Hot Chocolate

This is a great Hot Chocolate Recipe that you can make and keep for whenever you want some good ole Hot Chocolate!

Easy to make, I usually just use the regular Hershey’s Cocoa (that you find in the baking isle) but we had a few bring the Special Dark Cocoa and we mixed them!  It came out great so depending on what you like better use what you want.

I do however like the regular Hershey’s Cocoa myself over the special dark cocoa.

I have a cooking lifegroup at my church and this semester we did all packing items meaning everyone takes home what we made.  We’ve made caramel, everyone took a jar home and we even made Vanilla!  The vanilla is about ready, we each took home a bottle and shake that bottle once a week and store them inside a dark cabinet wrapped in foil.  They say the darker the environment the better for it to mature. So our vanilla is almost ready, we made it in September.

I also have another Hot Chocolate recipe using Nutella, it is more of a 4-6 cup recipe that you use right, it’s delicious too. However you could make it and store it in the fridge for later then just reheat but of course you would need to use it by the milk expiration date. Here is that recipe.

 https://itsallaboutagoodrecipe.blogspot.com/2013/10/nutella-hot-chocolate.html

The jar in the middle has the Hot Chocolate Mix in it 

Hot Chocolate

2 cups powder sugar

1 cup cocoa powder

1/2 c dry milk powder 

1 tsp salt

1/2 chocolate chips

In a blender, mix everything to make a finer powder to better mix all ingredients and it causes the chocolate chips to melt easier. 

Mix all ingredients together and store in airtight container or jars!

Great for gifts!

Apples - Can They Help With Acid Reflux?

 

I used to suffer from Acid Reflux.  For several years I took Apple Cider Vinegar every night not the famous name brand one because I couldn’t swallow it, I tried.  I found one called Vermont Village, Apple Cider Vinegar and could at least get it down, not great but so much better than the popular brand you get in the store.

I used to have heartburn at least 4 nights a week especially after eating something with cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce in it. My heartburn was in my throat and sometimes in the middle of the night I sat straight up in my bed with burning in my throat.  I slept on my left side like they say to and tried anything I read that could help.

 I discovered Vermont Apple Cider Vinegar at H‑E‑B Grocery store and Walmart also carried it for $2.97 a bottle which was enough for about 7 days, I believe. Then one day H‑E‑B stopped carrying it, eek because I depended on it, but Wal Mart still had it.  I even bought it occasionally by the case at Walmart, 4-6 bottles I think per case. I discovered ordering it by the case from a lady who was restocking the shelf which helped because they often sold out.  Oh and believe you me I would go to several Wal Marts in the area to find it when my store didn’t have it.

 All the sudden I couldn’t find it at Walmart so I started ordering it on Amazon and Iherb 2-4 at a time but the price after Covid was $4.95.  I don’t know if you are like me but often I say before Covid this was $$ cause things cost sooooo much more these days.

I also in the beginning for a long while ate Goli Gummies which was much easier to swallow/chew but not as effective so I still took a swig of the apple cider vinegar and a Goli gummy.  I was even on the Goli auto subscription to get it cheaper!

So for at least 4-5 years I was faithful and never skipped a swig of apple cider vinegar until one day about 4 months ago I ate an apple one night.  That night I didn’t feel like any apple cider vinegar and I didn’t have heartburn that night .  Hmmm I was shocked so every night for almost 4 months, I eat an apple.  Generally around 8:00 pm but sometimes 10 minutes before I go to bed and no heartburn!

Now once in awhile I lay down and feel something but less than a minute it’s gone. I can even turn to my right side which if you know you know it’s usually heartburn city.

I’ve never really been an apple person, I like them but hardly bought them before. Maybe in the Fall and here and there but just wasn’t my thing.  Now I love them and buy them for the week.  My favorite is Honeycrisp and Gala apples.  I’ve bought so many different varieties and love some others too but my favorite are the Honeycrisp and Gala apples.

As I seat down to eat a apple tonight I thought I wonder if this could help anyone else?  So if you suffer and find this to be helpful let me know.

Eating an Apple every night has sure helped me and they say an apple a day keeps the Doctor away!

Secrets to A Good Ole Chocolate Chip Cookie

For the love of the Chocolate Chip Cookie!

I’m not saying my Chocolate Chip Cookies are famous but I get quite a bit of compliments on them.

At my church I lead a group called Random Acts of Kindness, we’ve done random acts to places like The Mansfield Bus Barn aka school bus drivers (all 375 and a few staff) to little care bags for Texas Oncology. It’s just something to brighten someone’s day or to say hey, we see you.  I had no idea they had that many bus drivers!  They were our very 1st act of Kindness and we are thankful for what they do.

So a couple of years ago we made these chocolate cookies for every volunteer in our church almost 400 volunteers!  We spread it out through  the summer by areas like the nursery volunteers to the parking crew.

We made them fresh of course or rather I made them ahead of time and froze the dough balls.  The group came to my house, I baked and they put them in sacks and put tags on them.

Not sure how long I have been doing this but for at least 10 years I have added about a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of instant Oatmeal.  I buy my Oatmeal at Sam’s club in a box with 2 large bags inside.  You want to get  instant, with the instant you don’t even know it’s there but it give the cookie this great texture without even anyone knowing it’s in there.  Then the KEY to the cookie is scooping out all the dough onto a cookie sheet, I line with parchment paper then flash freeze them and put  them in a ziplock bags. It does something to the butter and creates this cookie that has body…like the oatmeal gives it invisible texture and the frozen dough makes them beautiful in a way.  

I store the ziplock bag in the freezer for whenever I want to make some cookies and I often double the recipe to me I’m like might as well.  You can also pop the dough balls in the fridge for about 30 minutes if you are using them right away.  Time will be more like 10-12 minutes to bake since they will not be frozen.

I also under bake them just a tiny bit… like I do 13-14 minutes because I always bake in a frozen dough ball form,  I pull them out of the oven when they have that beautiful light brown color and a light crispy edge. They stay really soft I guess that’s a good description, you get to know when to pull them out of the oven.

Chocolate Chip Cookies 

1 c real butter, softened 
3/4 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

2 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups of flour

1tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (instant) oatmeal

1 bag of chocolate chips - (2 cups)

Preheat oven to 375

Cream butter then add sugars, beat in eggs and vanilla.  In a seperate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda.  Gradually add flour to butter/sugar mixture and oatmeal , add chocolate chips.

Bake for 10-12 minutes….  if using frozen dough 13-14 minutes 

See how the chocolate chips kinda gather in the middle because of the oatmeal and being frozen…you can’t even see the oatmeal and most don’t even know it’s in there!

Some of My Favorite Chicken Places/Restaurants in the Dallas-Ft Worth Area

 I don’t eat out much but when I do eat out I want it to be good.  Of course there are those times that you have to grab something quick and my go to places  are like Chick Fil-a or Mr Jim’s Pizza.

But if I’m going out to eat,  here are a few of my favorite spots for chicken … I’m sure there are many more out there but here are a few of mine.

 I am really picky about Chicken Fingers and won’t order them much but when I do it’s from Bubba Cooks Country, Hall’s Chicken and now Son of a Butcher, two are sit down or take out/drive thru and 1 only take out but better than fast food.  Then Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles and Palmer’s Hot Chicken are both sit down.

Bubba’s Cooks Country

I feel like I’ve been to Bubba’s since they opened?  Year’s ago I posted about Bubba’s and mentioned I had been going since I was  2 years old, nope.  Because it didn’t open until 1981, I was a young teenager so couldn’t of been 2 yrs old, lol.  I believe we went not long after it opened and it’s a special place because my parents loved it so much too.  It was kinda our chicken place, and it is always on point.

The chicken is crispy, the mashed potatoes are creamy, the gravy is on point and the rolls melt in your mouth.  Green Beans taste like they have been cooking all day plus they have breakfast in the mornings.

Oh and Bubba’s owns Babes Chicken and Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes

I’m serious it’s soooooooo good!

Just fyi...I get the reduced portion chicken tenders comes with 1 veg (I get mashed potatoes) and a roll..and you can ask for extra gravy (it's free).  You will want to get another roll!  Check out my roll recipe Refrigerator Yeast Rolls I was determined to find this recipe..this comes very close...found it in Southern Living years ago that was an article about Bubba’s!  Great find for sure!!  Here is the website  

https://bubbascookscountry.com/

Over by SMU in Snider Plaza in Dallas 

 6617 Hillcrest Ave

This is Mrs Boyd with me at Bubba’s one time… I sure loved her ♥️

Hall’s Honey-Fried Chicken

Hall’s Honey-Fried Chicken is another all time favorite that I have been going to for over 35 years.  You can read about their long heritage of family owners from 1948   on their website. It’s truly all in the family.

The chicken and fries come out hot and under the the chicken is a piece of bread then on the side jalapeños, pickles and pickle carrots, the fries are on top.

I often get the 3 piece tenders but find they give me 4 sometimes so I take half home and it reheats well in the oven, the chicken and the fries. 

Comes in this white sack

This is how it looks all covered in fries

 

 The chicken, I dug it out of those fries…so good!

There are 3 locations the Dallas area the one by Medical District is the one I go to but I have been to the others too. 

https://www.hallshoneyfriedchickendtx.com/about

Oh and they only have a drive in or you can walk up, no dining inside.

Son of a Butcher

I have a list of restaurants I would like to try out on my phone and last week I found myself in Alliance, Tx close to Fort Worth, Son of a Butcher is on my list.  I was leaving and spotted a Son of a Butcher so I made a u-turn and decided I hadn’t eaten lunch and it was almost 4:00 pm. Well I thought it could be my lunch and dinner plus I would be in traffic so I could eat in the car since it was a slow roll on the highway and an hour drive home.

I go in and was looking at their menu, so impressed because you actually get alot for your money.

I got the 2 chicken tenders, 1 burnt end slider, half fries and half onions rings then it came with a drink all for $11.99. That was one of their choices the others had different types of sliders like 3 sliders, side and drink.

I get in my car and grab a onion ring… I feel like my mouth dropped open (of course after chewing my food) in awe, like such a light breaded crispy onion ring.  I was actually in shock so then I tried a chicken tender, same reaction!  So light and definitely the chicken and onion rings are hand breaded.  SO GOOD!  It takes a lot to make me supper impressed.  The fries are waffle and good but I will say I liked them but the onion ring won.  I saved the fries, I did eat one or two then saved the rest plus the burnt ends slider and heated them up the next day in the oven.  The slider surprised me because it was also really good even the day after..  I just opened the bun and put both ends onto a cookie sheet to reheat.

I didn’t even take a picture because I was in my car then in shock at how good it was but I’ll post one from their site.

I got this picture off the internet can’t find the tenders alone but there is one in a slider.

They have great packaging…like they spent some money!

Here are a few of their sliders and a milkshake 

Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles

I have a tradition of looking at Christmas light every year and for at least 12 years with my friend Mrs Boyd (who passed away in the summer of 22).  I volunteered at Children’s Hospital for 22 years and I met her at Children’s, she volunteered for many years and won awards for the most hours for many years in a row. I meet her I believe on day one at the clinic we volunteered in and we became very good friends. When she retired I move to another area but I was with her for 10 years.  I’ll write about her one day she was a mess in a good way.

My niece Kirsten joined us several times when she moved to the Dallas area.  I will say Mrs Boyd loved me but she always would say, how is my girl?  Meaning Kirsten, like I thought I was your girl?  lol kinda lol.  I must have gone over to her house 75  plus times maybe even over 100 times over the years and I took so many people over to her house with me at times. 

Mrs Boyd my niece, Kirsten and I went to Grapevine in 2019 to break things up to look at Christmas lights because generally we would go to the Highland Park area of Dallas and sometimes watched the Neiman Marcus downtown Christmas lighting. 

This is at Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles in Grapevine, Tx.

We looked online for a place to eat in the area we would be and choose Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles, it was delicious and we had a really great time. We three got Chicken and Waffles but they have chicken  and gravy, wings and many other things.  I remember it came out hot, I really like my food hot and it came out hot!  I hate it when a restaurant brings food out luke warm.   

My niece Kirsten, Mrs Boyd and myself looking at lights in 2019

Chicken and Waffles

This is their Texas location 1450 TX-114 Grapevine, TX 76051

https://loloschickenandwaffles.com/locations/

Palmers Hot Chicken is another great place to eat and I believe in January 2024 of this year Guy Fieri was there for Diners, Drive-In and Dives. 

They have a variety of chicken like from fried chicken pieces, chicken tenders to rotisserie chicken to chicken wings. They also have sandwiches which they call Sammiches, I haven’t had one of those yet but they sound delicious and look delicious. They also have salads, catfish and shrimp and street tacos so a pretty good variety. 

I’ve gotten the hot chicken and it was pretty tasty, they have great sides too. Guess what, they also have chicken and waffles! 

This year they were at the Texas State Fair, I wasn’t able to go this year but I always try to go every year. 

It all looks delicious, right!

6465 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75214

https://www.palmershotchicken.com/

Costco Business Center

Have you ever been to let’s say a Restaurant and you later tell someone how good it was?  Then they say oh I’ve been there several times!  My first reaction is why didn’t you tell me?

Like “Who Didn’t Tell Me”?

I felt that way when I went with my friend Paula to the Costco Business Center in Dallas off Hwy 75 and Park Ln a couple of years ago, I went with her and stood there and thought why didn’t you tell me about this place?  It’s has my name written all over it!

The Costco Business Center doesn’t have a bakery or clothes not even Rotisserie chicken it’s mainly in bulk for Restaurants but  the average person can find plenty there believe you me.

I have volunteered to help with the food for my churches Jr High and High School summer camp the last 2 years.  Jr Higher’s come the first part of the week, Sunday-Wednesday morning then the High School comes Wednesday evening and go home Saturday morning.

We cook 400 meals a day breakfast, lunch and dinner!  It’s alot of fun and a bit tiring but worth it, we have a great crew of volunteers!

I lead the kitchen crew and decide how much food is needed for the week. At the Costco Business Center they have 24-36 dozen ct eggs, meat in large portions like 10-20 lbs, 300 pieces of bacon in a box to regular gallons of milk.  Oh and many selections of Cheeses and 5 lb bags of various shredded cheese.  Pretty much like a Restaurant Depot but nicer and actually cheaper on most things.

Then their dry goods and canned items are pretty much like a regular Costco, however they do have things that the average Costco doesn’t have. One example is they have about 10 different coffee brands to choose and tons of unique candy in bulk.  Like fun kid candy but also your average everyday candy.  Cookies and snack type package foods plus things like Little Debbie’s.

Lots of cleaning supplies, paper supplies like toilet paper and paper towels.  Take out containers, chaffing pans, brooms, mops and the list goes on.

It’s nice to be able to get almost everything at one place for a large crowd or things for home.

Their veggie section is smaller I feel than your average Costco but their drink area has tons of variety!  Like I don’t drink Monster Energy drinks but they have at least 10 flavors same with Celsius and Red Bull many flavors… I drink none of those but they have variety. Then they have all the soft drinks you can think of and a few extra beverages.

Best thing is if you have a regular Costco card you’re in, requires no special card.  It’s truly fun to just walk around to see what they have.

If you have a Costco Card and find yourself in that area, check it out.  Basically it’s across the Highway from NorthPark Mall.

Chicken Enchilada Soup - Chili’s Recipe

I’ve made this soup so many times!  If you have had Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup, this is the recipe.  I bought some Velveeta cheese recently from Sam’s to make Chicken Spaghetti, at the grocery store it’s so expensive for one, like almost $8 and I’ve seen it over $9 so I spend $4 to get 2 loaves (that’s what they call them loaves). 

So I was like I have velvetta, chicken and pretty much everything else so I made some soup.

Crazy how prices have gone up on everything!  I just ordered Crisco from Sam’s online because there is only 2 Sam’s Clubs in my area that still carry it.  I use it for baking mainly but for $12 you get more than double because it’s $8 and $9 at the grocery store now.  I was ordering some gifts and threw it in my cart since it’s free shipping over $50 (didn’t use to have a limit for shipping). and now I don’t have to drive 20-30 minutes to get it! 

When I order from Chili’s I often get this soup and the more you order or I’ve found don’t order you get free chips using the app. Like the reward for ordering then when I haven’t ordered in awhile they send you free chips to so you will order.  Either way it’s a win win for me….I love their chips and hot sauce.

I’m a doubler so I doubled this recipe, it makes a lot!  I have some friends in mind to take soup to later today.  

Plus I had the extra cheese so I thought why not double it.  

I will say I generally bake my chicken or I use a rotisserie chicken.  This recipe says to boil the chicken but I rarely do that.  I also use Chicken base for broth, I get that at Sam’s or Costco but every grocery store has it. I feel it gives it a heartier flavor.

                      Also this is the Masa Harina I use

Ingredients

For Soup:

• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 chicken breasts (skinless/boneless)
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup Masa Harina 
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup red enchilada sauce
• 16 ounces Velveeta Cheese,  diced into cubes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 
  

For Tortilla Garnish:

• 3-4 corn tortillas
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 
  

For Pico de Gallo:

• 1 medium tomato , diced
• 1 heaping Tablespoon minced red onion
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 handful cilantro (approx. 3 Tablespoons), chopped
• Salt and Pepper , to taste

Instructions

To prepare soup:

1. Add vegetable oil to a large pan. Heat on medium heat. When oil is hot, add chicken breasts to pot; cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, until they are light brown. Remove from pan; set aside.
   
   
   Note- I generally bake my chicken breast in a roasting pan or any pan with a lid.  I add 1 cup of water and a Tbsp of butter, I add that broth at the end to the soup.  Or if I use a rotisserie chicken,  add that good broth at the bottom from the rotisserie to the soup.
   
   
2. Add chopped onion to pan. Cook over medium heat for two minutes,; add the minced garlic then add chicken broth to the onions.
   
   
3. In bowl or large mixing cup, mix the masa harina with 2 cups of water. Mix well, to combine, then add to chicken broth and onion mixture in pan. Whisk well, to combine.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Add remaining water, enchilada sauce, cheese cubes, and spices to the pan. Cook, and bring it all to a boil.
   
   
5. Shred the chicken into small pieces; add chicken to soup. Reduce the heat and let soup simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching on the bottom of pan. Soup will thicken as it cooks. Prepare tortilla strips and pico de gallo while soup cooks. When done, ladle soup into serving bowls, and garnish with pico de gallo and tortilla strips.
   
   

To Make Tortilla Strips:

1. Cut tortillas in half, then cut into thin strips, you can fry them in a skillet or bake at 375 degrees adding some vegetable oil bake at 375 degrees for 5-6 minutes on each side flipping midway through baking, until light brown and crispy.

To Make Pico de Gallo:

1. Combine ingredients in small bowl. Mix well. Taste test; add additional salt/pepper, if desired.

Spicy Beef and Potato Soup

Here in Texas it is finally getting cold!  The low today was 33 degrees and it will warm up to nice 61 degrees.  

So let the soups began!

I thought that I got this recipe from my friend Shari who lives in Minnesota but a couple a years ago I was telling her how much I like this soup.  She had never had the soup so I have no idea where I got this recipe.

I will add about a tablespoon of Chicken Base to give it that heartiness. I do that with other things when it just needs something. I get my Chicken Base at Sam’s but you can get it at any grocery store.  

Also here is a great recipe for cornbread using Bisquick and cornmeal …. Like it’s even good the next day!

https://itsallaboutagoodrecipe.blogspot.com/search?q=Cornbread

 

Spicy Beef and Tomato Soup

1 lb lean ground beef

4 cups cubed peeled potatoes

1 small onion

1 lg can (29oz) tomato sauce

4 cups water

2 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp pepper

1 can rotel  or ½ to 1 tsp hot pepper sauce

1 Tbl chicken Base

 

In a large dutch oven or stick pan brown ground beef, drain the fat.  Add potatoes, onion & tomato sauce.  Stir in water, salt & pepper and rotel tomatoes.  Bring to boil; reduce heat & simmer 1 hour or until the potatoes are tender and the soup has thickened.

I do however cook the potatoes separate in a pan then I drain them and pour into the soup. 

 

Serves 6-8 about 2 qts

Here is the Chicken Base I use, I buy their Beef Base too it’s basically like adding chicken bouillon cubes but better.  I do however love Knorr’s chicken bouillon cubes that would work too.. they are soft and dissolve well.