Cooking with NCAA

Willy believes in March Madness - Willy believes that this week and next - that is whats cooking!

Ingredients:
A little Missouri - a little Memphis

Mix them together.

You get trouble for Memphis.

Good luck to all says Willy

Cooking with NCAA is fun!

Southwest Rub

Willy ran into this rub the other day and it did not even hurt. - Really pretty good.

2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp cider vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp ground red pepper

Combine all ingredients in small bowl. makes about 1/4 cup.

Press rub evenly onto tender beef steaks before grilling - Turn occassionally to avoid burning.

Good stuff

10-4 Willy

Pancake Day February 24th.

In honor of Pancake day that passed this last week with out Willy's knowledge Willy would like to leave a simple Pancake recipe that always pleases the family. Simple and easy it is.

Take the recipe off of the side of a Bisquick box for pancakes.

Add 1/4 cup of sugar to the entire mixture.

Add 1 Teaspoon of vanilla - Pure vanilla if you are lucky to have it if not maybe a touch more of vanilla extract.

Cook according to directions.

The vanilla adds a slightly and lightly unique flavor and the sugar adds just a touch of sweetness.

10-4 Willy

Pies in the oven

Death by Chocolate is the theme of the party.

It is 9:00 am and the Mrs Willy has a chocolate Chess pie in the oven.

Don't know if Willy can wait till evening for the party.

Hungry now.

Will pass along recipe later - Willy knows it will be good.

All for now.

10-4 Willy

Willy wants a Fried Pie Recipe

Willy is looking for anyone out there that has a good fried pie recipe. If you do something special with a fried Pie, let Willy know.

Many say it is in the crust and others say it is in the filling.

Willy knows that a good filling and a good crust are very good.

Let Willy know.

10-4 Willy

Fried Catfish

Willy knows that fried catfish is a southern delicacy. Willy also knows that many will argue about the best way to fry catfish. Will, Willy believes that simple is the best and Willy uses the following as a good easy catfish frying recipe.
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Catfish, cut into strips
Salt
Pepper
Accent
Cayenne pepper
1 egg, beaten
Self rising flour or cornmeal
Oil for frying

Season catfish with salt, pepper, accent and cayenne pepper (if desired). Dip strips into beaten egg and dredge in flour or cornmeal. Deep fry for 5 to 8 minutes and drain oil off strips.

Fantasy Fishing - Fun - Free - Win Cash - cook fish

What more fun than to cook fish - catch fish and play fantasy fishing. Try out fantasy fishing. This is not a paid ad just fun. Join - it cost nothing and is lots of fun. Click picture below.

Ham Stew

The ham that we had for New Years was mostly eaten. However, the lovely Mrs Willy put the bone in the freezer with scrap meat on it.

The bone came out today and became a great Ham Stew.


Ingredients.
Ham bone
Rice
Celery
carrots
corn


All of this was chopped, diced or sliced as deemed appropriate. All thrown in the pot at an appropriate time for all to cook and flavors to blend together.

It will set in fridge tonight and be great stew for tomorrow and next week.

Great on these cold days

10-4 Willy

Grilled Spice-Rubbed Vidalia Onions

Willy is usually into lots of BBQ or fried food. However, Willy ran into this recipe for Vidalia onions that are excellent and kind of crispy but have never seen the deep fryer. - Try this one out - You will like it.10-4 Willy-------------------

Ingredients

2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 Vidalia onions, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/4 cup canola oil

Instructions

1. Heat the grill to medium-high.
2. Whisk all the seasonings together in a small bowl.
3. Brush onion slices on both sides with oil. Rub one side of each slice with seasoning mixture and place rub side down on grill. (You'll have some spice rub leftover.) Grill until golden brown and a crust has formed, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and continue grilling until just thoroughly cooked, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Serve hot or at room temperature. Serves 6.

Jam Bread

This is a recipe that Willy hasn't tried in a long time but remembers it to be really good. It gives a variation from the usual bread.

Try it out and Willy believes you will be surprised.

Jam Bread

1-1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Sticks Butter or Margarine

4 Eggs

3 Cups flour

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Tsp Lemon Extract or approx. 1/4 cup Lemon Juice

1/2 Cup Sour Cream mixed with 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

8 oz. Jam - Any flavor

Mix together and bake in loaf pans 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pinwheels

Willy is still stuck on the Holidays and wants to make sweets. Willy has used this recipe in the past and it gets good results and looks good too. Try out these cookies and you will like them too.

Ingredients

1 18-ounce roll refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts (optional)
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pinwheels

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl combine peanut butter cookie dough and flour; use a wooden spoon to mix well. Divide dough in half.

2. In another large mixing bowl combine sugar cookie dough and cocoa powder; use another wooden spoon to mix well. Divide dough in half.

3. Between pieces of waxed paper, roll out half of the peanut butter dough and half of the sugar cookie dough into 12x6-inch rectangles. Remove the top pieces of waxed paper. Invert one rectangle on top of the other; press down gently to seal. Remove top piece of waxed paper. Tightly roll up into a spiral, starting from a long side. Repeat with remaining dough portions.

4. If desired, sprinkle half of the peanuts onto waxed paper. Roll 1 log of dough in peanuts. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough and peanuts, if desired. Wrap and chill dough logs 1 hour or until firm enough to slice.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut dough logs into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place slices 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

6. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. Makes about 60 cookies.

Make-Ahead Tip: Shape logs of dough; wrap and chill up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month. Thaw frozen dough 3 hours in refrigerator before slicing.

10-4 Willy

Heroes at Home Wish Registry from Sears!!

Red Beans & Rice

· 1 pound pinto beans (approximately 6 cups cooked)

· 2 quarts of tap water

· 1 pound pork sausage

· 1 large onion, chopped

· 4 stalks of celery chopped

· 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

· 2 teaspoons salt

· Good shot of Tabasco Sauce

· Hot Cooked Brown Rice (double the recipe for the rice)

Soak the beans overnight in the tap water, or you can use the quick soak method. Bring them to a boil in the tap water, and then let them sit, covered, on the back of the stove for an hour or two.

After you have done the initial bean preparations let them boil for about an hour or until they are getting tender. While they cook you can prepare the vegetables and the meat. The onion, celery and garlic will need chopping.

Fry the sausage in a large skillet. Crumble it up with a fork as it cooks. Set the sausage aside until the beans have cooked at least an hour.

After the beans have softened up and are getting close to tender, it is time to add the rest of the ingredients. If your sausage is spicy, you may not want to add the Hot Sauce, so taste it before adding any willy-nilly. If your sausage is not spicy then a small shot of Hot Sauce will marry nicely with the rest of the dish. Simmer the beans, sausage and vegetables for about a half an hour longer, or until the beans are all the way tender. I put the brown rice on to cook right before I add the vegetables and sausage to the beans. This gets them both done at about the same time.

Serve this by scooping up a big glob of rice into a cereal bowl. Next ladle a goodly amount of the bean mixture on top of the rice. Eat with black pepper, and a little vinegar on the side, for tangy-ness. I like biscuits and all-fruit jelly with this dish. I make the biscuits right after the vegetables and sausage go into the pot. Enjoy --10-4 Willy

New Recipes

Watch close over the next few weeks for new recipes. Willy helped some but Mrs Willy cooked up some good candy and other stuff over the holidays that are worth sharing.

Not sure of all of the names but one is a snowball cookie along with another Brickle. She did these along with the usual things.

Willy will be sharing some of these recipes and others.

HILLBILLY WILLY SAYS ..........................

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND MAY ALL YOUR TURKEYS

BE DONE ON TIME!

Brickle

AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WILLY'S THOUGHTS TURN TO SWEETS AND CANDY. WILLY CAN HARDLY PASS UP ANY CANDY GOOD OR BAD. THIS IS SOME CANDY THE MRS WILLY MAKES EACH YEAR AROUND CHRISTMAS FOR PARTIES AND TO PUT IN DISHES TO GIVE AS GIFTS FROM HER KITCHEN. THIS STUFF IS REALLY GOOD AND HAS THE HILLBILLY WILLY SEAL OF APPROVAL.
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Quantity Ingredient

1 Pkg White Almond Bark
2 Cups Rice Crispies
2 Cups Peanut Butter Captain Crunch
2 Cups Pecans - slightly toasted in oven

Melt Almond bark in Microwave in large bowl. Stir in Rice Crispies, Captain Crunch and Pecans. Line Jelly Roll pan with wax paper and spread thin layer of mixture in pan. Let set until hardened. Break up into pieces.

Note: Makes great Christmas candy by using the Christmas Rice Crispies which are red and white.

Get ALL your Christmas Flowers here!

Cooking With Willy is not only about the food side of cooking. Sometimes Willy needs to expound on his more cultural side. Today, Willy wants to talk about decorating for that big Christmas party that might be held down at Juanita's Diner.

Yes, decorating for this is important and if left up to Willy it would include lots of flowers. Yes, Willy would also have as a part of his decorating something for all of the guests. Willy would have a Christmas gift basket for each person that attends the party.

Yes, the people that come to Willy's party would be amazed. They would come and see that the Diner was adorned with flower and they would all be amazed that Willy's Christmas celebration used so many great flowers and centerpieces from 1-800 Flowers.

Why you ask would Willy use Christmas flowers and centerpieces from 1-800 Flowers. Well if you go look at their selections you will find that they have some wonderful selections, with reasonable prices and that this would give you as it did Willy the ability to show off a great Christmas Celebration to all of your friends.

Christmas and flowers of Christmas. This is the way Willy would decorate for that great party.

The flowers and Willy's cooking. What more could you want.

10-4 Willy

Beef Pepper Steak

Willy went a little Chinese this week. But the jest is that you can take a cheap steak or leftover meat and make some pretty good fixings from it.

This is real easy and good to eat. Try it.

10-4 Willy

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Beef Pepper Steak Marinade time: 30 minutes to 2 hours Total recipe time: 30 to 35 minutes Makes: 4 servings


Ingredients

1. 1 pound beef top round or top sirloin steak, cut 3/4 inch thick or flank steak
2. 1/2 cup prepared Italian dressing
3. Salt and pepper
4. 2 large bell peppers, any color, cut into 1/8 inch strips
5. 1 onion, cut into 1/8 inch wedges


Instructions

1. Cut beef steak lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/8-inch thick strips. Place beef and 1/3 cup Italian dressing in food-safe plastic bag; turn beef to coat. Reserve remaining dressing for vegetables. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes to 2 hours.
2. Remove beef from marinade; discard marinade. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add 1/2 of beef; stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes or until outside surface of beef is no longer pink. (Do not overcook.) Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining beef. Season beef with salt and pepper; keep warm. Wipe skillet with paper towel.
3. Heat remaining Italian dressing in same skillet until hot. Add peppers and onion. Stir-fry 5 to 6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Return beef and juices to skillet. Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.

Butter Way Rolls!

Nothing compliments a good southern meal better than some good ole rolls.

Here are some of the best.

1-1/2 cup warm water
2 pkg dry yeast
4 cups flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg

Pour warm water in hot a mixing bowl and add yeast. Stir until dissolved. Add half the flour, all the sugar, salt, shortening & egg. Start mixer on medium speed and beat until smooth - about 2 minutes. Add rest of flour and stir in by hand and beat 2 minutes. Cover with damp towel and let rise about 30 minutes. Grease muffin tins - use Pam. Stir down batter in 20 to 25 strokes. Spoon into pans filling hafl full. Let rise in warm place until batter reaches top of pan. About 20 to 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

Yield: 24 rolls

Happy Thanksgiving

Willy is taking Thanksgiving day off and letting someone else cook.

Family together on Saturday to have food and fellowship.

Any great Turkey leftover recipes.

Leave comments here!

Happy Thanksgiving

10-4 Willy

Changes in Recipe Index.

Willy used to put all of his recipes in the sidebar in alphabetical order. However, willy just realized if someone is coming to the site to see new recipes and has already surfed through the others that it would be easier if the last recipe entered is on the top of the list.

So from now on - recipes on top will be the last entered.

So there

10-4 cooking Willy

Eggnog Rum Custard Pie

Willy ran across a recipe and asked Mrs Willy to cook it. It sounded like a good custard pie with a twist. It had rum and eggnog in it. Willy ain't much on the alcohol but has no problem when it is for flavor in a good recipe. Eggnog at this time of the year however is one of Willy's favorites.

Well, she cooked it and Willy ate it and it was good ---- try it out!

1 prepared pie crust

FILLING:

2 c. eggnog
3 eggs
2 tbsp. brandy or rum
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, freshly ground preferred

TOPPING:

1 c. whipping cream
3 tbsp. powdered sugar
1 to 2 tsp. brandy or rum or substitute extract, 2 drops

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare pie crust according to directions. Do not prick crust. Partially bake crust at 450 degrees for 5 minutes. If crust puffs, gently press back to bottom and sides of pan. Reduce to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, beat eggnog, 3 eggs, brandy and vanilla. Add sugar, salt and nutmeg, mix well. Pour into partially baked pie crust. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

In small bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and brandy, beat until stiff peaks form. Garnish pie with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg. Refrigerate any remaining pie. 6 to 8 servings.

Holiday Eyeglass Frames!

Willy just wants everyone to know that Cooking it Up is not just about the recipes but it is sometimes the things that go with cooking and eating and entertaining. So in this time as we approach the holiday's Willy wants you to know that it is important to look good at all times.

What does this mean. Well it means that Willy needs the right clothes, the right shoes and even the right eye ware during all of those elite holiday parties that he will be throwing or will be attending.

Where better to get those great Holiday frames for your glasses than to go to Zenni Optical.

You talk about Willy looking good at those parties or even Mrs Willy. We would both look good in some good looking frames. Yes, Mrs Willy might even look like that Sarah Palin Lady with some new fancy frames.

Man there are a lot for Willy to choose from over there. Lets see which pair would look best on Willy...I see them now. Willy wants something they used to call the Buddy Holly Look. Yes, take a look at these glasses. Willy might even pick up a microphone and sing a little Christmas Karaoke if he looks like this.




Or better yet, lets put Mrs Willy in a great looking pair of glasses. She might like a cat eye looking pair. Check this out!




Mrs Willy would be sly in that pair.

Well, as you can see you might want to get on over to that web site and find the pair of glasses that will put you in style. Holiday frames like those available could make anyone feel great and look great.

Go check it out - good styles, good selection and good prices.

Now lets see what's cooking with our new glasses on!

Corn Casserole

Willy's house is thinking about holiday meals and Willy always puts in the request for good corn Casserole. The lovely Mrs Willy does a great job as well as Daughter Willy on this one. - Try it out. It is sometimes even better a day or two later and heated up under the broiler. A little crustiness on this is really good.


1 - 17 oz can Cream-style corn
1 - 17 oz can whole kernel corn - drained
1/2 cup of water
2 eggs - beaten
1 small box Jiffy cornmeal muffin mix
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp salt
Dash Pepper
1 stick margarine - melted
1 - 8oz carton French Onion Dip

Mix all ingredients except muffin mix; Stir until well blended. Add muffin mix; blend well. Turn into a large,
lightly greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until lightly browned.

Enjoy

10-4 Willy

HAMBURGER STEW

It is getting colder and there is a pot of stew on Willy's stove - thanks to Mrs. Willy.

Simple but really good - better tomorrow than it is today.
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1 lb of ground round.
1 large onion
1 6oz package of small sweet carrots
1/2 of package 12 ozof frozen corn
1 cup of beef bouillon
3 sticks of celery finely chopped
a little ketchup - about 1/2 cup
1 medium 6oz can of stewed tomatoes
a small 6 oz can of tomato suace.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Brown meat and onion - add the rest and let it simmer for an hour or so. Eat - put in fridge and it is better tomorrow.

10-4 Willy