My Favorite Recipes

Stacy and Levi Stone moved to Rosalia in August with their two-year-old daughter, Stella. They had lived in Salt Lake for several years after Levi had graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a degree in agricultural business.

Unable to find employment in the agricultural business, Levi went to work helping a friend in the coin business. He then applied for an opening at McGregor Co. in Oakesdale and was offered the job.

“Moving from Salt Lake City was a big change, but we are both from small towns so it is kind of like coming home,” Stacy said.

The most difficult part of the move was finding a new home. After three weeks of looking for a suitable place to rent, they were offered a home in Rosalia from one of Levi’s new co-workers.

Stacy stays busy caring for Stella and their son, Ezra, now two months old.

All through high school and college, she held a part-time job. Stacy’s mother worked full time, and she thought she would share the same future. However, when Stella was born, Levi was very supportive and encouraged Stacy to be a stay-at-home mom.,

“I am really grateful I can,” Stacy said. “It’s a full-time job without a day off.”

“Levi and I both grew up in large families,” Stacy said with a smile. “We really like getting together with our families and enjoy spending time eating and visiting.”

Stacy loves to try new things, especially new recipes. She looks for new recipes in magazines and on-line.

“I’m not shy. If we eat at someone’s home and we really like the meal, I will ask for the recipes before we leave,” Stacy said. “That’s usually where I get some of the best recipes.”

Stacy enjoys many other activities but has put them on hold to care for her two small children. She has material for a quilt she would like to put together “someday,” and she likes to read but rarely finds time to do so. Right now, she is eager for the weather to warm up so they can spend more time outdoors. A favorite family activity is going for walks and camping. Levi is also an avid rafter.

“There are some days when I feel like I can’t get it all done, clean the house, read or sew all while chasing the children,” Stacy said. “If I can only get one thing done a day it will be to make a good, hot dinner.”

Recipe:

Avocado Dip

2 to 3 medium avocados, diced

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, drained

1 medium red pepper (or any other pepper, depending upon how hot you like it)

6 green onions, chopped

2 tablespoons dried cilantro

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Chill for 2 hours. Serve with scoop chips.

Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

1 teaspoon Cajun Spices/Creole Seasoning

16 ounces spaghetti noodles

3 to 4 chicken breasts, cubed

2 cans Rotelle Tomato & Green Chilies

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Boil water for spaghetti; add Cajun spice until water is light brown. Add noodles and chicken. Cook until done (don’t overcook). In a large bowl, add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Add cooked chicken and drained noodles. Reserve 1 cup liquid to pour over mixture for extra spice and moisture. Pour mixture into 9X13-inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until boiling. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Honey Popcorn

Popcorn: Pop 2 to 3 batches popcorn in hot-air popper. Remove old maids (unpopped kernels) from popped popcorn. Butter and salt, as desired. (Can place popcorn in a brown paper sack to butter and salt.) Divide popcorn into two big bowls to stir honey mixture onto.

Honey: Boil together to soft-ball stage 2 cups sugar, 1 cup honey and 1 cup milk. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and a dash of salt.

Pour honey mixture over popcorn; stir well. (Make sure to stir from the bottom to get all the honey. Popcorn can be stored in an airtight container for about a week.)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Mix above ingredients together. Set aside.

2 sticks butter

3/4 cup brown sugar (plus 2 tablespoons)

1/2 cup sugar (plus 2 tablespoons)

Mix butter and sugar together with mixer.

Add:

2 eggs, large

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix eggs and vanilla into mixture. Add flour mixture. Mix well. Add 12 ounces chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 11 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Let pan sit on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

Cinnamon Rolls

3 cups milk, scalded

1 cup margarine/butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup cold water

4 eggs, whipped

10 to 12 cups flour

3 tablespoons yeast

4 teaspoons salt

Scald milk; add margarine/butter. Stir until melted. Add sugar and dissolve. Add water and whipped eggs. In mixer, place 5 cups flour. Add wet mixture; stir. Add yeast; stir. Add salt and enough flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the mixer. Dough should be sticky. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more flour. Mix on speed 2 for 5 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Place dough on a well-greased counter; roll out into a rectangle. Rub room-temperature butter on dough and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll tight. Cut into 1-inch cinnamon rolls. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. (Dental floss can be used to cut rolls.)

Frosting: Soften cream cheese; beat until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons milk and enough powdered sugar, to taste.