The Great Salt Lake...Utah

Our staycation continues and stops today in the state of Utah.  Home to the Great Salt Lake, Utah is known for it's Mormon population.  It is also recognized as the state with the highest literacy rate in America - impressive!    The largest public employer in Utah is the Utah State Government.  Believe it or not, Utah is home to the countries first department store!

Most of the facts we found about Utah had to do with nature in some form or fashion...here we go:  Utah is home to the world's larges natural-rock span, it' mountain peaks are the tallest in the country, it is home to five national parks, two national recreation areas and six national forests.  Seems like a great place to go and explore when the weather is a little nicer!

Mormon Muffins:

2 cups boiling water
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 quart buttermilk
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups All Bran Cereal
2 cups Bran Flakes Cereal
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Boil water in a large pot,

Add baking soda.

Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, add shortening,

Sugar,

Mix until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs slowly.  

Mix well.  

Add the buttermilk,

Flour and salt,

Mix again.  

Add the soda water very slowly.  Batter will be smooth.

In a very large bowl, add the All Bran,

Then, the Bran Flakes,

Finally, pour in the batter.

Gently fold mixture together.  This is where you would also add the walnuts - I left them out.

Pour into Tupperware containers and refrigerate over night.

In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Your batter will have thickened.

Grease (or paper line) muffin tins.

Drop batter in.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Let sit in pan for five minutes.

 

Cool on wire rack.

Enjoy with a glass of orange juice.  This batter yields 5 dozen muffins.  Eat a few, share a few, freeze a few!  The batter will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week.  Hope you are hungry!

Everything's Bigger in Texas!

As we cook our way across the country, we find ourselves in the Lone Star State - Texas.  Did you know more wool comes from Texas than any other state?  Obviously, it is the top sheep growing area in the country.  Texas also boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.  So what about beef?? I always thought it was the beef state.  Well, the states cattle population is estimated to be near 16 million!

 

Here are a few other things we learned:  Texas is the only state to enter the USA by treaty instead of territorial annexation and it was once an independent nation.  Texas is home to the live music capital of the world and had the first domed stadium in the country.   The world's first rodeo was held in Texas and jalapeno pepper jelly was invented there.


Crock Pot Texas Style Chili:

2 pounds lean stew beef                                                                                      
1 medium onion (sliced)                                                                                                                 

1/2 cup water

1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies 

3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix

1 jar salsa

1 small can green chilies (chopped)

5 adobe peppers (chopped)

Place cut up steak in bottom of crock pot.

Slice onion,

Add on top of meet.

Chop green chilies,

Add to slow cooker.

 

Chop adobe peppers,

Add to slow cooker.

 

Spoon taco seasoning into slow cooker.

Pour in diced tomatoes - do not drain,

Next add in salsa and water.

Cover with lid.

 

Cook on low 8 hours.

When finished, it will smell wonderful throughout your house!

 

Put corn chips in bottom of bowl,

Cover with chili.

Top with sour cream and cheese.

Time to Volunteer in Tennessee...

With a state slogan of Follow Me To Tennessee, it is easy to guess where our next stop is!  Tennessee is known for several things.  It is home to the longest running live radio show in the world, The Grand Ole Opry, and is the Turtle Capital of the World.  Tennessee had the first woman state senator in the USA, and is the birthplace of county music.  It was the last state to secede from the Union during the Civil War, and the first state to be readmitted after the war.

 

 

Tennessee actually means "The Meeting Place."  Here are a few other slogans given to Tennessee:

The Dollywood State, Don't Make Me Take Off My Bible Belt, and Sounds Good To Me.  There are plenty more if you are looking for some laughs...Got Teeth?  The Education State, etc.  The internet is full of them!  The most notable food that originated in Tennessee is the stack cake...we are making a version of it today!

 

 

Moon Pies:

      

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 cup evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup marshmallow creme

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 

Lightly grease a cookie sheet (or use parchment paper to make clean-up easier).

 

To Make Cookie Crusts:

In a large mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup butter,

White sugar,

 

Cream together.

Add egg,

 

Evaporated milk,

Vanilla.

 

Mix well and set aside.

 

In a separate bowl, mix together flour,

Salt,

Cocoa powder,

Baking soda,

 

Baking powder.

Mix well. 

Add flour mixture slowly to sugar mixture while stirring.

Mix just until all ingredients are combined.

Drop the dough onto greased cookie sheet by rounded tablespoonfuls. Leave at least 3 inches in between each one; dough will spread as it bakes.

Here's a close-up...

Bake in preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until firm when pressed with finger.

Allow to cool at least one hour before filling.

To Make Marshmallow Filling:
In a medium mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup butter,

Confectioners' sugar,

Vanilla, 

Marshmallow creme.

Mix until smooth.

Assemble pies by turning over half of the cookies.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls of filling on flat side of a cookie crust,

Then covering filling with flat side of another cookie crust.

 
Enjoy this heavenly treat with a glass of cold milk!  Yum!!!

 

 

Put in fridge to cool...enjoy with a tall glass of cold milk!  These cookies will melt in your mouth!