Recipe Contest Results

This contest had 9 contenders. You can view the winning posts below.

Started: July 09, 2012

Ended: July 15, 2012

Voting Ended: July 22, 2012

Contest Entries: 9

Winners: Trial and Error Potato Salad.

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Trial and Error Potato Salad

When I was young my daddy always made the potato salad and, at least for me, no other potato salad on earth has ever even come close to being just as good as his. Maybe that's simply because I loved him so much. ;-) He passed away suddenly in 1988 and since it had never dawned on me to ask for his recipe, and because a written copy could not be found among his possessions, it seemed the treasure was lost forever. Isn't it interesting that when we're young we take so much for granted including something as simple as a recipe?

Anyway, over the years I've tried assorted old fashioned potato salad recipes and have asked other family members what they remembered being in it in hopes of finding just the right ingredient combinations. I finally have come pretty darn close, at least close enough to make me happy, but will continue tweaking. Next time maybe one more egg and a tad more celery.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 lbs. red potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 1/2 large or 2 medium dill pickles, chopped
3 extra large hard boiled eggs, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring potatoes to a boil in a large pot, cook until just tender, let drain in a colander and set aside to cool completely.

Stir mayonnaise, mustard, onion, celery, and pickles in a medium bowl until well blended.

Place potatoes back in the cooled dry cooking pot, toss with salt and pepper to taste.

Add mayonnaise mixture, stir well, add eggs, gently toss, and transfer to a large serving bowl.

Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours to chill and let the flavors blend. Stir before serving.

By Deeli from Richland, WA

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Fruit Flavored Granita (Italian Ice)

Granita is to Italy, what snow cones are to America, but you don't need a special machine and it's oh so easy to make. :-)

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups fruit juice of choice

Directions:

Place a large shallow baking pan in the freezer.

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stir until sugar dissolves, remove from heat, and let cool.

Stir in fruit juice; pour mixture into chilled baking pan, place in freezer and stir, beginning with outer edges, every 20 to 25 minutes until ice crystals have formed throughout.

By Deeli from Richland, WA

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Banana Smoothie

Banana and yogurt smoothie.

Ingredients:

2 bananas
2 cups ice
2 cups milk
1 cup vanilla yogurt

Directions:

Cut up 2 bananas and put them in a blender, with 2 cups of ice, 2 cups milk, and 1 cup vanilla yogurt. Blend until smooth and serve.

Source:

By sadie12

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Cake Batter Popcorn

We tried this the other night it tasted great.

Ingredients:

popcorn
melted white chocolate chips
rainbow sprinkles

Directions:

Melt about a cup of white chocolate chips on the stove in a saucepan on medium heat until melted. Pop your popcorn then mix it with your melted chocolate. Then add rainbow sprinkles all over before the chocolate dries. So do it quick. Great party treat!

Servings: 3

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time: 10 Minutes

By coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

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Best Ever Banana Bread

This bread comes out very moist and delicious. I have been making this bread for 30 years. I usually make it as a gift for birthdays. It is the one thing I do well and every bit begs to be eaten.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup mashed bananas
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup oil, any kind
2 eggs

Topping for bread:

Mix 1 tsp. molasses with 1 cup sugar

Directions:

Blend dry ingredients in one bowl.

In another bowl blend sugar, oil, eggs, add mashed bananas. Then fold gently-into flour mixture.

Grease loaf pan before putting the batter in it. Sprinkle topping on and put in the oven. Crushed pecans make it good, too.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour.

Enjoy.

Servings: makes 1 loaf of bread

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cooking Time: 1 Hour

Source: Can't remember where it came from. It's been so long ago.

By Sally from Cincinnati, OH

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Baked Squash

This is a squash recipe that my family really enjoys and is a good way to use yellow and zucchini squash when they threaten to take over your garden!

Ingredients:

3 - 4 small yellow squash
3 - 4 small zucchini squash
1 small onion, diced
1 small pepper, diced
1 cup mayonnaise
2 - 3 eggs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
French's canned fried onion rings

Directions:

Saute yellow and zucchini squash, onion and pepper in saucepan for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix mayonnaise and eggs thoroughly and then add cheese.

Combine all ingredients in a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until set. Top with 1/2 cup French's onion rings about halfway through cooking time.

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time: 35 Minutes

By Fran

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Sweet and Sour Bean Salad

We love the taste and the variety. All you need is in your kitchen. Ten minutes to make and delicious with chicken, beef, and with no mayonnaise, it is a great salad for cook-outs.

Ingredients:

1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil (olive or vegetable)
1 medium onion sliced thinly
1 green pepper sliced thinly
2 (16 oz.) cans green beans
1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans
1 (16 oz.) can whole kernel corn

Directions:

Stir together vinegar, sugar, oil until sugar dissolves. Add onions and peppers stir.

Drain and rinse green beans, kidney beans, and corn. Then add to vinegar and sugar mixture. Stir and refrigerate over night. Serve cold and enjoy.

Get creative and add the vegetable you like and make this simple recipe your own family favorite.

Servings: 8 to 10

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cooking Time: 12 Hours

Source: From mother's old cookbook

By Mary from Oak Ridge, NC

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Banana Spice Bread

A refreshing flavor to making good ole banana bread. Received comments such as "This is banana bread?" and "It tastes different". When it is baking, the aroma is wonderful. Family favorite.

Ingredients:

use your favorite recipe for banana bread
one apple, grated
cinnamon, to taste
nuts, chopped (if desired)

Directions:

Prepare your favorite banana bread batter. Add one grated apple. Add cinnamon to taste. Stir in chopped nuts if desired.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 1/2 hours.

An apple gives the bread an additional moistness. Make sure all ingredients are blended thoroughly.

Source:

By Irene from Williston, FL

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Gluten Free Chocolate Meringue Pie

When your doctor tells you that you are allergic to wheat and eating it can cause serious problems, including cancer, it can seem devastating. No more pie, cookies, and cake, which can be a good thing, but sometimes you just deserve some of this stuff. I have learned that I can have all of this and even bread, but it has to be made gluten free.

Most pies can be made gluten free, but it's the pie crust that is the problem. I make my gluten free pie crust from Pantry Perfect Pie Crust Mix found in the gluten free section at Wal-mart. This mix makes 4 delicious pie crusts. Pre-baking the crust, even when making a pie that you cook in the crust such as a pecan pie or coconut pie, makes a crisper crust. I bake all 4 crusts at the same time and freeze the extras. If you can't find this mix, try ordering it from the website for Gluten Free Pantry products: www.glutino.com

Ingredients:

Pie

5 oz. box chocolate Jell-o cook and serve pudding and pie filling mix
3 cups 2 percent milk
3 egg yolks, beaten with a fork
2 Tbsp. butter

Meringue

3 egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

Cook pie filling over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil. Set aside.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add cream of tartar and beat and gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.

Pour pie filling into pie crust and spread the meringue over filling sealing to edge of crust.

Bake 325 degrees F for approximately 12 minutes or until meringue is golden brown.

Chill and enjoy.

By Betty from NC

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