Sprite Butt Chicken :)

Most people call this recipe "Beer Butt Chicken".  I use Sprite for two reasons, I have always thought lemon lime flavors are great with chicken, and secondly I refuse to buy beer in a can. I drink St Pauli Girl, and I think she would be a little offended if I placed a chicken carcass over her neck. You may use a can of beer or soda. This is a great recipe for rotisserie chicken, better than what you can buy at the deli.

Sprite Butt Chicken

1- 4-5 lb whole chicken (please remember to remove the packet from inside the bird)
2 T McCormick Rotisserie Seasoning (or 1 tsp paprika, 1tsp galic powder, 1tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper)
1 T EVOO
1 can Sprite

Preheat oven to 325, wash and dry chicken. Mix spice ("s) and EVOO to make a paste, and spread over the entire outside of chicken. Pour out (or drink) one third of soda. Insert the can into the cavity of the chicken, so the chicken is upright. Place on a cookie sheet, you may have to move or remove one of the racks in your oven. Bake for 1 hour.
Be careful when removing can not to burn yourself with the steam. Place the chicken on a serving dish.....enjoy

Granola

My boys love granola on their yogurt, but they do not like nuts in it. This recipe is excellent, you can add nuts and fruit if you like.

Granola

3 cups oats
3/4 cup sweetened coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 cup honey
1/4 cup EVOO

Preheat oven to 250, in a bowl combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, and brown sugar (this is also where you would add 2 cups nuts if desired; 1c slivered almonds & 1 cup cashews) In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, honey, and EVOO, then mix with oat mixture. Pour onto 2 cookie sheets, and bake for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a bowl (at this point mix in any raisins or dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Vegetable Soup

I combined my Grandma's recipe with my own, we really love this soup. I like to sprinkle mine with mozzarella, or parmesan cheese. Another topping that's fantastic is to take your favorite croutons sprinkled with cheese and heated in the oven. Several of my friends that I have served this to, have asked for the recipe.

Vegetable Soup

1-2 lb beef stew meat
1 T EVOO
1 tsp minced garlic
1/8 cup minced onion
1 large can V8 juice
2 cans beef broth (14.5)
3 cups of water
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5)
16 oz package frozen mixed vegetables

In soup pan brown stew meat in EVOO along with garlic and onion. Add V8, beef broth, water, diced tomatoes, and vegetables. Cook on medium to low for 3 hours.

Killer Brownies

Have you ever had the killer brownies at West Point Market in Fairlawn? If you haven't you have not lived. This is my version, and let me tell you they disappear quickly.

Killer Brownies

1 bag Kraft caramels
1 can evaporated milk
1 box German Chocolate cake mix with pudding
3/4 cup butter
12 oz chocolate chips
Powdered sugar to sprinkle on top
they have walnuts in theirs, I don't put them in mine, but if you want add 1 cup walnuts

Melt caramels with 1/2 cup of the evap milk and set aside. Mix cake mix with 1/3 cup evap milk, and butter. Butter 9x13 pan. Put half the batter into the pan. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes only. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the top, then the caramel. Don't let the caramel get onto the sides of the pan. Add the rest of the batter by teaspoonfuls, and gently spread. The batter will be stiff, and there will be some areas not quite covered...its ok! Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool overnight, then sprinkle with powdered sugar. It's grueling to wait for them to cool, but worth it.

Taco Salad (For Bert)

I sometimes crave this salad, I have had it at tons of picnics and potlucks. Its easy to make, and I'm sure alot of you have this recipe, but sometimes we all forget about some of our recipes that are tucked away, or forgotten. Last summer we had a taco tailgate party at one of our baseball games, and I brought this. My friend Bert asked if it was a family recipe, or if he could get a copy. He was so funny eating it...he just raved, and everytime I turned around he was going for more.

Taco Salad

1 lb ground beef
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 head of iceberg lettuce chopped
1 head of romaine lettuce chopped
1 package grape tomatoes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can chili beans in sauce (I use Brookes)
1/2 bag of doritos (nacho cheese flavor-broken into peices
1- 16 oz bottle of kraft catalina salad dressing

Brown meat and add seasoning according to package directions and let cool.
In a large bowl mix beef, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, beans and sauce (do not drain), doritos, and the dressing. Mix altogether and enjoy!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have had so many people tell me that thier chocolate cookies never come out. I came across this recipe not long ago, and they are always perfect! I have given this recipe to friends and family, I am sure they will vouch for me.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup butter flavor crisco
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 T molasses
1  3.5 oz instant french vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2   1/8 cups flour
12 oz milk chocolate chips (divided)
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)

Cream together butter, sugar, molasses, and eggs. Add pudding, and baking soda. Mix well, and add flour. Stir in half of milk chocolate chips, and half of semisweet chocolate chips. In a separate bowl mix the remaining chocolate chips together, and save for when the cookies come out of the oven, you sprinkle them on the top, just a few per cookie, and let them cool completely.
Roll the dough into 1  1/2 inch balls, and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
I place my cookies on wire racks, and sprinkle with the remaining mixed chocolate chips. The end up looking very professional, and tasting like heaven.

Crockpot Cube Steak

Getting ready to start dinner, we are having cube steak over mashed potatoes. When I was young and my mom made these, they were always tough (sorry Mom) A few years ago I came across this recipe, and it's fall apart yummy!

Crockpot Cube Steak

4-6 cubesteaks
1 medium onion
2 cups water plus on additional cup for gravy
3 (.87 oz) envelops of gravy; Brown, Onion, and Mushroom

4-6 cube steaks; salt and pepper, and dredge in flour.  Lightly brown in 1 Tablespoon of EVOO. Place in crockpot. Slice one medium onion and place on top of steaks. Add 2 Cups of water, and cook on medium 5-6 hours.
20 minutes prior to serving mix together one envelope of brown gravy, one envelope of onion gravy, one envelope of mushroom gravy, with one cup of water. Pour over meat.
Serve over my garlic mashed potatoes, I previously posted the mashed potato recipe.

Kahlua Cake...I need cake now!

Craving chocolate for no particular reason, I think I will fix myself a white russian and bake this, have another white russian, and eat this while it's still warm.

Kahula Cake

1 devils food cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Kahlua
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together, mix well. Pour batter into buttered Bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. When (if any left) cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Dana's Veggie Burgers and my Roasted Yukon and Sweet Potatoes

My friend Dana gave me this recipe last summer, and at first I was a little unsure, I didn't know if the family would like it. Then I threw caution to the wind and made them anyway, and even my pickiest eater loved them. We have them all the time, so my advice is to overlook any crazy thoughts about veggie burgers, and give these a try. You won't be disappointed.

Veggie Burgers

1 lb ground turkey
1 package frozen chopped spinach (thawed, drained, and squeeze dried)
1 envelope of Knorr Vegetable (like what you use in spinach dip)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together and form into patties. I sometimes do normal size, and other times I will make sliders. I have cooked them on the stove as well as outside. I prefer to cook on the grill (all the cheese... easier clean up) even the aroma as they cook will draw you in...they are fantastic. Grill them up and put on your favorite bun. I like mine with lettuce and mayo, but the boys of course like ketchup.

Roasted Yukon and Sweet Potatoes

2 medium yukon potatoes
2 medium sweet
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1  1/2 tsp fresh rosemary
3 T EVOO

Wash and cut potatoes, sometimes I cube them, sometimes wedges. Mix salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, rosemary, and EVOO together, and toss potatoes to coat. Place on a cookie sheet, and roast for 45-50 minutes at 375 degrees.

This from my friend Traci, Look Out!...I love it!

Traci Salmons Klekner January 31 at 5:48pm Report

First, I want you to know that I got my grocery bill for this week to $114. This includes 2 gal. milk, 2 loaves of bread, dog treats, TP, Tylenol (generic, of course) and some really yummie looking cinnamon rolls that I couldn't pass up. Second, we are having Fet. Alfredo w/broccoli and mushrooms w/garlic bread, meatloaf, mashed, green beans and crockpot swiss steak, mashed w/carrots. The swiss steak is one of my favorites and I wanted to share how I make it.
Family Pack (usually 3) of THIN cut Steak for "braizing". Rinse and roll (coat) in flour that is seasoned with salt and pepper. Put in crock with a little bit of water (just cover the bottom) Cube about 1/4 lg onion and put in for flavor. Cook on high for at least 6-7 hours. Add mushrooms if you prefer. Mashed potatos (we don't eat gravy, but one could put a little more water in the crock so they can make gravy from that - or open a jar :) ) Veggie of choice. The meat should fall apart. It's SO YUMMIE ! OH, please excuse any misspellings....

Barbecue Chicken with pineapple Taco's, Vegatarian Dirty Rice, and Unfried Ice Cream

What are you having tonight? I need something simple, Josh has a sports event, so we will be out this evening. I am making BBQ chicken with pineapple tidbits in my slow cooker, which we will eat as soft taco's or maybe quesadilla's topped with cheddar cheese and jalopeno's. On the side I will make vegatarian dirty rice, and for dessert, we will have fried ice cream (not really fried, not really ice cream but frozen yogurt...they will never know) Should be tasty, my boys will eat mexican food anytime.

Barbecue Chicken with pineapple

3 large chicken breast; cooked and shredded
1/3 cup minced onion
2 cups BBQ sauce
1  20 oz can pinepple tidbits
1 package flour tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
slice jalopeno's (optional)

Place cooked shredded chicken, minced onion, BBQ sauce, and drained pineapple in crockpot on low for 1 hour. Warm tortillas and place filling, cheese, and jalopeno's...eat. You can also spoon mixture into tortilla with cheese, and fold over; place in fry pan sprayed with cooking spray, and lightly brown both sides. Cut in half and serve as quesadilla's.

Vegatarian Dirty Rice

4 cups cooked minute rice
1 cup steamed diced veggies (I use green pepper, onion, carrot, and zuchinni)
1/2 cup of velveeta melted with 2 cups of salsa

Combine all above indgredients, add more salsa if desired and eat.

Easy Unfried Ice Cream

2 cups french vanilla frozen yogurt
1   1/2 cups granola cereal; or corn flakes : crushed
1 T of sugar plus 2 tsp cinnamon
2 T melted butter
Honey or Chocolate Syrup-warmed

Using a half cup scoop, make 4 ice cream balls and freeze 2 hours. Combine butter, crushed cereal, and cinnamon sugar. Roll ice cream balls to cover completely, and return to freezer. Serve with drizzled warm honey or chocolate syrup.

Lasagna Soup..Baby it's cold outside

Have you ever had Lasagna Soup? I love this recipe, and so does my family.  I first made this recipe 15 years ago when I was having my parents over for dinner, I wanted to please my dad who is a big lasagna fan. I have since made it hundreds of times, and its always a huge success...never have leftovers of this meal.

Lasagna Soup

1 lb ground chuck
1 small onion diced
1 tsp chopped garlic
6 cups of water
2 cans (14  1/2 oz each) diced tomatoes in olive oil, garlic, and spices, undrained
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 can (8oz) tomato sauce
3 cups uncooked mafalda pasta (I get this at Marc's it's mini lasagna noodles use half of the package)
1  1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup Italian-style croutons
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

In stock pot or dutch oven cook beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until beef is brown and onion is tender; drain. Stir in water, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce until blended. Add seasoning and pasta. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender. Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and stir. Serve in your favorite soup bowls, and garnish with additional mozzarella and croutons.

Lettuce Wraps- Chicken copies my favorite PF Changs

Have you been to PF Changs? The first time we went as a family and shared the lettuce wrap appetizer, my son Josh loved them so much that he said next time he just wanted to order that for his meal. We recently went back with our friends Devon and Kim and had a great time, we love this restaurant. I have made these at home a few times, and also have taken them to friends house, everyone loves them.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

3 Boneless Chicken Breast (cooked and diced into small pieces)
1/4 cup Minced Onion
1/4 cup Chopped Green Onion
1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce (located in chinese section of grocery store)
1 T Minced Garlic
1 T Soy Sauce
2 tsp Fresh Chopped Ginger
1 T Rice Vinegar
1 T Sesame Oil
1/8 tsp dried chili pepper
1/4 cup water mixed with 1 tsp cornstarch
1/8 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
1 package cellophane rice noodles (optional)
Boston Bibb, Butter Lettuce, or Iceberg Lettuce leaves

In sauce pan mix hoisin, garlic, soy, chopped onion, vinegar, oil, ginger, chili pepper and heat over medium to a low boil, add water cornstarch mix and chicken and heat through.
You may serve on top of broken up cellophane noodles (I usually leave these out)
Place chicken mixture in serving bowl, sprinkel with green onions and peanuts. Place a spoonful into a lettuce leaf and eat like a taco....fantastic!

How much do you spend a week on groceries? What do you think about $100.00 a week to feed a family of 4; including 3 packed lunches a day?

I'm curious what you spend a week, give me your feedback! The pictures are one weeks worth of groceries, I spent a total of $90.87. Before I go to the store, I check to see what I have. I don't have to buy potatoes, carrots, pasta every week, or toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, or napkins. When I get to the store, I check to see what types of meats are on special, and I try to plan my meals around that. I pack three lunches a day, once in awhile my boys ask to buy lunch, most times they do not like what the schools serve. I make three stops, all close to each other and my house. Giant Eagle $51.24, Marc's $25.18, and Beiler's $14.45. I have $9.13 left to get more milk later in the week, and let the boys buy lunch one time each. What did I buy.........

Dairy-1 gal skim milk, 1/2 gal whole milk, coffee creamer, pint half and half, 2 packages shredded cheddar, 1 package american cheese, 1 package string cheese, 18 pack eggs

Produce-2 heads broccoli, 1  1/2 lb baby red potatoes, 1 red onion, 2  1/2 lbs bannana

Deli- 1 lb off bone sliced ham, 1 lb garlic beef bologna, 1/2 lb slab bacon

Meat- 1 whole chicken, 1   2lb package western style ribs, 2  1lb packages ground chuck

Misc- juice boxes, mayo, 2 cans soup, peanut butter, chicken bouillon, tomato juice, v-8 fruit juice, hamburger buns, 2 loaves wheat bread, 2 bakery french breads, oreo's, cheeto's, potato chips, 2 packs lil debbies, taco kit, bbq sauce, marshmellows, era laundry soap

I left out Saturday, we go out to dinner usually on this day.
Heres a menu for dinners : Sunday- Spaghetti and meatballs
                                           Monday-BBQ pork sandwiches w/broccoli salad
                                           Tuesday-Taco's and veggies and dip
                                            Wednesday-Rotisserie Chicken, roasted red potatoes,      broccoli, french bread with applebutter
                                             Thursday-farmhouse biscuits (basic biscuit recipe put in muffin tin and filled with pork bbq topped with cheddar and baked) and  scalloped potatoes, marinated carrots
                                              Friday-leftovers; chicken with alfredo, broccoli and carrots over pasta with french bread.

Time to go shopping again, what do you think?????

Heath Bar Chip Cookies

I made up a new cookie recipe today, and they are fantastic! They are just the right amount of crispy, and very tasty.

Heath Bar Chip Cookies

1 stick butter flavored crisco
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp molasses
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
2   1/4 cups flour
1   12 oz package of heath bar chips
3/4  cup of mini chocolate chips

Cream together crisco, sugars, vanilla, molasses, eggs, and the baking soda. Add flour and mix well. Stir in the heath bar chips and the mini chocolate chips. Roll into 1-2 inch balls and place on cookie sheet, flatten slightly with palm of your hand. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and cool on wire racks.

Awesome Crockpot Beef Roast

Several years ago, my girlfriend Tina had us over for Beef Tips and Noodles. Her recipe though strange, was so good. We liked it so much, that I started cooking all my roasts with this recipe, and using the sauce as gravy for mashed potatoes. You can prepare this, and add button mushrooms 10 minutes before serving over cooked egg noodles, or serve with mashed potatoes...it's awesome either way.

Awesome Crockpot Beef Roast

1    2-4 lb Roast depending on whether you want leftovers (you can use Chuck Roast, Spencer Roast, or whatever your favorite is.
1 can french onion soup
1 can condensed golden mushroom (you can use cream of mushroom)
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup

Place roast in crockpot, add all soups, and cook on medium 6-8 hours. I don't thicken the sauce when I use it as gravy, its perfect the way it is. I know it sounds like a strange combo, but it does make the best roast gravy I have ever had. It doesn't taste like any of the soups, it just taste like awesome gravy.

If you do have leftovers, and like Shepherds Pie try this next recipe. In England my mother in law had this which was made with ground chuck, instead of beef roast. I will also give an easy recipe for this version.

Shepherds Pie

Take your leftover roast and gravy and simmer in a pan, add 1 cup of frozen peas and carrots and steam until done, about 5 minutes. Place beef gravy veggie mixture in 9x13, or individual oven safe dishes (for single serving, my kids love having thier own) You can make fresh mashed potatoes if you don't have leftovers. Warm mashed potatoes, add a little milk 1 T at a time so that it is creamy, not runny, Spread potatoes over top of gravy mixture, and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in 350 oven 10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Shepherds Pie with ground beef

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup minced onion
3 envelopes of brown gravy prepared according to package directions
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
2 packages instant mashed potatoes
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef with onion in skillet, drain, add peas and carrots and steam until cooked, about 5 minutes. Pour gravy over meat and veggie mixture and stir. Place in a 9x13 pan. Prepare potatoes, and spread over top. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes.

Once in awhile when I run out of ideas of what to make, I will hand my kids a cookbook with pictures, and ask "what looks good"

I like to have a little help before I go grocery shopping, and what better way than having my children pick out a meal from a cookbook picture. I collect cookbooks, so I have many to choose from, and my boys get excited to look through and pick something, then to see and eat the result just adds to the fun. Besides, sometimes I get bored with the same old stuff, its nice to try something new.

No Meat Spinach Lasagna

1/3 cup butter cubed
1/3 cup flour
3   3/4 cup half and half
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
2    15 oz cartons ricotta cheese
1    10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
3/4 cup shredded carrot
12 no cook lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 T melted butter

Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour until smooth; gradually add creams. Bring to a boil and stir until thickened about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. In a bowl stir ricotta cheese, spinach, carrots, and remaining parmesan cheese. Butter a 9x13 pan, and spread 3/4 cup of sauce mixture. Layer with 4 lasagna noodles (they will overlap), half of ricotta mixture, 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, top with remaining noodles, sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Mix bread crumbs with 1 T melted butter, and sprinkle over the top of the lasagna. Cover and bake 375 for 55 minutes, uncover and bake 10 more minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

My son asked me to make "regular meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, steamed zucchini and squash, and no bake cookies for dessert

You ask and you shall receive, after all this is kind  of like a restaurant right? The meatloaf and potatoes are in the oven, and the no bakes just took a few minutes, they are cooling on wax paper as I type.

Regular Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 lb ground turkey
3/4 cups chopped onion
2 eggs beaten
1 T worcestershire sauce
1  1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1  1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
3/4 cup V8 juice
1    8 oz can tomato sauce
1/8 cup brown sugar

Mix together everything except tomato sauce and brown sugar. Shape into loaf and place in pan. Mix tomato sauce and brown sugar together, and pour over the top. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Its delicious, my husband says he can eat so much that he gets Thanksgiving Day full.

Cheesy Potatoes

1 package frozen hash brown potatoes
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup chopped onion
1   1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Butter casserole dish, mix all indgredients together and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

No Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
4 T cocoa
3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut

Combine sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, then stir in oats and coconut. Drop by teaspoonful on wax paper. Makes about 60 cookies. (I cut mine in half, we do not need 60 cookies.)

This is for Devon my personal Techie Guru...Harpers Coney Sauce

I have to post my great great Granny's famous coney sauce for my friend Devon, he has helped my with my blogging blunders, and requested this recipe. My great great granny had a restaurant in West Virginia and was known for her hot dog chili. In Ohio its commonly called coney sauce. My mom has been making this for as long as I can remember, and I have made it at our get togethers as well. Yesterday I was craving coney dogs and rootbeer floats, which of course got me thinking about this recipe.

Coney Sauce

1 lb ground beef, in a pan cover with water, and using you hands break the meat apart (it will be really mushy, no other way to explain)  I know this sounds strange, but you know how hillbillys are, and this is exactly how my mother told me to make this. This will make the meat very fine. Cover the pan partialy with the lid, cook on medium  stirring often until the water is dissolved, this will take an hour to hour and a half.
2  1/2 cups of Ketchup
1 tsp chili powder
1/3 cup brown sugar (I added this to the original recipe, I need sugar to make me sweeter) you can choose to leave this out if you wish. Heat through and serve on hotdogs.

Football Finger Food-Go Packers

We are settling in for football with close friends, and we all need to graze. I think we will have Bruschetta, Cheese Fondue, and a couple of sweet favorites.  

Bruschetta

1 loaf of bakery french or baguette sliced
4 on the vine tomatoes chopped (with juice in a mixing bowl)
1/2 tsp minced garlic
6 large fresh basil leaves (I like to cut with shears rather than chop)
1 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
EVOO
Mix tomatoes, garlic, basil, and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese, and drizzle with olive oil. Place bread slices on a cookie sheet and place in 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Top the bread with tomatoe mixture, and sprinkle with remaining parmesan. Place back in oven for an additional 5-8 minutes.

I tried a new cheese fondue recipe recently when we had our favorite gang over. I got the recipe in one of those little books you see in the checkout line of the grocery store.  It was simple and delicious, and a huge hit with the adults as well as the kiddies. Who doesn't like cheese, and who doesn't like to dip. The surprising thing about this recipe were the indgredients, check it out...

Cheese Fondue

1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 small container of french onion chip dip (seriously)
2 cups of shredded cheddar
Combine all ingredients in small crock pot and cook on low until melted through. I served this with cubed crusty bread, and cut up veggies. We had broccoli, carrots, and fresh green beans. My son loves blanched green beans with dip and to my surprise, so does everyone else they were the first to vanish.

Next we need some sweets. Chocolate cheese dip is a staple at all of our family gatherings, the question is never what, but who is bringing the cheese dip. This is really yummy, and reminiscent of chocolate chip cookie dough. Serve with chocolate graham sticks, or crackers.

Chocolate Cheese Dip

8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup powderd sugar
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Beat cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and sugars. Stir in chocolate chips and refrigerate, or just grab a spoon and dig in.

After all that still need a little something, try these peanut butter cookies with only three indgredients. After I started making these, my family doesn't like the old fashioned kind anymore, these are definitely more flavorful.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
Mix all together and drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool enough to pick one or 3 up....eat

Crab Soup...Yes soup again, this is a family favorite, and the Crab was on special this week.

I love Paula Deen and subscribe to her magazine. She had this listed in one of her issues as Crab Stew, a recipe she got from a close friend. It was such an easy recipe, and my family loves crab so I tried it out. We loved it, and I have made it several times. I changed a few things, which is one of my favorite things about cooking, you can alter any recipe to your liking. I gave my version to my girlfriend Chris, and she added chopped red peppers to it. I usually only make this when the Crab is on special. It's regular price is $23.99, thats a little steep for my weekly food budget. It was on sale at the Hartville Giant Eagle today for $9.99.  I was so excited.

Crab Soup
15 oz Great Blue brand Lump Crab Meat (Sold at the Seafood counter)
1 can condensed cream of potato soup
1 can condensed cream of cerlery soup
1 pint of half and half
1 (soup can full) skim milk
1 T butter
1/4 cup minced onion

Melt butter in dutch oven, add onions and cook until translucent. Add both soups, half and half, milk, and crab. Heat through. Thats it, now you can eat it. The broth reminds me of clam chowder, but better I am not a fan of clams but love crab. We like to have bread with this soup. You can purchase bakery, or buy the Rhoads frozen bread dough. I use the frozen alot because you can pull it out of your freezer, place it in a buttered loaf pan, let it rise, and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes and you have fresh warm baked bread. Yum!

Trying a new recipe on this snowy afternoon. "Chicken and Dumpling Soup"

I pulled boneless skinless chicken breast out of the freezer this morning. My husband will only eat the boneless...ain't no bones about that! I didn't decide until an hour ago, about what to make with it. The snow started falling, we are supposed to get 3-5 inches, and as I was gazing out the window...I thought mmmm chicken and dumplings sounds good, soup sounds good, hmmm. So, my new soup was born, here at my house anyway. I did a google search, and I won't be applying for a patent.

Chicken and Dumpling Soup

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast- cut into chunks
1 T EVOO
1/4 tsp of each....oregano, celery salt, thyme, and my favorite "go to spice" McCormick Rotisserie Chicken spice.
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup frozen peas  (you can use whatever veggies you like)
6 cups water
4 chicken boullion cubes
2 T cornstarch
1   1/2 cups half and half

Dumplings
2 cups flour
1   1/2 cups ice water
1 T baking powder
1/8 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/8 tsp dried dill

In a stock pot, place oil, garlic, onion, and chicken. Sprinkle with spices, and cook over medium heat until chicken is done. Add water, boullion, carrots, and peas. Continue to cook over medium heat, while you prepare dumplings.
Mix flour, baking powder, ice water, parsley, and dill. Mix until a soft dough forms. Set dough aside to rest a minute (apparently its tired) In a seperate bowl, whisk cornstarch and half and half, pour into the soup. Bring soup to a boil.
Roll out your dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch, cut into strips, or squares. If you do not want to mess with a rolling pin, you can drop dough by teaspoon fulls into boiling broth. Cook an additional 10 minutes. Reduce heat and eat when you want.

Pizza Rolls; Pepperoni Rolls

My friend Traci requested one of these recipes for her husband. I wasn't sure which one he wanted, he has had both.

Pizza Rolls

(I made these last week for my husbands poker night)

1 tube refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 lb sliced sandwich pepperoni
1 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
1/2 cup sliced Vlasic Bannana Peppers (rings)
1/4 tsp italian seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 T melted butter with 1 tsp honey

Unroll pizza dough on a cookie sheet drizzled with EVOO, and spread out to edges. Place pepperroni over entire length and width of dough. Sprinkle with cheese, and pepper rings. Roll up jelly roll style, place seam on bottom. Sprinkle with italian seasoning and garlic powder. Bake according to directions on pizza dough tube. After removing from oven, brush on butter/honey mixture.

Pepperoni Rolls

I use Rhoades Frozen Dinner Rolls. You make as much as you want, they are easily stored in an air tight container.
12 frozen dough balls
1/2 lb sliced pepperoni
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 T melted butter
Let dough defrost on buttered cookie sheet. I put EVOO on my hands so the dough is easier to handle. Press dough out into a circle about 3 or 4 inches, place pepperoni on dough and roll up. Tuck ends, and place seam side down on buttered cookie sheet. Sprinkle with italian seasoning and garlic powder. Let rise, until desired size (about 1-2 hours) Bake in a preheated 350  degree oven for 20 minutes. Brush with melted butter.

CF Hollywood Squares

When I was in school, grade thru high school, we had a treat at lunch time. To this day whenever I make these they create such a feeling of nostalgia. Anyone who grew up in this area has had these, some schools called them peanut butter bars. Years ago, the Board of Ed was a client and divulged the recipe.

Hollywood Squares

Mix together 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 cups peanut butter, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/2 cup of bread crumbs. (I always wondered about the grainy part on bottom of the bar, I always thought it was cookie crumbs)

Put mixture in a  9 inch square pan.
Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons of butter in microwave and spread over peanut butter mixture. Refrigerate. Eat.......yummmmmmmmmmmmmm

Meatloaf Cupcakes with Whipped potato Frosting........yum

Can you have cupcakes for dinner? I seriously asked myself this question right after I baked them yesterday. I love yellow cake with chocolate icing. The more I tried to talk myself into it,  (Devil on one shoulder saying yes, yes, yes and angel on the other saying no, think of your children this is not a healthy choice for growing boys)  it was just like in the cartoons. I decided we could still have cupcakes, but dinner cupcakes, and have the cake for desert. My family enjoys meatloaf, so this became the basis of the dinner cupcake.

Meatloaf Cupcakes

1 1/2 lb ground chuck
1/4 turkey sausage
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmasean cheese
1/4 cup minced onion
1 egg
1/4 cup ketchup
Mix all above ingredients together. Line cupcake pan with reynolds baking cups (foil cupcake liners) Divide meat mixture among cupcake liners. Bake at 325 for 45-50 minutes. While this bakes prepare your mashed potatoes. I used my garlic mashed potato recipe (on this blog) and added 1/2 cup cooked spinach.
Remove cupcakes from oven and top with mashed potatoes. I used a pastry bag, you can use a spoon, ice cream scoop, or even cut a hole in a baggie to make your own pastry bag. Then the best part...sprinkles every cupcake needs sprinkles. I used shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
These were fantastic, or in the words of my 12 year old "This is awesome mom"

French Toast Casserole

I have made this one alot, its great because you fix it the night before and pop into the oven when you get up. My boys love this, whats not to like if you love french toast.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf of french bread cubed
8 eggs
4 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp sugar-mixed together
1/4 cup maple syrup

Butter a 9x13 well, place bread cubes into pan. Mix eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour over bread cubes. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and the cinnamon mixture. Drizzle with maple syrup. Refrigerate over night.
Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Knife inserted into center should come out clean.

We eat it with more maple syrup, you can eat with your favorite topping.

Crockpot Oatmeal....this will warm you up!

I made this for the first time the other night before I went to bed. We ended up having a snow day the next day, but our breakfast was ready when we got up. It was very good, and the best part was.....it was ready and I didn't have to fix breakfast.

Crockpot Oatmeal

1 cup oats (if all you have is quick oats- you will have to add 1/2 cup more 5 minutes prior to eating)
3 cups water
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 peeled and chopped apple
mix in crockpot and set heat to low, cook overnight
when you get up add milk and maple syrup if you like

The best part about this recipe, you can change what you add according to your liking. Dried fruit would be a great addition.

Chicken Enchiladas

I have given this recipe to so many of my friends who have passed it on, and on. It's really good, and one of my families favorites.

Chicken Enchiladas

2 large chicken breast cooked and shredded (you can substitue canned if you are in a hurry)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup minced onion
1 small can diced green chili's
flour tortilla, or wheat is great too
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix chicken, soup, sour cream, onion, drained green chili's, and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese together by hand. Fill tortilla with filling and place seam side down in glass 9x13. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, cover and microwave 12 minutes.

The filling kind of seeps out and creates this yummy sauce.

Chef Salad with Rotisserie Chicken and crusty French bread

I made the chicken on Saturday. We love rotisserie chicken, but my family prefers boneless skinless.

Rotisserie Chicken
1 package chicken breast
Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle both sides with McCormick Perfect Pinch Rotisserie Chicken. bake at 325 for 40 minutes. My husband loves this flavor, and I often make and serve with a side of rice and a veggie. You can make and use for many different kinds of meals...Penne Pasta with Alfredo and veggies homemade grilled chicken pizza... We like to have salad for dinner, but we like our toppings too. Tonight I chopped iceberg and romaine, added shredded carrots, cucumbers, grape tomato, hard boiled eggs, rotisserie chicken, and shredded cheddar. I sliced French bread and warmed in the oven. This will taste great and be a quick meal, we have a basketball game tonight.

Oh my gosh it's 6 degree's today! Who wants to have a cookout?

I am planning on pretending it's Summer and having a cookout. I think we will have Broccoli Salad with my favorite Cheeseburgers. (you can cook the cheeseburgers indoors)

Broccoli Salad
1 large head of Broccoli, cleaned and chopped
1 1/2 Cup Miracle Whip
1 tsp sugar
3/4 Cup milk
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 Cup  diced red onion
1/2 package cooked, diced bacon (I dice before I cook it, less mess)
Combine miracle whip, sugar and milk. In separate bowl, place broccoli, cheese, onion, and bacon. Pour miracle whip dressing over and mix.

Cheeseburgers (If you have had Swensons, and you like them, you will love these)
1 lb ground chuck
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1 T honey
1 tsp garlic powder
Your favorite cheese
Buns/condiments
Mix beef, brown sugar, honey, and garlic powder together. Shape into patties, cook, top with cheese.

Turn on your fireplace, spread out a blanket...pretend its summer and enjoy a picnic with your family!

Crock Pot Homestyle Chicken and Noodles

3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast cooked and cut into chunks
12 oz package of medium egg noodles
2 cans of chicken broth
2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup
Put all indgredients in crock pot and cook on medium for 3 to 4 hours.

My son Josh calls this recipe "his favorite kind of noodles", he ate this tonight and said it was awesome!

Salisbury Steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Steamed Broccoli

This is a very easy recipe that my friend Amy gave me. It makes alot, so you can freeze half for another time. I grew up in a comfortable home, and it reflects in what I serve my family...comfortable food.

Salisbury Steak
1 box Stovetop stuffing
1 lb ground chuck
1/2 cup water
2 jars brown gravy (I use one brown, and one mushroom, many people are not fans of mushrooms)
In a large bowl, pour water over stuffing, and mix until absorbed. Shape into patties and place in 9x13. Pour both jars of gravy on top, and cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
6 large potatoes
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp minced garlic (I use the jar garlic, but you can substitute fresh, or powder, or omit)
Sea Salt to taste.
Peel and cut into chunks, put in saucepan and cover with water. Cook over medium heat until fork tender. Drain, and place in large bowl with butter and garlic. Mash with a potatoe masher. Add milk and sea salt, and use electric mixer until fluffy.

Steamed Broccoli
1/2 head of broccoli, trimmed (my family does not like the stalks, I use the crowns)
Place trimmed broccoli in saucepan with one inch of water, cover and cook on medium heat until bright green in color. Drain and add 3 T butter and sea salt, cover until butter is melted.

Not only will my children not eat the stalks, the do not like mushy broccoli.