Dinners | Mixes, Ingredients, Recipes

How to Make Family Friendly Dinners with Pigs in a Blanket

December 3rd, 2020Dennis Weaver | Alice Wach0 Comments

Black bread pigs in a blanket with cheese in the center and dipping sauce on the side

I grew up with pigs in a blanket and loved them. My mother wrapped dough around sausages or hot dogs and served them for lunch or dinner. It’s an easy, affordable answer for weeknight dinners, and your family will have a ball. You can make them with a bread mix for an easy meal with lots of flavor options, a biscuit mix for a quick and easy meal, or refrigerated crescent dough for a fast weeknight meal. No matter the method, these pigs are amazingly foolproof and easy with a mix or premade dough. Make Foolproof Pigs in a Blanket …

Merri Ann’s Crockpot Potatoes

November 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

This crockpot mashed potato recipe is the recipe that Merri Ann used for holiday dinner mashed potatoes. It’s a combination of several recipes that she found online with her own simple seasoning.All you do is throw the ingredients into the crockpot and walk away. You’ll have creamy crockpot mashed potatoes with minimal effort. Crockpot Mashed Potatoes: A One-Pot Meal Most recipes called for Yukon Gold potatoes but we used russets. She used seven pounds of potatoes which maxed out a large crockpot. The recipe below is scaled back to five pounds of potatoes. We mashed them right in the crockpot. …

Easy Corn, Pumpkin, and Apple Fritters

September 23rd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

You deep fry these pumpkin, corn, or apple fritters just as you would French fries. The fritter batter mixes together quickly, so this is a quick dish to put together for those evenings when you just don’t have a lot of time. It’s also very economical. At some point, we developed a fritter recipe using apples instead of pumpkin. Then we omitted the pumpkin and made corn fritters. All three are very good, and you can mix and match the syrups you drizzle over top. Choose from our favorite syrup mixes now. Pumpkin Fritter Recipe Pumpkin fritters have always been …

The Starch and the Sauce

September 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Most sauces use starch as a thickening agent to thicken and reduce viscosity. The most common starches are cornstarch and wheat starch, usually in the form of flour. How does this thickening process between starch and sauce work? Understanding the Sauce Before the Starch Sauces come in an infinite variety of flavors and types. The basic dessert sauce is a mixture of a liquid, a sweetener, a fat, and a starch. Dinner sauces are similarly constructed without the sweetener. The sweetener can be sugar, brown sugar, honey, or more. The fat gives a pleasing “mouth feel” to the sauce, usually …

How to Make Easy German Pancakes

July 10th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

German pancakes are scrumptious egg-rich pastries with the texture of a crepe and the sweetness of a buttermilk pancake that your family will love. They’re an impressive dish yet so easy to make because the steam from the hot oven, the pan, and the mix do all the work for you in just fifteen minutes. You can even make the batter the night before to make it even easier. Best of all, you can make a variety of German pancakes so it never gets boring: fruited, sweet, savory, or even just plain with a bit of syrup. Here, we’ll tell …

How to Bake Bread Machine Mixes in Your Oven

June 29th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

You don’t have to own a bread machine to enjoy the variety of bread machine mixes. And you don’t have to make blocky, square loaves with holes in the bottom. You can make wonderful rolls, traditional sandwich loaves, and artisan loaves with or without the aid of a bread machine. In this article, we will tell you how to convert any bread machine mix into great breads by hand or with your stand-type mixer and in the oven. Prepare the Bread Machine Mix: Heat the butter until it is almost melted. (If your mix calls for butter, it will be …

Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops

June 11th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Cheese, bacon, and pork are a great combination, and there’s nothing better than stuffing it all together in a juicy pork chop. These cheese and bacon stuffed pork chops are delicious and are sure to impress the tastebuds, picky eaters, and dinner guests. Who can say no to crispy bacon mixed with creamy melted cheese anyway? We’ll tell you just how to make them. Quick Notes From the Test Kitchen This stuffed pork chop recipe calls for a mild cheese, but suit your preferences. Be sure and close up the opening with toothpicks to keep the cheese from melting out …

Chicken and New Potatoes Skillet Meal

June 5th, 2020rrf0 Comments

It’s hard to go wrong with chicken, new potatoes, and sour cream. This recipe mixes the three in a stovetop skillet meal that is easy and almost foolproof. It’s our favorite. It only has a few ingredients and you don’t have to slave over a five-course meal. Best of all, your family will love this dinner. Chicken and New Potatoes Skillet Meal Recipe Ingredients Chicken thighs or drumsticks salt and pepper to taste new (baby red) potatoes—as many as you choose to fill out the pan 4-6 green onions 1 1/2 cups sour cream 1/2 to 3/4 cup water 1 …

Learn How to Bake Bread on Your Grill

June 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Choose a FREE Bread Mix! Add it to cart and use code “Z123” at checkout. Baking your bread on the grill can provide a nice respite from the midday heat, and you don’t have to add the extra heat into your kitchen while it’s baking. Enjoy the fresh air and fresh-baked bread at the cabin, on the patio, or the next family reunion as your neighbors turn their noses upwind to get a swift of the aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting over the fence. Believe it or not, you can bake your bread on the grill, and we’ll tell you …

Fried New Red Potatoes with Cilantro

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Fried potatoes are a great way to use leftover boiled potatoes. When we boil a pot of new (baby) red potatoes, we always make extra to fry up in skillet meals or use in potato salads. This fried new red potato with cilantro recipe is one of our favorites. Ingredients vegetable oil 1/2 red or green bell pepper, diced 1 medium sweet onion, diced about 6 cups of boiled new, red potatoes, sliced pepper and salt as desired fresh cilantro Directions In a large skillet, sauté the pepper and onion in the vegetable oil. Add the potatoes and salt and …

The Easiest Way to Make Southern-Style Biscuits and Gravy

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

When I was in the South, I ate a lot of biscuits and gravy—in homes and in restaurants. Southerners do a great job with biscuits and gravy. In many classic Southern kitchens, biscuits are a near-daily affair. And if there is leftover meat or ground meat that needs to be cooked, it ends up as biscuits and gravy. I miss those Southern biscuits and gravy. Here’s how to do biscuits and gravy easier than ever. What follows is a classic recipe, hot biscuits and a rich, meaty gravy made with a white sauce, a milk gravy. The Quickest, Easiest Way …

Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

This garlic chicken stir fry is made with roasted garlic and fresh ginger for a great Asian flavor. It’s quick, tasty, and healthy. Just cook the chicken and then stir fry it together with the remaining ingredients. You’ll have a scrumptious, easy dinner in no time. Ingredients 3 cloves roasted garlic 1-inch piece ginger 5 green onions 1/2 small head Napa cabbage 2 large, boneless chicken breasts 1/2 of an 8-ounce package of sliced mushrooms 1/8 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 to 3 tablespoons of soy sauce 1/4 cup roasted peanuts steamed rice or cooked spaghetti Directions …

Roast Chicken with Apple Cornbread Dressing

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

More than the fruits and vegetables of the harvest, the fall season is a season of leftovers. What better way to use leftover cornbread than in an apple cornbread stuffing to pair with roast chicken? The apple and nuts really spice up the familiar flavors of stuffing, making your dinner of leftovers unforgettable. Skillet Cornbread Recipe (with walnuts) Ingredients 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts 4 large eggs Directions Mix the cornmeal with …

How to Form a Bread Loaf

May 18th, 2020Dennis Weaver | Alice Wach0 Comments

We’ve already discussed how to mix bread dough, remembering to allow enough time for your yeast to work its magic and getting your dough just right. Now it’s time to go over how to form a bread loaf. In this article, we will discuss how to form the perfect bread loaf by hand, whether it’s free-standing or going into a bread pan. Basics of Forming a Bread Loaf Forming a bread loaf doesn’t have to be as hard as we often make it out to be. In fact, it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it, and you’ll …

A Guide to Great Biscuits with Biscuit Recipes

May 12th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

When I was growing up in a big country farmhouse, we had biscuits for breakfast—hot, steaming biscuits that we would slap on the plate next to bacon and eggs. We would split them open and slip in a pat of butter, putting the “lid” back so that the butter would quickly melt. Then we would slather them with homemade jam or honey. It was the biscuits that seemed to make breakfast special. Actually, it was a loving mother that took the time to bake for breakfast, enough for five hungry teenage boys and a caboose of a daughter. Later, when …

How to Make Kaiser Rolls

May 11th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Blog Home Prepared Pantry Store Shopping Cart How to Make Kaiser Rolls These Kaiser rolls will “roll” you away. A Kaiser Roll is merely a lean roll, specially shaped, and baked in a steamy oven to make it crusty. Choose a recipe or mix for a lean bread dough—or leave the butter or oil out of the recipe. Make per the directions for rolls including letting the dough rise the first time. So impressive! These rolls will easily look like they cam from a professional bakery. They’re sure to impress the whole family. So easy! No one has to know …

Selecting and Baking Your Holiday Ham

May 10th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Ham is a staple for most holiday dinner tables’ so it’s important to get it right. Use this guide to help select and prepare only the best holiday ham. Learn how to identify the type of ham your family will love and is easiest for you to bake and prepare. Your holiday dinner will surely be a success. This guide is organized in a question-and-answer format for easy reference. What Makes a Quality Holiday Ham? As you may know, a ham is the back leg of a hog that has been cured, changing the texture and flavor of the meat. …

How to Make an Easy Dinner with Pigs-in-a-Blanket using Bread Dough

February 13th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Pigs in a Blanket with cheese in the center

Save up to 60% off on the bread mixes for your pigs in a blanket. I grew up with pigs in a blanket. Loved them. My mother wrapped biscuit dough around sausages or hot dogs. They were quick and easy and her kids were excited about them. She could add a salad and maybe some chips and had an easy meal. A blanket wrapped around a hot dog—or better, a brat—sure beats a store-bought bun. A narrow strip of cheddar down the center of the dog makes them even better.

How to Use Spices in Everyday Meals

February 26th, 2018Dennis Weaver0 Comments

By Dennis Weaver I like cooking with spices. I like exploring and trying something new. Of course, we’re all a bit reluctant to try something new if dinner is on the line. What if I ruin it? What if my family doesn’t like it. I understand that. But in my experience, it’s rare that you make something that just plain doesn’t taste good. The following guide will help you avoid major mistakes but yet give your family new flavors to enjoy. Which Spice Should You Use? What if your kids don’t like anything new? Then you have to stay with …

A Guy’s Blueprint for Valentine’s Day

February 7th, 2018Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Valentine’s Day is just days away. Are you ready to wow your sweetheart? We have dinner in restaurants often. That’s nice, but we do it often enough that it doesn’t have the impact that Merri Ann deserves for Valentine’s Day. When we were first married, those first few years before we were inundated with crying babies and a thousand other things, I made dinner on special occasions—I mean white linens and roses and the best steaks I could buy. (Merri Ann loves a good steak). It’s not a lot of work, it just takes planning. I don’t even know where …