Iced tea. Just right sweet. Smooooooth and full-bodied taste with absolutely no bitterness. Best served with the clink of ice cubes. Wheels has become the resident iced tea maker and all around expert. And this recipe is for THE best sweetened iced tea. Ever. And it is so easy to make! Wheels starts with a good brand of tea. Luzianne or Lipton are available almost everywhere. Stock up when they are on sale. His preference is the big one gallon tea bag from Lipton. Start with four cups of water in a microwave safe container and microwave for 90 seconds. Add the tea bags, pushing them into the hot water with a spoon so that they are covered. Steep -- let them set in the water -- for a few minutes to let the water draw out the flavor. Smaller tea bags will need ... [Read More]
American
Slow Cooker Sausage and Egg Casserole
Slow cooker Breakfast and Eggs Casserole is great for a crowd. And if you don't have a crowd, the leftovers for lunch the next day are great, too! I like to have casseroles for breakfast when we have guests. Usually we have some kind of activity planned and hearty breakfast keeps us going till lunch. This easy to make casserole fills the bill nicely. It is high in protein at 23 grams per serving for active people and just high enough in carbs at 18 grams to stick to the ribs. The eggs, well whisked, help keep this dish light. I use turkey sausage, but you can use your choice of sausage or even diced ham if you prefer. Precooked sausage crumbles speeds up preparation. In a time pinch, use frozen diced onions. The bell peppers add nutrition and color. Use any color. I had ... [Read More]
White Chocolate Nut Crunch
White Chocolate Nut Crunch is perfect for those last minute gifts. It's so quick and easy to make that anyone who knows how to use a microwave can make it in a flash. It's easy to package, in a box, a bag or a jar. It's a wonderful combination of flavors - a little salty, a little sweet and a whole lot yummy! The recipe below is pretty straightforward. It can also be customized. Change out the nuts. I used a package of combined sunflower seeds and pepitas, instead of just sunflower seeds. Then I added a half cup of whole walnuts -- just because. Add a cup of golden raisins instead of the dried cranberries -- or in addition to! I used white chocolate chips, but you can use white almond bark or white candy melts, if you prefer. I used coconut flakes off the shelf in the baking ... [Read More]
Dilly Green Bean Salad
Dilly Green Bean Salad is a refreshing alternative to the usual three bean salad that’s a favorite at our house. The deep green color of the cooked frozen bean contrasted with bits of white onion and red pepper are festive, appealing to the eye and the tastebuds! I first had Dilly Bean Salad when a friend brought it to a summer outdoor brunch served on our deck. The red and green also make it perfect for a Christmas meal. However, it’s delicious and colorful any time of year! When my friend Sue K gave me the recipe,she told me to use “extra green canned beans” and said they were located in a small section with the other beans. I did not find them while we were preparing to move because shopping time was limited. After the move, I didn’t find them in our new stores because ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
Butter Icing for 24 cupcakes
Fluffy butter icing for 24 cupcakes is not something I make often -- but when needed its invaluable. We love cake, whether layered, sheet, or cupcakes but they don't fly on our radar very often. The usual cake lasts way too long when the family is eating only 3 smallish pieces once a day. So when my niece put in a request for a couple dozen cupcakes as part of her agency's celebration of National Adoption Day, I was happy to oblige. I used a good cake mix but the frosting needed to be something special. Seven year old Short Stuff was here for the weekend and promptly volunteered to be the decorator. Keep in mind, my own experience with cake decorating was last "experienced" with this final decorating class and this frosting class from the same series of lessons. I knew I ... [Read More]
