Iced Coffee

Iced Coffee:

1 cup cold coffee
1/4 cup vanilla syrup
1/4 cup half & half cream
Lots of ice cubes

Vanilla Syrup:

2.5 cups water
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 T. vanilla

Heat the water and the sugars until the sugar is all dissolved. Remove from heat. Once cool, add the vanilla.

One Pan Chicken Dinner

3 chicken breasts
6 potatoes
bunch of carrots and maybe some onions (or other vegetables of choice; green beans or broccoli might be good)
1/2 cup butter
1 pkg. onion soup mix

Place the chicken down the middle of a 9x13 pan. On one side arrange the potatoes and on the other the carrots and onions. Slice the butter into little slices and lay over the whole thing, then sprinkle with the onion soup mix (you don't have to use a whole package; it works with less). Cover with foil and bake for an hour at 350.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

2 c. flour
1 c. quick oats
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 c. milk

Mix dry ingredients, add beaten egg, butter and milk. Mix but don't overmix. Spoon into muffin tins and bake 20 minutes at 375. Makes 1 dozen.


These are not the most exciting in flavour but they are dense and have a hint of cinnamon. Perfect for a quick breakfast!

Sweet & Sour Chicken

3 chicken breasts
salt & pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten

Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 T. ketchup
1/2 c. vinegar
1 T. soy sauce
1 tsp. garlic salt


Cut up the chicken into 1" cubes and season with salt & pepper. Toss with cornstarch (I guess on the amount of cornstarch; I just use enough until it's coated), then with beaten eggs. Fry chicken in 1/3 cup of oil until golden brown. Place in an 8x11 baking pan. Mix sauce and pour over top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring after 15. Serve over rice.

The original recipe calls for the chicken cubes to be individually coated in cornstarch, dipped in eggs and then placed in the baking dish, but this was far too much work for me and made my fingers completely coated in batter, so I just toss the chicken with those ingredients in a bowl. Much easier and the results are the same!

Focaccia Bread

Make a batch of pizza dough and spread it into a round pizza pan. Brush it with margarine or butter and sprinkle with garlic salt and parsley (or whichever spices you like).

Bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes. This makes a great fast side dish for lasagna and the like.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cake

1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. whole wheat flour
coconut
chocolate chips
walnut pieces

Pour boiling water over the oats and butter until the butter is melted. Add remaining ingredients and pour into a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts. Bake 30 minutes at 350.

Coleslaw

1 bag pre-mixed coleslaw (this is cheating but it's easier)
3/4 c. mayo
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp salt
2 T. lemon juice
1 tsp prepared mustard

Mix dressing ingredients together and toss with coleslaw mix. Refrigerate. If you use a small bag of coleslaw, reduce the dressing recipe to about 3/4 (1/2 c. mayo, 3 T. sugar, etc.).

For a different flavour, no name creamy coleslaw dressing is also really good and very easy. Add grape tomatoes and sliced cucumbers for fanciness.