Christmas English Toffee

2 cubes butter
2 cubes margarine (I usually use all butter but this works fine)
2 cups sugar
6 T water

Mix in heavy bottomed pan and turn on high heat. Stir continuously until it starts to look scorched. Take a jar of creamy peanut butter and set it by the pan and when the mixture is that color, it is perfect! Remove from heat and pour into buttered (not pam) cookie sheet.

1 cups chopped nuts
1 pkg. milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet if you like

Can add 1 cup of broken nuts at this point before you pour, if desired. Spread evenly in pan, sprinkle with chocolate chips, wait a few minutes, and spread. Then sprinkle with chopped nuts. I always use pecans as they are my favorite. Almonds are the traditonal of almond roca. When cool, break into pieces. Yummy! If you are really ambitious, line the pan with foil and when it is cool, turn it out onto a tray and spread with melted chocolate and sprinkle with nuts so both sides are covered and then break into pieces. In the US this works better as it is cold and the chocolate doesn't melt like it does down here at Christmas!

Chili Cheese Quiche

Melt one cube butter or margarine in a 9x13" pan, cool and pour around to coat pan.

In a large bowl, beat 10 eggs and add:
The cooled margarine or butter
1/2 cup flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
Big dash of pepper


Fold in:
1 lb. cottage cheese (1 small carton in Peru)
1 lb. grated pepperjack, or other cheese
1 can (3 oz.) diced chilies (don't necessarily need with pepperjack cheese)

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 min. Turn oven to 350 degrees and bake 30-40 minutes longer or until toothpick comes out clean. I find that in Peru my cooking times are much shorter than in the US. I do 10 mins. at 400 and then 20 mins at 350 and check it. Enjoy!

Pecan Raisin Oatmeal Muffins

Mix together in a large bowl:

1 C rolled oats
1 C flour
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 t each salt, cinnamon & baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/4 C broken pecans or more
2/3 C raisins and chopped dates or just all raisins

Mix in a smaller bowl:
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 C buttermilk (I add 2 t vinegar to fresh milk to make sour milk)
1/2 t. vanilla
1 egg, beaten

Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork just until moist--about 10 seconds. Scoop or pour into well greased or paper-lined muffin tin. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove and cool, or eat HOT I say! Makes 12-15

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cooked (boil them in water about 20 minutes or
bake 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or use leftovers

Chop or shred chicken breasts in bite-sized pieces in a medium sized bowl and add:

3-4 ribs of celery, diced
2-4 onions china (green), finely sliced
1/4 cup chopped pecans (not too finely)
1/4 cup craisins and/or golden raisins, if from Peru cut the raisins in half

Stir together and add enough mayonaise and a little lime juice, salt and pepper to the desired moistness. You can also thin it with a little milk.
I add more or less of these basic ingredients according to what I have or feel like and sometimes add a little curry powder to taste for a zestier flavor.

Serve on fresh croissants. Also good on crackers for a snack or appetizer.

Chicken Rice Casserole

Brown together until sausage is well done:
1/2 K. chorizo (sausage links), skin removed and crumbled
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. green pepper, chopped

Add:
1 c. celery, chopped
5 c. chicken broth (use the broth from boiling the chicken, then add boullion and water to finish)
1/2 K. chicken, cooked and chunked
3 pkgs. crema de pollo sopa with 20 oz. water, cooked to a condensada consistency
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. sliced almonds
2 c. uncooked rice
salt, pepper, thyme

Combine all ingredients, pour into two greased casseroles, and bake at 275* for 2 1/2 hours covered. Uncover the last 1/2 hour to brown lightly. Enjoy! Serves 20
This can be put in smaller dishes, baked and frozen.

Cinnamon Rolls

2 1/2 c. warm water
2 Tbsp. yeast
Dissolve and add:

1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs
7-9 c. flour, sin preparada (It is more humid here and I need a bit more flour to get the consistency that is workable in Lima.)

Mix and store in frig overnight to make it easier to handle. Roll out, brush with melted butter, brown sugar (azucar rubio mixed with molasses), cinnamon, nuts or raisens. Roll up, cut, and rise for 1 1/2 hours in a warm place. Bake at 350 * for 12-15 minutes. Brush with powdered sugar, melted margerine, vanilla, and water glaze while warm. Enjoy!

These are a big hit with our missionaries! They hang around hoping for seconds. You can double the recipe, but use only 3 Tbsp. of yeast to do so.

Angel Food Cake

1 c. flour, sin preparada
1/2 c. sugar
Mix in a bowl and set aside.

1 1/2 c. egg whites (12 eggs)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar (available in downtown Lima at the confectionary shops)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sugar
Beat egg whites with the salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla until foamy. Add 1 cup of sugar in small portions until the eggs whites hold a stiff peak. Gently fold in the flour mixture using a spatula in 4 parts. Spoon into a tube pan that has been sprayed or greased. Circle twice with a knife to break any air pockets. Bake at 350 * for 1 hour. Cool upside down for an additional hour, then remove. Enjoy!

CREAMY POTATO SOUP

6 c. chicken broth (water and boul cubes)
1 lg. chopped onion
4 c. sliced potatoes
2 t. dill weed
2 t. basil
1 cube butter
8 T. flour
2 t. salt (leave out if not needed)
few dashes white pepper
4 c. milk
In saucepan combine broth, onions, potatoes, dill weed, and basil. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered 10 mins. (till potatoes are soft - mash with masher)
In a saucepan melt buter, blend flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
Add to potato puree. Stir and blend until thick and creamy.

BEEF BURRITOS LIMA STYLE

3 chunks beef (or more if you need it) I get Guiso Especial at Tottus. They have very good meat
2 c.beef boul.
1 lg. onion chopped
1/2 t. chili powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. cumin (If you like cumin)
T. red chili sauce (Wong) or salsa, or red chili flakes
Add enough additional water to cover. Cover with foil and cook in oven for about three hours.
Shread meat and thicken with cornstarch/water. Serve on flour tortillas with conduments.

Spanish Rice

1 T. oil
1 c. white rice
4 oz. salsa
2 c. cold water
2 c. chicken broth
Coat pan with oil, saute rice until nice and hot, add water and salsa and boullion. Bring to boil, stir ocassionally. Lower heat and simmer for about 25 mins.

Chewy Brownies

2 c. sugar
2/3 c. cocoa
1 t. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
2/3 c. oil
1 t. vanilla
4 eggs
1 c nuts and chips if available
Bake 350 degrees for 30 mins. about

Quinoa Soup

4 chopped plum tomatos
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup quinoa
1 med. yellow onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. curry powder
2 T. minced fresh tarragon (1T. dry estaragon in Lima)
1/2 t. red chili pepper flakes
salt and pepper
olive oil
Saute garlic in olive oil for 5 mins. add the onions and saute until wilted. Add diced tomatoe and red chili pepper flakes. Saute for 2 mins. and add quinoa. Saute for another 5 mins. and add chicken broth. Stir in curry powder and bring to boil for five minutes. Lower heat and simmer and add tarragon. Simmer for a few more minutes and serve.

Kay Cordon

LIMA CHILI BEANS

1 lb. hamburger (about)
1 cup each red and yellow beans
5 T. chili powder
2 t. cumin
4 garlic buds
1 t. powdered garlic
sprinkle Aji Ponca on top

Cook for at least 4 hours. Add meat, salt and correct seasonings
add: 1 pouch tomato sauce and 1 pouch tomato paste
2 glugs ketchup
2 t. salt

Kay Cordon


NOT STUFFED BELL PEPERS
1 lb. or so hamburger and onion - brown

add: Salsa Bolognesa package by Knorr and 1.5 c. water
simmer and add bell pepper chopped and simmer until peppers are done enough for you.

Kay Cordon



PUDDING CHOCOLATE CAKE
1 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
2 T. cocoa
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
2 T. oil
1 t. van.
3/4 c. nuts
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
1 3/4 c.hot water
Combine all but last 4 ingred. put in 8 inch pan sprinkle with cocoa, brown sugar and nuts and then pour hot water over top.
Bake 350 degrees (you hope) for about 45 mins.

Kay Cordon

Sweet and Sour Hamburger

This is a favorite of half my family! We traditionally serve it with peas over the top or on the side but usually on top for some reason--it is pretty that way! The original recipe called for hamburger patties, but we prefer it with browned hamburger.


1 lb. carne molida (hamburger to us)
2 cups catsup or ketchup
5 T. sugar
3-4 T. vinegar*
5 T. Worchestershire Sauce (they have Lea & Perrins here)
1/3 to 1/2 cup water
4 cups prepared white rice
peas (optional) I use frozen peas as they are the prettiest!

Brown the hamburger and drain. In a bowl or large measuring cup, mix the next 5 ingredients stirring to combine. Pour over the meat and simmer for 15 minutes or to the consistency you like. Serve over the rice and sprinkle with peas if desired.

As is, it should be a nice gravy consistency sauce. If you cook it longer, it will get thick and can be used like sloppy Joe's.

*Check your vinegar. Sometimes it is very strong and will overpower the rest, sometimes weak and needs more added.

It makes about 6 servings.

Rich Fake Cheesecake or Refrigerate Cheesecake

This is so quick and easy and so yummy! If you times it by 2 or 3 it will fill a 9"x13" pan and serve 20 or more. One cheesecake can be cut into 6 or 8 slices depending on how much richness you can take!

1 pkg. graham crackers or 12 integral crackers con miel, crushed in a ziplock bag or blended fine, OR Chocolate OR Orange Tentacion cookies OR Oreos
4 T butter or margarine

Melt butter in a bowl in the microwave, add the crumbs and stir to combine. Line a small 7" or 8" pie plate (like Marie Calendar's size) with the crumbs on bottom and up the sides. Refrigerate.

1 8 oz.pkg. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 can sweetened, condensed milk
1/3 cup of lemon or limon juice

Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the milk, blending until smooth and then the lemon or limon juice. Combine well, pour into the crumb crust and refrigerate several hours. Serve as is or with fruit topping such as pie filling, strawberry jam thinned with a little water or fresh fruit of your choice.

Once I used an orange cookie, crushed, for the crust--yummy and the next time I used a mixture of chocolate cookies and oreos, crushed, for the crust and poured melted caramels, squares or dots, thinned with 2 T water), sprinkled with broken pecans, and then about 4-6 oz. melted chocolate drizzled (through a tiny cut-out corner of a baggie)over that and refrigerated for 4 hours. Wonderful Turtle Cheesecake!

LaMadeleine's Tomato Basil Soup

LaMadeleine's is a great bistro chain in Texas. The recipe was printed in the newspaper a few years ago.

4 cups (8-10) tomatoes, cored, opeeled, and cut into 8-12 chunks
OR 4 cups canned whole tomatoes, crushed
4 cups tomato juice or part vegetable or chicken broth
12-14 washed fresh basil leaves
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 pound butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine tomatoes, juice or stock in saucepan. Simmer 20 minutes. In blender or food processor, puree mixture with basil leaves added in small batches. Return to saucepan. Over low heat, stir in cream and butter. Add salt and pepper. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread. As is: 248 calories a cup - 83% from fat!

For a luncheon, I usually make it just like the recipe, however, here is how I usually make it for me:

I use half fresh, half canned tomatoes and I don't peel or seed them and I use whatever whole, diced, etc. canned tomatoes I have. It is all going to be blended up anyway. I like more basil than it calls for and it is so inexpensive here - .5 sole for a big bunch! just be sure you wash it well as it sometimes has a little soil on the leaves. If I have cream, I add 1/3 of a cup and finish it off with milk. If not, I just use milk and I add about 1/3 of the butter it calls for. It isn't quite as rich but is less calorie laden and it still tastes wonderful!
At Zupa's in Utah, they ask you if you want orzo added, which is a rice shaped pasta. Feel free to cook some up and add it in. It is great, too!