Staying Close with My PA Friends

So, I have strep throat, and I needed something cool to slide down my throat, and I start craving Trena Hofelings Orange Julius. I open up my recipe box, and thankfully its there. Then I start thinking about my good friends from PA, and how much I miss them, and remember all the fun things we did. Each memory I think of for some reason involves food!! So I thought it would be fun to connect with everyone on a regular basis and share what we love best....FOOD and RECIPES. (ok, you can post about anything and everything too!!)
When I think of all my friends, I can remember with all of them some sort of special moment involving food. So I'd like to share what food/recipes I have in my recipe box that came from all of you!

Terri
Terri, when I think of you, I think of garlic!!! I know how much you and Dave cook with garlic. And I love it too! I also think of a new favorite snack that you taught me...popcorn dipped in salsa!! MMMmmmm!! And a recipe you gave me that I love:

Black Bean Lasagna
9 lasagna Noodles
2-15 oz cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
non stick spray coating
1/2 c onion, chopped
1/2 c green peppers, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
(you added: we LOVE garlic, so sometimes I add more than just 2)
1-15 oz can of tomato sauce
1/2 c snipped cilantro
1-12 oz container low fat cottage cheese
1-8 oz package of cream cheese
1-8oz. container sour cream
halved tomato slices (optional)
Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain. Mash 1 can of beans; set aside. Spray large skillet with non stick coating; add onion, green pepper and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat till tender but not brown. Add mashed beans, un-mashed beans, tomato sauce, and snipped cilantro and heat through.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream; set aside. Spray a 3 quart rectangular baking dish with non stick coating. Arrange three of the noodles in a dish. Top with one third of the bean mixture. Spread with one third of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice, ending with the bean mixture and reserving the remaining cheese mixture. Bake covered in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 min or till heated through. Dallop with reserved cheese mixture. Let stand for 10 minutes. If desired, garnish with tomatoes.

JoAnna
JoAnna, when I think of you.........I have a list. I think of peasant bread, pound cake, bowtie pasta, Brian's favorite coffee cake, homemade pizza....and the hot loaf sandwich. I'm going to include your peasant bread recipe because on average we make it about 3 times a week. We LOVE it!! And I still have it on the back of "a note to school" form that you wrote it on for me.

French Peasant Bread
1 pkg dry yeast
2 c warm water
1 T sugar
2 t salt
4 c flour
oil
corn meal
melted butter
parmesan, rosemary, oregano
Place yeast, water, sugar, and salt in a warm bowl and stir until dissolved. Add flour and stir until blended. Do not knead. Cover and let rise one hour or until doubled in size. Flour hands, remove dough from bowl and place in 2 rounds on an oiled cookie sheet with corn meal. Let rise and additional hour. Brush top with melted butter and bake @ 425 for 10 min. Reduce heat to 375 and cook for 15 min. Remove from oven and brush again with butter. Serve warm.
**Sometimes we add grated parmesan and oregano or fresh rosemary on top BEFORE BAKING.

Camille
Camille, when I think of you, I remember being at the ward Christmas party and seeing these beautiful sugar cookies, eating them, and thinking...who the hell made these???? They were soooo good. So it has become tradition for us to make them every Christmas--and what a good staple to have in my recipe box. Also, I think of your lime chicken tacos that we had just before we moved! We love those too!!

Camille's Sugar Cookies
1 lb butter
3 eggs
2 c sugar
1/4 teas salt
2 teas vanilla
2 Tb almond extract
6 cups flour
1 teas baking soda
1. Combine sugar and butter
2. Add flavor and eggs
3. add dry ingredients.
** refrigerate overnight. roll out while cold.
Bake at 375 for 8 min.

Trena
Trena when I think of you, I think of Orange Julius' and anything with Vanilla in it. I remember those cookies you made for YW one time, where you said you used a LOT of vanilla, and they were so nummy. You also made a really nummy punch for your scentsy party you had too!!

Orange Julius
3 T orange juice concentrate
1 teas vanilla
1/4 c sugar
1 c milk
10 ice cubes
BLEND!

Brenda
Brenda, when I think of you, i think of your trifle that you make. The one with the fruit and the pudding, and the angel food cake. MMMMmmmmm, and you feel good about eating it too!
Unfortunately I never got the recipe. We just had a ward social, and someone made it, and i had Brenda memories going through my head. But one recipe I do have from you, is the pumpkin apple dip one! You made it for a baby shower....i think Tonyas...and at Bunco!!!

Pumpkin Apple Dip
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
15 oz pumpkin
3 tsp pumpkin spice
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ginger
Mix all together. Serve with sliced apples!

Tammie
Tammie, when I think of you, I think of Honey-Lime fruit toss. I got it from you when you and Terri and I were on our emailing/weight loss chronicles kick. That was fun, hu?!! I love this recipe because it is so easy, and so great!!! It's definitely become a family favorite of ours! My kids LOVE it too.

Honey-Lime Fruit Toss
1 20 oz can Pineapple Chunks, drained, reserving 1/4 cup of juice
1 11 or 15 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
1 large banana, sliced
1 kiwi fruit, peeled, halved and sliced
1 cup quartered strawberries
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp honey
Comine fruit in a bowl. Stir together the pineapple juice, lime juice and honey. Pour over fruit salad; toss to coat.


I have been dying to come up with a way that I can still connect with you all, and I would love to share our favorite or new recipes with each other. Maybe this will help me get my much needed Whitehall ward girls fix. I know I was supposed to be in Pennsylvania when I was to meet all of you, and I am forever thankful for all the times that we shared with one another. It makes me so depressed to think of how much I miss you all, but I know that you all will have a special place in my heart that I will treasure forever! I love you girls!!!!

Jamie