Food For Thought...

Red Velvet Cheesecake

2011-12-11T14:43:00.001-08:00

This is pretty time consuming and there are a lot of steps, but it IS easy!!

First, bake a cheesecake. If you have a recipe you like, great. If you need one, here is mine! Make sure it has NO crust. You will want to use a spring form pan, and line the whole thing with parchment paper, so it's easy to get out. Let it refrigerate overnight.

The next day, bake a red velvet cake, in a 9" pan. (Recipe below). You can either bake one layer, and cut it into 2, or for thicker layers, bake 2 layers, and just level them so they are flat and even. Set them in the freezer for a couple hours.

Oh- don't forget to save the shavings from your cake. You'll need them later.

When you are ready to assemble your cake, take your cheesecake, and unwrap it.

Place it upside-down, on top of your bottom layer of cake.

Then, take off the pan, and the parchment paper.

Then place the other layer of cake on top! At this point, my daughter said it looks like one giant oreo! Yup! I placed it in the freezer for another hour before I frosted it.

Frost it with the cream cheese frosting (again, recipe below)! You don't need to worry about the sides looking perfect, because you'll be covering it up with those cake crumbles you saved.

Just stick those crumbles right on the side, they'll stick good. You can press them down if they don't.

MMMMmmmmmmmmmmm.....

It looks yummy, doesn't it? It IS!

Here's a slice....oh wait- that one's for me! Yum!

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Cheesecake Recipe Here

Red Velvet Cake

1 Red Velvet Cake Mix (yes, that's how we roll)

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

4 eggs

1 3/4 cup water

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup oil

Mix all together and beat well. Pour into 2 9" round pans. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add vanilla and beat well. Then add powdered sugar. Add to your desired consistency. If it's too thick, you can add a little milk.

Ultimate Club Sandwich

2011-09-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

"The Best Sandwich Ever" ~my husbands words, not mine. Personally, the "best sandwich ever" would be on a croissant with turkey, lots of different cheeses, avacado, mayo, and a little more cheese. But if you like Club Sandwiches, this one is a must try!

Not sure how to really put this in recipe form, so just follow these steps:

3 slices thick bread

Miracle Whip

Pesto

Bacon, nice and crispy

Turkey

Sliced Tomato

Lettuce

Sliced Avacado

Pepper Jack Cheese

Muenster Cheese or Provolone

Toast your bread. Then on the first slice, spread Miracle Whip on it. Top with ham, bacon, tomatoes, avacado, and Pepper Jack Cheese. Spread the second slice of bread with Pesto, and place on top, pesto side down.
Then spread Miracle Whip on top of that second slice, and top with turkey, bacon, lettuce, avacado, and Muenster or Provolone cheese. Take the third slice of bread, and spread the pesto on it, and place pesto side down. Secure with toothpicks and cut in half. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cake?

2011-06-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

I don't even know what to call this cake. I got the recipe from my sister, but she just called it Chocolate Cake. But it is seriously my favorite chocolate cake I've tried so far. I would love suggestions for a good name :) You might have to make it first though.

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix

1/2 Cup water

1/2 Cup oil

4 eggs

1 Cup sour cream

1 box instant chocolate pudding

1 bag chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)

1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray bundt pan. Mix together cake mix, water, oil, eggs, sour cream, and pudding. Mix for 10 minutes. Then add half a bag of chocolate chips. Pour into bundt pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.

For ganache topping, heat whipping cream until boiling. Take off heat and add the rest of the chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Pour over cake. ENJOY

Lemon Bars

2011-05-26T12:59:00.001-07:00

This is my moms recipe. The crust is so addicting. And the finished product is so yummy. Not too sweet- just right. Enjoy!

Crust:
2 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
Dash of Salt
1 Cup butter, softened

Filling:
2 Cups Sugar
1/4 Cup Flour
4 eggs, beaten
6 Tbsp. Lemon juice

Pre-heat oven to 350. Combine crust ingredients and mix well. Spread onto greased 9x13 pan, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned.

For filling, combine sugar and flour, then add eggs and lemon juice. Mix well and pour over slightly cooked crust. Bake for 25 minutes. Let it cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Caramel Brownies

2011-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

1 German Chocolate Cake Mix

1/2 C. Evaporated Milk, plus 1/3 C.

1/2 C. Melted Butter

50 caramels

1 1/2 C. chocolate chips

Mix together cake mix, 1/2 c. evaporated milk, and butter. Divide batter (dough) in half, and spread one half in greased 9x11 pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

After it comes out of the oven, sprinkle with chocolate chips. Melt caramels with 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Stir together, and pour over chocolate chips. Cover with rest of brownie batter. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

2011-04-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

4 squares Baker's semi-sweet chocolate

1/2 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

6 Tbsp. flour

4 oz. cream cheese (softened)

3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Cool Whip, if desired

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. In large bowl, microwave chocolate squares and butter for 1- 1 1/2 minutes until chocolate is almost melted. Stir with whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs, and yolks. Stir in flour and set aside.

In smaller bowl, mix together cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Pour half the chocolate mixture into a 1 qt. souffle dish, sprayed with cooking spray.

Top with peanut butter mixture, then the rest of the chocolate mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are set, and middle is still soft.

Right out of the oven...

Let cool slightly, but serve warm. This was SOOO good!

Baked Potato Soup

2011-01-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

*My husband is not a fan of soup. But after eating this he surprisingly admitted that he loved it and he would like to have it more.

4 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
1 can evaporated milk
3-4 medium potatoes, baked
3-4 green onion, chopped
4 slices of bacon, cooked until crispy
shredded cheddar cheese
Sour Cream

In saucepan, melt butter and add onion. Cook until tender. Add flour. On medium heat, gradually add chicken broth and milk. Take 1 potato and scoop out insides and mash. Add to soup. Heat until just boiling. Dice the other potatoes and add to soup. Heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, add green onion and crumbled bacon to soup. Add cheese and sour cream on individual servings. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bars

2010-10-25T11:57:00.001-07:00

4 eggs
1 – 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup oil
one 15 ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

ICING:
One 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened (I used and recommend butter)
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly comined and the batter is smooth.

3. Spread the batter in an ungreased nonstick 13 by 10 inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

4. To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

**You could also make it in a cookie sheet for thinner bars, but then I would recommend doubling the frosting**

Chile

2010-10-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

{Pics to come}

Wash about two cups beans (red, pinto, chile, or a combination). Put in large soup pot and cover with two quarts water and 1 tbsp. Salt. Bring to a boil, turn off stove and allow to soak overnight.
The next day, drain and rinse beans, cover again with two quarts water, bring to a boil, then turn down and allow to simmer about two hours.

Cook 1 pound of beef and 1 diced onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat from meat and add to beans, then add the following ingredients:

1quart tomatoes
1can tomato juice (12 oz.)
3/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp. Chili powder
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Onion powder
1/2 tsp. Cumin (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Simmer altogether several hours until beans are nice and tender. You can adjust any of the seasonings to your taste.

Fool-Proof French Bread

2010-10-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law. It is so yummy and really easy to make. I make it when we have spaghetti or manicotti, etc.

1/2 c. warm water
2 Tbsp yeast
2 c. hot water
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp salt
1/3 c. melted shortening
6 c. flour

In small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In large mixing bowl, combine hot water, sugar, salt, shortening and allow to stand until luke-warm. Add dissolved yeast and 3 cups of the flour. Using a wooden spoon, beat until smooth and well blended. Add remaining flour to make a soft dough that can still be mixed with a spoon. Leave spoon in bowl and allow dough to rest 10 minutes.

Stir dough down. Let rest again. Repeat process of stirring dough followed by the 10 min. rest until it has been done a total of five times.

Turn dough out onto floured board and knead only enough to coat dough with flour so it can be handled. Divide dough into two equal portions. Roll each portion of dough into a rectangle 9x12 inches. Roll up jelly-roll style.

Arrange lengthwise on greased cookie sheet, allowing room for both loaves. With a sharp knife, slash top diagonally about three times across each loaf and cover and let raise until double in size, about 30 min to 1 hour.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until done. Makes two loaves.

Turtle Cups

2010-10-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

Today I was craving turtles, but I didn't have any. I was making cake mix cookie dough and decided to try something new with it.

After I made the dough, I pressed it into 24 mini-cupcake molds, then baked it. After it came out of the oven, I pressed the dough down again since they puffed up a little when baking.

Then I added chopped pecans to each cup.

Then I added the caramel sauce to each cup, and then broiled it for just a couple minutes.

They kind of fall apart when you try to take them out, so put them in the fridge or freezer before you attempt to take them out. Enjoy!

Cake Mix Cookie Dough

1 chocolate cake mix

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

Beat well and press into mini-cupcakes. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes. Let cool while you make caramel sauce.

Caramel Sauce

6 Tbsp. butter

1/4 cup canned milk

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Place all ingredients in saucepan and stir until boiling, then take off heat.

Sprinkle chopped pecans into each cookie cup. Then, pour caramel sauce into each cup and broil for 2-3 minutes. Place in freezer before taking out of tin.

Mint Truffle Cookies

2010-10-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

These cookies are so easy and so yummy.

First, you make this simple cake mix cookie recipe below. Then you bake as directed, and as soon as they come out of the oven you just place an Andes Mint on top and let it sit for a few minutes. Then you smear them around.

There you have it! Easy peasy.

Mint Truffle Cookies

1 chocolate cake mix

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

24 Andes Mints (or one for each cookie)

Mix first three ingredients together and roll into 1" balls. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, place a mint on top of each cookie. Let sit for a few minutes, then smear around.

Spinach Alfredo Pizza

2010-04-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Doesn't that look divine? It is!! It's way easy too.

First, start off making this Pizza Crust.
Then, bake it on 450 for about 7-8 minutes.

Then, when it comes out of the oven, poke holes in the crust with a fork.
Next, pour on this yummy Alfredo Sauce.

Top it off with grilled chicken seasoned with oregano and garlic salt, and dried spinach, and mozzarella cheese.

Bake for about 10 more minutes, or until brown and bubbly :)
Enjoy!!

Fry Sauce

2010-03-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

Fry Sauce is mostly a Utah thing, and I think that anyone who has not tried it, is totally missing out. It is one of my favorite foods ever. Fries are good, but it's just something to use to get to the fry sauce. Most fry-sauces are made with half mayo; half ketchup. That's okay, but if you truly want to enjoy the fry-sauce experience, follow the recipe below. It's really tricky, so I hope you don't mess up:

2 parts Mayo
1 part Ketchup
1 part BBQ sauce
Mix

You think you got it? If you run out of fries, it's okay to use your finger.

Cinnamon Rolls

2010-01-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've started making a batch of these every Saturday night so we can have them for breakfast Sunday morning. My mom did the same thing every week for years and years. This is her recipe. I half this recipe for our family and it is plenty. In fact we always have enough extra to share with someone in our neighborhood.

Dissolve 3 Tbsp. yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. Sprinkle with about 2 Tbsp. white sugar to help it along. Allow to set while mixing dough.

Heat in m icrowave (about 3 minutes):
2 cubes (1 cup) butter
2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. salt

Pour into mixing bowl and add:
4 cups flour
3 eggs
yeast mixture
about 4 more cups flour

Knead about 5 minutes in mixer

Remove dough hook, cover with damp towel and allow to raise until double - about 1 hour, or more.

Spray counter, thoroughly (flouring it will dry out dough). Remove dough from bowl; pat or roll out into rectangle -about 1/2 inch thick. spread with melted butter, sprinkle lightly with white sugar, then brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up from long side and pinch clsoed at the end. The wider your rectangle, the bigger the rolls will be. Slice into about 1 - 1 1/2 inch slices and place on greased cookie sheet. Allow to raise again about an hour or so. Bake in preheated oven 375-400 about 10-15 minutes. Watch them closely the first time until you see how you want them and how your oven bakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting: (I make a whole batch of this, but only use half and freeze the rest for the next week.)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2-3 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2-4 cups powdered sugar.

Mix well.

Rainbow Cake

2009-10-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

So, I've been seeing this "rainbow cake" around the blogosphere, and I decided I wanted to try and make it. So, I googled it and found a bunch of different sites on how to make it. None of them were very clear though, so I thought I would post how I made this cake.

First, I bought a regular white cake mix. After you make the batter, divide it into 6 equal parts (about 1/2 cup + a couple tbsp.) You can use food coloring to color the batter, but for brighter colors, I decided to use the Wilton gel. If you use food coloring, it will turn out more pastel. And yes, you have to dirty every dish in the house, but it's worth it!

This recipe works best if you have 2 round pans. Mine are 9". Make sure you pour each color right into the middle of the pan. It will spread out on its own. First, I poured in purple, blue and green. Then I did red, orange and yellow. Normally you would do yellow, orange, then red, but I turn my top half upside-down, does that make sense. Basically, when you have both halves of the cake on top of eachother, you want the color scheme to go in rainbow order.

Then bake as directed.

You can decorate it however you like. This was for my daughter's 3rd birthday. She wanted a unicorn cake, so I thought the rainbow would make it fun.

And her you have it! Delicious, and fun for kids!

Homemade Pasta Sauce

2009-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

1 quart stewed tomatoes
1/2 c. torn, fresh basil leaves
2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 TBSP. white balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 tsp. sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning

Mix altogether in saucepan on medium-high heat until well mixed. Pour over pasta!

Cream Cheese WonTons

2009-05-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

This isn't really a recipe because it's SO simple to make, but here are the instructions:

Put a spoonful of cream cheese inside a wonton wrapper. Get the edges wet and seal together. Fry in oil on stove until they are light brown and crispy. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite treats. I used to fork out $5 to buy 10 of them at a Chinese restaurant! I didn't do it often-just when I was really craving them. So I just figured I could make them myself. They were really easy and tasted even better! You could add other things to the cream cheese if you wanted, (i.e. crab, chicken, onion, etc.) I like them best plain. Oh, here is the last one:

Fruit Pizza

2009-05-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

CRUST
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat butters and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add to egg mixture. Roll out on jelly roll pan and bake 10 minutes at 375.

FILLING
1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar
Mix together then fold in:
4 oz. Cool Whip (about half of a container.)

Spread on top of crust and add your favorite fruit slices on top. Refrigerate.

Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

2009-05-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

1 lb. Steak, cut into strips
1/2 Onion, sliced
1/2 Green Pepper, sliced
1/2 Red Pepper, sliced
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Salt & Pepper
4 Hoagie Buns
2 Cups Shredded Mozzerella Cheese
Miracle Whip

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown beef in large non-stick skillet for about 5 minutes or until almost fully cooked. Add sliced onion and green pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Sautee until veggies are crisp-tender and meat is fully cooked.
Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Open up hoagie buns on a cookie sheet and spoon meat mixture evenly onto each sub. Top with slice of cheese.
Bake in oven for about 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bun is toasted. Remove from oven, add Miracle Whip to other side of sub bun. Close sub, and enjoy!

Baked Potato Topping

2009-04-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

3/4 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup Mayo
Grated Cheddar Cheese (and plenty of it!)
Chopped Green Onion
Bacon, crumbled

Mix all together and let refrigerate for 3+ hours. Smother on baked potatoes :)

Chicken Romaine Salad

2009-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Romaine Lettuce
Cucumber, sliced
Green Onions, chopped
Won Tons (fried)
Chicken (grilled with cayenne pepper, black pepper & Italian seasoning)
Shredded Mozzerella Cheese

You can add however much of the things above into your salad. Just make it your own.

Dressing:
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Tbsp. Vinegar
4 Tbsp. Sugar
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Chill Overnight

Toss onto Salad right before serving. Enjoy!

Jalepeno Cream Cheese Dip

2009-04-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

1 8oz. package Cream Cheese
1/4 cup (or so) of sliced jalapenos
milk

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. You can put more jalapenos in if you like it really spicy. You will just have to taste it as you go along to see how much you like. Add the milk to make it as creamy as you like. I just put in a dash~however much that is :)

Serve cold with tortilla chips. It is SO good!

Can't-Leave-Alone-Bars

2009-02-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Mix together into a dough. Spread 2/3 of dough onto the bottom of a greased 9x13" pan. Set aside.

In microwave safe bowl, put:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter

Microwave together for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Pour over dough.

Take the remaining dough and crumble little pieces onto chocolate mixture. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Crepes

2009-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

1 cup flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1/8 tsp. salt

Mix together in bowl. Take about 1/3 cup batter and pour in skillet. On medium heat, cook until crepe changes color to dark yellow, then flip. Put toppings on: we like to spread some butter and then sprinkle sugar on them and then roll them up. You could do a cream cheese filling or fresh fruit, or whatever you want.

Twice Baked Potatoes

2008-11-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite potatoe recipes.

4-6 red potatoes
sour cream
1/4 c. butter
salt
milk
grated cheddar cheese

Bake potatoes in the microwave until they are soft. Cut in half lengthwise and hollow out with a spoon. Put the middles in a large bowl. (Do NOT discard shells.) When all the potatoes are hollowed out, add the following to them in the bowl. 1/4 c. butter, salt, milk, and sour cream. You will just have to eyeball the measurements and add to taste. Mash all together until well mixed. Spoon potatoe mixture back into the hollow shells. Cover with grated cheese and microwave (or bake in oven) until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Caccitore Casserole

2008-10-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just made this recipe up in my head and it sounds good to me, so hopefully it tastes good too. I will let you know later.

1 lb. ziti pasta (or any kind of pasta you want)
2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 egg yolk
1 roll ritz crackers (crushed)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups mozzerella cheese

Cook pasta, drain, and place into 9x13" baking dish. Cover the chicken chunks in egg yolk, then cover in ritz crackers sprinkled with garlic powder and parmasen cheese. Layer chicken, then spaghetti sauce, then cheese in baking dish and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (or until cheese is melted.) You could either stir everything together or keep it all layered. I will probably layer it.

Chocolate Fudge Cake

2008-09-23T08:35:00.001-07:00

I have been in the mood for really moist fudgey cake lately. So, I made up this recipe and it was SOOO good!

Cake:
1 package Chocolate Cake Mix (and ingredients)
3/4 cup sour cream

Mix all together and bake according to instructions on box. (It may take a little longer to bake with the sour cream, so just watch it.)

Fudge Topping:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup.)
6 oz. chocolate chips (half bag)
1 1/3 cup evaporated milk
2-3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan. Add chocolate chips and stir well. Add evaporated milk and powdered sugar. Boil for 3-5 minutes. Take off heat and add vanilla.

Poke holes in cake and pour over.
**If you want it a little thicker and yummier, try beating in 8 oz. of cream cheese to the topping, then frost!**

Peanut Butter Fudgesicles

2008-09-18T19:18:00.001-07:00

1 small package chocolate pudding mix (cook variety)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups milk
1/4 (or more) creamy peanut butter
5 oz. paper cups
Popsicle sticks

Combine pudding mix, sugar, cocoa, and milk in a microwave safe bowl. Stir to mix. Microwave on high 5-7 minutes, stirring every 1 1/2 minutes, until bubbly. Stir in peanut butter. Cool. Spoon into paper cups. Place a popsicle stick in each cup and freeze.

Tortilla Casserold (Beef Style)

2008-09-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

1 lb. extra lean beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1 can black beans, drained (and maybe a little smashed)
1 can chopped green chillis
2 cups salsa
8 corn tortillas
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups grated cheese

Brown beef, sausage, and onion together. drain off excess fat. Add drained beans and the chilis.
Spread 1/2 cup salsa on bottom of microwave safe casserole dish or a 9x13 pan.
Cut tortillas in half and arrange 1/2 the tortillas on the bottom of the baking dish. Combine 1 cup salsa, sour cream, and soup. Spread tortillas with 1/2 of the sour cream mixture. Spread with 1/2 the meat and bean mixture, sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese. Repeat process. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Spaghetti Tips ~ What and What Not To Do

2008-09-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made Spaghetti for dinner, and I decided to use a tip I had read about in an article. The "tip" is a time-saver for making meatballs. Instead of rolling out each clump of meat into a meatball, you just pat out the meat onto a cookie sheet about 1 inch thick. Then you just cut it into 1 inch squares. So really, you're having Spaghetti and Meat-Squares. The look would be a little different, but the taste would be the same. Well, I decided to try out this tip tonight for dinner. Here are my meat squares:

I don't know about you, but I did not think these looked appetizing at all. I decided to grind them up best I could to have just a meat-sauce, but they didn't grind too well, and I ended up doing this:

Of course it was on my white pants. And to top it all off, after trying for 5 minutes to get a good angle so you could see that picture of my "saucy" white pants, I forgot to watch the dinner cooking on the stove:

Now I need to clean under the stove since I took the extra 20 seconds to take a pictures of that. Oh, what I do for my readers.

The moral of this story: Don't make meat-squares, no matter how much time they save.

Chicken Enchiladas

2008-08-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

1 1/2 -2 boneless chicken breasts
1 can chopped green chilis
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup minced onion
cumin
cayenne pepper
garlic
flour tortillas

Boil chicken, cool and cut up. Mix green chilis, sour cream, soup, onion, and thin with broth from chicken to make sauce. Add cumin, cayenne pepper and garlic to taste. Add about 1/4 cup of sauce to chicken.
Roll chicken mixture sprinkled with cheese into each tortilla. Pour sauce over top and sprinkle with grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through. Makes 8 to 10 enchiladas.

Homemade Ice Cream

2008-08-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

This is how ice cream should taste.

6 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Eagle Brand)
1 can Evaporated Milk (canned milk)
3 cup cream

Chocolate
1 T. vanilla
1/2 can chocolate syrup (not hot fudge)

Lemon Vanilla
2 T. vanilla
1 T. lemon extract (not juice)

Pour into ice cream maker, and fill with whole milk to fill line.

Zucchini Casserole

2008-08-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Okay people, you MUST try this. I do not like zucchini, but this is one of my favorite dishes.

2 zucchini, sliced, cooked, and drained
3/4 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 Tbsp. butter
2 1/4 cup stuffing cubes
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream

Saute carrots and onion in butter until tender. Add remaining ingredients, zucchini last. Pour into casserole dish and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

*I dice my zucchini up pretty small so that I can hardly notice it. You don't really taste it that much anyway.

Chicken Salad

2008-08-03T15:26:00.001-07:00

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken (or shredded)
3/4 cup mayo
2 squirts of mustard
1/2 cup (or more) diced apple
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 stalk celery, chopped

Mix all together and serve on croissants or in pitas.

*You can really throw whatever you want into your chicken salad. I also like slivered almonds, but they can be pricey for what you get (I think.) And doing it yourself is too much work. Of course, I am lazy.

Guacamole

2008-07-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Guacamole is ALWAYS better homemade. It's so easy too. I don't have an exact recipe, but here is how I make it:

3 ripe avacados (dark green and barely soft=ripe)
3 squirts of lemon juice
1/8 tsp. minced garlic (I use the kind in the jar)
3 shakes of onion salt
2 shakes of regular salt
1 tiny shake of cayenne pepper (that's my secret ingredient)

Mix well and serve con comida!!! YUM!

A Taco Tip

2008-07-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

When making taco meat, add a small can of tomato sauce before cooking the ground meat. Cook it all together, and you will get a very moist and finer ground meat-like you find at mexican restaurants. It is SO much better.

Seriously try it.

I've been awarded!

2008-07-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Today I received an actual blog award! I was shocked, and thrilled! Check it out:

I didn't think anyone read this blog, but that's why it's here. To share my favorite recipes. Thanks MySistersCucina for the award!

Sweet & Sour Chicken

2008-06-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
(Mix together)

3 or 4 beaten eggs
4-6 bonless, skinless chicken breasts-cut into chunks

Dip chicken in beaten eggs and then in flour mixture. Brown lightly in oil in frying pan on medium heat. Place in oblong glass baking dish. Pour sweet & sour sauce over chicken. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, turning once or twice.

Sweet & Sour Sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
8 tbsp. ketchup
2 tbsp. soy sauce

Bring all ingredients to a low boil. To thicken sauce, use cornstarch and water.

Creamy Beef Stroganoff

2008-06-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

1 lb. stew meat or beef chunks

Place in slow cooker

Add-
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
chopped onion
2 tsp. beef boullion in 1 cup boiling water
1 can mushrooms
1 8oz. package cream cheese

Cook on low 7-8 hours. Don't add cream cheese until the last hour. Serve over noodles.

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

2008-05-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

1 frozen bag of broccoli
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

Sauce:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Put frozen broccoli in microwaveable casserole dish and cook. After it is cooked, spread with chicken. Pour sauce over top and spread evenly. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with paprika before baking if desired.
*Add rice to help fill up teenagers or growing children.

Yucatan Chicken

2008-04-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

2 boneless chicken breasts cut into chunks...
Sprinkle with:
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. Mexican Seasoning or:
1/2 t. cornmeal
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. oregano
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
Cooke, either in the microwave or in a non-stick skillet.

Sauce:
1 pt. stewed tomatoes
1 small onion chopped
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 can chopped green chilis
1/4 t. garlic powder
Add sauce to chicken and serve with tortilla chips. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, etc.

Creamy Spinach Ravioli

2008-03-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

-2 pkg. (9 oz. each) refrigerated cheese ravioli
-1/2 cup (1/2 of 8-oz. tub) Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
-1 cup milk
-1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese, divided
-4 cups baby spinach leaves
-2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
-Grated peel from 1 lemon
-6 cherry tomatoes, quartered

COOK pasta as directed on package.
MEANWHILE, place cream cheese spread in large skillet. Add milk; cook on medium heat 1 to 2 min. or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the spinach, dill and lemon peel; mix well.
DRAIN pasta. Add to cream cheese sauce; toss to coat. Serve topped with tomatoes and remaining 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese.

Stroganoff

2008-03-16T20:04:00.001-07:00

1 lb. ground beef
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup sour cream
2 pieces of crumbled bacon

Brown beef. Add soup and heat through in large skillet. Just before serving, add sour cream and bacon. Heat through. Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

Chicken Pasta Salad

2008-03-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

1 lb. chicken breast cut into chunks
1 cucumber, chopped
1 can olives - chopped
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tomato - diced
mozerella cheese
parmesan cheese
1 lb. spiral pasta
1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix

Cook chicken in 1 Tbsp. olive oil, season with garlic salt, onion salt, peper and Italian seasoning. Just as it is done, add soy sauce and brown well. Cook pasta and cool. Combine all ingredients. Mix dressing as directed and pour over all and mix.

Pump Up Your Take-Out

2008-03-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

Feeding a crowd? Want to save time? Impress your family and friends:

KFC Dinner:

Comes with-
Bucket of Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and coleslaw.

First, take the chicken out of the bucket, and serve on a dinner platter! This makes it look so much nicer!

Take the mashed potatoes and put in a large bowl. Add some soft cheese for flavor and texture! Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Transfer your coleslaw into a serving bowl, and add 1-2 cups of chopped red cabbage. This adds color. Then add 2-3 Tbsp. of Apple Cider Vinegar. This will compliment the sweet taste of the coleslaw and add an even better flavor!

Drizzle the corn on the cob with butter, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Your meal now looks home-made, but tastes even better!

Chinese Takeout:

Meal comes with-
Sweet and Sour Chicken (or other flavor), Rice, Vegetables

Serve the Chicken on a platter and sprinkle fresh parsley and cilantro on top.

Transfer rice to a serving bowl. Add cooked peas to your rice and top with some lemon zest.

Put vegetables in a dish and splash some lemon juice and toss. Enjoy!

Fiesta Casserole

2008-03-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

This recipe is so incredibly easy and so delicious!

1 bag of Fritos (not the scoop kind)
2 cans of chili
2 cups of cheddar cheese

In a 9x13" pan, layer fritos, chili, cheese, fritos, chili, cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with sour cream (or Ranch if you're Josh.)

Parmesan Chicken

2008-02-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

2 cups crushed Ritz cracker crumbs
3 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 cup plain yogurt (I use sour cream)
6-8 chicken breasts

Skin and wash chicken breasts. Pat dry. coat each piece with plain yogurt. Coat in mixture of crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and salts. Arrange in buttered 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with butter if desired. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Shephard's Pie

2008-02-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

I don't really have a recipe for this, but here's how I throw it together:

1 lb. ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 can green beans
2+ cups mashed potatoes
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Cook ground beef with tomato soup. Put in a 8x8" pan. Top with green beans, then mashed potatoes, then cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Lemon Fried Rice

2008-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup butter
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
4 cups cold cooked rice
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. salt

In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry onions and parsley in butter for 1 minute. Add the remaining ingredients; stir-fry for 4-6 minutes or until peas are tender and rice is heated through. Makes 8 servings.

Pot Stickers

2008-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

1 lb. ground pork (ground beef works too)

4 Tbs. soy sauce

3 garlic gloves chopped finely1 onion chopped finely

2-3 Tbs. sesame oil

1 t salt

Mix together and let sit for a while (while you make dough)

Wrappers - the easiest is to get a package in the produce section at the grocery store of the round wrappers, but you can make your own too.
1 1/2 c flour

enough water to wet, but not make soggy

1-2 t salt

Roll out dough into 2 inch circles. Put meat in (RAW). Fold in half and pinch the side. It takes a while of practicing to make pretty!

Boil 6-8 c water. Put the dumplings in about 3-4 at a time. They will float when they are done cooking. If you want the crunchy outside, saute in 2 T of oil after they have been boiled. Dipping sauce can be soy sauce, sesame oil and green onions. Mix well.

Hawaiin Haystacks

2008-02-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from my friend, Katie! Thanks Katie!

2 cups rice
1-2 cups cooked chicken, cut up
1 cup pineapple
chow mein noodles
olives
(whatever else you think would be good)

Sauce:

1/2 c. sugar
1 c. vinegar
1 c. chicken stalk (you can just make it from bouillon cubes/granules)
7 TB ketchup
2 TB soy sauce
3 TB corn starch
Whisk all ingredients together and heat until it boils and keep it boiling until it thickens.

Layer all ingredients however you like. Pour sauce on top.

Baked Ziti

2008-02-03T20:25:00.000-08:00

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 package frozen pepper stir-fry mix, thawed
28 ounces chunky spaghetti sauce
16 ounces short pasta, such as ziti or mostaccioli
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes, optional

In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add stir-fry mix; cook, stirring, until onion is softened. Add spaghetti sauce, bring to a boil. Remove from heat.Preheat oven to 350°F.Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return to pot, but do not heat. Add sauce, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan and sundried tomatoes; mix well. Spoon into a baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over top. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Mexican Casserole

2008-01-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1 can Refried Beans
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1/2 cup chopped Onion
1 small can Green Chiles
1 bottle Taco Sauce

In a pan or skillet, brown beef and cook onions. Add taco seasioning. Set aside. In a 9x13" pan, layer refried beans, beef mixture, green chiles, and taco sauce. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Top with guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, and/or olives. Serve with tortilla chips.

Cheesecake Tarts

2008-01-23T19:23:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1 pkg. Vanilla Wafers

2 8 oz. pkgs. Cream Cheese

3/4 cup Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

Mix everything but wafers together. Put 1 wafer in bottom of cupcake papers. Put approx. 1 Tbsp. of filling in papers. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Refridgerate.

Oreo Cookies

2008-01-23T19:21:00.001-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1/2 cup Shortening
2 Eggs

Mix and roll into balls. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Frosting:
6 oz. Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Margarine
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Take two cookies and sandwich them with some frosting in the middle.

No-Bake Cookies

2008-01-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. Cocoa
1/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
-Melt these in a saucepan and let simmer for 1 minute.
Add:
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter (or more)
3 cups. oats

Stir and drop onto wax paper.

Cream Cheese Cake

2008-01-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 pkg. Yellow Cake Mix
4 Eggs
1 stick Butter, melted
1 box (1 lb.) powdered sugar
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese

Mix together the cake mix, two of the eggs, and melted butter. Spread in a greased 9x13" pan. Blend remaining 2 eggs, powdered sugar and cream cheese. Spoon on top. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until the top has a brown glaze and pulls away from sides.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-01-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

15 oz. can pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
1 1/2-2 cups chocolate chips

Mix together. Drop dough in spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Caramel Cookies

2008-01-23T19:14:00.001-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/3 cup Oil
1 pkg. Rolos
powdered sugar

Mix together cake mix, eggs, and oil. Take one Rolo and form dough around it, sealing it in. Place and cookie sheet and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Bake at 350 for 7-10 minutes.

German Chocolate Frosting

2008-01-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1 can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 cube)
4 egg yolks (or 2 whole eggs) beaten well
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (7 oz.) Angel Flake coconut
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Mix milk, sugar, butter, beaten eggs, and vanilla in large saucepan. Cook and stir about 12 minutes or until thickened and golden brown. Remove from heat. Start timing when it starts boiling. Keep it gently boiling and stir the whole 12 minutes.

Stir in coconut and pecans. Allow to cool until thick enough for spreading. It thickens more as it cools.

Peanut Butter Squares

2008-01-23T19:07:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

FYI- these are not the same as Peanut Butter Bars, but close.

1/2 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
1+ cup chocolate chips

Line 9x13 pan with foil. Mix butter, sugar, graham cracker crumbs and peanut butter together and spread into pan. Microwave chips 1 minute at a time until melted. Cool and pour over. Cut into squares. Refridgerate.

Eclair Cake

2008-01-23T19:03:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1 can (16 oz) Chocolate Frosting
2 small (3 oz) packages Instant Vanilla Pudding
3 cups milk
1 8 0z carton Cool Whip
1 large package Graham Crackers

Mix instant vanilla pudding and milk with wire whisk until thick (about 2 minutes.) Add carton of Cool Whip. Set aside.
Line a 9x13 pan with whole graham crackers. Pour 1/2 of pudding misture on top of first layer of graham crackers.
Put another layer of graham crackers on top of pudding mixture in pan. Then pour rest of pudding mixture on crackers.
Top with one more layer of crackers and frost with chocolate frosting. (It is much easier to frost if you microwave the frosting and then pour it over the top.) Let set overnight in refrigerator and serve.

Taco Soup

2008-01-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped (or 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion)
1 quart stewed tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 small can diced green chiles
1 package Taco Seasoning Mix - Regular
1 package corn chips

In a large pan, brown ground beef, then add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer about 20 minutes. Add grated cheese, olives, sour cream and tortilla chips if desired.

Rolls

2008-01-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

3 cups flour (I use bread flour)
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg yeast
2 Tbsp. butter (I like a little more)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar (I like a little more)
Cinnamon (I put about 1/8 to 1/4 tsp.)
1 cup water (about 100 degrees)

Put all ingredients in a bread maker and push the dough cycle OR mix them with a mixer. Let them rise 2 hours. Punch down and let rise 1 more hour (or so). Roll them out and cut in to 24 sections, putting two sections in each of 12 muffin panholes. Then let them rise again. I think a couple of hours is best. Bake at 375 for about 12 min. Run butter over the top right as they come out ofthe oven! Yummy!

Wild Rice Soup

2008-01-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

I'm not much of a soup person, but I love this soup! It is really tasty!

1 (6 oz.) package Wild Rice mix
5 cups water
1/2 package California Blend frozen veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
2 tsp. dried minced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package cream cheese (cubed and softened)

In large saucepan, combine rice, contents of seasoning package, and water. Bring to a boil. Simmer 10 minutes, then add everything but cream cheese. Bring to a boil, then add cream cheese. Simmer about 10 more minutes.

Beef 'N' Rice Bake

2008-01-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained
2 Tbsp. butter or marg.
1 can (3 oz.) chow mein noodles
3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

In a skillet, cook beef, celery and onion until the meat is browned and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in rice, peppers, mushrooms, soy sauce, butter and brown sugar; heat through. Transfer to a greased 2 qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with chow mein noodles. Bake uncovered, 5-10 minutes longer or until noodles are crisp. Makes 4-6 servings.

Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese

2008-01-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

~4 boneless chicken breasts cut into chunks
~16 ounces cream cheese (light is fine, but not fat free)
~1 (12 ounce) bottle blue cheese dressing
~1/2-3/4 cup hot sauce
~8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

Place the cooked chicken in a large baking dish. (For a party, I usually use the disposable aluminum pans)
Pour your desired amount of hot sauce over the chicken, and season with salt and pepper if desired.
Set this dish in the refrigerator to let the chicken absorb the flavor.
Preheat your oven to 350.
Next, over medium heat in a large pan, melt the cream cheese. (If you are pressed for time, cream cheese can be melted in the microwave.)
Pour in the blue cheese dressing and stir until they are completely combined.
Pour this mixture over the chicken.
Bake for 10 minutes and remove, but don't turn the oven off.
Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the top and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and starting to brown just a little.
Serve with celery sticks

Meatballs

2007-12-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

This recipe makes 5 batches of Meatballs. They freeze really well.

4 eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
2 cups dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
4 pounds lean ground beef

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add the next five ingredients. Add beef; mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls, about 12 dozen. Place in single layers on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often; drain. cool. Place about 30 meatballs into freezer bags or containers. May be frozen for up to 3 months.

Chicken Turnovers

2007-12-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Crust:
3 sticks (1 1/2 cup) butter
3 cups flour
8-9 oz. cream cheese
~Mix these together. Chill. Roll thin and cut into rounds.
Filling:
2 cups cooked chicken chunks
1 can cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
~Mix ingredients. Put filling on each round. Top with another round and press together with a fork. Pril top of pastry with fork. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Serve hot with chicken gravy. Makes 16 tarts.

Spinach Chicken & Pasta

2007-12-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 3 Stars

2 lb. chicken breast cut into chunks
2 quarts stewed tomatoes, drained
1 lb. frozen spinach, thawed
2 tbsp. Italian Salad Dressing

Stir fry chicken in skillet with small amount of cooking oil, seasoning it with garlic salt, onion salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. When chicken is completely cooked, add tomatoes. Thicken sauce with a little cornstarch if needed. Just before serving, add spinach and Italian dressing. Cook until heated through. Serve over spaghetti or angel hair pasta. Top with parmesan cheese.

Cheese Ball

2007-12-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

This isn't the recipe I normally make, but I love it! Shout out to Mitzi for giving me the recipe.

1 package (8 oz.) Cream Cheese
2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
2 Cup (or more) shredded cheese
1/2 tsp. onion powder
garlic powder to taste
season salt to taste

Mix it all up and form it into a ball, or whatever other formation you think would be fitting for the occasion. Serve with crackers.

Sweet & Sour Crockpot Chicken

2007-12-09T21:07:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

Thanks to Amber for this recipe!

6 carrots, sliced
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
3 chicken breasts (Amber chopped them, and I really liked it that way)
1 tsp. salt
15 oz. pineapple tidbits, drained
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp. veg. oil
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
4 tbsp. soy sauce
7 tbsp. cornstartch
1 cup water
2/3 cup cider vinegar

Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Serve over rice

Manicotti

2007-12-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

I love this recipe because you don't have to cook the noodles beforehand, making them easier to stuff:

1 1/2 lb. (approx.) Mozzarella or Jack cheese, grated
1/2 to 3/4 cup Parmeasan Cheese, grated
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 to 3/4 cup milk
Salt and Pepper to taste
14 manicottie shells (uncooked)
1 bottle spaghetti sauce

Mix together cheese, eggs, milk, salt and pepper until able to handle. Stuff mixture into uncooked shells. Pour part of spaghetti sauce in a 9x13 inch pan. Put shells in; cover with rest of sauce. Add extra water, about 1 cup. Bake at 350, covered, for 1 hour. If it starts to dry off, add more water.

Marinated Chicken

2007-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 cup Sprite, 7-up, gingerale, or CREAM SODA
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup oil

Mix and pour over boneless chicken breasts. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Barbeque over medium heat on grill.

Cheese Sauce (for veggies)

2007-11-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

2 Tbsp. margarine, melted
2 Tbsp. flour
1 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour. Using wire wisk, add milk, then cheese and salt and pepper. Melt all together. Pour over broccoli or other vegetables.

Stuffed Mushrooms

2007-11-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

These are my Thanksgiving appetizers!

(This filling is really good on crackers, if you don't like mushroom-like me!)

1 package Pepperidge Farm croutons (plain). They need to be the tiny croutons
1/2 lb. cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1 cup mayonaise
1 cup (or more) sour cream
20-30 mushrooms, with the insides scooped out

Mix ingredients (except mushrooms) leaving half of the mayo and sour cream out. Let refridgerate over-night. Just before you spoon into mushrooms, mix in the rest of the mayo and sour cream. Place them on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes.

Becky's Chicken Roll-Up's

2007-11-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1-2 chicken breasts, cooked & chopped
2 packages uncooked cresent rolls
1 Tbsp. soft butter
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) melted butter
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup
Squirt of lemon juice
1-2 cups plain bread crumbs

Mix cream cheese, chicken, soft butter, and lemon juice. Roll up inside 2 cresent rolls each. Dip in melted butter, then bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Pour heated soup over it.

Easy Breadsticks

2007-11-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is also a recipe for really good pizza crust-just don't use the topping for the breadsticks.
Dough:
3 cups warm water
3 Tbsp. yeast
3 tsp. salt
3 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup oil
7 cups flour

Topping:
1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup parmasean cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Mix dough ingredients and knead well. Spread into greased pizza pans or cookie sheets. For bread sticks, spread with topping and score with a pizza cutter into breadstick shapes. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.

Fruit Salad

2007-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 3 Stars

1 large can pineapple chunks
1 large can mandarin oranges
1 sliced banana
mini-marshmallows (optional)

Dressing:
1 cup pineapple juice
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch

Heat pineapple juice. Beat 2 eggs, add sugar and cornstarch; stir into pineapple juice. Cook until thick. Toss with fruit.

Angel Hair Pasta with Lemon and Chicken

2007-11-08T12:59:00.001-08:00

My Rating: 3 Stars
1 package (9 ounces)Angel Hair Pasta
1 1/2 cups cooked diced chicken
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Refrigerated Angel Hair Pasta

PREPARE pasta according to package directions.

TOSS pasta with chicken, butter, lemon juice, parsley, marjoram and garlic powder. Season with salt and ground black pepper, if desired.

Poppyseed Chicken

2007-11-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

1-2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 squirts of lemon juice
2 rolls of Ritz Crackers, crushed

Mix ingredients, reserving 1 crushed roll of crackers. Put in an 8x8" baking dish. Top with remaining crackers. Sprinkle Poppyseeds on top. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Serve on top of rice.

Smoothies

2007-08-10T16:58:00.001-07:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

You can make these in any flavor of frozen concentrate. My favorites are Orange-Pineapple, Cran-Grape, Strawberry-Guava, Limeade, and Peach. It is very easy and really cheap and very delicious!

1/3 cup frozen Juice Concentrate

1/2 cup cold Water

1/2 cup cold Milk

1/4 cup Sugar

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

2 cups crushed Ice

Put liquid into blender. Add ice cubes, blend until smooth and frothy. Serve and enjoy.

Easy Peanut Butter Pie

2007-08-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, Jill.

Graham Cracker Crust
1 Cup Peanut butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. cool whip
Mix all ingredients together (except crust) Refridgerate and set.

Hot Broccoli Cheese Dip

2007-08-10T12:46:00.001-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

This reicpe comes from my sister-in-law, Marcie.

Mix 1 package Cream Cheese, 1 cup Sour Cream, 1 envelope Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing. Mix with electric mixer on medium until well blended. Stir in 1 thawed and drained 10 oz. package frozen Broccoli and 1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese. Spoon into 9" pie plate. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with more cheese and bake 5 minutes. Serve with crackers.

Caramel Pull-Aparts

2007-08-10T12:39:00.001-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

This was my favorite breakfast growing up.

18 frozen Rhodes Rolls
1/2 cup Butter, melted
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 small package Butterscotch Pudding (cook & serve)

Arrange rolls in greased bundt pan. Pour melted butter over rolls. Sprinkle brown sugar and pudding mix over all. Cover with damp towel. Let rise over night. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2007-08-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

This recipe is so easy and very delicious!

1-2 cups Chicken Tenders, cooked and cubed
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1+ cup Sour Cream
1 can Diced Green Chiles
grated Cheddar Cheese
4-6 flour Tortillas, torn into pieces

Mix ingredients together, except tortillas. In an 8x8 pan, layer tortilla pieces, chicken mixture, tortilla pices, chicken mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Top with more cheese and bake 5 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars

2007-08-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

1 tube Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
1 8 oz. package Cream Cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup Sugar

Save about 1/2 cup of Cookie Dough seperated. Flatten the Cookie Dough into a crust in an 8x8 greased pan. Combine the rest of the ingredients and smooth over crust. Crumble the rest of the dough over top. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

German Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies

2007-08-10T12:28:00.001-07:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

I was famous for these in high school.

1 package German Chocolate Cake Mix

Cream Cheese Filling:
1 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 Egg
1/2 cup Sugar

Mix the cake mix together as directed on box. Pour into a cookie sheet pan. In seperate bowl, mix the Cream Cheese filling together. Spoon onto cake mix and marble with knife. Add chocolate chips and/or nuts if desired. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Ravioli Casserole

2007-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 4 Stars

I got this recipe from my sister, Melanie. It is one of Josh's favorites, and mine too.

1 jar (28 oz.) Spaghetti Sauce

1 package (25. oz.) frozen Cheese Ravioli, cooked & drained

2 cups Cottage Cheese

4 cups Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesean Cheese

Spread 1/2 cup sauce in an ungreased 9x13 dish. Layer with half of the ravioli, 1 1/4 cup of sauce, 1 cup Cottage Cheese and 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesean. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Nesquik Nibbles

2007-08-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

These little chocolate cookies are so moist and soft. Mmm!!

1 cup Flour
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 tsp. Salt
5 Tbsp. Butter, melted
2/3 cup Nesquik Chocolate Powder
1/3 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Vanilla or Plain Yogurt
1 tsp. Vanilla

Mix Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt. Mix Butter, Nesquik, and Sugar then stir in Yogurt and Vanilla. Add Flour mixture. Drop by teaspoonfulls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Yields 24 cookies.

Better-Than-Olive-Garden Alfredo Sauce

2007-08-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

My Rating: 5 Stars

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 stick Butter, softened

1 1/2 cup Milk

1 cup grated Parmesean Cheese

1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

Melt Cream Cheese, Butter, and Milk together in a saucepan. Add remaining ingrediants, Garlic Powder last. Stir with a whisk until all melted together. Pour over pasta.