Rice Krispies

I know what you are thinking.... Rice Krispies? They are easy to make and the directions are on the box, but whenever I buy the generic Rice Krispies it doesn't have the recipe and then I have to search online. So really I am posting this one for me. Just making it easy!
(yes the picture is sideways... again! I have no idea how to fix it.)

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Tbsp. Butter
• 1 (10 oz) pkg. Marshmallows (about 40 regular marshmallows or 4 cups miniature)
• 6 cups Rice Krispies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Microwave in large bowl, the Marshmallows and butter for 2 minutes. Stir and heat an additional 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
2. Mix in the cereal and spread into a greased 9x13 dish.

* I think these are cute with sprinkles! I ran out of candy tonight (I really didn't have much) before I took the boys trick or treating. So, I handed these out to a family from my ward that stopped by. The kids were surprisingly excited about it! I was glad that they weren't mad at me for not having any candy!! All the other trick or treaters got fruit roll ups!

Ritz Cracker Chicken

(sorry I have no idea why this wouldn't upload the right way.
I will try re-uploading another time)

INGREDIENTS:

• 4-8 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless)
• 2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
• 3 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
• 2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1 (8oz) container of Plain Yogurt
• 3 Tbsp. Butter (melted)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Trim fat off defrosted chicken and pat dry.
2. Mix the Crackers, Parmesan cheese, Garlic Powder and Salt in a bowl.
3. Melt the butter and combine it in a seperate bowl with the yogurt.
4. Dip chicken in yogurt mixture and the the cracker mixture. Place on a Greased 9x13 dish and bake (uncovered) at 350 for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

* I like to serve this chicken with Red Parsley Potatoes and french green beans. It's Super Good!


Red Parsley Potatoes:

1. Cut up the red potatoes with the skin on. Put into a pot of boiling water. Sometimes I boil them with chopped onion. Boil until barely tender (you don't want to over boil them).
2. Drain the water and spoon on the butter. Sprinkle with Garlic Salt and Parsley. Stir until the potatoes are coated.

Chicken Cacciatori

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Onion (diced)
• 3 Chicken Breasts (cubed)
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 small can Tomato Sauce
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Rice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray pan with oil and heat the diced onions until tender.
2. Add the cubed Chicken and seasoning and cook until done.
3. Pour in the tomato cans and heat through. Then stir in the Sour Cream until well blended.
4. Serve over rice and top with cheese.

* Ethan ate this last night and he hates anything with tomatoes in it!! It tasted good! It has been awhile since I have made chicken Cacciatori and I had forgotten how FAST and EASY this meal is! I think I used to make it different every time I made it before, but I like this way. I used to add Italian tomatoes, but it was too seasoned. You will need to add more tomato sauce if you add more chicken.

Beef Casserole

This reminds me of a tin foil dinner. Sorry not the most
appealing picture, but it did taste really good!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 3-4 Potatoes
• 1 pkt. Dry Onion soup mix
• 1/2 Onion
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 2 Carrots
• 2 stalks Celery
• salt and pepper
• Cheddar Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook meat, onion and onion packet in sauce pan. Drain off the grease! Pour meat into 9 x 13 inch dish.
2. Slice all Vegetables.
3. Layer potatoes over meat and then celery and carrots. Season with Salt and Pepper. Spoon the Cream of mushroom soup over the top.
4. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Top with shredded cheese. (I don't always top it with the cheese, but it is good either way)

Loaded Baked Potato

The family has been raving about my father-in-law's baked potato. Thought I would give it a try! I served it with fish last night. Tyson wants to try adding bacon or ham to it next time. It is very filling and could be a main dish. I don't like raw green peppers, but it was sooo yummy!!! It gave it a little crunch. Tyson doesn't like baked potatoes (crazy I know), but he loved it!

INGREDIENTS:

• Potatoes
• Green Pepper
• Tomato
• Onion (we used green onion last night)
• Cheddar Cheese
• Sour Cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bake the Potatoes in the microwave until soft.
2. Dice all the vegetables and Shred the Cheese.
3. Cut up the potato and top with Veggies and Cheese.
4. Heat in Microwave to melt the cheese. I heated it in the broiler because I already had it on and I put it in there for 5 minutes.
5. Top with Sour Cream. (Make sure you don't miss this step!)

Apple Juice Punch Blend

I know it's not a recipe, but this is the best Juice ever! It costs $2.50 and it's from Wal-mart (Great Value brand). We go through this Juice so fast at our house. Tyson and I and the boys love it! We have been drinking it for the past 2 years and we are still not sick of it. Give it a try and you will be hooked too!

Chocolate Mint Brownies

This is Mindy's Recipe. It is VERY rich, but so good!
I doubled the recipe to make a 9x13 dish.

INGREDIENTS:

Brownies:

• 1/2 cup Butter
• 4 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate
• 1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup of Sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup Flour
• 1/2 tsp. Salt

Mint Frosting:

• 1/4 cup Butter (softened)
• 2 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 1/2-3 Tbsp. Milk
• 1/2 tsp. Peppermint extract
• 2-3 drops of Green food coloring

Chocolate Topping:

• 3/4 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
• 3 Tbsp. Butter

DIRECTIONS:

Brownies:

1. Heat Butter and chocolate in microwave until melted, about 2 minutes. Stirring every 30 seconds.
2. Whisk sugar and eggs in mixing bowl.
3. Add the chocolate, butter and vanilla to the mix.
4. Then add in the flour and salt and mix well.
5. Bake in a 9" dish at 350 for 25 minutes or until done.

Frosting:

1. Cream the butter and sugar together.
2. Beat in 1 Tbsp. of milk at a time until spreadable consistency.
3. Stir in the peppermint extract and the coloring.
4. Spread on top of COOLED brownies. Chill for an hour.

Topping:

1. Microwave chocolate and butter for 1 1/2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until melted.
2. Spread Chocolate on top of the mint frosting layer.
3. Refrigerate for 45 min. or until the top layer is hard.

Mummy Cupcakes

I stole this idea from a friend. Hers turned out WAY cuter than mine did, but they are still fun. They are supposed to look like Mummies, if you can't tell!

INGREDIENTS:

• Chocolate cake mix
• White Frosting
• Skittles for eyes OR M&M's OR red hots

* I made a slit into a sip lock bag with a knife and squeezed the frosting onto the cupcakes to make the mummy wrap. Didn't work great, but it worked! When frosting- Don't forget to leave a black slit for the eyes.

Pork Chops & Potatoes

This is my Aunt Sandy's Recipe. I like it because it is so easy and very good!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Pork Chops
• 1 or 2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1/2 onion (sliced)
• Potatoes (peeled & sliced)
• Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Set pork chops in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour soup over top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Layer the onion on top of that. Heat on high for 2 hours.
2. Add the sliced potatoes to the pot and cook an additional 2 hours.

* Don't add water to the soup! I made the mistake of doing that today. It still tasted good, but it was runny. I normally add 2 cans of soup, but I thought I would try adding 1 can with water. 1 can of soup without water would probably work just fine.

Spider Lollipops

YOU WILL NEED:

• Lollipops
• black pipping cut in half
• wiggle eyes
• craft glue (for eyes)

It took me a 1/2 hour to make 15. I made some colored spiders because
I didn't have enough black pipping, but they still turned out cute.

Mini Caramel Apples

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50565

I have been looking for cute and tasty Halloween treats for an upcoming Family Halloween party. I tested out these mini caramel apples today. Make sure you dry the apples REALLY good before putting on the caramel. I didn't dry them good enough, so the caramel slide off the apples a bit. Also this site says to use Butterscotch or peanut butter chips which may hold onto the apples a little better. They tasted good and my boys loved them! Well Ethan just licked off the caramel and sprinkles, but Evan really enjoyed his. I think they are a fun size for the kids and they look cute!


* I will be adding more Halloween treats to my blog this week! Happy Halloween!

Hawaiian Haystacks

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Chicken Breasts
• 2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
• 2 Cream of Chicken Soup
• Rice
• Cheddar Cheese (shredded)

TOPPINGS: Chow Mien Noodles, Celery, Tomato, Pineapple, Green Onion, Green Bell Pepper and Coconut.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook Chicken on Medium heat in 1" water with Chicken Bouillon Cubes. Cook rice.
2. Dice all the vegetables.
3. Shred the Chicken and reserve the broth.
4. Return the Chicken to the pan and add the soup. Add the Chicken broth to the pan until desired consistency. Maybe 3/4 cup of broth?? Heat through.
5. Layer the ingredients on plate. Chow Mien Noodles on bottom, Rice, soup, shredded cheese and whatever toppings you like!!

* I never thought that all those toppings would taste good on it, but it really does go well together! Sometimes I like to make mine simple... that is the beauty of Hawaiian Haystacks. You can build them anyway you like!!

Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup

Tyson and I were both sick yesterday, so I made soup.
This is my favorite rainy day soup.... or anytime really! It is so simple to make and the perfect comforting soup.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/2 Quarts Water (10 cups)
• 8 Chicken bouillon cubes
• 6 cups WIDE Egg Noodles
• 2 cans Cream Chicken Soup
• 3 cups Chicken, cooked & cubed (3-4 chicken breasts)
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 2-3 cups Carrots and Celery or any other vegetable you like (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring to boil water AND bouillon cubes in large pot. Cut up vegetables.
2. Add noodles and vegetables to boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes or until tender.
3. Do NOT drain the water from pot!! Add Soup and Chicken to the pot and heat through.
4. Stir in the sour cream and remove from heat.

* This soup is very good in a bread bowl or dipped with rolls!

Chicken Fried Rice

Okay this one takes a little time to cook ( about 30 min.), but I will show you the quickest and easiest way to prepare it! It is so delicious! I make a big pan full, so that we have leftovers. You could cut the recipe in half if you don't want leftovers.


INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups Minute Rice (8 cups prepared)
• 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1/4 cup oil (maybe a tad bit more if it sticks)
• 1/4 cup Green Onions (2 bunches)
• 1/3 cup Soy Sauce
• 2 Pkts. Fried Rice Seasoning
• 2 cups Peas & Carrots
• 5-6 eggs

DIRECTIONS:

1. Boil 4 cups of water in large pan. Cook Chicken in 1 inch water in other pan. When water boils add the rice and turn off heat.


2. Cut the green onion while cooking rice and chicken. I cut it with scissors right into the measuring cup.


3. Cook vegetables in the microwave. You have to use the FROZEN peas and carrots! The canned kind just turns into mush and it's not good. I can't ever find frozen peas and carrots at Walmart, so I get the Kroger bag at Smiths. Sometimes I add a little corn to the mix.


4. When the rice is cooked. Turn on the heat to Med-high and pour in the oil and the green onions. Saute for 5 minutes.


5. I cut up the chicken with scissors again into the measuring cup. Heat up 2-3 Tbsp. of soy sauce and 1 Tbsp of oil into the pan. Heat the cubed chicken on Medium heat for a few minutes.

(sorry, I tried uploading this picture like a million times
and it kept coming out side ways)

6. When done sauteing the rice add the 1/3 cup of soy sauce and the 2 pkts of fried rice seasoning. Saute on med-high heat an additional minute. Then reduce heat to low.


7. Stir in the drained, cooked vegetables and the cubed chicken. Rinse out the small pan and scramble the eggs. You don't want to cook the eggs hard, just cook them long enough so they are barely done. Serve! yum!!


* Use the Kikkoman LESS SODIUM soy sauce. If you use any other kind it will not taste good! Believe me I have tried the regular kind and it was nasty and I have even tried the generic lite soy sauce and it wasn't good either, so stick to this brand and make sure it is the kind with LESS sodium.

Creamy Cornflake Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Chicken breasts (boneless & skinless)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
• Sliced Monterey Jack cheese
• 2 Tbsp. Melted Butter
• 1 cup Cornflakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Place thawed Chicken into 9x13 dish.
2. In a bowl combine the soup, sour cream and lemon juice.
3. Put the cheese on top of the Chicken breasts. Spoon the soup mixture over top of the chicken. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
4. Mix the butter and Cornflakes together and sprinkle over top of the chicken. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

* You can dip rolls or bread into the soup mixture. It's pretty good!


TIP:
My father in law taught me a cool little trick. You can cook corn on the cob in the microwave for about 3 minutes with the husk on. Steams it perfectly and it is a whole lot quicker than boiling it in a pot of water. I have just never thought of doing it that way!! I love shortcuts when cooking dinner!

Grilled Turkey Ortega

This is one of Tyson's favorites.
He orders this anytime we go to Sugars in Overton. I don't know
how they make theirs, but this is my version of it.

INGREDIENTS:

• Bread
• Turkey sliced
• Whole Green Chilies (1 small can makes 2 sandwiches)
• Mozzarella Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Grill the Turkey and then the Chillies in a pan. Make sure you spray the pan with oil. It makes it a lot easier!
2. Butter the bread and put it in the pan.
3. Layer the cheese, turkey, chillies, and then cheese again on the bread. I put 2 slices of cheese so that the sandwich doesn't fall apart when I flip it.

Chicken Fajitas

Dinner idea... super easy and tasty!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3-4 Chicken Breasts (thawed)
• 1 Green Bell Pepper
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1/2 onion
• 1 pkt of Fajita Seasoning

DIRECTIONS:

1. Slice all Vegetables. Saute in sauce pan with 2 Tbsp. of oil. Cook until a little tender. Remove from pan.
2. Cook sliced Chicken in the same pan until done. Return vegetables to pan.
3. Mix seasoning with 1/4 cup of water. Stir into the chicken and vegetables. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Spoon onto tortilla and top with cheese and sour cream.

Lasagna

(This picture doesn't look pretty, but it tasted good!
I didn't have mozzarella cheese tonight.)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 box Lasagna Noodles
• 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey
• 1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce (I use 1 1/2)
• 1 container of Cottage Cheese
• 1/2 container of Sour Cream
• 1/2 box Frozen Spinach (optional)
• Shredded Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Boil Noodles until soft. Cook meat.
2. Heat Spinach in microwave and drain
3. Mix Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream & Spinach together. Combine Sauce and Meat together.
4. Layer Noodles in 9x13 dish. Then meat sauce, then cottage cheese mixture. I sprinkle the shredded cheese on the bottom and top layers. Repeat layers, 4 noodle layers should fill to the top.
5. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes. It makes good leftovers!

TIP: I broil the garlic bread for 6 minutes or until a little crispy, before I preheat the oven for the lasagna. This way it doesn't get dried out from the hot oven (after cooking lasagna) and I don't have to preheat the oven for the lasagna.

Pork Chops & Rice

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Pork Chops (boneless & thick cut)
• 1 can Cream of Celery
• 1 can Chicken & Rice soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cup minute Rice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat 4 Tbsp. in pan. When oil is hot place thawed Pork Chops on the pan. Let sit on each side about 5 minutes or until golden. (you can sprinkle a little meat tenderizer on the chops)
2. Pour soups, rice (not cooked) and milk in 9x13 dish. Place the Pork Chops on top of the rice mixture.
3. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes or until chops are cooked through.

* I cannot cook regular rice. I have given up on it... it always turns out mushy and crunchy at the same time. I follow the directions and it never turns out. If you know exactly how to cook rice, please let me know how you do it!! Thanks!

Stuffed Hot Dogs

INGREDIENTS:

• Hot Dogs
• Mustard
• Mashed Potatoes
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Boil Potatoes and mash. Preheat oven to 350. Warm the Hot Dogs.

2. Cut Hot Dogs lengthwise and place on greased baking sheet.
Squirt mustard over top.

3. Spoon on the mashed potatoes.

4. Top with shredded Cheddar Cheese.

5. Bake 10 min or until cheese melts.
Wa-laa! A Stuffed Hot Dog!

Banana Bread

This is Mindy's (SIL) Recipe. It is so moist and yummy!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 2 cups mashed Bananas (5-6 bananas)
• 2 Tbsp. Water
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped Walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream shortening and sugar; beat in egg.
2. In small mixing bowl; stir Flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Combine with sugar mixture.
3. Mash bananas then add water and vanilla. Stir into flour mixture.
4. Pour into 2 large loaf pans (GREASED) and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. Test with toothpick. OR bake in 4 mini loafs for 40 min. (I usually make 1 large loaf for us and 2 mini loafs to give away)

TIP:
I make banana bread every few months with my old bananas that I keep frozen. Just make sure you peel them and put them in a zip lock bag. When you are ready to use them just put them in a bowl and microwave for 1-2 min. You can also use your frozen bananas for smoothies!

Creamy Italian Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

• 4-5 Chicken Breasts (boneless & skinless) frozen is fine
• 1 pkt. Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 (8 oz) pkg. Cream Cheese (soften)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place chicken in crock pot. Mix seasoning packet and water. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3 hours.
2. Do not drain out water!! Cut off excess fat and shred chicken.
3. Blend together Cream Cheese and soup. Spoon over top of of chicken in crock pot. Cook an additional 1-2 hours.
4. Mix together and serve over rice or noodles.

* We like to mix corn in with it. You could also add a can of mushrooms.

Spaghetti Squash

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut squash length wise and spoon out the seeds.
2. Place in 9x13 dish with 1 inch of water in the bottom. Spread butter on the top of squash. Bake uncovered at 350 for 40 min.
3. Use fork to pull away the squash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

*This was my first time cooking Spaghetti Squash. It was really yummy! Tyson loved it. It is a stringy noodle texture so it was fun for the kids to eat and they don't even know they are eating vegetable!!!

I baked it uncovered for 30 minutes, but it wasn't done. I covered it and baked it an additional 10 min and it was done. You could bake it COVERED and it would probably speed up the bake time.

Salmon with a Kick

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Salmon Fillets (thawed)
• 2 Tbsp. Mayo
• 2 tsp. Lemon Juice
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place Salmon on greased foil (crinkled) lined, cookie sheet. Bake @ 375 for 20 min.
2. Stir in small bowl mayo, lemon juice and Cayenne pepper until well blended.
3. Remove Salmon from oven and pour sauce over top. Bake an additional 10 min.
4. Then broil for another 4 min.

* This is one of my absolute favorite recipes and I don't even like fish much!! It is very easy to make and so super delicious! I like my fish cooked well, but the way I bake it- it still leaves it moist, but not fishy. You MUST try it!!!

Teriyaki Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Chicken Breasts; thawed (boneless & skinless)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Ginger
• 1 Tbsp. Corn Starch

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook chicken on med heat in 3 Tbsp. of oil until cooked through and golden.
2. Boil all other ingredients for a couple minutes. Make sure you use a whisk when stirring in the corn starch.
3. Pour sauce over chicken and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
4. Serve over rice!

Mom's Shepherds Pie

I think this pic was with half the potatoes, 1 can cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup milk.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 Potatoes (medium sized)
• 1 lb ground beef
• Seasoning Salt & Pepper
• 2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 can Cut Green Beans
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese (optional)
• I add a splash of worchestire sauce too, just add to taste!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Peel and dice potatoes. Boil until tender. Mash.
2. Brown meat in sauce pan and season with seasoning salt and pepper. Drain off fat. Return to heat. Add soup, milk and green beans. Heat through.
3. Pour meat mixture into 9x13 dish. Spread mashed potatoes on top. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. OR just broil til cheese is melted.
   

* We have switched to Ground Turkey Meat and we cannot taste the difference.

*In hurry just top them with Tator Tots instead of the mashed potatoes.

Chicken Roll-ups

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 6 oz. cream cheese
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 bunches green onion
• bread crumbs (seasoned OR plain)
• 1 cube butter
• salt & pepper
• 2 tubes of the BIG crescent rolls (or 3 of the small tubes)
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Boil Chicken and shred.
2. Saute celery and onion in 2 Tbsp. of butter until tender.
3. Soften cream cheese. Stir in onion, celery and chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Lay rolls out flat and spoon chicken mixture onto the crescent and roll up. Dip in melted butter and then the bread crumbs. Place on non greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 22-25 min.

SAUCE:

• 1 can cream of Chicken soup
• 1 can cream of Mushroom soup OR Cream of Chicken OR Cream of Celery
  
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 Chicken gravy pkt. (optional)

* Boil in saucepan until heated through. Pour over chicken rolls and serve! Makes 12 big rolls.