Crites Family Stuff

Ingredients for 6 servings

• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups peeled, and penny sliced carrots
• 2 cups peeled, diced potatoes
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Pie Crust

• 2.5 cups flour
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 egg
• .25 cup water

Steps

1. Brown hamburger with onion and celery. Salt and pepper to taste. Drain meat. Stir in the carrots, potatoes and soups. Pour this mixture into a 9x13" pan and cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, until potatoes and carrots are tender.
2. Remove foil and top with cheese.
3. Top with the pie crust and bake for 20-30 additional minutes.

To make pie crust:

1. Stir together the flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Make a mixture by beating the egg into the vinegar and water. Mix together and roll out onto a floured surface. There will be extra crust to make cinnamon sugar crisps! Always a favorite with leftover pie crust!<br>

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Description

Years ago, I used to make this casserole for my family because I could serve one of the two pans and freeze the other for another quick meal in the future. I recently made it again for the family, this time for 2 year old granddaughter Livy who loved it. It's nice to go back to old recipes and comfort foods every now and then!

Ingredients for 10 servings

• 1 lb hamburger
• .5 onion, diced
• 8 oz cut tomatoes
• 6 oz tomato paste
• .5 tsp basil
• .5 tsp oregano
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 lb spaghetti noodles
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup Kraft Parmesan cheese
• 16 oz cottage cheese
• 1 lb grated Mozzarella cheese

Steps

1. Cook meat and onions together. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer while pasta is cooking.
2. In a large pot, cook pasta in salted water. Drain. Return drained pasta to pot and add butter. Stir till melted. In a separate bowl beat eggs and Parmesan cheese together. Add to the buttered pasta and mix well.
3. Divide the pasta equally into two greased deep dish pie tins. Spoon 8 oz of cottage cheese onto each pile of pasta. Spread 1/2 lb of Mozzarella onto each dish.
4. Top each dish with the hamburger mixture, dividing it equally between the two tins. Bake at 350 until bubbly, about 30 minutes.
5. If both dishes are not needed, freeze one before baking. Wrap tightly with foil and safe for later. Can be baked frozen but don't preheat your oven and plan for up to 1 and 1/2 hours for cooking time.

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Ingredients for 20 servings

• 3 cups unsalted, roasted or unroasted cashews
• .75 cup granulated sugar
• .5 tsp dried crushed chili
• .5 tsp cayenne pepper
• .25 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp oil

Steps

1. Spread cashews out on a baking sheet and place in a preheated 350 degree oven. Allow to bake about 15-30 minutes until cashews appear golden brown. If your cashews are already roasted, allow to bake for 10 minutes to crisp them.
2. Remove from oven and and slide nuts onto a plate to cool slightly.
3. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and chili flakes and cayenne pepper. Stir. When oil is hot, add the nuts. Stir-fry until the nuts are coated with chili oil.
4. Add the salt and sugar. Stir-fry about 1 minute or until the sugar has dissolved. Don't over-cook, or the sugar will burn.
5. Remove from heat. Slide the nuts onto a sheet of parchment to cool. While cooling, taste-test. Add another sprinkling of dried flakes if not spicy enough or salt to your preference.
6. Store in a covered container when completely cooled.

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Ingredients for 6 servings

• 5 lbs watermelon
• 1 sweet onion
• .25 cup red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• .5 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Steps

1. Cut the seeded melon into bite-sized pieces and set aside. Peel and thinly slice/dice the onion.
2. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, pepper, and whisk until salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in th oil a few drops at a time. Add the mint and adjust the seasonings to taste.
3. In a large bowl, combine the melon, onion, and feta. Pour dressing over the mixture and gently toss until evenly coated. Serve.

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This recipe comes from our friends, Joe and Diana Free who make a killer chocolate chip cookie!

Ingredients for 48 servings

• 1.5 cups granulated sugar
• 1.5 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 5 cups flour
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 11 oz chocolate chips

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix sugars, shortening, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonful about 2 inches apart onto engrossed cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes.

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Description

We served this with fried ice cream and it was delicious!

Ingredients for 10 servings

• 1 pint strawberries, can use frozen
• .33 cup sugar
• 1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

Steps

1. Rinse berries and remove stems. Combine berries, sugar and extract in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up the strawberries.
2. Remove form heat and allow to cool slightly. When cooled enough, transfer into a blender and pulse to reach desired consistency. Serve warm.

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Ingredients for 4 servings

• 2 cups Soy Sauce
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 inches fresh ginger knob, finely grated
• 4 cloves garlic

Steps

1. Combine ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Use sauce as a marinade. When done marinating, drain liquid off meat and place in a saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes and then thicken with corn starch to make a glaze. Brush onto cooked meat.

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This frosting was used on the Red Velvet cupcakes at Annie Crites' wedding reception.

Ingredients for 24 servings

• 1 cup whole milk
• 5 Tbsp flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar

Steps

1. Combine the milk and flour in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk constantly until thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Add the vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cooled milk mixture and beat well. It may look separated, which means you have to keep beating until fully combined. It should be fluffy and light, similar to whipped cream.

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Description

I make these all the time. They are so good and easy!

Ingredients for 8 servings

Dough:

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• .5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2.25 tsp instant yeast
• 1 cup very warm water

Topping:

• .5 cup warm water
• 2 tbsp baking soda
• Coarse salt (optional) Kosher or Sea Salt
• 3 tbsp butter, melted

Steps

1. In a large bowl, place the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Stir to combine. Add the water and mix well, adding more flour as needed to form a soft, smooth dough that clears the sides and bottom of the bowl. Knead the dough by hand or machine for about 5 minutes. It should be soft but not sticky. Lightly dust the dough ball and place it in a plastic bag, leaving room for expansion. Let it rest fro 30-60 minutes.
2. Pre-heat oven to 500ºF. Don't be afraid of the high heat! This is what will help those pretzels brown and stay soft on the inside. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or cooking spray (I use the parchment with cooking spray.)
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface. Divide the sought into 4 strips of equal length. Allow easy piece to rest 5 minutes. meanwhile, combine the 1/2 cup warm water with the baking soda in a bowl. Stir to dissolve the soda. Set aside.
4. Cut each dough strip into 6-8 pieces, about 1- 1 1/2 inches long. Dip each pretzel bite into the reserved baking soda solution and place on the baking sheets. Sprinkle with the coarse salt. Allow to rest uncovered for 10 minutes.
5. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until golden brown, baking one sheet at a time.
6. Remove from oven and brush with the melted butter. Keep brushing the butter on until you've used it all up. It may seem like a lot, but that's what gives those pretzels their ethereal taste. Eat them warm or re-heat in the oven or microwave on low heat.

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I got this recipe from my Japanese friend, Ayumi!

Ingredients for 4 servings

• 2.5 cups COOKED rice
• Oil for sautéing
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of veggies (frozen mixed veggies save time) use some chopped green onions
• .5 cup to 1 cup of chopped meat (ham, chicken, hot dog, bacon)
• 2-3 cloves minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp soy sauce

Steps

1. In a large frying pan, heat enough oil to scramble the eggs till done. Remove form pan and set aside.
2. Add 1-2 more tbsp oil to pan and cook meat, garlic and veggies. When meat is cooked, stir in eggs and the cooked rice. Mix in soy sauce and stir until they are well blended. Season with salt and pepper.

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