Zucchini, Flax, Cinnamon, & Pecan Muffins

                                                                                
This is ONE YUMMY MUFFIN! Grated Zucchini adds color along with flavor & is complimented perfectly with the pecans & cinnamon. Try some while zucchini are in season!



1 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Flour ( add 1/2 cup more if you do not use the flax)
1/2 Cup Milled Flax ( ground flax is ok too)
1 TBS Baking Powder
1 TSP Salt
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 TSP Vanilla
1 Cup Shredded Zucchini
1 Cup Cinnamon Chips
1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, add all of the wet ingredients & stir well. Add the zucchini, cinnamon chips & nuts & stir again. Spray muffin tin or use paper liners & fill with the muffin batter divide evenly between 12 muffin wells. I sprinkled the tops of each muffin with oatmeal, cinnamon & white sanding sugar, you may leave plain or use any combination of the sprinkles I used.

                                                                                  

 Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until they test done. Remove from oven & let cool 6 minutes in the pan & then dump them out. Corningware French White 10-Pc. Bakeware SetCorningware French White 10-Pc. Bakeware SetLibbey Glass Bakeware Set, 11 piece - 11 piecePecan Roll Muffin Baking Pan - Bakeware YUMMY BREAKFAST MUFFINS !

                                                                                  

Mint Salt Water Taffy

            AHHHH, the taste of the beach right at home, made by you, what could be better? Ok going to the beach & buying it but when you are stuck at home why not make some Salt Water Taffy right in your kitchen!

1 & 1/2 Cups Water ( I simmered my water with 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves for about 5 minutes, let the water cool with the mint, strained & then used it for my flavoring) if you do not have fresh mint just add 1/4 TSP of Mint favoring when specified, or use whichever flavor you choose, lemon, vanilla, any you wish!
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Light Corn Syrup
1 & 1/2 TSP Sea Salt
2 TBS Butter +
1/4 TSP Peppermint or Spearmint Flavor or ANY flavor you wish
Drops of  Food Coloring to match your flavoring!
Mix sugar, corn syrup, salt & water in a deep saucepan, heat & stir until sugar & salt is melted. Now cook on high DO NOT STIR until it comes to 260 degrees, USE A CANDY THERMOMETER, pull of the heat & add the remaining ingredients stir well.

                                                                            
  Pour into a butter bowl or pan & let come to a temp that you can handle with your hands but still pretty warm. Butter your hands & gather the goo into a ball & start to pull & twist. Pull until taffy gets just about to hard to pull. Break lump into 4ths & pull into  long ropes the thickness you wish for your pieces of taffy. Snip into bite size pieces with BUTTERED scissors. 

                                                                                
Wrap each piece into squares of cut wax paper & twist the ends closed. This makes 1 & 1/2 POUNDS of mouthwatering Salt Water Taffy! YUM YUM!  

                                                                                                                                           

Fast Pasta Salad!

        If you need a simple FAST dish for a picnic or BBQ, this is my GO TO remedy. Light & Fresh with LOTS of FLAVOR!

6 OZ. Macaroni ( I use shells or spirals) cooked
1 LB Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrot Medley ( add to the last 2 minutes of cooking time of the pasta to lightly cook the veggies)
1 15.05 oz. Can of Chopped Tomatoes + the Juice OR 1 Jar Salsa!
1 Green Pepper Chopped
1/4 Cup Red Onion Chopped
3 Ribs Celery Chopped
1 TBS Parsley Chopped ( fresh is best but dried is ok too)
1 Cup Italian Dressing
1 Cup Shredded Italian Cheese Blend

Cook macaroni according to package adding the frozen veggies in the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Cook & drain. In large bowl add the drained pasta & veggies & remaining ingredients. Stir to combine & chill ! Makes a good 8 servings!  Feel free to add black olives, mushrooms, fresh tomato & even spinach. The above recipe is my basic one that I vary from time to time! Cold steamed shrimp or crab or even pepperoni is GREAT in this too!

                                                                        

Cinnamon & Sugar Popcorn

        This is a FAST & EASY one to whip up! 4 Cups of POPPED CORN stir together 1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar & 2 TSP Cinnamon. Stir that into the popped corn!  I needed to cut back on fat & salt so I made this for a switch from PLAIN popcorn. Pretty much guilt free except for a little sugar! This is SO GOOD too!                                                                        

Ham & Green Beans & Pa. Dutch Favorite One Pot Meal

This a Very Easy One Pot Pa. Dutch meal that is very common here in Lancaster County! Fresh or Frozen & even canned green beans with chunks of ham, potatoes with lots of broth. All cooked up in one pot & YES you could make it in the crock-pot!

1, 3 to 4 lbs Ham End OR Ham Hocks . I prefer the ham end, less waste!
Water to Cover.
Place ham in the water enough to cover & let simmer a good hour & 1/2. You want nice rich broth. Remove ham & set aside to cool.

Back to the broth add the following:
3 to 4 LBS Cleaned snapped fresh green beans , or frozen or canned beans
2 Large Onions chopped, large chop
8 to 10 peeled potatoes
Put all into  the broth & cook on a low simmer. When meat is cool enough to handle cut into nice size chunks & put that into the pot too. Cook until potatoes are tender & beans are soft about 1 hour. Serve with broth ladled over the serving! My Sour Cream, Cheddar, & Bacon Muffins are the perfect accompaniment for this meal! ENJOY a taste of Lancaster County!

TO MAKE I THE CROCK-POT place all in the pot & cook on low all day! Before serving remove the ham & cut into pieces & stir back into the beans & potatoes!
                                                                    

I tried adding carrots along with the potatoes in my Ham& Green Beans tonight & YUM so GOOD! I know I know it is not the TRADITIONAL way of making Ham & Green Beans but I do believe I will be doing my Ham & Green Beans WITH CARROTS from now on! It tasted so good & the carrots give this dish a nice pop of color!
                                                                                

Sour Cream, Bacon, & Cheddar Muffins

         SCRUMPTIOUS MUFFINS loaded with Bacon & Cheddar Cheese that gives you a crisp & gooey muffin ! This is a GREAT , Supper , Breakfast or Brunch muffin! Enjoy them hot out of the oven or reheat so the cheese is melty!

2 & 1/2 Cups Flour
1 TBS Baking Powder
1 TBS Heaping of Sugar
1 TSP Salt
1 TSP Greek Seasonings
1 TSP Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
Dash of Red Pepper
2 TSP Parsley Flakes
1 TSP Paprika
2 Beaten Eggs
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 & 1/4 Cups Sour Cream
10 Slices of Bacon Cooked Crisp ( if you cheat & use pre packaged bacon bits do not tell me!)
2 Cups Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese ( or your favorite)


Sift all dry ingredients together except the bacon & cheese. Beat eggs add to sour cream & oil & stir to combine. Dump all of this into your dry ingredients. Stir in cheese & cooked bacon. Spoon into a sprayed or lined muffin tin. Sprinkle the tops with more Greek Seasonings, Parsley, Paprika & a little Coarse Sea Salt if you wish. I did mine & it adds a GREAT flavor! Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 6 minutes & then dump out of the pan. Eat piping hot & refrigerate leftovers.

                         You can see the seasonings lightly sprinkled on the top! It really adds a nice OOMPH of flavor!

                                                                                     
                 Nice pieces of CRISPY bacon add just the right touch!                                                           

8 Cute ways to Carve a Watermelon

                                         http://ow.ly/c3Ed2                                                     
Click on the link for 8 CUTE ways to Carve Up a Melon! SHARING THIS WITH YOU! These are NOT my ideas but I am sharing the link because they are some of the best PARTY ideas I have ever seen! ENJOY Judys Foodies!