Sour Cream/Vanilla Yogurt Coffee Cake & Glaze

This is a yummy dessert/breakfast
(however you choose to eat it!)





Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together thoroughly in medium bowl:

1 1/2 C flour
1 C Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 Salt

Beat well in large bowl:

1 C light sour cream OR 1 C vanilla yogurt
2 eggs

Add dry mixture to wet until just mixed...don't over mix! Spread in greased 9X9 square pan. Top with streusel (mixture of 1/3 C sugar, 2 Tbs flour, 2 Tbs butter, adding cinnamon after the first three)

Bake 25 minutes and let cool.

For optional glaze:

Melt 2 Tbs of butter on skillet. Remove from heat and add 1 Tsp. Vanilla and 2 Tbs Heavy Cream. Stir until even. Mix in 1/3 to 1/2 C of powdered sugar until smooth.
Drizzle over cake and enjoy!

Hawaiian Meatballs a la Russell

So you may have had these under the name Waikiki meatballs from Betty Crocker, which is where I first had them thanks to my mom, but Ryan and I of course did our thing again and tadaa! Hawaiian Meatballs a la Russell! (This feeds a lot by the way)



Sauce:
6 TBS. Cornstarch
1 1/2 C Brown Sugar (go for the dark...it's better)
2 cans (20 oz.) Chunk Pineapple in JUICE (not syrup or your in for a sugar overload!!!)
*be prepared to drain the pineapple while KEEPING the juice
1 C vinegar
3 TBS. Soy Sauce

Meatballs:
2 1/2 - 3 Lbs Ground Beef or Turkey
1 C cracker crumbs (seasoned bread crumbs work well)
2/3 c minced onion
2 eggs
3 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/3 C milk

How to make it mouth-wateringly wonderful:

Begin with the sauce by thoroughly mixing the corn starch and brown sugar. Stir in the reserved Pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth. Pour into medium sauce pan, cook over medium until sauce thickens and boils. Allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and pour into crock pot (set on low or warm). Add Pineapple to sauce and let warm through.

Next mix all ingredients for the meatballs in medium to large bowl (a potato masher works great if you want to avoid the mess). Shape into balls about 1.5 inches in diameter. Cook in large skillet in olive oil over medium heat until done. Add finished meatballs to the crock pot (may need to do this in two batches if your skillet isn't big enough). Let all heat through.

Serve warm over rice! Enjoy!!!

Apricot Chicken Ala Susan and Ryan

This is for those of you who go to restaurants and end up thinking "I could totally make that!" Yep, I thought so too. And, was actually decently successful!

2-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil (try something fun like rosemary infused!!)
2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of pre-minced garlic, or 1 clove of freshly minced garlic
2 Teaspoons or so of My faithful Pizza/Pasta Seasoning Grinder from ALDI!
1/4 C Apricot Preserves
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
Fresh Rosemary sprig (I grow mine on the porch, but you can pick this up at Kroger).
1/2 cup of fresh baby carrots
Salt to taste
Spaghetti Pasta

Heat oil in the skillet on medium high, along with vinegar, garlic, and ALDI seasoning. Add chicken and allow to cook on both sides until white. Add Apricot Preserves, Brown Sugar, and Fresh rosemary (cut into fine pieces). I bet adding 1/4 cup of your favorite white cooking wine would be good too! When sauce has warmed and mixed well, add carrots and let simmer on low until chicken is no longer pink in center and carrots are tender. Add salt to taste and serve over spaghetti.

This is great with a side of steamed asparagus or fresh cut green beans or sauteed in olive oil and the same pizza/pasta ALDI grinder seasoning.

ENJOY!!! And points to the person who can guess what restaurant knock-off this is:)