November 12, 2013

Crock Pot Lasagna



Ingredients:
1-1/2  lbs. hamburger
2 Tbsp. mince onion flakes
1-1/2 jars of spaghetti sauce ( I use 2 jars of Ragu 6 cheese sauce (24 oz.)-reserve other half jar for another use.)
1 lb. cottage cheese
parmesan cheese
1/2 can of olives
1 pkg oven ready lasagna noodles (will have some left over.)
2 c. cheddar cheese

Directions:
Brown hamburger.
 Add onion flakes.
 Drain grease and add spaghetti sauce.

 Spray crockpot with cooking spray.

Layer Ingredients in order listed below.

Meat Sauce
 Lasagna noodles
1/4 c. Water
Cottage Cheese
 Cheddar Cheese
Olives

Repeat layers twice, ending with cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle parmesan cheese over top.
Cook on Low for 3 hours.

Rate It!
Jen: 8.5
Kile: 8
Kiley: 8
Madee: 8
Destrie: good


November 3, 2013

Jam Muffins




 Recipe from ALLRECIPES
 Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup any flavor fruit jam
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center. In a small bowl beat egg, milk and oil together. Pour all at once into the well in the flour mixture. Mix quickly and lightly until moistened, do not beat. The batter will be lumpy. Gently stir in jam.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 400 degrees  for 25 minutes or until golden.

*My muffins stuck to the bottom of the pan.  I will grease and flour the muffin tin next time.

Rate It!
 Jen: 6
Kile: 8
Kiley: 8
Madee: 7.5
Destrie: 8

October 15, 2013

Salted Caramel Popcorn


Recipe and Photo from Cookies and Cups

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels (about 16 cups popped corn)
  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 - 2 tsp kosher or sea salt, divided
How to Make
  1. Preheat oven to 300°
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
  3. Pop popcorn kernels using air popper into a large bowl.
  4. In a small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and 1 tsp salt together over medium heat. Bring to boil. Boil for 4 minutes without stirring.
  5. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.
  6. Pour popcorn into lined pan, sprinkle remaining salt on top (1/2 tsp - 1 tsp depending on your personal taste preference) and place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
  7. Allow popcorn to cool on a parchment lined counter. 
Rate It!
Jen:
Kile:
Kiley: 8
Madee:
Destrie: Good!

September 22, 2013

Slow Cooker Pork Chop Meal


Not the best picture....but it was yummy!


Ingredients:
6 boneless porkchops
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of water
2 cans green beans (i used french cut)
5 or 6 large russet potatoes- peeled and cubed
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
Dump 1 can of soup in slow cooker, add water and stir to combine.
Place the pork chops in the slower.  Layer them on top of each other.
Add potatoes, then salt and pepper on top.
Dump other can of soup over the potatoes and spread with a spoon to cover potatoes.
Cook on high for 4 or 5 hours. Until potatoes are tender.
Reduce heat to low and add green beans.  Cook for 1 hour more.

*Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

Rate it!
Jen: 8
Kile: 9
Kiley:
Madee: 5
Destrie: didn't like the beans...8 or 9 for the rest!

September 21, 2013

Raspberry Bars



Recipe and Photo from Jamie Cooks It Up!
1 C brown sugar
2 C flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 C rolled oats
1 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C raspberry jam.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Into a medium-sized mixing bowl place 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2 cups rolled oats.
3. Add 1 cup soft butter. Grab yourself a pastry blender and mix the butter into the dry ingredients. (I used a fork.)
4. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and pour 4 cups of the oat mixture into the pan.
5. Grab some  jam. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the jam into a microwave safe bowl and heat it up for about 30 seconds. Warming up the jam will make it much easier to spread.
6. Pour the jam onto the oats mixture and spread it out with a knife. Be sure to leave about a half-inch around the perimeter of the pan free from jam.
7. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top of the of the jam.
8. Press it gently into the pan with a wooden spoon.
9. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Allow the pan to cool completely and then cut into bars.

Rate It!
Jen: 7.5
Kile: 6
Kiley: 7
Madee: 7
Destrie: 9

September 7, 2013

Baked Spaghetti




Ingredients:
1/4 cup minced onion flakes
2 (14.5 oz.) diced canned tomatoes with liquid
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. water
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp. oregano
1 lb. ground beef
12 oz. spaghetti- cooked
1/3 parmesan cheese

Directions:
Brown ground beef in a pan.  Add minced onion flakes. Cook for a few minutes, then add tomatoes and oregano.  Simmer for 10 minutes
Place 1/2 of cooked spaghetti in a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Top with 1/2 of hamburger/tomato mixture.  Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese.  Repeat layers.
Mix cream of mushroom soup with water, stir to combine.  Pour over casserole.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

*Recipe adapted from a ward cookbook...Thanks Jennalyn Jensen

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 6.5
Kiley:
Madee: 6
Destrie: didn't like the tomaotes, only liked the noodles 100%  :)


August 14, 2013

Cinnamon Rolls



Recipe and Photo from:  House of Smiths

August 13, 2013

Cracker Crunch


This is not really a recipe per say,  but this is a fun little snack you can throw together fast....Heck, sometimes we even eat this for a light dinner.

Ingredients:
Ritz Crackers
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Nalley Cheese Chili

                     





 
 
Directions:
Lay crackers on a plate in a single layer.
Top with cheese.  Put in microwave for 30 or so seconds to melt cheese.
Put chili in a bowl and warm up.
Dip crackers in chili.

Rate It!
Jen 7
Kile: 6.5
Kiley:
Madee: 7
Destrie:  10

August 12, 2013

Ramen Noodle Salad


ramen_noodle_20120423111032_JPG


 Recipe and Photo found on Pinterest.



 Ingredients:

1 pkg of cole slaw mix
2 pkgs of chicken ramen noodles (could also use beef)
4 ozs of sliced almonds
6 ozs of sunflower seeds
3 green onions chopped

Dressing for the salad:
1/2 cup of oil
1/3 cup of sugar
2 tbls of vinegar
2 chicken packets that came with the noodles

Directions:
Mix the ramen noodles, almonds sunflower seeds, and green onions together. Then add the slaw.
In another bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour over the salad mix and toss.
Best served 1/2 hour after mixing it up.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8
Kiley: 7
Madee: 8
Destrie: 5

August 9, 2013

Our Version of a Texas Twister

It's Fair Week where we live, and every year, I get my mouth watering for a Texas Twister Drink.

 Well, I got the great idea that I would try and re-create this drink at home.  I think we came pretty dang close....  Yummy Stuff!!!



 Ingredients:
4 oranges
4 lemons
4 limes
1 bottle Maraschino Cherries (juice also)
1 can Hawaii's Own Passion Punch Frozen concentrate
2 liter Diet 7-Up

Directions:
Juice 3 oranges, 3 lemons, and 3 limes.
Rinse last orange, lemon, and lime....cut in to slices...add to pitcher with juices.
Dump in cherries...juice and all.
Add Hawaii's Own frozen concentrate.
Add 7-up and stir to combine.
Serve over a glass of crushed ice.

Rate It!
Jen: 9.5
Kile: 9.5
Kiley: 8
Madee: 7
Destrie: 10  I loved it!! 

August 6, 2013

Crockpot Honey and Parmesan Pork Roast

 
 Photo from Six Sisters Stuff

Ingredients
1 (2-3 pound) boneless pork roast
⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup honey
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp dried basil
2 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
2 Tbsp cornstarch
¼ cup cold water

Directions
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place roast in slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the cheese, honey, soy sauce, basil, garlic, oil and salt; pour over pork. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Remove meat from crockpot and shred.  Return to juices.

Serve on hard rolls.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile:
Kiley:
Madee: 7
 Destrie: 7

August 3, 2013

Summer Chicken Salad

 Recipe and Photo from: The Pioneer Woman
 

Ingredients
Salad:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil, for drizzling
4 ears fresh corn (or use 2 if on the large side)
3 tablespoons minced fresh dill, plus more for serving
3 stalks celery (inner light green stalks and leaves), finely diced
1 medium red onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Dressing:
3/4 cup crumbled feta, plus more for serving
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
For the salad: Put the chicken breasts into a large plastic storage bag. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/4-inch uniform thickness. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat a grill and drizzle with the olive oil. Grill the chicken on both sides until done, about 7 minutes per side. (Rotate halfway during grilling each side to ensure pretty grill marks.) Set aside to cool.

Grill the corn for a few minutes, until still crunchy but colored. With a very sharp knife, shave the kernels off each corn cob. Combine with the dill, celery and onions in a large bowl. Set aside.

For the dressing: Mix together the feta, half-and-half, mayonnaise and sour cream in a bowl. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Stir, and then taste. Add more salt if necessary.

Slice the chicken on the bias to create flat, randomly shaped pieces. Throw into the bowl with the celery, onions and corn. Stir to combine. Pour half of the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently. Add more as desired, but don't overcoat the salad; it should be light! At the end, toss in the blueberries to lightly coat them in the dressing.

Forgot to get Ratings.....
*Everyone ate it with no complaints...it was really good !

July 29, 2013

Brown Sugar Bacon Waffles




Recipe and Photo from: Life as a Lofthouse

For the Bacon:
8 slices bacon
1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty tinfoil. Arrange bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the bacon evenly with the brown sugar. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and sugar is caramelized. Remove from oven. Immediately remove bacon, using a pair of tongs, and place onto a cutting board. (DON'T USE PAPER TOWELS, the bacon will stick to them!!) Let bacon cool, and then chop into bite-size pieces. Set aside.

For the Waffles:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cups canola oil
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups buttermilk


Directions: Preheat waffle iron.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and brown sugar. Whisk together to blend. In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold in. Once mixture is almost fully incorporated, add bacon bites. Stir. Try not to over-mix the batter, it can make the waffles tough. The batter will be lumpy!

Cook waffles according to your waffle iron instructions. Serve with maple syrup and strawberries.


Rate It!
Jen: 7.5
Kile: not home
Kiley: 7
Madee: 7
Destrie: 10


July 8, 2013

Bacon Cheddar and Ranch Potato Salad


Recipe and photo from Jamie Cooks It Up!

8 large russet potatoes
1 (16 ounce) package bacon
1 C mayonnaise
1 C sour cream
2 (1 ounce) packages Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
1 C celery, chopped
1/4 C green onions
1 C cheddar cheese
1. Grab 8 large russet potatoes. Wash and peel them.
2. Chop them up into pieces that are relatively similar and toss them into a large pot. Run cold water over the potatoes and then drain the water off. Fill the pot with hot water and set it on the stove top.
3. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. When you have a nice rolling boil, lower the temperature to medium high and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender.
4. Cook the bacon, either on the stove top or in your oven.
5. Dump the potatoes and hot water into a colander you have placed in your sink. Run cold water over the top to cool the potatoes down, then pour them into a large mixing bowl.
6. Into a small mixing bowl place 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup of sour cream and 2 packages Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix. Stir everything around to combine well.
7. Wash and chop about 1 cup of celery. Add it to the potatoes.
8. Chop up a little more than 1/4 cup of green onions. Add 1/4 to the potatoes and reserve some to sprinkle on top.
9. Take  bacon and crumble it up into small pieces. Save a handful to sprinkle on the top of the salad before you serve. Put the rest of the bacon along with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the mixing bowl.
10. Pour the Ranch/Mayo mixture over the top and stir it all in, making sure everything is well coated. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
11. Just before serving add a few chopped green onions, a bit of bacon and a little cheddar cheese over the top.

* This was really good!  I loved the "Ranch" taste.  My kids don't love potato salad, so I didn't ask for ratings from them.  Kile liked it, but wanted the green onions left out- he's weird like that....just kidding!  I highly recommend it for a different twist on Potato Salad.

July 3, 2013

Quick and Easy Breadsticks


Recipe and photo from: Jamie Cooks It Up!


1 1/2 C warm water
2 T sugar
1 T yeast
1/2 t salt
3 1/2- 4 C flour
1/4 C butter (not that nasty margarine crap)
3/4 C grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese
Johnny's Garlic Seasoning

1. Mix the water, sugar and yeast together in a measuring cup or in the bottom of your mixer. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Add the salt and the flour, one cup at a time, until it is well incorporated. Mix on high for 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
3. Melt the butter and pour half of it into a  large cookie sheet.
4. Place the dough in the center of the pan. Let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes. Letting the dough rest makes it MUCH easier to shape.
5. Spread the dough out flat onto the pan until it reaches all of the edges. 
6. Pour the other half of the butter onto the dough. Spread it around. Sprinkle the Johnny's Garlic Seasoning all over the dough, and then the Parmesan cheese.
7. With a pizza cutter cut the dough into three rows lengthwise, and then into about 12 little height wise rows.
8. Put the pan into a 170 degree oven for about 7-10 minutes. The breadsticks should rise about 1 inch.
9. Turn you oven up to 350 and bake for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. When they come out of the oven let them sit and rest again for about 5 minutes. Then redefine your cutting lines with the pizza cutter.

July 1, 2013

Bacon in the Oven

My new favorite way to cook bacon.....



  1.   Line a baking sheet with foil. This will make cleanup easier later.
  2. Arrange bacon slices on the foil and place the baking sheet on the center rack of a cold oven. Close oven door. Turn oven on to 400°F.
  3. Come back 17 to 20 minutes later. As soon as the bacon is golden brown, but not excessively crisp, it's done. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the bacon slices, and also on how quickly your oven reaches the target temperature.
  4. Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the bacon to another sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb the fat.

June 17, 2013

Reeses peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip

 Kiley found this recipe on Pinterest and she made it for our father's day cookout...YUM!

 Recipe and Photo from: Shugary Sweets



Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips
  • 8oz pkg Reese's peanut butter cup Minis (or about 1 1/2 cup chopped Reeses cups)
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in the sugar and bring to a boil. Once it boils, remove from heat immediately add vanilla and allow to cool to room temperature (very important).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with powdered sugar and peanut butter until creamy (about 3-4 minutes, don't skimp on the beating time). On low, add in brown sugar mixture (that has cooled to room temperature). Mix until combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips and mini Reese's cups. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy with pretzels, animal crackers,  graham crackers, or vanilla wafer cookies.

June 11, 2013

Blackberry Crisp

Destrie was a  "Junior Chef" today and this is what he made!



Ingredients
  • 5 cups blackberries (or any other berry combination you may have.)
  • 5 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch (for thickening if using frozen berries)
  • 1 C flour
  • 1 C oats
  • 3/4 C packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 C butter
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • In a bowl combine berries and sugar. Mix and set aside
  • If using frozen berries add in 2 Tbsp of cornstarch for thickening.
  • In another bowl mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Add in butter using a pastry mixer until crumbly.
  • Put berries into a 9 x 13 pan and add crumble on top.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and the topping will be golden brown 
  • Serve while warm and top with vanilla ice cream.  YUM!

June 6, 2013

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta







*Recipe from Vanessa Jarrett

Ingredients:
16 oz.  penne pasta (cooked)
2 chicken breasts-cooked and cubed
2 jars Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup Hormel real bacon bits
1 cup chopped ham
1 bunch green onions-thinly sliced
sliced mushrooms
swiss cheese

Directions:
Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Combine all ingredients, except swiss cheese.  Transfer ingredients to baking dish.  Bake for 30 minutes @ 350 degrees.  Top with swiss cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Rate It!
Jen: 9
Kile: 8
Kiley:
Madee: 8.5
Destrie: o.k.

June 5, 2013

Turkey Steak in the Crockpot






 This is a picture of what they will look like if cooked in a pan.  However, this recipe is for the crockpot and there is a white sauce on the Turkey Steak, so obviously they won't look like the above photo.  The crockpot recipe was pretty good, but didn't produce a pretty picture!!  Give it a try...it's easy and I got no complaints here.



Ingredients:

5 Madoxx Turkey Steaks
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can milk
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
Layer turkey steak in bottom of crockpot.
In a bowl, stir together, soup, milk and sour cream.
Add salt and pepper-stir to combine.
Pour mixture over the turkey steaks.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

* The sauce would be good served on mashed potatoes.

Rate It!
Jen: 7.5
Kile: 7
Kiley:
Madee: 7
Destrie: 7

May 27, 2013

Crockpot Orange Chicken


 

What You’ll Need:

  • 4 – 5 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, thawed
  • 3/4 cup Orange Marmalade
  • 3/4 cup of BBQ Sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s)
  • 2 tbsp. Soy Sauce

What You’ll Do:

  • Cook chicken in crockpot on high for 3 hours (Put 1/2 cup water in with chicken.)
  • After 3 hours, drain juices from crocopot
  • Cut chicken in to chunks and return to crockpot
  • Mix together bbq sauce, orange marmalade, and soy sauce
  • Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on high for 30 more minutes.
  • Serve with rice.
Recipe adapted slightly from Frugal Girls

Rate It!
Jen: 7
Kile: 7
Kiley: not home
Madee: 6
Destrie: not good

May 1, 2013

Almond Chicken Rice Bake





1 cup cooked rice
2-3 cups cooked chicken
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 T. lemon juice
1 cup mayonnaise (no fat free or light)
1 cup chopped celery
1 T. minced onion flakes

Mix all ingredients together and put in a 9x13 baking dish.
Top with ½ cup slivered almonds.
(Can also top with ½ cup crushed cornflakes…I leave those off.)

Bake uncovered at 300 degrees for 1 hour.


Ratings to come soon!