Sending Virtual Cookies

Head over to the Real Farmwives of America and Friends blog today and check out these delicious Buckeye Brownies I made as part of a virtual cookie swap!

While you are there, be sure to sign up for a chance to win a Gooseberry Patch cookbook!

GP Winner Revealed

Wow, y'all really wanted to win this cookbook!

I am so excited about the response and want to thank all of you who tried to win.

Check out all 10 recipes I made from Christmas Kitchens here.

Before I announce the winner, I want to thank Gooseberry Patch and the Real Farmwives of America for hosting the In the Kitchen series.

And the winner of the cookbook is...

Congratulations Lillian! I'll be contacting you soon through email.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Have You Entered Yet

There's still time to enter my giveaway of this Gooseberry Patch cookbook.

Thanks to the Real Farmwives of America and Gooseberry Patch for coordinating this fun project.

Go to this post to enter! You have until 9 p.m. EST TONIGHT!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Christmas Kitchen Cookbook Giveaway

Since the end of May I've been fixing recipes from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchen cookbook.

This was done in anticipation of a giveaway of this cookbook right here on my blog as part of the In the Kitchen project between the Real Farmwives of America and Gooseberry Patch. And, yes, it's a brand-new copy - NOT the one I cooked from, promise!


In case you missed one, here is a round-up of my 10 recipes:


Recipe 1: Quick Cheese Bread
Recipe 2: Grandma's Butter Cookies
Recipe 3: Cheesy Potato Puffs
Recipe 4: Baked Ziti Supreme
Recipe 5: Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
Recipe 6: Cream Cheese Candy
Recipes 7 and 8: Tina's Creamy Bacon Crescents and Scrambled Eggs in Toast Cups
Recipe 9: Hot Cinnamon Twisters
Recipe 10: Chicken, Spinach and Bows Casserole


Big Thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

So with no further ado, let's get down to business.

There are LOTS of ways to enter to win. You don't have to use them all, just do the ones you want. Just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Follow Gal in the Middle through Google Friend Connect (GFC) (right sidebar).

2. Subscribe to us via email (right sidebar).

5. Subscribe to our feed (right sidebar).

6. Check out The Real Farmwives of America and Friends and follow through GFC. 

7. "Like" The Real Farmwives of America and Friends on Facebook.

8. Follow @realfarmwives on Twitter.

9. "Like" Gooseberry Patch on Facebook.

10. Comment on Gooseberry Patch's Blog or Facebook Page and tell them Megan from Gal in the Middle sent you.

11. Follow @gooseberrypatch on Twitter.

12. Tweet about this contest and include @realfarmwives and @gooseberrypatch in your tweet.

13.  Join the Gooseberry Patch Circle of Friends email club.  

14.  Share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag The Real Farmwives of America and Friends, and Gooseberry Patch in your post.

15. EXTRA SPECIAL ENTRY: I just started my own Facebook Fan Page - Gal in the Middle - so go over and like it and let me know in a comment and get an extra entry!  

Contest ends 9 PM EDT on July 31st and the winner will be selected at random. The winner must live in the continental U.S.  


Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Yummy Casserole from GP

I decided to tackle a main dish for my 10th and final recipe out of Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchen cookbook as part of my Real Farmwives and Friends of America In the Kitchen experience!

I went for the Chicken, Spinach and Bows Casserole courtesy of Karen Fulton of Huntington, Ind. I thought it was appropriate to fix a Hoosier contribution!

It was very easy to make and yummy to eat. I halved the recipe because I didn't need to serve 10-15 people! I also used frozen, pre-cooked diced chicken instead of fresh. 


Here's the recipe:


Chicken, Spinach and Bows Casserole
16-oz. pkg. bowtie pasta, cooked (I used 8 oz. of what I had on hand.)
26-oz. can cream of chicken soup  (I used a regular sized can - 10 oz or so.)
16-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed (I used a 10 oz. box.)
4 to 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced (I used about 2 cups frozen, pre-cooked diced chicken.)
8-oz. pkg shredded Colby-Jack cheese
1 T. butter, sliced
salt and pepper to taste


Combine cooked pasta and soup, stir until coated. Add spinach and set aside. In a lightly greased 3-quart glass casserole dish, layer half each of chicken, pasta mixture and cheese. Layer with remaining chicken and pasta mixture; dot with butter and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted. Serves 10 to 15.


Stay tuned for a chance to win this great cookbook!


Hooking up to:

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit theirstore. If you would like to see other great recipes, check outwww.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Hot Cinnamon Twisters

As I shared with you on Sunday, I tackled my In the Kitchen Gooseberry Patch Recipes 7, 8 and 9 in one meal over the weekend. You can check out numbers 7 and 8 here.

We finished our "Sunday Brunch for Supper" meal with these super easy Hot Cinnamon Twisters - Recipe 9.

The only thing that may have made these better was some icing!

Well, I just have one more dish to make before I give away a copy of this great Gooseberry Patch cookbook! Stay tuned.

Also linking to Two Maids a Baking!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Sunday Brunch for Supper

I LOVE breakfast for supper.

I love the idea of breakfast at any time of the day, except in the morning. I don't normally eat breakfast (yes, I know that is not good for me) but I do love breakfast foods.

So, I decided to fix not one, not two, but THREE brunch recipes from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchen as part of my In the Kitchen project! I made Baby Sister help me make these and then shared them with her family tonight.

I'm sharing two of the dishes we fixed tonight and will share the third later this week.

Here's recipe number 7 in my journey to cook 10 recipes from this book...Tina's Creamy Bacon Crescents. As you might recall, my goal is to stick with recipes with less than 5 ingredients...this one had three!

These were super easy to make...however, we questioned when they were done because the bacon wasn't quite crispy when the timer went off at 20 minutes. But, they were yummy. I didn't use a whole container of cream cheese so the flavor didn't come through as much as it might have if I layered it on thicker...next time I'll add more!

For the "main course,"  I decided on Scrambled Eggs in Toast Cups. You'll notice the recipe below has 9 ingredients and we added bacon (had some leftover from the crescent rolls) so that's double my ingredient limit!

These were a bit of a challenge, though Baby Sister did most of the work on these. I bought "very thin" white bread but it was still a bit hard to cram them into the muffin tins.

As I said before, we added bacon and left out the mushrooms. I'm sure you could add diced (I wouldn't do chopped) veggies to this if you'd like.

These were both very yummy and the toast cups would be a fancier version of a breakfast casserole on Christmas morning.

Just two more recipes to share before one lucky reader wins her/his very own copy of this Gooseberry Patch cookbook.







Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check outwww.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.


Also, linking up to...

Cream Cheese Candy

I'm not a candy maker. If I am baking, I tend to make cookies, muffins or cakes (from a box).

So as I'm making my way through Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchens cookbook for my Real Farmwives (and Friends) of America in the Kitchen experience, I decided to stretch myself.

For my sixth recipe, I made Cream Cheese Candy. It just has three ingredients, though one of them is 2 POUNDS of powdered sugar!

This recipe is from a lady in southern Indiana, so I am excited to be featuring a recipe from a fellow Hoosier!

Not sure this is how the candy is supposed to look like...I struggle with new recipes when there are not photos but they tasted good so even if the pieces aren't picture perfect, it's OK.

I think these would be great on a Christmas treats table.

If you try this recipe and your candy turns out differently, be sure to let me know (share a photo).

Just a note...I only have a hand mixer and this was a challenge for it!

I'm over halfway done with my In the Kitchen project. Just four more recipes to share before I give away a copy of this cookbook! Yeah.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check outwww.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.




 

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

I made these bad boys to go with my leftover Baked Ziti Supreme that I heated up for dinner over the weekend. They reminded me of the yummy biscuits they serve at Red Lobster.

These Cheesy Garlic Biscuits are the fifth recipe I'm featuring from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchens cookbook. Unlike the first four recipes, these biscuits feature SIX ingredients instead of five...there goes my plan of only fixing five-ingredient recipes from the book. Oh well, they were worth it!

These biscuits were light and fluffy and very tasty. The recipe says to drop tablespoonfuls of the batter onto the cookie sheet to make a dozen biscuits. I made my biscuits about twice that size and came out with seven biscuits.

If you need an easy and quick option to go with your next dinner, these are a great option.

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
1-1/4 c. biscuit baking mix
1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. dried parsley

Combine baking mix and cheese in a small bowl. Add water and stir until combined and slightly moistened. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets that have been lightly sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until firm and beginning to turn golden.

Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. As soon as biscuits come out of the oven, brush them with the butter mixture using a pastry brush. Serve warm. Makes about one dozen.

I can't believe I'm halfway through this project. Stay tuned for the remaining 5 recipes and eventually a giveaway featuring the GP cookbook I'm cooking from!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check outwww.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.


Linking up to 2 Maids a Baking.

Baked Ziti Supreme

Sticking with my 5 ingredient recipe theme for my "in the kitchen" project with Gooseberry Patch and the Real Farmwives (and Friends) of America, I fixed the Baked Ziti Supreme from the GP cookbook Christmas Kitchen as my fourth dish!

It was very easy and quite yummy. Actually, I think it got better when I re-heated it for supper the next day!

I'm going to let you in on a couple of tricks I did to make the prep even easier.

First, I used a tip from Leah over at Beyer Beware and browned my ground beef in the microwave using my Pampered Chef micro-cooker. This has forever changed the way I cook up my ground beef! However, I need to invest in the large PC micro-cooker...the small one worked fine but I NEED the bigger one.

Second, it was 90-plus degrees out the day I decided to make the baked ziti and I did NOT want to put a pot of water to boil on the stovetop to cook the pasta. So, I threw uncooked pasta into the dish and added an extra can of tomato sauce.

Third, my sister called and wanted to go to the pool AFTER I popped the ziti in the oven. So, I turned the oven down to 200 degrees and let it cook as we sat by the pool and watched my nephew practice for his Boy Scout Camp swim test. It turned out just fine!

Here's the actual recipe. I think it would be a great dish for family night. Add a salad and some bread and you have a meal.

Baked Ziti Supreme
1 lb. ground beef
28-oz. jar spaghetti sauce
8-oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
8-oz. pkg. ziti pasta, cooked
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: add ripe olives or mushrooms


Brown ground in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; drain. Stir in sauce, one cup mozzarella cheese and cooked pasta. Spoon into a lightly greased shallow 3-quart casserole dish; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until hot and bubble. Serves 6.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check outwww.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.


Linking up to:

Cheesy Potato Puffs

Mashed potatoes, cheese and bacon...what can be better?

I'm not sure there is anything better, at least not for a quick and easy side dish or appetizer.

This recipe that I'm sharing as the third from Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Kitchen cookbook (part of the Real Farmwives - and Friends - of America's in the Kitchen series) would be perfect for the leftover mashed potatoes from your big family Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners.

It's also another recipe with less than 5 ingredients...ONLY 3 ingredients. Score.

Start with mashed potatoes (4 oz. package of instant), prepared and cooled. Stir in a half cup of shredded cheese - I used Colby & Monterey Jack blend. Pour a half cup of bacon bits into a separate bowl.

I used my cookie scoop to measure and then roll out 1-1/2 inch balls of potatoes.

Then I rolled them in bacon bits. Yum, bacon!

Then I placed them on an ungreased cookie sheet (I covered mine in parchment paper because I HATE dishes) and bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes.

Before:

After:

Cheesy Potato Puffs
4-oz. pkg. instant mashed potatoes
1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. bacon bits

Prepare instant potatoes according to package directions; let cool. Stir in cheese; roll into 1-1/2 inch balls. Roll balls in bacon bits; arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes . Serves 4.


Like I said above, I think this is a GREAT option for those leftover mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving or Christmas. HOWEVER, I tried it with leftover mashed potatoes right out of the fridge (cold) and they were a bit sticky to handle and spread out while baking. So, I'm going to try again and let the potatoes sit out for a few minutes before handling. Stay tuned...
Check out what my fellow Real Farmwives and Friends are cooking up over at www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com 

  
Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Four Ingredients Equal Butter Cookies

I made these on Saturday.

They were Recipe #2 in my Real Farmwives of America and Friends in the Kitchen project with Gooseberry Patch. I'm cooking from Christmas Kitchen cookbook and when I've shared 10 recipes from it, I am giving away a copy right here on my blog! Woo Hoo.


 I've decided that I gravitate towards recipes with five or less ingredients! Fewer ingredients equal less chance of me making a mistake. These cookies only have 4 ingredients...yes, just 4.

I didn't take step-by-step photos because there were only a couple and all of the ingredients were white (well, the butter was light yellow) so photos wouldn't have been too exciting.

I actually halved the recipe because I only had two sticks of butter and didn't really want 4 dozen of these melt-in-your-mouth cookies sitting in my kitchen all weekend because I would be compelled to eat all of them.

Grandma's Butter Cookies
1 lb. butter, softened
1 c. cornstarch
1 c. powdered sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour

Blend all ingredients together (I sifted the dry ingredients before adding them to the butter); divide into 2 logs. Wrap in wax paper; refrigerate overnight. Slice logs into 1/2-inch thick; cut each slice into quarters (I overlooked this step...oops). Arrange on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Cool on paper towels. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

A couple of notes:

• I'm not sure how thick the "logs" are supposed to be. I like very specific instructions so this step stressed me out.
• I'm not sure how to judge the cookies "done." I left them in until they were lightly brown around the edges.
• I could eat an entire bowl of this cookie dough...I usually have a strict "no eating unbaked cookie dough" rule, but I'm a sucker for butter and powdered sugar...Divine.

Despite my concerns about the unknown, the cookies turned out to be delicious.

They truly are wonderful just as they are...butter cookies. However, I am a firm believer that chocolate makes EVERYTHING better, so I melted up some Ghirardelli  60% Cocoa chocolate chips...

...and dipped the cookies. Either way the cookies are winners in my book. Definitely going to add them to the list of "cookies to make at Christmas" and they are a great option for a "non-chocolate" cookie.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.

Quick Cheese Bread: Easy and Kid Approved

Doesn't that look good?

It tasted just as good and the best part was that it was super easy to make with 5 ingredients! Perfect for Sunday supper with the family.

Earlier this month I told you about an exciting new project over at Real Farmwives of America (RFOA)...





Real Farmwives and Friends (have to add in the friends because as you know I'm neither a wife or a farmer) is a collection of wonderful women - many I know in real life and some just through the wonderful world of blogging - who blog about their lives on and off the farm. I'm honored to be a part of the group.

Well, we decided to team up with Gooseberry Patch to feature their cookbooks on our blogs! I think there are about 20 of us who will be cooking out of DIFFERENT Gooseberry Patch cookbooks and then giving away a copy of the cookbook on our blogs.

If you want to help choose which cookbook other RFOA ladies cook from and give away, head over to Real Farmwives of America and vote!

This is the cookbook that voters chose for me...

It came in the mail this weekend and I jumped right into it and chose my first recipe...Quick Cheese Bread.

What I really liked about this recipe is that it only had 5 ingredients and they are all staples in my pantry and fridge.

Here's what it looked like before going into the oven.

Here's what it looked like after it was out of the oven.

I baked two loaves, the one on the left was in a silicone bread pan and the one on the right was in a metal bread pan. I think that explains the difference in color...well it might have been that I used cheddar cheese on the top of the first loaf and a colby/monterey jack combo on the second one. Who knows. They both tasted delicious.

I took them to my sister's house along with two dishes of baked ravioli to feed the masses on Sunday night. My two oldest nephews loved the bread and my 7-month-old niece enjoyed it too!

Here's the complete recipe:

Quick Cheese Bread
2 c. biscuit baking mix
1-1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 c. milk
2 T. butter, diced (I used my Fair Oaks garlic & parsley butter, yum.)

Combine baking mix and one cup cheese. Whisk eggs with milk and mix with dry ingredients; mix well. Turn batter out into a well greased 9"x5" loaf pan (I used lots of Pam). Dot with butter and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool completely. Makes one loaf.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. If you would like to see other great recipes, check out www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com.