Homemade Stovetop Kettle Corn

INGREDIENTS 

1/2 cup popping corn

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

In a large nonstick pot, heat oil on medium heat being careful for it not to smoke. Add popcorn kernels first and distribute them evenly. Add sugar and stir until kernels are fully coated. Cover with lid until all kernels have popped. 

Slow Cooker Green Beans & Potatoes with Smoked Turkey Sausage

INGREDIENTS 

2 - 28oz Cans French Style Green Beans

3 - Yellow Potatoes Peeled and Diced

1/2 cup - Diced Onion

4 Slices Turkey Bacon - Chopped

1 - 13oz Package Smoked Turkey Sausage-Sliced

1 TBSP Lawry’s Garlic Salt

Salt and Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Prep ingredients that need to be sliced/diced. Sauté onions and turkey bacon in a skillet. When bacon is thoroughly cooked add sliced sausage to brown.  In a slow cooker add cans of green beans with their liquid. Add potatoes and bacon/turkey mixture. Add garlic salt and salt and pepper to taste. Cook on high for four hours. 

BREAD TIP!!!

Buy day-old bread from Jimmy Johns. It’s $.50 per loaf. I slice it up and heat in the oven on the lowest temp. You can’t tell it’s not freshly made. 

Drop Biscuits - Butter Only Recipe

Every time I think of making biscuits I don't have shortening. Here's a recipe that you can tell your biscuits are definitely homemade and didn't pop out of a can. I always keep sticks of butter in the fridge for random baking and biscuit making for me is considered random.

INGREDIENTS

2 - Cups all purpose flour

1 - Cup of butter (2 sticks - 1 stick needs to be freezer cold)

2 - Tbsp baking powder

1/2 - Tspn baking soda

1 - Cup of milk (2%)

Salt

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Total cook time is 15 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda and mix to evenly distribute ingredients. Cut in the stick of butter that is freezer cold with the dry ingredients until the crumbs are coarse. Add milk and slowly mix until the dough starts to form. I add enough milk to where it becomes a drop biscuit consistency. You can add less milk and form dough to uniform pieces with a kneading process. (To make a dinner biscuit add in sharp cheddar cheese, 1 Tbsp of garlic powder, and 1 Tbsp of Italian seasoning.)

Drop your desired size biscuit (3 inch dough) onto a cookie sheet that has been butter or greased. Bake for 10 minutes. Melt the other stick of butter in the microwave (20 seconds) and baste the top of the biscuits for the final five minutes of cooking time.

Sweet & Sour Chicken Broccoli With Brown Rice

INGREDIENTS

4 - Boneless skinless chicken thighs

2 - Heads of broccoli florets

1 - Cup of sweet and sour sauce

1/4 - Cup of soy sauce

1/4 - Cup extra virgin olive oil

3 - Cups brown rice (instant)

1 - Tbsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

PREP

Cut broccoli into bite sized pieces. In a large pot fill with water two inches up the side wall. Add 1 tbsp salt. Add broccoli florets and steam until fork tender. Set aside to cool.

Precook instant rice to box directions and set aside. 

Chicken thighs should be thawed and sliced into two inch pieces.

In a large skilled set to medium high add olive oil and swirl pan to coat the bottom. Add chicken thighs, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking chicken until half way done and add garlic powder, sweet and sour sauce, and soy sauce. Continue to cook chicken until done. Add broccoli and make sure everything is coated with the sauce. Serve with a side of brown rice or mix all together.

Serves 6