This is another new one we tried last week. I added some sharp cheddar cheese, and it gave it more of a bump up in flavor. Doug liked it the way it was.
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 Cups uncooked penne pasta
* 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
* 1/2 Cup chopped onion
* 2 tsp olive oil
* 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
* 1 Cup heavy whipping cream
* 10 Cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach (I just put in a bag.)
* 2 Cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
* 1/8 tsp pepper
Directions
Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, cook chicken and onion over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until juices run clear Stir in soup and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 2 minutes. Stir in the spinach, cheese and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until spinach is wilted and cheese is melted. Drain pasta. Add to chicken mixture and toss to coat.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
This is one we tried the other day after we carved pumpkins. It was sooo quick and easy, and tasted pretty good too. (I thought just a little too much garlic)
* 1 tbsp canola oil
* 1/2 tsp celery salt
* 1/2 tsp garlic powder
* 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
* 2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds
Directions
Combine oil, celery salt, garlic powder and seasoned salt. Add pumpkin seeds. Toss to coat. Spread 1/4 of the seeds in a single layer on microwave plate. Nuke on high for 1 minute, Stir. Microwave 2-3 minutes longer or until seeds are crunchy and lightly browned. Stirring after each minute. Repeat with remaining seeds. Serve warm or cool, storing in an airtight container.
* 1 tbsp canola oil
* 1/2 tsp celery salt
* 1/2 tsp garlic powder
* 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
* 2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds
Directions
Combine oil, celery salt, garlic powder and seasoned salt. Add pumpkin seeds. Toss to coat. Spread 1/4 of the seeds in a single layer on microwave plate. Nuke on high for 1 minute, Stir. Microwave 2-3 minutes longer or until seeds are crunchy and lightly browned. Stirring after each minute. Repeat with remaining seeds. Serve warm or cool, storing in an airtight container.
Squirmy Wormy Sandwiches
So, we found this recipe in the taste of Homes magazine, and even though I don't like Hot Dogs, found these to be okay. My kids and Hubby LOVED them. Also, it's fun for the season.
# 1 package hot dogs
# 1 Tbsp oil
# 1/2 Cup ketchup
# 1 tbsp brown sugar
# 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
# 1/2 tsp spicy brown mustard
# Dash liquid smoke
# 6 hamburger buns
Cut each hot dog into eight strips. In a large skillet, saute hot dogs in oil until golden brown. Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and liquid smoke. Heat through, Serve on buns.
# 1 package hot dogs
# 1 Tbsp oil
# 1/2 Cup ketchup
# 1 tbsp brown sugar
# 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
# 1/2 tsp spicy brown mustard
# Dash liquid smoke
# 6 hamburger buns
Cut each hot dog into eight strips. In a large skillet, saute hot dogs in oil until golden brown. Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and liquid smoke. Heat through, Serve on buns.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Official Day 1
We survived day one. We left homebase around 9:30a and after a quick lunch in Wells, NV we pushed through to arrive in Reno at 5:30 (Reno time.) A relatively uneventful day and much easier than we expected. We finished with a buffet at Circus Circus, a few midway games and that was it. Tomorrow we’ll stop at the Jelly Belly factory and then drive on down to Solvang.
Here's the bean and her travel mates. :)
We stopped at a rest stop in Valmy (to clear the air in the car. :-))
Cam decided to join the other two in picking "flowers" but she gave them to their mom instead of us ... silly billy. more tomorrow.
Here we are taking off. I drove the first 3+ hrs.
Our travel mates...
Our travel mates...
Here's the bean and her travel mates. :)
We stopped at a rest stop in Valmy (to clear the air in the car. :-))
Cam decided to join the other two in picking "flowers" but she gave them to their mom instead of us ... silly billy. more tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Cinderella Brownies
1 cup Margarine or butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. marshmallows
Mix 1 egg at a time with butter, cocoa, and sugar. Then add the flour and vanilla. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 mins. Then place marshmallows on top and return to the oven for 1 min.
Frosting
1/2 cup margarine (softened)
1 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup milk
Mix all together until well blended. Then frost the brownies.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Nopales...
This is one of my favorite taste of Mexico...Nopales.
You take 2 despiked, cleaned and despined cactus leaves...(I have been told that sometime you can find them in walmart). Wash and dice them. Saute in butter for 15 minutes. In same pan add 4 scrabbled eggs. Mix until eggs are cooked. Serve with warm tortillas and salsa. It is an amazing breakfast or anytime meal. YUMMY
You take 2 despiked, cleaned and despined cactus leaves...(I have been told that sometime you can find them in walmart). Wash and dice them. Saute in butter for 15 minutes. In same pan add 4 scrabbled eggs. Mix until eggs are cooked. Serve with warm tortillas and salsa. It is an amazing breakfast or anytime meal. YUMMY
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Chicken Pasta Toss
We found this yummy dinner in Taste of Homes. It's one of our new favorites!
10 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1tsp. minced garlic
2Tbsp Butter
3/4 pound cubed chicken breast
1/3 c. chopped green onions
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
1/4 tsp. onion powder, rubbed sage, white pepper, and black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
Cook spaghetti.
In a large pan saute garlic in butter. Add chicken, onions and seasoning. Cook until chicken is done. Stir in cream. Bring to boil. Reduce and simmer 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Drain spaghetti and toss in mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley.
10 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1tsp. minced garlic
2Tbsp Butter
3/4 pound cubed chicken breast
1/3 c. chopped green onions
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
1/4 tsp. onion powder, rubbed sage, white pepper, and black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
Cook spaghetti.
In a large pan saute garlic in butter. Add chicken, onions and seasoning. Cook until chicken is done. Stir in cream. Bring to boil. Reduce and simmer 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Drain spaghetti and toss in mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Only one pound...
Hello, do you know me? If you don't you should. I'm a pound of fat, and I'm the happiest pound of fat that you would ever want to meet. Want to know why? It's because no one ever wants to lose me; I'm Only One Pound, just a pound. Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds or fifteen pounds, but never only one, so I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself ever so slyly so that you never seem to notice it, that is until I've grown to ten, twenty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it's fun being Only One Pound of fat, left to do as I please. So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying "Oh, I only lost one pound." ( as if that were such a terrible thing!) For you see, if you do this you'll encourage others to keep me around because they will think I'm not worth losing. And I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!! After all, I'm Only One Pound of fat!!!
Beatitudes for a housewife...
Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hand and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.
Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.
Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.
Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued that a fortune or fame.
Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.
Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.
Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.
Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.
Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.
Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.
Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued that a fortune or fame.
Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.
Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.
Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.
Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
crispy taco bowls...
Zucchini dough (1 large zucchini, shredded, 1 large egg, 1 cup pepper jack cheese)
Taco flavoring for the shell (add more or less to taste):
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
After mixing the dough, make three circles on a greased cookie sheet (you can make more if you use smaller bowls). Sprinkle either with your own taco seasoning mix, use what I've listed above as a recommendation, or use a scant amount of pre-prepared taco seasoning mix from the store (storetaco mix renders the recipe not induction friendly due to sugar).
Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.
Remove from oven.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease inverted bowls in a jelly roll pan (you don't want them to slide off of a cookie sheet and break). Flip the crusts over the bowls, so that the bottom of the crust is facing the ceiling (this will help the crust to cook evenly).
Bake these for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Let the bowls cool slightly.
Using a spoon, bowl-side of the spoon down, very gently run the spoon underneath the taco bowls to loosen them from the glass. Work your way carefully around the bowl. If you have to force the crust, it needs to rest slightly longer.
Once the bowls are separated from the crust, let the crusts rest on a cooling rack for several hours or overnight. I found that the longer these rest, the more crispy they become.
Makes 3 large shells.
Optional ideas for toppings.
chopped fresh spinach
broccoli sprouts
spicy hamburger meat
cheese
fresh tomato
black olives
sour cream
Taco flavoring for the shell (add more or less to taste):
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
After mixing the dough, make three circles on a greased cookie sheet (you can make more if you use smaller bowls). Sprinkle either with your own taco seasoning mix, use what I've listed above as a recommendation, or use a scant amount of pre-prepared taco seasoning mix from the store (storetaco mix renders the recipe not induction friendly due to sugar).
Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.
Remove from oven.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease inverted bowls in a jelly roll pan (you don't want them to slide off of a cookie sheet and break). Flip the crusts over the bowls, so that the bottom of the crust is facing the ceiling (this will help the crust to cook evenly).
Bake these for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Let the bowls cool slightly.
Using a spoon, bowl-side of the spoon down, very gently run the spoon underneath the taco bowls to loosen them from the glass. Work your way carefully around the bowl. If you have to force the crust, it needs to rest slightly longer.
Once the bowls are separated from the crust, let the crusts rest on a cooling rack for several hours or overnight. I found that the longer these rest, the more crispy they become.
Makes 3 large shells.
Optional ideas for toppings.
chopped fresh spinach
broccoli sprouts
spicy hamburger meat
cheese
fresh tomato
black olives
sour cream
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Crepes
This is a recipe we use whenever we want to have Breakfast for Dinner. We also use it for when the kids don't want to eat anything else. Which means we are having these tonight for sure!! Serve with a side of hash browns and crisp bacon. Enjoy!
1 Cup flour
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup milk
2 eggs
3 Tbl butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
Put flour and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Add milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth. Heat a 6 inch skillet over medium high to high heat (a setting of 6 works perfectly). Spray with Pam. Pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet, spreading it thin so it covers the bottom of the skillet. Cook until slightly browned. Turn and brown the other side. Remove the crepe to a wire rack or a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Respray the skillet after each crepe. Makes 10-12.
My favorite way to have these is with butter, whipped cream and Nutella. Val prefers them with butter, powdered sugar and whipping cream.
1 Cup flour
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup milk
2 eggs
3 Tbl butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
Put flour and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Add milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth. Heat a 6 inch skillet over medium high to high heat (a setting of 6 works perfectly). Spray with Pam. Pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet, spreading it thin so it covers the bottom of the skillet. Cook until slightly browned. Turn and brown the other side. Remove the crepe to a wire rack or a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Respray the skillet after each crepe. Makes 10-12.
My favorite way to have these is with butter, whipped cream and Nutella. Val prefers them with butter, powdered sugar and whipping cream.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
39 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life for 2008!
THANKS SHAUNA!
39 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life for 2008!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you
have to.
3. Buy a DVR, tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty o f water... Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously . No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
3 5. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey, I'm
thinkin' of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
39 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life for 2008!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you
have to.
3. Buy a DVR, tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty o f water... Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously . No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
3 5. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey, I'm
thinkin' of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
Chicken Lasagna
2 chicken breasts
1 26.5 oz can Spaghetti Sauce
6-9 Lasagna Noodles Soft ( all depends on how big a pan you use)
Cheese
1 1/4 water
1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Cook chicken and cut in squares then cook again and chop with food chopper.
3. Boil noodles until soft. not to soft like a spaghetti noodle still needs to be a little hard.
4.Add spaghetti sauce to chicken once its done cooking.
5. Lay noodled in bottom of rectangle cooking pan, then add meat mixture, cheese and top with more noodles and repeat the process until the mixture is gone.
6. Add water around edges of pan and cover with tin foil, place in oven and cook for about 40 mins.
2 chicken breasts
1 26.5 oz can Spaghetti Sauce
6-9 Lasagna Noodles Soft ( all depends on how big a pan you use)
Cheese
1 1/4 water
1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Cook chicken and cut in squares then cook again and chop with food chopper.
3. Boil noodles until soft. not to soft like a spaghetti noodle still needs to be a little hard.
4.Add spaghetti sauce to chicken once its done cooking.
5. Lay noodled in bottom of rectangle cooking pan, then add meat mixture, cheese and top with more noodles and repeat the process until the mixture is gone.
6. Add water around edges of pan and cover with tin foil, place in oven and cook for about 40 mins.
Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad
4 sesame seed hamburger bun tops
1 small red onion, divided
2 plum tomatoes
3/4 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. finley diced dill pickles
2/3 c. ketchup
1 tbsp. yellow mustard
8 c. thinly sliced romaine lettuce
1 c. (4oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1. Preheat oven to 425. Slice bun tops into 1/4 in. strips. Arrange in a single layer on pan. bake 8-10 mins. or until lightly toasted. Remove to cooling rack; cool completely.
2. Slice half of the onion crosswise into thin rings. Remove and discard stems from tomatoes; cut tomatoes into quarters lengthwise and slice crosswise. Set the onion and tomatoes aside.
3. Cook ground beef in (8in.) pan over medium-high heat 5-7 mins. or until no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbs. Chop remaining onion half. Finely dice pickles. In bowl combine chopped onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard. Add cooked ground beef; mix well.
4. To serve, arrange lettuce on large serving platter. Spoon beef mixture over lettuce. Top with cheese, tomatoes and sliced onion. Arrange hamburger bun croutons around edge of platter. Serve immediately.
Yeild: 6 servings
Nutients per serving: Calories 250, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 5g., Cholesterol 55mg, Carbohydrates 20g, Protein 20g, Sodium 730 mg, Fiber 3 g.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Space Saving Genious!
Here's a nutty idea to share with friends and family when they run out of cupboard space!
Moving into our new Townhome took us from...15 cupboards and 6 large drawers...
to 7 cupboards and 4 small drawers...
(not to mention losing a walk in pantry)
So the ingenious wife came up with this space saving idea. She got a plastic shoe holder and put it on the inside of one of the small closets, and we use it for all of our spices. Brilliant!
On occasion I'm tempted to throw on a pair of Oregano-Cinnamon high heels and paint the town red with food coloring...but as of yet I've withstood the urge.Saturday, March 15, 2008
Readers Digest Brownies
So I was reading the Readers Digest last month, and one of the articles in it was the best brownie recipes. I was excited to see that as I am always looking for new recipes. I got even more excited when I saw the winner of the brownies was from Layton. Kind of fun!
1 Cup Butter
2 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup cocoa
4 eggs
1 1/2 Cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Mix all ingredients. Grease13 x 9 pan. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
Top with bag of mini-marshmallows
Bake 3 minutes more
Frosting
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 Cup butter
1/3 Cup cocoa
1/3 Cup evaporated milk
1 Cup Butter
2 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup cocoa
4 eggs
1 1/2 Cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Mix all ingredients. Grease13 x 9 pan. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
Top with bag of mini-marshmallows
Bake 3 minutes more
Frosting
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 Cup butter
1/3 Cup cocoa
1/3 Cup evaporated milk
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Cilantro Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 (7 ounce) can tomatillo salsa
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Directions:
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, pepper, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl.
Makes 2 cups
Add the sauce to your favorite pasta and serve with tortillas...I just love this real authentic mexican food.
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 (7 ounce) can tomatillo salsa
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Directions:
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, pepper, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl.
Makes 2 cups
Add the sauce to your favorite pasta and serve with tortillas...I just love this real authentic mexican food.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Good-for-you Breakfast Smoothie
1 c. frozen blueberries
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. non-fat plain yogurt
1 t. honey
Mix in blender until smooth.
I have this smoothie nearly every morning. It's packed with protein and anti-oxidants - and it's thick and creamy. Try it! My 1-year-old daughter loves it too!
- Stacey
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. non-fat plain yogurt
1 t. honey
Mix in blender until smooth.
I have this smoothie nearly every morning. It's packed with protein and anti-oxidants - and it's thick and creamy. Try it! My 1-year-old daughter loves it too!
- Stacey
Monday, February 18, 2008
the best carmel popcorn you will ever have...
From the kitchen of my Grandma Scharman...CARMEL POPCORN
1 cup of real butter.
1/2 cup brown packed sugar.
Mix. Cook for 2 minutes (do not stir)in a saucepan.
Stir in 1 cup of mini marshmallows.
Cook 1 minute more (do not stir).
Then stir to dissolve marshmallows.
Pour over 2 cups of mini marshmallows and 8 cups of popped corn, nuts can be added if desired. Stir to blend well, spread out on buttered cookie sheet to cool. Place is air tight container.
Gift idea...place in plastic bag, tie with colored ribbon and some candy. ENJOY!!!!!!!!
This is always a must have in my family during the holidays.
1 cup of real butter.
1/2 cup brown packed sugar.
Mix. Cook for 2 minutes (do not stir)in a saucepan.
Stir in 1 cup of mini marshmallows.
Cook 1 minute more (do not stir).
Then stir to dissolve marshmallows.
Pour over 2 cups of mini marshmallows and 8 cups of popped corn, nuts can be added if desired. Stir to blend well, spread out on buttered cookie sheet to cool. Place is air tight container.
Gift idea...place in plastic bag, tie with colored ribbon and some candy. ENJOY!!!!!!!!
This is always a must have in my family during the holidays.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Did You Know?
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yum
1. Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
2. Easy Devil ed Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
3. Expanding Frosting When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more with the same amount. You eat less sugar and calories per serving.
4. Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
5. Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
6. Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
7. No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
8. Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
9. Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
10. Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.
11. Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
12. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eras er and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
13. Reopening envelope ~ If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
14. Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...
15. Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
16. Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rain s, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.)
He told us that he w anted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like.
Well,...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that d ryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's
there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can f eel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it -- the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at al l! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yum
1. Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
2. Easy Devil ed Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
3. Expanding Frosting When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more with the same amount. You eat less sugar and calories per serving.
4. Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
5. Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
6. Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
7. No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
8. Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
9. Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
10. Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.
11. Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
12. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eras er and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
13. Reopening envelope ~ If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
14. Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...
15. Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
16. Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rain s, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.)
He told us that he w anted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like.
Well,...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that d ryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's
there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can f eel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it -- the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at al l! That repairman knew what he was talking about!
Let's get started
So I started thinking that it might be fun to have a blog we can post on any time with recipes and ideas that you want to share with other people. I need a place to keep things that I know where they are. Shauna, I loved the tips you gave us in that e-mail the other day, and thought that I would lose them if I didn't put them somewhere. Also I always have good recipes that I think, "I need to use this for my recipe month", and then forget about it.
So I created this blog for recipes, pictures of families that are cute, and any cool info that we would all like to have. Anyone is welcome to join, just e-mail me the address you want to be included on this blog as. Love you all, and hope this works out.
So I created this blog for recipes, pictures of families that are cute, and any cool info that we would all like to have. Anyone is welcome to join, just e-mail me the address you want to be included on this blog as. Love you all, and hope this works out.
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