Crockpot Chicken and Salsa

Coming up with ideas for dinner is not my favorite thing to do.  Somehow though, having a helper makes the preparation of dinner easier!  My two year old LOVES to cook dinner with me.  He knows when I get home from work its our time in the kitchen.  Just this past week we made pizza bagels with mini pepperoni and I let him put the cheese and pepperoni on.  He is really good about keeping it on the pan too!

One of the homemade gifts this year was his own Apron.  He loved it when he opened it, but in this picture I asked him to wear it so I could take a picture, but he wouldn't smile-- Toy Story was on! 

Easy Crockpot Chicken and Salsa

3-4 Chicken Breasts 

1 jar of your favorite salsa (I used Pace medium shown here)

1 can of corn (optional)

Cook in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours.  Chicken will be shreddable and excellent as Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice), tacos, with toppings like cheese and sour cream, on nachos, etc. 

  This recipe is great because you can vary the taste depending on the salsa use. Green Salsa, Black Bean Salsa, Raspberry Chipotle, etc.   You could use instead of salsa, a can or two of Rotel.

Sadly I didn't have time to make beans, so we used Refried beans from our food storage.  

Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

 I'm always looking for new cookie recipes, variations on recipes I use all the time, etc.  In my opinion, every family needs a couple go to cookie recipes.  They're great to whip up and take to someone who needs a pick me up, for impromptu get-togethers, etc. So when I saw THIS RECIPE I knew I just had to try them!

Everyone loved em!  They are huge ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies!  They were super yummy!!!  I recommend this recipe to anyone who isn't on a diet. :D

Guest post: Our Dad and his Granola Bars

Our dad has recently been experimenting with a homemade granola bar recipe and I fell in love with it. I have asked him to guest post his recipe today with some pictures. Now you get two great things: A look into my dad’s creative mind, and a fabulous recipe. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions!

Granola Bars

by Edward

I like granola bars; they can be as tasty as a candy bar but come without the associated feelings of guilt that a candy bar can provide. The problem I have with granola bars is that there are a limited number of varieties from which to choose. It’s like the operating system for your computer. You can choose between the organic whole grain goodness of Apple Macintosh or the mass produced over-processed pabulum of Microsoft Windows. There is, however, a third choice: the robust and customizable nutrition of Linux.

Here’s my basic granola bar recipe that, like Linux, you can tailor to fit your own preferences and needs:

1 ½ c quick oats

½ c Grape Nuts or Bran Flakes cereal

½ can sweetened condensed milk

¼ c brown sugar

1 T melted butter

¼ t salt

½ t vanilla extract

2 c ‘mix-ins’

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Spray an 8”x8” pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.

Mix all of the ingredients together including the mix-ins of your choice.

Spoon into the prepared pan and press into an even layer.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Allow to cool and then cut into bars.

The two cups of ‘mix-ins’ is what gives this recipe such great versatility. If you’re in the mood for some chocolate and peanut butter (two of the greatest things ever invented) then you could add ½ cup each of chocolate and peanut butter chips with a cup of chopped peanuts. If you want a Mediterranean themed bar, try walnuts, dates and dries apricots. If you’re like my daughter and you don’t like dried fruit in your granola bars, try caramel pieces, almonds and coconuts. (Melissa’s Note: It’s true—this is the best granola flavor he has made!!)

My personal favorite is a bar that I like to call ‘The Aztec’. I use almond extract instead of the vanilla, add ¼ teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper and use dried cherries, chocolate chips and almonds. Muy delicioso.

Let your imagination run wild and you’ll find that whether you’re climbing Annapurna, the corporate ladder or the monkey bars at the local playground, having a couple of these quick, easy and delicious bars in your lunchbox will provide you with the energy you need to make it through your day.

Thanks dad for guest posting on our blog! We love your granola bars! And you! ;D

Delicious Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce

What awesomeness can you make with these few ingredients?

Yeah, its this:

mmmm

My husbands friend is a manager at Jerry's Famous Deli so we enjoy going there often. Recently, I only order the same thing. The Penne with Creamy Tomato Sauce.  I wanted to try making it at home. How hard could it be right?  Here's what you'll need. *you can half this recipe*

2 bags of Penne

2 jars of Traditional Prego

1 pint of Heavy Whipping Cream

1 1/2 - 2 Parmesan Cheese

Cook up the pasta.  Heat up the Prego sauce. Add the cream and the cheese and mix well. Heat up and mix together with cooked Penne. Enjoy!

Semi-Homemade Scones

Want an easy way to make homemade scones? These little guys are perfect with some homemade strawberry jam. All you will need is refrigerator biscuits and cinnamon sugar.

First, cut the biscuits into halves. Heat up some oil and fry up those little puppies when the oil is hot.

  

Let them dry a bit on a papertowel.

  

Roll them in cinnamon sugar.

  

ENJOY!!!

The Wednesday Dish!

Afternoon!!

Today I'm sharing Egg Custards (click for recipe) with you guys!  They were super easy, super yummy, and were in individual containers so they stored well!!  I got this recipe from Epicurious, and didn't change anything. :D

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! :D

Wednesday Dish- Double Stuffed Potatoes

Recently, our mother completed the Family Cookbook.  This was a huge task. As our family grows, so does the amount of family favorites.  I received my copy and decided that since I hadnt made all of these recipes, and it is my family cookbook, I might as well try my hand at making all of them. So, I am sort of on a Julie and Julia project with our family cookbook.  (I havent seen the movie).  I want to make all the recipes. I wont be blogging about all of them, but some of them will appear here on the Wednesday Dish.

The difference between my Grandmother and I, is that I always like to change things.  So, for her double stuffed potatoes (also called twice baked), I started out by cooking the potatoes in a microwave bag.

Scoop out the potato and leave the skin in tact. Then mash the potatoes. I added some butter, a bit of cheddar cheese, and a tiny bit of ranch dressing because I didnt have any chives and wanted some flavor.  Then, just to be different, and because I didnt have much cheddar left, I topped each with half a slice of swiss cheese.  Bake your potatoes until they are warmed again and the cheese is melty.  You will be happy you took the time to make these. And, with microwave potato bags-- it wasnt to hard at all!

The Wednesday Dish-- Holiday Ham

I Love Ham on Christmas.  Not the spiral kind, but a big chunk of ham covered in pineapple glaze.  Pineapple glaze you might ask? Yes! If only you could see how delicious it is. (sorry no pictures).  Here is the recipe.  It is a keeper for all your holiday hams!

The Wednesday Dish!!!

Peanut Butter Blossoms!


Yes kiddos - once again, your Wednesday dish is cookies! (I'm a baker, what can I say)
These cookies are yummy! Everyone loves them!  They are pretty easy to make, and easy to wrap up in a cute bag and bow - then just slap on a gift tag and give it to your neighbors, coworkers, other SAHM's in your play groups - anyone who you want to say thanks to and show you're thinking of them!!!  But don't forget to save a few for yourself, cuz they are delicious!  I even took the time to make a cuter recipe card.  (Yes, I can see you there rolling your eyes and saying "well La-Di-Dah".  I know who you are!)

The hardest part of this cookie is rolling them in sugar, and after baking putting a chocolate goodie on top!  Most people put chocolate kisses, but I have a lovely Father in Law who delivers for a candy shoppe, and they give me chocolate stars!  Then I don't have to unwrap them, and it's a nice unique touch.

So here are the pictures kiddos, and the recipe.  I hope you try them, enjoy them, and share them! :D

Rolling them in sugar!

On the pan to bake.

The stars - you gotta push them a little to stick in the cookies!

The longest part of the cookies is the cooling time!  I set them on paper towels on my counter top.  The chocolate melts and then has to reset.  Once all my cookies are baked, I use my natural cooler (its about 20 outside here in Wisconsin) and put them on trays and sit in the garage for a little and the chocolate cools super quick!  And there you have it.  Yummy cookies!!

The Wednesday Dish!!!

Okay kiddos - here's the deal.  Starting this Wednesday, we will be exposing you to a new and exciting recipe!  Sometimes it will be something sweet, sometimes something easy, but we promise that you will love it.  We won't throw random recipes at you - we promise to have tried them!

So to kick off The Wednesday Dish - Cookies!  I even attempted to take pictures of my baking process.  (Bear in mind, this is my first baking tutorial with pictures, and I have a new camera - so be nice!)

This cookie recipe has a little something for everyone.  Nut lovers, milk chocolate lovers, and semi sweet chocolate lovers!  I stole this from my mother in law!! XD

First - heat your oven to 375.  Let it get nice and warm while you bake.  Cream the butter and sugar together - 2 cups butter, 2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups white sugar.  Add 4 eggs. 2 tsp vanilla and mix.  I used my hand mixer - and proceeded to put the mixture in another bowl and hand mix, because this is a lot of dough!!

Then measure 5 cups of oatmeal, and grind it in your blender.  Yes, that's right, your blender.  You will still have a little oatmeal chunks, but it should look more like flour.

Mix your blended oatmeal with 4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp baking powder.  Then mix it with your wet ingredients.

Next step : get your hands dirty!  Take 2 4oz chocolate bars (or one 8oz, but I couldn't find one) and grated it -

Here is a picture of my chocolate shavings!

Then you add your chocolate, along with 24oz chocolate chips, and 3 cups of nuts - I used walnut - and mix mix mix!

I use a cookie scoop so I get more uniform cookies :

and yes, I use silicone pads also - no sticky cookies here!

Bake your cookies for 10 minutes - and TADA - you have yummy deliciousness for your tummy!

This recipe makes 112 cookies, yes, it's a lot - but I was giving cookies out to people.  It's the holiday season, you tend to hand out more baked goods.  You can easily half this recipe, or put your dough in the fridge, and just bake up a tray as you crave chocolate!

So kiddos - there is my first attempt at a tutorial!  Also, here is my first attempt at a recipe card!  I couldn't find a template, so I made it all on my lonesome! Any comments and suggestions - or links to good places for templates - are appreciated!

Have a great Wed!

White Chili

Vernita’s Delicious White Chili








1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cooked and shredded



1 medium onion chopped



1 ½ tsp garlic powder



2 cans northern white beans rinsed and drained



1 can chicken broth



2 cans (4 oz each) chopped green chilies



1 tsp salt



1 tsp ground cumin



1 tsp oregano



½ tsp black pepper



¼ tsp cayenne pepper







Bring to a boil, and then simmer uncovered 30 minutes







Right before serving add:



1 cup sour cream



½ cup whipping cream (or ½ cup canned milk)

Recipes

Well,  I dont have much free time at the moment, but I was hoping I could get some help.  I am trying to find a recipe but Im not quite sure what to look for.  It is a chocolate covered cherry treat but not exactly.  You chop up a jar of maraschino cherries into small pieces, add powdered sugar (I dont know how much), mix it together and form a ball, and then cover in chocolate. They are really good. I just wish I knew the exact recipe! If anyone knows what I am talking about, or if your family has a similar recipe, please let me know! I have been looking through my cookbooks for this and I cant seem to find it!

Easy Trail Mix

I love nuts.  A while ago, I bought a big tub of party peanuts. You know the size.  Then I ate some and the rest sat on the shelf.  After seeing them just sit there, I had an idea. Why not make a great and easy trail mix.

I used my tub of peanuts
1/2 box of california raisins
1 medium bag of m&m's.

I mixed all together and then stored in sandwich sized zippies so they will stay fresh.  I couldnt wait to take some to work tomorrow and I already ate half a bag tonight! 

So Easy and SO Good! I love trail mix so this was nice.

Homemade cookies

My husband asked me the other night if I would make cookies. I wasn't feeling baking, so I told him I would help him make them. He wanted to make peanut butter cookies, but with my mom's chocolate chip cookie recipe. I didn't think this would work, until he pulled out some peanut butter chips. ah, now I understand.

Delicious Cookies

1 c shortening
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 c flour
2 c chocolate chips (** We used Peanut Butter Chips **)


Thoroughly cream shortening and sugars, add eggs and vanilla. Beat well and add dry ingredients. Add chips and nuts (optional). Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes


Well, I think Chuck should always be the one to make cookies because he stirs them so well! :D I envy my mom though. She has one of those little cookie scoopers so that she can scoop a tiny bit amount in a perfect cookie shape. Mine never come out in uniform sizes and I like the smaller size too. But, here they are; they were delicious.

Side blurb. My little brother recently turned 17 and I mod podge a wood frame and put in a picture of him and my son for his birthday. Just thought I would share how it turned out.

Blueberry Pie

My Husbands favorite dessert? Blueberry pie. Recently, I have learned how to make a lattice crust on the top. (Thank you Tia Annie!) I have been buying the Refrigerated unroll and bake pie crust. I place down the bottom crust, add my blueberry pie that I just threw together, and then roll out the second crust on a cutting board. I then roll it out a little bit so that its not as thick.

To start the lattice top, I cut my strips. I place every other strip on the pie (so that I make sure that I still have long ones for going the other way on the pie). The key to making a lattice top is remember which pieces you need to pull back. Every other piece, you pull back like in the picture below, and place down your strip. Then you place back the strips over your horizontal strip.




Next, you pull back the other strips you didnt pull back the first time, and place down another strip.

Continue every other strip pulling back and placing down so till you run out of strips.


Remember to protect your edges so they don't brown too quick!

Voila! A beautiful lattice top on a very delicious blueberry pie.