Saturday, June 7, 2025

Pink Salt Trick for weight loss

 Ingredients:

1 glass (8-12 oz) warm filtered water

1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt, finely ground, food grade

1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 lemon)

1tsp raw honey (optional for sweetness)


Directions:

Pour warm water into a glass.  Add Himalayan pink salt and stir until fully dissolved.  Squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Stir in raw honey (optional).  Sip slowly on an empty stomach.

Notes:

Add a pinch of grated ginger.  Omit honey for a low-sugar version.  Use cold water for a refreshing twist.  Add fresh mint for a cooling effect.  Add a splash of coconut water for extra hydration or use coconut water instead of regular water.  Also,  you may prefer the iced version.  Mix everything as usual and then pour over ice.

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Magnolia's Banana Pudding

 

Ingredients:

  • One 8-ounce block cream cheese, at room temperature
  • One 14-ounce sweetened condensed milk
  • One cup whole milk
  • One 3.4 ounce package of instant  vanilla pudding
  • 6 cups Homemade Whipped Cream (recipe follows)  or 1 16 ounce tub Cool Whip, thawed
  • One 11 ounce box of vanilla wafers
  • 3+banans,  sliced or as needed
Ingredients for Homemade Whipped Cream
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of Sea Salts
Directions: 
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on high until smooth  Add the condensed milk, whole milk, and pudding mix beat on High for 2 minutes.  Add half of the whipped cream and beat until combined.  To assemble the pudding, use a 3 quart trifle bowl or clear straight sides bowl.   
Cover the bottom of the bowl with a single layer of vanilla wafers.  Spoon 1/3 of the pudding on top to the dept of approximately 1 and 1/2 inches.  Cover the pudding with a layer of vanilla wafers and then a layer of bananas.  Spread half of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas, then cover with a layer of wafers, followed by a layer of bananas.  spoon the remaining pudding on top of the bananas then smooth the top and cover with a layer of wafers.  Smooth the remaining whipped cream on top and swirl with a spoon.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours or up to one day.

Directions for Homemade Whipped Cream:
In a large bowl, combine the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Beat with an electric beater on high until fluffy and the cream holds stiff peaks when the beater is lifted up.  Use at once or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes.

Monday, May 26, 2025

Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Sour Cream

                                                      


 Ingredients:

6 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes

8 ounces Sour Cream

8 ounces Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Milk

2 tsp onion salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions:

  1. Peel and cut the Yukon Gold potatoes into large cubes and boil in salted water until tender.  
  2. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and then stir in the sour cream, milk and spices.
  3. Drain the potatoes, then mash in the pot, and next stir in the cream cheese mixture.
  4. Spoon into a casserole dish or 9 X 13 pan.
  5. You may cover it and refrigerate for 24 hours, or you may cook it immediately.
  6. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
  7. Increase cooking if container has been chilled.


Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Brownie Mix Cookies


 Ingredients:
(makes 24 cookies)

1 box 18 - 20 oz brownie mix (any brand)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

Mix In Ingredient Ideas:

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/4 cup caramel bits 

1/2 cup crushed Oreos

1/2 cup mini marshmallows

1/4 cup chopped almonds

Swirl 1/4 cup peanut butter into dough before baking

Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with sea salt after baking.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together brownie mix and flour.  Add oil and eggs and stir until fully combined.  The dough will be thick.  Fold in Mix Ins IF using.  

Scoop 1.5 tbsp balls of dough and roll gently if needed.  

Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers look slightly underdone.

Let cool 5 minutes on baking sheet.  Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

For fudgier cookies: Underbake by 1-2 minutes.

For extra decadent: Press a chocolate kiss into warm cookies.

Freeze dough: Scoop and freeze unbaked cookies for up to 3 months.




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Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Crockpot Mississippi Chicken


Crockpot Mississippi Chicken is all about fork-tender, juicy chicken that's bursting with flavor. You've got zesty pepperoncini peppers, ranch seasoning, au jus mix, and butter that slow cooks with it for some seriously amazing flavor. It's the perfect Southern comfort meal!

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 10 pepperoncini peppers
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini juice from the jar
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning powder
  • 1 packet au jus mix
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
Instructions
  1. Spray the bottom of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Add 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts to the crockpot.
  3. Pour in 1/2 cup pepperoncini juice from the jar and then add 10 pepperoncini peppers on/around the chicken.
  4. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 packet ranch seasoning powder and 1 packet au jus mix, then place the pieces of 1/2 cup unsalted butter on top.
  5. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
  6. Shred the chicken, then stir into the sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes and enjoy!

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Hashbrown Chicken Casserole


Ingredients:

1 20 oz bag Frozen Hash Brown Potatoes (Frozen)

2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

1/2 tsp salt and black pepper

1/2 bag (12 oz) Frozen peas and carrots

1/2 cup of sweet corn (canned)

2 cups regular sour cream

1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1/3 cup whole milk

3 cups Rotisserie Chicken

Shredded Bread Crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a 9 X 13 inch baking dish with PAM.  Combine cheddar cheese, peas, corn, sour cream, soup, milk, chicken, salt and pepper.  Stir to mix.

Put hash browns on the bottom of the baking dish.  Spread the cheese/chicken mixture over the hash browns.  Cover the top with bread crumbs.

Bake at 400 degrees for 60 minutes.

Loaded Potato Soup


Ingredients:

1 package (12 oz) bacon

1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion

6 cups chicken broth (from 2 32 oz cartons)

2 lbs. baking potatoes, peeled and cubed

2/3 cup butter

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups milk

1teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 cup cooked diced ham

1 8 oz container sour cream

2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded

3/4 cup sliced green onions

Directions:

In a 12 inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat for 6 to 7 min, drain, crumble, set aside.  Reserve 2 Tablespoons of drippings in skillet.  Cook onion in bacon drippings over medium high heat 6 min. or until almost tender.  In a 6 quart Dutch oven, mix onion, broth, and potatoes.  Heat to boiling; reduce heat.  Cook 10 minutes on low or until potatoes are almost tender.  Stir in flour with whisk until smooth.  Cook and stir 1 minute.  Gradually stir in 2 cups of milk, the salt and pepper.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with whisk, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.  Stir in ham, half of the bacon, sour cream, 2 cups of cheese, and half cup of green onions.  Cook until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.  Evenly top individual servings with remaining bacon, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/4 cup green onions.