Onion Strings

 

Ingredients:

1 Large Onion

2 cups Buttermilk

2 cups Flour

1 TBS Salt (a little less)

1 TBS Pepper

1/4 – 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

2 Quarts Canola Oil.

 

Directions:

Peel large onion and slice it very, very thinly

Separate onion slices into rings and place in shallow dish (I used a 9×13 baking dish)

Pour 2 cups buttermilk over Onions. Press onions down so they are as submerged as possible. Make sure they are at least touching the buttermilk

In a bowl mix flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.  *Use more or less pepper and cayenne pepper to taste to your liking.

Pour 2 quarts canola oil into a pot (or use a deep fryer)

Turn the stove on medium high and bring oil to 375 degrees. (Use a candy thermometer to watch the temperature)

Once oil is heated, use tongs or your fingers to remove a handful of onions from the buttermilk. Coat them with the flour mixture.

Shake off excess and plunge the onions in the heated oil. Toss them around using a metal spoon, to break them up a little bit.

Fry until golden brown, then remove and place on a paper towel lined plate.

Repeat with the rest of the onions and enjoy!

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Snacks – Rice Krispie Apples

I got my usual wake up call from my husband at 6:20 on a Thursday morning. It was then that he informed me, my step son would have to take a snack to school on Friday for Teacher Appreciation Week. Nothing like having a little notice.

The old me, would have gone to the store and bought some cookies, but the new me – who know LOVES to cook- needed to do something a little more creative.

After searching online for the perfect snack, I found these Rice Krispie Apples, that I thought would be perfect to show a little teach appreciation. So with the help of my step-son and my husband we made up a batch.

They turned out super-cute and were hopefully a hit at school!

 

 

Ingredients:
6 Cups Rice Krispies Cereal
1 pkg. large marshmallows
3 T. butter
1 small pkg. Jell-o powder, cherry or strawberry flavor
25-30 small Tootsie Roll Candies
Green Icing
Baking spray
Wax Paper
Red Food Coloring, optional

Directions:
Place marshmallows and butter in large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Stir and microwave for an additional minute.

Remove from microwave and stir in jell-o powder.

Add a few drops of red food coloring (to make them more red and less pink!)

Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir well.

Spray hands with baking spray and roll mixture into balls (a little larger than a golf ball) and drop on wax paper.

After balls have set for a few minutes, use your thumb to press into the top to make an hole for the “stem”

Add a small tootsie roll “stem” and using icing to add a leaf.

 

IHOP Pancakes

 

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. Baking soda
pinch of salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 c. sugar

Directions:

Stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder,and salt.

Mix the egg with the buttermilk and add to the flour mixture, stirring only until smooth.

Add the melted butter and sugar.

Fry on a greased griddle.

 

Swiss Steak in the Crockpot

Ingredients:

1- 1 1/2 lbs Cubed Steak (I usually have about 6 pieces)

1 10oz Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 package Dry Onion Soup mix (I use Lipton’s)

3/4 cup water

Directions:

Place the meat in the bottom of a crock pot

Add the rest of the ingredients to crock pot

Heat on high for 4-6 hours, until meat is tender

I generally serve with mashed potatoes as there will be gravy made in the crock pot.

 

Kit Kat Bars

Ingredients:

60 buttery crackers, such as Keebler Club Crackers

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup firmly-packed brown sugar

1/3 cup milk

1-1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish. Line with a layer of 20 crackers.

In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugars and milk together to a boil over medium heat. Stir in crushed graham crackers. Let boil 5 minutes.

Pour half of the sugar mixture over the crackers. Cover with another layer of 20 crackers, pressing down lightly. Pour remaining syrup mixture over crackers, smoothing to coat.

Top with the remaining crackers, pressing lightly.

Place chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish. Heat on high 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until chips are melted. (Alternatively, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a saucepan over low heat.)

Pour evenly over the top layer of crackers, making sure the crackers are completely covered.

Refrigerate until kit kat bars are firm.