1. What’s your favorite type or shape of pasta?

Rotini and Farfalle (bow-tie pasta)
2. Where do you shop for groceries?

Several places!  I study the grocery ads every week and usually end up going to a couple of different grocery stores, maybe three, to get their specials.  I shop at Brookshires, Albertsons, and Krogers on a regular basis.  Certain things I get at Wal-Mart, Sams, or Super Target because I can get a better deal there.  And then some things I can only get at Central Market, so I go there every three or four weeks.
3. What’s your favorite mayonnaise?
Hellmann’s Light Mayo

4. What is the food in your freezer wrapped/stored in?

Usually whatever it came in.  Or if it’s casserole, I have freezer containers to freeze it in so it’s the right portion for what I need.

This is for real…cake mix in a dinner roll recipe.  It’s interesting!  Maybe you’ve seen this recipe before or even made it.  I haven’t and thought it was a little different, but when I thought about it, I could see how it would work.   I don’t plan to make it anytime soon since I’m trying not to eat much white bread.  But  here’s the recipe for anyone who’s interested:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 package Jiffy White Cake Mix
• 1 package dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
• butter

Combine cake mix and yeast.  Add salt and warm water.  Gradually beat in flour.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour.  Punch down dough and shape into dinner rolls.  Place on greased baking sheet and brush with butter.  Cover and let rise 1 hour or until double in size.  Bake in oven preheated to 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Charlie Gibson talks about his dish for Enchilada Casserole being the most requested recipe in the history of Good Morning America in this clip with Rachael Ray. This recipe is a favorite of the Gibsons, and he first shared this recipe on “Good Morning America” during the 2002 Family Cook-Off Series.   Now it is a favorite of many viewers.

One time, though, Emeril Lagasse intimated that Gibson stole the recipe from him. To keep the record straight, Gibson informed Emeril in an ABC Blog Entry that this recipe was given to the Gibsons 20 years ago by a family friend, Mary Corkran.

Here’s the famous recipe most requested by GMA viewers:

INGREDIENTS:

• 13 ounce package of Doritoes (save 2 cups for topping)
• 10 ounce can of chili with beans
• 10-15 ounce can of enchilada sauce
• 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (save 1/2 cup for topping) (try reduced fat cheese)
  
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 1 1/4 cups sour cream (I would try reduced fat or fat-free)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, crumble 6 cups of Doritoes.  Add the chili, both sauces, 1 1/2 cups cheese (remember to save 1/2 cup), and the onion to the crumbled Doritoes.  Stir gently.   Pour into an 8 1/2 x 11 inch casserole dish.  Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread sour cream on top.  Top with remaining 2 cups of crumbled Doritoes.   Then sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese.  Bake for 5 more minutes.

Val, From Val’s Kitchen, writes, “Hi all! Happy New Year!

Here’s this week’s questions.”

1. Do you have any food related New Years resolutions?
Yes, to go back to eating healthier foods all the time now that the holidays are over.
2. What’s one thing you’d like to learn how to make from scratch this year?
Pie crust like my mother used to make it. (thin, delicate, and flakey)
3. What’s the most unusual thing in your cabinet, refrigerator or freezer right now?
In a front corner of one cabinet, I have one little peanut shell, with the peanuts still in it, that is over a decade old (maybe 12 years old). Our son gave it to me, and now I can’t remember what he said, only that it was said in such a sweet way that it melted my heart. I didn’t mean to keep it this long but…it’s not in the way. 🙂

4. What kind of can opener do you have?

I have a hand-held can opener.  When we got married, we received an electric can opener which we used for years.  Finally, it quit working.  I started using my hand-held can opener until I got one to replace it and decided I liked my hand-held one better.  I never did replace the electric one.  The hand-held opener doesn’t take up any room on the counter, it’s convenient to clean after each use, and I can easily open the tallest can with it.

Val from Val’s Kitchen writes “But Isn’t Eating the Dough Half the Fun?“ Even though I grew up eating raw cookie dough, all the talk about not eating raw cookie dough makes me hesitant and so I refrain from eating it.  Good news, though!  I have a delicious cookie recipe for Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies that our daughter gave me.  And this raw cookie dough is safe to eat because it does not contain eggs.  Now we can safely eat the dough!  Yay!

I really like the taste of fudge and pecans together, so this recipe sounds delicious to me!  

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups pecan pieces, toasted on a cookie sheet for 5 or 6 minutes at 350 degrees
• 16 ounces confectioners sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts, your choice (optional)

Mix sugar and cocoa.  Place cream cheese in double boiler, stirring until melted but not bubbly.  Do not let it cook!  Remove from heat and stir in sugar/cocoa mixture.  Add vanilla, toasted pecans and chopped nuts.  Place in a greased pie plate or dish.  Cool completely and then cut into bite-size pieces.  Store tightly covered in fridge.

For those who like spicy hot snacks:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 pkgs of dry Ranch Dressing Mix (not dip)
• 1/2 cup Canola Oil
• 1 pound bag of pretzels

Mix together first four ingredients.  Pour over pretzels and stir well.  Bake at 200 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Stir every 30 minutes.

Hi all!   Here’s this week’s questions.

1. How do drink your hot chocolate? Marshmallows? From boxed or scratch?

Mostly boxed Swiss Miss but I do make it from scratch part of the time.  No marshmallows, but I do top it with canned whipped cream sometimes.
2. Do you prefer cider hot or cold?

Hot cider!
3. Do you like egg nog?

Yes, but just a little bit is enough for me.
4. How do you make punch?

I don’t.  (except for wedding or baby showers)