Too Many Recipes

Closed for Now

2009-04-14T12:11:00.002-04:00

So, yeah, I haven't totally abandoned this blog... I promise. But, I've decided to just maintain it as a recipe archive for the time being. I simply don't have time to keep up with multiple blogs at this phase in my life. I'll be moving my food-related posts over to my main blog, Tiny Blessings, for the foreseeable future. Thanks for visiting!

Menu Plan 2/24

2009-02-24T07:48:00.007-05:00

A bit late, but here's my plan for the rest of the week. Wednesday and Friday are a little challenging for me- with the beginning of Lent, I won't be eating meat on Fridays, nor on Wednesday of this week. The rest of the family, though, will be eating meat as usual. Here's my plan:

TUESDAY: steak fajitas, rice, stewed tomatoes
WEDNESDAY: Potato soup for me (which DH doesn't like)... Hamburger Helper Chili Mac (which I can't stand) for DH... the kids can choose.... everyone will be happy!
THURSDAY: Roast Chicken in the Crockpot, stuffing, green beans
FRIDAY: leftovers for the meat eaters, and a new hash brown soup for me-- I'll post the recipe on Friday
SATURDAY: honey dijon pork loin (pre-seasoned from the grocery store), steamed mixed veggies, parslied potatoes

Check out Menu Plan Monday for hundreds of other menus.
Stop by my main blog to enter my coupon giveaway~ deadline is 7pm this Friday!

Menu Plan Monday 2/16/09

2009-02-16T10:23:00.003-05:00

This week all of our meals will be made from what's on hand, with one exception: the BBQ ribs my husband has requested. Since these are all ingredients I have on hand, that pretty much also means that these are some of our family's favorite meals. I'll be making a run to two different stores to hit some sales, but other than the ribs and milk, we already have all we'll need for this week's meals.

MONDAY: my favorite vegetable soup, cold meat and/or grilled cheese sandwiches
TUESDAY: buffalo chicken subs (chicken tenders sauted in buffalo sauce with lettuce and blue cheese dressing on a sub bun) for the adults, chicken nuggets for the kids; *new recipe* parmesean roasted potato wedges (crockpot), grape tomatoes
WEDNESDAY: ham steaks, macaroni & cheese, peas
THURSDAY: our favorite BBQ ribs in the crockpot, corn
FRIDAY: our favorite beef enchiladas, stewed tomatoes, sweet corn cake

My project for today is to reorganize the pantry and the stockpile-- I'm guessing that there's enough there to eat for at least two more weeks!

Family Favorite: Crockpot Vegetable Soup

2009-02-16T10:00:00.003-05:00

This is my own recipe, basically learned from my mom, but now tweaked to suit my (and my husband's) taste. Mom always saved all the leftover vegetables in the freezer, until the container was full. I do that, too... but sometimes we don't have enough leftover vegetables to make soup when we want it, so I came up with this combination of canned veggies that also works well. You could always add/subtract any veggies that you like... green beans, etc. The soup has a tomato broth that we love... credit for that goes to mom. There's nothing better than coming home on a cold day and smelling this soup!

Amy's Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup
2 cans diced tomatoes

2 - 20oz cans Veg-All Homestyle (big chunks of potatoes, carrots, etc.)

1 can corn1 lb stew meat, cubed (Optional- I would leave it out, but DH prefers to have meat in the soup. It will cook in the crockpot. You can brown it if you prefer, but it will cook just fine in the broth.)

2 TBSP cilantro

2 TBSP dried onion flakes

2 TBSP Mrs. Dash

OPTIONAL: a small can of tomato sauce, to make a richer broth

Place stew meat in bottom of crockpot, add dried onion and Mrs. Dash. Dump in the canned vegetables and tomato sauce, top with cilantro. Fill the crockpot the rest of the way with water. Cover and cook on low all day (8 hours or more).

Forgive the repeat-- I'm pulling this out of a previous post that contained several recipes in order to link it up with my menu plan for today.

Ham and Cheese Fondue, my way

2009-02-10T13:15:00.002-05:00

As usual, I've taken the original recipe and changed it to suit our tastes/ what I had on hand. We enjoyed this dip here at home during the Superbowl.

Ham & Cheese Fondue, Amy's Way

1 8oz. brick cream cheese, cubed

1 bunch green onions, chopped (I actually used dried chives)

1 container light sour cream

1 cup diced ham

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in mini crockpot and cook on low for about half an hour.

Stir well, turn heat down to low, and serve warm.

We used Ritz crackers, Fritos, and celery sticks for dipping. Yum! The original recipe called for baking this in a bread bowl and serving it with the bread cubes, and I'm sure that's good, too- I plan to try it that way some day! ;)

A Quick Menu Plan

2009-02-10T12:25:00.002-05:00

Finally, a moment to sit and sketch out a menu plan for the rest of the week:

MONDAY (last night): smoked sausage, macaroni & cheese, steamed broccoli (kids' request meal)
TUESDAY: crockpot pizza, garlic bread, green beans
***Crockpot pizza is one of those meals I throw together with whatever is on hand- today's version will use partially cooked shell pasta, a pound of browned sausage, pepperoni, a jar of spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, and onions. Mix it all up and cook on low for 4-5 hours-- yum!
WEDNESDAY: leftovers
THURSDAY: chicken tacos (chicken pieces + taco seasoning + salsa, cooked in the crockpot all day and served in tortillas with cheese, lettuce, etc.)
FRIDAY: ham steaks, au gratin potatoes, peas

All of those are quick and easy, no-recipes-required meals. I've almost given up on menu planning these last couple of months as our busy schedule keeps changing. This week is especially crazy, but I feel better knowing I at least have a plan to fall back on.

P.S. Even though it's Tuesday, you can still check out tons of others' menus over at Menu Plan Monday! :)

Menu Plan Monday- all tried and true this week

2009-01-19T10:24:00.005-05:00

This week I'm going with all tried and true recipes- I've got a lot going on, so I'm relying on recipes that I know everyone will enjoy:

MONDAY: my infamous chicken enchiladas, stewed tomatoes, sweet corn cake

TUESDAY: my crockpot spaghetti sauce, ziti pasta, green beans, tossed salad

WEDNESDAY: crockpot "Chicken Lickin' Good" Pork Chops, rice, steamed broccoli

THURSDAY: crockpot Italian roast, potatoes, peas

FRIDAY: leftovers.... or whatever bargain I found at the grocery store on Tuesday ;)

Menu Plan Monday 12/29/08

2008-12-29T12:59:00.004-05:00

I decided that it's high time that I jump back into weekly menu planning... so here it is! :)

MONDAY: Our favorite bean dip, tortilla chips, grape tomatoes, and *new recipe* mushroom and chicken quesadillas.

TUESDAY: I'm experimenting with this *new* Sour Cream Burgers recipe, making them oval shaped to fit some sub buns I need to use up. I'll saute some onions and peppers to go on them, and serve with a side salad.

WEDNESDAY: We'll have our favorite snack foods for supper- the kids are getting excited about our "party" (just the four of us at home). :) So far the menu includes our favorite layered taco dip, pigs in a blanket, and meatballs.

THURSDAY: I'll make ribs and sour kraut in the crockpot for DH and the kids. I can't stand sour kraut, so I'll likely make myself some of my favorite potato soup.

FRIDAY: to be decided.... likely something in the crockpot!

Pineapple Blue Cheese Dip

2008-12-29T00:01:00.002-05:00

I made this Pineapple Blue Cheese Dip for a party on Saturday and it was well received. I doubled the recipe (using slightly more blue cheese and green onions than the recipe called for) to make enough to fill the pineapple, and served it with Ritz crackers.

Chocolate Peppermint Spoons

2008-12-28T11:46:00.004-05:00

I made a batch of these to go in gift baskets and tuck in with a few other little gifts. I've made them several times, so my measurements here are estimated as I just kind of go by feel.

Amy's Chocolate Peppermint Spoons

12 heavy plastic spoons

1/2 or so melting chocolate wafers (estimated amount)

2 drops peppermint extract

1 cup crushed candy canes

Melt chocolate in double boiler, the stir in extract and half the candy canes. Dip each spoon into the mixture, twirl to remove excess, dip again, twirl again, and then lay on waxed paper to dry. Spinkle tops ("bowl" side of spoon) with remaining crushed candy. Cool, when hard remove from waxed paper and wrap in individual cellophane bags.

Use these to stir into hot coffee or hot chocolate for a sweet treat.

Dipped Oreos

2008-12-20T22:40:00.003-05:00

Want to make some quick and easy treats to round out your dessert trays? Try this:

DIPPED OREOS

1 lb bag of chocolate melting wafers (found in the candy-making section)

1-2 packages of oreos

Melt the wafers per directions in a double boiler or microwave. I like to do small batches in a juice glass in my microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so. The small but deep glass is easiest for me to work with- I've found that a regular bowl or cup spreads the chocolate out too thin for me to quickly dip in. Take each Oreo and dip it in the chocolate, then place it on foil or waxed paper to dry. You'll have to work quickly, as the wafers cool and set up pretty quick. Cool and enjoy!

P.S. The Oreos I made tonight (photo above) were dipped in red vanilla flavored wafers. I like how they turned out... we'll see what everyone else thinks!

Cold Weather Cooking

2008-12-06T14:19:00.004-05:00

I've got ravioli in the crockpot... I just finished eating soup for lunch.... and I'm in the mood to start baking Christmas cookies. Gee, could you have guessed that it snowed last night? :)

I usually do sugar cookies and fudge at Christmas, and after that, it varies year-to-year. I'd like to get some things baked up and frozen so I won't be so stressed right before the numerous Christmas parties we'll be attending Christmas week. I'm surfing for some new recipes to try, but would love to hear from you if you've got a tried and true one to share!

We're still eating :)

2008-11-17T10:45:00.002-05:00

I haven't stopped cooking.... the family's been fed... I just haven't felt up to writing about it lately. Ever since my DD's Type I diabetes diagnosis, meals and food have taken on a whole new meaning. Planned meals get changed at the last minute to balance out carbs and portions. Unplanned meals get thrown together. It's been working out fine, it just has not been particularly blog-worthy.

In the meantime, here's the excellent Baked Pasta recipe that DD helped me make last night. This one has chicken broth in it, which sounds weird, but keeps the pasta nice and moist. We used tiny shell pasta rather than ziti, and sausage rather than hamburger.

Souptacular Crockpotalooza: Potato Soup

2008-10-29T22:33:00.003-04:00

Potato soup is one of my favorites- I like to make a big pot and eat it for lunch all week. This is my very own recipe, put together after much trial and error. I've also published it on RecipeZaar, so it's possible that you may have seen it there.

Amy's Potato Soup:

Ingredients:
5-6 large potatoes, cubed
1 large onion, diced
2 tablespoons margarine
3 chicken bouillon cubes (I use bouillon paste when possible, about 2-3 TBSP)
3 tablespoons parsley
2 tablespoons cilantro
3 cups water

Place all of the above ingredients into the crockpot, cook on low all day.

About an hour before serving time, add in either:

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup flour

OR, as I more often do, add in about a cup of whatever kind of milk you have on hand and a sprinkle of instant potato flakes.

Garnish with:
shredded cheese or French-fried onions or croutons

Enjoy!

Back to the menu planning...

2008-10-18T13:41:00.005-04:00

I know I haven't been here on my cooking blog too much lately... my apologies! Since September 19, when my five year-old was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, our meals have been kind of thrown together, trying to balance her carbohydrate needs with everything else we have going on that day. This week, though, I'm starting to feel more confident and ready to jump back into menu planning. Here goes...

TUESDAY: *new recipe* Deep Dish Sausage Pizza and salad

WEDNESDAY: our favorite crockpot BBQ ribs, corn

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Beef Stew in the crockpot

FRIDAY: Chicken Hurry, steamed broccoli, rice

* If you're not familiar with Type I/ Juvenile Diabetes, it's in many ways treated the opposite of Type II, which is much more common. (Our doctor says that only 1% of children will develop Type I Diabetes.) Type II is often diet-controlled and in some cases medication can prompt the body to produce insulin as needed. My daughter has Type I, which means that her body produces no insulin at all. There are no limitations on what my daughter eats, but, every carb must be counted, she has to eat at certain times of day, and she must receive insulin injections 4-5 times daily for the rest of her life.

What kind of cook are you?

2008-10-14T21:11:00.001-04:00

You Are an Excellent Cook

You're a top cook, but you weren't born that way. It's taken a lot of practice, a lot of experimenting, and a lot of learning.

It's likely that you have what it takes to be a top chef, should you have the desire...

Are You A Good Cook?

Spaghetti Sauce: FIF Sauce Edition

2008-10-11T14:55:00.004-04:00

Well, true to my pattern lately, I'm a day late for the Favorite Ingredient Friday: Sauces Edition. Oh well, I'll share my spaghetti sauce recipe anyway! ;) This is a recipe that has evolved over time in my kitchen, geared to not be too garlic-y for my DH, and also not have too much meat for me. (I actually prefer meatless sauces, but DH has to have meat in his.)

Amy's Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

1 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
1 large onion, chopped and cooked with the beef
2 small cans sliced mushrooms
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes (do not drain)
2 (14 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 tablespoons dried Italian Seasoning

1 tablespoon Garlic Pepper
1 tablespoon sugar

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and simmer on low all day.

This sauce works great with any kind of pasta you have on hand.

Soup's On ~ Recipe Swap

2008-10-03T22:27:00.003-04:00

Life as Mom did a recipe swap yesterday for soup recipes. I'm a day late, but I'm sharing one anyway because I love soups. I love a lot of different kinds- potato, french onion, and broccoli cheddar are some of my favorites. Here's one I make regularly- I've shared this recipe before, but, it's one that we all love and I think it's worth sharing again! :)

Amy's I-Don't-Feel-Like-Cooking Version of Tortilla Soup:

1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can diced tomatoes/ chili peppers (AKA:Rotel- but I buy the store brand)
1/2 cup salsa (guess-timated amount)~
1/2 onion, chopped
several shakes of dried cilantro
two shakes of chili powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 large can precooked, chopped chicken or turkey

Put that all together in a crockpot and let it simmer on low for a couple of hours. I usually do this around lunchtime and serve it for supper, so it probably cooks around 3-4 hours. Top it with shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips.... yum!

Check out Life as Mom for more great soup recipes!

FIF: Broccoli Cornbread

2008-09-26T20:45:00.005-04:00

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli
4 eggs, beaten
1 (8 1/2 ounce) package Jiffy corn muffin mix

Preheat oven to 400. Thaw and drain broccoli. Combine first six ingredients. Stir muffin mix into first mixture with a fork. Pour into a 13" x 9"pan that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes , or until done when tested with a toothpick.

This cornbread is moist and dense, best eaten with a fork. I always make it along with some sort of creamy soup, like potato soup or corn chowder.

Check out Favorite Ingredients Friday for more great bread recipes!

Diabetic sources?

2008-09-24T12:39:00.003-04:00

Last week my five year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She will be insulin dependent for the rest of her life.

Luckily, in this day and age, the dietary recommendations from her team of health care professionals are pretty simple: count carbs. We don't have to limit what she eats, we just have to count every bite. So, my husband and I have been taking a crash course this week in carb counting-- we probably looked like crazy people in the grocery store, reading package after package, trying to get a feel for how many carbs various things contain.

I have the "Calorie King" book and I've Googled countless food and diabetic websites, but if you know of a specific resource I should check out, I'd be grateful for your help.

Menu Plan Monday 9/8

2008-09-08T13:34:00.004-04:00

This is a short menu plan this week-- DH is home for another week on vacation, so plans tend to change at the last minute. ;)

MONDAY: It's my birthday, so all I know is I'm not cooking! :)

TUESDAY: turkey, sauted zucchini, pasta We got some tequila-lime marinated turkey breasts at the store. I'm going to try cooking them in the crockpot.

WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* Zippy Beef Tips in the crockpot, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

THURSDAY: Low-Fat Italian Chicken and Vegetable Packets

FRIDAY: ? leaving Friday open for now, not sure of our plans yet

Awesome Banana Muffins

2008-09-02T19:34:00.003-04:00

Run, don't walk, to make these awesome banana muffins. I made them by the recipe with only two changes: I used 4 medium bananas instead of 3 large, and, I used 1/2 cup chocolate chips in place of the walnuts since nobody here likes walnuts. These baked up nice and moist in exactly twenty minutes. We have unanimously voted these as our family's new favorite muffins- I hope you'll enjoy them, too!

Menu Plan Monday 9/1

2008-09-01T11:32:00.003-04:00

NOTE: I accidentally linked up on the Mr Linky @ I'm An Organizing Junkie as "Amy @ Tiny Blessings", which is my other blog. Feel free to pop over there for a visit, too, but if it's a menu you're looking for, you're in the right place! :)

DH is home this week on vacation, so I have a feeling the menu plan will get changed, but hey, at least it's a starting point! ;)

MONDAY: kielbasa, my favorite ranch potatoes, steamed broccoli

TUESDAY: pepperoni stromboli, salad

WEDNESDAY: Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast with veggies

THURSDAY: crockpot salsa chicken (literally just chicken tenders covered in salsa)~ made into soft tacos

FRIDAY: eating out

Sparkling Jello

2008-08-31T15:00:00.004-04:00

I don't usually share my craft projects here- I post those over on my main blog. But, since I did this one in such a big font, I figured I may as well share it here, too, so I can share the recipe!My kids love Jello made this way. Note: I always use sugar-free Jello. Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday 8/24

2008-08-24T22:22:00.003-04:00

I have a feeling this week is going to pass by in one quick blur. I'm working four days and I have a couple of medical appointments, DD has soccer, and DH has several hours of overtime scheduled. In between all of that, we have to find time to eat! :)

These are all tried and true favorites- no time to try new recipes this week!

MONDAY: beef enchiladas (using crockpot beef machaca), stewed tomatoes, refried beans
TUESDAY:Italian Subs, potato salad, baby carrots & dip
WEDNESDAY: sliced turkey & gravy (frozen entree), stuffing, peas
THURSDAY: BBQ ribs in the crockpot, mini ears of corn on the cob
FRIDAY: crockpot pizza casserole

Have a great week~ and if you're looking for menu inspiration, head over to I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan, week of 8/17

2008-08-17T19:50:00.004-04:00

I'm finally back on track with getting my menu plan done on Sunday evening- whoo hoo! :) Everything on the menu is from the pantry and freezer. If I get over to the farm market we'll add in fresh peaches and tomatoes.

SUNDAY: Tonight I experimented in the crockpot with chicken tenders, homemade taco seasoning, a drained can of corn, some salsa, and a can of cream of mushroom soup. We had this in flour tortillas with cheddar cheese. I liked it, but I think it would be better over rice instead of in tortillas. There's some leftover cooked rice in the fridge, so for lunch tomorrow I'll try that and see! ;)

MONDAY: crockpot cube steaks (another experiment: trying them with mushroom soup, gravy mix, and onions in the crockpot), mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

TUESDAY: pepperoni stromboli, tossed salad

WEDNESDAY: Zesty Slow-Cooker Pot Roast with potatoes, green beans

THURSDAY: homemade sausage pizza, tossed salad

FRIDAY: broiled pork chops, alfredo noodles, steamed mixed veggies

The Chicken Experiment

2008-08-12T14:07:00.003-04:00

Last week, as I mentioned, I tried an experiment in the crockpot. It worked out really well, and I'll definitely be making it again. My 2 year-old ate two helpings. And the best part? It was SO easy!

Amy's Crockpot Ranchero Chicken

2 cans Campbell's Creamy Ranchero Tomato Soup (found at Big Lots for $.90 a can)

1 lb. chicken breasts

1 bag frozen peppers & onions

Place chicken in the crockpot and cover with both cans of soup. Cook on low all day. About an hour before serving time, break the chicken up into bite-sized pieces and stir in the peppers & onions. Cook another hour or until peppers and onions are done.

Serve over top of cooked pasta.

Unfortunately, I have read that Campbell's is not going to make this soup any more. I read on the Campbell's site that you can substitute a can of tomato soup and a heaping spoonful of salsa in any recipe that used that soup.

Menu Plan Monday 8/11

2008-08-11T23:03:00.005-04:00

It's just after 11pm on Monday, and I'm just now getting a few minutes to myself to sit down and sketch out a meal plan for the week. Does that tell you what kind of day it's been? ;)

SUNDAY: We had homemade steak fajitas with all the fixings.

MONDAY: We had Taco Bell.

TUESDAY: pork chops & stuffing casserole, steamed vegetables

WEDNESDAY: BBQ chicken breasts, our favorite macaroni & cheese with stewed tomatoes

THURSDAY: Italian roast in the crockpot with potatoes, green beans

FRIDAY: family favorite buffalo chicken wraps

If you've been here before, you know that's not as detailed as my usual plan, but hey... did I mention that it's already after 11pm? :)

Menu Plan Monday 8/4

2008-08-04T17:13:00.000-04:00

These are all tried and true favorites this week, outside of today's experiment in the crockpot. ;) I'm trying to clean out the freezer and pantry.

MONDAY: an experiment with chicken in my crockpot- if it works I'll blog the recipe later :)

TUESDAY: Sausage Melts, potato wedges, cherry tomatoes

WEDNESDAY: Mom's recipe for BBQ Ribs in Crockpot, mini ears of corn on the cob

THURSDAY: Easy & Delicious Chicken in crockpot, over pasta, with green beans

FRIDAY: Beef & Vegetables Stir-Fry

My Mom's BBQ Ribs

2008-08-04T17:04:00.003-04:00

My mom's BBQ Ribs:
3-5 lbs boneless spare ribs
1 bottle favorite BBQ sauce (we like the spicy Kroger brand)
salt & pepper, to taste
Place ribs in crockpot, season to taste. Cook on low all day (do not add any liquids). About an hour before serving time, drain liquid that has accumulated, and pour in BBQ sauce.

This is my family's favorite way to have ribs-- so easy and tasty!

2 chicken breasts= 5 servings

2008-08-02T21:26:00.003-04:00

Here's one way I stretch the meat in any meal- make it bite sized! Tonight I took two large chicken breasts and had enough food to feed five people (three adults and two kids). Here's what I did:

Chicken Bites A La Amy

2 large chicken breasts

3/4 cup cornmeal

1 tbsp dried parsley

3 tbsp dry ranch dressing mix

small amount oil for frying

Slice the partially frozen chicken breasts into thin slices width-wise. (Mine were approximately 3-4" long and maybe 1/2" or so in thickness.) Place chicken in microwave-safe dish and microwave for five minutes. Place a large skillet on medium-high heat and add oil. Combine cornmeal, parsley, and ranch dressing mix in a large zip-top baggie. Remove chicken pieces from microwave and shake into baggie. With tongs, place chicken pieces in skillet and fry for approximately 3 minutes per side. Serve with dipping sauce of choice- my family likes ranch dressing or hot sauce.

I served these tonight with some Stovetop Stuffing and steamed broccoli, and had the whole meal on the table in about twenty minutes. I rarely fry things, but once in a while we like chicken or pork chops breaded and fried. Quick & easy- that's my kind of meal!

Don't Post Our Recipes, Or Else! ;)

2008-07-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

Whoa... have you seen this? Apparently one company (I'm not naming them for fear of drawing their internet police here to my blog, LOL) gets all uptight and angry if you post one of their recipes, and they specifically point out that modifications are not allowed. Well, considering as you can't copyright a list of ingredients, and the only recipe instructions that can be copyrighted are those that are personal, such as a memory of your grandma... this is pretty hateful. Warning: some language on that site is not family friendly.

Menu Plan Monday 7/28

2008-07-28T12:48:00.004-04:00

It's county fair week, which means that I'm working weird hours so I can take my nursing home residents to the fair. My youngest sister is staying here with the kids several times this week, so I'm trying to plan easy meals that she'll be able to feed them with a minimum of whining (kids) and effort (her). The notes after the meal plans are my efforts at planning "out loud" to get things coordinated. :)

MONDAY: buffalo chicken breasts, our favorite macaroni & cheese with stewed tomatoes (The macaroni was added in due to the breakfast request of my 2 year-old... "Mackawoni, Mommy? Mackawoni?" this morning... how could I deny such a sweet request?!?) and tossed salad

TUESDAY: family favorite meatloaf muffins, leftover macaroni & cheese, salad

WEDNESDAY: chicken breasts with salsa and taco seasoning in the crockpot (For me to prep in the morning and leave for the family to turn into soft tacos while I'm at work in the evening.)

THURSDAY: most likely a heat & eat frozen dinner (I'm working until 10pm Wednesday night and have to be in early Thursday morning- it's doubtful I'll get anything else prepped!)

FRIDAY: this yummy tried and true Chicken Pot Pie (I work in the AM but will be home by 3pm.)

For more menu plans and to share yours, check out Menu Plan Monday!

Broccoli Salad

2008-07-19T18:08:00.003-04:00

I made this broccoli salad last week and was reminded again of how something so simple can taste sooo good. To make this even easier, I sometimes use the precooked bacon.

Broccoli Salad

1 head broccoli, chopped

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I prefer Kraft crumbles)

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 red onion, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

In a small bowl (or large measuring cup) combine the following:

1 cup mayo (I usually use fat-free)

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Toss the salad with the dressing and chill until serving time.

Menu Plan Monday 7/14

2008-07-14T08:36:00.005-04:00

It's an easy week for me in the kitchen, which is great, because we have a busy week ahead!

MONDAY: *new recipe* Stephanie's Crockpot Peppercorn Steak & roasted potatoes

TUESDAY: eating out with friends to celebrate their new baby :) (We're ordering pizza at their house- I offered to bring dinner, but they want to treat us, so pizza it is!)

WEDNESDAY: birthday party/ cookout for my mom's 60th birthday ~ I'm bringing this yummy broccoli salad.

THURSDAY: Crockpot Hash Brown Casserole with ham added in, peas

FRIDAY: hamburgers with all the fixings & french fries

See? I told you it was an easy week- I feel like I'll hardly be cooking at all! I would like to take a cake or another baked good to our friends' house on Tuesday night~ since baking is not my forte, I'm open for any/ all suggestions!

Frugal Foods: whole roast chicken

2008-07-08T13:24:00.001-04:00

Have you checked out Jenn at Frugal Upstate's series on frugal foods yet? Past topics have included eggs, tuna, beans, and ground beef. This week's ingredient is chicken-- specifically, whole chickens or wings or thighs. Here's my favorite frugal whole chicken recipe:

Crockpot Roast Chicken

1 3-4lb. whole chicken (I usually wait and buy these on clearance)

Season All Seasoning Salt

1 chopped onion

chopped garlic to taste (1 TBSP or so)

Place several golfball-sized balls of foil in the bottom of your crockpot. (This keeps the chicken from getting soggy from sitting in the juices.) Rinse chicken and pat dry. Place onion & garlic in cavity of chicken. Rub all outer surfaces of chicken with seasoned salt. Place in crockpot on top of foil balls, and cook on low all day.

My family thinks this tastes just like the roasted chicken you can buy in the grocery store deli- but this version is much cheaper! :)

Here's another frugal chicken recipe I use often... it actually uses chicken tenders, but I'm sure it would work with thighs, as well. Check out the Chicken Hurry recipe previously posted on this blog.

For more great frugal chicken recipes, check out the Frugal Foods series Part 5: Chicken.

P.S. Added 7/15/08: I made one of these last week, and for the price of a $3.59 chicken, it was three meals for my family. The first night, we had the chicken with stuffing and a veggie. The second night my husband ate his plain, the kids and I chopped ours up and added it into some soup. The third night, I used all the leftover bits in a pasta dish. Three meals for a family of four from a $3.59 chicken... that's what I call frugal! :)

(And yes I know I should have boiled the bones for broth, but I just didn't have time last week.)

Frugal Foods: Ground Beef

2008-07-08T12:43:00.003-04:00

Jenn at Frugal Upstate is continuing her series on frugal foods.... I've already participated in the egg and tuna segments. The ingredient for part four was ground beef... I'm a little late on this one! :) The next ingredient will be chicken.

Here's what works for me: I buy large packages of ground beef at Sam's, or, wherever else I find them on sale. I unwrap all of the beef and place it into my largest stock pot, then fill it with enough water to cover. I usually add some salt and pepper at this point. I put it on high heat, and while it's heating up, I chop up a few onions and toss them in with the beef. I let the beef and onions come to a boil, then turn it down and simmer it for a while (half an hour or so) until the beef is cooked through and the onions are tender. Next, I let the pot cool a bit, then place the pot in the fridge for a while to chill. When chilled, I drain the liquid and skim off the fat that accumulates at the top. Then I just divide the beef and onions into two-cup portions (approximately a pound, which is what most recipes call for) and put them into labeled ziplock freezer bags. Into the freezer they go, and then I'm all set for quick meals.

What do I do with the bags of precooked beef?

use it in any casseroles that call for cooked ground beef
warm it in a saucepan before stirring in spaghetti sauce for use on pasta (For a really fast meal, a store-bought jarred sauce is great. If I have a little more time, I like this stovetop recipe.)
warm it in a skillet with brown gravy to serve over mashed potatoes
layer it in a crockpot for Crockpot Pizza

The other variation I make regularly is to use taco seasoning instead of salt & pepper. The ready-to-go taco meat works great for tacos, enchiladas, or Copycat Beef Meximelts in a hurry. We eat a lot of Mexican food at my house, so I regularly do a batch this way.

My other frugal tip for ground beef: stretch it! I regularly add a handful or more of oatmeal to anything that calls for ground beef. This has two benefits: the cholesterol-lowering oatmeal is disguised from the family member who needs that, and, the ground beef is bulked up. You'll never know it's in there, and, your family will get a little added nutrition.

Check out Part 4 of the Frugal Foods series for more great beef recipes & tips!

Menu Plan Monday 7/7:

2008-07-07T15:07:00.002-04:00

After this past week's trip, we are all sick of eating fast food and ready to eat some real food! Everything this week is tried and true, no new recipes... I'm just too tired right now to feel creative! ;)

MONDAY: Spaghetti with my favorite homemade meat sauce, garlic bread, green beans
TUESDAY: broccoli-chicken casserole with our favorite cornbread (Cornbread recipe is in the post before this one.)
WEDNESDAY: my mom's crockpot BBQ Ribs, mini ears of corn on the cob

My mom's BBQ Ribs:
3-5 lbs boneless spare ribs
1 bottle favorite BBQ sauce (we like Kroger's spicy sauce)
salt & pepper, to taste
Place ribs in crockpot, season to taste. Cook on low all day (do not add any liquids). About an hour before serving time, drain liquid that has accumulated, and pour in BBQ sauce.

THURSDAY: Crockpot Salsa Sour Cream Chicken, rice, stewed tomatoes
FRIDAY: frozen dinner or take-out

Head on over to Menu Plan Monday to share your menu and snag ideas from others!

P.S. Did you hear that Stephanie from "A Year of Crockpotting" (one of my very favorite cooking blogs) will be appearing on the Rachael Ray show this week? Check it out on the Rachael Ray site! :)

Our Family's Favorite Cornbread

2008-07-07T15:01:00.002-04:00

My DH never liked cornbread until I tried this recipe- now he loves it! :) This cornbread is sweet, dense, and moist. We like it as a side to Mexican foods, soups, or creamy casseroles. It easily doubles and keeps well for several days.

CORNBREAD
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 tsp dried minced onion
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can creamed corn (8.5oz, or half of a regular sized can)

Combine all, and spread into an 8x8" pan that's been sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Menu planning... really I am....

2008-07-07T11:55:00.005-04:00

As I'm lazily (Is that a word?) recovering from driving 12 hours home yesterday, I'm also surfing WW blogs and sites. I'll be back this afternoon with my menu plan for the week and some updates to the sidebars... stay tuned!

Menu Plan Monday 6/30

2008-06-30T11:52:00.007-04:00

I haven't done a menu plan for a couple of weeks now for various reasons. I figured it was time to get back on track, but this week isn't exactly normal for us- we'll be eating out three nights in a row! :)

MONDAY: my infamous chicken enchiladas, sweet corn cake, stewed tomatoes

TUESDAY: *new recipe* Awesome Baked Pork Chops, potatoes, steamed veggie mix

WEDNESDAY: crockpot BBQ chicken, corn on the cob

THURSDAY: eating out with friends
FRIDAY: dinner at a family event

SATURDAY: dinner at my cousin's wedding reception

Check out more menu plans~ Menu Plan Monday is usually hosted by I'm An Organizing Junkie, but since she's on vacation this week, you'll find it HERE instead.

P.S. I'm still trying to adjust the new header image... the sidebars overlapping it are bugging me!

Pioneer Woman's Flower Pot Dessert

2008-06-29T13:38:00.004-04:00

Pioneer Woman has just made the world's cutest flower pot desserts. How cute, and how easy!

Under Construction Again

2008-06-23T10:55:00.002-04:00

I've decided to redo this template again, so please bear with me today (Monday) as I change out the graphics and tweak the template. As I type, I have a lime green sidebar overlapping an orange header-- yikes!! :) It will be fixed shortly.

Ramen Tuna Casserole for One

2008-06-22T20:07:00.006-04:00

I enjoy tuna, my DH does not, therefore you won't see tuna on my menu very often. However, since Jenn at Frugal Upstate is hosting this great frugal food series, I couldn't resist adding in one of the cheapest and easiest recipes I know using this week's ingredient of tuna: tuna casserole for one. I actually can share this for lunch with my two small children and it makes enough for the three of us, all for about one dollar. It doesn't get much more frugal than that!

Quick Ramen Tuna Casserole for One

one block chicken flavored ramen noodles & flavor packet

one small can tuna, drained

one and a half cups water

3 TBSP grated Parmasean cheese

1 tsp. margarine

to taste: garlic pepper, parsley

Break up noodles and cook per directions. Stir in remaining ingredients and enjoy!

And in the spirit of giving proper credit where it's due, I got the original recipe here. What I've typed above is my version of the original.

Tortilla Eggs

2008-06-21T21:15:00.004-04:00

OK, after a brief bloggy break, I think I'm ready to start talking about cooking again. ;)

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate is hosting a Frugal Food series, and part one (Posted June 9th, but I just found it today!) was all about eggs. There are tons of great egg recipes linked up already- go check it out!

I love eggs and have them a couple of times per week for breakfast. I like them scrambled, fried, made into omlettes, and pretty much any other way they can be made. One of my favorite ways to make them, though, is a recipe called Tortilla Eggs... below is my from-memory version.

Tortilla Eggs

1 large flour tortilla

olive or canola oil

2-3 large eggs

salsa to taste

Place your smallest skillet on medium-high heat and pour in 2-3 TBSP. of oil. While the oil heats, tear the tortilla into bite-sized pieces. Fry the tortilla pieces in oil until very lightly browned and crisp. Drain oil, and place tortillas on paper towels briefly to drain. Return tortillas to skillet, and crack eggs into skillet as well. Add in salt and pepper if desired. Stir quickly together, cooking over medium heat until eggs are set. Pour everything onto a plate and top with salsa. Enjoy! :)

I have heard these called Migas and Chiquilles, not sure which is right, but at any rate, they're a great treat!

Edited 4/14/09 to add: CHEESE! I can't believe I didn't mention to top these with some shredded cheese when I originally posted this... I think a good sharp cheddar is perfect with the salsa. :)

Break Time

2008-06-09T12:53:00.002-04:00

As a part of my quest to simplify my life, I'm taking a break from this cooking blog. I'll leave the archives in place while I decide if I want to keep this up, or maybe just include cooking within my main blog, Tiny Blessings.

Thanks for visiting! :)

Menu Plan Monday 5/26

2008-05-26T10:38:00.005-04:00

This is an easy week for me in the kitchen! :)

Check out more menus and post your own at

Menu Plan Monday.

MONDAY: *new recipe* 30-minute baked ravioli, steamed broccoli, strawberry pie
TUESDAY: dinner with friends- we'll probably order in pizza
WEDNESDAY: crockpot BBQ chicken, corn on the cob
THURSDAY: broiled pork chops, peas, augratin potatoes
FRIDAY: crockpot beef machaca in flour tortillas, stewed tomatoes
SATURDAY: dinner at my aunt & uncle's house :)

Menu Plan Monday 5/19 (all tried and true)

2008-05-18T21:52:00.000-04:00

It will be yet another week of odd schedules and running around in my house... it's beginning to feel like this is the norm, and those weeks when we're on our "normal" routine are the odd ones!

* Everything on this week's menu is tried and true-- no time for new recipes this week! :)

SUNDAY: chicken fajitas with all the fixings, our favorite bean dip & tortilla chips
MONDAY: ham steaks, peas, augratin potatoes
TUESDAY: chicken broccoli casserole, biscuits
WEDNESDAY: crockpot ravioli, garlic bread, tossed salad
THURSDAY: Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast with potatoes and onions added in
FRIDAY: Not sure yet.... might be an order-in pizza night! :)

Check out more menus and share yours at Menu Plan Monday!

Grilled Peanut Butter

2008-05-18T11:17:00.004-04:00

Have you ever indulged in a grilled peanut butter sandwich? If you haven't, you probably think I'm nuts (ha ha no pun intended), but trust me, it really kicks up a peanut butter sandwich quite a few notches. I was craving one last night, so I made one this morning for breakfast.

Amy's Grilled Peanut Butter Sandwich

margarine or butter

peanut butter

honey

2 slices whole wheat bread

non-stick cooking spray

Spray a small skillet with cooking spray, and place on stove on medium heat to pre-heat pan. While pan is heating, spread one side of each slice of bread with margarine or butter. Put the buttered sides together, then spread peanut butter on top of the side facing up. Drizzle honey over top of the peanut butter, then place the bottom piece of bread on top of the honey. Place sandwich in pan, and cover top of skillet with a cookie sheet (or lid if you have one). Cook for 2-3 minutes or until bread is golden, then remove lid and flip sandwich. Cook until golden, remove from pan, and enjoy. Caution: the melted peanut butter is VERY hot in the middle!

Menu Planning after all :)

2008-05-13T18:59:00.004-04:00

I was going to take a break this week from menu planning, but, it turns out that I still have a plan in my head, so I guess I may as well write it down. ;)

TUESDAY-- Tonight we tried this Peppy Pizza Pie, only I substituted sausage for the ground beef. It was OK, but we weren't too thrilled with it.
WEDNESDAY-- our favorite meatball subs in the crockpot, carrot sticks, salad
THURSDAY-- kielbasa, macaroni & cheese, peas
FRIDAY-- another favorite: Kim's pork roast with apples in the crockpot, steamed broccoli

Menu Plan Monday 5/5

2008-05-05T12:17:00.001-04:00

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: We didn't get to the Savory Sweet Chicken, but otherwise stuck to the plan pretty well. This week is another on-the-run week, so hopefully these easy crockpot meals will make life easier!

MONDAY: It's Cinco De Mayo-- the perfect excuse to enjoy our favorite Mexican foods! :) my infamous chicken enchiladas, sweet corn cake, stewed tomatoes
TUESDAY: hot sausage links on buns, pasta salad, steamed broccoli (DH came home from the store with some "extra hot" sausage links... we'll see how we like them! The kids will probably have chicken nuggets.)
WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* Savory Sweet Crockpot Chicken, pasta, steamed mixed veggies (This was the only meal we didn't get to on last week's menu plan!)
THURSDAY: crockpot round steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans
FRIDAY: my mom's crockpot ribs*, mini ears of corn on the cob
*The ribs are very easy to do-- just place boneless country spare ribs in the crockpot with salt and pepper (no liquid) and cook on low all day. Then, about an hour before you want to eat, drain all the fat and liquid out of the crockpot, and add in your favorite BBQ sauce. (We like a store brand thick and spicy sauce.) Simmer another hour on low, then enjoy!

Visit Menu Plan Monday to share your menu

and see what others are cooking this week.

I'm curious... which ones do you skip?

2008-05-04T11:49:00.004-04:00

When I'm looking through recipes, I almost always skip those that feature rosemary as the main herb. There's just something about the smell and flavor of rosemary that I don't particularly care for. What about you- which herbs do you avoid?

Big Brother 9 Finale

2008-04-28T11:42:00.003-04:00

Can you believe that Adam won? Over Ryan?? I was a little surprised at how the final vote went (6-1), but I had a feeling Adam was going to win after watching the jury's questions earlier in the program last night. Before that, though, I'd have thought Ryan had it hands down-- I think he was a better player and he won more competitions. But, as they say, it's Big Brother, so you never know what will happen. Edited to add: This post was supposed to appear over on my main blog, but somehow I posted it here instead! Since it already has comments here I guess I'll just leave it as is, LOL! :)

Menu Plan Monday 4/28

2008-04-28T08:42:00.003-04:00

Another crazy mixed-up week ahead.... DH & I are both working different hours than usual, and a couple of nights we won't all be eating together. Why do I have a feeling that this is just foreshadowing what's ahead when our kids are old enough to be lots of activities? :)

MONDAY: My Crockpot Potato Soup & ham sandwiches

TUESDAY: *new recipe* Slow Cooker Enchiladas, corn

WEDNESDAY: Zesty Italian Roast in the Crockpot, parslied potatoes, green beans

THURSDAY: broiled pork chops, macaroni & cheese, peas

FRIDAY: *new recipe* Savory Sweet Crockpot Chicken, noodles, mixed veggies

Visit the home of Menu Plan Monday for more great menus & ideas!

Baking with Amish Starter

2008-04-21T09:25:00.006-04:00

I'm baking today.... wish me luck. I joke about the fact that I can cook nearly anything, but baking is definitely not my forte. But, today is day ten of the Amish starter that has been circulating among my friends at work, so today I must bake. If it comes out well, I'll come back later and share some pictures. :) Edited to add: it came out great, but we ate it all before I remembered to take a picture- sorry! :)

Menu Plan Monday 4/21

2008-04-20T21:13:00.007-04:00

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: The crockpot Pizza Potatoes were a flop... DH called me before I even got home from work to say that nobody would eat them, and I wound up picking up pizza on the way home. :( The crockpot chicken and stuffing was good, but a the stuffing got a little mushy... next time I'll cut back on the liquids a bit.

This week we're having all tried and true recipes that I know my family enjoys.

MONDAY: our favorite beef enchiladas, stewed tomatoes
TUESDAY: mozzarella hot sauce chicken, steamed veggies, my red smashed potatoes
WEDNESDAY: crockpot round steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans
THURSDAY: our favorite crockpot spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, steamed broccoli
FRIDAY: sour cream salsa crockpot chicken, rice, stewed tomatoes

Visit Menu Plan Monday to share your menu

and see what others are cooking this week.

My Red Smashed Potatoes

2008-04-14T14:11:00.003-04:00

This is how I make 'em.... and all measurements are approximate, because I never really measure anything. ;)

AMY'S RED SMASHED POTATOES
1/2 bag red potatoes
1/2 stick of butter
1 onion, chopped
a generous splash of milk (maybe half a cup)
1 large handful of shredded cheddar cheese (maybe a cup or so)
2-3 TBSP dried parsley (or sometimes I use green onions if I have them)

Wash potatoes and cut into halves or quarters (don't peel). Place potatoes and onions in a large pot with water to cover. Boil under potatoes are fork-tender and drain well. Add in milk and butter, stir. With large spoon or potato masher, mash about half of the potatoes, leaving the rest in large chunks. Stir in cheese and parsley, serve and enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday 4/14

2008-04-14T13:37:00.005-04:00

Another week with DH home on vacation and me working some weird hours.... I think I've got it all worked out, though. :)

NOTE FROM LAST WEEK: Kim's Pork Loin with Apples in the Crockpot recipe was wonderful. DH requested it again soon, which is a high compliment from someone who isn't all that crazy about pork. :) Thanks, Kim!

MONDAY: cheddarwurst, my smashed red potatoes (recipe to follow this entry), peas

TUESDAY: eating out :)

WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* crockpot chicken & stuffing, steamed broccoli

THURSDAY: *new recipe* pizza potatoes in the crockpot, salad (New recipe from a friend... if it's good, I'll type it up and post it later this week!)

FRIDAY: our favorite beef enchiladas, stewed tomatoes

Share your own menu and see what others are eating this week at Menu Plan Monday!

Menu Plan Monday 4/7

2008-04-07T07:17:00.005-04:00

It's going to be another busy week in my house.... I'll be making use of my beloved crockpot to help us stay away from fast food.

SUNDAY: broccoli soup, garlic bread

MONDAY: my recipe for General Tso's chicken, stir-fry veggies, rice

TUESDAY: DH and I are actually going out-- whoo hoo! :) We'll be eating at the ball park (local city team, a league below MLB). The kids and sitter will likely have chicken nuggets and macaroni, or something similar.

WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* Kim's Crockpot Pork Loin with Apples and parslied potatoes

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Crockpot Beef Stroganoff , green beans, biscuits

FRIDAY: broiled pork chops, stuffing, steamed broccoli

SATURDAY: pepperoni stromboli (my grandma's recipe-- to be posted later this week) and tossed salad

Check out other's menus and share your own at Menu Plan Monday!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

2008-04-06T10:21:00.004-04:00

I got up and baked ice cream cone cupcakes at 6:30am on Wednesday for my daughter's birthday celebration at her preschool class. I had read that these ice cream cone cupcakes can get soggy after several hours, so I was afraid to do them the night before. I also managed to make the blue and yellow swirled icing to match her Scooby Doo napkins. I was pretty happy with them- baking is not my forte! :)

TIP: These cupcakes are top-heavy in their cones, and tip easily. (I redid the icing on some a few times!) What finally worked for me was putting a small blob of icing on the bottom of the cones, then standing them up on a waxed paper-lined cardboard tray from a case of Frappucino. I then taped plastic forks upright along the edges, and put plastic wrap over top of the forks so it wouldn't smoosh the icing. It wasn't the most elegant mode of transportation, but it worked great! :)

Chicken Fingers & Potato Wedges: Frequent Repeat

2008-04-01T12:45:00.004-04:00

Forgive the repeat, but I wanted to bring this entry from my old cooking blog to this blog for easy reference on how I make chicken fingers.

October 4, 2006
Do you have some menus in your house that you repeat over and over again? I do. As much as I LOVE to try new recipes, sometimes I just want one of my favorite meals.

One of my favorites is what I made last night: chicken fingers, baked homemade fries, and steamed broccoli. I vary the seasonings slightly, but the basic menu is the same. It's a meal I never get tired of.

Last night, I did everything with ranch. I took chicken breasts, cut them into strips, and marinated them in ranch dressing in a ziplock bag for a few hours. Then I threw in a lot of dried parsley (I use it often and buy it in bulk) and about half a tube of crushed Ritz crackers. I dumped that out into a 9x13" casserole, and topped it with the rest of the tube of crushed crackers.

Then I chopped up 4-5 potatoes, and shook them in a ziplock with olive oil and dry ranch dressing mix. I put them on a foil-lined cookie sheet that was sprayed with non-stick spray... the only problem with these potatoes is that they often stick to the pan!

I popped both pans into the oven on 375 for 45 minutes. After they were done, I steamed some broccoli in the microwave, and dinner was served!

Menu Plan Monday 3/31

2008-03-31T12:54:00.007-04:00

I've skipped the last couple of weeks of doing Menu Plan Monday, but it's going to be a busy week, and I'll need a plan!

Everything is a tried and true favorite this week! :)

SUNDAY: beef fajitas, my favorite bean dip & nacho chips, corn

MONDAY: hamburgers, ranch potato wedges

TUESDAY: *DD's 5th birthday, menu of her choice!* Chicken nuggets (kids), Chicken Fingers (adults), our favorite macaroni & cheese with tomatoes, raw veggies & dip, chocolate cake & ice cream. (See entry after this one for details on how I make chicken fingers.)

WEDNESDAY: crockpot meatball subs, steak fries

THURSDAY: crockpot chicken in gravy, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

FRIDAY: roast in crockpot with veggies

SATURDAY: ??-- I always leave Saturdays open.

Broccoli Nemo Soup :)

2008-03-25T13:05:00.004-04:00

Yup, you read that right, Nemo.

Don't worry, I'm just using Nemo-shaped pasta... no adorable orange fish were harmed in the invention of this recipe. :)

Do you ever just start throwing things together in a pot and call it lunch? I do it all the time, LOL! Today was one of those days... I knew I wanted broccoli soup, but I didn't have the ingredients on hand to do my usual recipes. So, I started playing around, and came up with a recipe of my own. I'm posting it here because both kids loved it, and I might want to recreate it again one day.

Amy's Broccoli- Nemo Soup: In a large stockpot, add about 3 cups of water and one box of frozen broccoli. Turn heat to high and simmer until broccoli is broken up a bit and partially cooked. Add in two teaspoons chicken bouillon paste and half a box of Nemo-shaped pasta. Stir it all together and add a little more water if needed. Let simmer for a few minutes, then add in about 3/4 cup cream soup base and, on a whim, about 1/3 cup instant potato flakes. Stir it, decide it needs more of a cream base, then add in about a cup of milk. Keep simmering. Add in about two tablespoons dried minced onion and stir well. Taste to see if pasta is done yet. If so, add in about four slices of diced Velveeta. Stir until cheese is melted and then serve. (And in my case, place the kids' bowls in the freezer for a minute because they're both underfoot & starving, and the soup is too hot to serve.) Garnish with choice of shredded cheddar cheese (me), croutons (me) and/or CheezIt crackers (kids).

Obviously, all measurements could be adjusted to taste, and I'm pretty sure that any cartoon-shaped pasta of your choice could be used. ;)

Meatball Subs: crockpot & freezer recipe

2008-03-21T09:07:00.006-04:00

This is a great recipe to pop in the crockpot and enjoy later in the day. You can also make the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them, so I thought I'd share it as a part of both Freezer Food Friday AND Slow Cooking Thursday. FFF is new to me, and I haven't done SCT in quite a while... my silly job keeps interfering with this fun stuff! ;)

Meatball Subs

For the meatballs:

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (I also add a small amount of oatmeal.)

1 small onion, diced

1 dash Worsterchire sauce

1 dash onion powder

1 dash salt

1 egg

1 TBSP grated Parmesean cheese

1 large (approx. 32 oz.) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

6-8 sub or hoagie buns

Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.

Shape into walnut-sized balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Cook meatballs: either bake at 400 for 20 minutes or so, or, microwave until done-- it takes about 8 minutes in my microwave.

(May freeze at this point by placing meatballs on a foil-lined cookie sheet and freezing. After frozen, remove from cookie sheet and place into zip-top bag.)

Place meatballs in crockpot and cover with sauce. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

To make subs: place meatballs and sauce on buns, top as desired, and enjoy!

Optional: I like to toast the buns with a little butter and garlic salt, and then top the meatballs with sliced mozzarella cheese and broil until melted.

P.S. I'm not sure what the problem is, but the font sizes in this entry keep changing from microscopic to huge on me. I can't find anything in the HTML to explain this. I hope you can read it!

Crockpot Corn Chowder

2008-03-16T10:56:00.003-04:00

Here's what we're having for supper tonight-- my version of the recipe "Easy Potato and Corn Chowder". Even my DH, who isn't big on soups, likes this one. We'll have grilled cheese or turkey sandwiches along with it for an easy meal.

Crockpot Corn Chowder

1 can corn

1 can creamed corn

6 pieces bacon, cooked & crumbled (I use "real bacon pieces" from a bag.)

1 16oz. bag cubed hash brown potatoes

1 onion, diced

1 cup milk

For garnish: chopped green onions, shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low all day- 6-8 hours. Garnish as desired, serve, and enjoy!

My Famous (Infamous?) Chicken Enchiladas

2008-03-03T15:13:00.003-05:00

Amy's Famous Chicken Enchiladas

4 chicken breasts, cubed

small amount olive oil (to cook chicken)

1 cup sour cream (I use light)

2 cans cream of chicken soup (cr mushroom also works, we like the chicken better)

1 4oz can diced green chilies

1 frozen bag chopped three color peppers & onions (obviously could use fresh peppers & onions, but I never have enough fresh on hand)

1 teaspoon each: chili powder, Spicy Mrs Dash, garlic, Hot Shot (red/black pepper mix)

8- 8" flour tortillas

1 (16 ounce) bag shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together in bowl sour cream and cream of chicken soup & set aside. Cook Chicken breast pieces in olive oil. When cooked, add chili peppers, peppers, onions, and spices, and simmer until cooked through. Remove chicken mixture from heat and add about 2 tablespoons of sour cream/soup mixture to chicken. In each tortilla place a heaping spoonful of the chicken mixture and about a tablespoon of cheese. Wrap tortillas up, and place them in a 9x13" dish. (Do not layer tortillas.) After filling each tortilla cover them with the remaining sour cream and soup mixture. Cover casserole with foil, and place in 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cover tortillas with remaining cheese, and return to oven until cheese is melted.

My family loves this & requests it often- both at home and at family gatherings. Even people who claim not to like Mexican food seem to like this. I usually serve this with stewed tomatoes, and either rice or sweet corn cake.

The original recipe that I based this on was posted on RecipeZaar, but I've changed it enough that I feel justified in calling it my own now. Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday 3/3/08

2008-03-03T14:55:00.004-05:00

This week I left in my notes about our schedule-- this is an important part of my menu planning! I only work my paid job on Thursdays and Fridays, so those dinners usually involve the least amount of prep time.

SUNDAY: /DH working late/ Cheesy Tuna Helper, salad

MONDAY: *new recipe* Katy's Breakfast Casserole, fruit salad

TUESDAY: /Tuesday is a crazy day this week, with three appointments to run to and an ice storm expected!/ *family favorite* Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce, pasta, tossed salad

WEDNESDAY: my infamous ;) chicken enchiladas, rice, stewed tomatoes

THURSDAY: /work day/ hamburgers, homemade baked fries

FRIDAY: /work day/ DH will microwave a frozen entree for himself & the kids; I'm working late, then will come home & have something meatless-- likely canned clam chowder.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Crockpot Italian Roast

2008-03-01T22:06:00.004-05:00

Here's what we had for supper tonight:

Crockpot Italian Roast
1- 4-5 pound roast
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup water
1 TBSP Italian seasoning *
1 TBSP Parsley*
2 TBSP dried minced onion*
* All seasoning amounts are guesstimates, as I never really measure. Adjust to suit your taste!

Place roast in crockpot. Mix soup and water, and pour over roast. Sprinkle seasonings over top. Cook on low 7-8 hours.

May also sear roast and cook on high for 4 hours-- that's what I did today, and it came out great. I usually serve this with pasta or potatoes and green beans.

WFMW: fast & easy eggs

2008-02-27T09:01:00.005-05:00

My DD likes scrambled eggs, either by themselves or in a sandwich, Mc-style. I don't always have time to stand at the stove stirring eggs during our morning rush, though. Thanks to this simple method, I don't have to!

Take a standard size coffee mug and spray the inside with non-stick cooking spray. Crack one egg into the cup and beat with a fork. If you're going to put this on a sandwich, stop there. If you're going to eat these on a plate, add in a tablespoon or so of water and beat again. Cover the cup with a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds. Check for doneness- if it's still watery looking, keep cooking at 15 second intervals until done. (In my microwave eggs usually take exactly one minute, but that may vary with egg size and different microwaves.) Empty the egg "patty" as it is onto an English muffin and top with cheese, or, fluff eggs with a clean fork and place on a plate.

Voila! A hot breakfast in under two minutes.... it definitely works for me! Check out more Works for Me Wednesday tips over at Rocks in my Dryer.

Do you read food blogs for fun?

2008-02-26T10:00:00.004-05:00

I'm just curious... do you read food blogs when you're actually getting ready to cook right then? I do. I love food blogs, food tv shows, and occasionally I'll read some cooking magazines. I love to collect recipes and get ideas for new ways to make things. Last night, though, my DH was looking over my shoulder when I was online, and he said that he can't stand to look at photos & recipes when he's not hungry- it turns his stomach. (Now, granted, he doesn't cook, but still, the photo I was looking at was a dish he would enjoy eating.) So, it made me wonder, am I the only one? Does this mean that I'm food-obsessed? Inquiring minds wanna know...

Menu Plan Monday 2/25

2008-02-25T13:35:00.003-05:00

SUNDAY: We had a corn/potato/bacon chowder and ham roll-ups. I'll have to post the recipe later... I started out with one, but I added & changed a lot by the time it was done! ;)

MONDAY: *family favorite* Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, homemade baked fries

* We'll be topping the sandwiches with some of the leftover Blue Cheese Spread from Saturday, when I had a Stampin' Up party. The spread was really good on celery & crackers, and I think it will be perfect on these sandwiches!

TUESDAY:*new recipe* Chicken Casserole , biscuits

WEDNESDAY: bratwurst, potato salad, baked apples

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Sour Cream Casserole and peas

FRIDAY: Crockpot BBQ Ribs, corn

My mom's BBQ Ribs:
3-5 lbs boneless spare ribs
1 bottle favorite BBQ sauce (we like Bold & Spicy by KC Masterpiece)
salt & pepper, to taste
Place ribs in crockpot, season to taste. Cook on low all day (do not add any liquids). About an hour before serving time, drain liquid that has accumulated, and pour in BBQ sauce.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

Chicken Hurry

2008-02-25T13:22:00.003-05:00

This is the recipe I just used for a recipe swap- the photo on the left is of the 6x6" scrapbook pages I made featuring this recipe. This is an easy supper. I usually serve it with rice and a green veggie.

Chicken Hurry:

1-2 lbs chicken pieces (I usually use around 1lb of tenders.)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 envelope onion soup mix

Place chicken pieces in a 9x13 casserole dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour sauce over chicken. Cover tightly with foil and bake for one hour.

Bacon Biscuit Puffs

2008-02-24T10:09:00.003-05:00

These always go over well at parties. I served them yesterday at my Stampin' Up party and had several requests for the recipe, so I thought I'd share it here.

BACON BISCUIT PUFFS

*You will need mini muffin pans.

1-2 tubes flaky layers biscuits

2 cups shredded swiss cheese

1/2 cup mayo (I always use fat-free.)

2 TBSP sugar

5 drops hot sauce (I use whatever's on hand- buffalo sauce, red hot sauce, etc.)

8 slices cooked, crumbled bacon (I use precooked bacon crumbles.)

1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped onion (I have used both yellow and green onions, either one works.)

1/2 TBSP garlic powder

Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray. Peel the biscuit layers apart- I usually get two or three from each biscuit. Place each biscuit piece in a muffin pan and gently press down the center. Combine remaining ingredients to make filling. Place a spoonfull of filling into the center of each biscuit. Bake at 375 for 8-11 minutes, or until biscuits are golden. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Note: I usually have more biscuits and filling than will fit into my two mini muffin pans. We like to save these, and make full-sized biscuit versions the next morning for breakfast. :)

Menu Plan Monday~ on Tuesday! ;)

2008-02-18T10:25:00.004-05:00

Good grief, I wrote my menu plan and then forgot to post it in time for Menu Plan Monday yesterday! Anyways, here's the plan for this week:

SUNDAY: buffalo wings (chicken nuggets for kids) & steak fries

MONDAY: beef meximelts, stewed tomatoes, sweet corn cake

TUESDAY: sausage melts, scalloped potatoes, steamed squash blend

Edited Tuesday to add: I'm really hungry for homemade stromboli, so we'll see what I actually wind up making tonight, LOL! :)

WEDNESDAY: *New Recipe* Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, peas (Still haven't tried this one- maybe this week we'll finally get to it!)

THURSDAY: *New Recipe* Crockpot Onion-Mushroom Chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans

FRIDAY: to be determined! Something in the crockpot while I'm at work, most likely.

SATURDAY: After an afternoon of munching on appetizers during my stamping party (recipes/plan for the party will be posted later this week) we'll probably just have sandwiches or something for supper.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Menu Plan Monday 2/11

2008-02-10T22:40:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to my menu planning last week-- but I think, I hope, we're all finally healthy again and ready to get back on track.

Recipes are marked "new recipe" or TNT= Tried & True!

MONDAY: leftover Chicken Pot Pie from Sunday (recipe in the entry before this one)

TUESDAY: *TNT* Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, steamed mixed veggies

WEDNESDAY: *TNT* My Famous Chicken Enchiladas (recipe in sidebar) & stewed tomatoes

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, peas

FRIDAY: lasagna, garlic bread, green beans

SATURDAY: Open, as usual, for skipped meals or eating out.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

Chicken Pot Pie

2008-02-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

I tried this recipe tonight and we all enjoyed it. The best part was how quick and easy it was to throw together, yet still have that "comfort food" taste.

CHICKEN POT PIE
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed (mine was shredded)
2 cans mixed vegetables, drained
2 cans cream of whatever soup (I used cream of chicken)
2 store-bought pie crusts (they come 2 in a package)

Press one crust into bottom of pie plate. Combine remaining ingredients, spoon into crust. Top with other crust, crimp edges, and poke holes to vent. Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes.

That's it-- quick and easy! :)

Super Bowl Menu

2008-02-03T10:52:00.001-05:00

So what are you eating on Super Bowl Sunday? We're not having a party or going anywhere this year, but we will still have a supper of fun party foods. :)

Here's our menu:
~ Hot wings for DH and I (frozen, premade)
~ Chicken Rings for the kids (frozen, premade)
~ Our favorite homemade baked fries.
~ Nacho Dip and Chips:

My Mom's Nacho Dip:
1 lb sausage, browned
1 lb Velveeta, cubed
1 jar salsa (I use Pace picante sauce)

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low setting. Serve with chips.

~ My favorite Hot Broccoli Dip and chips
~ and whatever kind of cookies or brownies I whip up this afternoon.

Clearly, this is not a health food diet, but once in a while it's fun to just snack all evening on some fun foods! :)

Menu Plan Monday 1/28

2008-01-28T12:07:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to my menu planning on Sunday like I usually do, so this is a quick draft that may change later in the week. :)

Recipes are marked "new recipe" or TNT= Tried & True!

MONDAY: *TNT* Mexican Pork Cubes, Mexican Twice Baked Potatoes, corn

TUESDAY: *new recipe* Simple Chicken Pot Pie, fruit salad

WEDNESDAY: *TNT* Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, steamed mixed veggies

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Broccoli Chicken Lasagna, garlic bread (If that looks familiar, it's because it's been on my menu the last two weeks and we STILL haven't gotten to it. This week we're having it for sure!)

FRIDAY: *new recipe* Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, peas

SATURDAY: Open, as usual, for skipped meals or eating out.

Oh! And I have a favor to ask.... somebody, somewhere in the blogosphere, recently posted a delicious-looking photo and recipe for oatmeal muffins with cinnamon. I thought I had saved the recipe, but I didn't. If you've seen this and can point me back to it, I'd be grateful! :)

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

Menu Plan Monday 1/21

2008-01-21T08:53:00.001-05:00

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: The Chicken Empanadas were great, and very easy. Otherwise, we didn't stick to the plan very well! Usually I might change one or two meals, but last week, I changed several of them. Oh well! :)

SUNDAY: *family favorite* Beef Enchiladas, sweet corn cake, stewed tomatoes
MONDAY: My Mom's recipe for Crockpot Pizza, green beans, garlic bread
TUESDAY: bratwurst, sauted onions, potato salad, carrots & celery

Tuesday night I'll be bulk cooking chicken overnight in the crockpot.
I love to have cooked chicken and homemade broth on hand in the freezer!

WEDNESDAY: *family favorite* California Kitchen style BBQ Chicken Pizza & salad
THURSDAY: *new recipe* Broccoli Chicken Lasagna, garlic bread
FRIDAY: pot roast with veggies in the crockpot
SATURDAY: Open for meals we skipped or eating out.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Let me know how it is....

2008-01-20T23:16:00.000-05:00

LOL! I'm not above the occasional Spamwich... like once a year or so is plenty... but this particular recipe just made me laugh. If you try it, let me know how it is! ;)

Secret Ingredient Tuesday- potatoes

2008-01-15T14:11:00.001-05:00

I found a fun food meme-- Secret Ingredient Tuesday-- but it looks like it hasn't been updates in a while, so I don't know if it's still going or not. The mission each week is to post five recipes with the secret ingredient. I'll go ahead and play along with the last posted secret ingredient, which is POTATOES.... one of my favorite foods!

Some of my favorite potato dishes:

~My own recipe for Potato Soup, posted on RecipeZaar

~From my menu this week- a family favorite, Jolean's Smoked Sausage & Cheesy Potatoes Casserole

~The recipe I always use for homemade baked fries: Cajun Roast Potatoes

~An easy side dish: Parslied Potatoes: Cube desired amount of potatoes and boil on stovetop until tender. Drain and immediately stir in one-half to a full stick of butter. Sprinkle generously with dried parsley. Stir and serve hot.

Another favorite potato dish is Ranch Potatoes- I've made this one so often that I know the recipe by heart. :)

RANCH POTATOES

4-6 baking potatoes, sliced

1 large onion, diced

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 small bottle ranch salad dressing

Place potatoes and onion slices in a large pot, cover with water, and boil until tender. Drain water. In a round glass casserole dish layer about half of the potatoes/onions, cover with a thin layer of ranch dressing, then a layer of cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Sometimes I also garnish the top with dried chives.

National Soup Month

2008-01-13T13:53:00.001-05:00

I just realized that it's National Soup Month. Sounds like a great thing to celebrate to me-- I could eat soup almost every day. The rest of my family isn't quite as fond of it, though, so I mostly have it for lunches and only occasionally make it for everyone for supper.

My personal favorite is potato soup. I've created my own recipe over the years, and it's posted over on RecipeZaar-- here's the link. (I'm Chef AmyMCGS there.) I'll make a big pot of this and have it for my lunches several days in a row- it reheats well.

Another favorite of mine is Broccoli Cheese soup. I've tried several recipes, and liked them, but I haven't found that "perfect" recipe yet.

One of the few soups that my DH really enjoys is one we simply call "Hot Soup". I've blogged about it before-- it's a quick and easy soup that basically involves combining canned ingredients. If you have a little more time and you enjoy spicy soups, try my take on Tortilla Soup:

Amy's I-Don't-Feel-Like-Cooking Version of Tortilla Soup:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can diced tomatoes/ chili peppers (Rotel)
1/2 cup salsa (guess-timated amount)
1/2 onion, chopped
several shakes of dried cilantro
two shakes of chili powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 can precooked, chopped turkey

Put that all together in a crockpot and let it simmer on low for a couple of hours. I usually do this around lunchtime and serve it for supper, so it probably cooks around 3-4 hours. Top it with shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips.... yum!

And for comfort food, there's always vegetable soup- another one my DH likes.

Amy's Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup
This is my own recipe, basically learned from my mom, but now tweaked to suit my (and my husband's) taste. Mom always saved all the leftover vegetables in the freezer, until the container was full. We never have enough leftover vegetables to make soup when we want it, so I came up with this combination of canned veggies that works well. You could always add/subtract any veggies that you like... green beans, etc. The soup has a tomato broth that we love... credit for that goes to mom. There's nothing better than coming home on a cold day and smelling this soup!
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 - 20oz cans Veg-All Homestyle (big chunks of potatoes, carrots, etc.)
1 can corn
1 lb stew meat, cubed (Optional- I would leave it out, but DH prefers to have meat in the soup. It will cook in the crockpot. You can brown it if you prefer, but it will cook just fine in the broth.)
2 TBSP cilantro
2 TBSP dried onion flakes
2 TBSP Mrs. Dash
OPTIONAL: a small can of tomato sauce, to make a richer broth
Place stew meat in bottom of crockpot, add dried onion and Mrs. Dash. Dump in the canned vegetables and tomato sauce, top with cilantro. Fill the crockpot the rest of the way with water. Cover and cook on low all day (8 hours or more).

So, what are your favorite soup recipes? I'd love it if you'd leave me some links or recipes to try!

P.S. I'm also celebrating National Soup Month with my residents at the nursing home where I work, and I made this wordsearch puzzle in honor of the occasion. It's best viewed by clicking on the "printable PDF" link at the bottom. Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday~ week of January 13th

2008-01-13T12:39:00.000-05:00

I'm actually posting this on Sunday afternoon. :)

Did you know that it's National Soup Month? Check out some of my favorite soup recipes in the post after this one.

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK'S MENU: I absolutely loved the Chicken Raviolini Soup... but I was the only one-- nobody else cared for it. We didn't have the Ranch Steak with Veggies that I wanted to try, because I thought we had round steak in the freezer when I planned my menu, but we actually had pork chops, so we had those instead. ;)

SUNDAY: *new recipe* Cheesy Chicken Empanadas and Corn Potato Chowder ~~The corn chowder is a mix that my parents brought back for us from a trip they took last month- looks yummy!

MONDAY: *new recipe* Spanish Hamburger Casserole, cornbread

~~I'll be bulk cooking ground beef today after our trip to the warehouse store, so of course I have to use some in tonight's supper. :) Bulk cooking it saves me a lot of time, and makes prep work quick for many recipes. I'll be cooking 15-20 lbs. of ground beef with onions, salt, and pepper, then packaging it into 1lb. portions and freezing it.

TUESDAY: *family favorite* Jolean's Cheese Potato & Smoked Sausage Casserole, biscuits, peas ~ I've made this several times and my family loves it. This week I'm going to try it in the crockpot and see how it comes out.

WEDNESDAY:*new recipe* Broccoli Chicken Lasagna, garlic bread, salad

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Crockpot Spicy Mexican Beef in flour tortillas, stewed tomatoes, rice

FRIDAY: *family favorite* California Kitchen style BBQ Chicken Pizza & salad

SATURDAY: *new recipe* Kittencal's Juicy Crock Pot Turkey Breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, steamed broccoli

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

Stand Mixer Giveaway

2008-01-08T09:53:00.001-05:00

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

Menu Plan Monday 1/7

2008-01-06T16:22:00.000-05:00

Last week I went without a plan again... that's a record, twice in two months. This week, we're starting new routines in our house-- DH is changing shifts, DD returns to school, and I'm looking forward to getting back to "normal" again!

SUNDAY: hamburgers, steak fries

MONDAY: Sausage Melts, pasta salad, carrot sticks

TUESDAY: *new recipe* Chicken Raviolini Soup, sandwiches (cold meat or grilled cheese)

WEDNESDAY: family favorite: Copycat Beef Meximelts, stewed tomatoes, nachos & cheese dip

THURSDAY: *new recipe* Ranch Steak with Veggies in the crockpot

FRIDAY: BBQ ribettes, corn, biscuits

SATURDAY: open

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Saturday Special questions

2008-01-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Since this week's Saturday Special is food-themed, I thought I'd post it here on my cooking blog. If you've just come for the Saturday Special, you can check out my main blog HERE.

~It's Dinner Time~
1. Standard Oven or Microwave?: Both! I use the microwave daily, sometimes just to defrost meat, sometimes to cook things. I use the oven about every other day.
2. Fry or Bake?: Bake. I rarely fry things anymore, though once in a while there's nothing better than a fried pork chop.
3. Cooking or Fast Food Meals? Why?: Again, both. I love to cook, but some days, we're on the run. Also, we're Taco Bell regulars. I can make several copycat versions of their food (these copycat Beef Meximelts are awesome) but since there's a Taco Bell about a mile away, we zip through there on a regular basis.
4. Sit Down or On The Run Dinners?: Lately, it seems like they've all been on the run. But next week we'll have some big schedule changes in our house, so I'm looking forward to a lot more sit-down family dinners. :)

Check out more Saturday Special answers HERE!

Veggie Pizza

2008-01-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

Yum! I hadn't made one of these in a while, so I made one for a belated family Christmas party on Sunday. I thought the purple cauliflower and yellow peppers made it quite colorful and fun. :)

VEGGIE PIZZA

2 tubes crescent roll dough

2 bricks cream cheese, softened (I would have used low-fat, but the store only had regular!)

1/4 cup mayo (I used fat-free.)

1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

3 cups assorted chopped veggies (I used purple cauliflower, broccoli, yellow peppers, and shredded carrots.)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Unroll crescents onto a cookie sheet and smooth edges together. Bake according to package instructions- around 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool. Mix together the cream cheese, mayo, and ranch dressing mix. Spread mixture onto crust. Top with chopped veggies, then cheese. Refridgerate until serving time. Cut into squares for serving.

Calvin & Hobbes cartoon

2007-12-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

LOL!

The best sugar cookie icing (WFMW)

2007-12-19T02:46:00.000-05:00

I have looked this recipe up twice in the last two days, so I thought I'd post it here for safekeeping. This is the best icing-- it dries hard and shiny, which is great for decorated cookies that you're transporting to Christmas parties. Enjoy!

SUGAR COOKIE ICING:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk (keep adding spoonfuls until it's the right consistancy)
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract *This is the key to this recipe!
Optional: food coloring

Beat together the powdered sugar and the milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and vanilla until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick to work with, add a touch more corn syrup. Add in food coloring if desired. Use icing to paint cookies, or, my favorite method-- dip the cookie tops into bowls of colored icing. Let dry at room temperature- when dry cookies may be stacked for storage.

P.S. I decided to link this recipe up with the Works for Me Wednesday Christmas Edition, because I think it's a great recipe and very handy this time of year. Visit my main blog, Tiny Blessings, for my other WFMW tip regarding cards (what NOT to do) and having Christmas unwrapping supplies at the ready.

Menu Plan Monday 12/17

2007-12-17T16:04:00.001-05:00

OK, time to get back to normal and actually have a plan this week-- I took last week off, and we ate whatever sounded good. That was nice for a change, but this week will be super-busy, so I need a plan! :)

MONDAY: Meatball Subs, homemade oven fries
TUESDAY: Pork Chop and Stuffing Casserole, green beans
WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken rice, stewed tomatoes
THURSDAY: Crockpot Ravioli ,salad, garlic bread
FRIDAY: BBQ Ribettes, corn
SATURDAY: Open.... out to eat or leftovers.
SUNDAY: Christmas party at my Grandma's- I'm taking my favorite Macaroni & Cheese with Tomatoes (I LOVE this stuff!) and mini cheesecakes.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

No menu plan this week

2007-12-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

Well, it's rare, but I'm not going to plan out all our menus for this week. We have all been sick at my house, and none of us are feeling too great yet. So, it's hard to tell who will be in the mood for what this week, not to mention that it's my husband's birthday on Wednesday (we'll eat out) and one evening we're planning to go Christmas shopping without the kids. I'll probably pull out a lot of family favorites (see sidebar) and I'm sure that my crockpot will be hard at work several times this week.

Menu Plan Monday 12/3

2007-12-02T20:59:00.000-05:00

After the deal I got on chicken this week, you'll be seeing a lot of chicken (even more than usual) on our menus for the next few weeks! :)

SUNDAY: Buffalo chicken subs, potato salad, carrots & celery
MONDAY: roasted pork loin, some kind of potatoes, steamed broccoli
TUESDAY: crockpot meatball subs (a family favorite), carrots & celery
WEDNESDAY: *new recipe* Yummy & Comforting Chicken Tetrazzini, peas
THURSDAY: I'm working really late-- DH and the kids will be on their own.
FRIDAY: Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings (Not my usual recipe-- I got a deal on one of those premixed frozen crockpot dinners-- we'll see if it's any good!)
SATURDAY: Left open, as usual, for meals we skipped or eating out.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Menu Plan Monday 11/26

2007-11-25T20:49:00.000-05:00

I'm in the mood for familiar favorites this week- only one new recipe. The others have all been made many times in my kitchen, and a couple came from my mom originally.

SUNDAY: Copycat Beef Meximelts and Layered Taco Dip
MONDAY: *My Ham-Cheese Salad Spread on sandwiches with corn chowder (The corn chowder is a mix that my parents brought back for us from a trip they took last month- looks yummy!)
TUESDAY: *new recipe* Jolean's Crockpot Spanish Chicken over Noodles and asparagus tips

WEDNESDAY: my tater tot casserole, peas
THURSDAY: *My Mom's Crockpot Pizza, garlic bread, green beans
FRIDAY: *My Mom's BBQ Ribs (crockpot) and corn

*= you can find these recipe links in my sidebar!

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

Menu Plan, sorta

2007-11-18T21:42:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY: We had this *new recipe* Season's Crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup (approx. 5pts per serving) and really liked it. It was warm comfort food- just what I needed.

Well, it's Sunday night as I'm posting this, and my schedule for the week has just taken an sudden turn. My dad is unexpectedly in the hospital (your prayers would be appreciated) and having an unplanned surgery sometime this week. This week will likely become a blur of running back & forth to the hospital and then running home to get quick meals.

So, I'm doing something I never do-- simply making a list of quick meals that can be made without much effort, based on what's in the house already:

Turkey roll-ups (tortillas, turkey cold meat, cheese, ranch dressing), chips
Breakfast for supper: eggs, hash brown potatoes, toast
7-layer taco dip and my "Hot Soup"~ (Combine 1 can each in saucepan and heat through: chicken rice soup, canned chicken, diced tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, diced green chili peppers, and chicken broth. Season to taste with red pepper, dried minced onion, etc. Sprinkle shredded cheese and/or croutons in each bowl for serving.)
Grilled cheese sandwiches and this yummy tomato-basil soup
Baked chicken fingers, instant mashed potatoes, veggies

That's all I can think of off the top of my head (tommorow was supposed to be grocery day), but it will do for now.

As I said above, your prayers would be appreciated! I know that's a strange thing to be posting here on my cooking blog, but that's OK... any extra prayers will help!

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

Sausage Pizzaiola Subs- my way

2007-11-18T14:09:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I wanted to make this Sausage Pizzaiola Subs recipe, but I didn't have the right ingredients on hand. So, I improvised, and we really enjoyed the results. Here's the recipe, done my way:

Amy's Sausage Pizzaiola Subs

1 lb. hot and spicy ground pork sausage

1 can diced tomatoes with peppers and onions (undrained)

1 large onion, sliced into rings

canned jalapeno pepper slices, to taste

hoagie buns= I got four large sandwiches out of this, using 8" buns

two slices provolone cheese per sandwich

Brown sausage in skillet & drain grease. When browned, add in canned tomatoes/ pepper/ onions with juice and seasonings. Simmer until thickened.

In another small skillet, saute onion rings with a small amount of olive oil. Season to taste with garlic-pepper and salt. Cook until onions become translucent and remove from heat.

Meanwhile, toast buns under broiler. (I spritz mine with a bit of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray before toasting.) Top toasted buns with sausage mixture, then cheese, and pop back under the broiler for a few minutes to melt cheese. Finish off sandwiches with sauted onions and jalapeno slices. Enjoy!

I think this might also be good with some pepperoni or mushrooms added in. At any rate, it was easy and tasty!

"Gobble, Gobble" Carnival- fall desserts

2007-11-15T21:22:00.001-05:00

g I wanted to participate in this fun Thanksgiving recent carnival, but today was just too busy for blogging long recipes. So, here are a couple of quick links to two wonderful fall treats:

The first is one of my personal favorites, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies- I just posted the recipe here a few weeks ago. I usually make a big batch of these to take to the various places we go on Thanksgiving.

The second link is a bonus- it's a link from my friend Sarah's blog-- it's for her Layered Pumpkin Loaf. I tasted it at her recent Stampin' Up party, and it's delicious. She just posted the recipe on her blog, and you won't want to miss it!

to c

I'm Not Martha... Thanksgiving Funny

2007-11-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

For all of you coming to my home for Thanksgiving:

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised.

Since Ms. Stewartwon't be coming, I've made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.

Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers thatI promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.

We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choicecomment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkeyhotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 AM upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce thestart of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private", meaning: Do not,under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering achoice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice: take it or leave it.

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Year. She probably won't come next year either. I Am Thankful!!!

I received this in an email forward. I've seen it before, but it still made me laugh out loud while reading it this morning, so I thought I'd share it!

Menu Plan Monday 11/12

2007-11-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

I'm late, I'm late... LOL! I usually menu-plan on Sundays, but yesterday I was stamping and dealing with a sick child, so it's now Monday afternoon and I have no menu yet. DH and I are trying to get back on some sort of reasonable eating plan, so WW points are included when possible... ignoring, of course, the delicious but fattening subs we had last night. ;) This week is full of tried and true family favorites.

SUNDAY: We had my version of Pizzaioli Sausage Subs.
MONDAY: Low-fat Italian Chicken & Vegetable Packets (6pts) over alphabet pasta (3pts)
TUESDAY: Easy Crockpot Burritos, fat-free refried beans,
WEDNESDAY: broiled pork chops (2pts), some kind of potatoes, steamed broccoli (0pts)
THURSDAY: So Easy Crockpot Pepper Steak (1lb meat, 4 servings= 5pts) over mashed potatoes (2pts)
FRIDAY: Calzones (6pts each, including crust) and carrot sticks (0pts)
SATURDAY: I always leave Saturdays open for meals we skipped during the week or eating out.

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu
or see what others are eating this week!

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Menu Plan Monday 11/5

2007-11-04T20:33:00.000-05:00

As usual, I'm actually posting this on Sunday.

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: I finally got around to trying the Macaroni & Cheese with Tomatoes from a few weeks ago.... wow! It was so good, I may replace my old favorite Macaroni & Cheese recipe! Also on last week's menu were the Sausage Melts... another winner. Those were SO good and easy.

Here's the plan for this week~ it's not as detailed as usual since I'm not trying any new recipes. :)

SUNDAY: leftovers

MONDAY: My Crockpot Vegetable Soup and Sandwiches

TUESDAY: Sweet & Sour Chicken over Jasmine Rice, Pineapple Chunks, Steamed Veggies

WEDNESDAY: Roasted Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Gravy, Steamed Broccoli (Didn't have this last week- we ordered pizza instead!)

THURSDAY: BBQ Ribettes, Corn, Hash Brown Potatoes

FRIDAY: Hamburgers, Homemade Oven Baked Fries, Carrots & Celery

Head on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to share your menu

or see what others are eating this week!

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New Turkey Recipe (joke!)

2007-11-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

This was actually an email forward that my sister sent me, but it was just too funny for me not to share this new "recipe"!

NEW TURKEY RECIPE

Your dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!!
You should try this!
Sure to bring smiles from your guests!
Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.
1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully. (see attached picture for details)
3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.
4. Watch your guests' faces... >

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