Sunday, October 12, 2014

Pumpkin Bread



It's Fall Ya'll and I'm going home to Tennessee tomorrow.  I'm taking along some special treats and I'm so pleased that they came out so yummy and pretty!  Pumpkin Bread is the simplest thing in the world to make - especially if you take a few short cuts!

You'll need:

1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 t pumpkin pie spice

That's all there is to it!  Mix your ingredients well and place into a well greased (Bakers Secret) loaf pan.  Bake for 55 minutes at 350*.

If you want to go extra fancy, put some streusel topping on your bread at the 40 minute mark.
You'll need:

1/2 stick of butter (softened)   

1/2 cup white sugar                             
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 t cinnamon
1 t sugar
1/4 t nutmeg

Use a fork to combine the sugar and spices with pats of softened butter.  You mixture should come to a crumbly consistency.  Place on top of your bread at the 40 minute mark and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

The key to any food gift is pretty presentation. Cool the bread completely on a wire rack then wrap her up! I wrap my breads in clear cellophane and add raffia, burlap or ribbon (or all three :) and be sure to tape the back seam closed to keep your bread fresh.  All presents are more special if you wrap them to be pretty! 
 

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Smoked Chicken Vegetable Soup




My hubs make the BEST smoked chicken in the world and we always freeze a few to use during the really cold months. One of my most popular soups is this smoked chicken veggie!

One smoked chicken (get one at your local BBQ spot to make it easy for you)
1 pkg Knorr Vegetable Soup (or dip) mix - dry package
1 box long grain wild rice
1 can green beans
1 can whole kernel corn (or hominy if you prefer)
1 can diced carrots
1 can small Lima beans
1 can black eyed peas
1 can diced potatoes
1 can English peas
1 can mixed vegetables

This fills my biggest crock pot so if yours is small, just cut this recipe in half or use 2 crocks.

Pull the chicken from the bone (NO skin) and chop into bite sized pieces. Add to crock pot. Add each of canned vegetables (frozen veggies do not work as well for this recipe) including 1/2 the juices of each can.

Blend the vegetable soup mix and long grain rice with 3 cups of water and microwave for 12 minutes. Pour cooked soup mix and rice over the veggies and chicken in your large crock pot and lightly salt and pepper to taste. You may need to add more water to cover mix and make a full pot of soup. Let simmer on low for 6 - 8 hours. Serve with fresh baked bread, corn bread or crackers.

You can substitute smoked pork and it is equally delicious...we have WONDERFUL smoked pork in West Tennessee and just a pound of it makes a fantastic soup! Adjust the veggies to suit what your family likes.

Freezes beautifully and makes GREAT lunches for the following week!