Gooseberry Patch Review and Giveaway: Foolproof Family Recipes

Foolproof Family Recipes

Gooseberry Patch

I'm finally getting back on the blogging wagon and can't think of a better way to do so than to share a new Gooseberry Patch cookbook {and giveaway} with you. Foolproof Family Recipes is easy to get excited about because it contains some of the most original recipes that I've seen in quite a while. It was hard to decide which recipes to test because there were just so many that appealed to me.

When I look through a cookbook, I want to see recipes that are different from ones that I've seen in the past. Yes, it's nice to have a garlic cheese biscuit recipe in several different books, but I need to see recipes that make me stop and think, "Wow, that's different and I want to try it!" I found many recipes with the wow factor in Foolproof Family Recipes.

What kind of recipes appeal to me? Here are a few examples of originality:

• Dreamy Orange Muffins which incorporate orange-flavored yogurt, orange juice, and mandarin oranges. They're topped with a glaze that is a combination of orange juice and powdered sugar. Yes, I want those on my breakfast buffet!
• Mom's Dutch Noodles - Cooked egg noodles thrown into a skillet containing fried bacon and onions. Simple? Yes, but it's fried bacon and onions...the best combination on Earth!
• Double Chocolate Brownies - I love making brownies from scratch so am drawn to brownie recipes. This was a simple, straight-forward recipe that called for butter-flavored shortening instead of butter. I like the option of using shortening if I'm out of butter. Plus, there were two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips thrown in the batter for good measure...
• Party Platter Pinwheels - No party is complete without pinwheels. I'm always on the lookout for an additional pinwheel recipe to add to my repertoire. This recipe appealed to me because it included Dijon mustard and bacon in the spread and was then topped with chopped tomatoes and shredded romaine lettuce before rolling up in the tortilla. Sounds wonderful!

Both of the recipes I chose to feature below struck a chord with me as soon as I read them. The cobbler called for a graham cracker crust and sweetened condensed milk in the filling so it was almost like an apple cheesecake instead of a cobbler. The chicken casserole contained components of one of my favorite recipes that I used to cook years ago. Sadly, I had lost that recipe somewhere alone the way and was so pleased to find this version in Foolproof Family Recipes.

I feel confident that you, too, will find plenty of new recipes to try in Foolproof Family Recipes. Think of the recipes in this cookbook as classics with a twist.



Dutch Apple Creamy Cobbler

Submitted by Laurel Perry

Loganville, GA

Dutch Apple Creamy Cobbler

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

3 tbsp. butter, melted

14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 c. lemon juice

8-oz. container sour cream

21-oz. can apple pie filling

3/4 c. chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

In an 8"x8" baking pan, stir together cracker crumbs and melted butter with a fork. Press mixture down with fork to form a crust; set aside. In a bowl, stir together condensed milk and lemon juice; stir in sour cream. Spread condensed milk mixture over crust. Spoon pie filling over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Combine walnuts and spices in a small bowl; sprinkle on top. Serve warm. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

No-Peek Chicken & Rice

Submitted by Jennie Gist

Gooseberry Patch

No-Peek Chicken & Rice

10-3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup

10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup

6-oz. pkg. long grain & wild rice mix, uncooked

1-1/4 c. water

1 tsp. dried parsley

1/8 tsp. curry powder

4 chicken breasts, or 8 chicken thighs and drumsticks

1.35-oz. pkg. onion soup mix

In a large bowl, mix soups, rice mix, seasoning packet from rice, water, parsley and curry powder. Spoon into a lightly greased 13"x9" baking pan. Remove skin from chicken, if desired. Arrange chicken on top of rice mixture; sprinkle soup mix over chicken. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 2-1/2 hours, or until rice is tender and chicken juices run clear when pierced. Serves 4.

Disclaimer: Gooseberry Patch provided me with a review copy of the cookbook; however, the opinion expressed here is my own.

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