Friday, August 31, 2012

Zucchini Casserole



My mom wasn't a big cook, but what she did make, was really good!  This was one of her recipes we got to eat over and over!  She gave us a binder of our favorite foods when we got older, and this one is probably the one I make the most.

We've always had a garden, and that garden always had zucchini. And while zucchini are super good, you can end up with lots of them, and it's nice to have a few recipes to use them up with!

Ingredients
4 eggs
1 can corn
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
(1/2 cup chopped onion-optional, i never do)

You start out by cutting your zucchini into slices, and line the bottom of a 9x12 plan with them. (add 1/2 cup chopped onion now if you want onion).  You then place plastic wrap over the top, leaving one corner open.  Place in your microwave (turn off the turntable if you have one) on high for 7 minutes.




Drain well. you can see the zucchini cook down quite a bit, so if you want to add more, feel free (or less if you like). Kids may like it if you cut up the zucchini more, so it's more bite size.



In a mixing bowl, mix together 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (6 oz), 1 can of corn (drained), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper. (Use extra seasonings if you like it only makes it better!)



Mix together, and mix in zucchini.



Spray/grease pan.  Pour the mixture in the 9x12 pan and cover with a paper towel. (Tooth pics would be a good idea, so the paper towel doesn't stick)





Microwave at medium heat 8-10 minutes.



Stir and remove paper towel.



Cook at least 10 more minutes at medium and stir.  You may have to cook it longer to cook all the liquid (since it's somewhat raw egg)



Someone was having a hard time waiting!

I find usually 5 more minutes does it.  Then eat and enjoy!






Monday, August 27, 2012

Kool Aid Popcorn





All I can say is yum!  I decided to make a yummy treat today, and I saw some versions of this on Pinterest, and decided to give it a try!  I made some adaptations because of what I had on hand.

Ingredients
6 quarts plain poped popcorn
1 cup light corn syrup
2 packets of Kool Aid mix-any kind, or brand works
2 cups sugar (I only had 3/4 c, so I used 1 1/4 c of Splenda, and it worked fine)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 c butter



I popped plain popcorn using a paper bag in my microwave.  All you have to do is put 1/4 c popcorn cornels into a paper bag.  You fold over the top once about 1/4 inch, and again another 1/4 inch to create a closed bag. Then you lay it on it's side and microwave it 1 minute, 40 seconds. There will be some unpopped cornels, but just leave those in the bag for the next batch.  I did this until I had 6 quarts of popped popcorn (24 cups).





I then mixed together the butter, light corn syrup, sugar (and splenda) in a saucepan.  I mixed it constantly until boiling, then I continued mixing it at a boiling temperature for 3 minutes.  Then I took it off the stove. 

In a side bowl, I had mixed the packets of Kool Aid and baking soda.  I used Ice Blue lemonade Kool Aid. 

I then added the Kool Aid mixture to the syrup and as I folded it in, it puffed up quite a bit, so I was glad I didn't use too small of a saucepan.  As soon as it was well mixed, I poured it onto the popcorn i had spread out onto a large ungreased cookie pan.



Then I carefully folded the mixture into the popcorn so that it was well mixed.

It then goes into the oven at 225 for a total of 30 minutes.  You need to take it out every 10 minutes and mix it up to make sure the popcorn gets evenly covered by the Kool Aid yumminess!


after 10 mins


after 10 mins


Final Product




Then wait for it to cool, and Enjoy!  So good! You could easily make it into popcorn balls if you want, or leave it like it is, and break it up and put it in a bowl like i did!





Source: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/kool-aid-popcorn/