Garden Fresh Pasta Sauce

Raine loves cherry tomatoes so I planted a few just for her this year.  They are already producing and my basil, for the first year, is doing great too!  I made this a fast pasta sauce the other night and it was a hit.  I went the vegan route but the rest of the family used Parmesan cheese and said it was even better!


Needed:
5 cups cherry tomatoes
2 purple onions- peeled and quartered
2 garlic  bulbs-sliced in half
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 cups fresh basil leaves-torn
Parmesan cheese-grated
Pasta of your choice cooked al dente




Coat veggies you are getting ready to roast with plenty of olive oil and toss with salt and pepper to your liking. Roast tomatoes, onions, and garlic in a 425' oven for 20 minutes or until tomatoes pop. Once your pasta  is done, drain and then add in your roasted veggies.  Right before serving, toss in basil leaves and Parmesan cheese. Super easy and super good!

Strawberry Sheet Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting

Strawberry anything is a favorite around here and I try to come up with a new recipe every once in a while.  The first time I made this was in a 9x13 pan, not a good choice.  It was still tasty but a little too banana bread like for a cake in my opinion. We are just now starting to get local strawberries but gosh there have been some incredible sales on California strawberries and they are really sweet too!

Needed:
3 cups fresh strawberries-cleaned and chopped 
2 1/2 cups sugar 
2 cups  flour
2 sticks of butter
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs-beaten
1 t baking soda
1 t vanilla

Over the chopped strawberries, with  1/2 cup of sugar. Let them sit for an hour at room temperature so they can release some of their juices. The berries should reduce to about 1 1/2 cups. Hand  crush the strawberries, you want them juicy but still with some texture. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift 2 cups sugar and flour, and baking soda together in a bowl.

Melt the butter on low in a saucepan and then whisk it with the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla. Add the liquid to the flour and then stir in the crushed strawberries.

Pour batter into a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes. Cake is done when a knife comes out clean from the center. Let it cool completely and then frost with whipped cream!!!

Note: The cake will be a little brown. Still tastes great!

Barbecued Meatballs

I served these with my Crack Potatoes and the combo was well received. These are really moist and if you cut your onions small enough, something the whole family will eat. Raven, on the other hand, will not touch anything that she even "thinks" may have onions. I know, silly isn't she??? This is What's Cookin on this beautiful Spring Day on Beaty's Creek!!!


Needed:
3 pounds ground round
2 t salt
3 t black pepper
1 cup of milk
1 cup of oatmeal
1 small onion-grated
1 bottle ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
2 garlic cloves-smashed
2 T molasses
1 T hot sauce

 In a saucepan add ketchup, brown sugar, 2 smashed garlic cloves, molasses and hot sauce. Cook over low heat for 2 hours. While that is cooking, start your meatballs. Mix together the oatmeal and milk and set aside. Now mix together ground round, onion, salt and pepper. When completely mixed, then add in the oatmeal. Make into to 1 inch balls and now place on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.  Bake at 350' for 30 minutes.  Once done add to your sauce. Continue to cook for 20 minutes.  I served these with my Crack Potatoes and homemade bread.

Sausage Burgers

I had never eaten a sausage burger until I started dating my husband. His family had always fixed them and I was ready to start the tradition for my family. I remember the first time I fixed them for my parents while still living at home. They were surprised that something so simple could taste so good. Give this a try the next time you grill burgers for something a little different. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.

Needed:

3 pounds ground chuck
1 pound mild breakfast sausage
1 T salt
1 T pepper


Mix all of the ingredients together and form into patties. Grill until completely done. We top ours with cheese but that is up to you.

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

As I've said several times, my mom could live on peanut butter and ice-cream.  This cake is one of her absolute favorites and the kids just love it with a cold glass of milk.  Spring is upon us here on Beaty's Creek and it is gardening time a little early.  I have been out planting like crazy so hopefully we don't get a winter cold snap.  This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.




Needed:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 vanilla bean-scraped
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk

Icing: 
2 cups butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups powdered sugar


 In a saucepan heat peanut butter, water, and butter together until it melts together.  Pour into a bowl, now add in your sugars and stir until well blended.  Now add in all the dry ingredients.  Mix until all comes together, now add in the milk and vanilla bean and stir.  Now pour into a parchment lined jelly roll pan.  Spread out smoothly and bake at 325' for 15 minutes.


Mix butter and peanut butter in a saucepan.  Heat until boiling, then remove from heat.  Pour into your bowl and add in powdered sugar a cup at a time until all is added.  Now add in the milk and whip until creamy.  Frost cake while icing is still slightly warm.

Cinnamon Knots

I was tired of the same old cinnamon roll and wanted to make something a little different. This recipe was perfect and was quick to make also. Give these a try when you are wanting to bake someting homemade for your family. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.

Needed:

2 T yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup butter-melted and cooled
1 cup sugar
2 eggs-beaten
1 t salt
5 cups flour


Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
2 cups sugar
4 T cinnamon
Mix sugar and cinnamon together for later
3/4 cup butter-melted


In your Kitchen Aid Mixer bowl, add yeast to the warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes now add warm milk, butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough flour to form a soft dough. Keep kneading in the bowl for 8 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours. Should double in size. Now punch dough down and divide into 20 balls. Roll each of the balls into a rope and then dip into melted butter and then tie into a knot. Now place on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar mixture. Continue this with each ball of dough. Once you are done, cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Now bake in a pre-heated 325' oven and bake for 15 minutes. Eat hot from the oven.

Strawberry Pie

In honor of Pi Day!! Natalie Mikles from the Tulsa World ran this recipe and I could not wait to make it. It is so good that I will be making it a lot!! Thanks Natalie. ;) You must try this recipe while strawberries are at their peak. I made fresh whip cream to go on top. This is "What's Cookin" on Beaty's Creek today.


Needed:


2 cups water
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup sugar
1 (3-ounce) box strawberry Jell-O
1 quart strawberries, sliced
1 (9-inch) baked pie crust
Whipping cream
1. In a saucepan, bring water, cornstarch and sugar to a boil. Boil until thick and clear.
2. While hot, add Jell-O. Mix. Set aside.
3. Once slightly cooled, mix in the strawberries. Pour into a baked pie crust. Keep in refrigerator until cool. Serve with whipping cream and whole strawberries.


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