New Year's Day Black-Eyed Peas

Ingredients

1 pound dry black-eyed peas

5 cups water or broth (we used chicken broth)

2 cups chopped cooked ham

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 onions, diced
1 large carrot, finely diced

1/2 cup bell pepper

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Rinse and soak beans according to package directions. We did a quick soak which took just over an hour.

Place black-eyed peas in a slow cooker. Add water, ham, diced onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook on high for 4 hours, or until black-eyed peas are tender.

Turkey Seasoning

1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. paprika

1 cube softened butter

Combine all ingredients and put under the skin of your turkey. When we did it a lot of it was in globs under the skin. The cook the turkey like normal. We also cooked the turkey on a cookie sheet covered with foil, both the pan and the turkey.

Cream Cheese Apple Muffins

Beat together:

3 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 c sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c milk

1/4 c butter, melted

1 Tbls Lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

Add:

1 1/2 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Fold in:

1 c diced peeled tart apples

1/2 c bran flakes

Fill greased or lined muffin tins two-thirds full.  

Combine:

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Sprinkle over filled muffin tins.  

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

Baked Apple Pancake

1 c milk
3/4 c flour
2 egg whites
1 egg
1/2 baking powder
2 Tbls sugar
2 Tbls butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)

Preheat oven to 400.

Spray a 10-inch ovenproof skillet with nonstick pan spray.

Combine all the ingredients in blender or food processor;  blend until smooth.  Pour into the skillet.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until puffed and browned.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, combine:

1 apple, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Tbls brown sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Saute over low heat until the apples are softened and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.

Spoon over pancake.  Cut the pancake into 6 servings and serve immediately.

*I double the topping.  I like having more apples on top.

Ann's Crazy Bread

1 Tbls yeast

1 Tbls sugar

1 1/2 c warm water

1/2 tsp salt

3 1/2 c flour

Add sugar to warm water, add yeast.  Mix remaining ingredients and knead for 3 minutes.  Let rise 20 minutes.  Melt 1/4 c butter in 9x13 pan.  Spread dough into buttered pan.  Turning over to coat both sides.  Let rise another minutes.  Sprinkle with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese and Season salt (or cinnamon and sugar).  Score lengthwise and then across the pan in 1-2 inch strips.  Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.

*Start 1 - 1 1/2 hours before ready to eat.*

Peanut Butter & Banana Shake

2 cups milk

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 bananas (broken into chunks)

1/2 cup oatmeal

8 ice cubes

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

For a chocolate version, add 4 tablespoons of Nesquik, or even chocolate slim fast type stuff. It's good, too.

I've also tried tossing in 1/3 cup extra peanuts. That's good, too!

Frozen Lemonade Slush

3 1/2 cups ice

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh or not)

Put it all in a blender and process until ice is finely blended. Makes 2 servings.

For Strawberry Lemonade Slush, add 5 large strawberries (fresh or frozen)