Buffalo chicken chowder

A local gourmet diner has the best buffalo chicken chowder I have ever had as a special occasionally. I was determined to find a recipe so we could have it whenever we wanted. I ended up concocting my own recipe, with the help of two other recipes, Both Mike and I think it's a keeper!!!!

2 cups shredded cooked chicken
3 Tbsp. butter
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 onion, diced
2- 14 oz. cans chicken broth
1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup hot sauce [use more or less, what ever heat level you like!]
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 cup frozen corn
1 1/2 cups mozzarella
1 cup bleu cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup flour

In butter, saute celery, carrots and onions till soft. Add chicken broth , hot sauce and potatoes, Bring to a boil, then simmer till potatoes are done.
In a small bowl mix cheeses and flour.
When the potatoes are done, add milk to the soup and when it

is back to a simmer, slowly add the cheese mixture to the soup, stirring so cheeses melt.
Add chicken and corn and simmer till they are both heated through. May top soup with sprinkles of more bleu cheese.

Chili

Tis the season for chili. We woke up to 13 degrees this morning and as Mike was going to be surveying outside all day,  I would have chili ready when he gets home. Chili is not my favorite dish, but I do love this recipe. 

In 1 Tbsp. of oil saute
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 # ground beef 
until the beef is all browned. 

In a small bowl mix
2 Tbsp. chili powder ******
5 tsp. flour
salt and pepper
and then add enough hot water to make a paste. Set aside.

Once the meat is browned add:
3 cans tomato soup
3 cans kidney beans, UNdrained
1 can diced tomatoes

Bring to a boil. Lower heat and stir in the chili powder mix until it is incorporated into the meat mixture. 
Cover and let simmer at least 30 minutes. 
Garnish with cheddar cheese or sour cream. 

****** I like a lot more chili powder than this recipe calls for! 

BBQ Spareribs

I am not a big fan of spareribs on the rack... too little meat, too big of a mess! However these spareribs are my absolute favorite. Delicious and easy, especially if you do them in the crock pot!

4#s country style spare ribs, the meatier the better
Brown them in the oven or the fry pan... While they are browning, in your crock pot mix together:
1 cup diced onions
1 cup catsup
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp . dry mustard
1 tsp. paprika
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 
Add the browned spare ribs. Cover and cook on low in crock pot for about 6 hours. 
You can bake them covered in the oven at 350 for 2 1/4 hours. 
The BBQ sauce is fairly thin and we love it over mashed potatoes or egg noodles!

Mixed Berry Cobbler

This is the easiest and absolutely most delicious cobbler I have ever made and my family agrees on the delicious part!

1 can biscuits, each biscuit cut into 4 pieces
Combine:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
 1/2 tsp.cinnamon
Sprinkle over biscuits.. set aside.

In saucepan combine:
1 pkg.fresh blueberries
1 pkg. fresh blackberries
1 pkg.fresh red raspberries
1 pkg.fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. cornstarch

Cook over low heat until berries release their juice.
Put in 9x9 inch pan.
Cover fruit with biscuits.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup

I am not very fond of ground beef, so it's always nice when I do find a recipe with ground beef in it that I do like and I really liked this soup... especially the broth!

1# ground beef
1 cup onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups very strong beef broth {I made my own with Better Than Bouillon, roasted beef base}
1- 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1- 28 oz. can whole tomatoes {next time I would use diced for both cans!}
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cups dry elbow macaroni

Brown meat, onions and garlic, until meat is no longer pink, Drain grease off. Place in 6 qt. crock pot with beef broth, tomatoes, ketchup, worcestershire, brown sugar, and Italian seasonings.
Cook on low 8 hours, or I cooked it on high for 4 hours. The last 25 minutes stir in

the dry pasta.

Do Nothing Cake

This recipe has been popping up on my FB feed the last couple of weeks so I made it this morning. Not only is the cake and topping very quick and easy , but the cake is delicious. Very moist and dense! 

NGREDIENTS

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 16 ounces crushed pineapple, undrained

ICING

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup nuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Place first 6 ingredients in a bowl & mix until blended with spoon.
2. Pour into 13x9 inch cake pan.
3. Bake at 350°F 35-40 minutes.
4. For Icing: Mix butter, sugar and evaporated milk together and cook over medium heat until a little thickened. (This usually takes about 5 minutes at a boil).
5. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. 
6.  Pour over hot cake.
   

"Sick" Brownie Bites

I saw Valerie Bertinelli make these on her FNC show earlier this week! Such an unusual way to make cookie balls and pretty scrumptious!!!!

1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
2/3 cup shredded coconut
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
one 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
pinch of salt

Spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
Combine the above ingredients in a bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon until well combined. 
Spread in 8x8 pan. 
Bake at 375 degrees 15 to 20 minutes until top is golden. Remove from oven.

Stir the brownie mixture until the chocolate is well incorporated. Press back to the sides of the dish. 
Set aside until cool enough to handle. Spread confectioners sugar on a dinner plate. 
Scoop out brownie mixture by tablespoon and shape into a ball then roll into the confectionery sugar while they are still warm. 
Store tightly covered.