Olga's Mexican Rice

Ok, so I learned this recipe from watching a member make food. Some of the portions I know for sure, others we guessed out. Once again, it just better if you watch me make it so you know how to make it too. Oh I have it first in Spanish,  but don't worry, Olga edited the recipe for me to make sure the spanish was correct. I'll post it after in English.

Sopa de arroz:
ingredientes;
3 Tomates
1/2 cebolla


1/2 Taza de aceite  ( creo que con 1/2 taza de aceite es mejor )
2 Taza de Arroz
1 tbsp de caldo de tomate ( KNORR tomato bouillon with chicken flavor)
3 tazas de agua
sal algusto

preparacion;
poner el aceite en un sarten, y cuando este caliente agregar el arroz, y dorarlo hasta que este de color cafe.

en la licuadora, poner los tomates y la cebolla con 1 taza de agua, licuar muy bien,
bertir todo el tomate al arroz, agregar 1tbsp de caldo de tomate, y la sal,agregar el resto del agua, tapar dejarlo cosinar a fuego lento por 35 minutos o hasta que este suave el arroz

En ingles:

3 Tomatoes

½ Onion

½ Cup Oil

2 Cups rice

1 tbls Knorr Tomato bullion with chicken flavor

Salt (to taste)

3 cups water

Put oil in sauce pan an when it is hot, add rice and heat until it is brown. In a blender, add tomatos and onion with 1 cup of water. Liquefy well. Add tomato mixture to the rice and add 1 tbls bouillon and salt. Cover and cook over low heat for 35 minutes or until the rice is cooked.

Orange Julius

2 Cups Cold Water
1/4-1/2 Cups Sugar (optional)
1 Tp. Vanilla
1/3 Cup Dry Milk Crystals
6 oz Frozen O. J. Concentrates.

Combine all in blender and mix well. Add a try of ice cubes. Blend to slush. Use any additional fruit wanted.

Chocolate Drop Cookies

 Warning!!! You need to make the dough at least 2 hours before baking these cookies. Plan accordingly!!!

• 1/2 C Vegetable Oil
• 4 1 oz Unsweetened Chocolate Squares
• 2 Cups Sugar
• 4 Eggs
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1. Combine Small amount of oil and chocolate and melt in the microwave. 
2. Add to a larger bowl with the rest of the oil and sugar. 
3. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. 
4. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. 
5. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

After refrigeration:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Spread powdered sugar in a small flat pie pan. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and drop into the sugar pan and coat thoroughly. 
3. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until the center of the cookies is not wet (can be fudgy though).

Makes 3 1/2-4 Dozen Cookies

Pizza/Calzone Dough

• 1 Package Yeast           
• 1 Cup Warm Water
• 1 Tbl Olive Oil
• 1 tsp.  Sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Salt (optional substitution: garlic salt)                
• 2 1/2-3 Cups Flour (All purpose)
• Honey
• 1 tsp Basil (optional)
• 1 tsp Oregano (optional)

1. Sprinkle yeast onto water and add one large squirt of honey. Let sit for 5 minutes. 
2. Add oil sugar and salt and water mixture in medium sized bowl and stir well. 
3. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour and mix well. Add remaining flour if dough is really wet. Knead well. Let rise until doubled in bulk. 
4. Optional: Add basil and oregano to dough while adding flour. Make sure mixture is mixed well.
5. On pizza pan spray with non-stick spray and add 1-2 tablespoons of cornmeal onto pan. Roll out dough to the size of the pan. For thick crust, use the whole dough, for thin crust, use half of the dough.

Pizza: After adding dough to the pan let rise for 1/2 hour more then add ingredients on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Calzone:

1. Use half of the dough. Roll out as if you are making a pizza.
2. Spread pizza sauce over half of the dough leaving 1 inch border around the "crust". Cover with cheese then toppings then more cheese. 
3. Fold over non-topping side onto the toppings. Wrap the bottom "crust" border over the top of the calzone and pinch closed. 
4. Top with 1 Tbl. Butter, Parmesan Cheese, Garlic Salt and Parsley. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Freezer Idea: I will frequently freeze half the dough. Leave out for 2 hours to thaw prior to making pizza. Microwave on low for 1 minute if not completely thawed.

Seven Layer Bean Dip

2 Cans Refried Beans                            8 oz Sour Cream
1 Taco Seasoning Packet                       1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tomato Chopped                                1 Cup Guacamole (See recipe if homemade is wanted)
3 Green Onion Chopped
1 Can Sliced Black Olives

Heat refried beans for one minute in microwave and then add taco seasoning packet. Spread over bottom of 9x13 pan. Then add a thin layers of guacamole and sour cream on top. Cover with cheese. Sprinkle tomatoes, green onions and black olives on top. Serve with Chips.

Guacomole

1 ripe Avocado
1/4 Cup Favorite Salsa
1 tsp. Lemon or Lime Juice
1 tsp. Salt

Skin and remove pit from the avocado. Smash until a smooth consistency in a small cereal bowl. Add salsa, lemon juice and salt. Stir until well mixed. If you need to keep the guacamole from turning brown, add the pit to the bowl.

No Bake Cookies

• 2 Cups Sugar                                   
• 1/2 Cup butter                                  
• 1/2 Cup Milk                                    
• 1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa 
• 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
• 1/4 tsp. salt             
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 3 Cups Quick Oats

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter together over medium heat until boiling. Boil for 1 minute. 
2. Add salt and Peanut butter and stir until peanut butter is homogeneous with the chocolate mixture. 
3. Add vanilla and stir. Then add Quick Oats. Stir until oats are well covered. 
4. Spoon out cookies onto wax paper. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Alternate idea: instead of making cookies, spoon the hot chocolate oatmeal mixture over ice cream for a variation on hot fudge!                      

Coffee Cake

This is one of our family's favorite breakfast meals. My brother requested that I send it to him in Colombia so I finally took the time to type it up. Originally it is in the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Have I ever mentioned how much I love that lady? Yes I know she doesn't really exist but that's a secret.




Batter                                                             Streusel
  2 cups flour                                                    2/3 cup Packed brown sugar
  1 cup sugar                                                    1/2 cup flour
  3 tsp baking powder                                       1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
  1/3 c butter or margarine                                1/3 cup softened butter or margarine
  1 tsp. Salt
  1 egg
  1 cup milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare streusel by combining all the ingredients together until it is crumbly. Make the batter by combining all ingredients in a large mixing bowl on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on med speed for 2 minutes scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Spread half of the batter in a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle half of the streusel mixture. Top with remaining batter then the rest of the streusel mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes. 

Update:

Ok so remember how I am horrible for cooking for one person. This recipe makes wayyyy too much for one person. My solution? Make muffins instead! Spoon roughly 1/4 cup of batter into paper wrapper lined muffin tins. Add 1 tbsp. streusel, and another dollop of batter and another tbsp. of streusel. Makes about 1 dozen muffins. You can freeze the muffins at this point or bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (this is less time than the normal pan way).

Everyone needs a good prank

Ok I was looking at some blogs of some of the people I met on my mission. One of the sisters pulled this on April Fools day. I have to admit it was pretty ingenious idea. This sister is truly amazing. She has Quints about 6 months before I came into the area. It's been fun looking at her blog from time to time and see how much they have grown. It's hard to believe they are almost 4! Hopefully I can get the link to work for Y'all!

April Fools Dinner