In the know.

There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal in the fall and winter, fresh and warm and surrounded by those you love.  It gets darker earlier and the days feel shorter, but that’s just more reason to spend time inside, bundled up and sharing stories with one another over some hot apple cider.

Another way to spend time with friends and make memories with family is through cooking meals together.  Here are 5 family favorites from the residents at Mirador! Pick your favorite, phone a friend, and get cooking!

#1

My Mother’s Spanish Rice
Julia Smith

Serves: 4
Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
‍1 c. long-grain white rice
1 white onion, finely diced
2 tbsp. oil
3 tbsp. tomato sauce
¼ tsp. powdered cumin (comino)
2 cups boiling chicken broth (or water)
½ tsp. salt

Directions:
‍Heat oil in a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.  Cook onion on medium heat until transparent.  Add rice; cook 2 minutes.  Lower heat and add tomato sauce, cumin and salt.  Stir.  Add boiling broth and stir.  Cook on low heat, covered, for 20 minutes without removing lid.  If some water remains after 20 minutes on low, cook a few minutes longer with lid off.  Stir with a fork and serve.

#2

Corn Casserole
Aubrey Bridges

Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Oven temp: 350 °F

 INGREDIENTS:
‍Box of Jiffy cornbread mix
1 can whole corn (drained)
1 can cream style corn
1 c. sour cream
½ c. melted butter

 DIRECTIONS:
‍Mix all together.  Pour in 8x 8" sprayed baking dish.  Quick and tasty!

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‍#3

Tortilla Rollups
Mary Pierce

Serves: 10-15 as snack
Total time: 10-15 minutes

 INGREDIENTS:
‍10 packaged flour tortillas
16 oz. cream cheese (softened)
4 oz. can chopped green chili peppers
4 oz. can black olives
2-3 chopped green onions
3-4 tbsp. picante sauce (mild, medium or hot - to taste)

 DIRECTIONS:
‍Chop green onions first, then add green chilis, black olives,picante sauce and mix thoroughly.  Addmixture to softened cream cheese and stir until well mixed.  Spread mixture evenly onto flour tortillasand roll up like an enchilada.  Coverlightly and chill until cream cheese becomes firm.  Using an electric knife, cut off each end ofroll ups (and sample!)

Slice remaining roll ups ½ - 1 inch wide.  Keep chilled until ready to serve.  Pimentos, paprika, canned ham or other foods can be added as desired - but they are good just plain.

#4

Fresh Apple Cake‍
Nella Young

Total time: Bake 60 minutes
Oven temp: 350 °F

 INGREDIENTS:
‍2 sticks butter
2 c. sugar
2 large eggs
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 c. black walnuts or pecans
4 c. diced apples
½ tsp. salt

 DIRECTIONS:
‍Beat butter and sugar, add eggs, beat again.  Add flour, baking soda, spices and salt, beat again.  Stir in nuts and apples, just until combined. Bake 60 minutes at 350 °F.

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#5

Wookie Cookies
‍Diane Gottlich 

Serves: 5 dozen
Prep time: 20-25 minutes
Oven temp: 350 °F

 INGREDIENTS:
‍3 sticks salted butter - softened
2 c. sugar
3 c. flour
1 c. chopped pecans
1 tspn. baking soda
1tspn. baking powder
2 tspn. vanilla
1 c. Rice Krispies 

DIRECTIONS:
‍Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, except 1 c. Rice Krispies.  Fold the cereal in after mixing all the other ingredients thoroughly. Drop by spoonfuls on baking sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes.
Dust with powdered sugar after cooling.

We hope you enjoy! When you try these recipes, be sure and call our office at
(361) 651-1103 to let us know what you thought. Bon Appetit!  

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