Grandpa's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grandpa Andrus made these often, and they are still my favorite basic chocolate chip cookie recipe.

2 cups shortening (I substitute 1 cup coconut oil and 1 cup butter)
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
12 ounces (2 cups) chocolate chips

Mix shortening and sugars together until well combined.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients and finally the chocolate chips.  Compact with hands if a little crumbly.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Rocky Road

12 ounces (2 cups) butterscotch chips
12 ounces (2 cups) chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup peanuts (salted or unsalted)

Melt chips and peanut butter in a large pan over very low heat (too hot will melt the marshmallows).  Remove from heat and add marshmallows and peanuts.  (I pulse the peanuts in the food processor a few times first.)  Pour into a buttered 9x13 pan.  Chill to set.  Cut into small squares and serve.
*This is a lot like fudge, so it's temperamental.  Don't take it to a potluck because it will melt.  It's best stored in the refrigerator.

Mexican Quinoa Bowls

Recipe from kitchensimplicity.com.

Serves 4-6.

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed well and drained
1 1/4 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 cup corn
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime, quartered
To serve: salsa, sour cream shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and guacamole

Add a small bit of oil to a medium-sized pot set over medium heat. Add garlic and jalapeños; cook just until fragrant (about a minute). Add quinoa, broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, and salt. Bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 25 minutes, or until quinoa is cooked and liquid is absorbed. 

Remove from heat; stir in cilantro and lime juice. Spoon into bowls and serve with desired toppings.

Anna's Impossible Quiche

Passed down from Dad's oldest sister, his isn't your typical quiche (just as she's not your typical aunt). The recipe doesn't have a crust, but includes Bisquick in with the eggs and milk instead. It's the only quiche I'd eaten until I moved out of the house, and is still my very favorite.

3 eggs

1 ½ cup milk

1 ½ cup Bisquick

¼ teaspoon salt

Dash pepper

½ cup melted butter

½ cup diced ham or crisp bacon pieces

1 ½ - 2 cups grated cheese

Mushrooms

Chopped onion (yellow or green)

Chopped green pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat eggs, milk, Bisquick, salt, pepper, and butter with electric mixer. Pour into a greased 9”-10” pie pan. Sprinkle remaining ingredients over the top of the egg mixtures, then press into mixture.

Bake 30-35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Corny Chocolate Crunch

(Makes 5 quarts)

3 quarts popped popcorn (12 cups)

3 cups corn chex

3 cups broken corn chips (Fritos)

1 pkg butterscotch chips

¾ pound dark chocolate coating (I use chocolate chips)

Combine popcorn, cereal and corn chips; set aside.  In a saucepan over med-low heat, melt butterscotch chips and chocolate; stir until smooth.  Pour over popcorn mixture and toss to coat.  Spread into 2 greased 15 x 10 in baking sheets.  When cool enough to handle break into pieces.

Tomato and Bacon Spaghetti (Pasta All'Amatriciana)

from America's Test Kitchen

serves 8-10

Ingredients:
1/2 pound sliced bacon (or salt pork), cut into ~1/2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup red wine
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
16 ounces spaghetti
1/4 pound Pecorino Romano, shredded

Cook bacon on medium high heat with about 1/4 cup water in a skillet. The water will evaporate over time, but keep the pork moist. Keep cooking until bacon is crisp and most of the fat is rendered (about 5 minutes). Pull out pork with slotted spoon and set fat aside to cool.

Add tomato paste, wine, and red pepper flakes back to the skillet and cook for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes with juice. Simmer for 12-16 minutes.

Bring water for pasta to boil. Season with 1 tablespoon salt. Cook pasta until al dente (follow package instructions, but about 10 minutes). Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain.

In a small mixing bowl, drizzle 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon fat over the shredded cheese and toss (this will help prevent clumping).

Combine spaghetti, crisp bacon, sauce, cheese, and about 1/3 cup pasta water (depends on how tight the sauce is). Top with a little more Pecorino Romano.

Teriyaki Steak

2 to 4 1/2 pounds top round steak, cut 1/8 inch thick
paprika
ginger
nutmeg
brown sugar
20-ounce bottle Teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
onion powder

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with paprika.  Sprinkle 1/2 to 2/3 as much ginger and nutmeg.  Lay steak evenly across the spices.  Cover with lots of brown sugar.  Pour Teriyaki sauce over meat.  Mix soy sauce, water and onion powder and pour over Teriyaki sauce.  Marinate overnight.


Grill on medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. 


[This is a secret recipe from Uncle Rick.  Don't ask him for more accurate measurements because Mom was not supposed to pass it on.]

Kalua Pork

6 pound pork shoulder (also called pork butt)
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon table salt)

If your pork shoulder is significantly smaller or larger than 6 pounds, adjust the amounts of liquid smoke and salt accordingly.


Rub the liquid smoke and salt into the pork and cook on low in a crock pot for 16-18 hours. I start it the night before and it's ready for a midday to evening meal. An hour or so before serving, take out any bones and shred the pork and put it back in its juices. The meat will soak in most of its juice. You could also do it in the oven on a low temperature - maybe 225-250 degrees for the same amount of time. If it cooks too long, it will still taste good, but will be a little 'mushier'.


One note of caution: The first time that I did this was for Riley's 1st birthday and we woke up in the middle of the night because the smell was so strong, and rather unpleasant. When we found out it was the pork, the smell didn't seem as bad, but I now I cook it in the garage. 


Serve in tacos, on buns with barbecue sauce, etc. Leftovers freeze and reheat well.