i'm in the mood for food

Mallow Fudge

2011-12-29T09:17:00.000-08:00

Mashmallow Creme Fantasy Fudge

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 jar (7 oz.) Jet-Puffed marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla

*Place sugar, butter and evaporated milk in a saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 4 1/2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and marshmallow creme. Stir until completely melted. Add vanilla and nuts and mix well. Pour immediately into a 9x13 pan and spread to even it out. Leave at room temperature for 4 hours or until completely cooled. Cut into 1-inch squares.

Cheesy Potato Soup

2011-12-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

Cheesy Potato Soup

2 lg spuds peeled and diced
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. flour
2 cans chicken broth
1 can cream of celery soup
3 c. milk
3 c. sharp cheddar cheese- shredded
1/2 c. onion- sauteed (optional)

Boil spuds for 10 mins and drain. Set aside. In a large pot, melt butter. Whisk in flour and add chicken broth. Add spuds and coat. Add milk, soup and onions (optional) and bring to a boil till thickened (About 3 mins). Turn down heat and add cheese. Stir, serve and eat with rolls or bread. So easy and so stinking good!

Tater Tot Casserole

2011-12-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

Tater Tot Casserole

1 1/2 lbs browned hamburger meat
1/2 bag tater tots- maybe a little more
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can milk
2 cups cheese

Pour enough tater tots to cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle hamburger meat on top. Mix soup and milk together and pour over meat and tots. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 mins. Yum yum yum!

Coke Chicken Burros

2011-06-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

My husband took one bite and said, "What is in this?"
At first I thought, oh no...he hates it!
Boy was I wrong.
He said, "These are so freaking good!"
Guess we'll have to make them again, and again, and again!

Coke Chicken
2 large chicken breasts
1 can coke or vanilla coke
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 jar salsa verde

Cook chicken in crock pot on high for 2 hours. Shred. Then add coke, brown sugar, and salsa. Cook for another hour. Roll in a flour tortilla with cheese and sour cream. So good! Enjoy! It would also be yummy on top of chips.

Manicotti Roll Ups

2011-03-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

Don't these look delish?????
It's a different spin on an old fav.
Manicotti is one of our favorite dishes and I'm always trying to find ways to make our favorite foods easier. I'm pretty sure I succeeded and it was a hit. I actually think I prefer them like this.

Manicotti Roll Ups
10 lasagna noodles cooked as directed
1 small container ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 mushrooms washed and diced into small pieces
1/2 zucchini washed and diced into small pieces
handful of parsley chopped
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 jar Marinara sauce ( I prefer Ragu)

Saute mushrooms and zucchini with 1 Tablespoon of butter. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, and half the cheese. Add mushrooms and zucchini and mix. Spread mixture onto lasagna noodles and roll up. In a 9x13 pan, pour a little marinara sauce on the bottom of the pan then place the roll up on top. Pour the rest of the marinara sauce on to roll up and sprinkle remaining cheeses on top. You may want to use more if you'd like. Bake at 400 degrees, 12-15 minutes.

Chix and Dumplings

2010-11-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

The other night I was craving a good creamy soup.
I started looking up recipes for Chicken and Dumplings and came up with my own version.
It turned out super yummy!

Chicken and Dumpling Soup
In a crock pot combine:
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 envelope chicken gravy
6 boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
12 oz bag frozen mixed veggies
salt and pepper to taste
1 can refrigerator biscuits (don't add till the last 15 minutes)

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-7. When chicken is good and tender, remove it, cut into cubes, then add back in. 20 minutes before serving, cut each biscuit in half and then portion each half into thirds and roll into balls. Add as many as you'd like. I didn't use the whole can. Just enough to fill the top with dumplings. Add all the biscuits at the same time, so roll them all and then add them. Each and relax!

Rigatoni~a yummy Italian dish

2010-09-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Rigatoni

1 1/2 pounds browned hamburger meat
1/2 box Rigatoni noodles, boiled and drained
8 oz block mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 jar spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine noodles, hamburger meat, cubed mozzarella cheese, and spaghetti sauce. Pour in a 9x9 baking dish. With your fingers, pull apart chunks of cream cheese and distribute evenly on top. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Bake 10-12 minutes, or till cheese on top is melted. Enjoy!

Dinner in a biscuit

2010-09-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is a quick an easy dinner when you need something quick and easy!

Dinner in a biscuit
1 1/2 pounds hamburger meat
1/2 pkg taco meat seasoning
1/2 small can tom sauce
1/2 c. cheese
2 containers biscuit dough (you will only use part of 1 can)

Preheat oven to baking temp of biscuits, 350 or 375. Add taco seasoning and tom sauce to meat. In a cupcake pan, mold dough inside leaving a spot for the taco meat. Fill each biscuit with taco meat. Bake for 10 minutes. Take out then sprinkle the top with cheese. Bake another 3-4 minutes. You can top these babies with sour cream, salsa, tom, avocado. Super easy and super yummy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

2010-04-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

My kids have ball games starting at 5:15 a couple days out of the week. It's too early to eat dinner at 4:30, but by the time we get home it's almost 7pm leaving no time to make dinner. Not wanting to always stop for fast food I decided using the crock pot was the next best thing. We all LOVE lasagna and I found this recipe in a church cookbook. It was delish and a perfect ending to a sweet ball game!

Crock Pot Lasagna
1 1/2 pounds browned hamburger meat
1/2 jar spaghetti sauce (add more if you like it more saucy)
1/4 c. water
6 dry lasagna noodles
1/2 carton cottage cheese
1 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese

Mix meat, sauce and water. Spray your crock pot with pam cooking spray. Spoon a thin layer of meat onto the bottom of crock pot. Spoon a little cottage on top. Sprinkle 1/3 of both cheeses on top. Break 2 noodles into small pieces in top of cheese. Repeat 3 layers. Cook on low 5-6 hours or high 2-3 hours. Enjoy!

Crock Potin'

2010-01-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

It's been stormy here in AZ this week. Soup has been sounding heavenly! Here's one of our family favs that warms the belly and comforts the soul.

Cheesy Potato Soup- Crock Pot style
1 bag frozen hashbrowns thawed-don't use the shredded kind
1 small block Velveeta cheese- cubed
1 small onion- I like to saute mine in a little butter first
1 16oz tub sour cream
1 pouch Ocsar Mayer real bacon bits
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 stick butter
1/2c. to 1c. milk-optional
Place everything in a crock pot and mix well. It will be thick, but as everything melts it will thin out. Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours. If the soup is too thick for your liking, add 1/2c. of milk or more till desired consistancy. Serve with dinner rolls.

Italian Baked Chicken

2010-01-20T17:58:00.000-08:00

"Mom! I just can't stop eating this!"

Needless to say, this one is a keeper!

Italian Baked Chicken
5 boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
1/2c. water
1 8oz cube cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 box chicken stuffing
1c. Mozzarella cheese
2c. bowtie pasta noodles
Mix Italian dressing with water. Place chicken in a crock pot. Pour dressing over chicken and cook for 3 hours. Shred with a fork. With a hand mixer, blend cream cheese and cream of chicken soup. Pour over chicken and cook for 1 more hour. Boil noodles and prepare stuffing the last 15 minutes of the hour. Drain noodles and place back in the pan. Pour chicken sauce over the noodles and then pour into a 9x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and spread stuffing on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Banana Caramel Tiramisu

2009-10-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 (4 oz) pkg instant Banana Pudding
1 C cold milk
1 1/3 C Caramel Dipping Sauce (your favorite)
1/2 C sour cream
2 C whipped topping
30 Ladyfinger cookies
1 C orange juice
2 ripe bananas-peeled and sliced

Topping:
1 1/2 C whipped topping
1/4 C caramel dipping sauce
ground cinnamon

Directions:

Combine pudding mix and cold milk in a large bowl and whisk to thicken. Add 1/3 C Caramel dip and sour cream. Whisk to combine. Fold in whipped topping.

Dip 15 Ladyfingers in orange juice and arrange on one layer of a 9"x11" pan. Spread 1/2 C of caramel dip over soaked Ladyfingers. Spoon half of cream mixture over caramel and spread into an even layer. Top with half of banana slices. Repeat process with remaining ingredients. For topping, spread whipped topping over all, drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with cinnamon. Store covered in fridge until ready to serve.

Stuffed Peppers

2009-10-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Oh my heavens this is a goodie!
I found this recipe while cutting coupons. I knew coupon cutting was worth it! And this recipe is!

Stuffed Red Peppers
4 lg red bell peppers (I'm sure green would work too)
1 c. minute rice, uncooked
2 Tbs Mrs Dash Tomato Basil Garlic seasoning
1 pound browned ground beef
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 c. bread crumbs (Italian style is delish!)
1 jar marinara sauce
1/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

Remove tops and seeds from peppers. Place in a 9x9 baking dish.
Combine uncooked rice, seasoning, beef, egg, and bread crumbs. Mix well. Stuff mixture into peppers.
Pour sauce over peppers and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or till peppers are tender.

What's for dinner

2009-09-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

We'll be having this.

You can get the recipe here.

I LOVE Picky-Palate.

I'll probably put my own spin on it, cuz that's what I do.

I'll let you know how it all turns out.

I'm already drooling!

Cooking Tricks

2009-09-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

I love to cook and make new things, but I hate spending a lot of time in the kitchen doing so. This last year my life was crazy, but I didn't want my family to suffer and my wallet was too thin for take out and fast food each night. I found a few little tricks that helped me do what a love, feed my family a home cooked meal each night so I thought I'd share some of my cooking tricks.

1. Buy hamburger meat in bulk and cook it up.
It does take a little time to cook up so much meat, but when you have 8 bags of meat cooked and ready to go it cuts cooking time in half! You can do chicken as well. Dice it, shred it or leave it alone.

2. Make a weekly menu
Write out everything you need and add what you don't have to your shopping list. This helps you not spend too much money at the store as well as finding out later that you don't have something for the meal you are cooking.

3. Create a meal list
I was getting stuck in a food rut. Spaghetti or enchiladas. It seemed I was making the same meals over and over again. As soon as I made a meal list I remembered meals I had forgotten about, added new favorites to the list, and was no longer stuck in a rut.

4. Crock pot
I forgot how much I loved my crock pot! Set it, forget it, and when you get home it's ready. You can even put them outside so your house doesn't heat up. That's the last thing we need in AZ!

5. Rhodes Rolls
These bad boys are so yummy! I'm not a baker at all. When I try nothing works out for me. I am so banned from yeast! You buy these in the freezer section and they taste like homemade. I set mine outside for faster rising. They have turned out perfect every time. I like to bake mine in a muffin pan. They end up being pull apart rolls.

So, these are a few little tricks I've found. What are some of yours?

Tamale Pie

2009-08-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

1 1/2 lbs browned hamburger meat

1 small can tomato sauce

1 cup corn-frozen or canned, drained

1 small can sliced or chopped olives-drain if needed

1 small can green chili's

2 cups shredded cheese

1 pgk taco seasoning

2 pkgs crescent rolls

In a greased 9x13 pan, place 1 can of rolls. They roll out like a square, so you just need to spread to the sides. They may come apart a bit, but that's okay. Mix together meat, tomato sauce, corn, olives, green chili and taco seasoning. Spread on top of rolls. Top with cheese. Place the other can of rolls on top of meat mixture. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Top with sour cream.

Salsa Verde Enchiladas

2009-08-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

This recipe freezes REALLY well for up to 3 months. See instructions below on how to thaw and reheat. Ingredients
•1 rotisserie chicken
•1 jar (16- to 17.6-ounce) mild salsa verde
•3 green onions, thinly sliced
•1/8 cup fresh lime juice
•1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
•8 (6-inch) corn tortillas •1/2 container (8-ounce) reduced-fat sour cream
•1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
•1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions
1. Remove meat from chicken and coarsely shred; place in medium bowl (you will need about 2 cups; reserve any extra for use another day). Discard skin and bones. Stir 1/4 cup salsa verde into chicken to evenly coat.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13" by 9" glass or ceramic baking dish; set aside. In 12-inch skillet, heat remaining salsa verde, green onions, and lime juice to boiling on medium-high. Boil 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 tablespoon cilantro; keep warm over very low heat.
3. With tongs, place 1 tortilla in salsa verde mixture; heat 10 seconds. Place tortilla on waxed paper; top with about 1/3 cup shredded-chicken mixture. Roll up tortilla and place, seam side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture.
4. Stir sour cream and broth into remaining salsa verde mixture in skillet; spoon over filled tortillas. Cover baking dish with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon cilantro. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

From freezer: Thaw overnight in covered container. Heat, loosely covered, at 350 degrees F 45 minutes; uncover and heat 10 to 15 minutes longer.

White Chicken Chili

2009-08-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

I'm in a rotisserie chicken phase and have been looking for quick and easy recipes to use it up. This one was FABULOUS! More like a hearty soup than a chili, it is very filling and VERY health-conscious.

1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups cooked, diced Rotisserie chicken meat
1 4 oz. can diced green chiles
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. oregano
kosher salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (optional)
4 sliced green onions (optional)

Heat oil over medium heat in a dutch oven or heavy saucepan. Add onion and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes. Process one cup chicken broth and 1 can cannellini beans in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add to onion and garlic mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium-low. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Top with cheese and green onions.

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

2009-08-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

This meal was super easy and used up part of a rotisserie chicken, which I love. The filling was so good, I'm tempted to use it atop a green salad for a quick fix.

1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, roughly chopped (I used half a rotisserie chicken)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
5 scallions, finely chopped
1/2 cup drained & rinsed black beans
2 tblspns chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup salsa
8 oz shredded cheese
7 flour tortillas
oil for brushing

Preheat oven to 400F. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cumin, oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, scallions, black beans, and cilantro. Add the salsa and cheese. Stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

Brush tortillas on one side very lightly with water then stack on a paper towel. Wrap twel around tortillas and microwave about 25 seconds.

Remove one tortilla from towel and add 1/3 cup of filling to center. Wrap like you would a burrito. Take care not to roll too tightly or the tortilla will tear or burst during baking. Place chimi seam-side down on foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat with other tortillas.

Brush tops and sides of each chimi with oil. Bake for 23 to 26 minutes or until golden and crispy. Serve with additional salsa, cheese, guacamole and sour cream.

Glazed Mini Meatloaves

2009-06-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

(adapted from the Best 30-Minute Recipe)
Makes 4-5 mini meatloaves.

Meatloaves:
17-20 saltine crackers, crushed fine (about 2/3 cup)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground meat (I used a combination of lean ground chuck and lean ground pork)
2 teaspoons oil (I used canola oil)

Glaze:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 teaspoons cider vinegar

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Stir cracker crumbs, milk, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, egg, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Add ground meat and combine until uniform. Shape mixture into oval loaves (I doubled the recipe and got 10 mini loaves, so when I make the recipe without doubling it, I plan to shape into at least 5 loaves - they were definitely big enough to be perfectly filling!).

Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until the oil is rippling. Add meatloaves (without letting them touch sides) and brown well on one side, 3-5 minutes. Carefully flip loaves over and tidy up edges using a spatula (I didn't need to do this - my meatloaves managed to hold their shape really well). Brown on this side for another 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix glaze ingredients together until smooth. Transfer mini meatloaves to a foil-lined baking pan and spoon the glaze over the top of each meatloaf. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the center of the loaf registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer (or do like I do and cut one of the little babies open and if it looks done - pull 'em out of the oven!).

Submitted by Tay Lynn Gudmunson

Chicken with Green Curry Sauce

2009-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

(adapted slightly from Robin Miller)

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon Garam masala
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup couscous, cooked according to package directions
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves

Season both sides of chicken with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 2 minutes per side until golden brown.

In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut milk, green chilies, curry powder, garam masala, and cumin. Add mixture to chicken and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce reduces slightly. The sauce will be quite runny. To thicken it up a bit, I mixed one teaspoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and added it to the sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken. Serve chicken and green curry sauce over couscous and garnish with cilantro.

Submitted by Tay Lynn Gudmunson

I have been so busy and things have been going on every night, so dinner has not been served! Unless you call cold cereal and string cheese dinner. Here's what's for dinner next week! I've got some new recipes to add, so come back!

Monday: Potato Casserole
Tuesday: Scrabbled Omelets
Wednesday: Ranch Parmesan Chicken
Thursday: Loaded burgers
Friday: Homemade pizza
Saturday: out-Dad's home from Scout Camp!
Sunday: Chicken Burros

Dipity Dip

2009-06-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

I love chips and dip, but when summertime hits I'm really in the mood! Especially for guacamole and 7 layer bean dip! My friend gave me this super easy fail proof recipe for the green stuff. Sure to be a crowd pleaser for sure!

Guacamole

3 ripe avocados

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp garlic salt

2 Tbs white onion (optional)

2 Tbs fresh salsa (optional)

I like to add some homemade salsa to half the recipe. It's so good!

7 layer Bean Dip

1 small can refried beans

guacamole (recipe above)

sour cream

shredded cheese

diced tomato

sliced olives

green onion

In a 9x9 dish layer starting with the beans on down. After you add the guacamole, place dish in the fridge for 10 minutes. It will make it more solid to spread the sour cream on top. Serve with chips. yum!

Ranch Bits

2009-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Last night we had steak, veggies and homemade potato ranch bits. They were tasty and fresh!

Ranch Bits
4 medium size baking potatoes
1 Tbs oil
1 Tbs dry ranch packet

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Dice potatoes into bite size bits. Rinse and place in a mixing bowl. Drizzle oil over potatoes and mix making sure each potato is coated. Pour onto baking sheet and sprinkle ranch over potato bits. Bake 15 minutes, or till tender. Homemade and delicious!

Friday night pizza in

2009-05-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

It's Friday night. The mood is right, but your wallet says no way! Here's your answer! Easy as pizza pie!

In a mixing bowl add:

1 packet yeast

1 C. warm water

Then add:

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 TBL oil

2 1/2 C. flour

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place dough in the middle of a greased jelly roll pan and roll out to each side. Bake for 3 minutes. Then pour pizza sauce in the middle allowing a small edge of crust to show around the edges. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top with your favorite toppings. Bake 6- 8 minutes or till the edges are a golden brown. Slice and serve! Don't forget the root beer!

Spuds

2009-05-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a new spin on my fav potato casserole. I'm always looking for ways to create something delish, but not spend a lot time in the kitchen preparing. I don't mind if it takes a bit to bake, I just don't like too much prep time. Usually you slice the potatoes and layer it. I was in a hurry to just get it in the oven that I decided to dice, mix and bake and it was perfect!

Potato Casserole

4 med baking spuds diced and rinsed

1 1/2 pound browned hamburger meat-season with dry onions, salt and pepper

1 can tomato soup

1 1/2 c. shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together diced spuds, hamburger, tom soup and 3/4 c. shredded cheese. Pour in a greased 9x9 baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. It's really good with ketchup on top.

Lasagna

2009-04-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to take a picture of this dish. I'm so bummed because it is so good! And did I mention super easy? Now that's what I'm talking about!

Lasagna
1 1/2 pounds browned ground beef
1 jar Prego, Ragu or store brand spaghetti sauce
1 8oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 8oz container cottage cheese
1 box oven ready noodles or reg. lasagna noodles cooked as directed

Mix together mozrella and cheddar cheese. Set aside.
Mix together meat and sauce. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 425. Layer 4 noodles (oven ready or cooked. I use oven ready because it's so fast!) in a 9x13 pan. There will be some space at the end, so break another noodle in half and fill the space. Spoon 1/2 of the cottage cheese onto the noodles. Pour half the meat mixture onto noodles and sprinkle half the cheese mixture on top. Layer again and repeat. Cover with foil and cook for 1 hour. If using boiled noodles, bake for 30 minutes or till bubbly.
Serve with garlic bread or Texas toast.

Weekly menu

2009-04-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

So, I'm ready to jump back on the dinner bandwagon! I've been slacking in that department for several weeks now. Who am I kidding! It's been months! I used to make up weekly menus and do my shopping around that. I'm going to start that again and hopefully be out of my dinner rut. Though my family has enjoyed cereal and cheese crips for dinner every night, I'm ready for something new! I'll post my recipes too. So, here's this weeks menu:

Monday: Lasagna
Tuesday: Omelets-Something easy cuz it's girls night for mama!
Wednesday: Potato Casserole
Thursday: Chicken Pillows
Friday: to be determined later
Saturday: out
Sunday: Parmesan chicken

Crock Pot Sunday

2009-04-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

This was dinner tonight. So yummy, so easy. I am a huge fan of Rhodes Rolls as well. You buy them in the freezer section. I did mine in a muffin tin. Super easy, super good. You can't mess them up! Just follow the directions on the back.

Pot Roast

1 pot roast

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 can - 3/4 can water

1 pkg onion soup mix

1 pkg brown gravy

1 small pkg petite carrots

3-4 med baking potatoes

Set crock pot to high. In crock pot, mix cream of mushroom, gravy, water and onion mix. Put in roast. In 2 hours, add carrots. In the next 2 hours, add potatoes, cut into chunks. Cook for another 4 hours. It'll be perfect! 8 hours total in the crock pot.

Black & White Cheesecake Bars

2009-04-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

2 cups (12oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
8oz cream cheese, softened
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

In a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate chips and butter, stirring occasionally. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs. Set aside 1/4 cup for topping. Press the remaining crumbs into an ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in milk, eggs, and vanilla. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until completely chilled. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

Chicken Pot Pie in a Biscuit

2009-04-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

2 cans (10 ¾ oz each) cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

¼ tsp dried thyme leaves, crushed

¼ tsp pepper

4 cups cooked diced vegetables (broccoli, carrots, potatoes, peas, your choice)

2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey

1 can (10 oz) refrigerated biscuits

1. In 3 qt baking dish combine soup, milk, thyme and pepper. Stir in vegetables and chicken.

2. Bake at 400^ for 15 minutes or until mixture begins to bubble. Meanwhile, cut each biscuit into quarters.

3. Remove dish from oven; stir. Arrange biscuit pieces over hot chicken mixture. Bake 15 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

2009-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Cup finely chopped onion
1 lb ground turkey breast
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
1 12 oz bag of Broccoli Slaw
1 small can drained water chestnuts
½ Cup Teriyaki Sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Approximately 15 Butter Lettuce leaves (you can also use iceberg lettuce leaves)

1. Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pan over medium heat. When hot, add onion and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Add ground turkey, salt, pepper and garlic salt. Brown and crumble until cooked through.

2. When turkey is cooked, stir in broccoli slaw, water chestnuts, teriyaki sauce and sesame oil. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Reduce heat to low until ready to serve. Serve spoonfuls inside lettuce leaves. Enjoy!

Cookies 'n Cream Banana Bread

2009-04-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Oreos and Banana Bread together? Could there be a better combination? This recipe was taken from picky-palate.com. Jenny Flake has some AWESOME recipes on there. Check it out!

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
4 medium size ripe bananas (or 3 Large bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
15 Oreo cookies, broken into pieces

1 Cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until well combined. Slowly beat in egg, bananas and vanilla until combined. Place flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl. Slowly add to wet ingredients. Stir in Oreos until just combined.

2. Scoop dough into 16 very mini loaf pans or 2 bread pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Muffin tins would work great too. Bake for 28-35 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center.

3. Whisk powdered sugar and cream in a medium bowl until a nice drizzling consistency is reached. Drizzle over top of each bread and serve. Makes 16 mini loaves or 2 full loaves.

Whatcha Got?

2009-04-19T23:14:00.001-07:00

Hey hey ladies!

I'm out of dinner ideas!

Someone needs to post something yummy or I'm heading to Taco Bell!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

2009-03-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

This fabulous side dish is brought to you by Jackie. I've sampled (ate nearly the whole dish) this stuff and it is g.o.o.d.!!

1-8oz pack cream cheese
½ cup frozen chopped spinach (1/2 cup after defrosted and drained)
¼ cup mayo
1 garlic clove (minced)
¼ cup mozzarella cheese
1-14oz can artichoke hearts (drained and coarsely chopped)
½ cup fresh parmesan cheese (grated)
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp garlic salt
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350*

Allow cream cheese to get to room temperature. Cream mayo, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic and basil. Add garlic salt. Mix well. Add artichoke hearts and spinach. Mix until blended. Spray pan with Pam. Pour mixture into pan and top with mozzarella. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes until top is brown.

Zuppa Toscana (knock off from Olive Garden)

2009-02-09T20:50:00.001-08:00

I think we all know by now that I am a soup junkie. Here is my latest fave for all you soup fans out there. This one is good. Mad good. And good for you! I compiled it from a few websites and added my own twist to get it just the way I like it.

1/2 lb. spicy Italian sausage - crumbled
1 qt. water
(2) 14.5 oz. cans (about 3 2/3 cups) chicken broth

2 lg. russet potatoes - scrubbed clean, cubed
2 garlic cloves - peeled, crushed
1/2 med. onion - peeled, finely chopped
2 cups chopped kale OR Swiss chard
1 cup heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper - to taste (the sausage provides a nice salt content, so you shouldn't need much).

freshly grated parmesan cheese for garnish

-In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it; drain, set aside.
-Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
-Add sausage to pot; simmer for 10 minutes.
-Add kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through.

Easy Chicken salad

2009-02-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I'd share a little quick and easy chicken salad. It's great on crackers, whole wheat bread, a bagel or just by itself. It takes 5 mintues to whip up and lasts for a few days depending on how hungry you are! I love it on toasted bread with some lettuce and a tomato. YUM!

Easy Chicken Salad
1 can chicken-drained and shred with a fork
1/2 small red apple-diced
2-3 Tbsp sliced almonds
2 Tbsp mayo
salt and pepper to taste

See, easy. Enjoy!

Week 2 Ingredients: Ground Beef, Pasta & Corn

2009-01-18T23:01:00.000-08:00

The Menu & Recipes:

Southwest Baked Ziti

Stuffed Bacon Cheeseburgers & Pasta Salad (make your own recipe and add 1/2 cup corn)

Shepherd’s Pie

Taco Soup

The Plan:
Brown 3 pounds ground beef in skillet over medium heat. Drain and cool. Separate into thirds and freeze each pound in Ziploc bags for use later in the week. Boil 6 ears of white or yellow corn for 12 to 16 minutes or until tender. Remove from water and cool. Remove kernels from corn, reserve 1 cup and freeze the rest in Ziploc bags for use later in the week.

Prepare Cheeseburgers & Pasta Salad with remaining (uncooked) ground beef and reserved corn.

Southwest Baked Ziti

2009-01-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
• 1 pound ziti noodles
• 1 pound ground beef, cooked through
• 2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with seasonings (green pepper and onion or garlic and oregano, or any flavor you want)
• 1 cup yellow or white corn
• ½ cup sliced black olives
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese, reserve 1 cup, for topping
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat ground beef in a hot skillet over medium. Add tomatoes, corn, olives, thyme and rosemary and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and garlic powder and mix well. Spoon 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish. Top with half of the cooked ziti. Top with half of the cheese mixture. Top with 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Repeat layers (remaining ziti and remaining cheese mixture). Top with remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over top. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Stuffed Bacon Cheeseburgers

2009-01-18T22:24:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
•1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack
•4 slices cooked bacon, chopped
•1 pound ground chuck
•Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
•4 large hamburger buns, split
•Ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard, for serving
•Lettuce, sliced tomato, onion, and avocado, for serving
Directions
Combine the jack cheese and chopped bacon in a bowl. Put the beef in another bowl and season with salt and pepper; use a rubber spatula to mix it in. Flatten 1/4 of the meat mixture in the palm of your hand. Squeeze together about a tablespoon of the cheese and bacon mixture to make a little nugget; put it in the center of the ground beef. Bring up the sides of the patty over the filling, making sure the cheese is completely covered by the meat. Flatten slightly for a nice patty shape. Set them side by side on a platter in the refrigerator while preparing the grill.
Place a large grill pan on 2 burners over medium-high heat or preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal barbecue and get it very hot. Brush the grates with oil to keep the burgers from sticking. Grill the burgers for 8 minutes per side for medium. (The USDA recommends cooking ground beef until it is no longer pink and the internal temperature is 160 degrees F.) Remove the burgers to a clean side plate while you toast the buns.

Rub the grill rack with more oil and place the buns cut-side down, toast for 1 minute. Serve the burgers with your favorite condiment and any garnish you like, such as lettuce, sliced tomato, onion, and/or avocado.

Sheperd's Pie

2009-01-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 small onion
1 pound ground beef
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables or niblet corn, prepared
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 to 10 medium red new potatoes
1 1/2 cups milk
12 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups instant biscuit mix

Directions

Beef Layer: Saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add ground beef. After beef is browned, add tomato sauce; Mix in vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Potato Layer: Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Whip potatoes with electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and sour cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.

Biscuit Layer: Combine biscuit mix and 1 cup milk. The mix should be thinner than normal biscuit mix but not runny.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, or any similar casserole dish. Layer half way up with the mashed potatoes. Next, spread a layer of mixed vegetables or niblet corn on top of potatoes. Then add a layer of the meat. Pour biscuit mix over meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown.

Note: Leftovers make this dish easy to put together. So if you have leftover pork roast or beef roast with gravy and mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner then this is an easy mid- week meal that will take only a few minutes.

Taco Soup

2009-01-18T22:07:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
•1 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained
•1 cups diced onions
•1 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans
•1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans
•1 cup yellow or white corn
•1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
•1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
•1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
•2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles
•1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
•1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
•1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
•Corn chips, for serving
•Sour cream, for garnish
•Grated cheese, for garnish
•Chopped green onions, for garnish
Directions
Sauté onions over medium heat in stock pot. Add in cooked ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese and green onions.

Rosemary Lemon Salmon

2009-01-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 fillet salmon, skin-on, between 5 to 7-pounds
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 bunches fresh rosemary sprigs, plus more, for garnish
Lemon or orange slices

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Using small fish tweezers remove pin bones from the length of the salmon and discard.

Place salmon skin side down on tin foil in a large roasting pan and season with a tablespoon of butter, salt and pepper. Place the sprigs of rosemary and lemon slices over the salmon so that they are overlapping and form a tent over the salmon. Wrap each salmon in the tin foil and roast for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.

Remove the salmon from the oven and bring to a well ventilated outdoor area. Light the oven dried rosemary on fire over the salmon. Let the ash fall over the salmon leaving streaks of concentrated rosemary flavor.

Using a large fish spatula, remove the side of salmon from the roasting pan and place on a platter. Garnish with sprigs of fresh rosemary and lemon wedges.

Week 1 Ingredients: Chicken, Black Beans & Rice

2009-01-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

The Menu:

Southwest Chicken Salad

Chicken Burritos

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas

The Plan:

Bake or Grill 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast (family of four) seasoned lightly with salt and pepper. Cut into 1 inch chunks. Prepare 2 cups of rice (I prefer jasmine or basmati) to use in 3 of the above meals.

The Recipes:

Southwest Chicken Salad

Chicken Burritos

1 cup rice, 2 cups chicken, 1 can black beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cheese, olives, tortillas.

Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Heat 4 cups chicken broth in stock pot. Add 1/2 tray of enchiladas from earlier in week and mash lightly with potato masher. Add 1 cup red enchilada sauce. Heat through. Garnish with sour cream, cilantro, cheese and tortilla chips.

Southwest Chicken Salad

2009-01-10T00:10:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

* 1/2 pound canned black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1/2 cup cooked corn (cut from about 2 ears)
* 1 pounds cubed chicken breasts, cooked
* 1/4 cup minced cilantro sprigs, washed well and spun dry
* 1 avocado, chopped
* 1 head green leaf lettuce, rinsed and roughly chopped

Directions

Toss together and drizzle with dressing (below).

Cilantro & Lime Ranch Dressing

* 1/2 cup ranch dressing
* juice of 1 lime
* 1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

Blend together well and serve over salad.

Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas

2009-01-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
1 cup cooked rice
2/3 cup prepared salsa, mild, medium or hot
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
2 2/3 cups shredded Monterey jack and or Cheddar

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute til heated through.

Stir in black beans, green chiles, and salsa and simmer 5 minutes, until sauce thickens and reduces. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and rice.

Arrange 4 tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with an equal amount of chicken mixture. Roll up tortillas and place side by side in a shallow baking dish. Top tortillas with shredded cheese (1/3 cup per tortilla).

Bake enchiladas 15 minutes, until cheese is golden and gooey!

Makes 8 servings

Introducing: MENU PLANNING

2009-01-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

I've had several people ask for my recipes and weekly menu, so I've decided to post here. Each week I choose two to three main ingredients (generally using what's on sale at my local grocery store) and prep those ingredients for 3-4 meals of the week on one day so I don't have tons of prep time each evening. The remainder of the days in the week we'll have a couple vegetarian meals, leftover night, Dave's night (which usually turns into a fend for yourself night), and a night when we eat together with extended family. Stay tuned for my weekly menu!

Holiday Treats

2008-12-28T23:27:00.001-08:00

Moist Pumpkin Bread
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
2 cups white sugar

1 cup light brown sugar (this makes your bread super moist)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 45-50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Buckeyes-The best chocolate covered treat you'll ever eat! I'm not even kidding.

2 sticks of butter-softened

1 lb peanut butter

1 1/2 boxes powdered sugar

Dipping chocolate

Mix together till creamy. Roll into nickel sized balls and place on wax paper. Melt chocolate into a small bowl. With a toothpick, dip buckeyes into chocolate. Leave a bit of the peanut butter showing. When done, lightly cover the whole in top with the smooth part of a spoon. Chill then serve.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2008-12-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

This recipe is so simple and easy~~~no frying at all! The whole coating with corn starch then frying was always such a turn off to me because half the time the corn starch would come off. This recipe is just as delicious and totally simplified!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
1/4 c. butter
1/2 brown sugar
1 c. chopped green pepper
1/2 c. shredded carrots
2 Tbs. vinegar
1/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. ketchup
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 can crushed pineapple
2-3 lg chicken breast or 4-6 chicken tenderloins (cooked and sliced-I boil mine.)
salt
pepper
garlic salt

Saute first 4 ingredients. Stir in everything else, except the pineapple and chicken. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Cook and stir till mixture boils. Add pineapple and chicken. Simmer for 15 minutes. Serve over rice.

Pumpkin Bread

2008-11-25T20:49:00.000-08:00

Being Thanksgiving and all, I thought it would be fitting for a pumpkin recipe. It's super easy and yummy! Sorry, no pictures tonight. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Pumpkin Bread
1/2 c. oil
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin (a little more than half a small can)
1/3 c. water
1 3/4 c. flour ( I used half wheat and half white)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 c. choco. chips (optional--I used the baby chips)

Mix everything together and pour into 2 well oiled bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 20 minutes. Check and bake for 5-10 more minutes if not done.

Fettucine Alfredo

2008-11-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

This was really good I got the recipe from here. I used a parmesan cheese mix, but I would suggest using just plain parmesaen cheese. I also used tiny bow tie noodles. I like to spice things up a bit!

1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 pint heavy cream
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt
black pepper
2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (preferably fresh)
1 lb fettuccine, prepared as directed -or any other fun noodles
4 boneless skinless chicken tenders grilled and sliced

Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter.
2. When butter is melted, add cream cheese.
3. When the cream cheese is softened, add heavy cream.
4. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Simmer for 15-20 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly.
6. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan.
7. Serve over hot noodles.
8. Add chicken on top.

Baked Oatmeal

2008-10-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

My husband and I go to this diner in Lancaster, PA when we go out to breakfast with my in-laws. The diner serves baked oatmeal. We loved it so much that we searched for a recipe and have tweaked it so it tastes just like the diner.

3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or margerine melted (I always use butter)
2 eggs beaten

Mix all ingredients and spoon into a 9" square baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes

We like to serve it warm and pour milk over it. For us it is one of our comfort foods (that and shepherds pie and chicken pot pie)

Thai Style Barbecue Chicken

2008-10-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from here. We had it last weekend and it was AWESOME and easy!

INGREDIENTS
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
1 lime, zested and juiced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon white sugar
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS
In a medium nonporous bowl, combine the garlic, ginger, lime zest, lime juice, crushed red pepper flakes, water, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Mix well and place the chicken in the sauce, turning several times to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.

Grill chicken over high heat for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Discard any remaining marinade.

Tortilla Roll-ups

2008-10-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to take a picture, but Tortilla Roll-ups are the perfect quick and easy start of any party. Plus, I promise they will be a hit!

Tortilla Roll-ups
1 package tortillas-be creative and use flavored wraps. Sundried tomato is fantastic!
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup finely chopped olives
4 stalks green onion finely chopped
1/2 small can diced green chili
1/2 c. cheese

Mix together cream cheese, olives, onion, and green chili. Lightly spread on a tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top. Roll up tightly and chill for and hour. Slice and serve plain or with your favorite salsa.

Green Chili Chicken Enchilada

2008-09-29T19:51:00.001-07:00

1tb vegetable oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 or 3 cloves garlic or 3-4 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp Taco seasoning
2 cups/4 breasts chicken (cubed)
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup black beans (rinsed)
2 10 oz cans green enchilada sauce
12 medium flour or corn tortillas
2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup cilantro
1 tomato, chopped

1. Adjust oven rack to the middle and heat to 325. Heat oil in a large skillet. Cook chicken with 1/2 the onion until chicken is cooked and onion is clear, then add garlic and 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning. Cook for about 30 more seconds and transfer into a medium to large bowl. Cook the other 1/2 of onion in the same pan (no extra oil) and brown quickly on a higher heat - when nice and brown add 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning and mix well. Transfer to bowl. In same bowl mix in 1 can enchilada sauce, beans and corn.

2. Spray a 9 x 13 pan. I heat each flour tortilla for 15 seconds in the microwave between two paper towels. This makes it easy to work with. Arrange about 1/4 of a cup of mixture in the center of the tortilla, add a little cheese and fold together tortilla - place seem side down in the pan - repeat until all are done.

3.Whisk together one can of green chili sauce and sour cream. Bake corn tortillas 10-12 minutes until browned, flour tortillas 12-15 minutes until crispy (they may not brown the same unless you spray the outside of the tortillas). Spoon sour cream mixture and remaining cheese on top and bake until cheese is melted.

4. Serve with chopped tomatoes and cilantro on top.

Submitted by Petunia

Fettuccine Alfredo

2008-09-25T12:38:00.001-07:00

This was a pretty good dish. It's supossed to taste just like Olive Garden's but it didn't. I could be a bad cook. I don't know. But it was good, so try it.

Fettuccine Alfredo

1/2 c. butter

2 Tbs. cream cheese

1 pint heavy cream

1 tsp garlic salt

salt n pepper to taste

2/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese-fresh is best

1 lb fettuccine, prepared as per box direction (I used bow tie noodles because it was fun)

Melt butter in a medium sauce pan. Add cream cheese. When soft, add heavy cream. Season with garlic salt, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes over low stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese. Serve over hot noodles. Grill up some chicken for some added yumminess.

Easy Potato Side

2008-09-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Good plain or dipped in ketchup, BBQ sauce, etc.
Potato (i do one per big person, 1/2 per littler person)
olive oil
salt
pepper

Chop the potato into little squares (make wedges and then cut horizontally). Spread out in one layer on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray*. Drizzle with olive oil and mix around to spread it to all the potato pieces. Season with salt and pepper or any other seasoning you wish. I use Montreal Steak Seasoning or Seasoned Salt with pepper. I like to mix it up depending on what we're eating.

*you will be grateful when washing the cookie sheet.
Submitted by Tay Lynn

Beefed up Beef Enchaladas

2008-09-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

The other night I was thinking enchiladas for dinner, but beef enchiladas just sounded boring, so I cooked this up in my head and it turned out great!

Beefed up Beef Enchiladas
1 pound browned hamburger
1/2 cup Spanish rice- recipe below
1 cup refried beans
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
1 small can green enchilada sauce
8 corn tortillas

In a 9x9 pan, layer corn tortillas. Dip them in the sauce first. Spread a thin layer of beans on the tortillas, then sprinkle rice on top of the bean, then add the meat and add cheese on top. Layer one more time. Bake at 4oo degrees for 10 minutes, or till bubbly. Top with lettuce, sour cream, hot sauce and olives.

Spanish Rice-I got the recipe from Becoming Betty. It's so good! Plus, most of the ingredients you'll have on hand.
1 cup uncooked rice (not minute rice)
1 onion, chopped (I made it without and it was great!)
8 oz. tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. cumin (I didn't have any, and it still was great!)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
2 cups chicken broth
*Brown rice and onion in a little olive oil on the stove. Add tomato sauce, cumin, garlic and salt. Mix well. Put into a pot with chicken broth. Bring to a boil and then simmer on low, covered, for 20 minutes.
You can also do part chicken broth and part water if you don't have enough broth. Or just use all parts water.

Orange Chicken

2008-09-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

I don't remember where I found this recipe, but we tried it last night and it was SO good!!

2 lbs of chicken, cut into bite size pieces

1/2 c. cornstarch

1/4 c. flour

1 egg

oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbs minced ginger

salt & pepper

Sauce:

1 1/2 tbs soy sauce

1 1/2 tbs water

5 tbs sugar

4 tbs vinegar

zest of one orange

In one bowl, mix cornstarch and flour. In second bow,l mix one egg with salt and pepper for seasoning. On the stove, heat 1 cup of oil in skillet. Dip chicken into dry mixture and then into egg mixture and place in skillet. Fry until cooked through and crispy. Remove chicken from pan and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Drain oil from pan, then add ginger and garlic and fry for one minute. Add sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil. Add chicken back into the mixture and serve over rice.

Parm Chicken

2008-09-06T08:35:00.001-07:00

This was dinner Thursday night. A hit in my house for sure! It's super easy too...And I like easy!

Parmesan Chicken

6-8 boneless skinless chicken tenderloins-you can use fresh or thaw them out from the giant bag I know we all get from Costco-that's what I did. ; )

6 oz spaghetti broken in half

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

oil

3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs or 3/4 cup of buttermilk

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook spaghetti as directed, drain and then place back into pan, but don't cook anymore. In a dish, mix together bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. In another dish, crack eggs or pour in buttermilk. In large frying pan, pour about an inch of oil in the bottom and heat till about medium high. Coat each piece of chicken in the egg or buttermilk. Then place in the bread crumbs and coat. Place in the oil. Continue until all your chicken is frying up. Cook in oil for about 3 minutes then turn them over. Watch them and turn down oil if needed. You don't want to burn them. Stab the chicken with a knife to see if it's still pink in the middle. While cooking, Pour 1/2 - 3/4 spaghetti sauce into the noodles. Eyeball it so it's not too saucy. Pour the noodles into a 9x9 baking dish. When chicken is done, place on top of the spaghetti. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Bake 6-8 minutes, so the spaghetti is heated through and the cheese is melted.

Candied Apples and Carrots- these are delish! Cook while chicken is in the oven.

1/2 bag baby carrots

2 granny smith apples

1 TBS butter

2 TBS brown sugar

Cube the apples. Melt butter in a small sauce pan on medium. Add the apples and carrots. Sprinkle brown sugar on top. Cover and turn heat to low. Cook about 5 minutes or till tender. OR use those Ziploc microwave steamer bags. If you use these, cook the carrots and apples separately. The carrots take about 4 minutes and the apples take about 2. Place in a bowl and mix together.

Caesar Salad

1/2 head romaine lettuces

handful crasins

handful croutons

a pinch or two shredded Parmesan cheese

2 TBS your favorite Caesar dressing

Toss together and enjoy!

Tasty Salsa

2008-09-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

This is my secret recipe. Try it and let me know if you like it as much as we do!

Salsa
1/2 c. fresh cilantro-Pick the leaves from the stems
1 small onion diced- 1 like the white ones
1 small can diced green chili's
2 tsp diced jalapeno-I use canned ones-add more depending how spicy you like it.
1 lime or 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 lg cans diced tomatoes strained

In a food processor or blender, add together onion, cilantro, green chili's and jalapenos and pulse till chopped. Scoop in strained tomatoes. Pulse until desired consistency. I pulse mine pretty well so there are no chunks. If you like chunky salsa, pulse less. Pour into a bowl. Now, you need a bag of chips ready. Squeeze the lime or lemon into the salsa. Stir and add 1/2 tsp of salt. Taste. Does it need more salt? Add more if needed. It's also yummy with chunks of avocado. The lemon or lime keeps it from turning brown. Enjoy!

Chicken on the Brain!

2008-08-20T22:00:00.001-07:00

This picture doesn't do this super easy dish justice at all! I don't even know what to call it! Got 20 minutes, 3 ingredients and a side dish?!?

Chicken Dinner

1 box chicken stuffing

8 boneless/skinless chicken tenders

3 slices provolone cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a baking dish place 8 boneless skinless chicken tenders and bake. While chicken is in the oven make stuffing according to directions. When stuffing is done, remove chicken from the oven. Place cheese over chicken and then pour stuffing on top. Bake for another 10minutes. Serve with a salad or a yummy veggie.

Mini Chicken Pesto Pizzas

2008-08-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup basil pesto
4 english muffins, halved
1 cup cooked chicken breast strips (I marinate mine in Italian dressing and tabasco before cooking)
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Spread pesto sauce over english muffins. Arrange chicken pieces and sundried tomatoes over the sauce, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and lightly browned at the edges.

This is a knock-off recipe of Oregano's Chicken Pesto Pizza. It is TO DIE FOR and so easy!!

Gazpacho

2008-08-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Another dish from the gathering I went to last night. I was like salsa soup!

Gazpacho

Warning: this is not so much a recipe as it is a list of ingredients with very relative percentages.

Equipment: Large glass or plastic bowl or tupperware containerCuisinartCutting Board and Knife
Ingredients:
Ripe tomatoes
Onions/ScallionsCucumbers (remove seeds)
Green Peppers
Jalapeno Pepper
Cilantro
Celery
V-8 or Tomato Juice
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Oregano
Lemon and/or Lime Juice
Red Wine Vinegar
Oil
Instructions:
Chop green peppers by hand into a very fine dice.Chop all other veggies in Cuisinart until finely diced.Toss everything into large bowl and add V-8 or Tomato Juice, Lemon and/or Lime Juice, Red Wine Vinegar and oil. For best results, mix well and let sit in the fridge for a few hours, then taste. Add other spices as needed to taste.

Serve garnished with any combination of hot sauce, sour cream, chopped cilantro, croutons or veggies slices.

Yummmmmmmmm! !!!!! This is excellent on hot summer days! Depending upon which juice you add, the salt content may be a little high, but other than that, it's about as healthy a dish as you can make!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2008-08-07T05:57:00.001-07:00

Last night I got together w/a bunch of friends and someone brought this very tasty dish.

Buffalo Chicken Dip
1 brick cream cheese
1 can chicken (12.5oz)
1/4 buffalo sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressingMix and heat.
5 minutes in micro seemed to work. I sometimes bake it for parties, but I didn't notice a difference in the microwave...

Apple Dumplings

2008-08-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about these bad boys, but they are To Die For! Warm with vanilla ice cream. Yum-O! I can't take credit for these little babies though. Click here for step, by step instructions.

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples-Peel them if you'd like. I was too lazy!

2 cans crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 small can Mountain Dew

Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered or greased pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir (I did it in the microwave). Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Sprinkle cinnamon on top, or add it to the sugar like I did. Pour the Dew on the sides and down the middle of the rolls. Bake on 400 degrees 35-40 minutes.

They are quick and easy, so try it! You will not be disappointed.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

2008-07-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

3 cups water (warm)
1/2 cup sugar or honey
1 Tbsp yeast
1/3 cup powdered milk
1 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup applesauce
Flour (about 6 cups)
2 tbs milk (divided)
1 egg

Cinnamon Sugar Mix
1/4 cup sugar
5 tsp cinnamon

Put all ingredients except yeast and flour together in mixer then add 2 cups flour to water mixture, pulse to just mix then add yeast on top. Mix for 1 min then let rest for 1 min to let yeast start. While mixing, continue adding flour 1 cup at a time until dough doesn't stick to the sides anymore then let mix for 10 min Then let rise to double in size in the bowl. Once doubled punch it down and remove from bowl and let rest on the counter for 10 min. Divide dough into loaf size balls and roll one at a time out on counter to 16x8 rectangle then brush with milk and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on the dough. Roll dough up into loaf form sealing he ends and place in greased pans making sure the seam side is down in opposite corner so it won't unroll as it bakes. Use the remaining milk to mix with egg and brush egg mixture on top of loaves. Cover with plastic wrap sprayed with pam so they don't dry out and let rise to 1 inch above the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 min. (by the way this makes great french toast!)

Recipe from Rachel Hanchett

Oatmeal Molasses Bread

2008-07-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

5 cups water (warm)
2 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp vital wheat gluten (for whole wheat flour)
1 cup sugar or honey
3/4 cup applesauce or oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup molasses
4 cups oats (I use quick)
3 Tbsp yeast
4 cups whole wheat flour
5 cups white flour (about)

Put ingredients together in order stopping after oats mix together then add the ww flour and yeast mix for 1 min then let rest for 1 min to let yeast start, continue mixing in the white flour one cup at a time until dough doesn't stick to the sides anymore and mix for 10 min. then cover and let rise to double in bowl. Once doubled punch it down and knead on a floured surface into loaves and put in greased pans. Cover with plastic wrap sprayed with pam so they don't dry out and let rise again to desired loaf size. Preheat oven at 400 degrees then turn down heat to 325 degrees just before placing loaves in the oven and bake for 33 min. When done brush tops of loaves with butter and turn out on a wire cooling rack. Do not bag until cool or they will sweat in the bag. This makes 4 loaves but don't worry they freeze well and you can just pull one out when you need it! Note: I have done this with all white flour too and you just omit the vital gluten, enjoy!

Recipe from Rachel Hanchett

Balsamic and Rosemary Grilled Salmon

2008-07-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

Balsamic and Rosemary Grilled Salmon

INGREDIENTS
4 (4 ounce) salmon fillets
sea salt to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 sprig fresh rosemary, minced

DIRECTIONS
Season salmon fillets to taste with sea salt, and place into a shallow, glass dish. Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and rosemary; pour over salmon fillets. Cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate. Remove salmon from marinade, and shake off excess. Discard remaining marinade. Cook on preheated grill until fish is opaque in the center and flakes easily with a fork, about 4 minutes per side.

FYI

2008-07-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Suddenly Pasta Salad is divine! If you're short on time and cash this salad is everything you need it to be! Just add mayo or water and it's done! You can fancy them up with some chicken, tomato, olives or zuki too. Give it a try!

(I can't take credit for this picture, but you get the idea. Thanks Google image search!)

Creamy Chicken Pasta

2008-07-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

I can't take the credit for this one either, but my friend Kim made this for Bunco and it was divine! Try it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Creamy Chicken Pasta
12 to 16oz of penne pasta or bowtie pasta cooked and drained
1/8 cup diced sundried tomatoes in oil. (drain the oil off)
8oz fresh mushrooms sliced
1/2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
2 to 3 chicken breasts
1/8 cup roasted red peppers diced
1 small package pine nuts

Sauce1 cup half and half (you can use fat free)
2 TBS butter
3 garlic cloves diced
1/2 tsp basil
3/4 cup parmesan cheese (I have also used an Italian cheese mix)
A dash of salt
A dash of pepper

Directions:
Chicken: pound chicken with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. Season with McCormick steak seasoning. (I have also seasoned with lemon pepper or diced garlic clove and salt and pepper) Broil chicken on broilin pan until done. About 15 to 20 minutes. (I am honestly not sure because I rarely time anything) Let chicken cool and then cut into bite sized pieces.

Sauce:
Melt butter. Saute garlic in butter. Pour half and half into the pan and stir constantly. I have the heat at or below medium so as not to scorch the milk. Add parmesan cheese and continue to stir. Add basil, salt and pepper and stir until the cheese is melted. Add pinenuts.Put it all together. Saute mushrooms in about 1 to 2 TBS of extra virgin olive oil. After all other ingredients are diced, thawed, and cut into pieces, add them to the drained pasta and pour sauce over the top. Mix it all together and you have creamy chicken pasta. ENJOY!

Delish Meatballs

2008-07-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from a friend. It's to die for! I promise. I'd take a picture, but my camera is MIA. Not a happy mom right now!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
1 bag (80 ct) frozen home style meatballs (other flavors work fine too)
1 c. Ketchup
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp liquid smoke (you can find this by the BBQ sauce)
1 tsp. garlic powder
2-4 Tbs apple cider vinegar
2 cups cooked rice

Place frozen meatballs in a baking dish. Mix ketchup, b. sugar, liquid smoke, garlic powder, and vinegar. Pour over meatballs and stir to coat. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Hot Artichoke & Spinach Dip

2008-07-03T19:40:00.001-07:00

1 cup mayo
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
12 oz artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed, drained and roughly chopped
chopped tomato, for garnish (optional)

Combine all ingredients. Spoon into baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with chips, crackers, or bread.

Who wants cookies?

2008-07-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

Cake Mix Cookies-A quick alternative for baking cookies!

1 box any flavor cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Mix together, drop onto a cookie sheet, press them down a bit, and bake at 350 degrees for
9-12 minutes. I came across a 4th of July mix at Target and had to make some festive cookies for the holidays! I always like to mix up my cookies plates, so I whipped up some no bakes...

No Bake Cookies

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
1 cup sugar
2 TBS cocoa
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup rolled oats---don't use quick oats for they won't set up

Bring to a rolling boil butter, milk, sugar and cocoa for 1 minute. Add peanut butter and stir.
Remove from add and mix in oats. Spoon onto wax paper and let them sit for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Chicken and Broccoli Dish

2008-06-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

I came up with this last night. It was really yummy! (Sorry about the bad picture).

Chicken and Broccoli
4 boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
1 cup noodles- I used penne, but bow tie would be fun too
1 cup broccoli-I used frozen, but fresh would be good too
1 1/2 cup cheese
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Boil noodles and chicken together. Strain and separate. Dice chicken. Add back into sauce pan noodles, chicken, broccoli, soup, sour cream and 1/2 the cheese. Stir together then pour into a 9x9 baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes. Serve with a delish side salad.

Freezing Fresh Basil

2008-06-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

First, you've got to have some basil growing that needs to be harvested. Here's how my basil looked before I trimmed the plant and pulled off the big leaves.
These instructions came from this blog. It thought it was too useful not to share.

Basil will actually produce more if it's vigorously trimmed a few times each year. Just be sure to leave on a few leaves (remember high school botany, that's where the plant gets its food.) Here's my plant after I trimmed it.

I pinch off all the basil leaves, discard the stems, and wash the leaves very well in a salad spinner. Spin them as dry as you possibly can.

Put a couple of handfuls of the basil into the food processor at a time.
Drizzle about 3 T extra virgin olive oil over the basil and pulse about 15 times, until all the basil is coarsely chopped and coated with olive oil

I have two sizes of these little plastic containers with tight lids that I use to freeze the basil in. This was 6 bushy plants worth of basil.

Chicken Salad

2008-05-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I toss 2 pounds of chicken breast into the crock pot with 1 cup of water and a dash of garlic powder)
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup blanched almonds, slivered
3/4 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1 cup mayo
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp curry powder

Mix all ingredients, serve atop pita bread, rolls or croissants and enjoy!

Cinnamon Mint Tea

2008-05-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

Homemade Cinnamon Mint Tea Recipe
8 Cups water
2-3 cinnamon sticks
A handful of fresh mint leaves (about 10-15 leaves)
Dash of cinnamon powder
Your favorite sweetener

Instructions
Bring the water to boil in a pot. Add the cinnamon stick and boil for another 10-15 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Cover and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Enjoy. You can refrigerate and serve cold.

Corn Chowder (knock off from Mimi's Cafe)

2008-05-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

4 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 tablespoons onion, chopped
3/4 cup celery, large diced
2-1/2 cups hot water
2 cups raw potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/2" cubes
1 quart half & half
3 cups frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 pinch white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons flour

On medium heat, melt butter and simmer onion and celery for 5 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add water, potatoes, corn, and seasonings. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are barely tender. Whisk the flour into 1 cup of the half and half, and stir into the soup. Add the remaining 3 cups of half and half. Simmer for about 15 minutes, until the soup has thickened to a creamy consistency. Add cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste. To make the soup thinner, add a little milk. To make the soup thicker, simmer another 5-10 minutes.

Pasta Milano (knock off from Macaroni Grill)

2008-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

3 oz. butter or olive oil
1/2 lb. grilled chicken, sliced
6 oz. sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
3 tablespoons fresh Parmesan cheese, finely grated
16 oz. roasted garlic cream sauce (recipe follows)
1 pound bowtie pasta

Cook the pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, melt butter or oil over medium-high heat; add mushrooms and sauté for about 30 seconds. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes. Add the roasted garlic cream sauce and Parmesan; heat thoroughly. Add cooked chicken. Remove pasta from water and drain. Add pasta to the sauté pan and mix well. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese.

Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce
1 pint heavy cream
1/2 head roasted garlic
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

In a blender, process cream and roasted garlic until smooth. In a large saucepan, combine garlic cream, pepper, and parsley. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes. Add salt and Parmesan to mixture. Stir until sauce has thickened.

Simple Dessert Cream Puffs

2008-05-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs
Your favorite prepared pudding

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Centers should be dry. When the shells are cool, carefully cut open. Fill bottom half with pudding and replace top. Dust with powdered sugar or dollop with chocolate ganache and whipped cream.

Manicotti

2008-04-23T23:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of my hubbies all time favorites! It's super yummy and super easy!

1 small container Ricotta cheese

6-8 Manicotti noodles

1/4 c. chopped parsley

1/4 c. chopped mushrooms

1/4 c. chopped zucchini

1/2 c. mozzarella cheese

1/4 c. parmesan cheese

1 egg

1 sandwich baggie

1 jar marinara or spaghetti sauce

Boil Manicotti noodles till al dente. If you over cook, they'll split open. Usually about 9 minutes. Check the box for cooking instructions. In a sauce pan, saute zucchini and mushrooms in 1 Tbs. butter. About 3 minutes. Set aside. Mix together ricotta cheese, parsley, half the mozzarella and parmesan cheese. You'll need the rest to sprinkle on top. Stir in the vegetables. Spoon the mixture into the sandwich bag. Snip the corner. Pour about 1/2 c. sauce into the bottom of a greased 9x9 pan. Squeeze the mixture into the Manicotti noodle. Squeeze into both sides so it's evenly filled. Place the noodle on top of the sauce. When done, spread enough sauce on the noodle to cover then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve with steamed carrots or a green salad.

Chicken Burros

2008-04-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

Chicken Burros, in the crock pot
(I love this dish on Sundays. You set it and forget it! Then it's done.)

8 boneless skinless chicken tenderloins (serves 4-6 adults)
1 can chicken broth
1 small jar your favorite salsa
1/2 c. corn
1/2 c. black beans
sour cream
cheese
tortillas
avocado
tomato
lettuce

Put chicken and chicken broth in the crock pot on high for about 4 hours. Shred with a fork and add salsa, black beans and corn. Cook for another hour. Roll into a tortilla adding your favorite toppings-sour cream, cheese, avocado, tomatoes, and lettuce. Serve with a side of beans and Spanish rice.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

2008-04-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

Banana Bread-So good!

2 c. flour (I use half wheat and half white)
2 eggs
1/2 butter, softened (10 seconds in the microwave works great too)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 bananas
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. nuts, optional

Cream bananas, butter and sugar. Add eggs and stir. Mix in dry ingredients.
Place in a greased bead pan, 9x9 pan or a bunt pan (I use a bunt pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Every oven is different, so it may need a little more time. Mine is done in 48 minutes. Enjoy nice and warm with creamy butter on top.

Easy Bacon & Olive Rotini

2008-04-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

1 pound rotini, cooked and drained
8 oz diced tomatoes, drained
9 strips of bacon, cut in one inch pieces
8 oz black olives, cut in thirds
3 basil leaves, julienned
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup ricotta cheese
olive oil

Brown bacon in saucepan. Drain. Add olive oil and add garlic and basil. Cook for 1 minute over medium low heat. Add tomatoes and olives. Simmer for 10 minutes. Spoon sauce over rotini and dollopwith ricotta cheese. Enjoy!

Summer Pasta

2008-03-28T09:35:00.001-07:00

I saw this on the cooking channel and had to try it! When I cook I never follow a recipe to the T. I add or take away ingredients depending on my mood for food that day. I added some stuff and I gotta say it turned out pretty good.

1/2 a small box fettuccine noodles- I broke them in half, or leave them long

1/2 c. fresh green beans

1/2 c. Zucchini ( added ingredient)

4-5 cherry tomatoes cut in fourths

2 chicken tender loins (added ingredient)

1/2 c. part skim Ricotta cheese

Parmesan cheese (added ingredient)

Boil noodles. When done, do not strain. You can add the chicken in and boil it with the noodles as well or grill it while the noodles are boiling. In a separate pan, drizzle 2-3 Tbsp. of Olive oil. Wash and cut the ends off the green beans and then slice them in half. Add to the oil and saute. Wash and slice the zuki and add. Saute for about 5 minutes on med-high. Add 1 c. pasta water and continue to saute. When the noodles are done, about 8 or 9 minutes, take them out with a slotted spoon and add the the saute pan. Spoon in ricotta cheese and chicken. Add 1/2 cup of pasta water and stir until creamy. You may need to add a little more water. It doesn't need to cook long. 2 or 3 minutes. Top with cherry tomatoes and a little Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Puppy Chow

2008-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

I love this chocolate little treat. It's quick and easy and hits the spot every time!

9 cups Corn Chex or Crispex
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

In microwave, melt chocolate chips, pb, and butter on high for 1 minute. Stir. Put back in microwave for 30 seconds. Pour 4 1/2 c. cereal into a large mixing bowl. Pour half the melted chocolate onto cereal and mix until cereal is covered. Pour the remaining 4 1/2 c. into the bowl and pour the remaining chocolate on top and stir. In a large plastic bag or paper sack, sprinkle half the powdered sugar in the bottom. Dump cereal on into bag. Pour the rest of the powdered sugar on top. Close the top of the bag and shake around until all the chocolate is covered. Pour onto a cookie sheet and place in the fridge to cool for 30 minutes. Store in a container or Ziploc bag. Enjoy this tasty treat!

Sweet & Spicy Salmon in the Crockpot

2008-03-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

This came from a year of crockpotting blog. I happen to think this blog is such a fun & kooky idea.

2 largish pieces of salmon
--2 T brown sugar
--1 T chili powder
--1 t cumin
--1/2 t kosher salt
--1/4 t black pepper
--aluminum foil
The Directions.
--in a medium-sized dish or small pan ( I used a glass pie plate), combine all of your spices with the brown sugar
--spread out a length of foil on the counter for each piece of fish
--put each piece of fish in the center of it's own foil
--rub the top of the salmon with your spice and sugar mixture (it's okay to mound up the spice a bit, and it is fine to only rub the top)
--fold the foil over and crimp up the sides to make a contained packet
--put the foil packets into a dry crockpot--cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 3-5.
--serve with rice or quinoa and some steamed or roasted vegetables.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2008-03-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake*

1 1/2 C. chocolate cookie crumbs
1/3 C. sugar
1/3 C. butter melted
3 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla extract
1 C. mini chocolate chips
1 t. flour

Preheat oven to 300. Combine crumbs, sugar and butter; press firmly on bottom of 9" sprinform pan. In large mixing bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in Eagle Brand Milk until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. In small bowl, toss 1/2 C. chips with flour to coat; stir into cheese mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 C. chips evenly over top. Bake 55 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched. Turn oven off; allow cheesecake to cool in over with door slightly open. Chill. Refrigerat leftovers.

*I haven't tried this recipe, I just thought it sounded good and pretty easy.

Salmon w/Sweet & Spicy Rub

2008-03-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't tried it yet, but it looks so easy!! Oh, I stole it from the food network.

ooking Spray
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin and any pin bones removed
1 tablespoon olive oil

Coat your grill or a grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over medium heat. While the grill is heating, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Brush each salmon fillet with 1/2 teaspoon of the oil, then rub each fillet with about 1/2 tablespoon of the spice mixture. Grill the salmon, flesh side down, until charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook another 5 to 6 minutes for medium doneness. For well done fish, cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a platter and serve immediately.

Red Wine Wassail

2008-03-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

Red Wine Wassail
- A warm spiced wine that is fantastic on a cold evening.

2 cups (500 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) honey
4 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 lemons, thinly sliced
1 750-ml bottle red wine (I used a cabernay and I have no idea how much 750 ml is so I dumped in the bottle)

Boil the water, honey, cloves, and cinnamon for five minutes. Remove from the heat, add the lemons, and allow to stand for 10 minutes.Add the wine and heat slowly until just below the boiling point. Serve hot. Serves 6.

Peanut Chicken Skewers

2008-03-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

1 pound chicken, cut into 3 inch strips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tblspn sesame oil
1/8 cup cilantro, finely chopped
sesame seeds (optional)

Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and oil in blender. Pour 1 cup mixture over chicken and marinate for 30 minutes. Stir cilantro into remaining peanut butter mixture and set aside for dipping sauce. Thread chicken onto skewers and place on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 400* for 12-15 minutes.

Spinach Quiche Appetizer Squares

2008-03-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Spinach Quiche Appetizer Squares
1 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
6 tbsp butter, melted
1 C milk
1/2 medium onion, minced (I omit this and just add onion powder)
4 C (16 oz) finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I have also used a blended cheese, like Monterrey jack & colby)
1 (10 oz) packaged frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

Combine flour, baking powder & salt in a large bowl: add eggs, butter & milk, stirring well. Stir in onion, cheese & spinach. Pour spinach mixture into a lightly greased 9x13x2 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes (in my oven, it is done in about 35 minutes - so check it after about 30 minutes) or until golden. Let stand at room temperature 3 - 5 minutes before cutting into squares. Makes about 24to 36 squares.

Vegetarian Curry Crockpot

2008-03-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

2 cans drained and rinsed garbanzo beans (chick peas)
1 diced red pepper
4 tiny potatoes, or 1 regular-sized
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
2 T (yes, tablespoons!) curry
1/2 t ground coriander
1/4 t red (cayenne) pepper
1 lg can tomatoes (and juice)
2 cups vegetable broth
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 cup frozen peas (to add later)

Add drained and rinsed garbanzo beans to your crockpot. Cover with diced vegetables (if you have other stuff in the house that you want to use, go for it. I don't think the actual kind of vegetables matters). Add spices. Dump in tomatoes and broth.

Submitted by Trace

Amigo Chicken Tortilla Soup

2008-03-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

3 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 pound boneless chicken (whatever is on sale) chopped into bite-sized pieces*
3/4 teaspoon cumin
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 (16-oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup apple juice
12 ounces tomato sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups salsa (your favorite)

Garnishes (optional):
Sour Cream
Baked tortilla chips
Shredded Monterey Jack OR Cheddar cheese OR a pre-mixed Mexican blend
Sliced black olives
Sliced green onions
Chopped cilantro

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat; add onion and sauté until translucent. Add chopped chicken and cookfor about 4 minutes, or until browned on all sides (you do not need tocook it all the way through). Stir in the cumin and chili powder. Add remaining ingredients (black beans through salsa), cover and heatthrough. Serve in bowls and garnish as desired

Submitted by Trace

Maple Praline Chicken

2008-03-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 c. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1 cup chopped pecans

Sprinkle chicken with Cajun seasoning. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook chicken in butter until golden. Arrange chicken in a slow cooker. Mix together syrup, brown sugar and pecans; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours. Yummy with wild rice

Submitted by Trace

Apple Cobbler

2008-03-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

3/4 c. flour
3/4 c. oats
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 cube melted butter
1 can apple pie filling (peach is good too)

Mix dry ingredients. Pour melted butter on top and mix together. Pour pie filling in the bottom of a 9x9 pan. Sprinkle mixture on top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or cool whip. Enjoy!

Submitted by Kasey Turner

Fruit & Cream Trifle

2008-02-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:1 cake mix or pre-made Angel Food Cake or Pound Cake
2 packets of custard or pudding mix (made as directed for pie filling - I prefer the thickness of custard)
2-1 pound bags frozen fruit or equivalent sliced fresh fruit
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1-1/2 cups heavy cream, whipped
additional fresh fruit for garnish

Basic Instructions: Prepare cake according to directions on package. Let cool completely. Prepare custard or pudding mix according to package instructions. Let cool completely. Mix fruit with juice and sugar. Whip the cream.

To assemble: Cut the cakes into large chunks and cover the bottom of your dish with a layer of cake. Top with a layer of prepared fruit, then a layer of custard. Repeat the process until you are out of ingredients or the bowl is full. Top with whipped cream and garnish with fresh fruit. Chill until serving time.

Oriental Chicken Salad

2008-02-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Oriental Dressing
3 tablespoons honey
1 ½ tablespoons rice wine vinegar
¼ cup may1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

Salad
1 skinless chicken breast fillet, grilled
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped red cabbage
1 cup chopped Napa cabbage
½ carrot, julienned or shredded
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sliced almonds, toasted
1/3 cup crispy chow mein noodles

Blend together all ingredients for dressing in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Put dressing in refrigerator to chill while preparing salad. Prepare salad by tossing romaine and chopped cabbages and carrots. Sprinkle green onion, almonds, and noodles on top of lettuce.