Annie's No Bake Cookies

My sweet next door neighbor, Annie, brought some of these over today! What a treat! Make a batch during this upcoming holiday season, and you and your guests will love them!!

Happy Holidays from the Nichols Family!

Annie’s No Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar

½ cup milk

1 stick margarine or butter

Combine and bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute

Remove from fire and add:

½ cup rolled graham crackers

2 cups uncooked oats

½ cup peanut butter

2 tablespoons cocoa

½ cup coconut

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix well and drop by teaspoon on wax paper and let set. Then, cover and put in refrigerator.

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake

Here's a brand new recipe for a gooey, delicious cake that you make in a crock pot! If you're looking for something new to surprise the family with this holiday season, this will be a hit-I promise!

Try it, and let me hear from you on how you like it!

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake

1 (18.25 oz.) package German chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 oz.) package chocolate instant pudding mix
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 ¼ cups milk, divided
1 (3.4 oz.) package chocolate cook-and-serve pudding mix
½ cup chopped pecans
1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

1. Beat cake mix, next 5 ingredients, and 1 ¼ cups milk at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Pour batter into a lightly greased 4-qt. slow cooker.

2. Cook remaining 2 cups milk in a heavy nonaluminum saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or just until bubbles appear (do not boil); remove from heat.

3. Sprinkle cook-and-serve pudding mix over batter. Slowly pour hot milk over pudding. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 ½ hrs.

4. Meanwhile heat pecans in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

5. Turn off slow cooker. Sprinkle cake with pecans, marshmallows, and chocolate morsels. . Let stand 15 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly melted. Spoon into dessert dishes, and serve with ice cream.

Winter Season 2010-2011 Climate Outlook

The National Weather Service Office in San Angelo has issued its comprehensive study for the Winter Season climate trends for 2010-2011. I thought you all might enjoy reading their projections for upcoming temperature and precipitation. Next Spring, it'll be interesting to look back on this study!

With La Nina conditions developing this past summer, we can expect La Nina conditions to continue through the upcoming winter season and into the spring of 2011. This may become one of the strongest La Nina events on record.
The temperature outlook indicates an enhanced probability for temperatures to average above normal across West Central Texas during the upcoming winter season.

The precipitation outlook shows slightly enhanced probability for winter season precipitation to be below normal across roughly the northeastern half of West Central Texas, with a greater probability of below normal precipitation across the southwest half of West Central Texas.

Buttermilk Pecan Pie

Of all of the things I cook, here's my most requested dessert! I always have to make two of these, and they only last for one day before they're gone!!

Please send me your comments after you've tried this one! I think you'll find it yummy!

BUTTERMILK PECAN PIE

1 9-inch pie crust
1 stick unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Cream the butter and sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.

Add the vanilla and beat to blend.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down side of bowl after each addition.
Combine the flour and salt. Add to the mixer in thirds, alternating with the buttermilk. Stop to scrape down side of bowl after each addition. Set aside.

Scatter the pecans in the bottom of the pie crust.

Pour the buttermilk mixture over the pecans and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes in preheated oven. Set on wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled before serving.

Sam's Touchdown Wings

Sam’s Touchdown Wings


These are always a hit on Game Day! Try fixing these, and get ready for your “team” to give you a standing ovation, and maybe even a “Game Ball!”

2 ½ lbs chicken wings, third join removed

Egg Wash:
2 eggs, beaten ½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons water ½ teaspoon pepper

Flour Mixture:
1 ½ cups flour
1 tablespoon, plus 1 ½ teaspoon your favorite dry Bar-B-Q rub seasoning
½ cup bread crumbs
1 cup oil (for frying)
1 cup your favorite Bar-B-Q sauce
juice of ½ lime

Wisk egg wash ingredients in medium bowl and set aside. Combine flour and seasoning in plastic bag and set aside. Rinse chicken wings and then pat dry and set aside.

Heat oil in frying pan or electric skillet to 350 degrees F.
Dredge chicken wings in flour mixture. Dip in egg wash. Dredge again in flour mixture and then finish with a coating of bread crumbs.

Fry wings in small batches, not allowing them to touch each other while frying. It usually takes about 15-20minutes. Remove from frying pan or skillet and drain on paper towel. Allow the oil to re-heat and repeat, until all wings are cooked.

Combine Bar-B-Q sauce and lime juice in a large bowl. Stir in chicken wings, making sure to completely coat all wings with the sauce.

Place wings on a baking sheet in a single layer. Finish in oven under broiler for 3-4 minutes. Turn wings over and broil again for 3-4 minutes.

ENJOY!!

Smoked Pork Butt

Like most Texans, I cook brisket all of the time on my smoker, but I also enjoy smoking a pork butt. Here's how I do it! Have some potato salad and a pot of beans on the side...Um-m-m, good!

Enjoy!!!


SMOKED PORK BUTT

Tenderize the meat by poking it with a fork. Season the butt liberally with your choice of seasoning. Poke the meat again to tenderize it some more.Refrigerate overnight in plastic bag.

Place butt on smoker fat side down.
Cook between 200-225.
Meat is done when it’s 165-170 (if you want to slice it)
180-185 if you want to pull it.

MOPPING SAUCE
1 qt. apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
3 TBS. Vegetable oil
2 TBS kosher salt
2 TBS chili powder
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS cayenne

After first hour on the smoker, mop ever hour.

Cool Shrimp Salad

When it gets "August hot" around the Nichols' house, this is one of mine and Sandy's favorite dishes. Try it, and let me know what you think!

Shrimp Salad

1 lb. Cooked Shrimp, peeled
2 Tbsp. Pickle Relish (either Sweet or Dill, your choice)
2 Tbsp. Onion, minced
2 Tbsp. Celery, minced
2 Tbsp. Green onions, minced
1 Boiled egg, minced
3 Tbsp. Mayonnaise (see note below)

Rinse shrimp, and pat dry (you don’t want them to be wet, it’ll make the salad soggy)
Cut shrimp into bite-size chunks
Add dry ingredients and toss.

Add 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise gradually. Mix thoroughly.

Note: You may not want to use all 3 tbsp. of the mayonnaise; it just depends how “dry” or how “wet” you want your salad.

Chill and serve cold with crackers and slices of cheese.

Reflections From the Road

I wanted to share some of my random thoughts following our recently completed wonderful KTAB On the Road Tour. Thanks to the hard work of so many people, I can't imagine anything more successful than our recent On the Road Tour. All of the set-up crew, the engineers, technicians, and the rest of the KTAB family, everything went very smoothly all week long. Of course, Zach Harmon and his band were so professional and entertaining every night.

But, the biggest "Thank You" has to go to all of the Big Country folks that came out to the events in their towns. It was so great to see the community spirit and pride in Albany, Eastland, Sweetwater, Brownwood, and Anson! The crowds were huge, enthusiastic, overflowing with community spirit, and treated us as family! It is so great to live in West Texas where you can drive into any town or community and be treated as "one of the folks!" That spirit isn't just in the towns we visited, but is found all across the Big Country.

I left the tour with a profound sense of thanks for all of the viewers that choose every night to watch KTAB for their news and weather. After our tour, I continue to feel a great sense of responsibility to each and every Big Country resident to provide you with accurate weather information.

When I step in front of the camera in the studio, I'll still see the faces of all of the folks we met on the tour, and give you all the best weathercast possible!

I consider it such an honor and privilege to serve the Big Country as your source for weather information. Wow! Have I got a great job, or what?

Don't wait for our next KTAB Road Tour, but, if you see me out and about in the area, please stop me, and say, "Hello!" I'd love to meet you!

Thanks, again, Big Country, for an unforgettable week On the Road!!

Carribean Marinated Shrimp

Having just returned from The Bahamas, I thought it was only appropriate to post one of my favorite summer-time backyard dishes. Put on some "Island" music, fire up the grill, and enjoy!

As always, your comments after trying my recipes are appreciated!

CARRIBEAN MARINATED SHRIMP

Marinate:
1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 habanero, chopped
4 shallots, chopped
2 lemons, zested
2 limes, zested and juiced to ¼ cup (juice more limes if necessary)
1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup vegetable oil


16 shrimp, cleaned and deveined
8 skewers


Puree all marinate ingredients in a blender. Reserve 2 tablespoons of marinate.

Skewer shrimp and place in marinate, and refrigerate. After shrimp has marinated 2-3 hours, grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side; making sure they are fully cooked.

Serve with a drizzle of the reserved marinate, and garnish with cilantro.

True Confessions About Water

Even though we’re not into the scorching hot temperatures that we’ll see later in the summer months, I want to spend a few minutes “preaching” to myself about the importance of hydration.

Water is the most abundant substance in the body, and ranked by experts as second only to oxygen as essential to life. The World Health Organization recommends drinking 6 to 8 large glasses of water a day. This is their recommendation for normal activity, not taking into account the extra fluid demands of physical activity or hot weather.

True Confession#1: There’s no way that I am close to drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. I drink a lot of unsweet iced tea, so that counts for something, but plain old water, not much!

Experts stubbornly contend that WATER is the fluid of choice (for more reasons than I have space to list) even better than sports drinks.

True Confession#2: I’m a summer guy-I love being outside in hot weather and sunshine. My lifestyle will have me outside quite a lot over the next few months; that’s not going to change.

I know it’s not January 1, but I’m going to make a Summertime Resolution (if that’s permissible) to make a conscious effort to drink more water this summer-for all the right reasons!

Maybe you should join me as I go get me a glass of water!

Get Your All Hazards Radio, Please!

Traditionally, May is one of our most active months for severe weather in West Texas. So far this spring, we have “dodged the bullet” of severe weather, but we need to be ready when our turn comes.

I highly recommend everyone owning a Midland All Hazards Radio. These used to be called “Weather Radios,” but now they have expanded coverage. They now include Civil Emergencies and Amber Alerts, along with the traditional severe weather alerts.

These are very inexpensive, and now would be a good time to get one, get familiar with its operation, and plug it in a prominent place in your home. I’d also suggest you getting one for your workplace as well.

When you buy your radio, find out what kind of batteries it uses for its back-up power source, and get them, too. Many times severe weather knocks off electricity, at least temporarily, and back-up batteries will enable your All Hazards Radio to continue to give you necessary information during storms.

After you plug in your radio, be sure and activate the “Alarm” switch. Then, whenever a severe weather alert is issued for your county, your radio will sound an alarm to let you know the alert has been issued.

Of course, the KTAB Weather Team will be on the air giving you important information to keep you updated during any severe weather situation in the Big Country. To keep you safe, we’ll use our crawl system, our smaller radar image posted on the left-hand corner of the screen, and cut-ins to programming when necessary.

Remember, during severe weather, “You’re not alone.” The KTAB Weather Team will be on the air for YOU!

Answer to Vanita's Question

Red chili pepper is the same thing as red chili powder. The brand I use calls their version "Red Chili Pepper" You can find this usually in the spice section of grocery stores, or sometimes in the Mexican Food section. Let me know if you can't find it!

Sam's Homemade Bar-B-Q Sauce

As it's getting warmer, and many of you are beginning to cook out, I thought I'd post the recipe for my homemade Bar-B-Q Sauce. I use this all of the time! It can be used on everything; chicken, ribs, pork chops, even burgers!

I hope you like it, and want you to post your comments after you've tried it!

Sam’s Bar-B-Q Sauce

½ stick butter
1 cup minced onion
1 cup ketchup
¼ cup Brer Rabbit molasses
2 TBS brown sugar
1 ½ TBS Worcestershire sauce
2 TBS yellow mustard
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp chili pepper (chili powder)


Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat
Add onion, saute’ until soft (about 6 min)
Add all of the other ingredients
Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until sauce thickens (about 10-15 min)

Great on Chicken, ribs, pork chops, or even hamburgers!

Hurricane Forecast Released

According to a recent report from the Colorado State University hurricane forecasting team, the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane season will produce an above-average eight hurricanes, four of them major storms.

The six month season begins June 1, and this study predicts 15 named tropical storms. The team forecast a 69% chance of at least one major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. coastline in 2010.

That's not a very rosy picture for the upcoming Hurricane Season, but the KTAB Weather Team is prepared to make sure all of the Big Country gets comprehensive information on any storms that develop and make their way towards the U.S.

On a side note, some of the heaviest rainfall totals in the Big Country have come as remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms moved inland through Texas.

We'll watch and see how this prediction develops.

Well, in my opinion, March "Came in like a lion!" It was a crazy start,with sleet/snow/and rain all ushering in March 1st. Before we talk about March, here's a brief look back to February 2010:

The normal high/low average for February is 60/36, but this February our average high was 50, and our average low was 32. That gets February 2010 into the record books as the 9th coldest February on record! This winter, which includes the months of December, January, and February, was the 8th coldest winter on record. This winter was also the 7th wettest winter on record.

We had seven inches of snow during February 2010, with four inches falling on February 23rd. We also had 2.18" of rain, with 0.87" falling on February 3rd.

March is typically a month with a variety of weather. I refer to it as a "Transitional Weather Month," and I'm expecting a little bit of everything.

Here's a couple of other folk sayings about March weather:

"As it rains in March, so it rains in June"
"A dry March and a wet May? Fill barns and bays with corn and hay"
"March winds and April showers? Bring forth May flowers"

These are fun, and I've heard them for years; we'll just have to see how true they are this year!

Severe Weather Outlook for Spring

Already this year we have experienced the results of an active El Nino weather pattern. We are over 3.00" above normal for precipitation, and it's just February!

This active El Nino pattern will continue through this spring, and I'm anticipating above average precipitation through the end of May. In addition to increased chances for above normal rainfall, that also means a greater probability for thunderstorms and severe weather.

It's a shame that the beneficial abundant rainfall that we will possibly get these next few months may have some excess baggage in the form of severe weather.

Here at KTAB, we are all ready as we approach severe weather season this spring. We'll monitor any storms, and be sure and keep everyone posted on changing weather conditions.

2010 is Off to a Wet Start

El Nino is delivering as advertised. Back last fall when we first started talking about us moving into an active El Nino winter, I forecast that we would probably have more precipitation than normal during the upcoming winter (December 2009-February 2010).

After a January where we saw record-setting rainfall on January 29^th (2.64”), it’s very exciting to be able to report that we are nearly 2.00” above normal for this time of year. Although it’s still early in 2010, it’s just so nice to say” above normal” when talking about rainfall totals!

Think back one year ago…remember all of the terrible range fires that began in January 2009? They were so widespread because there was so much dry vegetation due to drought-like conditions from December 2008-February 2009. Hopefully, this nice rainfall will help curtail any range fire outbreaks any time soon.

The only request I have is that the temperatures stay well above freezing whenever we get precipitation during winter months. I prefer an “Ice-Free Zone!” Nonetheless, anytime we get precipitation in West Texas, we’re celebrating.

I'm excited about starting this blog! How do you like the title? As a weather forecaster and someone who loves to cook...it just seemed perfect! I'm anticipating a variety of topics here, from weather, to all of you sharing some of your favorite recipes!

Here in January, we're still in the winter season, so let's kick off this blog with some of your favorite "cold weather" dishes. Personally, I remember my Mother cooking a massive pot of stew during cold weather, with potatoes, carrots, onions, corn, and of course, ample amounts of stew meat! The aroma while it was simmering on the stove would torture us for hours while we had to wait! Served with crackers and some cheese...priceless! And what about desserts? During cold weather, my Mom (and Grandmother) both would make hot custard!! If any of you have a hot custard recipe, please send it my way!

How 'bout you? Do you have any memories like that? If so, share them with us, and if you have a special stew or soup recipe...send it to me, and I'll post it here! I'd love to hear your stories and try out your "cold weather" dishes, so email them to snichols@ktab.tv Yum! Yum!