Pierogi and vegetables with brown butter

It’s always nice to be able to put a meal together without  a particular recipe to follow. Just create something as I did last night and it worked out delicious.  Take a chance you may surprise yourself. I had all the below ingredients so I was pleased at the outcome. Thumbs up!

If you don’t have pierogi substitute pasta it’ll still be delicious.  Brown butter is a game changer. The flavor is awesome.

12 large frozen made from scratch potato cheese 

pierogi

Frozen vegetable mixture.( carrots,broccoli,red peppers

1stick butter

Onion and garlic powder (I didn’t measure)

 In medium to large size Dutch oven size  fill with water , add salt and bring to rapid boil.  Add frozen veggies first and bring water back to  boil and boil for approximately 3 minutes.  Add frozen pierogi and boil until

Pierogi are hot in center.  My guesstimate is 5 minutes top.

While pierogi and vegetables are cooking ,in a small pot place stick of butter on low heat.  When melted add onion and garlic powder to taste. Stir and cook on low until butter starts to show brown color. NOTE: do not burn butter!

Drain pierogi vegetables with a ladle type strainer onto a medium size platter. Spoon brown butter over them.

Ladle 👆

A vinegar olive oil based salad works greatly to complement this meal.

Enjoy!

White cake with lemon layer

So easy!  When you have all the ingredients this is a very easy way to make a delicious dessert.  It was ready in an hour and a half.

1 box white cake mix made according to directions 

1 can lemon pie filling

Bake cake in 2- 9” pans follow baking directions.

Topping:

1 pint heavy cream

1 tsp. Vanilla extract 

4 tablespoons confectioners sugar .  Beat until

thick  but still soft.  Spread gently over cake. Refrigerate several hours.

Enjoy!  

Crock pot hot dogs

        I’m going to try this recipe for New Year’s Eve .IT appealed to me.  Fries and coleslaw or chips.  

It’s NOT THE HEALTHIEST BUT HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I’ll let you know if we like it.

          2 Packages all

               Beef Hot Dogs.

• 1 cup  ketchup
• 1 cup  brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon  Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon  white vinegar
• 6 dashes  tabasco sauce

Cut hot dogs into bite size pieces

Add to a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over the hot dogs. Stir until the hot dogs are coated.

Heat on high about 30 minutes. Turn heat to low.  Sauce should be bubbly.

Christmas 2025

A great day in every way.  Missed our grandsons especially and their parents too but we FaceTimed so it was all good!

Today I’m staying in and cherishing every minute. 

 It’s good to take a day off from baking and cooking but what to eat??? lol  lots of cookies but it was a basic homemade gnocchi by our son and he didn’t allow for leftovers!!!!!

I made sauce with pork country style ribs, meatballs and a huge salad. 

The charcuterie board was basic but perfect. No big fuss this year and so we had more time to

Enjoy each other with conversation.

Our daughter and family 

Chestnuts too!

From my family to yours,

M.j.

Cranberry cashew Biscotti

I combined my recipes for biscotti and came up with this.  

These are toasted on each side after baking. Watch closely as to not burn.
Note:

You can chose to try making the rolls this way:

*****Drop by tablespoons and go around edges and top to seal.⬆️

 

3 eggs

1egg white beaten ( whisk)

1 cup sugar
1/2 lb. Softened butter
3/1/2 cup flour
pinch salt
3/1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 or less cup milk(watch amount)
1 tsp. orange  extract 
Rind of orange
1/2 cup chopped cashews   

1/2 cup dried cranberries 

Beat butter, sugar, eggs and salt, orange extract ,rind of orange and milk with an electric mixer, add flour a little at a time until well blended..

Note:  After I mix it as best I can, I transfer to acrylic board and work the mixture together putting a little flour on board as not to have it  stick..Then roll into 2 rolls..  

option:

****Option:  cover cookie sheet with foil.  Spray with cooking spray.  Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheet and with a large flat tool smooth top and around edges to resemble a long roll.

Place on greased cookie sheet. Brush with 1 beaten egg white.   Bake 375 degrees approx.  15 minutes one side and 15 minutes on other. Rolls should be browned slightly.  Take out of oven, cool , cut in 1/2 inch slices, place back on cookie sheet and place in oven and toast each side for approx. 10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool thoroughly before storing.

M.j..