Cookbook

Here is a list of different recipes I like. The recipes aren't particularly difficult, but require a basic understanding of cooking. Recipes marked with * are recipes I've found in cookbooks or pamphlets, but haven't tried yet.

Breakfasts

Biscuits
  • 2c flour
  • 1tsp sugar
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1tb baking powder
  • 1/2 butter
  • 3/4c milk

  1. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. Cut butter into cubes and work into dough.
  3. Add milk, and mix until combined.
  4. Roll dough onto a floured table, till about a half-inch thick. Use the rim of a cup to cut the dough into discs, recombining and rolling leftover dough until all used.
  5. Bake at 425*F for 15 minutes.
Pancakes*
  • 1-1/2c flour
  • 1-1/4tsp baking soda
  • 1/2tsp salt
  • 2c buttermilk
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
  2. Form a well in the middle, and add egg yolk. Loosely combine.
  3. Beat egg white, then add to mixture.
  4. Mix in remaining ingredients.
  5. Cook in a greased pan till bubbly, then flip and cook another minute.
French Toast
  • 4 slices bread
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2c milk
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 1tsp cinnamon

  1. Whisk together ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Soak both sides of bread with mixture.
  3. Cook in a greased pan until browned.

Main Dishes

Bolognese
  • 28oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1# ground beef
  • 1# pasta such as penne
  • 1 onion
  • 750ml bottle cheap red wine
  • 8oz brown mushrooms
  • 1tb italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt water. Put in pasta, stirring occasionally.
  2. Chop onion fine. Slice and rinse mushrooms. Butter a large pan, and add onion and mushroom. Cover, let cook on medium till softened and shrunk.
  3. Add beef, break into decent-sized chunks. Cook until browned.
  4. Add wine, sauce, and seasoning. Stir occasionally, cook on high.
  5. When sauce is reduced and thickened -- a spatula can be dragged through the sauce and it doesn't immediately flow back into place -- and the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and add the sauce to the pot of pasta. Combine.
Stroganoff
  • 1# ground beef
  • 8oz sour cream
  • 8oz egg noodles
  • 8oz brown mushrooms
  • 1/4c white wine
  • 1/2tb nutmeg
  • salt and pepper

  1. Slice and rinse mushrooms.
  2. In a pot, bring water to a boil and set pasta to cook.
  3. Break up and brown beef in a wide pan.
  4. Remove beef and set aside. Readd beef fat. Add mushroom to pan, cover and let cook until shrunk.
  5. Readd beef to pan. Add white wine and let the wine cook for a minute. Add sour cream, and stir till melted. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
  6. Drain pasta and add to the sauce. Combine well.
Orange Chicken
  • 3 chicken breasts
  • 5 oranges
  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 1 onion
  • 1/2c soy sauce
  • 3tb honey
  • 2tb flour or corn starch

  1. Dice onion and pepper. Chop chicken into cubes.
  2. Add onion and pepper to a large buttered pot and cook till fragrant.
  3. Add chicken to pot. While cooking, juice all the oranges.
  4. When chicken is cooked, add the orange juice, honey, and soy sauce to the pot. Cook till somewhat reduced.
  5. Add flour to thicken the sauce, let cook another couple minutes.
Chicken Caesar Salad
  • 1 chicken breast
  • 2 romaine hearts
  • 2oz shredded cheddar
  • 2 eggs
  • Croutons
  • Salad dressing
  • salt and pepper

  1. Hard boil eggs. Filet chicken breast in half.
  2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Fry chicken in greased pan.
  3. Discard first layer of romaine hearts. Chop off end and discard. Roughly chop lettuce.
  4. Plate the lettuce, top with dressing and cheese. Slice chicken breast and eggs crosswise, and place on the salad.
Country Club Chicken
  • 1# spaghetti
  • 3 chicken breasts
  • 1 onion
  • 8oz white mushrooms
  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1/4c chicken broth
  • 8oz shredded cheddar
  • 1 apple
  • salt and pepper

  1. Cook and crumble bacon. Slice apple. Filet chicken breasts in half. Slice and clean mushrooms. Slice onion.
  2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Fry in a pan until cooked, place in a large baking dish.
  3. In the same pan, cook the onion, mushroom, and apple until softened.
  4. Deglaze pan with chicken broth. Add cream of mushroom, cheese, and bacon. Heat till cheese melted slightly. Pour over chicken breasts.
  5. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and add the dry pasta.
  6. Bake at 350*F for 30 minutes. Serve over cooked spaghetti.
Sheet-Pan Porkchops
  • 3 large bone-in porkchops
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2tsp black pepper
  • 1/2tsp ground cumin
  • 1tsp cumin seed
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1/2tb brown sugar

  1. Mince garlic. Combine with sugar and spice in a small bowl.
  2. Cover both sides of porkchops with mixture. Let rest about five minutes.
  3. Place on a greased rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 450*F for 15 minutes. Flip porkchops, cook another 5 minutes.

Soups

Clam Chowder
  • 3 yellow potatoes
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 13oz minced clam
  • 12oz evaporated milk
  • 4 slices bacon
  • salt and pepper

  1. Cook bacon and crumble, set aside. Add bacon grease to a pot.
  2. Chop celery and add to pot.
  3. Separate clams from juice, add water until one cup of liquid is had. Add liquid to pot and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper.
  4. Dice potatoes fine. Add to pot. Simmer until softened.
  5. Add clams, evaporated milk, and bacon. Heat, but do not boil.
Sausage Soup
  • 2tb oil
  • 1/2# sausage meat
  • 1/2 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3tb flour
  • 32oz chicken broth
  • 4 yellow potatoes
  • 4oz spinach
  • 12oz evaporated milk
  • 3/4tsp italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper

  1. Mince onion and garlic. Roughly chop spinach. Dice potatoes.
  2. In a large pot, heat oil. Add onion and garlic. Cook until fragrant.
  3. Add sausage meat. Break up and cook until browned.
  4. Stir in flour till the meat has absorbed it all. Add broth. Bring to a boil.
  5. Add spice and potatoes, boil for five minutes.
  6. Add evaporated milk and spinach, simmer five minutes or until spinach has shrunk. Do not boil.
Taco Soup
  • 1 can pinto beans
  • 1 can petite diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 can sweet corn
  • 1# ground beef
  • 4c water
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • (opt.)1c cooked rice

  1. In a large pot, brown and break up ground beef.
  2. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil.
Chicken Noodle Soup
  • 64oz chicken broth
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 8oz egg noodles
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 3 carrots

  1. Peel and chop carrots, discarding end. Chop celery, discarding ends. Cube chicken.
  2. Add broth to a pot and bring to a boil. Add chicken, celery, and carrots. Boil ten minutes or until carrots have softened.
  3. Add egg noodles, cook about five minutes.

Desserts

Pecan Shortbread*
  • 1-1/2c butter
  • 3/4c sugar
  • 3-1/2c flour
  • 1/2tsp vanilla
  • 1/2tsp cardamom
  • 1-1/2c chopped pecans
  • (opt.)powdered sugar

  1. In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and cardamom until fluffy.
  2. Add flour and pecans, mixing until combined.
  3. Knead dough for about a minute, then press into a greased 9-inch pan.
  4. Bake at 325*F for 45 minutes, until golden.
  5. Dust with powdered sugar, cut while warm.
Shortbread Cookies*
  • 2-1/2c flour
  • 1c butter
  • 1c sugar, plus extra for coating
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1 egg

  1. Separate the egg.
  2. In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, and salt until smooth.
  3. Beat the egg yolk into mixture until barely combined.
  4. Add flour and mix until combined and crumbly.
  5. Form the dough into a roll and chill until firmed, about 30 minutes.
  6. Brush surface of roll with egg white, and roll in sugar.
  7. Slice the roll into half-inch discs. Bake at 350*F for 20 minutes.
Apple Spice Cake
  • 2c flour
  • 1tsp baking soda
  • 5tb butter
  • 1c brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1c applesauce
  • 2tsp cinnamon
  • 1tsp nutmeg
  • 1tsp allspace
  • 1/4tsp salt

  1. Cream butter, and mix in brown sugar. Beat in eggs.
  2. Alternatively add the applesauce and the remaining dry ingredients. Mix well.
  3. Cook in a greased breadpan for 75 minutes at 350*F, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Chocolate Pudding
  • 2c skim milk
  • 1/3c sugar
  • 1/4c cocoa powder
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 3tb corn starch

  1. Heat all but 1/2 of the milk in a pot. Stir in sugar and cocoa until dissolved. Whisk till boiling.
  2. Dissolve cornstarch in remaining milk, then add to mixture.
  3. Whisk a few more minutes, then remove from heat.
  4. Whisk in vanilla, and whisk till cooled. Chill in fridge.
Chocolate Cake
  • 1-1/2c flour
  • 1/2c butter
  • 1c sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2tsp baking powder
  • 1c milk
  • 1tsp baking soda
  • 1/4tsp salt
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 3tb cocoa powder

  1. Cream butter and beat in sugar. Ad vanilla, egg yolks, and cocoa. Beat well.
  2. Alternatively add dry ingredients and milk. Combine well.
  3. Beat egg whites into stiff peaks, and fold into the mixture.
  4. Pour batter in a greased cakepan, and bake at 350*F for 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cinnamon Rolls
  • 3c flour
  • 2tsp yeast
  • 1c milk
  • 1-1/2tsp salt
  • 3tb butter
  • 3tb sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1tsp cinnamon

  1. Melt butter. Beat egg. Warm milk.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add yeast and stir till dissolved.
  3. Add 2tb of sugar, egg, salt, and half of the flour. Mix well.
  4. Add 2tb of butter and mix, then knead in the rest of the flour. Cover bowl and let dough rise until doubled in size, about an hour.
  5. Knead down, then let rise again until doubled. Roll into a rectangular sheet.
  6. Coat with melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Roll up into a loaf, and cut into half-inch discs.
  7. Lay discs on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise about twenty minutes. Bake at 400*F for 25 minutes, or until slightly browned.
Cookies
  • 2-1/4c flour
  • 1tsp baking soda
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1c butter
  • 3/4c brown sugar
  • 3/4c sugar
  • 2tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 12oz chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

  1. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a dish.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugars, and vanilla together. Beat in eggs.
  3. Slowly work in the flour mixture. Work in the chocolate.
  4. Scoop onto a parchment-paper lined baking sheet in balls about one inch in diameter.
  5. Bake at 375*F for 12 minutes, one sheet at a time.
Lemon Bars
  • 1/2c butter
  • 1c+2tb flour
  • 1c sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 lemon

  1. Juice lemon. Mix butter, 1c flour, and 1/4c sugar in a large bowl, until crumbly. Press in an 8x8 baking dish. Bake at 350*F for 15 minutes.
  2. Beat remaining ingredients till smooth. Pour over crust. Bake at 350*F for another 25 minutes.
Pound Cake
  • 1c butter
  • 1-2/3c flour
  • 2/3c brown sugar
  • 1/2c sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2c milk
  • 1/2tsp salt
  • 1-1/4tsp baking powder

  1. Cream butter and beat in sugars. beat in eggs one at a time.
  2. Mix in dry ingredients, then milk. Combine.
  3. Pour into a greased pan and bake at 350*F for an hour, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Pumpkin Pie
  • 2 small pumpkins
  • 1/4c brown sugar
  • 1/2c sugar
  • 1/2tsp salt
  • 1tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2tsp ginger
  • 1/4tsp nutmeg or allspice
  • 1/8tsp ground cloves
  • 2 eggs

  1. Slice pumpkins in half. Remove seeds and string. Discard stem. Place cut side down on a baking sheet, and bake at 325*F for about an hour, or until meat is tender.
  2. With a spoon, remove the meat from the skin. Mash into a smooth pulp, blend, or put through a ricer.
  3. Beat the eggs slightly. Combine 2 cups of cooked pumpkin mash with the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth.
  4. Pour mixture in a 9 inch pie crust. Bake at 425*F for 15 minutes, then lower temperature to 350*F and bake for another 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
Salted Caramel Rice Pudding
  • 4c whole milk
  • 1/3c jasmine rice
  • 1/4c brown sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/2tb salt
  • 2tsp vanilla
  • 1/4c sugar
  • 1/3c heavy cream
  • 1tb butter
  • 2tb water

  1. Combine rice, brown sugar, and milk in a large pot. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove 1c of the pudding. Whisk in egg yolks and vanilla, then mix back into the pudding. Chill completely, about 3 hours.
  3. Melt butter. Combine sugar and water in a small pan. Heat till amber, about 8 minutes, constantly swirling but not stirring. Add butter and cream, and stir for one minute. Add salt and vanilla, and let cool.
Plain Cake
  • 1-1/2c flour
  • 1/2c butter
  • 1c sugar
  • 1/2c milk
  • 1/4tsp salt
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs

  1. Cream butter, beat in sugar. Beat in egg yolks.
  2. Alternate between adding dry and wet ingredients. Beat till smooth.
  3. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold into batter.
  4. Pour into a greased pan. Bake at 350*F for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out smooth.

Baked Goods

Muffins*
  • 1-1/2c flour
  • 2tb sugar
  • 3tsp baking powder
  • 1/2tsp salt
  • 1c milk
  • 1 egg
  • 3tb butter

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
  2. Beat egg, and add with the milk into the mixing bowl. Combine.
  3. Melt butter and add to bowl, mix well.
  4. Pour batter into a greased muffin tin. Bake at 400*F for 20 minutes.
Basic Bread
  • 5c flour
  • 2c water, warmed
  • 2tsp yeast
  • 1tsp salt
  • 1tb butter

  1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in the water.
  2. Add the salt and half of the flour, and mix until combined.
  3. Knead in the remaining flour until a dough is formed.
  4. Cover bowl with a warm, damp towel, and let rest somewhere warm until dough is doubled in size, about two hours.
  5. Knead down and place back into bowl. Let rise again until doubled.
  6. Knead down, cut into whatever shape is preferred (braids, rolls, loaf, sticks, etc.), place on a greased pan or tray and cover. Let rise a final time, about half an hour.
  7. Melt butter, and brush on the surface of the dough.
  8. Bake at 350*F for an hour.

Sides and Others

Chicken Broth
  • Chicken scraps (carcass, skin, meat trimmings, fat, organs)
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • 10c water

  1. Add chicken scraps into a pot.
  2. Roughly chop vegetables. Add to pot. Cover with water.
  3. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3-4 hours.
  4. Strain into a half-gallon jar. Store in the fridge.
Fish Batter
  • 1c flour
  • 1/2c milk
  • 1/2c water
  • 2tb baking powder
  • 1tsp salt

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Glaze
  • 1/4c milk
  • 1c powered sugar
  • 1/4tsp vanilla

  1. Mix all ingredients till smooth.