Popcorn Balls

We like to make popcorn balls around Halloween and the kiddos always look forward to it. I like to make them orange like pumpkins. Raine likes to help make these. She is the perfect little helper. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

6 cups air popped popcorn

1 bag of marshmallows

1 stick of butter

1 t vanilla

Melt marshmallows and butter in a pan over medium heat. When melted stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn and stir until coated. Butter up your hands because this is going to get messy. Scoop a cup of coated popcorn in your buttered hands and press like their is no tomorrow to form a ball. Store them in an air tight container.

Tabouli

I really like tabouli and could eat it everyday, with fresh pita bread of course. I made the family enchiladas and I was just not feeling in the mood for those...so I decided to make me some good ole' tabouli. I think tabouli gets better with age, much better. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

2 cups cracked wheat
2 cups very hot water
1 cucumber-peeled and chopped
2 tomatoes- chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint-chopped
2 cups fresh parsley-chopped

Dressing:

1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
1 T pepper
2 T salt

Pour hot water over cracked wheat and let set for 1 hour. All of the water should be soaked up but if you have a little left over, pour it off.
Now take all of your veggies and pour lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper over them. Now add this to your cracked wheat and stir very well.
Place in fridge overnight. Serve with freshly baked pita bread.

Pumpkin Bread

Well it has been busy around here lately. Raven took off to see NYC and tour NYU. Yes, I cried at the air port. What is up with moms and good byes. She is having a blast! She is on the look out for John Mayer. ;) Back at home the kiddos and I are wanting to bring in Fall with some good ole' pumpkin bread. This recipe is moist and gets better with age in the fridge of course. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek while Raven is away.


Needed:


1 can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 350'. Spray your loaf pans very well.
Mix pumpkin, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. Now add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and stir well. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Pineapple Pie

My husband just loves pineapple pie. Well, he has been incredibly sweet lately and I wanted to be sweet right back. I worked and worked at getting this pineapple filling just right, thick enough not to run when cut but not too pasty tasting...know what I mean? I hate pie filling for that reason alone. Raven's favorite pie is cherry and I refuse to use a canned pie filling. She has to wait for me to pit cherries and then make the filling. I will be making these a lot more since I have my filling to where I am finally happy with it! This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

1 can crushed Pineapple-undrained
1 cup sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/2 t salt
1 T butter
1 T lemon juice

Pie crust for a double crust pie

Place crushed pineapple, sugar, cornstarch and salt in saucepan. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until it thickens and clears. Now add in butter and lemon juice. Cool slightly.

Pour filling into unbaked 9-inch pastry shell. Cut remaining pastry into 1-inch wide strips for lattice top. Weave strips crisscross over pie to make lattice top. Pinch edges.

Bake at 400øF., 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly golden

Fall is here!!! Let's make an Apple Cake

I just love apple cake with my favorite coffee or hot tea, or just by itself. I always want to make an apple cake when Fall rolls in and you will too when you try this recipe. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.



Needed:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
2 t cinnamon
1 t sea salt
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs-I use free range
2 t vanilla
4 cups apples, 4-5 apples-peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces-I used Granny Smith this time but I also use Golden Delicious and Gala apples
1/2-1 cup water


Sift all of your dry ingredients. Now mix your wet ingredients together and add a little at a time. Mix all of the wet into the dry completely before adding more. I added about 3/4 cup of water to batter. It is really a thick batter.
Pour into a greased tube pan ad bake at 350' for 55-60 minutes. A long toothpick needs to come out clean when done. I start checking on mine at about 50 minutes of baking time. I hate it when I burn something so good.

Glazed Donuts

I love warm Krispy Kreme donuts. I always turn in when the sign is on! Well around Beaty's Creek there are no Krispy Kremes, along with many other things. This recipe is light and really tasty. I hate them when they get cold but Ransome just heated them up in the microwave and said they were great! What can I say, I am a purest. I want something fresh or not at all. :) This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek this morning.




Needed:

2 cups warm milk
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 t salt
2 T yeast
4 eggs
1/2 t nutmeg
7 cups all purpose flour

Glaze

3 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Make glaze first and let sit while making the donuts.

Melt butter in warm milk, add 1 t sugar and salt. Let this mixture cool. Add yeast, nutmeg, eggs, and the rest of the sugar. Stir well and add in 1/2 of your flour. Again stir well. Now add in the rest of your flour. Knead for 8 minutes. Let rest for 1 1/2 hours.
Now roll out dough, cut into shapes. Let rise for 1 hour. Heat up oil over medium heat. I cooked mine in about 4 inches of oil. Brown on both sides and drain on paper towels. While still warm glaze your donuts. Eat right away.

Mandarin Orange Cake

This cake will take the heat right out of a Summer's day. It has been a hot one on Beaty's Creek and I wanted something cool to eat for dessert and this hit the spot. Give it a try and it is sure to cool you off. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.




Needed-

Cake-
1 large can mandarin oranges-undrained
1 white cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs


Topping-
4 cups milk
2 Small packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 large can mandarin oranges drained
1 container Cool Whip


Mix all of the cake ingredients listed together, Make sure that the oranges are really beat into small pieces in the mix. Bake at 325' until cake is set in the middle. Cool completely.

Mix pudding with 4 cups of milk and mix for 3 minutes. Now add in mandarin oranges and Cool Whip. Pour on top of cake. Refrigerate overnight.