Onion Straws

Onion Straws is a special treat at our house. It is not something that we make often, but when we do, you can bet their plates are cleaned! Several months ago, The Pioneer Woman gave us her recipe for onion rings. It is so good. Check out her recipe here.

1 large onion
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 scant tablespoon salt
Lots of black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Canola Oil

Slice onion very thin. Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk for at least one hour.

Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

Heat oil to 375 degrees. Grab a handful of onions, throw into the flour mixture, tab to shake off excess, and PLUNGE into hot oil.

Fry for a few minutes and remove as soon as golden brown.

French Fried Onion Chicken

My friend, Shelly, gave me this recipe and my family loved it! The onions crisp up in the oven and gives the chicken lots of flavor. It stays juicy too!


2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 egg
1 pkg. French Fried Onions


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Clean and remove fat from chicken breasts and cut into halves or strips. Crush French onions so that they turn into crumbs by squeezing them with your hands while still in the package (cut a tiny hole so that the package doesn’t pop).

Pour crumbs into a large shallow dish. Crack an egg into a bowl and scramble. Dip chicken pieces into egg and then into crumbs.

Place chicken pieces into baking pan (use non-stick cooking spray or aluminum foil if you desire). Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Peanut Butter Kisses

I shared with you about E's love of cooking. She has already started collecting cookbooks and trying new recipes. This Peanut Butter Kisses recipe that she found has quickly become a family favorite.


E's Peanut Butter Kisses

1 1/4 cups Peanut Butter
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 lg egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
chocolate kisses with the foil removed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, beat peanut butter and brown sugar until well blended. Scrape down bowl and add egg and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until well blended. Add flour. Mix on low just until blended.

Roll the cookies into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake 10 - 12 minutes until puffed and dry looking on top. Immediately place an unwrapped chocolate kiss in center of each cookie.

Let cool for 10 minutes before eating.

NOTE: I think they are better the next day!!! If you can wait that long! Also, they are just as good without the chocolate kiss on top. We just gently press them down the cookie with a fork when they first come out of the oven.

Chocolate Eclair

This delicious dessert is always a big hit at our family gatherings. It is so quick and easy to make.
2 pkg (3 oz) French Vanilla instant pudding
3 cups milk
1 small tub (8 oz) cool whip
Plain Graham Crackers

Mix pudding and milk. Beat until thick. Stir in Cool Whip.

Line a 13x9 baking dish with graham crackers. Pour half of pudding mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer of graham crackers over pudding. Cover second layer of graham crackers with remaining pudding. Place another layer of graham crackers over the layer of pudding. Set aside while you prepare the chocolate topping.

Topping:
1/4 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/3 cup dry cocoa
1/8 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients in saucepan. Boil until sugar is dissolved and butter is completely melted. Cool slightly. Pour chocolate over top layer of crackers. Spread and chill for 3-4 hours.

Our Valentine's Dinner

My nine year old daughrter made this delicious dinner for me and her dad on Valentine's Day.

E loves to cook and is so eager to learn all she can about the art of cooking! I am so thankful for this desire and so proud that she is willing to try new things.

You can read more about our special dinner here.

Football Cake

My son is a BIG Ohio State fan just like his daddy. So for B's 5 year old birthday, it was only fitting that he would have a football party complete with an Ohio State football field cake.

Scot decorated the field - I think he did a pretty awesome job!

Blueberry Coffee Cake

This is a yummy Paula Deen recipe that I found a few years ago. It is definitely not a figure friendly recipe, but for a special occasion breakfast, you can overlook that, right?


1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 12-ounce can buttermilk biscuits
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch square baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork.

Separate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters, and dip each piece in melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in baking dish.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the oats.

Combine blueberries and granulated sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon blueberries over oats and biscuits. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup oats. Drizzle melted butter on top.

Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.