Greek Pasta

Another non-recipe from me.

You'll need:

Angel hair pasta

Marinated artichoke hearts, chopped, and the liquid it comes in

Sun dried tomatoes

Feta cheese

2-3 cloves garlic

Salt

While the pasta is cooking, chop the artichoke hearts (they usually come quartered). Pour some of the liquid from the artichoke hearts in a large skillet on medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until cooked. Drain the pasta and add to the cooked garlic. Mix in more of the liquid from the artichoke hearts and add the sun dried tomatoes, chopped artichoke hearts and salt. Cook until heated through then add the feta cheese just before serving. I didn't measure any of the ingredients, I just added them until I thought it looked and tasted good.

This would probably be good with some grilled chicken but I made this for our "meatless night".

Southwest Sliders

These mini burgers are fun, especially for kids, although you may want to skip the chipotle mayo for the little ones. I don't have a recipe so I'll just tell you what I do.

You'll need:

Ground beef

Pepperjack cheese

Mayo

Chipotle peppers

Bacon

Lettuce

Tomato

Mini hamburger buns

I found mini buns by Sara Lee at the store but if you can't find them you can cut regular-size buns with a round cookie cutter. Or you could just make regular-size burgers, but we think sliders are more fun.

Mix up and cook your ground beef however you like it for hamburgers, but shape it into small patties. I like to season mine with garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper, ketchup and worcestershire sauce. Just before they are done cooking, top them with a slice of pepperjack cheese so it melts.

Mix together 1/4 cup mayo with 1-2 (or more if you like it really spicy) chipotle peppers, chopped. They come in a small can in the "hispanic foods" aisle. I like to take out the seeds so they're not quite so hot.

Spread the mayo on the mini buns and add your sliders. Top with lettuce, tomato and crispy bacon.

Now eat 2 or 3 of them :)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I found yet another "keeper" and thought I'd pass it on...
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Source: My Kitchen Cafe
Serves 4-6
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (make sure it's REALLY lean, I use elk meat, and it works great)
3/4 cup quick oats
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup milk1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into about 12 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter. Place in a casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Sauce:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly. Heat in a small saucepan until combined and sugar is dissolved and pour over meatballs. (This dish is not overly abundant on sauce so if you enjoy things a bit saucier, double the sauce ingredients. ***I actually triple it, but save about a third to pour on meatballs when there is about three minutes left of cooking time. This way the sauce doesn't get hot enough to caramelize into the yummy stuff that coats the meatball, leaving it a tad bit runny to pour on our rice!)

Chick Parmesan

I found this recipe in one of my brother's cook books. It is so delicious and fairly easy to do, so I thought I would share. It's also pretty healthy.

You will need:
2 chicken breast
2 tsp oil
1.5 C of pasta sauce
.5 C mozzarella cheese
2 Tb Parmesan cheese

Brown chicken in oil over medium heat. Add sauce inn bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and broil in the oven for 3 minutes.

I put this over the top of some spaghetti squash and I loved it. I am a huge pasta fan, so I am glad that I found a healthy alternative.

To cook a spaghetti squash in the oven, cut in length wise. Scoop out the insides. Place some water in it. Wrap it in tin foil and bake at 350 for until soft.

Perfect One Bowl Brownies

I must admit, after reading the name of this recipe, I was a bit skeptical. Perfect??? I mean, that's a lot to live up to. I had BIG expectations while whippin' these up. And guess what?!?! They are pretty dang near PERFECT!!! (I have no words to describe my devotion to the batter of these babies...I'm salivating just thinking of it....deadly, folks, deadly!!!) Here's how to bake up a batch of these beauties:

Perfect One Bowl Brownies

Source: The Sister's Cafe

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
4 eggs
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips (or just sprinkle a handful on top-and the picture posted does not have these on the scrumptious little squares, for some reason I was OUT of them that day!!!)
Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl melt butter in microwave, then stir in oil, sugar and cocoa. With a wooden spoon stir in the remainder of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Spread into a 9x13 pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. If your toothpick comes out clean you have cooked them too long! DO NOT OVERCOOK! ***I have made these probably a dozen times (don't judge me) since finding this recipe and it took me three times to cook them just right. My tip to you is to take them out when you think "they need just a little bit longer...." Don't do it! Take them out then!!! They are way better a little underdone than done or, heaven forbid, over done!!! Good Luck!

Candied Chicken

I am always on the look out for easy and delicious dinner ideas. After trying this one, and seeing the way my husband and kids practically INHALED it, I'm putting it on my "keeper" list!

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Put in crock pot. In a bowl, mix:

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/4 cup mustard

1/2 cup ketchup

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. onion, diced (I didn't have an onion so I used a little minced onion and it was great)

3/4 c. water

1/4 t. salt

Pour over chicken. Cook 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 on low.

I've tried this recipe twice, once served over rice, and once on buns for sandwiches, and they were equally inhaled!

{Boston Cream Pie Cake}

Look "YUMMY" up in the dictionary...You'll find this recipe! :)

1 yellow cake, baked in 9 in rounds (follow package directions)

1 lg. vanilla pudding (follow package directions)

Glaze:

4 T. butter

6 T. cocoa

4 T. water

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

In saucepan on low heat, stir constantly until thickened but not boiling. Remove and add vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar. Drizzle on cake.

Cut each round in half, making four thin rounds. Layer cake and pudding (cake, then pudding, cake, more pudding, cake, even more pudding, cake). Top with glaze. ENJOY!

Quick and Easy Cake Mix Cookies

These are SUPER EASY and SUPER FAST and SUPER YUMMY....

What more could ya ask for???

2 boxes cake mix

5 large eggs

2/3 cup oil

Pour cake mixes into large bowl, add eggs and oil. Stir until mixed together and batter is moist all through ingredients. Add your extras (chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, etc etc etc see list below for ideas...)

Combination ideas:

Chocolate Cake+Peanut Butter Chips+White Chips

Spice Cake+Raisins+Nuts+Chips

Lemon Cake+Poppyseeds+White Chips

Cherry Chip Cake+Cut Up Drained Maraschino Cherries

Confetti Cake+M&M's+White Chips

Possibilities are ENDLESS!!!

If you try a combination of your own, be sure to let us know how they turn out so we can try it!

Kool-Aid Cookies

I found this recipe in a mystery book, and thought it would be fun for Spring. A lot like a sugar cookie with a blast of flavor!

1 pkg kool-aid (with no sugar) Great with lemonade and watermelon flavors
1 2/3 Cups sugar
1 1/4 Cups butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 Cups flour
1/2 Cups sugar for dipping

Mix kool-aid with the sugar. Add softened butter and mix until fluffy. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in salt and baking soda. Add flour in 1/2 cup increments and mix well after each addition.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the sugar. Place them on greased cookie sheet and into 325 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Don't overbake! Remove cookies from sheet after 1 minute and let cool.

Granola Mix

10 C old fashioned rolled oats

1 C wheat germ

1/2 lb shreaded coconut

2 C raw sunflower seeds

1 C sesame seeds

3 C almonds, pecans, walnuts or combination

............................................................................................

1 1/2 C brown sugar firmly packed

1 1/2 C water

1 1/2 C vegetable oil

1/2 C honey

1/2 C molasses

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp vanilla

**rasins nuts or fruit optional

Preheat oven to 300. In a large bowl combine first set of ingredients. Blend well. In a large saucepan combine second set of ingredients. Heat until sugar is disolved. Do not boil. Pour over dry ingredients, mix well. Spread into FIVE 9x13 baking pans. Bake 20-30 min stiring occasionally. Bake 15 min longer for crunchier texture. (Bake until it is dry!!! May take longer.) Cool. **Add raisins or fruit. Store in cool dry place for up to 6 months.

Makes 20 C of granola mix.

Easy Oven Lasagna

I love this recipe because it is quick and easy and then just bake.

1lb hamburger
1/2 C water
48 oz spagetti sauce

6 lasagna noodles uncooked

16 oz container cottage cheese

10 oz mozzarella (or other) grated cheese

1/4 C parmesean cheese

Brown hamburger, add spagetti sauce and water. In another bowl mix cheeses together. Layer 1/2 noodles, 1/2 meat, 1/2 cheese, in 9x13 dish cover with foil, bake in oven @ 375 for 1 hour.

Candy Cane Cookies

My FAVORITE Christmas cookie! These are fun for the kids to make too!

1/2 C Butter, softened
1/2 C shortening
1 C powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 C flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Red food coloring

Mix dough in order, EXCEPT for food coloring. Divide dough in half, color one half with the food coloring. Make a 1 inch ball from each color dough. Form into a toosie roll (short and fat). Then lay them side by side together, and roll to form the swirl, until they are about 4-5 inches long. Carefully transfer to cookie sheet, forming the crook in the cane. Bake for 9 minutes at 375. Let cool on sheet 2-5 minutes before moving. (they will break if you move them too soon.)

Tips: The white tends to dry out faster than the red, so if you double the batch keep a damp paper towel over the white to keep it moist. You can also decrease the almond to 1/2 tsp in the red side (when making 2 batches, 1 of each color) to compensate for the extra liquid you will be getting from the food coloring.

Very Vanilla Cake

This is a recipe from Nigella Lawson, who is a wonderful cook because she makes it look like you can do it, too. And I did.

2 Sticks soft butter, plus enough to grease your bundt pan

1 1/2 Cups sugar

6 eggs

2 1/3 Cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 Cup plain fat free yogurt

4 tsp vanilla extract

confectioner's sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 and put cookie sheet in at same time. Butter or spray (use A LOT) bundt pan. Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, along with 1 TBS flour for each egg. Fold in rest of flour and baking soda. Add yogurt and vanilla. Pour mixture into greased pan and spread evenly. Place cake pan on preheated cookie sheet and bake 45 to 60 minutes, until cake rises and is golden. After 45 minutes, insert knife to test; if it comes out clean, it is done. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Gently pull cake away from pan edges, then turn out cake. Let cool, then dust with confectioner's sugar (it tastes great and hides all blemishes). For my son's birthday, we had it with strawberries and whipped cream. Pure heaven.

Italian Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cube butter
1 package Zesty Italian seasoning (this is found in the salad dressing area, near the ranch dressing packets. Make sure to get Zesty, not just plain Italian.)

Melt butter and add chicken. Sprinkle seasoning over chicken. Cook in crockpot for 6-7 hours on low setting or 3-4 hours on high.

In a saucepan melt 8 oz cream cheese or 8 oz sour cream and one can of cream of chicken soup. Pour into crock pot over chicken and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Pretzel Salad

First Layer-Pretzel Crust
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup butter
3 T sugar

Mix together and press in the bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake in 350 oven for 10 minutes. Cool.

Second Layer-Creamy Filling
Cream together 8 oz cream cheese, softened, and 1 cup sugar. Then blend in 12 oz Cool Whip. Spread over pretzel crust. Chill.

Third Layer-Jello and Fruit
Dissolve large package raspberry jello with 2 cups hot water. When dissolved add 2 9-ounce packages frozen raspberries. When it starts to set, spread on second layer and chill.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

I make this Pumpkin Cheesecake for my husband's birthday which was October 9th. It was especially fabulous this year. I found the recipe 6 years ago on FoodNetwork.com. It is an Emeril Lagasse recipe so make sure to shout "bam" when adding the ingredients. :)

1 1/2 c vanilla wafers, crushed into crumbs
1 cup ground pecan pieces
1 stick melted butter
2 pounds cream cheese, softened and cubed
1 cup brown sugar
6 eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup flour
pinch salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups pumpkin puree
Cool-Whip

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the crumbs, pecans, and butter together. Mix well and press into a 12-inch spring-form pan. Mix the cream cheese until smooth. (Don't rush this step, the smoother the cream cheese, the better the cheesecake. Take your time. ) Add the brown sugar and blend. Add the eggs 1 at a time to thoroughly incorporate into the cheese mixture. Add the heavy cream. Add the flour, salt, cinnamon and vanilla and blend until smooth. Add the mashed pumpkin and blend until smooth. Pour into the spring-form pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake is set. Remove from the oven and loosen the sides from the pan with a knife to prevent the cake from splitting down the center. Completely cool the cake before cutting. Serve with Cool-Whip and/or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

(I seem to have accidently deleted the pics I took of this. Grrr.)

Kid Friendly {Mini Pizzas}

This is not necessarily a hot new recipe, but one I haven't done in awhile, so thought I might remind you of it too! What kid doesn't love pizza-okay, I actually do know a couple-but this is a sure fire bet for a quick and tasty lunch in most households!
What you need:
~refrigerated biscuits (the cheap ones that make you jump when they *pop*)
~pizza sauce
~cheese
~any other pizza toppings you like


What you do:

~Using one, two, or three biscuits (depends on how big you want your pizzas to be) flatten dough into a round(ish) thin crust and place on cookie sheet. (be sure to spray cookie sheet-they tend to stick!)
~Spoon sauce on the crust and top with cheese and other pizza toppings.
~Cook for 8-10 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cheese is melting.

I let my kids do there own little pizzas and this time we put their first initial on it using string cheese so when they came out of the oven, everyone knew whose was whose! They loved it!

Parmesan Zucchini

I don't know about you, but I'm KINDA getting tired of zucchini and yellow squash cooked the same old ways. I still have lots left, and don't want to throw them out, so I've been searching of other ways to cook them. I have some great cooking blogs I look at a lot, and this recipe is one I found on My Sister's Cafe. I tried it with zucchini, but I bet it is great with yellow squash too!

2-3 zucchini and/or summer squash
Butter
Garlic salt
Parmesan cheese (I used powdered)
Freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Cut zucchini/summer squash in thin slices and arrange half evenly in baking dish. Place thin slices of butter on top (to taste... I used ~1.5-2 tbsp total or an eaiser healthy idea is to spray a couple spirtz of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter"). Sprinkle generously with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Layer the rest of the zucchini and squash and repeat. Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes (until center of zucchini/squash is becoming clear). Uncover and bake 5 more minutes. Enjoy!!

Chicken and Rice Stew

3 cups quartered button mushrooms (8 ounces)
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium leeks, sliced (I used green onions, about 5)
1/2 Cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 Cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed and drained
12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 14 ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth (about 5 1/4 Cups)
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

In a 3 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker place mushrooms, carrots, leeks, and both rices. Add chicken. Top with spices and pour broth over all.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for about 4 hours. /stir in condensed soup during last ten minutes.

WONDERFUL dish in colder weather. WARNING: toddlers may not like the thyme and rosemary. You may wish to cut back or add it in about an hour before serving.

German Pancakes

6 eggs

1 C milk

1 C flour

1/2 Cube butter or margarine (can reduce to 2T)

1 tsp salt

Preheat at 350. Melt butter in 9x13 dish in oven. Blend all other ingredients in blender. Pour into melted butter and bake for 25 min.

Turkey or Chicken Casserole

Turkey or Chicken Casserole

6oz Stove top stuffing
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 C sour cream
2 to 3 cups of chicken or turkey

Mix stuffing according to package directions and cook.
Mix soup and sour cream in bowl.
In a 9 by 9 dish put 1/2 of the stuffing
Then add all of the chicken
Put sauce mix on top of Chicken
Finish off by adding the last of the stuffing
Put in oven at 350 for 25-30 minutes
Eat and enjoy!

Stew

I posted this on my blog, but I wanted to share it here too. I hope you enjoy.

1 lb. ground beef
1.5 tsp salt divided
1/4 tsp pepper
4 med. potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
4 med carrots peeled and cut into slices
1 lg onion chopped (or pureed if you are me)
1 C. ketchup
1 C. water
1.5 tsp vinegar
.5 tsp basil

In a bowl. Combine beef, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper; mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls. In skillet over medium heat, brown meatballs on all sides; drain. Place potatoes, carrots, and onion in crock pot. Top with meatballs. Combine ketchup, water, vinegar,basil, and remaining salt and pepper. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.

Stain on Carpet Trick

I had a koolaid stain on my carpet from a baby sitter..... yea, didnt clean it. Three days later I tried to get it out. Red koolaid on my carpet that has white threads in it..... not good. I did NOT think it would come out. But it did!

You will need:
My home made shout found here
Water
Hot iron
Cotton Towel

Spray shout on stain, add water, cover with towel, iron on "Cotton" setting. Move towel to dry section, and repeat.

I thought that it would set the stain worse, but really what did I have to loose? The stain was already there! LOL

Ranch Breaded Baked Chicken

I just made it. So the amounts are guesstimated.

4 boneless chicken Brsts

Garlic salt to your families taste

Salt and pepper to your families taste

Dry ranch mix about 1 Tbs

2 eggs

Crushed red pepper or cayenne *optional* for a little heat

5 slices white bread (crumbed in food processor)

Mix chicken and eggs with all seasonings. Coat with bread crumbs. Bake for 35-45 Min @ 400 turn over half way to toast the bottom side of chicken.

Summer Pasta

This is a great dinner for using up your summer bounty.
1 zucchini, cut into quarter moon slices
1 yellow squash, cut into quarter moon slices
carrots, sliced
cherry tomatoes (or any kind in the garden)
onion, diced
olive oil
white vinegar
penne or butterfly pasta (just not long pasta)
cooked and cubed chicken (optional)

Start your water for the pasta. Let it come to a boil, add pasta. Heat up about 2 TBS olive oil in a skillet. Add onion and carrots. Wait about 2 minutes, then add zucchini and squash. Let cook till slightly softened. Drain pasta when al dente, add 2 TBS olive oil and 2 TBS vinegar or to taste. Yes, you will like it. Mix in veggies, along with tomatoes that are in bite sized pieces and chicken. This is also good as a cold salad, just drain the pasta in cold water first and then add veggies.