Tag Archives: Karen’s Kitchen

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Funnel Cake

January 20, 2012 Karen Docter 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 FUNNEL CAKE.

I have a guilty secret. As many times as I went to the carnival growing up, I never tried a funnel cake. Thankfully, one of my daughters took pity on her poor, deprived mother and bought me one at a county fair. Every time I see one now my mouth waters. Since I don’t attend fairs often, I was delighted to find this recipe. A fun, fast treat your family will love!

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 21 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, etc.

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FUNNEL CAKE
[Makes 6 cakes]

1 large egg 1 T. baking powder

¾ cup milk 1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup unsifted flour Powdered sugar

In heavy, wide saucepan, heat 1½ to 2 inches salad oil to 360 degrees. In medium bowl, beat egg with milk; stir in flour, baking powder, ¼ tsp. salt and cinnamon. Mix until smooth. Holding finger under funnel with a 1/3-inch wide opening, pour ¼ cup batter into funnel. Starting in center of skillet, drop batter into hot oil; move funnel in circle to make snail-like coil of rings, each about 6-inches in diameter. Fry cake, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes each side. Place on paper towel lined wire rack in warm oven while frying remaining cake. If batter thickens, add more milk. Sprinkle powdered sugar over cakes before serving.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Sichuan Chicken

January 6, 2012 Karen Docter 4 Comments

I love Oriental foods, the fresh flavors and intriguing textures. This recipe for Sichuan Chicken is incredibly quick and easy to make, not to mention delicious! A great last minute meal when you’ve come home tired and hungry.

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 19 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, etc.

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SICHUAN CHICKEN
[Serves 4]

¼ cup soy sauce
¼ to ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup white wine
Worcestershire Sauce to taste
1 T. cornstarch
½ lb. asparagus spears, pierced
1 tsp. sugar
½ tsp. ginger
1 lb. boneless chicken, cubed
½ cup cashews
Cooked white rice (or brown rice, if preferred)

In bowl, combined ½ cup water, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, cornstarch, sugar, ginger & chicken. Marinate at least 15 minutes.

In wok, over medium-high, heat 2 T. salad oil. Add red pepper flakes; stir-fry until black. With slotted spoon, drain chicken reserving the marinade. Place chicken in wok and stir-fry 2 minutes.

Add reserve marinade; over medium-low heat, cook, covered, 2 minutes or until tender. Add asparagus; stir-fry 1 minute. Stir in cashews. Serve over cooked rice.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Gingerbread Cookies

December 23, 2011 Karen Docter 4 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.

Yeah, I know Christmas is only 2 days away but the holidays aren’t complete without gingerbread cookies. And there’s still time to have your…cookie, and eat it too. So pull out those favorite cookie cutters and fill the house with the best scent of the holiday season!

***Before you skim down to today’s recipe, a brief announcement.***

Next Friday, I’m launching a bonus blog feature called “Killer Fixin’s Author Highlights”. What this means is that on occasion one of my author friends will be dropping in to share a personal recipe with us. On these days you’ll get two complete recipes and the opportunity to connect with a new or favorite author. **These won’t be regularly scheduled visits so feel free to subscribe and have all of my blogs, including Friday’s Killer Fixin’s recipes, appear automatically to your email Inbox.

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 17 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, etc.

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GINGERBREAD COOKIES

1/3 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 ½ cup dark molasses
2/3 cup water
7 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves (optional)
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and brown sugar, Stir in molasses. Add water slowly. Measure flour into sifter along with other dry ingredients and sift together in separate bowl to blend well. Add to molasses mixture and mix slowly. Chill about 1-1/2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thick and cut with floured cookie cutters. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet, 10-12 minutes. Cool and, if desired, decorate with icing, nuts, candies, etc.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Sweet & Sour Meatballs

December 16, 2011 Karen Docter 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.

In this busy holiday season, we often just don’t have time to make a satisfying meal for our families. Not only is this a delicious and satisfying meal, it’s quick and easy to fix. Need something to take to that holiday office party or family potluck? No need to
fix rice. Just bring the meatball dish and a small bowl of decorative toothpicks for guests to “pick” them up as hot appetizers.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 16 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS

1 lb. hamburger
½ cup dried bread crumbs
¼ cup milk
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 egg
½ tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
¾ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix well. Make into 1½-inch balls. Arrange in baking dish in single layer. Cover loosely. Microwave on high, 3 minutes. Stir up. Cover and cook another 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Stand 3 minutes. Drain.

Sauce: ½ cup packed brown sugar, 1 T. cornstarch, 1 can (13-1/2 oz) pineapple chunks, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 1 T. soy sauce, 1 small green pepper in ½-inch pieces.

Mix sugar and cornstarch in 2 qt. casserole. Stir in pineapple chunks with syrup, vinegar and soy sauce. Microwave uncovered 2
minutes on high. Stir. Microwave until mixture thickens. Boil 3-4 minutes.

Add meatballs and green pepper. Cover lightly and microwave on high 3-4 minutes. Serve over rice.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Rum Cake

December 9, 2011 Karen Docter 2 Comments

In honor of the season, here’s another favorite holiday recipe. This is NOT your Aunt Mae’s ten pound fruitcake. Similar in texture to pound cake, it’s infused with enough rum to make a party. (Just be careful not to overeat and drive. You’re not using fake rum! 🙂 ) This truly is scrumptious.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 15 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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RUM CAKE
[Makes 1 Bundt cake]

1 pkg. yellow cake mix with pudding
¼ cup water
¾ cup rum
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Grease and flour tube or Bundt cake pan. Mix dry cake mix, water, rum, eggs and vegetable oil until blended. Pour in pan. Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour. Take out of pan and let cool for 1 hour. Put back in pan, poke a few ¼-inch holes in cake and pour glaze on cake.

Glaze:

¼ lb. butter
1/8 cup water
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup rum

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in rum. Pour rum mixture over cake and let soak in. Cover and store in refrigerator.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Puppy Chow

December 2, 2011 Karen Docter 2 Comments

Despite its name, this snack is NOT for the dogs! <g> As we approach the holiday season, it’s always nice to have a supply of snacks on hand for when those last minute holiday guests stop in for some eggnog. This is a great sweet snack and easy to make. Just be sure to make at least two batches because it will disappear faster than you can say, “The dog’s just snatched the turkey off the table!”

All kidding aside, just a friendly reminder: Keep your dogs and cats healthy this holiday season. Don’t allow them access to chocolates and nuts and other
goodies we all love because many of these flavors, like chocolate, are toxic to our pets!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 14 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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PUPPY CHOW
[9 cups]

9 cups Chex [any variety]
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup butter or margarine (do not use spread or tub products, only sticks)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Measure cereal in a large bowl; set aside. Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine in 1 qt. microwaveable bowl on High, 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal in bowl, stirring until evenly coated. Put into large zipper storage bag. Add powdered sugar and gently shake until cereal is coated. Spread over waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Parmesan Cheese Onion Bread

November 25, 2011 Karen Docter 2 Comments

There’s nothing more satisfying than the aroma and taste of freshly made bread! I love onion bread. Add parmesan cheese and I’m in heaven. This is wonderful served hot and buttery alongside a bowl of rich and hearty soup…or spaghetti…or, hmmm, there’s little this bread won’t enhance.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 13 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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PARMESAN CHEESE ONION BREAD
[Makes 2 loaves]

1 pkg. yeast
¼ cup warm water
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 cups water
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 T. parmesan cheese
2 T. shortening
6 to 6 ½ cups flour
cornmeal
7 egg whites with 1 tsp. water

Soften yeast in ¼ cup warm water. Combine soup mix and 2 cups water in covered saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar, salt, Parmesan cheese and
shortening. Stir well. Cool to lukewarm. Stir in 2 cups flour and beat. Stir in yeast mixture. Add enough flour to make stiff dough. Knead until smooth. Place in lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise about 1½ hours. Punch down. Divide in half. Cover and let rise 10 minutes. Shape into 2 loaves. Place on greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Gash tops diagonally. Cover and let rise about 1 hour. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Brush with egg white. Bake 10-15 minutes more until lightly brown. Let sit on rack until cooled for easier slicing.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Cheddar Cheese & Broccoli Soup

November 18, 2011 Karen Docter 2 Comments

We make a lot of soup in our house. It’s warm and satisfying, something to look forward to when it’s especially cold and nasty outside. I have a few family favorites I throw together in a crock pot and I’ll share some of those in the weeks and months to come. However, I’m not always so on the ball (can you imagine?!) and have to wing it on occasion at the last minute. This is a family favorite I can pull together fairly quickly.

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 12 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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CHEDDAR CHEESE & BROCCOLI SOUP
[Serves 4]

4 T. butter or margarine
3 medium carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
1 onion, diced
3 T. flour
1-½ cups chicken stock
2 small bags frozen broccoli, bite sized pieces
8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, grated
2-3 cups milk [depends on preferred thickness]
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt to taste

Heat butter in large saucepan. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté about 5 minutes, or until softened. Add flour; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until flour is incorporated into the butter, about 1 minute [makes roué]. Stirring constantly, gradually add stock and then the broccoli. Bring stock to boil and simmer until broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in grated cheese, cook over low heat until melted. Stir gently so it doesn’t burn at the bottom of the pan. Do not allow to come to a boil again. Stir in milk, warm the soup over low heat. Season with cayenne pepper and 1 tsp. salt or to taste. Sprinkle each portion with more diced cheese and serve immediately. Serve with hot bread or rolls or breadsticks.

Hints: I’ve been known to add cooked chicken chunks to this recipe, too, because we’re a meat-and-potato kind of family. This basic soup can be adjusted into a number of different soups, broccoli, cauliflower, potato, potato and corn. You can use cooked brats with the potato, and potato and corn, versions. Creativity knows no bounds with this one. One last hint, save/freeze all of your leftover gravies and mashed potatoes and such and throw it into this for an “icebox” soup that utilizes your leftovers.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Cabbage Rolls

November 11, 2011 Karen Docter 3 Comments

I love cabbage rolls, especially during the blustery months! This recipe is fairly simple and easy to make. It will take some serious cooking time though to tenderize the cabbage and marry the flavors, so save this one for a wintry day when you can throw it into the oven in the early afternoon. Once it’s in the oven you can just sit back and read a book or play games with the family while the aromas drive you absolutely nuts until you can break out the knives and forks at dinnertime. 🙂

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 11 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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CABBAGE ROLLS
[Serves 4-5]

1 lb. ground beef
3 T. uncooked rice
1 grated onion
½ cup water
½ tsp. salt
12 large cabbage leaves
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
4 T. vinegar
6 T. sugar

Combine meat, uncooked rice, onion, water, salt and pepper (to taste). Set aside. Boil cabbage leaves until tender. Drain. Divide meat into 12 equal parts. Roll one meat portion in cabbage leaf. (Two cabbage leaves if small, just so it’s wrapped all around.) Place seam side down in baking dish. Combine tomato sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Pour over cabbage rolls. Bake, covered with tin foil, at 325 degrees for 3 hours. Baste rolls with sauce.

[Lightly spray dish with pan coating for easier cleanup.]
[[Serve with hot rolls, French or Italian bread]]

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: World’s Best Sugar Cookies

November 4, 2011 Karen Docter 4 Comments

I had half a dozen variations of the sugar cookie recipe and threw them all out when I found this one. Yeah, lots of butter and oil but these are the most sinful, melt-in-your-mouth cookies. The recipe makes a LOT. Although, if you fall in love with these as much as I did, you might want to bake two batches!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 10 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday. Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox. If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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WORLD’S BEST SUGAR COOKIES
[Makes LOTS]

Cream together:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup margarine

Add:

1 cup oil
1 tsp. baking soda
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
5 cups flour

Lightly spray cookie sheet with pan coating. Roll into small balls; dip bottom of glass into sugar granules (colored sugars can be used) and press out dough. Bake at 350 degrees, 10-12 minutes. (NOTE: Can also use nuts or coconut instead of sugar.)

Karen's Book Bench