I thought I would start a thread at least dedicated to cooking & recipes. I have a lot of family members, including my parents and brother who are very good cooks and who like to cook. Anyways, talk about recipes or whatever else cooking in here if you want. I also know a good amount of users on here like to cook, eat (in a not-fattening way) and like to talk about what recipes to use for what. Here is one my brother and Dad made, it is called pepperoni pasta salad. it's not a salad so don't be thrown off (because I don't like salads anyway myself). It's basically pasta with pepperoni, but with a lot of flavor, a great taste and a mix of herbs, spices and mix!


PEPPERONI PASTA SALAD

6 oz. spiral pasta
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. red vinegar
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. red pepper, dried (optional)
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 c. quartered tomatoes
2 c. broccoli, cooked but firm.
4 oz. pepperoni, thinly sliced

Mix oil, vinegar, basil, salt and red pepper. Add drained but warm pasta and toss with Parmesan cheese. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Add broccoli, pepperoni and tomatoes; mix well. Optional: Sprinkle with grated mozzarella and garnish with red onion rings.

Enjoy! And post what you want.

I just found this thread. That sounds like a good one. Here is one of my favorites.

Rachael Ray's Fresh Strawberry Marg-alrightas Margaritas

Ingredients
2 pints ripe strawberries
4 ripe limes, juiced, plus
1 lime, wedged for rimming and garnish
8 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
ice cubes (2 trays)
12 fluid ounces good quality tequila (8 shots)
coarse salt, to rim glasses
Directions
1Reserve 4 strawberries with tops for garnish and split them.
2Clean, dry, and trim remaining strawberries.
3Add all but the reserved strawberries to a blender.
4To that, add the juice of 1 ripe lime, 2 rounded tablespoons sugar, a splash of orange juice, 1/2 a tray of ice cubes and 2 shots of tequila.
5Blend on high speed until the drink is icy but smooth.
6Rim a cocktail glass with lime juice and dip rim in salt and pour in the frozen strawberry lime drink.
7Garnish glass with a wedge of lime and a split strawberry.
8Repeat with remaining ingredients.

One of my fave dishes, recipe originally discovered in the Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook, slightly modifed here.

Coca-Cola Pork Chops Recipe

Pork chops, browned in skillet
1 cup ketchup
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup brown sugar

Mix the sauce and pour over the pork chops in a casserole. Cover with aluminum foil and Bake at 375°F for about 45 minutes. Sounds yucky, tastes yummy!

Today, I actually adapted this to country style ribs, going in the oven right now :D

Tip: Remember to drain the fat/grease before adding the sauce to bake in oven.
You also change this to Root Beer, Dr Pepper, 7-up, etc. Just make sure it is the full sugar version--not DIET--diet sodas do not work well in recipes (BLLLEEEEEECH)

That sounds soo good ^.

One of my fave dishes, recipe originally discovered in the Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook, slightly modifed here.

Coca-Cola Pork Chops Recipe

Pork chops, browned in skillet
1 cup ketchup
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup brown sugar

Mix the sauce and pour over the pork chops in a casserole. Cover with aluminum foil and Bake at 375°F for about 45 minutes. Sounds yucky, tastes yummy!

Today, I actually adapted this to country style ribs, going in the oven right now :D

Tip: Remember to drain the fat/grease before adding the sauce to bake in oven.
You also change this to Root Beer, Dr Pepper, 7-up, etc. Just make sure it is the full sugar version--not DIET--diet sodas do not work well in recipes (BLLLEEEEEECH)

mmm. i've never heard of cooking with soda, but it sounds good! you think it'll work the same with chicken breast?

mmm. i've never heard of cooking with soda, but it sounds good! you think it'll work the same with chicken breast?


Sure nuf!! :D

I've done a ham in the slow cooker with Sprite! mmmmmmm :)

wow that sounds great lol. not to mention my love for good food and coca cola!

Well, let me know if you do try it......I love hearing people's reactions to the same recipes I've tried and loved :)

One of my fave dishes, recipe originally discovered in the Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook, slightly modifed here.

Coca-Cola Pork Chops Recipe

Pork chops, browned in skillet
1 cup ketchup
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup brown sugar

Mix the sauce and pour over the pork chops in a casserole. Cover with aluminum foil and Bake at 375°F for about 45 minutes. Sounds yucky, tastes yummy!

Today, I actually adapted this to country style ribs, going in the oven right now :D

Tip: Remember to drain the fat/grease before adding the sauce to bake in oven.
You also change this to Root Beer, Dr Pepper, 7-up, etc. Just make sure it is the full sugar version--not DIET--diet sodas do not work well in recipes (BLLLEEEEEECH)


WOW! Im gonna have to try that one. :D Thanks for sharing.

Let me know your thoughts, Monarc!

We are getting ready to sit down to eat our Coca-Cola Ribs!! :D

And boy were they rib-tickling good! :liplick:

Yumm! :D

Another dish that I love is Hawaiian Pork Chops. Basically all you do is get some nice pork chops. Slightly season with salt pepper & garlic powder. Lay them in an oven safe plate put pineapple slices over each one and a cherry in the middle. Cook on 375 for about 30 min. Serve with white rice. Yum yum yummy. :liplick:

Courtnee's famous blueberry muffins:
(This recipe also works for blueberry pancakes. Also, feel free to subsitute the fruit)

2 cups of Bisquick
1.5 cups of milk
1.5 cups of sugar.
1 med package of bluberries
Stir mixture until smooth

preheat oven to 450
pour mixture into greased muffin pan (REMEMBER THE PASTRY CUPS!)
bake for 20-30 minutes (or until the top is a pretty, crispy brown)

When done, do NOT remove muffins from pan right away. Leave them in there to cool.

I love blueberry muffins. :D

As Jude requested from the Pie thread; my (Scottish) grandmother's recipe for Butterscotch Pie. Our family's favourite for years! :D

Crust: You can use a frozen pie crust (Tenderflake is good) or make your own from scratch. Only the bottom crust is required (no top crust for this pie). Cook pie crust as directed. Keep hot/warm or time it to coincide with filling prep.

Filling:

1 cup tightly packed golden or dark brown sugar
4 Tblsp. flour
4 Tblsp. cold water
2 egg yolks, beaten (egg whites can be scrambled later or given to your pets!)
2 cups milk
3 Tblsp. margerine or butter
pinch salt

In medium saucepan, blend brown sugar, salt and flour together. Over med. to med/high heat, add cold water and mix until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Add a few tablespoons of thickened mixture to beaten egg yolks (in separate small dish like a fruit nappy). Once mixed, add this to entire mixture in saucepan. Blend. Add butter or margarine (I find Becel adds more flavour than butter) and stir in until melted.


Pour this mixture immediately into hot pie crust. I'd advise you put the crust on a plate or pan that will fit in your refridgerator. Chill immediately until set (about 4 + hours). Best eaten the first day. Any leftover filling can be put into a fruit nappy and chilled as well - then eaten like butterscotch pudding! Rich and delicious. If you like pecan, you'll likely love this. ;)

that sounds good.

Speaking of pies & desserts, I was Googling it cause I wondered if people actually made this, so here ya go. Might wanna try it for a Thanksgiving treat or something.


No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

(Note: it depends on the serving size, but I think this is estimated around 16)

Preparation Time- 20 Minutes
Ready In- 2 hours, 20 minutes
-Orig. Recipe yield 2-9 inch pies

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crusts



DIRECTIONS
Beat together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
Spoon into two 9 inch graham cracker pie shells; cover, and freeze until firm.

Sure nuf!! :D

I've done a ham in the slow cooker with Sprite! mmmmmmm :)

Yep - I've used ginger ale for the Christmas turkey instead of water in the pan. yum!


Just wondering if it makes much of a difference whether you use flat or fresh soda and cola. You would almost think that a flat cola would be best for ribs, chicken, etc.....(a good way to use up flat pop for sure tho)!

That Butterscotch pie sounds great!! And it seems to be easy to make--but what is Becel?

(and you avatar always gives me the giggles!)

Yep - I've used ginger ale for the Christmas turkey instead of water in the pan. yum!


Just wondering if it makes much of a difference whether you use flat or fresh soda and cola. You would almost think that a flat cola would be best for ribs, chicken, etc.....(a good way to use up flat pop for sure tho)!


I don't know if flat or fresh makes a difference--I've always used a fresh can.
The carbonation I'm sure cooks out or loses the fizz very easily so I'm sure a difference really doesn't matter.

Just remember--no DIET....besides you're killing the point to use diet in a succulent sauce (like people who order 2 Big Macs, a SuperSize fries and then a large Diet Coke because they are watching their figure :lol:)

That Butterscotch pie sounds great!! And it seems to be easy to make--but what is Becel?

(and you avatar always gives me the giggles!)
Oh it is - especially with a nice cold glass of milk with it!

Oh sorry - not sure if they call it the same in the States - Becel margerine is made by Lipton. It's just it's a good, low sat fat margerine. The original recipe calls for butter (since it's about 65 years old) but I just found butter is a little bland compared to using margerine. No huge difference really.

And it is easy to make. I just make sure I beat the egg yolks up ahead so it's easier to mix into the filling. Doesn't take long at all. You can put whipped cream on the top too, but I prefer the full butterscotch flavour on its own. :D

I don't know if flat or fresh makes a difference--I've always used a fresh can.
The carbonation I'm sure cooks out or loses the fizz very easily so I'm sure a difference really doesn't matter.

Just remember--no DIET....besides you're killing the point to use diet in a succulent sauce (like people who order 2 Big Macs, a SuperSize fries and then a large Diet Coke because they are watching their figure :lol:)


I hear ya! Yah, the aspertame or whatever doesn't work like the natural sugars that carmelize it into a nice sauce.

lol - I knew someone who'd eat 10 candy bars at one sitting with a diet soda. :rolleyes:

I had this in middle school in 1987 and its insanely good!!

I had them write the recipe down for me and I went looking for it today and found it in 1 of our cookbooks!!

My mom/dad tried to make it but it wasnt nearly as good as the schools.. The pieces were bigger and it wasnt as tasty...

Heres the recipe the school wrote for me in 1987 and I wanna share it with you guys as I love ya!!

CABBAGE SALAD

20 Pounds Cabbage
2 Pounds Green Pepper
2 Pounds carrots
1 Gallon Mayonnaise
2 cups vinegar
1 Cup sugar
3 tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon Pepper


This is the recipe for a whole school servng lunch so you will have to narrow it down for home use...

I am wanting to bring it to Golden Carrol and ask them if they will make it this way! (It will be better than what they have out which is reg cole slaw)


ENJOY!! (I sure do and I wanna again!!)