The BEST cleaner EVER!!!

So, not food, but you will absolutely LOVE this!

SHOUT

1 C Amonia (scented smells better)

1 C Liquid dish soap

2 C Water

Cleans: stains of clothing, hard water spots, oven tops, hairspray residue, carpet stains, blood spots off carpet! and just about anything else I think of! I LOVE IT!!! I used to buy shout, quick and brite, oxy clean, but now I mostly use this.

Homemade Pancake Mix

10 C flour
2 1/2 C instant dry milk
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C baking powder
2 T salt

Combine all ingredients.

TO MAKE:
2 C mix
1 C water
1 egg
2 T oil (3 for waffles)

Sweet and Sour Pork

1 lb Pork

1 Carrot

2 Green Pepper (bell)

6 Tbs Cornstarch

1 C pineapple

"A"

1/2 tsp Garlic Salt

1 egg yolk

1 Tbs Soy Sauce

1 Tbs Cornstarch

1/2 tsp Sugar

"B"

3 Tbs Sugar

3 Tbs Vinegar

3 Tbs Ketchup

4 Tbs Water

2 1/2 tsp Cornstarch

Cut pork into cubes. Mix "A" ingredients together and marinate pork for one hour. Remove and coat with 6 tbs cornstarch. Deep fry until done. Mix "B" ingredients together and set aside. Chop carrot and pepper (I added a little bit of diced onion) into chunks. In 2 Tbs oil, stir fry veggies, until tender, add pineapple. Stir in "B" and cook until thick. Turn off heat and add to meat.

Serve with rice or egg rolls.

This recipe has a little more prep time, and sounds difficult. But it is really easy and GOOD!

30 Min Chicken

This is actually really good for the amount of work! A quick & super easy dinner!

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2- 12 oz can of sprite (not 7up)
1- 18 oz bottle BBQ sauce

In electric frying pan, place chicken. Add BBQ and sprite covered, at 350 for 3o min (hence the name 30 min chicken). Serve over rice with extra sauce.

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

These are my favorite chocolate chip cookies! I'm not sure where the recipe came from...I've been making them since I was in high school. Whenever I make them for people, they call and ask for the recipe...so I thought I would share. It's a very basic recipe and I'm not sure what makes them soooooo yummy! This recipe can be adapted to fit your favorite cookies: white chocolate chips, macadamia nuts, raisins, chocolate chunks, nuts, peanut butter chips etc. Make what your family likes! I personally like them best with Ghirardelli chocolate chips. They are a little bit larger and taste soooo good!

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup margarine (softened not melted)

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 pkg chocolate chips

I mix all the wet ingrediants together really well. Then I add the dry ingrediants. Bake them at 375* for 8-10 minutes. The dough will be sticky and you will want to add more flour - DON'T! I take them out of the oven just as they start to turn golden brown. They look like their not quite done, but once they cool, they are the softest, almost melt in your mouth cookies! Enjoy!!!

Makes 3 dozen large cookies!

Strawberry Shortcake

If you want a cake that is really soft and sweet (like angel food) then this recipe is not for you. The shortcake tastes a little like a sweetened biscuit which I was a little nervous about but it is great for this recipe. If you want a dessert that's not super sweet then try this.

6 cups sliced strawberries

1/2 cup sugar, divided

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter

1 beaten egg

2/3 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream, whipped (I used the stuff from the can and if I'd had any I would have used the stuff from the tub)

In a small bowl stir together the berries and 1/4 cup of the sugar; set aside. Stir together remaining sugar, flour and baking powder. Cut in the butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the egg and milk; add to dry mixture. Stir just to moisten. Spread the batter into a greased 8x1 1/2 in round baking pan.

Bake in a 450 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes or till a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Split into 2 layers. Spoon half of the berries and whipped cream over the first layer. Top with second layer, remaining berries, and whipped cream. Serve immediately. Makes 8 servings.
This recipe came from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

I didn't have enough strawberries so I made mine like a sandwich.

Barbeque Beef

This is a very mild barbeque sauce that also works great with pork ribs.

3 lb beef roast (the kind that can be shredded)

3 tbsp flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dry mustard (I always use 1 tbsp prepared mustard)

3 beef boullion cubes

1 clove garlic

2 tbsp lemon juice

15 oz tomato sauce

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Add the roast and cook on low 10-12 hours. Shred roast and mix with sauce. Serve on rolls.

Kitchen Sink Brownies

These brownies have everything except the kitchen sink in them! They are so good & rich. Callie originally called them "Fat Girl Brownies" but I'm changing the name so as not to discourage any skinny cooks from trying them!

You'll need:
Brownie Mix
Kettle Corn
Peanut Butter Chips
Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips
Karo Syrup
Butter

Make Brownie Mix as directed (fudge or cake-like, whichever you prefer.) Pull brownies out of the oven when there is 3 minutes cooking time remaining. Pour a generous amount of Marshmallows over brownies and return to oven until melted.

Pop 1 bag Microwave Kettle Corn. Measure out 4 cups and try to eliminate any unpopped kernels. In another bowl, microwave entire bag of peanut butter chips, 1 stick butter, and 1 cup karo syrup and stir until smooth. Pour on top of kettle corn and stir gently until popcorn is covered. Pour popcorn mixture on top of brownies/marshmallows. Melt at least 1/2 bag chocolate chips and drizzle over entire concoction. How can you resist?

Twix Bars

Crust:
1/2 lb Butter
1/2 C sugar
2 C flour

Cream butter and sugar, add flour. Press onto greased cookie sheet for thin cookie crust, or cake pan for thicker cookie crust. Bake @ 350 for 15-20 min.

Filling:
1/2 lb butter
3/4 C sugar
1 C sweetened condensed milk
4 T karo
2 C choco chips

Bring butter sugar milk and syrup to a boil and cook to light brown coffee color, stirring constantly. Cool slightly and pour over crust. Top with choco chips and spread when melted or leave as chips.

Layer Salad

I usually start this the night before to let the layers "marinate" a bit. I also cook the bacon and eggs ahead of time and let them 'chill out".

1 head lettuce, chopped or shredded
8 oz spinach, washed and drained
1/2 Cup sliced green onions
1 Cup sliced celery
1 pkg frozen peas (about 10 oz)
2 Cups mayo or Miracle Whip
2 tsp sugar
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Season All
1 Cup grated cheddar
3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 lb bacon, fried and crumbled
2 med tomatoes, cut in wedges

Mix lettuce and spinach together in large glass salad or serving bowl. Layer on green onions, celery, and uncooked peas. Spread mayo over top. In another bowl, mix up the Parm, sugar, and seasonings. Sprinkle over mayo. Just before serving, layer on the cheddar, egg and bacon. Garnish with tomato wedges. This is a big salad, so have someone over to help enjoy it.

Mimi Chicken

Okay, so basically this is just standard BBQ chicken in the oven with a little twist. It's named after my grandmother who made it all the time.

You will need:

French or Catalina dressing, 1 large bottle
Frank's hot sauce (optional)
drumettes or other dark meat chicken

Drumettes are the larger part of the chicken wing that look like Drumsticks. Some places carry them, some don't. Other good options are wings, drumsticks or even thighs, although these need to cook longer. Do not use chicken that has been skinned. You need the skin to keep the meat moist and protected from the heat. Take it off after if you must. Spray a cake pan, (i prefer a glass one but your choice) put in chicken and douse it with the sauce. You will feel silly, but really, you need to use it all and just pour it on. This will bake into the chicken and infuse the meat with all its saucy goodness. If you are putting on hot sauce, just put it directly on the chicken pieces. Put in oven and bake until chicken is done, about 45-60 minutes at 375 for drumsticks or thighs. Makes great hot wings.
Serve with yellah-rice (NOT yellow or my grandomother will haunt you from the grave) or plain white rice with a pat of butter on top.

Fruit Flowers

This was super easy and it turned out really cute! I didn't get a picture of mine, but it looked very similar to this picture (minus the elephant vase.... I used a basket). Here is a link to instructions on how to make it! You could also use apples, kiwis, or anything else you can think of. Very fun!

Honey Baked Chicken

4 Legs
4 Thighs
1/4 C butter
Salt
Pepper
Garlic (salt or cloves)
1/4 C Honey
Potatoes Quartered
Onion (optional)
Carrots (optional)

In baking pan, chicken and potatoes, pour butter over, season to your tastes. Bake for 40 min @400. Then baste Chicken with the honey and juices from pan a few times for 20 more min. Or until potatoes and chicken is done.

Crunchy Ranch Chicken Fingers

1 Cup of bread Crumbs
1 Tb parsley
1/3 Cup of ranch dressing
1 tsp water
1 lb of chicken breast cut into strips

Preheat oven to 425. In small bowl, combine bread crumbs and parsley. In separate small bowl, combine ranch dressing and water. Dip chicken in dressing mixture, then bread crumb mixture, coating well.
on baking pan lightly sprayed,with nonstick cooking spray, arrange chicken. Bake 8 minutes or until chicken is tender.

Pumpkin Cake

4 eggs
1 c. oil
2 c. sugar
1 lb. or 2 c. pumpkin
2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. nutmeg
Bake on a cookie sheet (I made it in two rounds for the picture above, both works great) at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Frosting:
6 oz. cream cheese
1 and 1/2 cubes butter
2 T. milk
2 t. vanilla
3 and 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Creamy Decorating Frosting

AKA: The Best Frosting EVER!!!

4 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. plus 2 T soft shortening
2 T. soft margarine
3/4 t. salt
5 T. milk
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. almond

Beat til fluffy!

Red Velet Sandwich Cookies

I found this off of bakerella.blogspot.com. It is an awesome website!!! (thanks for letting us all know about it-you should totally check it out) We make this recipe with a Devil's Food cake mix to make Homemade Oreos, which is a family favorite "fat-fat" for Sunday nights, but this is a fun Valentine's Day twist to a great cookie!!! And even better, they are super-easy!

All you need is:

1 Box red velvet cake mix*

1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature (I usually use shortening, but both would work fine)

2 Eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix ingredients until combined.
Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. (you want these to be a little underdone---they stay soft days after and are yummy to eat)
Cool.

Cream Cheese Filling

1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 8 oz. Package cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 1lb. Box of confectioner's sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.

(I never make my own frosting anymore! I just use a container of Cream Cheese frosting-way easy and we think it tastes exactly the same!)

Makes about 24 cookies or 12 cookie sandwiches* Any cake mix should work.

Bakerella

Okay, I don't have a recipe right now, but I have a great new blog for you all to check out. It's called bakerella.blogspot.com. This woman is amazing! You will feel creative just watching the things she does. If you need a good idea for treats to send with the kids to school, take to a church function, or whatever, this is the place to look. Have fun!

Clam Chowder

2 cans minced or chopped clams
1 c. onions, chopped fine (or dried onion)
1 cube butter
4 c. milk (or part milk, 1/2 & 1/2, or cream)
1 c. diced celery
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. salt
Dash of salt, pepper, and sugar

Drain juice of clams and pour over vegetables and cover with water. Simmer until tender. In another pan, melt butter, add flour and then milk, gradually. Bring to a boil. Mix undrained vegetables into the white sauce and add the clams. Makes approximately 8 servings.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

My mom found this recipe while blog-hopping. It is technically called "Tiny Spicy Chicken" but since there isn't anything to make it spicy, I'm calling it "Sweet & Sour Chicken" but I may try it again with a little crushed red cayenne pepper or something to make it spicy. Whatever you want to call it...it's fabulous.

2 1/2 lbs chicken, cut into small pieces

Mix and coat chicken with 1 cup corn starch & 3 tsp garlic salt.

Fry in oil. Then place in 9 x 13 pan and cover with sauce.

Sauce: 2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
1-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c pineapple juice (I used the juice from a can of pineapple & added the pineapple to the chicken)
4 T ketchup
2T soy or teriyaki sauce

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve over rice.

Meals for a week +

Since I have the most fabulous sister of all, she made me a list of easy meals that I could make for a week+ and a grocery list for it all. So if any of you are like me and don't know where to start, here you go!

Monday--Taco Salad
Tuesday--Chicken Enchiladas (the red kind)
Wednesday--Chili & Rolls (Chili in the crock pot.)
Thursday--BBQ Pork Sandwiches with Potato Salad or Jello Parfait
Friday--Go to a restaurant.. you deserve it! :)
Saturday--Lunch: Hamburgers & Fries Dinner: Shepherd's Pie
Sunday--Chicken Breasts, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Rolls
Monday--Spaghetti
Tuesday--Stroganoff over Egg Noodles
Wednesday--Chicken Pot Pie
Thursday--Clam Chowder

If you wanted to make all of these meals, here is most* of your shopping list...

*Please be sure to read through the recipe before you go grocery shopping to make sure that all of the items that you want are on the list. I don't care for a few ingredients that are in the recipes, so that's why they're not on my shopping list. :)

Meats:
Chicken (enough for 3 meals)
Hamburger (enough for 3 meals)
Pork
Hamburger Patties

Canned Food:
Refried Beans
Enchilada Sauce
Chili Beans (2 cans)
Kidney Beans (1 can)
Pinto Beans (1 can)
Canned Tomatoes
Green Beans (we prefer french sliced)
Chicken Broth (1 can)
Spaghetti Sauce
Cream of Chicken
Cream of Mushroom
Clams (2 cans, one minced, one chopped)
Olives (sliced)
BBQ Sauce

Refrigerated or frozen foods:
Cheese
Rhodes Rolls
Sour Cream (2 cartons)
Eggs
Heavy Cream
French Fries
Pie Shell

Misc:
Taco Seasoning Packet
Chili Seasoning Packet
Chicken Gravy Packet
Egg Noodles
Spaghetti Noodles
Doritos
Hamburger Buns
Tortillas

Produce:
Potatoes
Lettuce
Tomato

If you'd like the recipe to any of these, please leave a comment and I will post it!

Happy cooking!

Easy Black Forest Cake

1 devil's food cake mix
stuff to make cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
1 tub whipped topping

Make chocolate cake mix and bake. While still warm, spread on cherry pie filling. Let cool. Cover with whipped topping. If you want to be fancy, cut the cake in half or make a second cake and put another layer of pie filling and whipped cream in the middle of the two cake layers. Sometimes I get even more fancy with chocolate curls on top. Sometimes.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 C water
3/4 C uncooked rice
2 C frozen broccoli or mixed veggies
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 C grated cheddar

Stir soup, water, rice and veg into a cake pan. Top with chicken and season as desired (Season All, onion and salt, whatever) . Cover with foil. Bake at 375 for 45 min. Top with cheese and let melt in oven 5 min.

Ham and Cheese Soup

Make this tonight. You'll thank me. Then curse me in the morning when you step on the scale.

2 Cups diced potatoes
1 Cup chopped onion
1 Cup grated or chopped carrot
1 Cup chopped celery
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 Cup butter
2/3 Cup flour
1 quart half & half (or 1 qt milk with 3Tbs butter)
1 lb Velveeta, cubed
2 Cups diced ham

Boil veggies in the broth until almost tender. Melt butter and add flour. Put 1/2 of half and half in soup, then add melted butter and flour. Stir or whisk until dissolved. Add rest of half and half. Heat until thick. Add cheese and let melt into soup. Add ham. DO NOT LET BOIL!

New York Cheesecake

I got this recipe from foodtv.com. It's an Emeril Lagasse recipe...I think he makes the best cheesecakes!

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 pounds cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup sour cream (I used reduced fat)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar and mix well. Press onto bottom of springform pan and bake until golden, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool. When completely cooled, butter the sides of the pan.

Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees F. (This was actually too hot in my oven. I'd decrease the temp to about 450 in the future.)

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and beat until light and creamy. Add the flour, then the eggs and yolks 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 12 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees F and bake for 1 hour more. Transfer cake to a cooling rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate cake overnight before serving. Serve with raspberry or cherry pie topping or chocolate syrup.

Poor Man's Stroganoff

Prepare rice as usual.
Brown hamburger.
Add cream of Mushroom soup and milk to the hamburger. You want this mixture to be the consistency of gravy. You can also make real gravy if you prefer.
Pour hamburger/cream of mushroom soup over the rice and serve.

Banana Bread

2 Cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup (1 cube) Butter, softened
2 Eggs(Beaten)
2 to 3 Medium Bananas
1 1/2 Cup chopped nuts(optional)
1 12 oz. package Chocolate Chips(Optional)


1. Preheat oven to 325 Degrees F. Grease one bunt pan or 2 loaf pans.
2. In Medium bowl stir flour, baking soda and salt together.
3. In large bowl mix sugar and butter. Stir in the eggs and mashed bananas. Add flour mixture. Stir in nuts and/or chocolate chips. Spread in prepared pans. Bake until toothpick comes out clean(50-60 minutes depending on pan) Cool in pans for 10 to 15 minutes then remove from pans.

Breadsticks

Place 1 cube of butter on cookie sheet and place in oven to melt while it is pre-heating.
Mix the following ingredients and knead 3 min.

1 1/2 c. warm water
2 T. sugar
1 T. Yeast
1/2 t. salt
3 c. flour

Let rest 10 min.

Roll out dough and cut into strips. Lay on cookie sheet covered with butter and turn strip over so it is buttered on both sides. Sprinkle with garlic salt and Parmesan cheese.
Raise 10 min. and bake at 375 for 20 min.

Lazy Jo's Lasagna

This recipe is very easy. Prep time is maybe 15 minutes, then bake it. It does not taste as good as the lasagna that has all the different cheeses, but it is a good substitute if you are low on ingredients and want something easy.

1 LB hamburger, browned and drained
1 lb mozzarella cheese
1 (8 oz) pkg. lasagna noodles
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 C. of water

Add sauce, hamburger, soup and water. Simmer 10 minutes. Spread thin layer of sauce in pan. Layer noodles, then more sauce, grated cheese, dry noodles, sauce, then cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Mexican Lasagna

1 lb gound beef
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 can diced jalapeno peppers (optional)
1 large can tomato sauce
1 can corn (canned works best; frozen gets mushy)
1 can black or pinto beans
lots of grated cheese (about 2 C)
Corn tortillas (about 16)
Salsa

Brown beef and onion with a little salt and pepper. I am a purist and don't use taco seasoning, but I understand if you do. Sometimes I am sneaky and even add in some grated carrot or zucchini with these. Or whatever else I need to get rid of from the garden. When all brown, add peppers if you so desire. In a greased cake pan, pour in some tomato sauce, enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Cover with tortillas, which will be your "lasagna noodles"; usually 4 will do it. Pour on half the meat mixture. Cover with more tortillas. Pour on more tomato sauce. Cover with beans and corn, followed by a layer of cheese. Sometimes I am sneaky here as well and put on a layer of spinach before the cheese. What can I say? I am just sneaky and desperate to get rid of garden veggies. Layer on the tortillas, and slop on the tomato sauce. Put on the last of the meat mixture and cover with corn tortillas. Use the last of the tomato sauce and put in a 375 oven for about 30 minutes. Pull out, cover with more cheese and back in for 5 minutes. Pull out and let cool slightly before cutting. Serve with salsa. Or by itself. Yum. I need to figure out times in the crock pot, but know this can work for that, too.

Swiss Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups Pepperidge Farm herb seasoned stuffing (uncooked)
4-6 slices swiss cheese

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in 9x13 pan. In a bowl combine soup and milk. In a separate bowl combine butter and stuffing. Place a slice of cheese on each piece of chicken and pour soup on top. Put stuffing on top and bake uncovered for 50 minutes at 350 degrees

Chocolate-Hazelnut Smooches

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup orange sprinkles, or orange sugar
1 (9-ounce) package of chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped (recommended: Hershey's)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another medium bowl, place the chocolate hazelnut spread, butter, and both sugars. Using a hand mixer, cream the ingredients together, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and blend until incorporated. Stir in the dry ingredients, just until incorporated.
Shape the cookie dough into walnut-sized balls. Rolls the balls in the orange sprinkles or orange sugar, pressing to adhere. Place the cookies on a heavy cookie sheet about 4 inches apart. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven. Quickly place a chocolate kiss in the middle of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven and bake for another 3 minutes. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.
Roll cookies in different colored sugar or sprinkles depending on what holiday or occasion you are making them for. (This recipe was for Halloween)

Spanish Rice

1/4 cup chopped onions
4oz tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup rice, uncooked

In a deep skillet or large pot fry rice in oil until lightly browned (wait for oil to get hot before adding rice). Stir in onions and cook until tender, add garlic. Be careful not to let rice get too browned. Add tomato sauce and stir. Stir in chicken broth and salt. Let boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat and leave covered for another 8 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts boiled with onion, garlic and salt
1 ½ dozen corn tortillas
2 small cans red enchilada sauce (preferably La Victoria)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 8oz can tomato sauce, optional (to make sauce less spicy)
vegetable oil
shredded cheddar cheese
chopped onions, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole to top enchiladas (your preference)

Shred the chicken and set aside (keep warm in a bowl with some of the hot broth from boiling chicken). Pour the enchilada sauce and optional tomato sauce into 10" pan. Heat and stir. Once hot add brown sugar and simmer on low.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan until very hot. With heat resistant tongs, dip tortilla in oil covering completely until it becomes slightly crisp. It needs to be cooked and crisp but not hard like a taco shell. Remove from oil and allow excess to drip off. Place in hot enchilada sauce and coat it quickly. Do not allow it to soak in sauce for it to become soggy because it will tear.
Place the tortilla in a 9x13 baking dish and fill with a thin row of chicken. Roll up and place rolls side by side in dish. Pour some of the remaining sauce (if any) on top of enchiladas. Top with cheddar cheese and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with whatever toppings you like.

Microwave White Chicken Chili

Yes, it really is chili made in the microwave. And it's one of our new favorite recipes. I got it from Pampered Chef...one of my favorite places to get cookbooks!

This recipe calls for 3 HEADS of garlic, which sounds ludicrous, but it's really quite delicious. You roast the garlic in the microwave first, so it only gives the chili a VERY faint garlic flavor. It's fabulous and fast, and my kids loved it. Here it is:

Microwave White Chicken Chili

3 whole heads garlic (about 48 cloves) unpeeled
3/4 tsp salt, divided
3 TB olive oil, divided
2 poblano peppers (These are great big, dark green peppers you can find with all the other peppers. They are pretty mild...much like a green bell pepper)
1 medium onion
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2 TB Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Mix (use taco mix and omit salt, if you don't have this spice)
2 cans (15.5 oz each) Great Northern beans, drained
1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde

1- Slice about 1/4 inch off the pointed top of garlic heads to expose cloves. Place garlic cut-side up in microwave safe bowl. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt and drizzle with 2 TB of the oil. Cover bowl and microwave on HIGH 3 minutes or until garlic is soft. Set aside to cool.

2- Meanwhile, finely dice peppers and chop onion. Combine peppers and onion in large, microwave safe casserole dish (recipe calls for PC Deep Covered Baker Stone). Trim and finely dice chicken; add chicken, seasoning mix, remaining 1 TB oil and remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Mix well. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 4 minutes; stir to separate chicken.. Cover; microwave an additional 4-6 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

3- MEanwhile, gently sqeeze cooled garlic from head into bowl (discard skins); mash garlic. Add beans and salsa t obatter bowl. Transfer bean mixture to baker; mix well. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until chili is heated through.

Okay, that's it. It might look complicated, but it's really very simple, and it cooks dang fast. You can add grated cheese, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, or diced avacado to your bowl of chili. I actually liked it best with some sour cream (tones down the spicy) and some Monterey Jack cheese. Yummy! Enjoy! :-)

Zucchini Bread

I already posted this a long time ago on my blog, but we made it this week and it reminded me that I really love this bread. So, please forgive the repeat.

My family loves this recipe. We eat a lot of it. I can't really say that I mind. It has whole wheat flour and a vegetable. So start up the ovens and get ready for "Ni-ni bread", according to McKayla.
3 eggs
1 tsp.salt
1 Cup oil
1/2 tsp soda
1 cups sugar
3 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups of zucchini
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 cups of flour (I use 1/2 home ground and 1/2 store bought)

Beat eggs until foamy.I usually grind my flour while the eggs are beating.Add oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. Mix well.Add all dry ingredients including flour.Mix well.Bake in loaf pan for 1 hour at 325.

Enjoy!

Fettuccini Alfredo

Fettuccini Alfredo

1 lb. cooked and drained fettuccini noodles
1 stick butter
1 pt. heavy cream
1 C. parmesan cheese, grated (not the powdered in the can stuff)
Pepper to taste

In saucepan over medium high heat, melt together butter and cream. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium. Let simmer about 5 minutes or until it starts to slightly thicken (the quality of the cream will depend on how long this takes.) Add the parmesan a little at a time, stir constantly. Sauce will thicken more as the cheese is added. Pour over hot noodles.

Variations: add chicken breast, peas, broccoli, shrimp, basil, garlic, or other add-ins

Valentine Cherry Bars

1 3/4 Cups sugar
1 C butter
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
3 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
21 oz. can cherry pie filling

Heat oven to 350 and grease a 15 x 10 jelly roll pan. In bowl, cream sugar, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each. Gradually add flour and baking powder; blend well. Spread 2/3 of batter into the prepared pan. Spread pie filling over the batter. Drop remaining batter by teaspoonfuls over pie filling. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and glaze. You will want to eat it right away, but trust me, GLAZE.

Glaze

1 c powdered sugar
1-2 Tbs milk
1/2 tsp almond extract

Blend together and drizzle over cooled bars.

Mexican Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cubed, peeled butternut squash
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 can vegetable broth and 1 can water
  
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can whole-kernel corn, drained
• 1 can black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans)
  
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Preparation

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add squash and next 6 ingredients (squash through chili powder) Sauté 5 minutes. Add broth, corn and black beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 35 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Also very good with chicken or turkey.

Microwave Marshmallow Crispy Treats

1/4 cup margarine
40 regular marshmallows or 6 cups mini-mallows
6 cups Rice Krispies

Microwave margarine in a large bowl on high for 45 seconds. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth. Stir after 45 seconds. Add cereal and toss. Press into buttered 9 X 13 pan.

Orange Julius

1/2 cup frozen orange juice
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 cap of vanilla (yes, the cap from the bottle :)
1/4 cup sugar
10-12 ice cubes

Blend & enjoy!

Mexican Stuffed Shells

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mild or spicy salsa
1/4 cup light sour cream
1 1/2 ounces coarsely shredded cheddar cheese
3 ounces jumbo pasta shells, cooked according to directions and drained (about 12)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 tomato, diced

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray an 11x7" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat, cook beef, onion, and garlic, stirring frequently to break up beef, until beef is brown and onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Drain well. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt; stir to combine. Cook 1 minute. Stir in salsa; cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream. Let cool slightly. Stuff shells evenly with meat mixture, mounding slightly. Arrange shells in prepared pan; cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes; uncover and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake, uncovered, just until cheese melts, 1-2 minutes. Top shells evenly with lettuce and tomato.

White Chocolate Popcorn, Pretzels, & Peanuts

1 bag microwave popcorn (3.5 ounces)
2 cups miniature pretzel twists
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup dried apricots, cherries, cranberries, raisins or M&Ms
12 ounces white baking pieces or almond bark

In a very large bowl, combine popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms. Place white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted. Pour chocolate over popcorn mixture, tossing to coat. Pour mixture onto wax paper and cool.

90-minute Bread

3 T yeast
3 cups warm water
6 T oil
6+ cups flour
3/8 cup sugar
3 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in water and let set for 15 minutes. Add all other ingredients. Mix well. Put on floured board and let rest for 1 minute. Shape into loaves and put into loaf pans. Place in warm oven (about 170 degrees) then turn oven up to 350 degrees. When oven has warmed to 350, bake 20-25 minutes. This recipe can also be used to make cinnamon rolls.

Candy-Bar Dessert Pizza

1 package fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 egg
1 quart ice cream
ice cream toppings: butterscotch, caramel, fudge, or marshmallow
2 cups cut-up candy bars

In a large mixing bowl combine brownie mix, water, oil, and egg; stir until combined. Spread dough evenly into a greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake in a 375 oven for 18-20 minutes. Cool.

Cut brownie into 12 wedges.

To serve: place small scoop of ice cream on top of brownie, pour topping over ice cream, sprinkle with cut-up candy bars.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 packages (8-9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp pepper

In a 3-quart saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with breadsticks, french bread, rolls, or salad. Makes 8 servings