Happy Birthday

Look who had a birthday!

Daddy turned 51 on Tuesday. Somehow it ‘snuck up’ on him, but Ella and I remembered. I was going to make stuffed tenderloin, but I couldn’t easily find the tenderloins that I know I have out in the deep freeze. I pulled a pork sirloin roast out instead. Sirloin is a weird cut I’ve never seen before. It didn’t have much marble so I headed off to Pinterest to find a way to cook it. I’m glad I did. Even Ella said it was really good, and she’s gotten really picky about pork lately. Here’s the recipe. My roast was just over 4 lbs so I cooked it for longer. So good! In fact, so good I didn’t get a picture – ha ha!!

Colin and Ella have been having a hard time getting through a whole cake before it gets fuzzy. I’ve been making lots of squares since Christmas and that seems to make them happy. I made brownies for Colin’s birthday. And since it’s his birthday I splurged and put icing on. I don’t think brownies need icing. These brownies are Ella safe and work well if you switch the flour for Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Flour. I think the recipe comes from Elizabeth, but I didn’t write it down so now I’ve forgotten.

Brownies

1 1/3 cup flour

1 cup white sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp bk. powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together and pour into a greased 8×8″ pan. Bake 350F for 20 min.

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Recipes

This is our front door this morning.  It was -32C when Colin headed outside to head to the barn.  Our old front door is only a single pane of glass, so not too great in the winter.  It’s a good time to make some comfort food.  I thought I’d share some recipes:

Chili

2 lb ground beef                         2 can tomato soup (don’t dilute)

7 cans (19 oz) kidney beans -drain half  or use 4 cans kidney beans and 3 cans navy beans (drain navy beans)

1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes (don’t drain)

6 onions, chopped

1 small jar sweet pimentos, chopped

6 T chili powder, or to taste

Brown beef and onions, drain if needed.  Add everything else.  Simmer over low heat for a few hours.  Stir fairly often.  Even better when made the day ahead.

Ranch Buns

make ranch spice from Niki’s blog

then make a batch of potato bread dough, adding in 1-2 T of ranch spice:

1/3 c potato flakes                      2 T yeast

2 c warm water                             1/2 c margarine

1 T salt                                              2 eggs, beaten

6 c flour                                            1-2 T ranch spice

Put in the bread machine in the usual order:  wet stuff first, then dry, then flour and yeast on top.  Let rise once.  This is also easy to make by hand.

Roll into golf ball sized balls and place in a greased cake pan (9×9 makes 16).  Let rise then bake 400F for 15 minutes.  Brush with melted butter then sprinkle with Parmesan.

Yummy brownies.  These brownies have a secret ingredient -oatmeal!  But you would never know if you didn’t tell anyone.  This is only half a batch, the recipe makes 9×13

Oatmeal Brownies

1 c oatmeal                        1 c butter

2 c boiling water              4 eggs

3 c brown sugar               2 t vanilla

2 t bk powder and bk soda

2 c flour                                 1 t salt

4 T cocoa

Mix oats, butter and water.  Let cool.  Add all other ingredients.  Pour into greased pan or pans.  Bake 350F for 40 minutes until done.

Chocolate Glaze

3/4 c sugar (brown or white)                1/4 c milk

2 T butter                                                       1/3 c mini marshmallows

1/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bring sugar, milk and butter to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add marshmallows and chips.  Stir till melted.  Let cool a bit.  Pour over cake or brownies.

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