Chicken Nuggets - YUMMY!

This one is your new favorite. You just don't know it yet.

Shredded Wheat crushed to 1 cup
*1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
*1/2 tsp seasoned salt
*1/4 tsp paprika
*1/8 tsp garlic powder
*1/2 cup mayonaise
*1 T. honey
*2 tsp prepared mustard
(about 2) Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 x 2" strips (about the size of a regular chicken nugget)

Combine and stir chicken strips in mixture (All *'ed items) to coat.
Roll chicken in cereal to coat evenly.
Place on rack in shallow baking pan.

Bake 12-15 min at 400 or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. (I cook mine longer cause I love crispiness!)
Makes 25-30

Refigerate Leftovers

I realize these look like something you'd happen upon in a horse pasture, but TRUST me, they don't taste like it!

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

(A preschool mom made some of this for me and I loved it!! So then I got the recipe from her...but it turns out it is available online but I thought I would share it here so you don't have to search it out!)


8 Cups Chocolate Chex Cereal (this is really a mix of chocolate chex and other chex cereals)
3/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
6 Tbsp. Butter
3 Tbsp. Light Karo
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 C. White Chocolate Chips

Measure 8 cups of cereal into a large Microwavable bowl ( it will have to go in the microwave later.) Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and set aside.

In another microwavable bowl add brown sugar, butter, and Karo. Microwave uncovered on high for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until it is all melted and smooth. Stir in the baking soda to this mixture until it is all dissolved. Pour this mixture over the cereal and stir to coat. Microwave the cereal (with sugar mixture on it) for 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Spread the coated cereal onto lined cookie sheet.

The next part of the recipe is to drizzle the cereal mixture with melted white chocolate chips....I will say that I don't think this step is really necessary, it didn't really make a difference to me. My friend, Tera, however did like the white chocolate addition. Also, the picture online had the cereal mixture drizzled with white and milk chocolate. So I guess it depends on how much time and/or effort you want to put into it! (If I was giving it away I would drizzle it with both chocolates because it looks prettier....but if I am just making it to eat it I wouldn't bother!)

Then refrigerate (I did for about 30 minutes)

The final result....yummy!!!

Play Dough

I made this play dough recently and it turned out really good and was easy to make.

2 C Flour
1 C Salt
2 C Water
2 T Baby Oil
2 T Cream of Tartar

Combine dry ingredients, add liquids. Stir well. Microwave on high 4 to 5 minutes. Stir. Microwave and additional minute. Repeat until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes. Cool enough to touch, knead. Store in zip-lock bag.

I divided it up into 3 parts and then kneaded food coloring in with rubber gloves on. You could probably put in the food coloring before and mix it, if you wanted a large batch of just one color.

Chicken Okaboji (Oak-a-boe-jee)

3 c Cooked Rice
3 c Cooked Chicken Chunks
1 c Cornflake Crumbs
2 tbs Butter
1 can Sliced Water Chestnuts
1 tbs Lemon Juice
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 c Mayonnaise
1 tbs Onions (grated)

Layer rice in bottom of 9x13 pan. Spread chicken evenly over rice. Mix soup, mayonnaise, onion, lemon juice and water chestnuts and spread over chicken. Mix cornflakes and butter and spread over all. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

SUPER SUPER EASY...SUPER SUPER DELICIOUS! Hits the spot everytime!

Cream Potatoes

8-10 medium potatoes peeled and sliced

1 medium onion diced

1 1/2 cups diced carrots

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp. butter

Salt and Pepper

In a skillet add butter, onions and carrots. Cook over medium-high heat until onions are soft and translucent.

Fill a 9 x 13 inch pan with peeled and sliced potatoes. I like to add some salt and pepper to the potatoes at this point. Then dump the onion and carrot mixture over the potatoes and give it a stir to mix it up. Pour the pint of whipping cream over top of everything.

Place in oven uncovered and bake at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Potatoes are done when they are soft (test with fork) and look like this:

These are a great side dish with fish or Parmesan chicken. They are also really yummy the next day. I could eat these everyday.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

I've never been an enthusiastic cook before, but I've decided that I better start, for the benefit of my family and my pocket book :) I'm really happy to say that this one turned out really good. I found it here. Nick said it's the best homemade stew he's every eaten. That's the best compliment I've ever received from him about my cooking :)

2 lbs. stew meat in 1" cubes
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. beef broth
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic or chopped onion (I did both, mmm)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. paprika
4 sliced carrots
3 diced potatoes
1 stalk celery, diced

Put meat in crock pot, Mix flour, salt and pepper and add to meat. Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix. Cover and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Stir well before serving.

I like my stew gravy a little bit thicker than this recipe made, so I added some thickening at the end and let it finish cooking for the last hour.

Cream Cheese Chicken

Cream Cheese Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 pkg. Italian Seasoning Dressing Mix
8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup

Put chicken and butter in crock pot, then sprinkle Italian seasoning mix over chicken and cook on high for 2 and 1/2 hours. Beat together cream cheese and soup and pour over top of chicken. Cook on high for another 1/2 hour. Stir when done. This is great over rice!

This is my husband's favorite dish. If you want to make it a little healthier, you can do 1/4 cup butter and the reduced-fat cream cheese. Sometimes I just cook it over the stove by opening two cans of canned chicken and heating all the ingredients in a sauce pan. Yummy!

French Bread Pizza

Super Easy dinner idea, we had it Friday!

Buy a loaf of French Bread ($1.49) cut it down the middle so it opens like a large sandwich. Spread spaghetti sauce (.99) on both halves. Top with whatever you would like (We like Pepperoni and Ham and Pineapple (not all on the same pizza). Top with cheese and put it in the oven until the cheese melts. Yummy!

Sometimes, I precut the french bread into individual slices and let the kids make their own pizza. It is a mess but they love it!!

Old School Hamburger Macaroni

My Grandma's favorite recipe!

Cook 1/2 box elbow macaroni as directed

While macaroni is cooking brown about a pound of hamburger with chopped onions. I like a lot of onions so I do about 1/2 a medium sized onion.

Drain macaroni and then add hamburger and onions.
Now put back on stove at med. heat.
Add two cans tomato sauce and a bunch of ketchup. A cup maybe? Taste it and see if it needs more!

That's it. It is so easy and I love it because Myles will eat it and you can stick the ketchup on the table incase your kids want more.

Serve with Bread, salad, or alone!

Super-Easy Stick Buns

12 Rhodes Frozen Cinnamon Rolls

(slow rising kind...they come in a red bag)

1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

3/4 cup packed Brown Sugar

1 cup chopped Pecans

(really you can leave these out, use more, or choose your favorite kind of nut)

In a saucepan stir together cream and brown sugar. Heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Pour cream/sugar mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan

Add chopped nuts to bottom of pan (if you want them)

Place 12 frozen cinnamon rolls into the pan

Follow directions on bag for raising the cinnamon rolls (you can do a fast method or an overnight method) and also follow the directions for baking.

When rolls are finished baking, let sit and cool for 10 minutes. Then place a serving tray (or cookie sheet if you don't have a big enough serving tray) on top of the 9x13 pan and flip pan over, dumping rolls and "goop" onto serving tray.

Eat!! So Yummy.

Shredded Pork & Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

This is a recipe from a very popular restaurant here. I am pretty sure that it is not Cafe Rio's exact recipe but it is pretty dang close and Yummy!!

Pork:
1 Pork Loin
2 Cups Brown Sugar
1 160z Jar of Pace Picante Sauce

Cook in a crock pot for 8 hours on Low, Shred pork and return to Crock Pot


Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
In a blender add:

1/2 Cup Buttermilk
3 Fresh tomatillos, cut into quarters
Juice of half a lime
1/2 Cup Mayo
1pkg Dry Ranch Buttermilk Dressing
1Cup fresh Cilantro
2 Cloves Garlic, Crushed
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
5 Stalks Green onions
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Combine in blender and refrigerate one hour

Add all your favorite salad goodies, Lettuce, Chips, Salsa, beans, rice. ENJOY!

Peach Dessert

Peach Dessert

6 peaches sliced
4 oz cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
8 oz cool whip
1/8 t. almond extract
3 T. butter1
1/2 c. pecan sandie cookies (about 1/2 package) crushed

To make the crust, generously butter a 9-inch glass pie plate. In a large bowl, stir together the cookie crumbs and the melted butter. Using your fingertips, firmly and evenly press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Then I usually put it into the fridge to set up while I do the rest.

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, cool whip, almond extract in large bowl. Pour this mixture into crust.

Add peaches on top (better if mixed with a glaze you can either buy or make by heating 1 smashed peach, 1 t cornstarch, 1 T water, 1/2 c. sugar)

This is actually good with different fruit like, raspberries or strawberries. I hope you enjoy!!

Almond Cinnamon Crunch

(C) Rhodes (I think -- I got this recipe from my cousin-in-law)


12 Rhodes rolls, thawed
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. almond flavoring
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. chopped slivered almonds

Icing
2 tbsp. butter
1 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. almond flavoring

Let rolls thaw and rise according to package directions (approximately 2-4 hours). Cream 1/2 c. butter and brown sugar. Add flour, 2 tsp. almond flavoring, and cinnamon. Stir in slivered almonds. Put mixture in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Push dough into a ball and roll out to a rectangle. Crumble mixture on top of rolled out dough. Roll up dough and mixture like a jelly roll, rolling lengthwise. Cut roll in half lengthwise. Turn halves face up so layers can be seen. Pinch the tops of the layers a bit, then twist the two halves like a braid. Let rise 30-45 minutes on baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

To make icing, brown butter before adding other ingredients (butter can be simply melted, but the icing will taste different if you actually brown the butter). Drizzle over baked bread.

Main Dish Pasta Salad kids love

One package cooked/chilled Penne Pasta
Head of Broccoli chopped into small mouth bite size pieces
1/2 bag of baby carrots chopped
Can of sliced olives
Cucumber diced
Red Onion chopped finely
Handful of cherry tomatoes
Cooked and shredded chicken
Package Feta cheese

Basiclly just put all of above, or whatever you like, in a BIG bowl and then toss it with cracked pepper and Italian dressing.

This makes a ton so you can eat it for days to come and the noodles don't go weird. Kids love it because they can use their fingers. Also very colorful and a fun side to take to parties. Sometimes I leave the chicken out.

I stalk these food blogs

The Pioneer Woman. Now, don't go thinkin' she's a Mormon pioneer, cuz she surely is not. She does live on a ranch so I think that counts as being a pioneer. Her recipes are usually easy, stick to your ribs type food made with lots of butter (yummmm!). I have made a couple of her recipes and am constantly printing more out to try. She posts tons of pics and has great commentary.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Stephanie is a local, which means I really like her. And she does cooking classes at her house for a reasonable price. I took my sis-in-law to one and it was a lot of fun. She does gourmet food that is easy for anyone to make. She's also super cute and nice!
http://www.stephmodo.com/

I get good ideas from The Picky Palate, but I know that my kids picky palates wouldn't eat most of the recipes. Major bonus: tons of treats!! Yummy!
http://pickypalate.blogspot.com/

These last three were recommended by my google reader (which I love) and I've enjoyed reading them.
http://simplebutdelicious.blogspot.com/

http://ourkitchensink.wordpress.com/

http://www.stephanieskitchen.com/

And of course, I post my recipes on my blog. I will re-post some here too.

Other recipe site

Great idea Alisha! I've done this for my work too--http://cpixrecipes.blogspot.com/. You guys can check that site out as well for other ideas.

How Fun!!

Is this for posting recipes and such!? I love it! I'll be back with a recipe, when I can find some good pictures (or take pictures of my own!). Great idea, Alisha!

The Best Sloppy Joes!

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup onion

1 cup Ketchup

1 TBL Vinegar

1 TBL Lemon

1 TBL Worchestershire Sauce

1 tsp Mustard

1 TBL Brown Sugar

Brown Hamburger, add ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Place on Buns, that is it!! Top Sloppy Joes with chees, pickles, lettuce whatever! No more Dinner out of a can!

Welcome Friends

Okay, so I've had this idea for a while now, and I am finally getting it going. Most of you know that I LOVE food and I always love getting new recipes. So I thought I would give this blog a try. You have all been invited to administrate this blog. I was thinking that whenever you have a great recipe that you have tried and would like to share it, post it here. We can all try it and comment on it. So what do you think? If you would rather not be a part of this I totally understand and I will remove your name. Thanks ahead of time for all of your great recipes!!

PS- Don't forget to label your posts: Appetizer, Main Dish, Dessert, Salads, etc. That way we can keep things organized!