A spoonful of Sugar

Yummiest SweenN'Sour Chicken

2011-01-05T21:02:00.001-08:00

This is one of my MOST favorite chicken recipes and for sure my favorite sweetN'sour!

3 large chicken breast
corn starch
1 egg beaten with tbsp. water
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp. garlic salt
2 tbsp. soy sauce

Cut chicken into pieces. Dip in corn starch then into beaten egg. Fry in hot oil until golden brown. Place in a casserole dish. In bowl combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, chicken broth, garlic salt, and soy sauce. Microwave for a few minuets. Pour over chicken.

BAKE at 350 for 30-40 minuets

Broiled Parmesan Tilapia

2011-01-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

We LOVE fish and we LOVED this! Plus it FAST and EASY to make!

2 lbs. Tilapia fillets
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 Tbsp mayo
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/8 tsp onion salt
1/8 tsp celery salt

Preheat broiler. Grease broiling pan or line with aluminum foil.
In small bowl mix together all ingredients except Tilapia. Set aside.
Arrange fillets on pan and broil a few inches from heat for 4-5 min. Flip fish over and broil a few more minuets. Remove fillets from oven and coat with mixture on the top side. Broil Tilapia for 2 more minuets or until fish flake easily. Don't overcook.

A MUST have with Salads: Homemade Croutons

2011-01-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

EASY EASY EASY! And they MAKE the salad!

4 slices of bread
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tbsp. butter
salt and pepper
Parsley flakes

Cut crust off bread and cut into cubes. Melt butter and add garlic. Toss bread into butter mix and stir till bread is coated evenly. Sprinkle with S&P and parsley.
BAKE at 350 for 15 min. Turn once, half way through.

Top on your favorite salad

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

2011-01-05T20:46:00.000-08:00

I have tried a few recipes that "claim" the Olive Garden status but THIS one has been the most dead on!

1/2 cup mayo
1/3 cup veg. oil
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. Romano cheese
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Mix in a blender and pour over a yummy green salad!
Make this with your homemade croutons, so yummy!!!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

2011-01-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

I got this from a new cook book and I loved it. So I thought I would share...

3 cups chicken broth
2 cups carrots, diced
1/3 cup onion, chopped
2 cups celery, diced
S&P
1 cup milk
2 cans cream of chicken soup
cooked noodles
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded

Cook onions, celery, and carrots in broth until tender. Mix together chicken soup and milk till creamy and add to broth. Add cooked noodles and shredded chicken. Heat and serve

Super Sweet French Toast

2011-01-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Irelyn asks for this every morning. If it can make a picky 2 year old happy, it's gotta be great!

4-5 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp. flour
6 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
6-8 thick slices of bread

Mix together all ingredients besides bread. Once mixed will dip both sides of bread in mix. Cook on hot griddle at 350 until golden!

Texas Sheet Cake

2011-01-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

I got this from one of my FAVORITE recipe books. It's the best recipe I have tried yet!

Cake:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup water
4 tbsp cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

In saucepan, combine butter shortening, water, and cocoa. Bring to a boil. In a bowl, combine sugar and flour. Pour sauce pan mixture over sugar and flour, mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Beat well. Pour onto greased cookie sheet.
BAKE at 400 for 20 min.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 tbsp cocoa
1 bag powdered sugar
tsp. vanilla
4-6 tbsp. milk

Mix well and frost cake while still warm

Cranberry Punch

2011-01-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

This can be a perfect slushy drink or if you don't freeze it makes a very tasty punch too!

Equal parts:

Cranberry juice cocktail
7-up or Sprite
6 envelopes spiced cider mix

Mix ingredients together. If you want to make it a slush, freeze and then thaw until slushy.
Top with Fresh orange slices or cranberries

Chocolate Panckaes

2011-01-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

This is for the evil chocolate lover in us all!

1 1/2 cup flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp. cocoa
1 1/4 sup warmed milk
4 tbsp. butter
2 eggs, beaten

mix together the dry ingredients. Add milk, butter, and eggs beat until smooth. Add additional milk if batter is too thick. Cook on your griddle and enjoy!

Homemade Syrup

2011-01-05T20:18:00.001-08:00

Goes great with the Chocolate Pancakes;)

2 c. sugar
1 8 oz. can evaporated milk
2 tbsp corn syrup
1 tbsp butter

Boil sugar, milk, and corn syrup stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture is bubbling. Remove from heat and add butter. Let sit for 5 min. and then serve!

Toasty Cheese Crackers

2011-01-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Yummy cheese cracker that are perfect for dipping or snaking on all alone!

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter softened
1 tbsp water
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cup oats

Beat cheeses, butter, and water together until blended. Add flour and salt, mix well. Stir in oats. Roll out into a log about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for about 4 hours. Cut into 1/4 inch slices, flatten slightly. Place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 for 8-10 min. REMOVE immediately and let cool.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

2011-01-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

This is a yummy main dish or a great appetizer.

2 lbs ground beef
chopped onion
1 cup oats
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 tsp. salt
pepper
1 1/2 & 2 tsp. Worcestershire
2/3 cup milk
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
4 tsp. ketchup
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

Combine ground beef, onion, oats, eggs, salt and pepper, 1 1/2 Worcestershire, and milk. Form into balls about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place in a 9x13 (equals about 24 balls). In a bowl, combine brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, BBQ, and 2 tsp Worcestershire. Pour over meat balls.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 min.

Crispy Ranch Chicken

2011-01-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

This is my go to recipe when I don't have a lot of time but want a lot of flavor from the same old lame chicken!

2 cups Frosted flakes (don't be shy by the frosted-ness, it adds tons of FLAVOR)
1/2 C grated Parmesan Cheese
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
garlic salt
2 egg whites beaten
8 chicken thighs

Sprinkle garlic salt over chicken a hour to right before assembling. Combine the cereal, Parmesan, and ranch dressing in a bowl. In another bowl place egg whites. Dip chicken in egg whites and then in cereal mix and coat evenly. Arrange chicken on a baking sheet.
BAKE at 350 for 25-30 min.

Kylie's CREAMY Alfredo

2011-01-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

I started with a recipe that I found when I was first married. Then over the last 3 years I have made so many adjustments and changes it has become my own recipe that makes Brandon's mouth water when I tell him it's whats for dinner... one of our favorites!

6 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
1 Pint (2 cups) whipped cream
1 cup milk
1tsp. garlic salt
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese
parsley

Melt butter in sauce pan. Add flour to make a nice paste. Then add milk and whipped cream cook over medium heat till thickened. Stirring continually. Add garlic salt and salt and pepper (don't be afraid of all the salt). Cook for 1 more minuet, remove from heat, and add Parmesan cheese and parsley.

Use this for pizza sauce or pour it over some noodles, either way it's a great Alfredo!

Chicken Taco Soup

2011-01-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this taco soup recipe. It's easy, full of FLAVOR, very yummy, and everyone in the family will love it!

4-5 Chicken Breast
1 med. onion
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 tsp. cumin
S&P to taste
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
3-4 Cups chicken broth
1 can of corn
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can green chilies
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
Grated cheese and sour cream for topping.

Now here is the hard part... you put it all in a crock pot and cook it on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is cooked. Shred the chicken with about a hour left so it's moist and absorbed all the good flavor!
This soup goes a long way so if you have LOTS of leftovers, freeze it and when you want to feed it to your family again, put in a large pot and let cook till thawed and bubbling.

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Bundt Cake

2010-06-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1-2 cups chocolate chips

Mix together and place into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350* for 50-55 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then place on serving dish and glaze with chocolate sauce.

Sauce/Frosting:
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 oz. chocolate or 2 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp. corn syrup
2 tbsp. margarine
2 tbsp. shortening
1/8 tsp. salt

For sauce: boil one minute and let cool. You can serve this over ice cream.
For frosting: Let boil for 2 minutes. Beat after it cools and then add powdered sugar until desired thickness.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar over top of the frosting to give it a nice appeal! :)

Meatball subs

2010-06-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

1 lb. Hamburger
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
2-3 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 eggs
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Salt and Pepper

Sauce:
1 bottle Ragu or other spaghetti sauce
2 tbsp. Oregano
1 tbsp. Johnny's Garlic seasoning or 1-2 tsp. garlic salt

Preheat oven to 450*
Combine hamburger and other ingredients (excluding the sauce ingredients) in a large bowl. Roll meat into 1 inch balls and place on non-stick cookie sheet. Place in preheated oven and cook for 10-12 minutes.
While meatballs are cooking prepare sauce in a large pan and let simmer on low. Once meatballs are done add them to the sauce and continue simmering for 5 minutes.

Cut 4-5 hoagie buns or sub rolls lengthwise. Scoop out half of bottom part of bread to make a bed for meatballs to sit in. Place 3-4 meatballs with sauce on buns. Sprinkle with your choice of cheese (Mozzarella, Provolone, Swiss, Italian blend, etc.) Place buns on cookie sheet and put under broiler for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Watch closely so it doesn't burn!

Enjoy! These are delicious. :)

Confetti Macaroni Salad

2010-06-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

1/2 box or bag elbow macaroni
1 cucumber, chopped
1/2 bag frozen green peas, thawed
1 large tomato, diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 sticks mozzarella string cheese, chopped

Dressing:
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1-2 tbsp milk
1 tbsp sugar
1-2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp black pepper

Boil noodles in water until softened and then drain. Place into a large bowl and combine with other ingredients. In a smaller bowl make dressing and then combine with noodles. Coat evenly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

OMG mac n cheese

2010-05-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

this I also got from rookiecookie. its original name is ethans mac n cheese but I thought this was more telling of how FREAKIN DELICIOUS this is!!

8oz. elbow macaroni cooked

1/4 c. sour cream

1/2 pint half and half

1/2 pint heavy whipping creme

1/2 lb. velveeta

1 lb. shredded cheddar cheese

spray 9x13 glass pan. Add cooked macaroni. Mix sour creme and 1/2 lb. cheddar cheese into the macaroni using your hands( it mixes better this way.) set aside.

Heat: 1/2 and 1/2, heavy whipping creme and velveeta on med. heat whisking constantly until velveeta melts and it is warmed through. Pour over the macaronie, you do not need to use all of the sauce. put rest of cheddar cheese on top. Cook at 350 for 25-30 min. Ultimate comfort food!!

by: Meg

Penne Pasta with artichokes and sundried tomatoes

2010-04-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on rookiecookie, it is an amazing food blog. I have this new love for sundried tomatoes so i wanted something pasta with them in it. this did not disappoint. a few changes i did: I don't even know what the heck a shallot is, so i didn't add that, and i couldn't find fresh basil when i was at walmart so i didn't add that either. instead of a garlic clove i just used minced garlic and that seemed to work great. i didn't use a rotisserie chicken, i just grilled and cut up some chicken tenders. I couldn't find red pepper flakes so I used crushed red pepper. seriously, this pasta was fabulous.

1 lb penne pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded and striped of any bones, skin and fat
1 7.5 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 6 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup basil, sliced thinly
1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan, grated and more for garnish

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook pasta and boil until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil. Once the oil runs quickly in the pan, add shallots and garlic and cook until softened. Add chicken, tomatoes and artichoke hearts. Stir until heated through. Stir in heavy cream, butter and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and let simmer for 5 minutes, so that the sauce thickens.

Stir in the basil, parsley and Parmesan and stir to combine. Add pasta to a large pasta bowl and add sauce. Toss to combine and add more Parmesan on top.

by:meg

Caesar Pasta Salad

2010-03-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

1 bag store bought Caesar Salad kit
1 box Suddenly Pasta Salad -Classic style
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 large tomato, chopped or 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup olives, halved
4 sticks of mozzarella string cheese, chopped

Boil and drain pasta. Set aside.

Combine the seasoning packet from the pasta and the dressing packet from your Caesar salad with the ranch dressing together in a small bowl.

Combine the salad lettuce and the pasta together in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, olives and cheese. Pour dressing mix over top, turning to coat evenly.

If your Caesar salad kit comes with cheeses and croutons and can add that as well.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

2010-03-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

1-2 large can store-bought baked beans
1 small can Pork and Beans
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. Honey
5 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped

Place in a crock pot and cook on low 5 hours or on high for 3 hours. EASY and YUMMY. The two best combinations!

Chicken salad sandwiches

2010-03-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is a family favorite. I like to make this for almost any occasion. Lunch, dinner, showers, luncheons, picnics etc. It is oh so yummy!

2 large or 3 medium chicken breasts; cooked and cubed. (I think this way tastes much better than the canned chicken!)
1 cup red grapes, cut if half
1 cup chopped celery
*1/2- 3/4 cup toasted slivered almonds (opt.)
1 cup Craisens
1- 1 1/2 cups mayo (or enough to coat)

Mix all together in a bowl and refrigerate 2-3 hours. Serve on butter croissants, rolls or your favorite sandwich bread.

*To toast your almonds place them in a small pan with 1 tbsp. sugar on medium heat. Stir continuously until golden brown. Remove immediately and let them cool on a paper towel.

Chicken Siesta Stew

2010-03-10T16:07:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe somewhere? Then lost it... then came up with my own similar version. It's easy and full of flavor.
What you will need:

2 cups chicken broth
4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast
1 can stewed tomatoes, drained
1 can diced green chilies
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 Tbsp. Orange juice
2 Tbsp. crushed garlic
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. red cayenne pepper (use only 1/2 tsp. if your family doesn't like it spicy)
S & P

Add everything into crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken before serving.

*** If you like your stew chunky add 2 cans instead on one for veggies and beans.

Portobello Pork Chops

2010-03-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

The title alone says it all AND it's easy!

What you need:

4 bone-in (or not, whatever you prefer) pork rib or lion chops 3/4 inch thick
1 1/2 cup mild chunky salsa
1 cup chopped portobella mushrooms
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 Cup fresh parsley

Heat oven to 375

Spoon salsa on the bottom of baking dish. Arrange pork chops on top of salsa. Combine mushrooms, cheese, and syrup in medium bowl. Spoon over chops.
Bake, uncovered, for 25- 30 min. Sprinkle with Parsley.
Serve chops with salsa mixture.

Island Pineapple Pork Chops

2010-03-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

Yummy, can be HOT or Sweet, depending on your taste.

What you will need:

4 boneless pork chops 1/2 inch thick
4 tsp. Jamaican Jerk seasoning
1/3 cup hot pepper jelly *** if this is too hot for the family sub in apricot Jam for a sweeter flavor
2 Tbsp. pineapple juice
1 tsp. minced ginger

Coat chops with jerk seasonings; set aside for 5 min.
Meanwhile, microwave jelly, pineapple juice, and ginger on high for 45 sec. or until melted. Grill pork over med.-high heat for 5 -6 min per side, turn once. Baste frequently with glaze.

Thai Chicken

2010-03-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Even if your not a fan of Thai inspired cooking, this is a great recipe to open your horizons to a different dish. My family, yes even Jackie, has loved it.

What you will need:

1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast cut into 1 inch peices
2 Tbsp. Thai seasonings (I have only found this at Smith's in a paste, worked just as well)
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 cup sauteed mushrooms
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen cut green beans
1/4 cup chicken broth stock
1 can coconut milk
1 lemon zested
freshly chopped cilantro, garnish

season chicken with Thai seasoning, set a side.
in med-high heat skillet, add chicken, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute until chicken is cooked through, about 8-10 min.
Add green beans, chicken stock, coconut milk, and lemon zest.
bring to a boil then let simmer about 8 min., stir occasionally

Chicken Tacos

2010-03-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

Super easy, full of flavor, and great left overs as well. This is a must have for your recipes.

What you will need:

4 chicken breasts
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 package taco seasoning mix

Mix all together and throw it in a crock pot for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken before serving. Serve on top of tortillas with:

Lettuce
tomato
sour cream
cheese
olives

whatever you can think of!!!

*** My families personal fav is those uncooked tortillas from Costco. It takes seconds to cook them and they are fresh and delicious. I know you can also get them at Macey's as well.

Country Mustard Rubbed Pork Chops

2010-03-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought of mustard and pork chops? It so yummy, your whole family will love it!

What you need:

1/2 cup dijon mustard
2 tsp. herb garden seasonings
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 Tbsp. crushed garlic
1 Tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
1 1/2 lbs. thick cut boneless pork chops

In small bowl combine all ingredients. Reserve a 1/4 of the mixture for serving. Transfer mustard mix into a bag and let pork sit at least a hour or overnight. Grill 6-7 min. per side.

Beef Stew

2010-03-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

1-2 pounds beef stew meat (or you can use bottom round or cubed round steak, like I did)
1 small onion, diced
2 cups diced celery
2 cups baby carrots
3 small potatoes, cubed
1 1/2- 2 (14 oz.) cans beef broth
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
seasonings of choice (I used garlic seasoning and salt and pepper)
2 tbsp. flour

Combine all ingredients into crock pot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Check an hour before serving. If its not thick enough add a little more flour and turn on high for 1/2 hour- 1 hour.

Beef Stroganoff

2010-03-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

1 1/2 pounds cubed round steak, cut into thin strips
salt
pepper
garlic powder
All-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, sliced
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can beef broth
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
salt and black pepper
1 cup sour cream
Cooked egg noodles

Season the steak strips with salt and pepper and garlic powder. Then dust with flour. In a large skillet, quickly brown them on both sides in the olive oil and butter. Remove the steak from the pan. Add the onion slices and mushrooms to the pan drippings. Saute for a few minutes, until the onion is tender. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon flour. Put the steak back into the pan with the onion and mushrooms. Add the mushroom soup and beef broth. Cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, covered. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in the sour cream the last few minutes, right before you serve. Serve over cooked noodles.

*recipe comes from food network, by Paula Deen

Valentine Sugar Cookies

2010-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

This is a re-post for those that want to make your cookies before Valentine's Day. It's a tradition in our home to have these for Valentines. It's the perfect treat!!

1 cup shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
2 tsp. vinegar (trust me!)
6 cups flour

Mix ingredients together. Roll onto a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. Frost with Butter cream Frosting. (recipe follows)

Butter cream Frosting:
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup shortening
4 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup water

In a large bowl combine butter, shortening, and sugar and beat until creamy. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Add water and mix until very light.

Cowboy Caviar

2010-02-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

This recipe comes from my sister who got it from her friend, which I've revised just a bit. There is no wrong way to do it, and its a delicious (and healthy) snack or appetizer!!

*2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
1 can regular diced tomatoes, drained
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 can black eyed peas rinsed and drained
1 can corn drained
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2 tsp. Garlic Salt
1-2 avacados (I usually dont cut these up till right before I serve)
approx. 1 cup chopped cilantro
1 pkg. Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix (mix dressing as directed on package)

Mix all together, serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

*You could also use fresh tomatoes instead!

3 Cheese Artichoke Dip

2010-02-08T11:44:00.001-08:00

This recipe come from Paula Deen and does NOT disappoint.
It made for the perfect Superbowl dip! It can be found Here .

1 (8 ounces) block cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (14 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 green onions, sliced thin
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Dash hot sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand held electric mixer until smooth. Then beat in the mayonnaise until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and stir together until combined. Transfer the dip to a greased pie plate or shallow gratin dish. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the dip is bubbling. Serve hot with crackers, tortilla chips, crostini or veggies.

Slow cooker Ranch Pork Chops

2010-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

6 boneless (or bone-in) pork chops
1 dry packet mix of Ranch dressing
1 can cream of chicken soup

Place pork chops in a slow cooker. Mix chicken soup and ranch dressing mix together and place over pork chops. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Remove pork chops and using remaining dressing in the crock pot as a gravy over the pork chops. The dressing is also great if its served over mashed potatoes with the pork chops. YUM!!

Magleby's Rolls

2010-01-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

Ever eat at Magleby's Restaurant? They have the worlds best rolls. I've used this roll recipe (came from my mother-in-law) for years and I think it tastes pretty similar, if not exact!
Plus, the best part...... EASY!!!

24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls, thawed out
1-2 cups grated KRAFT Parmesan cheese (the lovely stuff in the green bottle-or you can use fresh if you want to, although I take the easy way out and use the bottle!)
approximately 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, go heavily with this stuff
2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

-In a small bowl mix together the Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes. In another small bowl mix together butter and garlic powder.
-Take your rolls and roll them out bread stick-style about 3-4 inches long.
-Dip your rolls in the butter mixture and then the cheese mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet one inch apart. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
-Cook in a preheated 350* oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Easy Ranch Chicken

2010-01-20T21:25:00.001-08:00

1 chicken breast per person. (I use 3 Kirkland brand chicken breasts and cut them lengthwise; they're pretty big. That will feed my family of four- with a little extra!!)
1-1/2 cups Ranch dressing
1-1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Put ranch in one bowl and bread crumbs in another. Dip chicken in ranch and then in bread crumbs. Place in a greased 9 x 13 in. baking dish. Place in a preheated 375* oven and cook for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

Super EASY and the ranch makes it very flavorful and DELICIOUS!!

Awesome Grilled Cheese with any kind of Soup

2010-01-16T14:37:00.001-08:00

So I have never posted anything, even though the thought has always been there in the back of my mind, so here is to my first post, hopefully you like it enough to try it.

Winter is always a great time to have soup. I remember always having the usual of tomato soup with grilled cheese. So instead I decided to mix it up a little bit. I love the Bear Creek Soups and I like to add a little bit more to it, you know the suggestion part on the back of there packages. But what I really did to mix it up was with the grilled cheese. At Costco there is this awesome stuff called Johnny's Garlic Spread. I always use it with pasta night and just use plain bread or whatever. It is so easy, just add butter and wala you are done.

So I made the spread mixed and ready to use. Spread it over the bread and starting thinking, why don't I add more than just American to this. I knew that my kids would just want the American, but I love different things, so I used what I had which was Provolone, Swiss and American.

Can I just tell you it was delicious. So if you want something different to try, I swear you will love this, in fact my husband came home didn't want to eat and I just made him try a taste and he then all of a sudden got hungry.

Baked Ziti

2009-11-05T09:38:00.001-08:00

This recipe was soooo yummy. It's a must try. I found this on another person's blog and thought I would give it a try. I would do a few things differently so I'll post her recipe and then a few of my own added suggestions.

1lb ground beef
1 cup onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 (32 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon oregano
1 (16 oz) package ziti pasta (cooked and drained)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet add ground beef, onions and garlic. Cook over medium high heat stirring frequently until the beef is browned. Stir in spaghetti sauce, chicken broth and oregano. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Stir in 1 cup of sauce into the cooked ziti noodles. Spoon ½ of the ziti mixture into a 13×9” baking dish. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ½ cup parmesan cheese over the top of the ziti mixture. Top with 2 cups of the sauce, then add remaining ziti mixture and top that with the remaining sauce.

3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Return to over and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

*I would definitely add more garlic to this recipe and SALT and PEPPER. It needs an added kick. You could even do the minced garlic like it calls for and then add 1-2 tsp. garlic salt and 1-2 tsp. pepper. Also, an Italian Cheese blend would go perfectly with this dish.

Newlywed Chicken Casserole

2009-11-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

For some they may refer to this dish as Poppy Seed Chicken. Well, not me. I like to call it Newlywed Chicken Casserole. Why, you might ask?
Well, when I was first married I didn't know how to cook a single thing. Okay, with the exception of scrambled eggs. That's it. So, I agonized at the thought of "fulfilling my newlywed roles" by having to cook anything. That's when I stumbled onto this recipe and it has become a family favorite that is a MUST have in everyone's recipe box. Still to this day, every time I make it, it reminds me of the newlywed times and how much we grew to love this dish. ENJOY!!

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts boiled and cubed
1 (16 oz.) container sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 sleeves from a 16 oz. box of Ritz crackers crumbled (approx. 2 cups)
1/2 stick of butter, melted
1-2 tbsp. poppyseeds

In a medium bowl, combine cooked chicken, sour cream, and soup. Place in a casserole dish. In a small bowl combine crackers, poppyseeds, and butter. Sprinkle over top of chicken mixture.
Cook in a 350* preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

2009-10-25T20:57:00.001-07:00

ANOTHER yummy pumpkin treat!
You will need for filling:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, soften
1 egg
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel

For the muffins:

1 (14 oz.) pkg. Pillsbury Pumpkin Quick Bread
3/4 Cup milk
2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil
1 egg
3 Tbsp. butter melted
1/4 Cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 and spray muffin tin
Beat cream cheese in med. mixing bowl until soft. Add egg, sugar, and lemon peel. Beat until smooth
Empty bread mix into another bowl. Remove 3/4 cup mix, set aside. Then add milk, oil, and egg, stir until blended.
Fill each muffin tin with about 1/4 cup of the batter. Make indentation with small measuring spoon sprayed with non-stick. But a heaping Tbsp. of the cream cheese mix in center of each muffin.
Add melted butter to remaining bread mix. Stir till crumbly. Add pecans. Crumble about a Tbsp. over muffins.
Bake 20 min. Cool 10 min. in pan and then the rest on a cooling rack.

ENJOY!

Layer Pumpkin Spiced Cheesecake

2009-10-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is SO easy and SO tasty that it is a MUST HAVE for Thanksgiving!

You will need:

No bake cheesecake mix
Can (16 oz.) of pumpkin
box of pumpkin spiced Jell-o
Cool Whip for topping

Make your No Bake Cheesecake according to boxes directions. Then in med. bowl mix cup of milk, pumpkin, and Jell-o. Pour over cheesecake mix and refrigerate for four hours.

Put cool whip for topping and die happy it's so good and easy!

Crepes

2009-10-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

These are Brandon's favorite breakfast meal! But recipes for this can be tricky, you can get some with little flavor or ones that tear every time your try to flip them. Well Brandon had crepes 90% of his mission so he is basically a master. So according to Brandon's Master Crepe Tasting Skills he says this is "The best crepes he has ever had!" So try for yourself and find out!?

What you will need:

2 eggs
3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup water
1 cup flour
3 tablespoons melted butter

If you like them sweeter: (which we do!)

2 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a blender on pulse for 10 seconds. Put batter in refrigerator for at least 1 hour, it can last up to 48 hours. This will allow the bubbles to subside and your crepes wont tear easily.

Heat non-stick pan, pour a small amount into the pan and swirl to spread the batter evenly. The thinner the better. Cook 30 sec. on one side, flip, then 10 sec on the other side.

This will make 17-20 crepes. If you have leftovers, let crepes completely cool then freeze them!!! SO yummy reheated.

Aunt Kay's Amazing Rolls!

2009-10-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

This is my Aunt's recipe! They are super easy and I think personally they are the best rolls ever! But that might just be because she is my aunt!
You will need (I am halving the recipe so if you are making them for Thanksgiving, then double it):

2 cups warm water (the temperature is important for the yeast to work right so room temp is always best)
1 1/2 Tbsp. yeast (the red star brand is her favorite)
1/2 tsp. sugar

Mix these ingredients together in a large bowl and wait a few minuets until bubbling then add:

1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 Tbsp salt
1/2 stick of butter (soften)
5-6 cups flour (add more as needed)

Knead until all is blended. Bowl should scrape clean, if not it needs more flour. Let rise in bowl for 1 1/2 hours.

Put some flour on the counter and smash dough till even. Cut into circles (I just used a cup) and fold in half on a cookie sheet (use non-stick spray). Let rise for another 1 1/2 hours.

bake at 400 for 10 min.

You can also use this dough for:

Bread sticks
pizza dough
bread

Or a mountain of rolls! ;)

Creamy BBQ Chicken Pizza

2009-10-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am normally not a BBQ pizza fan because I feel like the sauce overwhelms the rest of the pizza. But this BBQ sauce is really creamy and a perfect compliment to the chicken and cheese!
For the dough refer to Aunt Kay's Amazing Rolls recipe OR use a store bough dough works great too!
For sauce you will need:

1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup milk or whipped cream
1 tsp. garlic salt
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
1-2 cups honey BBQ sauce

In a med sauce pan melt your butter then add flour until you have a paste. Add milk and stir with a whisk until paste is dissolved and milk is bubbling. Add salt, Parmesan cheese, and BBQ sauce stir until bubbling. Let bubble for 2-3 min. then place on the pizza. This enough for 12 in pizza. Add more or less BBQ sauce depending on the size of pizza dough.

For the chicken I will use the costco canned chicken and shred it over the pizza and top with pizza seasoning. You can boil chicken and then shred it, I just do it my way because it's easier and taste just as good!

For topping go to town with your family favorites. Brandon loves mushrooms so sometimes I will saute those and then add some olives and tomatoes. Whatever sounds good to you, that's why I LOVE pizza!

Bake at 425 until crust is golden and cheese in bubbling. If you don't have a pizza stone I would suggest investing in one! It's the only way to cook a even crust!

Apple-Cider Doughnuts

2009-10-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Pair this up with some Hot Chocolate and call it a day! Seasonal and delicious!
You obviously wont be making these every day but it would be something fun to do with the kids or as a special holiday treat!
What you need:

1 cup applesauce
1 cup apple cider
3 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. shortening
1 large egg + egg yoke
1/4 cup buttermilk
1tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup powdered sugar
vegetable oil for frying

Making the dough:

1. Whisk flour, baking powder and soda, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

2. In a large bowl beat 2/3 cup sugar and shortening, mix until sandy. Then beat in egg + yoke, and gradually mix in applesauce. Beat in 1/2 the flour mix, then add buttermilk and vanilla, and then finish beating in the rest of the flour mix. Dough should be sticky, don't overmix.

3. Scrape the dough on to some floured wax paper and pat into a 7x11 inch rectangle, about a 1 1/2 thick. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (you can even let it set up over night).

Making the Glaze:

4. Simmer the apple cider in a small pot over med-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Whisk powdered sugar in until dissolved. Set aside. Mix remaining cup of sugar and 2 tsp. of cinnamon in a shallow bowl; set aside.

5. Heat about 1-2 inches of veggie oil in large pot over med. heat. Line a cooling rack or cooking sheet with paper towels. Cut chilled dough into 12 rounds, I used a cup for this and then a small measuring spoon for the donut holes. Put 2-3 doughnuts at a time in the oil. fry 1-2 min on each side. Transfer to paper towels to cool.

6. Dip one side of each doughnut into the cider mix and then into the cinnamon-sugar. Serve and ENJOY!

***I had a hard time with the frying part of this because I didn't at first use enough flour to manipulate the sticky dough. Also make sure your doughnuts are no bigger then a 1 1/2 in thick. These didn't look as pretty as I was hoping for but I had all of Brandon's family over and some friends later on that day and EVERYONE gobbled them up! They said they were so good... So it made it well worth the WORK!

Margarita Chicken

2009-10-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

So full of flavor I just love it!
You will need:

4 chicken breast (I cut mine in half)
1 can (10 ounces) frozen margarita mix, thawed
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons chicken seasoning
Lemon juice

In a small bowl, combine the ingredients. Place the chicken and marinade in large resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out the air and seal. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. The longer I marinate the more flavor I feel like it gets.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Place chicken on hot oiled grill and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until done.

OR
Preheat oven to 350. Roast chicken breasts for 35 to 40 minutes.

Yummy White Chicken Chili

2009-10-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon oil
2 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies (One can was plenty of spiciness for our family)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately. This is especially good served with tortilla chips. Makes about 5 servings.

*recipe can be found on this website.

Chicken Poppy Seed Salad

2009-10-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Spinach leaves

Romaine leaves

Grilled chicken, sliced (grill with lots of lemon pepper seasoning) [I just used the frozen pre-grilled bag of chicken strips, warmed them in the microwave and added seasoning. Worked great!]

Red onion, sliced thinly

Crispy bacon, crumbled

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Toasted almonds (or you can sugar the almonds. Put sliced almonds in a pan with lots of granulated sugar (about equal amounts). Cook on medium heat until sugar melts, coating the almonds as they brown.)

Dressing:
1 1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp salt

2 tsp dry mustard

2/3 cup red wine vinegar

3 Tb Maui or Vidalia onion, chopped (I just used the remainder of my red onion)

2 cups canola oil

3 Tb poppy seeds

Mix the first 5 ingredients in a blender, then slowly add the oil, blending until thick. Stir in poppy seeds. Toss all ingredients together with generous amount of dressing before serving.

This makes alot of dressing, so I halved mine and it made it the perfect amount.

*This recipe was found here.

Chili Rubbed BBQ Pork

2009-10-14T20:47:00.001-07:00

Another FAST, EASY, and really YUMMY meal that the whole family will LOVE!

(Pork is topped with Warm Mango Salsa)

What you will need:

4 loin chops
Garlic salt (if not a salty lover, try garlic powder)
Black pepper
2 Tbsp. chili seasonings
1/2 Cup BBQ sauce

Pre-heat broiler (I was intimidated by this but it worked out so well that I am a new fan of broiling food!!!)

Place pork on foil-lined baking sheet (I matted mine so they were a even 1 1/2 inches) and season with garlic salt and pepper. Rub with chili seasoning. Broil 4 min. per side (This was right on for me but keep a close eye because ovens can vary). Brush with BBQ sauce and broil 1 min. Turn, brush again, broil another min.

*** While on my diet I couldn't have BBQ sauce so I topped my pork with the Mango Salsa. It was so good I was savoring every bite. This is something I will make for my WHOLE family. It's full of flavor and broiling it makes the meat cook quick but it's so tender. The flavor is melt in your mouth awesome.

(You can also serve the salsa as a side... it's a nice compliment to the flavor of the pork)

Semi-Homemade Warm Mango Salsa

2009-10-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

Fast! Easy! And OH, so good!

It's sweet with a kick. Heavenly good... and healthy-ish!
What you need:

1 Can drained, sliced mango (I used fresh mangos)
1 Can tomatoes with green chilies
1 lime cut in 1/2
S&P
2 tbs. fresh cilantro

Combine mangos and tomatoes in a pan over heat. Bring to a boil then add lime juice, S&P, and cilantro to taste. Break up mangos with a spoon so they are consistent in size with tomatoes. Heat over med. heat for 5 more min. Stir occasionally.

I used this with my pork chop recipe and it was so good or even just a yummy treat with some chips!

Dinner Market

2009-10-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have tried this, or another form of it. (Dream Dinners, My Girlfriends Kitchen, etc.) Well a friend introduced me to this wonderful place in Sandy called Dinner Market. They are similar to other places that you can assemble meals and freeze them to use later. Except at Dinner Market, they assemble them for you and you pick them up or they DELIVER them to you. Which is what I do. The dinners are pretty tasty and reasonably priced. I bought about 12 meals (the more you buy, the cheaper it is) about 4 or 5 months ago and am now down to about 2. I just use them when I don't feel like cooking and they are a life saver!! My family likes them too. You can check out their website here. Their menu changes every month.

EASY Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-10-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

If you want a fast and quick recipe this one is great. It's a great one to do with kids too!

1 box Spice cake mix
1 (15 oz.) Libby's canned pumpkin
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

Mix cake mix and pumpkin together until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350* for approx. 12-14 minutes.

Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes

2009-10-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

I found this on The Food Network, Sandra Lee's recipe. I read the comments and found that it worked for some and not for others, people listed some idea to fix it. So, like most recipes I use, I had a lot of fun experimenting and I think the end result was AWESOME! I thought it was very festive.

You will need:

1 Cup Bisquick
1 Cup milk
1 egg (beaten)
1/3 Cup canned pumpkin
1 Tbsp. sugar (I put this in to make them sweeter but they would work great with out too)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger (I used nutmeg because I like the combination more)
* Chocolate Chips- optional

In a medium bowl whisk together all ingredients until BLENDED. Don't over mix the batter should be lumpy. Heat your griddle on 350 or med-high heat. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle and cook about to min. on each side or until the edges are bubbling. Serve and enjoy!

Jamie had the smart idea to freeze her pancakes. I put wax paper in between each one. Cant wait to see if they are just as good later!?

Buttermilk Syrup

2009-10-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

I tasted it once and I was hooked! So I had to post it for Cory because it is just too good for people to not know about it! So Cory I hope you don't mind! (I stored it in a old syrup bottle FYI)

This was so easy I just couldn't believe homemade goodness takes like 3 min. to make! After I made one batch I changed a few things for fun to see what works and it turned out really yummy!
You will need:

1 cube of butter
1 Cup of sugar (I used a generous amount because I like it sweet)
1 tsp. Karo syrup (I was also generous with this to make it thicker)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 Cup buttermilk (if this is not something you keep handy just do 1 tbsp. vinegar to every 1/4 Cup of milk)
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Combine all ingredients BUT the baking soda. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Enjoy.

Yea, it's that simple! I also added some maple syrup just because I like maple. That made it even more glorious for me!

Easy Oatmeal-Caramel Bars

2009-10-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

I made these tonight and took them over to Luke and Jamie's and Luke LOVED them. I even did it wrong so I am sure they are even better done right ;)

What you need:

I pouch Betty Crocker oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mix
1 cube of butter (soften)
1 egg
35 caramels unwrapped (you can use the candy but I used this caramel bits that are made for easy melting)
1/4 Cup milk

In a medium bowl stir in cookie mix, butter, and egg. The dough will be very thick. Grease a 9x9 (or 8x8) pan. Split the dough in half and press the first half into the bottom of the pan making a even layer. Bake @ 375 for 15-20 min. or until dough is a golden color on top.

While baking first batch of dough, put caramels in a bowl (if you use the same stuff I did, I used a little more then half the bag) and add milk. Cook in the microwave for 2-3 min. or until the caramel is melted. Stir every min. while cooking.

When first batch of dough is done baking pour melted caramel on top. Take the remaining dough and drop on top of the caramel teaspoons at a time. Bake for another 15-20 min.

Let completely cool until cutting into.

Aunt Karin's Caramel Popcorn

2009-10-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

I love caramel corn this time of year! It's one of my favorite treats (that I sadly, can't eat) and it's really easy to make.

You will need:

1 cube of butter
2 Cups of brown sugar
1 Cup of Karo syrup
1 Can of sweet&condensed milk
3 bags of popcorn

Pop the three bags of popcorn and remove ALL kernels.

In a sauce pan melt butter. Then add sugar and syrup and bring to a boil, make sure sugar is completely dissolved then add can of S&C milk and boil for 4 minuets. Stir occasionally.

Add to your popcorn and ENJOY!

Chocolate zucchini cupcakes

2009-10-07T20:13:00.001-07:00

I found this recipe (and many others) on a fellow bloggers website. She has some yummy stuff. Click here to check it out! I'm sure many of you are sick of seeing recipes on zucchini, but this one was pretty tasty!
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, beat eggs with sugar for about 10 minutes or until thickened and pale. Blend oil and cooled chocolate into the beaten egg mixture.
In a small bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir flour mixture into egg mixture until just blended. Stir in zucchini and mini chocolate chips. Using an ice-cream scoop, spoon batter into 24 paper-lined or greased muffin cups, filling the cups 2/3 full (I think mine were fuller than 2/3).
Bake for 20 minutes or until fork or toothpick inserted in a cupcake's center comes out clean. Let cool in pans on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; let cool completely. Spread with chocolate cream cheese frosting below frosting and garnish with walnuts.

Semi-homemade Carrot Cake

2009-10-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is easy and delicious and it tastes like you made it from scratch. (Except I only half made it from scratch!- Which makes this baby SEMI-homemade!)
1 box carrot cake mix + ingredients that it calls for
1 cup shredded coconut

Cream cheese frosting:
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup margarine
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
hot water, as needed

Walnuts, crushed

Mix cake mix according to package directions. Stir in coconut. Bake as directed on box.
Allow cake to cool.
Cream together cream cheese, margarine, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add a little hot water, one teaspoon at a time, until you've reached desired spreading consistency. Spread over cake.
Sprinkle walnuts over top, if desired.

Cool Ranch Salad

2009-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of those recipes that comes from a friend of a friend. My good friend, Corey brought this to a shower and everyone inhaled it. It was sooo yummy. I made it the following Sunday to go with my Mexican menu. I just omitted the chicken when I served it, since I already had meat as a main dish. It is good either way. This one is a MUST try!!

1 green pepper diced
1 yellow pepper diced
1 red pepper diced
diced chicken
1 Can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2-1 red onion-diced
1 can jolly green giant white shoe peg corn
1 cucumber diced
2-3 limes
1-2 T rice vinegar
lettuce
tomatoes
1 Avocado (optional)
Cheese (Optional)
One bag cool ranch Doritos

Dressing for salad

1 pkg. dry hidden valley ranch
1 cup mayo
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic
3 tomatillos
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 t cayenne pepper

Directions:
Mix peppers, onion, cucumber, black beans, and corn. Squeeze limes over the top. Add the rice vinegar and chill. Chop up lettuce and tomatoes,and chicken and mix with the chilled mixture. Serve on the side Avocado, cheese, and Chips.

For the dressing just put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Chicken Cream Cheese Soup

2009-10-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

1 lb. chicken
1 onion, diced
1-2 tbsp. butter
2 cups baby carrots, sliced small
3-4 potatoes, diced small
1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
8 oz. package cream cheese

Put chicken in pot and cover with water; boil until cooked. Take chicken out of water but keep the broth. Shred chicken when cool.

Saute onion in butter. Put onion in pot and add carrots and potatoes. Add 4-5 cups of broth or enough to cover vegetables. Add 1 chicken bouillon cube for every cup of broth you add. Bring to a boil and simmer until veggies are tender.

Mix flour with milk and add to soup. Add cream cheese to soup, little pieces at a time and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper.

*Slow cooker method: Add all ingredients raw into crock pot, except use 3-4 cans chicken broth or until all ingredients are covered. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Cafe Rio Pork Burritos

2009-10-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

The picture here really doesn't do these babies justice. These burritos are the best thing you can imagine. Try them for your next Fiesta or just if you're hankerin' for some good Mexican!

(These were reheated the next day when the picture was taken. These taste- and look- better when they are fresh out of oven!!)

1 Can or small bottle of Coke (not diet)
3 pound pork
1/2-1 cup brown sugar
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15 oz.) cans mild green chile sauce, divided
2 cups Mexican cheese or Monterey Jack Cheese, grated
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
Garlic to taste
1 (10 count) pkg. flour tortillas

Garnishes:
chopped tomatoes sour cream
salsa guacamole
lettuce

Marinate the pork overnight in coke in a ziploc bag. In the morning, place pork in slow cooker with the coke marinade. Cook on low approx. 7 hours. Remove pork from slow cooker and drain out liquid. Shred pork in a bowl. Stir in 1 can (or 1 cup) of chile sauce and brown sugar. Place back in slow cooker and let cook for 30 min- 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray. Warm tortillas in microwave so that they are easy to roll.

Pour 1/2 cup chile sauce into prepared pan. Place 1/3 cup of meat mixture down the middle of each tortilla. Sprinkle 1-2 tsp. black beans and 1-2 tsp. cilantro on top of meat. Roll burrito and place seam side down in baking dish. Continue until you've used all tortillas/meat. Pour remaining chile sauce over burritos and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with desired garnishes.

Zucchini Brownies

2009-10-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

Don't let the name fool you! These are the best dang brownies EVER! I should have posted this while everyone had there gardens pumping our more zucchini then they could handle but better late then never!
*P.S.* If you shred your zucchini then freeze it, it will last long into the winter season for you!
BROWNIES:

1 1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup canola oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 Cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Cups flour
2 Cups finely grated zucchini

FROSTING:

1 cube of butter
2 tsp. cocoa powder
3 cups powder sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 tsp. milk

Brownies: In a large bowl cream together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine remaining dry ingredients in other bowl and slowly add to cream mix. Mix until combined, don't over mix. Lastly, stir in zucchini.

Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 for 25-28 min

Frosting: Cream everything together until smooth. Add additional milk 1 tsp. at a time if frosting appears to thick. DON'T spread until brownies are completely cooled.

Yield: 12-15

ENJOY!

Coconut Crusted Salmon

2009-09-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

4 salmon fillets
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup panko or dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup sweetened flaky coconut
salt and pepper
Lemon Pepper seasoning (opt.)
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350* F
Coat 9x13 in. baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
Put buttermilk in a shallow bowl and dredge salmon in it, covering completely.
In another shallow bowl combine, breadcrumbs, coconut, and seasonings. Place salmon, one at a time in breadcrumb mixture; coat completely.
Place salmon in baking dish and cover salmon with any remaining crumb mixture. Spray salmon with cooking spray so salmon will be crispy.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until salmon is flaky. Last 5 minutes remove foil.

Garden Fresh Salsa

2009-08-04T21:04:00.001-07:00

Mmmm! Nothing like fresh, straight from your very own garden, salsa! (Okay, so I DID have to buy 2 limes and some cilantro, but other than that, it's my very own home-grown goodness!)

The great thing about doing your own salsa is, there is no wrong way to do it. It's pretty much just adding a little of this, a little of that. So, if you don't like the measurements provided, do it your own way. It's your salsa after all. We loved it this way. Not too spicy, but enough of a kick which is perfect for me. Hope you enjoy!!

(15) medium tomatoes
(2) jalapeno peppers, seeds removed
juice from 2 limes
(1) yellow pepper (or green)
(1) green chili
(2) sweet onions (white)
2-3 Tbsp. Cilantro
2 tsp. minced garlic
Salt and Pepper, to taste (We had to add LOTS of salt. Start with approx. 1 tbsp and go from there)

After you're done with all your choppin', throw it all in a big bowl and give it a taste test.
Again, this is all approximate. So do it your own way and you can't go wrong. My husband likes his salsa chunky, so we just chopped his batch. I like mine more pureed, so after we were done choppin' we throw it into a blender. Both ways work great!

This amount of salsa will give you approximately 5 medium sized Kerr jars full. (refer to picture above)

What to do with acorn squash!!!

2009-07-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Cut squash in half

scoop seeds out

In the hollow add:

1 tbsp. butter

1 tsp. honey

1 tbsp. brown sugar

salt and pepper

cook at 375 for one hour on a cookie sheet

SUPER yummy! I even ate it and liked it!!

Posted by: MEG

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2009-07-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Anyone sick of zucchini yet? Well you won't be with this delicious treat. This recipe is from the "Pioneer Woman Cooks" blog. Great stuff.
The zucchini in this cake makes it very moist and with the chocolate is a perfect mix. You'll be wanting seconds with this recipe.

2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1-1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cup zucchini shredded (do not peel)

Grease 9x13 cake pan and preheat oven to 375*.
Combine together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In a small bowl mix together vanilla and milk.
In a large bowl, cream with a mixer, sugar, oil and eggs until smooth.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients a little at a time, alternating with milk and vanilla.
Mix all this until smooth.
Then HAND STIR in the zucchini.
Pour into the baking pan and bake for 25 minutes (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean)
Ice the cake while it is warm. (Not hot)

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa
6 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

In the microwave, melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Add in milk, cocoa and vanilla; stir. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

Cheesy Zucchini

2009-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

2 large zucchini, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
2 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook zucchini in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 3 min., stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook an additional 3 minutes or until veggies are crisp-tender.

Remove from heat; stir in mozzarella cheese and basil.

Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese

Easy Chicken Marinade

2009-07-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

1 bottle Italian Dressing
1 packet "Crockery Gourmet" seasoning mix for chicken
6 chicken breasts

Place chicken in Ziploc bag. Mix dressing and seasoning in bowl with a wire whisk. Pour over chicken. Close bag and massage bag to cover the dressing over the chicken. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours and then grill. Very tender, juicy and flavorful!

Lion House Zucchini Bread

2009-07-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone like me, have excess zucchini from their garden that they don't know what to do with? Simple solution... make zucchini bread! It's yummy, nutritious, and easy!!

3 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
1 TBSP. vanilla
2 cups zucchini, grated (1 1/2 med. zucchini)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325*. Grease well 1 large bread pan, or 2 small bread pans. Set aside. In a medium bowl mix together flour, soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a separate, larger bowl beat eggs until light and foamy. Add oil, sugar, vanilla, and zucchini; mix well. Add the flour mixture and mix just until moist. DO NOT over mix. Fold in nuts.
(I did nuts in one pan and chocolate chips in another)
Pour into greased pan(s). Pans should be about 2/3 full. Bake for 45-50 minutes for large pan and 30-35 minutes for small pan or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don't over bake.

Tuna Noodles

2009-06-30T17:10:00.001-07:00

Does this website still work? Seems like years since anyone's posted anything. Well, don't worry kids. We're back in business. (For all 4 of you that even look at this blog!)

Now about this dish.....
Sounds weird... looks weird.... tastes delectably delicious. Not a tuna fan? Don't worry. You will LOVE it in this recipe. The best part about it? Takes like minutes to make it. It's one of those "don't feel like cookin" kind of dishes.

1 box Macaroni N' Cheese, cooked to package directions
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tuna fish

Mix the above 3 items together and..... Voila! That's it. Piece of cake. Mmm.... cake. That might have to be my next post!

Chocolate-covered Strawberries

2009-05-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

strawberries

1 cup chocolate chips (for approximately 12 strawberries)

1-2 tbsp. butter

white chocolate or 2 squares of Candiquick (pictured above)

Wash strawberries and pat dry with paper towel. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Melt chocolate chips and butter in microwave-safe bowl until melted. Stir well. Dip strawberries until only a little bit of red is showing. Place on cookie sheet and put in refrigerator for about an hour until slightly hardened. Melt white chocolate and put in a Ziploc bag. Snip off a corner of baggie and drizzle over strawberries. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2009-04-29T19:16:00.001-07:00

4 chicken breasts
(8) 1/4 inch slices swiss cheese
(8) 1/4 inch slices cream cheese (4 oz.)
8 slices ham
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 cups Italian style bread crumbs

Take your chicken a half them lengthwise, so it will give you 8 total. (Almost like your butterflying them, except cut all the way through)
Pound them until they are flattened, with a meat mallet or a rolling pin.
On one of the chicken place the cream cheese, ham and then the swiss cheese; then roll up and stick toothpick through the center to hold in place.
Dip in the eggs until well coated, then roll in breadcrumbs until completely covered.
Bake in a greased 9x13 in pan at 400* for 45 minutes.
Enjoy!!

Another good place to find recipes

2009-04-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

Go to

www.rookie-cookie.com

i only looked at a few recipes, but they all looked yummy to me!!

Lemon and Potato Flake Tilapia

2009-03-25T21:42:00.001-07:00

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. Lemon Pepper seasoning

1 cup instant potato flakes

4 fish fillets (Tilapia, snapper, cod, etc.)

4 tsp. butter

1 lemon

Preheat oven to 375* and grease a casserole dish with cooking spray.

In a shallow bowl combine buttermilk, garlic, pepper, salt, and juice from half of lemon. Place potato flakes in another shallow bowl with lemon pepper seasoning. Dip fillets into buttermilk mixture, shaking off any excess liquid; then dredge in potato flakes. Coat all fillets.

Place in prepared baking dish. Place one teaspoon of butter on the center of each fillet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until fish is golden or flakes with a fork. Sprinkle remaining lemon over fillets, according to taste.

Cheesy Broccoli Gratin

2009-03-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli
1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Mexican style shredded cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons Italian style bread crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil

Preheat the broiler.
In a microwave-safe bowl, stir to combine broccoli, soup, cayenne pepper, salt and shredded cheese. Cover with plastic wrap or damp paper towel and microwave on high for 6 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine grated Parmesan, bread crumbs, and olive oil. Remove broccoli from microwave and remove plastic wrap. Place broccoli in a 8x8 baking dish. Spoon bread crumb mixture over broccoli and broil for 1 to 2 minutes until top is golden brown. Serve hot.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/cheesy-cauliflower-gratin-recipe/index.html

Shrimp Dip

2009-03-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 pint sour cream

1 can baby shrimp, drained

1 tsp. Nature's Seasoning (opt.)

Bag of potato chips

Whip cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth. Add shrimp and seasonings.

Serve cold.

"Tookie" Salad

2009-03-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

The real name for this salad is Cookie Salad, but my little boy used to not be able to say it. So, in our family we call it "Tookie" Salad. This is a family favorite that everyone loves!!!

2 small boxes INSTANT vanilla pudding

1 pint (2 cups) buttermilk

- whisk together and refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until thickened.

Fold in:

12 oz. Cool Whip

1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained

1 small can mandarin oranges, drained

Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Just before serving add:

1 pkg. Fudge-striped cookies, crunched up

Easy Mashed Potato Casserole

2009-03-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

2 teaspoons butter or margarine
16 medium green onions, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium yellow or orange bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
3 cups hot water
1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 package (7.2 oz) Betty Crocker roasted garlic mashed potatoes (2 pouches)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 2 teaspoons butter over medium-high heat. Cook onions and bell pepper in butter 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; set aside.
2. In 2-quart saucepan, heat water, half-and-half and 1/4 cup butter to boiling; remove from heat. Stir in both pouches of potatoes (and seasoning) just until moistened. Let stand about 1 minute or until liquid is absorbed. Beat with fork until smooth.
3. Spoon 1 1/3 cups of the potatoes into casserole; top with half of the onion mixture and 3/4 cup of the cheese. Spoon another 1 1/3 cups potatoes over cheese; carefully spread to cover. Sprinkle evenly with remaining onion mixture. Top with remaining potatoes; carefully spread to cover.

4. Bake uncovered about 35 minutes, sprinkle with cheese and then continue cooking 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

* This recipe would be great too, if the peppers and onions were omitted.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/

Double Chocolate Chip Cookie

2009-03-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

1 box Devil's Food cake mix
2 eggs
2/3 cup shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips

Mix ingredients together. Dough will be pretty thick. If it's too thick add 1 tbsp. water. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 8-9 minutes.

Marble bars

2009-03-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temp.

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine

3/4 cup water

1 1/2 squares unsweetened chocolate

2 cups flour

2 + 1/3 cups sugar, divided

3 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350*F and grease 9x13 in pan and a 9x9 inch pan.

In medium bowl whisk together cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 egg and set aside. In a saucepan add margarine, water, and chocolate. Bring to a boil and remove from stove and let it slightly cool. In a large mixing bowl combine flour and remaining sugar. Mix in chocolate mixture and then add remaining eggs, sour cream, baking soda, and salt. Mix until smooth and evenly blended.

Divide chocolate mixture into your prepared pans. Put spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture in the pans. With a knife, marble the top by swirling the knife around. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the batter in both pans. Bake for 25 minutes. When cooled, cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Salisbury Steak

2009-03-14T10:09:00.001-07:00

So very yummy!!

1 pound ground beef
1 (10-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, divided
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup frozen chopped onions
1 teaspoon steak seasoning (recommended: Montreal)
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup cognac (I used 1/4 cup beef broth)
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
1 (1.2-ounce) packet brown gravy mix
Cooked rice, for serving
Directions
In a large bowl, combine beef, 1/4 can mushroom soup, bread crumbs, egg, onions, and steak seasoning. Mix thoroughly and shape into 4 oval patties.
Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown patties on both sides and transfer to a plate.
Add remaining butter and cognac (remove pan from heat when adding cognac.) Saute mushrooms for 7 to 8 minutes. Add beef stock and whisk in gravy mix until smooth. Stir in remaining mushroom soup.
Return patties to skillet and spoon gravy over top. Cover pan and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Serve Salisbury Steaks and Mushroom Gravy over hot cooked rice.

Chicken Tetrazini (fancy name, easy meal)

2009-03-12T16:40:00.001-07:00

also given to me by my sister, also have not tried, but sounds great!!
Put in a 9X13 pan in this order:

10-12 oz spagetti, cooked and drained
1 4 oz can mushrooms, drained (of course this is optional:)
3 cups cooked cubed chicken

Pour this sauce on top:

3Tbsp butter melted, add 3 Tbsp flour
add: 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste

When thick (ok, it is actually pretty runny,but when it is hot) add 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream)

This may be soupy but the pasta will soak up the liquid.
Top with 2/3 cup parmesan cheese.

Bake at 400 for 25 minutes till brown and bubbly.

Tater Tot casserole

2009-03-12T16:36:00.001-07:00

I got this from my sister, i haven't tried it but it sounds good and easy!!

Tater tot casserole:
Brown 1 lb. Hamburger. Drain Hamburger and add 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 can cream of mushroom soup and simmer together. In a 2 qt. casserole dish pour half bag of tater tots and half hamburger mixture. Add other half bag of tater tots and rest of hamburger mixture. Top off with grated cheese and pour 1/3 c. milk. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

By:MEG

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2009-03-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

6 boneless skinless chicken brest halfs

6 pieces swiss cheese

12 pieces of sliced ham

sage

2 eggs

bread crumbs

Pound Chicken to make it flat. Put 1 piece of swiss cheese and 2 pieces of ham on top of chicken. Sprinkle sage on top of the ham. Roll up all together. Put 2 eggs in bowl and mix well. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg and then in bread crumbs until covered. Bake on cookie Sheet on 300 degrees for 1 hour.

2009-03-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

Southwest Poppyseed Chicken Casserole

4-5 chicken breast (or meat from Costco chicken)

1 C sour cream

1 can Cream Of Chicken

1/4 C milk

3/4 t garlic salt

1/2 t pepper

1 t cumin (or to taste)

1 1/2 TBS dried onion flakes (or 2 TBS finely chopped onion)

1 can diced chilies (optional)

1 TBS poppy seed

1-2 C monterrey jack cheese - shredded

4 TBS butter

1 sleeve Ritz Crackers - crushed

Boil chicken, shredded or diced, and lay in baking dish. Mix together sour cream, soup, milk, spices, and poppyseeds. Top chicken with cheese and pour sauce on top to completely cover casserole. Melt butter and mix well with crushed Ritz crackers (I do this in a big ziploc). Spread crumb mixture on top. (Then I sprinkle LIGHTLY with poppyseeds.) Bake 350 for 40 minutes until golden and bubbly.* I like to serve over rice.

If you have a small chopper for small dicing or pureeing you can put your chilies in there to make them unnoticeable to the eye. These give great flavor and even though they are mild some kids have issues with these.

Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake

2009-02-24T19:41:00.001-08:00

1 box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1 c. water

1/2 c. oil

1/4 c. poppy seeds

1 sm. box instant vanilla pudding

2 tbsp. lemon juice

Glaze:

1 c. powdered sugar

3 tbsp. lemon juice

Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes. Cool 5 minutes then transfer to a serving plate. While still warm, drizzle with glaze.

Tip: An easy way to transfer your cake from the pan to a plate: Place the plate upside down over cake and then flip. Much easier this way!!!

Lime Tilapia

2009-02-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

Butter cooking spray
4 (6 to 8-ounce) tilapia fillets
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 lime finely grated zest and juice

2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with a nonstick butter spray.
Rinse fish and pat dry; place on the prepared baking sheet. Season each fillet with salt, cracked pepper, lime zest and lime juice. Add fish to the pan. Place a pat of butter on each fillet and cook in the oven for 8 to 12 minutes.

Almond Rice Pilaf

2009-02-24T19:34:00.001-08:00

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (1/2 a medium onion)
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 cups chicken broth (approx. 1 can)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Chopped parsley leaves (or 1-2 tbsp. dried flakes)

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and almonds. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is softened and the almonds are golden, stirring occasionally. Add the rice; cook and stir for 1 minute. Slowly stir in the broth and add the salt and the pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and garnish with parsley.

courtesy of Paula Deen

Chocolate Crock Pot Cake

2009-02-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (opt.)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2cups hot water

1. Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, the baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread batter evenly in slow cooker.
2. Mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa in small bowl. Stir in hot water until smooth. Pour evenly over batter in slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on high heat setting 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Turn off slow cooker. Let cake stand uncovered 30 to 40 minutes to cool slightly before serving. Spoon warm cake into dessert dishes. Spoon sauce over top.

*This can be served with whipping cream or vanilla ice cream.

Whipping cream: 1 cup whipping cream whipped together with 2 tbsp. sugar.

Herb crusted pork tenderloin

2009-02-19T21:21:00.000-08:00

This is my girlfriend, Paula Deen's recipe. It was VERY flavorful and yummy. Plus....

EASY, EASY, EASY!!!!

1 (4 pound) boneless pork loin
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (I used 2 tsp. store bought pre-minced garlic)
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried rosemary

-Preheat oven to 475*F
-Place the pork loin on a rack in a roasting pan. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. With your fingers, massage the mixture onto the pork loin, covering all the meat.
-Roast the pork for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 425*F and roast for an additional hour. -Test for doneness using a meat thermometer. When the internal temp. reaches 155 degrees F, remove from oven. Allow to sit for about 20 minutes, as it will continue to cook while it rests.

Important note: I checked my roast after cooking for 20 minutes on 475 and it was almost burnt on the outside. I would suggest cooking it on 350* for one hour- one and half hours. That way it will be nice and tender.
P.S. I also served gravy over the top of my tenderloin. I just used one of those gravy packets. It made it DELICIOUS!

Green Bean Casserole

2009-02-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

I promise this taste better than it looks. When I saw the ingredients to this recipe I thought they were an interesting combination. But, since I have a lot of Rice Chex cereal in food storage, I thought I'd give it a go.... and whattaya know? It actually tasted pretty good!
For those who aren't big veggie lovers, this was a tastier way to go, and EASY!

3 cups Rice Chex cereal
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
3/4 cup milk
2 cans cut green beans, drained
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/8 tsp. pepper

-Heat oven to 350*F. In a large Ziploc bag, place cereal, cheese and butter. Seal bag and shake gently to coat evenly; set aside.
-In ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish, mix beans, soup and pepper. Top with cereal mixture.
-Bake about 20 minutes or until beans are hot and topping is light golden brown.

Creamy crock-pot chicken

2009-02-19T14:13:00.001-08:00

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can milk

1/4 cube of butter (2 tbsp.)

8 oz. cream cheese

1 pkg. Italian dressing

6 chicken breasts (I use 3 and shred it towards the end of cooking)

White rice (We just use Minute Rice)

-Mix soup, milk, and dressing together

-Cut cream cheese into cubes, add with butter

-Add chicken (they can be frozen)

-Slow cook for 8 hours on low

-serve over rice

Variations/ Tips:

To make this a less-fat meal, use 98% fat free chicken soup, skim milk, omit the butter, and use fat free cream cheese. This still tastes great with these variations.

Better than "You-Know-What" Cake

2009-02-13T23:51:00.000-08:00

This is a classic, that everyone HAS to have a recipe to. This is a sure-to-love, never-fail cake!!

1 box of chocolate cake mix prepared according to package directions (You can also use, Devils Food or German Chocolate)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (I use about half)

butterscotch ice cream topping

8 oz. cool whip

2-3 Skor or Heath bars, broken into little pieces

When cake is slightly warm, poke a bunch of holes into it using the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour canned milk into holes, filling about halfway. Then fill the rest of the way with butterscotch. Spread cool whip over top of cake, then sprinkle with candy bars.

Keep Refrigerated and enjoy!!

Chicken Enchiladas

2009-02-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 small, white onion, sliced
1 tsp. salt
1 can cream of chicken soup
16 oz. sour cream
1 small can diced, mild green chiles
shredded cheese (Mexican or cheddar)
flour tortillas

Boil chicken together with onion and salt. After chicken is cooked, shred it and put in medium bowl. Mix green chiles in with chicken. In a separate bowl mix together cream of chicken soup and sour cream. Take 1/4 of the creamed mixture and add it to the chicken and combine.
Take 2-3 tbsp. of cream mixture and spread on the bottom of a 9x13 in. casserole dish. Add about 2 tbsp. of chicken mixture to the center of a tortilla and roll-up. Do this until all of your chicken is gone. It should give you 6-8 enchiladas. Spread your remaining cream mixture over the top of your enchiladas. Sprinkle with cheese. I like to add halved olives onto the top of each enchilada, so I know where to cut after they're done cooking.

Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Steak Diane- YUM!

2009-02-07T19:19:00.001-08:00

4 (3-oz.) filet mignon medallions (we used ribeyes)
Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup beef broth (or half of a can)
1 tbsp. A-1 steak sauce
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. chives, finely chopped

Season both sides of steak with Montreal seasoning. If you like your steaks medium-well, grill until medium. If you like your steaks cooked medium, cook until medium-rare, etc. (They'll cook more in the skillet)
While your steaks are grilling prepare the sauce by adding garlic, butter and mushrooms to a large skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in steak sauce, cream, and beef broth. Stir thoroughly and bring sauce to a simmer.
When steaks are done grilling, add to skillet and let simmer in sauce for approximately 3-5 minutes. Add chives. Place steaks on warm plates and spoon sauce and mushrooms over steaks.

This is heavenly!!!

Emeril's Red Potatoes

2009-02-07T19:14:00.001-08:00

3/4 pound small red potatoes, quartered

1 1/2- 2 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tbsp. butter

salt and pepper

green onion for garnish (optional)

In a saucepan cover unpeeled potatoes with cold water and bring to a boil. Cook just until tender- do not overcook or potatoes will be watery. Drain well, return to pan with potatoes to low heat and shake to dry. Mix in garlic, cream, butter and salt and pepper to taste. Mash together with potato masher until ingredients are combined but potatoes are still a little lumpy.

Augrotin Halibut

2009-02-04T18:02:00.001-08:00

Halibut can be a little bit pricey. I buy my fillets frozen from Costco and half them.

You can also use another white fish such as Tilapia if you want to save on costs.

4 pieces of Halibut

half of a lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon pepper seasoning

1 cup mayo (or use plain yogurt to make eat lighter)

2 cup grated Swiss cheese

seasoned bread crumbs

Place halibut in a greased baking dish. Squeeze lemon over fish and then sprinkle seasonings on top. Mix mayo and Swiss cheese and place over fish. Sprinkle bread crumbs over fish until completely covered. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until done.

*This is a really easy recipe and a sure-to-be family favorite!

Oven Roasted Potatoes

2009-02-04T17:57:00.001-08:00

6-8 small red potatoes

olive oil

1 packet Lipton Onion Soup

extra seasonings if desired

Chop potatoes into 1 inch pieces and place in 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with olive oil until lightly covered. (Approx. 1/4 cup) Sprinkle with soup packet and bake in a 425* preheated oven for about 25 minutes, stirring half way through cooking time.

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

2009-02-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

12 oz. bag ready-to-eat baby carrots

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. grated orange peel (optional)

~In a saucepan heat 1 inch of water to boiling. Add the carrots. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 6-9 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain and set aside.

~In 12-inch skillet, cook remaining ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly, until bubbly.

~Stir in carrots and reduce heat to low. Cook until carrots are glazed and hot; approximately 3 minutes.