Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Teriyaki Sauce

This sauce can be used over chicken, beef, pork. Very yummy!

Teriyaki Sauce

1 T cornstarch
1 T cold water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground ginger
1/4 t ground black pepper

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cornstarch, cold water, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic ginger and ground peopper. Let simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and bubbles.

Spaghetti Sauce

This is a childhood favorite of mine, I just can't eat spaghetti without this sauce. This one is LOVED by everyone in the family.

Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:
2 lb. ground beef
4 sm. can tomato sauce
4 pkg. Lawry's original spaghetti seasoning
5 cans water

Put tomato sauce in large pan, stir in seasoning. Add water mixing thoroughly after each can. Heat to boiling and then set aside.

Cook beef and drain. Mix beef into pan of sauce. Let sit for several hours. Heat before serving.

Bowtie Alfredo Bake

I got this recipe from my mom, thanks!

Bowtie Alfredo Bake

Ingredients:
8 oz. bowtie pasta
Chicken, cooked and cubed (you can use precooked chicken or boil your own)
1 1/2 jars Alfredo sauce
3/4 can peas
parmesan cheese

Cook pasta and drain. In bowl mix together pasta, chicken, alfredo sauce, peas. Put in a 13x9 pan and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 350 for ~15 minutes to heat through.

This was served with crescent rolls, pineapples

Our Review: We all liked this one (well the girls could've done without the peas). This will go into our recipe box and be made again!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places and cooking healthier for my family!

This week...

Ranchy Tilapia, noodles, brocolli, pears (still haven't gotten to this one)

Stromboli, salad, fruit cocktail

Baked Mac & Cheese, Ham steak, corn, applesauce

Taco Salad, mixed berry parfaits

Crockpot Turkey Breast w/Orange sauce

And one day this week, Fruit filled coffee cake

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake


Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients:
1 pkg. devil's food cake mix
1/4 c. oil
2 eggs
1 1/4 c. water
1 pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix (4 serv. size)
1 12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
Cool Whip

Spread oil in bottom of 13x9 pan. Pour in the rest of the ingredients (except cool whip) and mix well with a fork. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Can be served warm or cooled with cool whip on top.

This can also be made with any type of cake mix, pudding, chips. My friend made it with butterscotch chips and it was awesome. The website also suggested spice cake with butterscotch pudding and chips, yum!
Our Review: This cake is AWESOME and SO easy! This will go in the recipe box and made again and again!

Pepperoni Pizza Bake

This one came from http://www.tasteofhome.com/.


Pepperoni Pizza Bake

Ingredients:

1 pkg (16 oz) wide egg noodles
2 1/4 cups pizza sauce, divided (I used one jar and it wasn't enough)
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (I used canned)
1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe black olives, drained
1 pkg (3 1/2 oz.) sliced pepperoni
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. In a large bowl, combine noodles and 3/4 cup pizza sauce (I think I will double this next time). Transfer to a greased 13x9 pan. Top with remaining pizza sauce.

Layer with mushrooms, olives and pepperoni. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 375 for 15-18 min. or until heated through and cheese is melted. 8 servings

Our Review: This was VERY good. Before even baking it Lexy said "I smell pizza". All of really enjoyed this one, it will go into our recipe box and be made again!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Sidedish

This recipe came from Robin, thanks!!

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Sidedish

Ingredients:
1 pkg. shredded hasbrowns, thawed
2 c. sour cream
2 c. shredded sharp cheddar (I used velveeta b/c that's what I had)
1 can cream of celery or mushroom
1 stick of butter, melted
salt/pepper

Mix together all ingredients and spread in a 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 45 min.

I made 1/2 of this recipe in a 9x9 pan, I just cut everything in half.

Our Review: Mike and I loved this one. Lexy and Brooke not so much. This one will go into our recipe box and made again!  UPDATE:  This is now one of Brooke's favorites (if I make with shredded cheddar instead of velvetta).

BBQ Pork Chops

I got this one over at http://www.thebuggycrew.blogspot.com/, thank you!!

BBQ Pork Chops

Ingredients:
4-6 pork chops
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
1 T sugar
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. ketchup
1 t salt
dash pepper

Place pork chops evenly in baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients & pour over chops. Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour.

We served this with cheesy hashbrown casserole, green beans & peaches

Our Review: These smelled wonderful baking but ended up having just a touch of flavor. Mike and I liked them and Lexy liked hers with regular bbq sauce poured over them, Brooke didn't care for them.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places and cooking healthier for my family!

This week...

Ranchy Tilapia, rice, green beans, pears

Bowtie Alfredo Bake, peas, pineapple, crescent rolls

Pepperoni Pizza Bake, salad, crescent rolls

BBQ Pork Chops, cheesy hashbrowns, green beans, peaches

Spaghetti, garlic bread, strawberries

And one night, Chocolate chocolate chip cake

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places!

This week...

The girls are on Spring Break this week and Mike is off so we have lots of family fun planned...which means lots of eating out I'm afraid! I'm thinking when we do eat at home it will be some of the convenience foods we used to eat but if we eat anything new or interesting I'll be sure to post about it!!! Enjoy your week and family!

Grasshopper Pie

This recipe came from www.tasteofhome.com

Grasshopper Pie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 pkg (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 3/4 cups cool whip, divided
1 pkg (4.67 oz) mint Andes candies, chopped, divided
1 chocolate crumb crust (9 in.)
1/4 t mint extract
2 drops green food coloring, optional

In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in 3/4 cup cool whip. Fold in 3/4 cup candies. Spoon into crust.

In another bowl, combine extract and remaining cool whip, add food coloring. Spread over pudding layer and sprinkle with remaining candies. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set.

Our Review: One word...AWESOME! I love mint and so does my girls so this was a dream dessert for us! We couldn't even wait long enough for it to set fully before diving in! Definately going into the recipe box and made again and again and again!

Crockpot Calico Beans

Got this recipe from Dad & Karen, thanks!

Crockpot Calico Beans

Ingredients:

1 lb. bacon, cut in pieces
2 lbs. ground beef
1 whole onion (I used minced onion instead)
1 can kidney beans
1 can red beans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 t prepared mustard
1 can pork and beans
1/2 t dry mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 t vinegar (it called for more but I didn't want it overwhelming)

Cook bacon and put in crockpot. Brown beef and onion, drain and put in crockpot. Add all other ingredients to crockpot (do not drain the beans). Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

We served this with cornbread and grasshopper pie.

Our Review: This was REALLY good! Mike, I, Lexy, Kelly (Brooke's friend), Maamaw & Grandpa Tom all loved it. Brooke didn't care too much for it. This will definately be put in the recipe box and made again.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Blueberry Coffee Cake

This recipe came from http://www.foodnetwork.com/.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

















Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1 (12 oz.) can buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, melted
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup sugar


Preheat oven to 375. Generously grease a 9" square pan.

In a small bow, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork. Seperate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters. Dip each quarter of biscuit into the melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in pan.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the oats.

Combine blueberries and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon over oats and biscuits.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of oats.

Drizzle remaining melted butter on top.

Bake for 20 min. or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.


















Our Review: This dessert was really good. I think it would also be good with other fruits. This will definately go into our recipe box and be made again.

Chili CheeseDog Casserole

I found this recipe at another blog, http://www.thebuggycrew.blogspot.com/.

Chili CheeseDog Casserole
















Ingredients:

2 cans chili w/beans (I used turkey chili w/beans)
1 pkg little smokies (cocktail sausage links)
1 tsp. chili powder (I didn't have any so I left it out)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. Jiffy corn muffin mix

Preheat oven to 400.

Combine chili, little smokies & chili powder in skillet, mix well and cook over med. heat until mixture is hot & bubbly (3-4 min.)

Stir cheddar cheese into chili mixture. Spoon mixture into 8" square pan.

Prepare corn muffin mix batter according to pkg. directions. Spoon batter evenly into 6 mounds on top of chili mixture in an. Bake until corn muffin topping is golden brown, 20-30 min.

We served this with raw carrots/celery and applesauce.


















Our Review: We really liked this one, it tasted like a chili cheese coney from Sonic! Brooke wasn't home to try but the rest of us ate it up. This one with go into the recipe box and be made again.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

This recipe is off of http://www.allrecipes.com/, I've changed it a little bit from that recipe.

**Baked Teriyaki Chicken















Ingredients:
1 T cornstarch
1 T cold water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground ginger
1/4 t ground black pepper
1 lb. chicken tenderloins

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cornstarch, cold water, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic ginger and ground peopper. Let simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and bubbles.

Preheat oven to 425.

Place chicken pieces in a lightly greased 13x9 pan. Brush chicken with the sauce, turn over and brush again.

Bake for 25-30 min., turning pieces over halfway through. Brush with sauce every 5 or so minutes during cooking.


We served this with Lipton noodles (teriyaki flavored), cheesy potatoes (made those b/c we weren't sure about the noodles), green beans, peaches...also very good with cheesy hashbrown casserole!
Our Review: This chicken is AWESOME! Mike, Lexy and I all really liked it, Brooke tried it at Robin's house and said it was ok. This will definately go into the recipe box and be made again!
**I also made this by cooking chicken breasts in the crock pot for 3 hours on high and then cutting into bite size chunks. I then cooked the teriyaki sauce as noted above in the sauce pan and tossed with the chicken...YUM!!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Hash Brown Pork Bake

This one came from a Taste of Home cookbook.

Hash Brown Pork Bake

Ingredients:

2 cups (16 oz.) sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pkg. (32 oz) frozen cubed hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups cubed cooked pork (I cooked mine in the crockpot before hand)
1 lb. velveeta, cubed
1/4 cup chopped onion (I used about 1/2 t. minced onion)
2 cups crushed conflakes
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl, combine sour cream and soup. Stir in hash browns, pork, velveeta, and onion. Transfer to a greased 13x9 pan. Toss corn flake crumbs with margarine and sprinkle on top.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 50 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Bake an additional 10 minutes until bubbly.

We served this with corn and applesauce.

Our Review: Mike and I both REALLY liked this one. Neither of the girls cared for it. This one WILL be put in our recipe box and made again.

Chicken Cordon Blue

I found this one over at another blog.

Chicken Cordon Blue

Ingredients:

1 T margarine
4 chicken breasts, cooked & cut into bite size pieces
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 T water
1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/2 cup chopped, cooked ham
4 cups cooked hot egg noodles

Heat butter in skillet. Add chicken, soup, water, cheese and ham. Heat to boil. Cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Serve over noodles

Our Review: This one was not as good as I thought it would be. We ate it but it probably won't be made again.

Goulash

Another tried and true recipe from my childhood!

Goulash

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 pg. Williams chili seasoning (pkg for 2lb. meat)
8 oz. macoroni noodles
20-25 oz. tomato juice (I used 2 11.5 oz. cans)

Cook beef and drain. Cook noodles and drain. Add beef and chili seasoning to noodles and stir well. Add tomato juice, stir. Heat and eat.

We serve this over bread with sweet banana wax peppers cut up on top and cheese to the side.


Sunday, March 8, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places!

This week...

Goulash (didn't get to this one last week)

Calico Beans, cornbread, grasshopper pie

Ranchy Tilapia, rice, green beans, pears

Teriyaki Chicken, noodles, brocolli, peaches

Chili Cheesedog Casserole, carrots/celery, applesauce

and one night this week I'll be making a blueberry coffee cake that sounds yummy!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Meatless Stuffed Shells

I got this recipe off of a blog but I changed some of the ingredients.


Meatless Stuffed Shells


Ingredients:
1 box jumbo pasta shells
12 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
16 oz. cottage cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 t salt
26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce


Cook jumbo pasta shells according to package directions, drain. Pour half of spaghetti sauce in bottom of 13x9 pan. Mix together mozzarella, cottage cheese, parmesan, egg, salt. Place shells in pan and stuff each with about 1 T of cheese mixture. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over stuffed shells and sprinkle with a little more parmesan. Bake at 350 for about 30 min.


We served this with salad, buttered toast and peaches.



Our Review: We ALL absolutely loved this one! Lexy even tried and like this. Brooke had eaten her first shell before I even got my first bite! This will definately be put in our recipe box and made again!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Beef Enchiladas

This is a tried and true favorite in our house!


Beef Enchiladas


Ingredients:

8 Tortillas (flour)
1 lb. ground beef
1 lrg. (19 oz.) can enchilada sauce (I use mild)
1/2 pkg. enchilada seasoning
cheddar cheese
green chiles (optional)


Cook beef and drain. To beef add enchilada seasoning, 1/3 can enchilada sauce and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, heat. Pour 1/3 can of the sauce into a 13x9 pan. With each tortilla, dip into sauce in pan, fill with 1/4 cup meat mixture, roll and place seamside down in pan. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 min.


We served this with a salad (with eggs, cheese cubes, crutons, carrots) and fruit cocktail.

Strawberry Cake

This is a recipe from my Great-Grandma Koppes. When I was younger (and she was still around) I would ask her to make this for me in place of a birthday cake every year! This cake is SO YUMMY and so easy!

Strawberry Cake

Ingredients:
Angel food cake (I buy mine from the bakery)
Lrg. container of Cool Whip
1 pkg. strawberry jello
Strawberries

Cut or tear angel food cake into bite size pieces into a 13x9 pan. Mix strawberry jello in the cool whip and put in pan with cake. Cut strawberries into bite size pieces and add to pan. Mix together well and spead out in the pan. Refridgerate for at least 30 min. before eating.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

I found this one in "blog world" somewhere.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef, cooked and drained
3 potatoes
1 T minced onion
1 T minced garlic
4 cups chicken stock
1 lb. velveeta
1/3 can rotel tomatoes

Put chicken stock, onion & garlic into crockpot and stir. Cut potatoes into 1 in. cubes (I left the skin on) and add to stock. Add beef and rotel tomatoes. Cube velveeta and add to crockpot. Cook on low 5-7 hours.

We served this with breadsticks, pears and strawberry cake.

Our Review: On a scale of 1 - 5 (1-awful, 5 great) Mike - 4, Me-3.5, Brooke-3. This was good but not great so I doubt this one will be served again.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Weekly Menu

I'll post recipes and pictures after I have made new or noteworthy meals.

Not all of my dinners will be gourmet, who am I kidding, none of them will!! I will admit I use a lot of prepackaged foods but I'm a busy mom! I might not always get to every one of the meals if we have a hectic week and end up at Sonic or another fine eating establishment but this is my attempt at trying to try out some of the great new recipes I have been pulling from random places!

This week...

Goulash, cheese slices, carrot sticks, mandarin oranges

Chicken Cordon Blue, egg noodles, green beans, pineapple

Hash Brown Pork Bake, corn, applesauce

Beef Enchiladas, salad, fruit cocktail

Stuffed Shells, garlic toast, salad, peaches