Reclaim Dinner

Caleb's Birthday

2011-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

So, for Caleb's birthday, I made cupcakes that any boy would love!

They were actually very simple. Simple chocolate cupcake. Chocolate frosting. Then we dipped the top into crushed oreos to look like the dirt. (use a food processor to get a fine grind). The gummy worms went right in. :-) Loved seeing the look of the kids faces when we brought these in.....some were a little unsure....but most couldn't wait to get their little hands on them....and i left totally satisfied seeing all the chocolate goatees. lol.

Claire's Birthday

2011-10-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

So the kids are at a new school this year. I was delighted to find out that we can make homemade goodies for snacks, birthdays, and parties! Yay! So here are the birthday treats. I think they turned out adorable. :-)

We made rice krispie treats, shaped them in a Popsicle shape, stuck in a color stirrer (instead of the stick), dipped them in almond bark, and then sprinkles! We made strawberry and chocolate flavors. The kids LOVED them!

Hello friends!

2011-10-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Bet you thought you wouldn't see me again. lol. Truth be told. I love blogs, I still love cooking, I love planning out meals.....my problem is time! My husband is deployed now, and I'm running a military wives ministry. Oh, and we have 3 kids! Yikes!

One of the things I'm trying to figure out is why is it so hard to cook with my husband gone? If you are a military wife, you know what I'm talking about. It's so hard for me to find motivation to cook a homecooked, creative, healthy meal for just me and the kids. Like I said, I'm working on it. Tonight was victorious!

Caleb choose dinner.....speghetti and salad. I know what your thinking....creative???? NOT!

Well, if I can toot my horn for a sec......I made our own tomato sauce. You would think with as much cooking as I have done, I would have made my own tomato sauce. Nope. Tonight was my first....and....it was a success! Did I mention, the tomatoes came from my garden...oh, I didn't....well....tooooot, tooooot. (that was my horn again, lol)

So the recipe......is not going to be precise. It was a dash or this and a dash of that kind of recipe.

5-6 Ripe Tomatoes

4-5 cloves of garlic

Italian seasoning grinder (mccormicks)

Olive Oil

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut tomatoes in wedges. Chop garlic. lightly drizzle olive oil over tomatoes and garlic on a cookie sheet. Use as much or as little Italian seasoning as you'd like. Salt and pepper. Roast for about an hour. (It smells great!) Spoon all into food processor or blender and pulse until smooth or desired smoothness is reached. oh, and salt and pepper again. (if you want)

Granola

2011-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm re-posting this granola recipe....because....well it's that good. :-)

4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla extract

optional: raisins, cranberries, any dried fruit, coconut, any nuts or seeds.

Combine oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon in a large bowl.

In a sauce pan over med heat, combine honey, oil, and sugar.

Simmer until bubbly.

Pour hot liquid over oat mixture. Combine with hands until all is coated.

Spread the granola on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake for 20-30 min at 300 degrees until golden brown.

If you like your granola with big chunks, do not stir or touch until completely cooled. If you like it all separate, stir half way through baking and once you take it out of the oven.

Store in an air tight container. Eat with milk, yogurt, or just as a snack.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2010-07-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

I'm at my parent's house this week and we've been sifting through old recipes. How can you tell a recipe is good? Answer: When it looks like the one above! This is in my mother's handwriting but came from my Nana which came from her mother, Gram. I'm not even going to try to date this recipe but my mom has had it in her possesion for over 25 years. Love it! This is the Raisin cookies I grew up with. I can remember coming home from school to the smell of these in the house. My mom swears they are the best because you soak the raisins in hot water.

Enjoy.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking powder

4 cups oatmeal
1 cup hot water
1 box raisins
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt

In a sauce pan over med heat, cook water and raisins until the raisins are full and plump. Do not drain. Cream the sugar, butter, and eggs. Add the raisins to the creamed butter mixture. My mom's recipe says, add the rest of the ingredients. :-) Cook at 350 degrees. Check after 6 min.

Zucchini Brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

2010-07-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

NOTE: These brownies are cake like.....I even thought maybe I shouldn't call them brownies....however it uses no eggs and no baking powder....so, I'm calling it a brownie.

The cream cheese frosting is really good, but it does overpower the cake a little, I mean brownie. I'm waiting for a recipe for a frosting that I believe will go perfect. Ok, confession time. I tried to make the "perfect frosting" last night....and it was disasterous. By the end of the night, it was re-named marshmallow chocolate soup. Anywho, this is a good recipe and a good way to use up some zucchini.

Zucchini Brownies

1/2 cup veg oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 cup walnuts (opt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 pan. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside. Cream together the vegtable oil, sugar, and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet. The mixture will look grainy. Stir in zucchini and walnuts. Let mixture sit for 5 min. The zucchini will add quite a bit more moisture. Bake for 25-30 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool brownies before frosting.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package (8oz) cream cheese softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk (or heavy cream)
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream the cream cheese and powdered sugar in a mixture. Melt chocolate chips and milk in a double broiler or slowly in the microwave. Add the melted chocolate to the cream cheese slowly.
Frost the brownies.

Enjoy!

Zucchini 2010

2010-07-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

We are visiting my family in Missouri right now and my parents garden is in full swing! We now have 10 cucumbers, 9 zucchini, and a bucket full of beans on the counter.
We have high hopes and plans for these lovely veggies. Today, zucchini brownies.....tomorrow refrigerator pickled veggies! Can't wait!

I posted a huge list of zucchini recipes last summer. Here is the link. Enjoy!

Zucchini Recipes

Here's the plan

2010-04-10T08:22:00.001-07:00

Here's my plan for the upcoming week. Recipes to come. (BTW...my camera is not working right :-(

Salmon BLT

BBQ Pizza (on flatbread)

Breakfast

Chicken Alfredo with fettuccine

Hot ham and cheese

Leftovers

The Clean 15

2010-04-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

After yesterday's scary dirty dozen post....I thought I'd calm your minds with some foods you can buy and eat and not have to worry about them being organic. This also came from The Daily Green.

1.Onion

2. Avocado

3. Sweet Corn

4. Pineapple

5. Mango

6. Asparagus

7. Sweet Peas

8. Kiwi

9. Cabbage

10. Eggplant

11. Papaya

12. Watermelon

13. Broccoli

14. Tomatoes (this was on the dirty list too) IDK??

15. Sweet Potatoes

The Dirty Dozen!!

2010-04-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the dirty dozen? No, not the movie. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a list of our dirtiest foods. I know I can't afford to eat everything organic.....but according to EWG....these are the foods I should try to buy organic. This came from The Daily Green and here is their dirty dozen (or 14). :-)

1. Tomatoes

2. Pears

3. Peaches

4. Apples

5. Sweet Bell Peppers

6. Celery

7. Nectarines

8. Strawberries

9. Cherries

10. Kale

11. Leafy Greens

12. Grapes

13. Carrots

14. Pears

(they also add Meat, Milk, and Coffee to their list)

I was inspired by my friend, Shelly's blog. She is super organic and has great organic recipes!

Smoovy

2010-04-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

My family loves smoothies....or smoovie as my son says. We buy frozen berries in bulk from Costco and that seems to be most affordable. By using frozen berries, you don't need to add ice....and it doesn't get watered down. :-)

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (or whatever kind you like)
1/4 cup milk (or juice for a little sweeter)
1/4-1/2 cup frozen berries

Blend and enjoy!

28 ways to save money at the Supermarket

2010-02-25T06:18:00.000-08:00

This article is by far one of the best on saving money at the supermarket I've read. The only thing I would add would be how to save on cleaning products. I'll add those recipes another day. ;-)

28 ways to save money at the supermarket

Leftovers

2010-02-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

Do you end up throwing out leftovers.....or do you savor every last morsal? Guess it depends on what it is, right.
I like to buy roasts. For one thing, I can throw them in the crockpot and not really have to "cook" dinner. The other reason, they go soooo far.
Take for instance, a beef roast.
Night one, we have roast (made in the crockpot) with salad and baked potatoes.
Night two, shred the beef....add BBQ sauce and you have shredded BBQ sandwhiches.
Night three, Add the shredded beef to plain cheese pizza, add some jack cheese, cilantro, and you have bbq pizza. So easy right?

How about pork roast?
Night one, sliced served with asparagus and fluffy potatoes.
Night two, chop it up and stir fry with some peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli (whatever veggies you have on hand) and rice
Night three, add any leftover pork and rice with peppers, onions, tomatoes, sausage, shrimp, with creole seasoning....and now you have jambalaya!

Chicken? The possibilities are endless!
What do you like to do with leftover chicken?

Healthy Sweet Potato Pancakes

2010-02-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

It's snowing.....again. It's definitely an inside day.....so that means.....I'm cooking. :-) (and cleaning a little :-(

We started off our day with Healthy Sweet Potato Pancakes

2 cups white whole wheat flour
4 t baking powder
2 T brown sugar
1 t cinnamon
2 cups milk (plus more for thinning)
1/4 cup milled flax seeds or wheat germ (half and half would be awesome)
4 t butter, melted
2 eggs
1 sweet potato, cooked (a heaping 1/2 cup is good)

Mix well. Let sit for a few minutes and it will get smoother. Add milk for thinner pancakes. (I ended up adding quite a bit) Butter or spray your pan.
Pour 1/4 cup of batter into a med high hot pan. When you see bubbles, flip.

Enjoy!

These take a little bit longer to cook than normal pancakes. You could also sub in pumpkin instead of sweet potato. Yum! Double your batch and/or freeze your leftovers for a quick breakfast during the week.

Veggies....Veggies....and more Veggies....

2010-01-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

My husband expressed to me earlier this month that he would love more vegatarian meals. I was surprised.....and that was replaced with fear! I'm not sure I can make some great vegatarian meals. Guess what folks? I can!!!! I picked up Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates cookbook and I gathered up some recipes along with my courage and went for it. First, I made a ratatouille. YUM! Here is the recipe I used (it was adapted with some changes from the Moosewood cookbook. Enjoy!

4 cups Eggplant cubed
2 cups onion chopped
1 cup yellow squash cubed
3 cups zucchini cubed
3 cups bell peppers chopped (two colors are prettier:-)
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
3 Tbl olive oil

375 degrees
Prep all veggies. Rinse the eggplant in a colander, drain, and dry with a paper towel. Toss eggplant, squash, zucchini, bell peppers, onions with 2 Tbl olive oil. Spread the veggies in a single layer on a baking tray. Roast for about 40 min until veggies are soft and edges are brown.
Layer half the veggies in a baking pan and top with half the can of Italian tomatoes. Layer on the remaining veggies and the rest of the tomatoes. Cover and bake for 40 min. Serve immediately.
We served ours over some brown rice. It would be great with pasta or polenta. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Meal Plan part 2

2010-01-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

So do you have your recipes organized yet? Now are you wondering how to pick and choose? Well, there are a few ways to go about it. Here is an example:

Set up 2 weeks to a month at a time.
Week One:
Monday - Chicken
Tuesday - Pasta
Wednesday - Crockpot Beef
Thursday - Soup
Friday - Vegetarian
Sat - Leftovers
Sunday - Breakfast

Week Two:
Monday - Fish
Tuesday - Crockpot Chicken
Wednesday - Soup
Thursday - Pork
Friday - Pasta
Saturday - Beef
Sunday - Vegetarian

And so on......you could also schedule more specifically.....for example....
Monday - Chicken Italian
Tuesday - Beef Mexican
Wednesday - Vegetarian Soup
...And so on...

By organizing your recipes and planning ahead, you can really save yourself headache and make dinner time simple. See this post on how to display your meal plans.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

Do you make new years resolutions? I'm not usually too big on them, but I'm making a few this year....mainly cause my husband says that if you write your goals down, it's proven that you are more likely to achieve those goals. So, this year, it's my goal to read my Bible every day, do a quarter triathlon (quarter mile swim, 6 mile bike, 1.5 mile run)(it's a small goal...but I gotta start somewhere), and to get my certification as a personal chef.....and I for sure want to blog more! So...I thought it's appropriate to start the new year off with talking about meal planning.

Ok, if you know me, you know I love to plan!! I don't know why...I'm just a planner and I really enjoy it. I've talked to several women about how they plan meals and how they decide whats for dinner and most of you say the planning aspect is the hardest. I've also found that the way I plan may not work for everyone. It seems that you just have to figure out the best method for you and your family. With that said....here are a few things I found on other blogs and websites that I hope will inspire you with planning your meals.

Have an old picture frame your not using? How about this from Make it and Love it.

Or this chalkboard project from Nannygoat. You could put a coat of magnetic paint under the chalkboard paint for a multi-functional chalkboard!

Put your recipes in a binder as Martha shows. She uses simple photo album sheets.

Here is a pretty and functional way to display recipes. Find out how she does it at Controlling My Chaos.

And...if you need some inspiration and want to see what others are having....check Meal Plan Monday from I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Uh....Hi...

2009-12-24T21:38:00.001-08:00

Hey guys.....
so I guess I owe an explanation.....my last entry was Oct 17!!! (yikes)

Well, here goes....
pregnancy......miscarriage (thats the worse part....but now that that is out.....whew)
My husband got year long orders to Iraq.......and the orders just got cancelled.
2 cars have broke down......1 minivan has been purchased.
My father got sick and had surgery.
Choir rehearsals......Christmas concert is over now.

Oh, and did I mention I still have 2 kiddos and a husband. :-)

So please, from the bottom of my heart, forgive me for being absent.

I pray you all have a fabulous Christmas and that you truly experience Christ's love this holiday season.

Merry Christmas,
Shelby

Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Bananas and Pecans

2009-10-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Banana and Pecans

6 lbs sweet potatoes
1 ripe banana (leave the peel on)
1/2 st butter, soft
1/2 c maple syrup
2 T grd cinnamon
2 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t salt

1 lb pecans
1/2 c butter unsalted
1 T salt
2 T brown sugar

Poke the potatoes with a fork and bake about 1 hour in a 425 degree oven. Roast the banana with the peel on in a dish for 15 min at the same temp. When cooled, peel the potatoes and banana. Put in a food processor or blender and pulse but leave the potatoes somewhat chunky. Add the butter and maple and puree until your desired smoothness. Add the cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice and salt. Transfer to a baking dish and smooth out.
In a skillet, cook the pecans with the butter over low heat and spinkle in the salt. Stir often for about 5 min. Put the pecans on top of the sweet potatoes and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar. Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 min until heated throughly.

This is very similar to a recipe Tyler Florence did a few years ago on Food Network.

Hot Ham and Cheese Sands

2009-10-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

We have these with Pumpkin Soup in the fall. You can also freeze these for a quick lunch.

Hot Ham and Cheese

8 sandwhich buns
8 slices swiss cheese
1/2 lb sliced ham
1 t poppy seed
1/2 c butter, melted
1/4 c onion, chopped or 4 T dried onions
1 t worcestershire sauce
1/4 c dijon mustard

Assemble ham and cheese onto buns.
Combine poppy seed, butter, onion, worcestershire, and dijon in a small sauce pan. Warm ingredients on med heat until butter has melted. Spead mix on each bun. Wrap in foil. Bake for 15 min at 350 degrees.
If you freeze, freeze before you bake. Bake frozen sands at 300 degrees for 30 min.

Pumpkin Soup with Chili Cran-Apple Relish

2009-10-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

This is one of our favorite soups. In fact, today when I mentioned that it's almost pumpkin soup time to my husband, his eye lit up! lol I think this is a Rachel Ray recipe, but we've been making it for a couple years now so I can't remember. Oh, and I know the relish sounds funny, but it totally makes the soup, so don't skip it!!!

Pumpkin Soup with Chili Cran-Apple Relish

1 T olive oil
2 T butter
1 bay leaf
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 med yellow onion, finely chopped
Salt and Pepper
3 T flour
2 t poultry seasoning or 2 t ground thyme
2 t hot sauce or to taste
6 c chicken broth
1 can cooked pumpkin puree (28 oz) (you can also you fresh cooked pumpkin)
2 c heavy cream (I have used everything from cream to 1%)
1/2 t nutmeg

Relish
1 crisp granny smith apple, finely chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 T lemon juice
1/2 c dried sweetened cranberries, chopped
1 t chili powder
2 t honey
1/2 t ground cinnamon

Soup
In a soup pot over med-high het, add oil and butter. Add bay, celery, and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 6-7 min until tender. Add flour, poultry seasoning, and hot sauce. Cook flour for a min. Whisk in broth and bring to a bubble. Whisk in pumpkin. Simmer for 10 min. Add cream and nutmeg. Reduce heat to low to keep warm. Serve.

Relish
Combine apple, onion, lemon juice, cranberries, chili powder, honey, and cinnamon. Serve pumpkin soup with a few spoonfuls of relish on top.

We have this soup with hot Ham and Cheese Sands.

Molten Chocolate Cake

2009-10-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Molten Chocolate Cake

4 squares Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1/2 c butter
1 c powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolk
6 T flour

425 degrees. Butter 4 custard cups or souffle dishes. Place on a baking sheet.
Microwave chocolate and 1/2 cup butter in a bowl on High for 1 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with a wire whisk until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar until blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Divide batter between the custard cups.
Bake 13-14 min or until sides are firm and center is soft. Let stand 1 min. Run a small knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert dish. Top with a dusting of powdered sugar, whip cream, or vanilla ice cream.

Almond Chicken

2009-10-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Almond Chicken

This is an easy 30 min meal that comes together using one skillet!

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 c Zesty Italian Dressing (I like this homemade Italian dressing)
1 c chicken broth

2 c green beans, cleaned, trimmed, halved
1 c minute rice, uncooked
1/4 c sliced almonds

Toss chicken with dressing. Add chicken and dressing in a large skillet on med-high heat. Cook 4 min per side until browned. Add broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 min. Add beans and cook for another 5 min or until chicken is done.
Remove the chicken. Add rice and almonds. Remove from the heat and cover. Let stand 5 min. Serve the chicken over the rice and beans.

Pumpkin Pie Bars

2009-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Pie Bars

1 1/3 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c cold butter
1 c oats
1/2 c pecans, chopped
8oz cream cheese, soft
3 eggs
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
1 T pumpkin pie spice

350 degrees. Mix flour, brown sugar and 1/4 c granulated sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until it resembles course crumbs. Stir in oats and pecans. Reserve 1 cup or oat mix. Press other mixture onto bottom of sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 15 min.

Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice. Pour over crust and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake 25 min. Cool completely. Cut into 24 bars.

Hot Beef Kabobs

2009-10-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

This recipe came straight from Guam.

20 oz flank steak, cut into 1/2 in cubes
1 lb mushrooms
2 onions, cut in 1/2 in cubes

Marinade
1/2 c soy sauce
1/2 c salad oil
1/2 t sesame oil
2 T toasted sesame seeds
2 T brown sugar
1 T minced cilantro
1 T minced garlic
1 T minced ginger
1/4 t white pepper
1 t red chili pepper flakes

Combine Marinade. Marinade steak for at least 45 min and then skewer ingredients. Grill each side for 2 1/2 min and serve with teriyake glaze.

Teriyaki Glaze
1 c soy sauce
1/2 c mirin (sweet cooking rice wine)
1/2 c water
1/4 c brown sugar
1 1/2 t minced garlic
1 1/2 t minced ginger
1 T cornstarch
2 T water
In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except cornstarch and water. Bring to boil.
Blend cornstarch and 2 T water to make a paste. Add to the sauce. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened.

Pumpkin Spice Cake

2009-10-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Cake:
1 cup unsalted butter, soft
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
4 lg eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 1/2 cups pureed pumpkin
1 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 c chopped pecans (opt)

Frosting:
1/4 cup unsalted butter, soft
1 t finely grated lemon zest
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
8 oz cream cheese, soft
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 c pureed pumpkin
3 T minced crystallized ginger

Cake:
350 degree. Cream butter, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice until fluffy. Add eggs, and beat after each one. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mix to the creamed butter alternating with the pumpkin and lemon juice. Stir in pecans. Spread in a prepared 9 x 13 pan. Bake 30-35 min or until done. Allow cake to cool before frosting.

Frosting:
Cream butter, pumpkin pie spice, and lemon zest. Blend in cream cheese and pumpkin. Add sugar and beat until smooth.

*Recipe uses 1 15oz can of pumpkin. Reserve 1/4 cup for the frosting.

WARNING

2009-10-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

For those of you that get my posts directly to your e-mail.....you'll be getting lots and lots of recipes. I have a file overflowing with recipes. I need, no, I have to get organized. So, here they come to blogland. Just wanted to warn ya. :)

Apples

2009-10-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Fuji, red delicious, golden, Jonathan, jonagold, braeburn.....the list goes on and on. We all have our favorites. I love a good Fuji but we recently bought some jonagolds at the Applejack Festival that are absolutely delicious. I've noticed my apple taste buds have changed over the years. I can remember loving every bite of a granny smith and now my mouth puckers at the thought of that super sour fruit. And then there is the question of what type of apple do you use for pies, or jams, or salads. I found this list of types and what they are best for. I think it's a great list. Take a look below at some yummy apple recipes from blogs and sites. Enjoy!

Salads

Apple Spinach Salad

Tuna, Apple, Raisin Salad

Classic Waldorf Salad

Mixed Greens with Apples, Blue Cheese, and Walnuts (This one is calling my name)!!

Apple Carrot Slaw

Desserts

Baked Apple Wedges

Apple Struesel Bars

Apple Bread

Caramel Apple Crisp

Award Winning Cornbread

2009-10-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

This Cornbread recipe is the easiest you'll find and in my opinion it is the most delicious! Try it once and let me know what you think. I can almost guarentee you'll come back to this one!

Award Winning Cornbread

2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 can of Cream Corn

Pour into an 8 x 8 pan. (you can use a larger pan, however it will not be as moist. I only make it in this size.) Pre-heat the oven to 350. Cook for 20-30 min until the center is done and the top is starting to brown.

You can add cheese, green chilis, green onions, spices to this and not screw it up! My kiddos eat this up with honey!

Chilli Chicken Verde

2009-10-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

Chilli Chicken Verde

I made this last year for a Chilli contest at my husbands work....it didn't win....but the ladies have been asking for recipe almost daily since....so I guess it wasn't too bad. ha ha ha.
This soup is delicious and one of my fall favorites. It is my MIL's recipe and makes a ton. It freezes really well too. Enjoy!

2 lbs cooked chicken breast or one whole chicken cooked (don't not add skin or bones)
-shred or cube and set aside

2 green peppers, chopped
2 bunches green onion, sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped garlic (or to taste)
4 tsp cumin
4 tsp oregano

-Saute all until soft

1 (11oz) can tomitillos or 1/4 lb fresh tomitillos chopped small
(If using fresh, saute with peppers,onion, and garlic)

2 cans white beans
3 cans large white beans
1 large can white hominy (opt)
1 (27oz) large can green chilis
-Add to soup. DO NOT DRAIN ANY CANS.

4 chicken bouillon cubes

-Add chicken. Add water to make the consistancy you like. I usually add 3-4 cups. Bring to a simmer for about 10 min and then turn off.

-Add
1 bunch of cilantro at the very end. (opt)

Review and Giveaway

2009-10-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

My friend, Nicole, just did a review and is doing a giveaway for Once-a-Month-Meals Family Favorites Cookbook. See her at Mom Saves Money to read her review and enter to win!

Breakfast Casserole

2009-09-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

I love anything I can make in advance. This is one of those. do the work the night before and put it in the oven in the morning. Perfect for a Saturday/Sunday breakfast. The only thing you have to do is plan a little. :) Enjoy!

8 oz Ciabatta bread cut into 1 inch cubes

1 lb turkey sausage

1/2 c chopped green onion

1 1/4 c milk

1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese

6 large eggs

2 Tbl chopped fresh parsley

Preheat 400 degrees. Spread bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast about 8 min. Cook turkey sausage in pan over med heat until done. About 6 min. Crumble. Combine sausage, bread, and onions in a large bowl. Combine milk, eggs, and cheese in a seperate bowl. Add egg mix to bread mix and toss till coated. Spoon mix in a 2 quart baking dish. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat 350. Uncover casserole and bake for 5o min or until set and lightly brown. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Should serve around 6.

What's for dinner?

2009-09-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

Today I'm attempting corned beef in the crockpot. I've only actually made corned beef once and I used my pressur cooker. It was good, but I'm still not totally comfortable knowing when stuff is done (or overdone in my case) using that method.
My husband loves corned beef hash (the stuff in the can is super yucky, IMO) and reuben sandwiches, so I thought I'd treat him. I got the potatoes out to clean and throw in the pot when that all to familiar smell came from the bag. You know the one......musty.....dirty.....a little wet. UGG. So....no potatoes for the hash. Guess we're making ruebens. lol. Here is what I did.

1 bag of baby carrots
some sliced celery
a hunk o corned beef
the little spice packet that comes with the beef
1 1/2 cups water

I'll update with a pic later.

Faith Deployed Giveaway

2009-09-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

One of the many things I'm working on right now is getting a military ministry for wives up and going for our area. So, I've been scouring the Internet in search of great books, ideas, resources, and so on. I came across Faith Deployed. It looks great! So of course, I'm trying to win it! :) You can try too. Click on the link to sign up for this giveaway.
Oh, and if your interested in the military ministry for the Omaha area.....check us out here. One Hope Omaha.

Pirate Cake

2009-09-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, this may not look like a pirate cake, but for some reason I had
a hard time finding gold coins to put in the center. Next best option was
rolos. :) The cake is blood red velvet made in a bundt pan with chocolate
Italian Buttercream frosting.

The recipe is the same from the Princess Cake except with no strawberries and we added

1/2 cup melted cooled semi sweet chocolate, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 Tbl cooled coffee.

Princess Cake

2009-09-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Claire's birthday is in August and Caleb's birthday is in October.
S0, for now, while they are young, we celebrate their birthdays together.
This year our theme was a Princess' and a Pirate's Party. Here is Claire's princess cake.
It's a vanilla cake made in a bundt pan. The frosting is an Italian Buttercream frosting. The recipe comes from Warren Brown of Cakelove. We modified the technique but not the ingredients.

Italian Buttercream

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

5 egg whites

4 sticks butter, cut into Tbl at room temp

-In a metal bowl over med heat. Beat egg whites with sugar. With a clean hand, we stir (with our hand) until the sugar has dissolved. (I know it sounds odd....but it works) Make sure not to let the whites scramble. With a mixer, whip the whites with a wire whisk on high. Mix until stiff peaks. Continue beating until the bowl reaches room temperature. It will be thick and glossy. Beat in the butter a Tbl at a time. The butter will deflate the frosting. Now is the fun part. Mix in your flavorings! For the princess cake, we pulsed strawberrries in the blender. If the frosting seperates, keep beating it. It will come back together.

This recipe is delicious, however, the next time I make this....I will experiment with less butter.

so I'm a wife......a mom....semi student....driver....cook...

2009-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

I think most of you that read or follow my blog are just like me.....mom extraordinaire! With that title come overwhelming responsibility.....and that's where I've been the last two weeks. If I can just be transparent with you guys, I have been so overwhelmed with household work, taking my kiddos to school, dance, going to a class myself, and just trying to stretch myself in all the areas that desire me or need me. whew. So, I'm workin or getting caught up and getting a handle on how life is for us right now. I've committed to myself to take time everyday to spend time in my Bible and prayer and that alone has brought more peace in my heart. With that said, this is the prayer I'm offering up today:

Lord, I ask that my extended family members will know and experience Your wisdom each day. May they find that wisdom is more precious than rubies, and godly understanding better than gold. Nothing they desire on earth can compare with knowing You and following Your ways. Some of them are far from You, Lord. I pray they would learn the ways of Your wisdom, the pleasantness of Your paths, and the peace that You bring.

(from Power Prayers for Women by Jackie M Johnson)

Tuesdays Tip

2009-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

A good and yummy way to store pineapple is to cut it into bite sized chunks, store them in a plastic or glass container with orange or pineapple juice to cover. The juice will help keep the pineapple fresh longer and if you use OJ, the pineapple will take in some of that flavor! :)

Tomatoes

2009-08-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

Are your tomatoes coming in full force? Ours are coming.....but even if we didn't have a garden I love tomatoes and would buy them just to make the following recipes! Salsas.....oven dried tomatoes, sauces, stuffed......YUM! Here is a collection of yummy tomato recipes from great blogs and recipe sites! Add your own if you'd like. :)

Salsa

Garden Fresh Salsa

Great Salsa.com

Stuffed

Ricotta Stuffed Tomatoes

Spinach and Ham Stuffed Tomatoes

Tomato Pie

Pasta with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

Tomato Basil Elephant Ears

Roasted Tomato Soup

Bruschetta

Tomato Cream Sauce

Sauce

Fresh Tomato Pizza Sauce

Fresh Tomato Enchilada Sauce

Fresh Tomato Spaghetti Sauce

Grilled Cheddar, Tomato and Bacon Sandwiches

Step by Step on how to can tomatoes

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-08-17T09:29:00.001-07:00

They may not look the prettiest but they are yummy! :)

Combine the wet:
3/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 stk soft butter
3/4 cup honey
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg 1 egg white

Combine the dry:
1 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour (or you could use all whole wheat)
1 cup oats (old fashion, rolled)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add dry to wet slowly. Mix in 12 oz chocolate. Drop 2-3 Tbl size cookies on a sheet. (or whatever size you like) Bake at 350 for 10-14 or until golden and done. (time may vary depending on the size you chose)

The Lunchbox

2009-08-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or did the summer just fly by! School started yesterday for alot of the surrounding area. That means.....school lunches. hhmm....it seems to be hit and miss, I loved school lunches when I was a kid, but, I look at some of the things they serve now and think, "no wonder childhood obesity is crazy in this country." When I worked at an elementary a few years ago, I was shocked at some of the things they served.....but here is the real kicker.....I was even more shocked at what the parents sent with the kids!!!! I remember one kid brought two containers of chocolate milk, a PB & J, and a swiss miss EVERYDAY! Another child....a lunchable, two bags of chips, a little debbie, and a soda!!! What is it going to take for us to wake up and stop feeding our precious children junk! (I'm a sucker for junk food too.....but moderation and self control is the key) Ok....taking a breather and stepping down now.....now to the good part. Here are some great ideas for the lunchbox:

Kids love to dip!

How about packing a lunchbox with dips and dippable foods.
*apple slices with almond butter or yogurt.
*carrots, celery, crackers with hummus or a seseme dressing

Bite sized items
*cheese cubes
*cherry tomatoes
*melon
*snap peas
*grapes

Toppings
*top yogurt or cottage cheese with
toasted coconut
seeds
nuts
granola
fruit

Fruits/sweets
*cut a kiwi in half, wrap with plastic wrap and let them scoop out the center with a spoon
*smoothies
*granola
*healthy chocolate chip cookies
*dried fruit

Main dish
*Sandwiches
try using multigrain bagel, flatbread, tortillas, pita
*Pinwheels
roll filling in a tortilla and cut every 1-2 in. secure with a toothpick if needed
*Mini meatballs with rice or pasta

For more ideas:
The Visual
The Healthy Lunchbox
Laptop Lunches

$1 Subs at Jimmy Johns today (Bellevue,NE)

2009-08-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Just got word of this fantastic deal. It's customer appreciation day today at Jimmy Johns (Harlan location: end of 370 and galvin) and you can get $1 subs from 11-3. You have to order inside but thats the only rule! Yummy!

Zucchini

2009-08-13T06:59:00.001-07:00

This is my daughter, Claire, holding her zucchini "bat."

Is your garden overflowing with zucchini? Mine is! My zucchini beast, I mean plant, has pretty much taken over a section of my garden. So, here are a plethora of zucchini recipes. Add yours if you'd like.

Grilled Stuffed Zucchini

Zucchini Pizza

Zucchini Carrot Cake

Freezer Zucchini Soup

Baked Zucchini Sticks

Roasted Veggie Lasagna

Veggie Tian

Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin

Roasted Salmon with Zucchini

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

Zucchini Breakfast Casserole

Zucchini Cookies

You can even eat the flower from the zucchini plant

Fried Zucchini Flower

Zucchini Flower Taco Recipe

More Zucchini Blossom Recipes

If this is not enough....you can buy a book!!! The Classic Zucchini Cookbook

And of course I could never forget.......the beloved Zucchini Bread Recipe or how about 20!

Aug Meals Month at a glance

2009-08-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

I'm planning my meals for the whole month for August. (yes I know, it's the 10th...but I guess I'll have a head start on September) :)

I have a few reasons for doing it this way.
1. We are working on actually staying on budget this month.
2. School starts soon and I want to make the most of this month.
3. I have some house projects that really need to be finished so I want meal time to be easy.
4. I'm working on a few meal planning projects. :) (more to come soon!)

With these reasons in mind I've decided to roll up my sleeves, tie my hair back and make 15 meals that I can freeze. The rest of the meals are somewhat easy to throw together with few ingredients. So, here is the list. I'll add links/pictures to the recipes after we make em. Have a yummy month!

Freezer Meals

Twisted Meatballs
Monterey Chicken Soup
Italian Minestrone
Balsamic Chicken
Chicken Marsala
Feta Burgers
Honey Lime Chicken
Stuffed Flank Steak
Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Pineapple Lemon Chicken
Sausage Penne w/ Tomatoes & Cheese
Border Chicken Enchiladas
Oven BBQ Pork Roast
Stromboli
Twice Baked Potatoes

Frozen Sides

Italian Veggie Medley
Baked Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Rice
Green Chili Rice Bake

Additional Easy Meals (not freezer)

Speghetti
Quesadillas (freezer friendly)
Brats
Pizza Wraps (freezer friendly)
Zucchini Boats
Hippie Burittos (these are already in my freezer)
Breakfast (we'll do this 4 times this month)

Date Night ~ Wheatfields

2009-08-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

For date night last week we ended up at Wheatfields at Shadow Lake. (Omaha) It was really good. We had never been but had heard good things. We sat outside (it was a beautiful evening). Service was great. Their menu was huge and took us forever to order.

Rob settled on this. It's an open faced beef sandwich with asparagus and a cream sauce. It was super yummy. Look at those portions!!!!!

I ordered the salmon with a hollandaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were some of the best I've ever had. With these portions, you can bet we had to skip dessert. BUT, the bakery section looked absolutely beautiful! This would be a great place to go with the girlfriends for dessert after a movie! (hint, hint....whose with me???)

Monday Meal Plan

2009-08-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

The plan for the week:
(recipes and pictures to come throughout the week)

Turkey burgers with cranberry spread (trying something new and quite adventurous)

Honey Lemon Chicken

Cowboy Beans

Sweet Potato Waffles (I make a bunch and freeze)

We're going out of town on Friday so our meals are cut short. Have a great week!

Grilled Turdey...oh...I mean turkey Burgers with cranberry spread

2009-08-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

OK, so normally I would delete this from the meal plan and pretend it never happened....but this week....I wanted you see that I too have dinner's that flop. Yesterday in Sunday school we talked about how we put on this facade of perfection when really we are just human and it's not right for us to portray that quality when Jesus Christ was the only perfect being ever to walk this earth.

So, here I am taking off my mask (and vowing never to make this again) :)

Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Spread
Sounds decent but the texture was......well....weird. Not that great of flavor either. And a big thumbs down to cranberry spread too. It was edible, don't get me wrong.....we ate it (well, rob and I did....the kids....no way)...but I'm putting it away in the mental file cabinet, "Do Not Make Again."

Here is the recipe if you really feel led to try it. If you love it....Great :)

Turkey Burgers

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
pepper

Combine turkey, onion, mustard, Worcestershire, seasonings. Cover and refrigerate for 30 min. (maybe this is where I went wrong, I made into patties and then refrigerated). Grill over med heat until no longer pink. Warm buns and spread with cranberry spread (recipe below) Add lettuce and pickle and serve.

Cranberry Spread

4 oz cream cheese at room temp
2 Tbl whole berry cranberry sauce
1 tsp orange zest
Mix together until well blended.

Enchiladas Blanco

2009-08-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thights (cooked in the same way as the above recipe)
1 can green chilis
3 scallions, sliced
1 package cream cheese (I use fat free)
2 Tbl sour cream (I use light)
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 package tortillas
1 1/2 cup monteray jack cheese (or pepperjack)
2 cups heavy cream
3 garlic cloves crushed

Combine cooked chicken, drained green chilies, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and spinach together.
Heat the heavy cream and crushed garlic gently until it reaches a simmer. Remove the garlic. Add 1/2-1 cup of cream to the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan. Take the cream off the heat. Add shredded cheese to hot cream and stir to melt.
Microwave tortillas until soft and pliable (30 sec intervals). Fill tortillas with chicken mix and place in the pan seam side down. Cover with white sauce. Cook at 350 for 20 min until hot throughout and bubbly.
Garnish with cilantro and chopped black olives.

*I've wanted to add roasted garlic to this dish but haven't yet. Let me know if anyone tries this and how it turns out.

Oven dried tomatoes (sundried tomatoes)

2009-08-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

2 pints cherry tomatoes, cut in half
3 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons chopped oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Cut tomatoes in half. Toss with herbs, garlic, and oil. Spread on parchment covered baking sheet.
Cook for one hour in a 225 degree oven. Turn off oven and let tomatoes sit in warm oven overnight. Can store in jar in fridge for
2-3 weeks. Can cover with olive oil to store. Can freeze.

Use in pasta, sandwhiches, salads, pizzas, or just to snack on.

Cola Pork Chops

2009-08-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Cola Pork Chops

1/2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
4 bone-in rib or center-cut pork chops, about an inch thick
4 tsp veg oil
1 cup cola
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup

Combine the five-spice powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper in a small bowl. Season chops with spice mixture. Heat 2 Tbl oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add chops and cook until well browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Whisk cola, brown sugar, and ketchup in a med bowl. Add to skillet and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 min. Return chops with any juices back to skillet and simmer another 1-2 minutes. Transfer chops and glaze to platter and serve.

Disclaimer: I'm Complaining :(

2009-07-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

So after a morning spent with my kiddos at the library, I decide to drive through somewhere and treat them to some lunch. The closest place was Hardee's and I knew they would have a salad for me. Now, I don't visit Hardee's too often....in fact....I honestly can't remember the last time I went there......and now I remember why!

I order this:

....A Southwest Chicken Salad.

Looks good, huh. Notice the vibrant green lettuce....the juicy red tomatoes.....the cheese peeking out under a load of chicken. Don't forget the best part.....a southwest dressing to boot. Here's what Hardee's says about their delicious creation:

"A spicy chicken fillet served on a bed of shredded lettuce with diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, red and yellow onions and a zesty Santa Fe sauce, all in a crispy flour tortilla bowl."

I asked to substitute the breaded chicken for some grilled chicken. They said sure, with an extra charge. I thought.....I hate that....but I'll try it.

This is what I got:

Overcooked tortilla bowl, a heaping of shredded ice burg lettuce, a couple red onion, tomatoes that weren't ripe, and a few pieces of chicken. No cheese, no dressing, throw presentation out the window!
Here is the real kicker.......I paid $4.29 PLUS an extra $1.25 for grilled chicken. WHAT!!! I don't know about you guys, but ice burg lettuce is on sale for .68 cents where I shop.

I'm not normally a complainer (I'm the one who usually calls and compliments afterward) and my expectations are not high for fast food.....but seriously! I'm e-mailing the company. I'll let you know how it goes.

Stir Fried Shrimp

2009-07-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

3 scallions, white minced and green thinly sliced
2 tsp chili-garlic sauce
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 Tbl veg oil
1 lb extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined (21-25 per lb)
1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut 1 1/2 pieces
1/4 c oyster sauce
1 Tbl toasted sesame seeds

Combine scallion whites, chili-garlic, ginger, and 1 tsp of the sesame oil in a bowl. Set aside. Heat veg oil over high heat until just smoking. Add shrimp and cook until just opaque. (about 30 sec) Push shrimp to sides of pan and add scallion mix to center. Cook about 30 sec. Stir mix into shrimp and then set aside in a large bowl. Reduce heat to med. Add asparagus and 1/2 c water. Cover and cook 3 min. Uncover and simmer until crisp tender. (about 2 min) Add oyster sauce and shrimp back to pan until shrimp are fully cooked and sauce has thickened. (about 1 min) Stir in sesame seeds and remaining sesame oil. Garnish with green scallions.

Family Friday ~ Listen

2009-07-31T05:02:00.000-07:00

I find myself so caught up in what I'm doing at the moment that I often react negatively to my kiddos or don't completely listen to what they have to say. I too often nod my head and say, "uh huh," not fully hearing their requests or statements. (this is not easy for me to admit)
I came across Proverbs 17:6 which says, "Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;
parents are the pride of their children." It made me ask myself, am I conducting/instructing so that my children are or will be proud that I am their mom? Tough question.

One thing I do know is that I can listen better. Honestly, I could use the little breaks anyway. So, I'm challenging myself to listen better to them, read with them to encourage them to listen, and also listen to things together. Here are a few things I think are great....they are very different from each other but still great.

(purchasing this one helps kids in Africa impacted by AIDS/HIV)

Adventures in Odyssey presents original audio stories brought to life by actors who make you feel like part of the experience. These fictional, character-building dramas are created by an award-winning team that uses storytelling to teach lasting truths. Maybe that's why over 20 million products have been distributed worldwide.

So dust off your imagination and join the kids in Odyssey for inspiring adventures that are flat-out fun!

Feta Burgers

2009-07-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

(I read somewhere on the internet that if you put your thumbprint in the center of the patti, they will not puff up when you grill em. For the record.......not true. Sorry, ours still puffed up. The good news, they cooked evenly and quickly and I'll continue with the thumb print for that reason.) :)

1 lb lean ground beef
1/4 feta cheese (I used reduced fat)
1 tbsp parsley
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried basil
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp montreal seasoning, minced
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Parmesan Garlic Chicken

2009-07-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

6 chicken breasts
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 envelope dry garlic and herb salad dressing mix (or italian)
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup olive oil.

Mix cheese, garlic, and dressing pack. Dip chicken in olive oil and coat with cheese mix. Place on baking dish and cook at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

Tuesdays Tip ~ Enhance Chocolate Cake

2009-07-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

We all are in a rush and sometimes have to just pick up a box cake mix. (check out my box cake mix recipe on Wednesday) When using a chocolate cake mix,
Add cooled prepared coffee in place of water. Coffee is a natural chocolate enhancer!

Monday Meal Plan

2009-07-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here's what's cookin at our house this week:

Parmesan Chicken

Feta Burgers

Breakfast

Enchiladas Blanco

Cola Pork Chops

Stir Fry Shrimp

Leftovers/Eat out

COUPON GIVEAWAY

2009-07-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Nicole is gving away coupons (300) on Mom Saves Money!! Sign up ends WEDNESDAY July 29.

SONday Dinner ~ Honey Pecan Chicken

2009-07-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

(Mt. Soledad San Diego,CA)

Colossians 1:16-17

">WATCH THIS

Honey Pecan Chicken
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
Sauce
2 Tbl butter
1 Tbl shallots, minced
1 c OJ
1/4 c whiskey
1 c whipping cream
2 T honey
1 T cider vinegar
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
Marinade
1/2 c olive oil
2 t fresh thyme, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
Dredge
1/2 c pecans, chopped
1/4 c flour
Olive oil
Mix the marinade ingredients and let chicken marinade up to 24 hours in a freezer bag. (could freeze at this point until ready to use)
Sauce
Melt butter in med saucepan over low heat. Saute shallots. Add OJ and whiskey and turn heat u to med. Let liquid reduce by half. Add cream and cook until slightly thickened. Add honey, vinegar, salt and pepper. Cool. (can freeze until ready to use)
Place pecans and flour together in a big shallow dish. Dredge chicken so that they are coated. Pan fry chicken in olive oil until no longer pink inside. Re heat thawed sauce on low heat until warmed. Serve chicken individually and serve sauce over chicken.

Seasonal Saturday ~ Farmers Market

2009-07-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Crustless Cherry Crumble

2009-07-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

Crustless Cherry Crumble

We served this at a bbq last weekend. It was very yummy. The crumb topping was a little much but still good. We served it with homemade whipped cream. :)

3 heaping cups pitted, halved sweet cherries (Fresh cherries work best. Do not use canned cherry pie filling; it is much too wet.)

1/2 cup self-rising flour1 tablespoon shortening

1/8 teaspoon salt, optional

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 batch crumb topping (recipe below)

In a medium bowl, lightly mix with a fork flour, salt and shortening until a uniform, soft-crumbed mixture forms. It will look like very coarse meal. With a whisk, mix in cinnamon and brown sugar to combine. Add milk, eggs and extract, beating thoroughly to create a smooth batter. Pour batter over cherries in dish. Sprinkle crumb topping over entire surface of filling to cover it. Place on center rack of oven on a cookie sheet to catch any drips. Bake for at least 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. For a firmer, less moist texture, continue to bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until the edges are very brown (check every five minutes). Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before refrigerating. Pie will set best when fully cold, but can be enjoyed while still warm. For those who prefer a more cake-like texture, reduce milk to 1/3 cup or use only 1 egg. Serves 6-8.

Crumb Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour (next time I'll use 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup brown sugar

½ stick (4 tablespoons) firm butter or margarine, coarsely cubed

1/2 cup chopped almonds (or nut of your choice) (I used walnuts)

In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Lightly rub and toss butter and dry ingredients between your palms until a uniform, soft-crumbed mixture forms. Handle as little as possible. It will look like very coarse meal. Add almonds, tossing lightly just to distribute evenly.

This recipe came from The Well Seasoned Cook

Explore as a family

2009-07-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

We have the perfect opportunity to explore as a family this weekend. Here, Mutal of Omaha is putting on Wild About Omaha and has a ton of things to do as a family for FREE! :)

There is everything from The Durham Museum and the Botanical Gardens to the Henry-Doorly Zoo and a Baseball Game on Saturday. Did I mention for FREE!

Island Cooler

2009-07-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

(the beautiful island of Guam....we had the privilage to live here!!)

Island Cooler

7 cups water
2 cups sugar
4 tea bags
12oz frozen lemonade
6oz limeade
12oz frozen pineapple-orange-banana juice
2 cups pineapple juice
Cold 7-up or, Sprite, or Club Soda, or Ginger Ale
Bring water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Steep for 10 min. Let cool. Add Lemonade, limeade, pineapple, pineapple orange banana juice. Stir.
Freeze in a container for at least 12 hours.
Scoop out with ice cream scooper and fill each glass 1/2 full. Pour soda over and enjoy!

Raspberry Jalapeno Chicken

2009-07-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Jalapeno Chicken

1/2 cup Raspberry Jalapeno Jelly (It's all about the Bees)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T rice wine vinegar
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t garlic powder
2 T juice (apple, pineapple, raspberry, oj)
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Combine all and pour over chicken in a freezer bag. Freeze until your ready to use. Thaw for 24 hours before you cook in the refrigerator.

Pour all into a large baking dish. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 min. Remove from oven and transfer to platter. Spoon juices over chicken. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

Tuesday's Tip

2009-07-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Do your berries sink? Toss berries in dry mix before mixing in. I've always done it this way and they have never sunk. :)

Meal Plan Monday

2009-07-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Chicken in Raspberry Jalapeno sauce

Burgers

Breakfast Waffles with fruit

Grilled Salmon

Chicken and Beef Kabobs (bbq with neighbors)

Leftovers

Roast Chicken

SONday Dinner

2009-07-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

What happen to the days of cooking the majority of the afternoon for an awesome Sunday dinner? My guess.....we don't have the time......we don't have the energy......we want to be left alone on Sundays....Sunday's are for individual families. Honestly, those excuses are very valid and true....but every now and then, don't ya just want to go all out.....eat, play, eat some more. Well, I propose (c'mon, you knew this was coming) not letting this tradition die completely, but incorporating "Sunday Dinner" once a month. It's less overwhelming and won't break your back or the bank. Might I even propose making the majority of this dinner in advance.....SAY WHAT.....HUH.....yeah, making the main dish and the dessert and freezing it until your ready. All that left to do is invite your family or friends and make a couple side dishes.

Think about this menu:

Molasses-Bourbon Short Ribs (freeze ahead)
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans (can be done in 5 min with a pressure cooker)
Orange Dream Pie (freeze ahead)

or this:

Chicken Wellington (freeze ahead)(recipe below)
Baked Broccoli Medley (freeze ahead)
Rice Pilaf
Chocolate Meringue Torte (freeze ahead)

(I can picture you nodding your head in approval gaining confidence every minute :)

Here's to get you started or at least brainstorming:

Chicken Wellington
(serves 12)

12 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 Tbl butter
9oz cream cheese, softened
12oz canned mushrooms, drained (I will saute fresh when I make this, personal prefernce)
6 Tbl chopped green onions
3/4 tsp salt
3/8 tsp pepper
3-10oz can crescent rolls or phyllo dough sheets

Flatten breasts to 1/8 inch thick (do this on a day that your stressed and work it out). Pan fry the chicken in butter until no longer pick. Combine cream cheese, mushrooms, green onions, salt, and pepper. Place 2 Tbl of cheese mix in the center of each chicken piece. Roll chicken up and place in the center of roll or phyllo sheet. (phyllo is extremely thin, you might need to use more than one sheet, it also takes some patience to work with, and DONT let it dry out!!) Wrap dough around and seal. Wrap each breast in plastic wrap and place inside a freezer bag.

On serving day:
Thaw in fridge slowly (at least 24 hours if not longer). Place seam down on a cookie sheet. Brush with a beaten egg. Bake at 375 for 20-30 min.

While baking:
Melt 3 Tbl butter and saute 1 Tbl green onion. Blend in 1 1/2 Tbl flour. Add 1 1/2 cup milk slowly. Season with 1/2 tsp salt. Add 3/4 cup cheese (your choice) or 2 oz of mushrooms. Serve as sauce over chicken.

Farmer's Market

2009-07-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

I love the Farmer's Market!

Family Fridays ~ Can I have S'more please

2009-07-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love s'mores! I mean really.....a toasty....sticky....gooey mess of melted chocolate over heated marshmallows! mmmmmm, NUFF said.

Check out these inspirations based off of the beloved s'more.

Martha....you did it again! :)

and again! :)

S'more brownies

Not sure if anything beats the original though......and if you haven't had one or made them before....only one line is appropriate......You're Killing Me Smalls! (for those that have not a clue what I'm talkin bout.....watch this.....and then go watch the whole movie)

Happy Friday! :)

Summer Rocks (ice cubes....he he...so creative) :)

2009-07-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

There are a number of items that can be frozen into ice cubes to enhance your drinks.....or just look pretty. Wouldn't you know Martha has already thought about this. (of course)

You can also freeze leftover coffee into ice cubes to add to your iced coffee. Freezing a coffee bean inside would be cute too.

Add lemonade flavored ice cubes to your iced tea.

For endless possibilities, buy (or make) some flavored syrups. Mix 2 Tbl per 1 cup of water (or whatever liquid you choose) and freeze.

Cherry or Vanilla ice cubes in cokes. Yum. :)

Lemon or Lime in margaritas or long islands. (did I just see you eye brows perk up?)

Let us know if you think of some more creative ones.

2 Free Boxes of Kashi Granola

2009-07-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

I love this stuff! It's so yummy by itself with milk or on top of yogurt! See The Suburban Jungle to enter. :)

Enchiladas

2009-07-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have enchiladas on our meal plan this week but we all know there are soooo many variations of enchiladas. Here are some I think are noteworthy. At the bottom is a link to a homemade enchilada sauce. Yummy. :)

Beef Enchiladas
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (do this with gloves!!!)
1 can refried beans (16oz)
1 can tomato sauce (8oz)
1 tsp cumin
8 flour tortillas
1 can enchilada sauce (20oz)
1 cup shredded cheddar

Brown ground beef, onion, jalapenos. Drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, and cumin. Simmer 15 min.
Soften tortillas in microwave at 30 sec intervals.
Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 9 baking dish. Fill each tortilla with beef mix and roll putting the seam down in the dish. Cover with the rest of the enchilada sauce Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 for 30-35 min until hot and bubbly.

*this dish freezes well! To freeze: before baking put the shredded cheese in a seperate zip-loc. Wrap enchiladas and freeze together. Thaw overnight in a fridge. Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 for 30-35 min until hot and bubbly.

Enchiladas Verde
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 can chicken broth
2 cans green chili sauce (1 8oz and 1 15oz)
1 can diced green chilies
1 can salsa verde
2 cups monteray jack, shredded
1 cup onion, chopped
1 package tortillas

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken in a skillet, then cover with broth and water to cover. Boil until chicken is cooked through and can be shredded.
Mix the onion and cheese together. Pour the 8oz chili sauce in a 9 x 9 pan.
Fill tortillas with chicken, cheese (save half the cheese mix), diced green chilis, and green chili sauce. Roll and place seam side down.
Pour remaining greem chilli sauce over and salsa verde. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 min until hot and bubbly.

*could substitue pepper jack for an extra kick.

Enchiladas Blanco
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thights (cooked in the same way as the above recipe)
1 can green chilis
1 package cream cheese (I use fat free)
2 Tbl sour cream (I use light)
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 package tortillas
1 1/2 cup monteray jack cheese (or pepperjack)
2 cups heavy cream
3 garlic cloves crushed

Combine cooked chicken, drained green chilies, softened cream cheese, sour cream, and spinach together.
Heat the heavy cream and crushed garlic gently until it reaches a simmer. Remove the garlic. Add 1/2-1 cup of cream to the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan. Take the cream off the heat. Add shredded cheese to hot cream and stir to melt.
Microwave tortillas until soft and pliable (30 sec intervals). Fill tortillas with chicken mix and place in the pan seam side down. Cover with white sauce. Cook at 350 for 20 min until hot throughout and bubbly.
Garnish with cilantro and chopped black olives.

*I've wanted to add roasted garlic to this dish but haven't yet. Let me know if anyone tries this and how it turns out.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Meal Plan Monday

2009-07-13T09:36:00.001-07:00

This week is all about easy for me. We got our grill up and going. (thanks scott and karissa) so I foresee lots of grilling this week. Ok by me! Less time in a hot kitchen. :)
Have a great week!

Enchiladas

Grilled Chicken

Cilantro Lime Salad

Kielbasa & Veggie Packs

Leftovers

Burgers

Chicken Rollatini with garlic white sauce

Pretty. Cool. Cakes. Giveaway

2009-07-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

There is a really nice giveaway at $5 dinners. An e-book called Pretty. Cool. Cakes. Who wouldn't love to know how to make better more creative cakes! The giveaway ends Weds. July 15th.

My journey to becoming a Personal Chef

2009-07-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

I've made a decision to pursue becoming a personal chef! I'd love to share my journey with you. To start off right you might have questions.

What is a personal chef? (according to hireachef.com)

A Personal Chef Service is your answer to providing you with great tasting, healthful, affordable meals in the comfort of your home without the daily grind of shopping and cooking. Offering the convenience of meal preparation in your home, typically consisting of two weeks worth of meals, a Personal Chef Service includes: Customized Meal Planning; Grocery Shopping; In Home Meal Prep; Storage and Cleanup; Enjoyment!

Who would someone hire a personal chef?

Busy professionals who desire home cooked meals
Busy families who desire home cooked meals
Seniors
Anyone wanting help with specific dietary needs or restrictions
Families with a deployed spouse (or traveling spouse)
Families with new additions
Those just needing a break

My next decision to make is to educate or not.....where....how....and cost. Stay tuned.

Recipe Contest ~ Zucchini Bread

2009-07-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I am looking for the best Zucchini Bread recipe! Do you have a great one I just have to try?

The winner of the best recipe (judged by myself, family, and friends) will win a book package. The package will include The G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck and two cookbooks still to be determined. You have until Aug. 1st to enter a recipe. If I get a duplicate recipe I will take the first one e-mailed to me.

Here's how to enter.
1.Become a follower or subscribe to Reclaim Dinner
2.Send your recipe to reclaimdinner@gmail.com with the subject zucchini bread recipe.

The winner will be announced Sept. 1st! Good luck and I can't wait to try your recipe!

Family Fridays ~ Pray

2009-07-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a book called Power Prayers for Women by Jackie M Johnson, suggested by my friend. (thanks Kim) The whole book is wonderful, but I especially love the chapter on praying for your children. So this Friday is a little different. I usually blog about something fun and frugal for a family to do, but today I wanted to pass on this prayer. It's a prayer on teaching our children the importance and power of prayer.

Lord, I pray that You would help me to be a good role model as I teach my kids to pray. As a spiritual coach, empower me to pray for them and with them. May I provide clear instruction and a consistent example so my children can form good prayer habits. I know that I'm not perfect, but I am submitted to You. I ask that as I follow Your example, Lord, they will follow mine--and be people of prayer. Amen

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children. Psalm 78:4-5

SONday ~ Worship

2009-07-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church...nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Thy Presence. ~Susanna Wesley

God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Thirsty Thursday Free Mocha Mondays at Mickey D's

2009-07-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample coffee every Monday starting July 13 until Aug 3 from 7am to 7pm at McDonald's. Choose an 8oz hot mocha or 7oz iced mocha while supplies last at participating locations. No coupon necessary.

Coupon giveaway from Mom Saves Money

2009-07-09T07:38:00.001-07:00

My friend, Nicole, at Mom saves Money has another great giveaway.
She is giving away 400 coupons to two winners. (200 each). See Mom Saves Money for details and to enter the contest!

Thanks Nicole!

WIN FREE tickets to Women of Faith Conference

2009-07-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Mommy snacks is hosting an amazing giveaway! Four free tickets to a Women of Faith Conference and you can choose your own location! Visit her blog to enter!

Happy Monday

2009-07-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Aaaahhhh.....I'm home. I've spent the last week travel with a college choir to Kentucky. It was sooo much fun. The people in KY are amazing! Some of the nicest folk I've come across. I have tons of catching up to do around here but it was worth going! I'll update ya'll (as they say in KY) through out the week. Here is what I'm planning on serving my fam this week (links to the recipes are coming):

Asparagus Chicken Roll-ups

Basil and Tomato Pizza

Cola Pork Chops

Breakfast Casserole

Asian Chicken Wraps

Eat Out

Sausage Foil Packs

Hope you had a great 4th! Have a blessed week!

Date Night ~ Stellas

2009-07-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

We went to stellas for our date night this week. Stella's is a super old establishment thats been making burgers for years....and years! They serve hand made patties on a napkin and have a pretty good selection. We're not crazy about their fries or onion rings....the the burgers are very nice! Enjoy the pics and if you ever visit Bellevue, NE and want a burger, stop by Stellas. Oh, and they remodeled not too long ago and it looks great and is comfortable!

I ordered the mushroom swiss burger. (they didn't skimp on the shrooms...which is a personal pet peeve)

Fries need salt and onion rings were crispy but not a whole lot of flavor. Still good...just not our favorites.

Rob ordered the patty melt. YUMMY. Nuff said. :)

My husband loves the fried ice cream at Stellas. The coconut is crunchy and the ice cream creamy. mmmm

Tuesday's Tip ~ How to cut a pineapple

2009-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I posted one other time about how to make pineapple rings....but now...I've got pictues! Yay! Don't you just love pictures. :) lol.

~cut the top and bottom off

~work your way around the pineapple slicing off the pokey skin (it's ok if some of the eyes are showing...it won't hurt ya)

~Lay the pineapple on it's side and slice desired thickness

~Use a water or soda lid and place in the center and push. Remove the core. (the core is a little tougher but is still edible)

ENJOY!

Meal Plan Mondays

2009-06-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

I'm in Kentucky this week for the North American Christian Convention. So this week's meal plan is lots of eating out for me. Here are a few websites/blogs that I find great recipes! Enjoy and have a blessed week!

$5 Dinners

Lynn's Kitchen

Recipezaar

For the Love of Cooking

Seasonal Saturdays ~ Farmer's Market

2009-06-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Famer's Market today was awesome! It wasn't too humid, a little cloudy, and we even got a light shower. Lighting was perfect for some nice pics. Here ya go:

Yes, that is a mountain of basil! ha ha. We are making pesto and pizza margarita. The cheese comes from a dairy in Brainard, NE. As you can see in the pic with all the cheese samples...the majority of the cheese was sold out by the time I got there! It's wonderful!

Have a great weekend!

Thirsty Thursday ~ Strawberry Lemonade

2009-06-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade
(makes 1 quart)

1 container sliced strawberries

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

3/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups ice cubes (can use less)

In a blender process all ingredients until smooth. Drink immediately.

This recipe comes from The Grocery Cart Challenge

Library Stack

2009-06-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Claire is in VBS this week, so Caleb and I spent our morning at the library. Gosh, I love that place! Here is what I walked out with:

Landscape Makeovers by HGTV: I'm lovin this book! There are lots of before and after pics as well as 50 DIY projects. I'm most excited about reading through the chapter on children's gardens and outdoor play rooms.

Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan: I visit apartment therapy online quite often so I was thrilled to see they have a book too! We live in a 1920's teeny tiny house....(it's our first...so we are "learning" to love it). This book and website....so inspirational to me. Giving the date of our home...we have NO storage, so that is always what I'm looking for. Great book/website for ideas on storage and small spaces.

Best of the Best by Food & Wine: It's no surprise to see I checked out some cookbooks! This one is the best recipes from the 25 best cookbooks of the year (I believe 2007). The cookbooks cover lots of different categories.....they range from How to Boil Water (by the Food Network) to The Food of France (by Sarah Woodward)....and how dare I not mention The Cake Book (by Tish Boyle) or The Essence of Chocolate (by John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg). Stay tuned...I'm sure to make some yummy things from this gem! :)

America's Test Kitchen from the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine: And last but certainly not least, America's Test Kitchen. I do love these folks. It took me about 5-6 years of cooking before I started reading and trusting these recipes. (I don't want to admit this...but I think it was because they lack colored pictures :( Anyway, why do I trust them now? Their motto is, "we make the mistakes so you don't have to." And...it's true...and they show little pics of their mistakes...like...what the inside of an apple pie looks like when you don't pre-cook the apples...or..what sliced beef brisket looks like if you cut it before resting. They also do reviews on tons of kitchen products. Anything from food processors to oven mits.

This is what my kiddos are reading:

You say Hola, I say Hello by Elizabeth Zapata: Our neighbors are Hispanic and Claire and Caleb love playing with their little girl but she doesn't speak much english, so I'm trying to incorporate some spanish into their vocabulary. (Caleb is picking up quite a bit from Dora and Diego though...ha ha)

All Aboard! by Bill Mayer: This is an alphabet book with emphasis on travel and transportation. It's got some nice pictures....to honest though...I'm not sure it's gonna hold my kiddos attention long.

Little Boy by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds: This book is sooo cute and all about letting little boys be.....little boys! Well done :)

The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson: This book is about a father and child and their trip under the moon. I like it....and I think this will be a great bedtime book for our little ones.

Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis: The main character of this book is Lulu the Ladybug Girl. She is a red and black polka-dot boot wearing hero with wings and a tutu. (dress-up) And nothing is too big or daring for her! Love this book based on the authors daughter. Too cute!

Tuesday's Tip ~ How to make the perfect hard boiled egg

2009-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Have you been trying to figure out how to make the perfect hard boiled egg?

Cover the eggs with water and a splash of vinegar (it supposedly helps to keep the whites together if the egg were to crack). Bring to a boil. As soon as it starts boiling, turn off the burner and cover for 15 minutes. Pour cold water over and peel. Success everytime! :)

Meal Plan Monday

2009-06-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm trying 3 new recipes this week! But here's the good part, they are all under 30 minutes!

I hope to be unveiling some news pretty soon.....regarding cooking (no I'm not pregnant...lol).

Enjoy your week and I pray you find time to enjoy some great dinners and great family time as well.

If you make any of the recipes found on this website, please send me a pic. I'd love to share with everybody and know what you think!

Stir-fried Sesame Shrimp
(I'll add a pic later)

Boursin Chicken with Mushrooms
(making these tomorrow for company) :)

Sichuan Pork Noodles

(planning on making the kiddos something different, not sure if this will be spicy)

Feta Burgers

Smothered Breakfast Burritos

Leftovers

Eat Out

Click here to print this meal plan with recipes and a grocery list!

Father's Day Menu

2009-06-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

What father doesn't love a good ol' cookout?!?!?!

Montreal Steak
Your hubby or dad's favorite cut of steak. Sprinkle 1 Tbl of seasoning per pound of steak before grilling.

Grilled Corn with lime and cheese

Roasted Asparagus and cherry tomato with balsamic vinaigrette

Potato Salad

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Family Fridays ~ Father's Day

2009-06-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Do you have your plans picked out for Father's Day yet? If not, try this new tradition.....Father's Day Adventure. Make clues or have the kids make a clue for Dad on where you're going.....example: wear swimming trunks.....or bring your sunglasses. Think about things he always wanted to do or a hobby he has always wanted to try. Maybe a museum or water activity, whatever you decide to do......have fun let the men in your life know how much you appreciate them! :)

adapted from familyfun.com

Which Blog Wednesday ~ Mommy Enterprises.com

2009-06-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Today's feature is Mommy Enterprises.com! Stefani runs this great website and has sooo many great tips and tools. You won't be surprised to find that my favorite is the freebie/contest section, specifically the coffee samples and stuff!

Here is our interview:

Name: Stefani
Blog: http://www.mommyenterprises.com/
Thoughts, Opinions, Reviews and More From A Work At Home Mom
What is your blog about: My blog is geared towards a variety of topics. I do product reviews on products I think other moms would enjoy. I also share freebies, work at home opportunities, tips, website reviews and more.
What is your passion in doing this blog: I love being able to express my thoughts and opinions about products, websites and services to other moms.
Best tip(s) for WAHM: There are definitely ways to make money at home. If you put your mind to it, you can start making multiple streams of extra income at home. This can be done by blogging, starting a home business opportunity, freelance writing, finding a work at home job and more.
Anything else you'd like to share about you, family, or blog: I am a full time work at home mom of 4. I stay home with my kids and juggle a network of websites and blogs geared towards moms. On top of that I help other moms generate leads for their home based business, write articles, do freelance writing for other clients and more.

Leave a comment to tell us your favorite part of Mommy Enterprises.
Don't forget to sign up on Mommy's Mailing List!

If you are interested in having your blog featured on my blog, leave a comment with your blog address! We'll be in touch! :)

Tuesday's Tip ~ Dump Chicken

2009-06-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

In the summer time goes by so quickly, doesn't it? I find myself running a lot more errands, spending more time with the kiddos, and just simply enjoying the longer daylight. With all that said, I spend a lot less time in the kitchen. If your summer sounds anything like mine, you might be interested in stocking up your freezer with Dump Chicken. Doesn't sound so appetizing, I know. But it's so simple and you'll love the time saver that it is. Basically, you "dump" chicken and a marinade/topping in a freezer bag and freeze. Pull it out 24 hours in advance and grill/bake/broil/stove top(whatever you prefer). During the thawing time it is absorbing the flavors you "dumped" in. It's a great chance to be creative too. Here are some found on various recipe websites. Leave a comment and tell us your favorite.

Sweet Salsa Dump Chicken

Honey-glazed Dump Chicken

Orange Chicken
4 boneless chicken breasts
2 TBS brown sugar
2 TBS soy sauce
3 TBS orange juice conentrate (thawed)
2 teaspoons garlic
1 teaspoon ginger
Coarse salt & Pepper to taste

Jammin Chicken
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup blackberry ,strawberry, peach or apricot jam
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/8 teaspoon salt

Lemon-Garlic Chicken
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Terriyaki Chicken
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine (or sherry)
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 tablespoons minced ginger
1 1/2 pounds chicken pieces

The Old Cookstove

2009-06-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

I drove back home (Maysville, MO) last week to help my mom. My uncle was sick and ended up passing Sunday morning. Although it was a sad trip, I was able to do a few fun things while there. I made it out to a little Amish store 5 miles east of town. The store is called The Old Cookstove. They have everything from homemade pies and breads to deli meats and specialty coffee. Most of their items are homemade and quite enjoyable. I picked up two bags of sanded hot cinnamon balls (one for rob and a guy he works with), root beer and sarsaparilla (rob is a root beer fan :), homemade raisin cinnamon bread, horseradish cheddar, and honey ham. I love the horseradish cheddar. Amazing!

So, if your ever in our part of Missouri....check out The Old Cookstove!

Fun Fiber Honey Cookies

2009-06-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

I was babysitting some girls the other day and we wanted to make cookies, but I really didn't want to blow a ton of calories on normal cookies. So, we made these! They were crunchy because of the fiber one but chewy also. I think these would be great with raisins or dried cranberries. Here is the recipe:

1/2 c light whipped butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c honey
1/4 c egg beaters (or 1 egg)
3/4 c wheat flour
3/4 c all purpose flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2-1 t cinnamon (we really like cinnamon so we added 1 t)
1 1/2 c fiber one cereal

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter, sugar, honey, egg until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl down. Add flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and fiber one. Place heaping spoonful on greased cookie sheet about 2 in apart. Bake for 7-9 min or until golden and set.

Take a pic and send my way when you make these. I'd love to post your picture!

Meal Plan 9

2009-06-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

My meal plan this week is going to be easy and frugal! I plan on only cooking 3-4 times this week. I am going to cook breakfast for my husbands work (only 8 people), so dinner plan is going to be simple.
We are having:

Cuban Black Beans and Rice

Muffin tin Mini Meatloaves

Black Bean Enchiladas (using leftover Cuban black beans)

Parmesan Garlic Chicken

Meatloaf Sliders with chipotle ketchup and crispy onions(using leftover mini meatloaves)

Chicken and Broccoli Quiche (using leftover parmesan chicken)

Tuesday's Tip ~ Meatloaf Burgers

2009-06-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Next time you are making meatloaf, plan to prepare a little extra and shape into burgers. Freeze them layered in between parchment and grill at a later time. If your like me, I love to make the most of my time when cooking. Happy Tuesday!

SONday - Table Manners

2009-06-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

We teach our children the importance of table manners.....chew with your mouth closed.....eat all your dinner.....use your fork, but are we teaching or practicing table manners at God's Table?

What is God's Table? John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." But do we "finish our dinner?" Most of us believe there is a God and maybe even that He sent his Son, Jesus, but do we "believe in Him so that we can have eternal life?" Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." Finish your meal, choose to believe in the One and Only Savior who has the power to seat us at God's Table!

Do we use our tools (forks)? Do we read and put into practice what we read from the Bible? That is our tool. The Bible says not just to be a hearer, but a doer. Choose to use your utensils and live a life that represents who you believe!

So, I pray, Lord, Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (matthew 6:11-13)
And I pray that you who are reading this would taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (psalm 34:8)

Giveaway at $5 Dinners

2009-06-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

Win Some Pace Picante from $5 Dinners.

This blog inspired me to make a frugal meal plan this week. Stay tuned! :)