnuts, chopped
  • 1 cup of dried cranberries
  • Vinaigrette:
  • 2 tbsp of honey (or maple syrup)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of minced shallots (or red onion)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 6 tbsp of olive oil

Directions:

  • Wisk the vinaigrette to emulsify the dressing.
  • Pour onto salad and toss

Enjoy

A Better Box Cake

20 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by wrks4me in Baking, Dessert, Home, wrks4me - Recipes

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Tags

Baking, Cake, Cinnamon, Dessert, desserts, Pudding, Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 box of yellow cake mix
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 box vanilla pudding instant mix (3.4 oz)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C)
  2. Grease and flour a bundt pan to prevent sticking
  3. In a large bowl combine yellow cake mix, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla pudding mix and cinnamon.
  4. Add eggs, water and oil. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and well blended.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into a prepared bundt pan
  6. Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool the cake. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely

Optional glaze

  1. Combine 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the warm glaze over the cake for a shiny delicious finish.

Recipe Source

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