Cream of Broccoli Soup

This recipe is my sister-in-laws. It is delicious.

3 Cups Broccoli, Chopped and Steamed Well
1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoons Flour
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Cream
3/4 Cup Half and Half
Optional: 1/2 Cup Onion and 2 Cloves Garlic

In a blender, puree broccoli and 3/4 cup of chicken broth. (I add dried minced garlic and dried onions to this.) In a saucepan, melt margarine and stir in flour and salt; cook and stir until bubbly. Add cream and half and half. Cook until thick and bubbly, then cook about 1 minute longer. Stir in remaining chicken broth and pureed broccoli mixture. Stir in other seasonings to taste (such as garlic salt, more onion, etc.) If not thick enough, add a little milk to about 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch and pour in slowly while stirring constantly. Return to slow boil to check thickness.

My sister-in-law likes to add fresh chopped onion (about 1/2 cup) to the butter and cook several minutes before adding the flour. Garlic is great added too. Need to use 4 Tablespoons butter.

Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce

8 Medium Tart Apples, Peeled and Quartered
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Red-Hot Candies

Place apples and water in a 5-quart sauce-pan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until tender. Mash the apples. Add sugar and candies. Cook, uncovered, until sugar and candies are dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool. Refrigerate until serving.

Makes: 6 Cups

We like this served with City Chicken.

The Best Pork Chop Marinade

I came across this recipe from Six Sisters. We tried it for dinner tonight and it was delicious. Everyone in our family really liked it. That doesn't happen very often.

1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Chili Sauce
1/4 Cup Honey
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Green Onion, Finely Chopped
1 Teaspoon Curry Powder
1 1/2 Pounds Boneless Skinless Pork Chops (about 4-6 chops)

In a gallon-sized resealable bag, add the soy sauce, chili sauce, honey, vegetable oil, green onion, and curry powder and mix until completely combined. Add in the pork chops, then seal the bag. Place in the fridge for 6-8 hours (or overnight). Remove bag from fridge, place pork chops on grill over medium high heat. Brush some of the left-over marinade on the pork chops while grilling. Grill for 6-8 minutes on each side or until the insides of the pork chops are no longer pink. Serve! Yumm!!

Blender Banana Bread

This is the recipe my mom used for banana bread growing up. It is still the one I use when making banana bread.

In a Blender Combine:
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons Milk
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
1 Cup Sugar
3 Ripe Bananas
1/4 Teaspoons Salt

In a Bowl Combine:
2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
Nuts (Optional)

Mix ingredients in a blender well. Once blended pour over bowl ingredients. Mix with an electric hand mixer until well combined. Pour into a large loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Pumpkin Bread

Our family loves pumpkin bread. I made this one year for neighborhood gifts and have been told it is just as good as Great Harvest's Pumpkin Bread. This morning I looked in two different recipe books before finding the recipe I always use. I decided to post it here so I have it for future reference.

2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Salad Oil
3 Eggs
2 Cups Canned Pumpkin
3 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Cloves
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Mix oil and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips. Mix until combined. Pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

Yellow Zucchini Relish

This relish is delicious on hot dogs.

The night before:
10 Cups Zucchini, Ground
4 Cups Onion, Ground
5 Tablespoons Salt

Combine in a large bowl. Let stand overnight.
** To ground the zucchini and onions I put them in a food processor and pulsated it until it was chopped pretty fine (but not a liquid).

The next morning:
Drain and rinse the zucchini mixture.

In a big pot add:
2 1/4 Cups Vinegar
4 1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Teaspoons Celery Seed
2 Teaspoons Nutmeg
2 Teaspoons Dry Mustard
2 Teaspoons Turmeric
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 Red Pepper, Ground
1 Green Pepper, Ground
Drained Zucchini Mixture

Cook slowly for 30 minutes.Put in hot jars and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

Coconut Syrup

Small Batch
1 Cube Real Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Buttermilk

Combine in a saucepan. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add:
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Coconut Extract


Large Batch
4 Cubes Real Butter
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Buttermilk

Combine in saucepan. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add:
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
2 Teaspoons Coconut Extract