Tag Archives: Karen’s Kitchen

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Maple Barbecue Ribs

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is MAPLE BARBECUE RIBS!!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any pork recipes. In keeping with my “no heating the kitchen” theme from last week, I chose these ribs because they can be done quickly on the grill.  It also has a flavor variation you might find appealing for another night.  Sweet or Tangy? You’ll have recipes for both. Make up a moist, flavorful potato salad.  Microwave some fresh peas, and you’re good to go!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 96 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAPLE BARBECUE RIBS
[Serves 6]

¼ cup maple sugar
1 T. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp. paprika
1½ tsp. dry mustard powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
4 racks (1½ lb. each) baby back pork ribs

To make marinade, place all ingredients except ribs in large bowl. Stir well to combine.  Place ribs in bowl in batches and rub marinade over surface to coat.  Cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight, in refrigerator.  Preheat broiler or grill to medium heat.  Place ribs under broiler or on grill, reserving marinade.  Cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 25-30 minutes.  Baste with any extra marinade during cooking.  Serve immediately.

NOTE:  For tangy ribs, replace Worcestershire sauce, mustard and spices with ½ tsp. five-spice powder and 2 tsp. grated ginger.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Grilled Shrimp Satay w/Ginger & Lime

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is GRILLED SHRIMP SATAY W/GINGER & LIME!! **Bonus Recipe: PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE

It’s summertime and the last thing many of us want to do is heat up the house. If you’re like us, you’re grilling as much as possible. This is a fun, fast, and FLAVORFUL recipe for the shrimp lovers out there. Make a green salad and butter some chewy French bread and you’ve got a filling family meal without even turning on a stove or oven.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 95 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GRILLED SHRIMP SATAY WITH GINGER & LIME
[Serves 4]

1 lime
3 T. olive oil
3 T. soy sauce
2 scallions, white & green parts, chopped
1 ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger
20 lg. shrimp (@ 1 ½ lbs.), peeled, deveined
Flavorless vegetable oil spray
4 wooden skewers, 8-10 inches long
Peanut Dipping Sauce (Bonus recipe below)

Grate zest from the lime and reserve ¾ teaspoon.  Juice the lime.  In shallow glass, ceramic, or other nonreactive dish, combined lime zest and juice, olive oil, soy sauce, scallions and ginger and mix well.  Add shrimp, turn to coat and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.  Prepare a charcoal or gas grill so that coals or heating elements are medium-hot.  Off the heat, lightly spray grate with vegetable oil spray.  Soak the wooden skewers in cold water until ready to use.  Remove the shrimp from marinade and discard marinade.  Thread 5 shrimp onto each skewer and grill for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and just cooked through.  Serve immediately with Peanut Dipping Sauce (see below).

PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE
[Makes ½ cup]

 2 tsp. canola oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
½ cup hoisin sauce
3 T. chunky peanut butter
½ cup water
Juice of 2 limes

In a small sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering.  Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, or until lightly golden brown.  Add pepper flakes and sauté for a few seconds.  Stir in hoisin sauce, peanut butter and water, and reduce the heat to medium-low so the sauce simmers gently.  Add lime juice and simmer, stirring, for 3-4 minutes to allow flavors to blend.  Let sauce cool to room temperature.  Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week in a lidded container.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Unbaked Peanut Butter Cookies

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is UNBAKED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES!!

It’s summertime and the last thing many of us want to do is turn on the oven to bake cookies.  However, that doesn’t mean we have to do without homemade cookies for the next three months.  Many of you might recognize this old-fashioned recipe.  I know it was a family favorite when I was growing up.  They’re flavorful — I really like peanut butter — and quick to make…without heating up the house!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 94 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UNBAKED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups Special K cereal

Bring to rolling boil, sugar and syrup.  Turn off heat.  Add peanut butter, vanilla.  Mix.  Add Special K and stir and drop by teaspoon on greased waxed paper.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is SLOW COOKER COQ AU VIN!!

This is one of my favorite chicken dishes, even if I don’t allow myself to make it often.  Since I’m a big bacon fan, I usually use more than the required amount but that’s just me. It’s just too easy to pig out!  Pun intended.  🙂

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 93 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SLOW COOKER COQ AU VIN
[Serves 4]

3 slices bacon, cut in ¾ inch pieces
1 pkg. (10 oz.) mushrooms, cut in half
2 cups frozen pearl onions
1 chicken, 3½-4 lb. cut up and skinned
1 onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup dry red wine
2 T. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
¾ cup chicken broth
Salt & Pepper

In non-stick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until brown.  Drain bacon on paper towel.  Meanwhile, in 5-6 quart slow cooker, combine mushrooms and frozen pearl onions; set aside.  Sprinkle chicken pieces with ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.  In skillet with bacon fat, cook chicken (in 2 batches if necessary) over med-high heat until browned, about 10 minutes. Place chicken over vegetables in slow cooker.  Discard drippings from skillet.  Reduce heat to medium; add onion and carrot and cook 2 minutes or until onion softens, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.  Add wine, tomato paste, and bay leaf; heat to boiling stirring to dissolve tomato paste.  Pour wine mixture and broth over chicken pieces.  Cover slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours or on high 4 hours.  To serve, discard bay leaf.  Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Bierox

2 Comments

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is BIEROX!!

Bierox is a German version of a hamburger.  My best friend shared this recipe with me because she knows I make my own homemade sauerkraut and love to find new recipes that uses it. I’m so glad I found this one to share because I haven’t made it since she first introduced me to them, and that just won’t do! Guess what I’m making sometime soon? 🙂

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 92 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BIEROX
[Serves LOTS]

 Filling:

Brown 1 ½ lb. ground beef.

Add 16 oz. sauerkraut, 1 pkg. onion soup mix, salt & cayenne pepper to taste.

Make your favorite soft dough/roll recipe with 1 pkg. yeast. Let rise until double or refrigerate up to 24 hours to rise.  Then, divide into 4 parts to work.  Roll each part to ¼-inch thickness and cut into 4” squares.  Place 2 heaping tablespoons filling on each square and pinch corners together to seal.  (Or cut dough into circles and fold to half circles.)  Let rise another 15-20 minutes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes on greased sheet.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Two-Tone Fudge

1 Comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers. So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is TWO-TONE FUDGE!!

This is a fun recipe and an impressive gift for the holidays or that special occasion or just for the fun of it! I love the two flavors blended together.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating! Karen P.S. We’re at 91 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWO-TONE FUDGE

1/2 cup softened butter (+ 1-1/2 Tbl. to grease pan)
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar 1 cup evaporated milk
½ cup walnuts 1 jar marshmallow
1 tsp. vanilla 1 pkg. (6 oz.) butterscotch chips
1 pkg. (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

Combine brown sugar, sugar, milk, and butter in pan.  Bring to full boil, over medium heat.  Stirring.  Boil 10 minutes over moderate heat.  Remove from heat.  Add marshmallow and vanilla.  Stir until smooth.  To 2 cups of hot mixture, add butterscotch and ½ of the walnuts.  Stir until smooth.  Pour into greased pan.  To remaining mixture, add chocolate pieces and the rest of the walnuts.  Stir until smooth.  Pour over butterscotch.  Chill.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Tangy Grilled Kabobs

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is TANGY GRILLED KABOBS!!

There are a lot of different ways you can make kabobs. This version is simple, easy and tangy. Serve with a salad or rice and you’ve got a good meal. If you’re like me and like your marinades stronger, simply leave everything in the marinade longer than suggested.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 90 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TANGY GRILLED KABOBS
[Serves 6]

1 ½ lb. boneless beef sirloin steak or boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1½-inch pieces
Assorted cut-up fresh vegetables (peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, etc.)

Prepare marinade of 1 cup MIRACLE WHIP Salad Dressing, 1 pkg. Italian Dressing Mix, 2 T. vinegar, and 2 T. water.  Arrange meat and vegetables on skewers. Marinate at least ½ hour.  Grill over medium-high coals 10-15 minutes to desired doneness, turning once and brushing with additional marinade.

NOTE: Can also be broiled in your oven if you can’t grill the kabobs.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Soft Pretzels

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is SOFT PRETZELS!!

I’m originally from the east coast and have many fond memories of buying soft pretzels on the street corner in Philly when we went into the city with our grandparents.  I have to admit that I was kind of disappointed when I went back to visit when I was sixteen and I realized they no longer made them from scratch but used frozen instead.  So, when I found this recipe, I was thrilled. It’s as close to my memories as I could find! Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 89 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOFT PRETZELS
[Makes 16]

4 to 4-1/2 cups flour
1 pkg. Yeast
1-1/2 cups milk
¼ cup sugar
2 T. cooking oil
1-1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. salt
2 qt. Boiling water
1 slightly beaten egg white
Coarse salt

In bowl, combine 2 cups flour and yeast.  In pan, heat milk, sugar, oil and 1-1/2 tsp. salt.  Add to flour mix.  Beat low speed for ½ minute.  Beat 3 minutes at high speed.  Stir in rest of flour.  Knead enough extra flour until stiff.  Shape into ball.  Place in greased bowl.  Rise until double.  Punch down and cover 10 minutes.  Roll into rectangle, then into ropes.  Let rise 20 minutes after making pretzels.  Dissolve salt into water.  Boil pretzels 2 minutes, turning once.  Towel dry.  Place on well-greased pan. Brush with egg white and 1 T. water.  Salt.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven, 25-30 minutes.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Homemade Pesto

Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is HOMEMADE PESTO!!

Pesto can be made a lot of different ways and everyone has their favorite. This one is easy to make and flavorful.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 87 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOMEMADE PESTO

4 cups fresh spinach
1 cup fresh parsley
¼ cup fresh basil
1 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup walnuts
1 cup asiago, romano or parmesan cheese (fresh grated preferable)
1 tsp. salt & pepper
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar (optional)
1 tsp. of lemon juice (optional)

Mix everything but the oil in a food processor.  Continue blending, slowly adding the oil.   Add ¼ cup balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. of lemon juice for flavor if you really want (It’s not for everyone).

Chill overnight, serve on chicken or pasta. Recommend using fresh spinach or tomato/basil noodles but that’s optional.  Even fabulous as a dip with toasted bread!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Double Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownies

2 Comments

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE BROWNIES!!

I love brownies, love chocolate. Add DOUBLE chocolate to brownies and I’m going to hit the kitchen cupboards running for ingredients. This is a great recipe for the special occasion, too.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 85 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE BROWNIES
[Makes 15 – 174 calorie brownies]

¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large egg whites
1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. salt
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 large egg

Place strainer over deep bowl.  Spoon applesauce into strainer and set aside to drain for 15 minutes (you should have about ½ cup drained applesauce).  Discard liquid in the bowl.  Preheat oVen to 350 degrees.  Coat nonstick 11 x 7-inch baking dish with butter-flavored nonstick spray.  Set aside.  In medium bowl, combined flour, cocoa and salt.  In large bowl, beat egg and egg whites until frothy.  Add sugar, drained applesauce, and vanilla.  Stir until sugar dissolves.  Add flour mixture and chocolate morsels.  Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake 30 minutes.  Cool in the pan on a rack