Mommy Chef

Space Saver

2011-04-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

Oh my! This revolving bookcase would solve so many space issues for my two youngest. They share the largest bedroom upstairs, and there are 4 windows and a fireplace (old house) , so there is very little wall space for beds, dressers and bookshelves. These would fit right between the windows perfectly. But... I would need two. And the $1200 price tag is not cool. So I will ask hubby to add yet another project to his list...

You can find the bookshelf HERE at Pottery Barn Teen

Crescent Chicken and Cream Cheese Bundles

2011-03-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Crescent Chicken & Cream Cheese Bundles

Ingredients

1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 tablespoon diced pimientos
1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
3 tablespoons butter, melted, divided

Directions

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, salt and pepper until smooth. Stir in chicken, milk, onion and pimientos. Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into four rectangles; place on an ungreased baking sheet an press perforations together.
Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture into the center of each rectangle. Bring edges up to the center and pinch to seal. Brush with remaining butter; sprinkle with crumbs.
Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Yield: 2-4 servings.

Blueberry Crumb Cake

2011-03-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

This recipe is from Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa on The Food Network.I have never , ever made a recipe by Ina that did not turn out awesome. This crumb cake is moist, with a very blueberry taste. And hands down, the best crumb topping! I make this and it never lasts long in my house.

Barefoot Contessa's Blueberry Crumb Cake

Ingredients

Streusel

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 lb unsalted butter, melted
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

For the cake

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2/3 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup fresh blueberries
confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Butter and flour a 10-inch round baking pan.
For the streusel, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl.
Stir in the melted butter and then the flour.
Mix well and set aside.
For the cake, cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light.
Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream.

Beatrix Potter Necklace

2011-03-08T19:48:00.000-08:00

I have just completed my Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit necklaces ! I love the way they turned out. And just in time for Easter. Stay tuned for bracelets and rings...
Click on the link below to see more.

BEATRIX POTTER NECKLACES AT AFTER DINNER DESIGNS

Cinnamon Muffins

2011-03-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

My children love cinnamon. And they love muffins. So naturally , these muffins are a staple in the house. Usually I will make a batch while the kids are in school so they can snack on them when they get home. My oldest likes his warmed in the microwave with a slather of butter on top. I make it with the streusel topping to give it a bit more flavor. And slight crunch when you bite into it.

Cinnamon Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Streusel Topping
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons cold butter

Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, beaten

Heat the oven to 400°F with the oven rack in middle. Lightly spray 12 cups in a standard muffin pan with nonstick cooking pray

Instructions

To make streusel : Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.Set aside.

Combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour .

Combine the milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg in a medium bowl. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, and stir only until the flour is moistened. The batter will be lumpy.Do not overmix.

Divide the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 full. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of streusel over each muffin.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of a couple of muffins comes out dry. Cool slightly. Run a small metal spatula around edge of each muffin to loosen it, and lift gently from the pan. Serve muffins warm with butter.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

I decided in January that I was not going to adhere to a weekly menu for a few months and see how it goes. Well, let me tell you, it was not good. I have been on a weekly for years and when I decided to try to come up with ideas daily, I bombed. We have had more soup and sandwiches in the past two months than we have ever had. I have had to run to the grocery store numerous times for certain ingredients ,which made our grocery budget go up. Not cool. So I sat down last night and made out a menu that I intend to follow.

Menu Plan

Monday - Taco Pasta Shells

Tuesday - Enchilada Meatball Subs

Wednesday - Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Thursday - Marinated Grilled London Broil

Friday - Baked Tilapia

Saturday - Out to dinner

Sunday - Slow Cooked Pork BBQ Sandwiches

You can find other meal plans over at Org Junkie .

Pappa di Pomodoro

2011-03-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better on a cold snowy day than a hot bowl of soup. I am a lover of soup, even on warm days, and you can find all sorts of soups in my refrigerator year round. From watermelon , to french onion, to sausage and kale soup. I had a loaf of stale country wheat bread on the counter that I wanted to use up, so I decided to prepare a batch of pappa di pomodoro (bread and tomato soup) that I found at my favorite italian cooking blog The Italian Dish .I did change it a bit by adding onion to the soup, and a bit more parmesan cheese at the end. I love Elaine's recipes, pictures and writing. And my husband and babies are very grateful for the amazing , authentic recipes she provides me!

I have a few recipes passed down to me from my husbands grandmother, but not nearly enough! So if there are any Lanza family members reading this...I need some of the Lanza/Berola recipes! Anyway, this soup is so good. I make it to accompany grilled cheese sandwiches, and it is a great lunch. The kitchen smells so good with the simmering tomatoes, parmesan cheese and spices.

Pappa di Pomodoro
adapted from The Italian Dish

Serves 4

¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
3 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 4 cups)
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
2 cups beef broth
2 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups cubed stale bread
freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste

Heat the olive oil in a deep pot and gently sauté the garlic and onion for just a couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes and basil and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. Add the meat stock, season with some salt and pepper, add the bread and cook, stirring, until the soup comes to a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer for 45 minutes.

Uncover the pot, simmer for another 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls. You can drizzle a little fresh olive oil over the soup, grind a little more pepper on top and grate some parmesan cheese over the top.

Come on Spring!!!!

2011-03-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to ....SNOW. Again. Now don't get me wrong, I love the snow. The serenity , the newness that it invokes . But mother nature has given us a few mild days over the past few weeks, and I am itching for spring. I have ordered the boys' Easter outfits, started decorating the house with bunny rabbits and eggs , and have kept fresh flowers on the kitchen table for weeks! So I need some spring inspiration. This Etsy shop is one of my absolute favorites. Nest Pretty Things will make you swoon. I love her jewelry. The colors and the flowers make me smile on this cold, dreary morning. I hope they make you smile as well.

Buttery Cracker Chicken

2011-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile I fix this chicken dish for my family. Every once in awhile only because I can never seem to keep butter crackers in the house! My kids see a box in the cabinet and can eat them in one sitting , half with peanut butter, half with cheese wedges. So I have found that in order to prepare this dish for dinner I have to either hide a box of crackers or bring a box straight home from the store and cook dinner! It is a fast dinner and the flavor is rich and crunchy. I have added garlic powder , italian spice and lemon pepper on different occasions and every spice mix works well. You can substitute chicken tenders or pork chops for the chicken breasts. So next time you are planning dinner, plan on cracker chicken!

Buttery Cracker Chicken

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup crushed butter cracker crumbs

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

ground black pepper to taste

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place eggs and cracker crumbs in two separate shallow bowls. Mix cracker crumbs with garlic salt and pepper. Dip chicken in the eggs, then dredge in the crumb mixture to coat.

Arrange coated chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place pieces of butter around the chicken.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.

My Etsy Shop

2011-02-21T19:46:00.000-08:00

Handcrafted Pottery Pendant Necklaces! After Dinner Designs

Broken China Plate Jewelry

2011-02-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

For the past decade my husband has been coming home with broken china! He will attend auctions and buy a box lot because there are one or two things he wants in the box. The rest is junk. Or what I received as junk. Until one day it hit me that I could recycle all of those old plates, saucers and teacups that no one else wanted! So I created pendant necklaces from what I could salvage from the brokenness! I have to say, they are all beautiful. And so unique. I get stopped everywhere I go and get asked about them! I make it a point now to have one on when I go out. I have sold a couple literally off my neck! I did my first show this weekend and got such fabulous feedback and sold the majority of my inventory! So I am on a mission to make about a dozen more this week and get them listed in my Etsy shop! These would make great gifts for friends. And for anniversaries, weddings and for bridesmaids! I can also do custom orders using your own broken china! Stay tuned for bracelets, earrings and belt buckles as well. And spread the word! Here are a few pics and a link to my store After Dinner Designs

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

2011-02-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

I made this for dinner and my family loved it.It is a comfort food for us. A definite winter staple on the table.And for me,it is much easier than making stuffed peppers.Which I can never seem to get right anyway.Anyway.this is a great weeknight meal with a salad and fresh bread.You can sub ground turkey or even venison (which I plan to do next time to get rid of some of my husbands endless supply in our freezer).

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup
1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 lb green pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups beef broth
2 teaspoons beef base
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 c cooked white rice (I ude the frozen kind that steams in the microwave)

Brown ground beef until fully cooked.
Drain fat from beef and set aside
Saute the vegetables in the same pan.
Add broth, beef base and ground beef , let simmer for at least 15 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the rice.
Let simmer on low for 10-15 (or longer,it gets better the longer it simmers!)

Turkey Pesto Meatballs

2011-02-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

I bookmarked these turkey pesto meatballs from Bree over at Baked Bree . Absolutely lovely blog with incredible recipes and incredible pictures. Tell her I sent you! Anyway, Bree blogged that her kids loved these meatballs and the ingredients intrigued me, so I made a batch this week. Wow, was she right. Every single one of my kids raved about these meatballs and every single kid ate every bit of their dinner. I made rotini noodles and added a bit of my homemade marinara sauce , then put the meatballs on top. I must admit, these are so easy to make and so good. I will be making them again and again. When ground turkey goes on sale, I will make and freeze . Thank you Bree, for a fabulous recipe.

Turkey Pesto Meatballs
Baked Bree

2 pounds ground turkey breast

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1/2 cup pesto sauce

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs whites

Mix everything in a bowl and combine well. Roll mixtures into balls. I use an ice cream scoop to make them all the same size. I put them on a cooling rack on top of a foil lined cookie sheet sprayed with a little cooking spray.

Bake the meatballs at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.

Wild Rice Casserole with Sausage and Pecans

2011-02-15T01:53:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite go-to meals. For those days when you haven't really made any real plans for dinner. I always try to keep sage pork sausage in the freezer. It is quick to put together and cooks , for the most part, in the oven.Serve with a side salad and bread and you have dinner. try not to skip the pecans . It makes the dish.

Wild Rice Casserole with Sausage and Pecans

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup chopped pecans
* 1 (1-lb.) package sage ground pork sausage
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 cup chopped celery
* 2 (6-oz.) packages long-grain and wild rice mix (I use Uncle Ben's brand)
* 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried rubbed sage
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Preparation

1. Heat 1/2 cup chopped pecans in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove toasted pecans from skillet.

2. Brown sausage in same skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove sausage from skillet using a slotted spoon; reserve drippings in skillet.

3. Melt butter in hot drippings over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and sauté 10 to 15 minutes or until celery is tender.

4. Remove 1 seasoning packet from rice mixes; reserve for another use. Combine sausage, vegetable mixture, remaining seasoning packet, rice, and next 3 ingredients in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Stir in chicken broth until well blended.

5. Bake, covered, at 325° for 1 hour or until liquid is almost absorbed. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top.

For those of you who are interested in great recipes, every Tuesday you can find me guest posting over at Our Krazy Kitchen . Great ladies and great ideas!

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Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin

2011-02-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

This is one of those meals that I know will be a hit with all that try it.A tried and true, if you will.And it is very easy to prepare. Make sure you let it sit for a few minutes before slicing. You won't be sorry you tried this,I promise.

Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin

2 lbsboneless pork loin
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup chicken broth
Preheat the oven to 375.
Season the pork and place in a roasting pan.
In a separate bowl, mix together the honey, juice, oil and thyme.
Pour over the pork.
Add the broth to the pan.
Bake until internal temperature reaches 150 (45-60 minutes).
Baste frequently.
Strain the pan juices into a saucepan.
Reduce until slightly thickened.
Serve over the sliced pork.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

2011-02-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon rolls are the favorite breakfast meal of my husband and my sons. I have been making them from scratch for years with yeast. Well, I found a recipe over at Southern Plate that uses frozen bread dough. And since I always have a few frozen Rhodes breads in the freezer, I decided to try it . I have to say that I love this new method. It is easy , and the outcome is a tasty, sweet cinnamon-y bread with yummy cream cheese icing. This will be my method of making them from now on! As you can see from the pictures, there are already a few gone. My husband grabbed three the moment they came out of the oven .

Homemade Cinnamon Buns

from Christy Jordan of Southern Plate

1 loaf frozen white bread dough (such as Rhode’s)

Filling:

1/4 C butter or margarine, softened
1 C brown sugar, packed
3 T ground cinnamon

Icing:

3 ounce cream cheese, softened
1/4 C butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla (optional, I usually just leave it out)

Place loaf of dough on plate and let sit at room temperature until thawed. Once thawed, roll out onto floured surface to a size of about nine inches by sixteen inches. Spread 1/4 C margarine over dough.

In small bowl mix together brown sugar and 3 T cinnamon. Sprinkle over top of cinnamon roll, stopping about 1/2 an inch away from the sides so it will seal (see photos). Carefully roll up cinnamon roll into a log and press lightly to seal. Slice into one inch slices with serrated knife. Place in greased 9×13 inch pan and cover with cling wrap. Place in warm spot and allow to rise until doubled in size. Remove cling wrap and bake at 400 for about 15 minutes, or until done.

Icing: Mix all ingredients together and beat with electric mixer until creamy. Spread over cinnamon rolls.

German Chocolate Cake

2011-01-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

My grandmother makes the best desserts. I know when we visit she will always have something sweet and something savory to serve us. The savory part is always homemade cheese straws. My kids would eat their weight in those things of I let them. They sneak them all day long, until there is nothing left in the container but crumbs. The sweet part varies. Anything from lemon pound cake with crunchy, tart lemon glaze, to chocolate fudge, to german chocolate cake. This recipe was passed down to me from her when I got married. One of my favorite. And my husband, who adores anything coconut. This recipe is an old one, so the directions and methods may seem a little off. But I promise the end result is a spectacular cake.

German Chocolate Cake

1 (4oz ) package German's Sweet Chocolate

1/ cup boiling water

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups cake flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.Melt the chocolate in boiling water.

2. using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time,beating well after each.

3. Blend in vanilla and melted chocolate.Sift flour with baking soda and salt. Add the flour alternatively with the buttermilk, beating after each addition, until smooth.

4. Fold in beaten egg whites.

5.Pour into 3 8" or 9" cake pans. ( I use 2 pans. my nana uses 3)

6. Bake at 350 degrees 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost. (recipe follows)

Coconut Icing

1 cup evaporated milk

3 slightly beaten egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups flaked sweetened coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1.Cook the milk, egg yolks, vanilla, sugar and butter over medium heat until thickened.

2. Add the coconut and chopped pecans. Cook until thick enough to spread .

3. Stir and frost cake.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

2011-01-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

Spaghetti Sauce.A food that everyone seems to have their versions of.This is the best spaghetti sauce that I have ever tasted.It is my nana's recipe and I have never tasted another remotely like it.Everyone that has tasted it has enjoyed it and gone back for seconds.I make a double batch and freeze the leftovers for busy weeknights.Serve with a salad and big,crusty bread and you have a complete meal.Nana's recipe calls for ground beef but you can certainly lighten it up with ground turkey.And please don't leave out the Heinz 57 sauce.It is crucial to the outcome.My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Nana's Spaghetti Sauce

3 lbs ground beef

1 large onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon onion salt

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon oregano

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Heinz 57 steak sauce

1 teaspoon italian seasoning

Brown onion and green pepper in a large skillet in a small amount of oil.

Add ground beef to the onion and green peppers; cook until brown.

Carefully drain the hamburger mixture and return to the skillet.

Add the tomato sauce, onion salt, salt, garlic salt, oregano, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Heinz 57 and Italian seasoning.

Stir well and simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours.

Serve over your favorite pasta with garlic bread and a salad.

Snow Cream

2011-01-26T12:29:00.000-08:00

Growing up in North Carolina, we did not get much snow during the winter months. So, naturally, when it did snow, it was a big event. Me, my sister and my cousins would all play outside until our cheeks were cherry red and our feet were frozen. When we would come inside, my nana would make us all big bowls of snow cream. Yummy, vanilla flavored ice. It is one of my fondest memories of growing up. All grown up and living in Pennsylvania, my kids see there fair share of snow. Every time it starts to snow, I automatically want to grab a bowl to put outside to catch the snow in preparation for snow cream later on in the day. But if I made snow cream every time it snowed here, we would have it nearly every day. So I make it once or twice a season so the kids will enjoy it. The recipe is super easy. Just make sure you have clean snow. Not cool to mix it up and find dead leaves, dirt or other things in the snow. Fresh fallen snow is best.

Snow Cream

Ingredients

1 gallon snow
3/4 cup white sugar (or more or less to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (add more to your taste)
2 cups milk

Directions

When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

Slow Cooker Latin Chicken

2011-01-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say that I like the slow cooker to make meals. But the truth is, there are very few meals that I prepare in the slow cooker. I find that the majority of the meals end up over cooked and the flavors just meld together in a very unsatisfactory way. Not to mention, no matter what it is that cooks in there, it always comes out a weird brown color . Not appealing to me. Now don't get me wrong. There are a few tried and true recipes that I will use a slow cooker for. But on any given day, I would prefer baking a dish in the oven. Which brings me to this recipe. I have had it bookmarked on Allrecipes for years. Yes, years. The majority of reviews love the recipe. And I love anything with black beans, sweet potatoes and cumin. I was so hesitant about trying out this recipe in the slow cooker. Somehow the thought of such beautiful ingredients cooking down to mush was not appealing. I finally decided to just do it. (after converting the recipe to an oven bake time, I decided to make it as written ) Well, folks. Let me say that this is one of the best slow cooker meals I have ever eaten. It is that good. So good that I would make it once a week if I could. I did change it up a bit from the original based on my husbands disdain for black beans and cilantro . He will eat both, but I am very aware they are not on his short list of favorite foods. So I decreased the amounts of both, and added another half cup of salsa,just because. Next time I will add one more diced sweet potato. The original recipe called for a red bell pepper, but I did not have one and was not about to load up three ornery children in the frigid cold and trek to the grocery store for it. Not a chance, my friends. So I left it out. I didn't miss it, but next time if I have one on hand I will put it in with everything else. I served this chicken with steamed brown rice and a romaine salad. And my 13 year old thanked me for dinner when he was done. Which is a small miracle in itself. That he talked to me. Not that he liked the food ;) .

Slow Cooker Latin Chicken
adapted from Allrecipes.com

3 lbs skinless chicken thighs
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, chopped
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cup salsa ( use a med or hot.mild will get lost in the other ingredients)
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground allspice
3 large garlic cloves, chopped

1.Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Place the chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker.
2.Place the sweet potatoes and black beans on top of the chicken.
3.In a medium bowl, mix together the chicken broth, cilantro , salsa, cumin , allspice and garlic.
4.Pour salsa mixture on top of the sweet potatoes and black beans.
5. Set slow cooker on low and cook for 3-4 hours , until the chicken is cooked through.

Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin

2011-01-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

January is a big birthday month around here. Two of our sons and my mother all celebrate theirs in the dead of winter. I usually make dinner the night of their special days. This year one of my sons requested this roasted beef.Which I am glad he did, because it is one of my all time favorites. The beef can be a bit pricey, so it doesn't get eaten too often around here. So it is a treat when it is made. Makes the house smell wonderful!

Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin

INGREDIENTS:

1 (5-6 pound) beef tenderloin

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 T minced garlic (or more to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Allow roast to stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
2.	Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F . Combine the salt and pepper in a small cup. Place the roast on a rack in a roasting pan so that the fatty side is up and the rib side is on the bottom. Rub the seasoning onto the roast. With your hands, rub the garlic over the salt and pepper.
3.	Roast for 1 hour in the preheated oven. Turn the oven off and leave the roast inside. Do not open the door. Leave it in there for 3 hours. 30 to 40 minutes before serving, turn the oven back on at 375 degrees F to reheat the roast. The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees F . Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before carving into servings.

Chicken Marsala

2011-01-25T04:11:00.000-08:00

The first time I ever tasted chicken marsala I was on a date with my husband. We were at a wonderful restaurant and the owner suggested his marsala. I decided to go for it, and have been hooked ever since. I am not a very big fan of mushrooms, but I will make an exception when marsala, sherry and butter are involved! My husband loves when I make this dinner. Maybe it brings back memories of one of the few nights we have ever had sans kids!

It is a very easy recipe and I have no problem making it for a weeknight dinner. I always serve the extra sauce over garlic mashed potatoes. You can find both marsala and sherry at your local wine store. I like to keep both on hand for quick sauces. To make the sauce extra rich , you can add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of half and half or cream at the end.

CHICKEN MARSALA

Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
4 shallots, chopped fine
1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup dry marsala
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions
Pound chicken breasts to even out thickness and lightly salt and pepper.
In large skillet, saute chicken in 2 T melted butter until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side.
Remove from pan and set aside.
Melt remaining butter in pan and add shallots and mushrooms.
Cook until mushrooms are lightly browned.
Add Marsala and bring to a boil, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan.
Add cream and lemon juice and return to a boil.
Season with salt and pepper.
Return chicken to pan for about 3 minutes to reheat and finish cooking.
Serve with buttered fettucini.

Chocolate Coconut Cookie Bars

2011-01-25T02:39:00.000-08:00

I usually have something nutritious for the boys when they get home from school. Usually some kind of fruit or vegetable with a dip that will hold their interest.Sometimes they get sweets. This is one of their favorite. I figure you can't go wrong with chocolate and coconut. And it is a one-bowl, easy recipe ,which I love. I had bought a bag of chocolate chip cookie mix to make for a quick dessert for the fam, but forgot all about it until I saw this recipe. It will be a go-to recipe for a quick sweet snack from here on out!

Chocolate Coconut Cookie Bars

1 bag Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
1 cup shredded coconut
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
2 T water

In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. Spread evenly into a brownie pan . (I used a 8x8 ) . Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until baked through and brown on top. Cool completely before cutting.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

2011-01-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

This is another great meal that you will definitely add to your list of favorites.It is definitely a favorite at our house.It is a perfect recipe.Crockpot,few ingredients and great taste.Of course you use your favorite bbq sauce.Everyone has one! I serve the pork on buns with baked french fries and coleslaw.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

1 (14 ounce) can beef broth

3 pounds boneless pork ribs
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce

DIRECTIONS
Pour can of beef broth into slow cooker, and add boneless pork ribs. Cook on High heat for 4 hours, or until meat shreds easily. Remove meat, and shred with two forks.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Transfer the shredded pork to a Dutch oven or iron skillet, and stir in barbeque sauce.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Mongolian Beef

2011-01-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

Yet another chinese dinner on my blog! What can I say? My kids love chinese food and we do not live near any restaurants that we can get a quick fix whenever we want. So I have learned to make it at home. I love the Mongolian Beef served at P.F. Chang's and this recipe tides me over until I can get a date night dinner every now and again. I like this recipe because it is super easy to put together. And I do not have a lot of pots and pans to clean up, which I am notorious for when I pull out my wok. This is made in a large skillet and takes minimal effort. Just make sure you have all the ingredients already portioned out and put together. It will go faster when you do. And to make it extra easy on me on those busy nights, I steam a few bags of rice in the microwave and dinner is ready in no time. I *heart* steamed rice in the microwave. Lately, every single time I make it the old fashioned way, it is way too mushy. ;)

Mongolian Beef

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons dry sherry
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon chili paste with garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 lb sirloin steaks, thinly sliced across the grain
16 medium green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces

Directions

Whisk together the first 8 ingredients in a small bowl.
Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Sauté ginger, garlic, and beef for about 2 minutes or until beef is browned.
Add green onion pieces and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add soy sauce mixture and cook 1 minute or until thickened, stirring constantly.
Serve over rice.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

2011-01-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

I don't know about where you live, but in Pennsylvania, Old Man Winter has definitely made his presence known. In fact, it is the the coldest weekend of the season. Long, cold, snowy days seem to be the norm around here.At least for the next couple of months. I have been making brownies, hot chocolate cookies and rustic pies lately, but decided I wanted to make something springy.And citrusy.And bright. For Christmas I made batches and batches of cookies.And I totally cheated and used premade sugar cookie mix. Shhh, don't tell! And I just so happened to have an extra package left over. And a saved recipe from Betty Crocker for Orange Creamsicle Cookies. So I bookmarked it and added orange extract to my shopping list. I made a batch of these cookies and they were perfect. Fun, orangey (is that a word?) and bright. Just what I was looking for. The taste is not quite like an orange creamsicle from my childhood, but it is close enough. The white chocolate chips give them a punch of sweetness. I will definitely make these again. And probably experiment with different extracts (hint, hint : raspberry and chocolate for Valentine's Day) .

* on a side note I did not color my cookies orange. I used all of my red food coloring making red velvet whoopie pies and did not want to run to the store for one thing. After all, I am out in the country. Just imagine them being a pretty orange color.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies
adapted from Betty Crocker

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
3	tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2	teaspoons orange extract
1	teaspoon vanilla
1	egg
5	drops yellow food color
2	drops red food color
1 1/2	cups white vanilla baking chips



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Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir all ingredients except baking chips until soft dough forms. Stir in baking chips.
On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough with 1 1/2 tablespoon-size cookie scoop or by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.
Bake 9 to 10 minutes or just until dough is set (do not overbake). Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely.

Maple Coffee

2011-01-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

It is no secret to my friends and family that I love coffee. Iced, hot, lukewarm...does not matter. I have to walk my kids to the bus in the mornings and I always have a cup a joe with me.The smell alone of this coffee will wake you up.It just smells like winter. I am off to make me a cup now. And then onto the couch with a snuggly blanket and a movie. Pride and Prejudice. The Keira Knightley version.

Maple Coffee

1 cup half and half
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup fresh brewed coffee
sweetened whipped cream

Combine half and half and syrup in a sauce pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until thoroughly heated , but do not boil. just heat until hot.
Stir in coffee.
Serve with sweet whipped cream.

Poppy Love

2011-01-18T05:36:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite flowers is the poppy. I love the bright red color and the black center. When I want to add a pop of color , I always add something with poppies. It is cold and white and wintry here in PA, so I thought a few poppies would brighten your day! Happy Tuesday!

I love these earrings from Beautyspot .

This fabric bin from BaffinBags would look perfect in my living room to help corral toys!

I would love to send someone a note on a piece of this stationery. Made by TheSweetUnfolding .

Such a cute journal from PeaseBlossomStudio . And small enough to carry in my bag!

Handmade fabric poppy earrings from AutMandata . Gorgeous!

I love the print background of this Dictionary Art Print from Woodendoll .

Roasted Maple Butter Chicken

2011-01-17T19:09:00.000-08:00

My goal for the rest of January is to use the food I already have in the house. Today I took inventory and I believe my goal will run well in to February. I had three huge roasters .Three. I had no idea I had bought that many to freeze. November and December was a blur. I seriously need to write down all that I buy and keep a running record so I will not over buy in the future. Anyway, I decided to play around with what I had on hand and came up with a Maple Butter Chicken that turned out very good. Super Simple. I made more than enough butter, but there is a method to my madness...I made three loaves of bread today and I wanted to have maple butter to spread on toast for the boys in the morning. They love it and it is going to be freezing , so hopefully toast with maple butter, hot cocoa and oatmeal will keep them full until lunch.

Roasted Maple Butter Chicken

1 Roaster chicken, about 4 pounds
2 T maple butter (recipe follows)
1 T Montreal Steak Seasoning (made by McCormick)
1 onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Wash roaster and pat dry with a paper towel. Set , breast side up, in a roasting pan.

Carefully lift the skin from the breast and the legs of the chicken. Rub 1 T of maple butter per breast/leg under the skin. (2 T total)

Your hands will be buttery, so use the butter on your hands to rub the outside of the skin with the leftover butter adhered to your hands.

shake the steak seasoning all over the chicken (breasts, thighs, legs and wings) Rub in the seasoning with your hands.

Put the onion and garlic into the cavity of the chicken.

Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear.Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

MAPLE BUTTER

1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup real maple syrup

Mix the butter and maple syrup with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Store in the refrigerator .

A Blessing for My Boys

2011-01-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

I am a mother of 3 boys. I was blessed with three of the most awesome people on this earth. I am grateful that the Lord trusted me with these three warriors to raise and love without limits. I thought I would share this poem, which speaks volumes to me about love , and grace, and motherhood.

A Blessing for Baby Boy

I bless this child

With Heaven's gleams

To touch his face,

His hands, his feet

And all the soul

That in him lies,

To grow with him

And fill besides,

Till he becomes

A pleasant man,

And finds the path

That Jesus ran.

He's loved of God,

So tend him well,

A child of Heaven

Where Jesus dwells.

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

2011-01-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

This past week was a very slow, snowy, dreary week for us. I made a menu plan, but made not a single dish that I had planned. Either I was too lazy, my kids had a special request , or we just wanted the stand by, snowy night comfort food that we were craving. So I am going to nix the menu plans for a few weeks and see if I can use all of the food that needs to be used up in the house and start anew in February. That will give a few weeks to brainstorm on what I would like to prepare . I might now be posting many new recipes until then, but I do have a few in my saved folder to get me through :). Tonight's dinner was created out of laziness. I really did not want to slave in the kitchen tonight. I have done laundry all day and had no desire to try something adventurous. I had a refrigerator of this and that left over from the past few days and I decided on a chicken pot pie. But then I realized I would have to make , from scratch, the pie crust. NOT. So I came up with the idea of making the filling and serving it over pasta. Hello... where have I been that I did not think of this sooner? My kids and husband inhaled it. Smooth, creamy chicken and vegetable filling over warm pasta. I think I will probably be making this dish more than the actual pie. And you can add and subtract different vegetables you have on hand. I had leftover green beans, and no frozen corn, so I changed it up. And I added half of a sliced red pepper that needed to be eaten, as well as a handful of broccoli florets. Be creative.

CHICKEN POT PIE PASTA

1 box pasta of choice( I chose farfelle)
1 T butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup diced onions
2/3 cup diced carrots
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 c chicken broth
2/3 c frozen peas
2/3 cup frozen corn ( i subbed green beans, broccoli and red pepper)
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed

1.In a large pan, boil the pasta until al dente. Drain . Set aside and keep warm.
2.In a medium saucepan, combine butter,garlic,onion,carrots, salt ,pepper and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer until carrots are tender.
3.When carrots are tender, add peas and corn and simmer about 5 more minutes. In a measuring cup or small bow, whisk together the milk and the flour.
4.Add the milk mixture to the vegetable mixture and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.Boil until thickened, about a minute or so.Add the chicken and stir. Reduce heat to medium and let the chicken warm, about 1-2 minutes.
5. Place pasta on a serving platter and top with chicken mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Things - Cloche hats

2011-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

It has long been said that I am a lover of old things. A bygone era. When someone mentions it, I usually just shrug it off and go crochet something.Just kidding. But I really do love old fashionedness. In all it's forms. Which is why I love wearing cloche hats in the colder months. Think Daisy in The Great Gatsby. Or Susannah in Legends of the Fall. Yesterday I realized just how un-modern I was when I ran into town to run a few errands before the snow came, and I received 4 compliments on the cloche hat I was wearing...all by women 60 or older! I have amassed quite a collection that just grew when I was finding Etsy shops that sold them. I just bought two more .SSHHHH...don't tell my husband! Here are a few gorgeous cloche hats I found for you. There are links directly to the Etsy pages right under the pics. Enjoy!

ChiCreations

KraftyPalette

Xeino

TheMillineryShop

BonniesKnitting

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

2011-01-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

It is Tuesday and I have already messed up my weekly menu plan. My hubby asked for beef stew so I accommodated him and made a batch of it . Easy to make , which is a prerequesite for me lately. Now let's see if I can stick to the rest of the week's menu...

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup water
3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup sliced mushrooms
4 medium carrots, cut into chunks
3 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 celery ribs, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 medium onion, cut into chunks

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, water, tapioca, sugar, salt and pepper. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. or 3-qt. baking dish.
Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender.

Framed Books of the Bible Print

2011-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

I was playing around on the computer the other day with word art and came up with this . Books of the Bible. I did it in blacks and grays and I love it. I printed it out and cut it to fit the frame. It sits on my bedside table . I think I will now do a women of the Bible . Stay tuned...

Lead Me

2011-01-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

This video was made by the husband of one of my dearest friends in the world. I thought I would share it with the blogging community. May God lead you all to fulfill His work here on earth. Many blessings, from my home to yours.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-01-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite soups to make on cold winter days is chicken tortilla soup. Last month I attended a potluck dinner at a friend's house and I brought a double recipe of this soup. I brought home an empty container. This soup recipe is very versatile. You can add corn and black beans to make it heartier ( and to stretch it, just in case you have extra dinner guests) . I serve diced avocado, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro and sour cream as add on items.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

6 tablespoons canola oil
8 corn tortillas, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 medium onions, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 bay leaves
6 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 large cooked chicken breast halves, shredded or diced

GARNISH

shredded cheese( I use monterey jack)
diced avocados
sour cream cilantro

Directions

In dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat.
Add the tortillas, garlic, cilantro and onion, cooking for 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, bringing to a boil.
Add cumin, chili powder and bay leaves.
Add chicken stock and return to a boil.
Reduce heat.
Add salt and cayenne and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
Remove bay leaves and stir in shredded chicken.

Weekly Meal Plan (Jan 10-16)

2011-01-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting around to the first real meal plan of the new year for us. The first 10 days were hard because we were traveling, getting back to school and had a full calendar of events that led us to eat out. So I am happy to be back to the routine of cooking every night . Makes my anxiety level a little bit lower ;) Here is the menu plan. I will post the recipe and pictures the night I prepare them, since I have no pics at the moment . Have a great week.

Weekly Meal Plan

Monday - Pork Ribs with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Tuesday - Meatball Cassoulet

Wednesday - Chicken with Thyme Butter Sauce

Thursday - Greek Shrimp Spaghetti

Friday - Guinness Beef Pot Pies

Saturday - Baked Ravioli

Sunday -- Sesame Ginger Beef Stir Fry

General Tso Chicken

2011-01-03T04:30:00.000-08:00

Every year I on their birthdays, I make the boys a dinner of their choosing. Yesterday, our oldest turned 13 and he asked for General Tso's Chicken, Vegetable Fried Rice and Steamed Garlic Broccoli. This recipe is a bit time consuming to make, but the final outcome is so good. So much better than take out. Here is the recipe for the chicken. The rice and the broccoli will be added later.

General Tso's Chicken

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken, in bite-sized pieces ( I use thighs)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 eggs
1/2 cup cornstarch
oil, for frying

Sauce

1/4 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tsp (or to taste) red pepper flake

Directions

In a zip-lock bag, combine marinade and chicken. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. While marinating, assemble rest of ingredients (except chilies) and combine in a bowl.
After marinating, fry chicken and drain. Keep warm.
Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, stirring until the cornstarch is combined; add to the skillet and bring to a boil and reduce heat. Mixture should thicken up a bit.
Return the chicken to the skillet and heat through.

A Few New Year's Appetizers

2010-12-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I have are ringing in the New Year sans kids this year. They decided to stay in NC with my parents until tomorrow. I am not sure how I feel about it yet. This is the first year in 13 years that I have not rung in the New Year with one of my children. Not to mention when the clock strikes midnight, it will be my oldest son's birthday. 13 . A teenager. But that is a whole different post. They are elated to be with my mom, so I am happy for them. But it is hard to let go. But I have had a wonderful week of getting into His Word and really delving into some things that I have needed to work out for awhile. God is good, and He gave me this "me" time to reflect on my year and to get ready for the new one with a renewed energy and spirit.

We are going to attend a NYE party tonight hosted by our good friends. In true Liz fashion, I am arriving with food. :) I decided to make Sweet Bacon Chicken Bites and Jalapeno Popper Dip.Both Of which get rave reviews whenever I make them. The chicken recipe is a Paula Deen recipe and I love it. The sweet, spicy coating over the bacon is amazing and you really cannot eat just one. I hope I will have some left to take over to the party! And the dip...uh-mazing. Tastes like a popper, cream cheese yumminess. Just imagine toasted bread crumbs on top of the dip. I am heating it when I get to the party, so I will not add the bread crumbs until then, so they will not get soggy. And so very easy to make. Win-Win! I hope all if you have a wonderful, safe and fun New Year's ! Here's to 2011.

Sweet Bacon Chicken Bites
recipe by Paula Deen

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (about 4 breasts)
1 (1-pound) package sliced bacon
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Cut each bacon slice into thirds. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and secure with a wooden pick. Stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture. Coat a rack and broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray . Place chicken wrap on rack in broiler pan. Bake 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

2 (8oz)packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise

1 (4oz) can chopped green chilies,drained

2oz can diced jalapeno peppers, drained

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Stir together the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in the chilies and jalapenos.Pour into a microwave safe dish.Top with parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.Microwave on high for 3 minutes, or until hot.

Strawberry Punch

2010-12-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

This punch is one that is served and my grandparent's house on Christmas Eve. It is a sweet, strawberry slush type punch that is so good! It is served at baby showers, spring parties...just about any occasion. Please excuse the picture. There were so many people hanging around on Christmas Eve this year, and i could not find my camera in the mayhem. So I snapped a pic on my Blackberry , which came out dark and grainy. But at least you can get a general idea of what it looks like. For this punch, it has to be frozen, so it needs to be made at least a day in advance to give it time to freeze.This punch is superkid friendly, but adults seem to come back for more than the kids do! It would make a great beverage for New Year's Eve as well.

STRAWBERRY PUNCH

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) boxes strawberry Jell-O gelatin dessert
2 cups boiling water
2 cups cold water
6 ounces frozen orange juice
6 ounces frozen lemonade
1 (46 ounce) cans pineapple juice
1 cup sugar
1 liter ginger ale
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced

Directions

Add boiling water to jello and stir to completely dissolve.
Add cold water and sugar to the jello and mix well.
Add fruit juices one at a time,mixing well.
Pour into two 1 qt containers and freeze in freezer.
When ready to serve,put the slightly thawed mixture into a large punchbowl and crush with a large fork.Pour ginger ale over mixtureand add a pint of freah sliced strawberries.

Christ is Born

2010-12-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of my readers a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Looking Back:2010

2010-12-21T19:20:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year of change for me. The year of change for me. Most of the it consisted of a strained marriage. Broken friendships (some by choice, some not by choice). Financial hardship.Job loss.Sickness. Transition.

But in all of that, I found forgiveness.Grace. Refinement.Prayer.Surrender.2010 was the year that defined me. It planted me. It watered me.Kept me alive. And I grew. Because of Him.I grew giant with Him. I broke down the wall. Gone. Moving forward, never again to move backward.

33 years. The time it took to carefully , meticulously orchestrate my broken into magnificent beauty.I am still.I am whole. Even when I am burdened,hurting, lonely. I am whole. He is with me. He is all I need.

I am a work in progress.Already over three decades in the trenches. But I have dug my way out. I am worthy of His love.So I wait. Pray. Wake every day to a new day. A new me.Worthy of His love.I know now that I am enough. Just as I am. His grace is sufficient. And my heart is solid.I look forward to what He has planned for me. What I will do in His name . Who I will become. And I am grateful .

Maple Walnut White Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-12-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

I received this recipe in my inbox a few weeks ago from Betty Crocker. It won grand prize in a cookie contest where one of the ingredients had to be a BC mix. This one used a bag of sugar cookie mix. I thought it sounded pretty good and saved it. Bought a bag of the sugar cookie mix and baked a batch for the boys. All I can say is wow! If you are a fan of maple, then you must try these cookies! I love how the maple and the white chocolate chips taste together. I thought they were a perfect fit for Christmas goody baskets, so I made three more batches. I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as we do, even though I feel a little guilty about using a cookie mix ;)

MAPLE WALNUT WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

courtesy of betty crocker

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	tablespoon maple flavor
1	egg
1 1/2	cups white vanilla baking chips
1	cup chopped walnuts

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About Concordance™

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter,
maple flavor and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in baking chips
and walnuts.

Using small cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough 2 inches
apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 13 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to wire rack. Cool completely.
Store covered at room temperature.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

2010-12-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

My kids love hot chocolate. In fact, it has been the number one requested beverage around here for a few weeks. It has been bone-chilling cold here in the northeast, and they love the warm mugs of cocoa when they get home from school. This is my go-to recipe for homemade hot chocolate. What I love is that I can sub out the french vanilla coffee creamer for seasonal flavors, like pumpkin spice or peppermint mocha and flavor the hot chocolate for gift giving. This year I made a batch of regular and a batch of peppermint mocha to give as gifts to neighbors, our mailman and out local librarians. You can use any size jar or container you like. I had pints on hand this time! Enjoy!

Homemade Hot Chocolate ( for gift giving)

6 c sugar

1 (2lb) box nonfat dry milk

2 (13 oz) containers malted milk powder

1 (15 oz) container french vanilla non-dairy coffee creamer (or any flavor you want)

1 (13oz) container chocolate malt mix

1 (8oz) cox unsweetened cocoa powder

In a very large, deep bowl, combine the sugar,non fat dry milk, malted milk powder, coffee creamer,chocolate malt mix and cocoa. Mix well to combine.Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Yield : approximately 27 cups

Sweet & Sour Smoked Sausage

2010-12-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

This is a quick dinner to make on the weeknights. To make it easier, you can cut up the vegetables the night before and just toss in the skillet when you are ready to cook it. I use bottled, store bought sweet and sour sauce for this. You can find it in the asian section of most grocery stores.My kids love sweet and sour sauce and this dinner always gets smiles from them. I serve it over brown rice with a side salad . You can mix up the veggies with what you have on hand. I think adding broccoli would be a wonderful addition. *If you are serving kids, make sure you adjust the hot sauce.

Sweet & Sour Smoked Sausage

Ingredients

1 pounds smoked sausage, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced into chunks
1 red bell pepper, sliced into chunks
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 purple onion, thinly sliced
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons sweet and sour sauce
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste

Directions

Place the sliced sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute for 5 to 10 minutes, flipping often, until well browned. Drain excess fat and set sausage aside.
In the same skillet over medium heat, combine the green bell pepper, red bell pepper,orange/yellow bell pepper, onion,pineapple chucks and butter . Saute for 10 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender. Add the sausage and stir together well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Then add the sweet and sour sauce, cayenne pepper and hot pepper sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to blend.
Serve over rice or pasta.

Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad

2010-12-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I visited a friend and she served lunch. Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad. I took one bite and was hooked. Before I left I asked for the recipe and she said she was really embarrassed to tell me that it was 2 ingredients and it was cooked in the crockpot! It is just boneless , skinless chicken breasts and a bottle of Frank's Red Hot! That's it! Just put the chicken in the crockpot, pour over the bottle of hot sauce and let it slow cook. After about 4 hours on high, just shred the chicken and serve on top of lettuce with all the taco salad fixins! I was hooked. Came home and a few days later made it for my crew. SCORE! ALL of them ate it. Even though it is hot sauce, there was not a hot sauce taste to it. Just a buffalo-style taste that tastes so good with sour cream and fresh cilantro. I also soak my onion in lime juice (or lemon if that's what I have) for a few minutes before adding it to the salad. It cuts down in the potent taste of the onion and really works well on tacos! Super easy.Great for a weeknight meal!

Buffalo Chicken ( for tacos)

3-4 boneless , skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle Frank's Red Hot sauce

Ina crockpot, add the chicken. Pour the bottle of hot sauce over the chicken and cook on low 4-5 hours or high 2-3 hours. Shred and serve as the meat base for tacos or taco salad.

Need a Quick Food Gift?

2010-12-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

If you are one who loves the sweet/salty combo, this is the recipe for you! Well, it isn't really a recipe. I just melted milk chocolate chips and caramel and poured them both over thick, ridged potato chips. The I sprinkled chopped peanuts over the top. Let them set for a few minutes... and I had a wonderful snack. I bagged up the rest in pretty Christmas paper and delivered it to neighbors. So easy.

Life Without Limits : A Review

2010-12-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

I had seen the book Life Without Limits before at the local bookstore and was intrigued by the picture of the man on the cover. Nick Vujicic was born with no arms or legs. Unlike many of the reviewers, I had never seen Youtube videos of Nick swimming, or playing sports, etc. I simply wanted to see how a man with so many obstacles to face overcame adversity to become ridiculously happy in his life. After reading his powerful story and understanding his powerful words, I was renewed in my faith and in the knowledge that God is intentional. Nick Vijicic has an undaunted spirit and a love of life that it infectious. After reading this book (twice!) I am in awe of God and His power to use such a person as Nick to help other people overcome their burdens and hardships. Nick is truly and inspiration and I will have this book on my bookshelf to come back to time and time again when I need a pick me up and a smile.

Mommy Chef

Space Saver

Crescent Chicken and Cream Cheese Bundles

Ingredients

Directions

Blueberry Crumb Cake

Barefoot Contessa's Blueberry Crumb Cake

Streusel

For the cake

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Beatrix Potter Necklace

Cinnamon Muffins

Menu Plan Monday

Pappa di Pomodoro

Come on Spring!!!!

Buttery Cracker Chicken

My Etsy Shop

Broken China Plate Jewelry

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

Turkey Pesto Meatballs

Wild Rice Casserole with Sausage and Pecans

Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cinnamon Buns

Filling:

Icing:

German Chocolate Cake

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Snow Cream

Ingredients

Directions

Slow Cooker Latin Chicken

Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients

Directions

Chocolate Coconut Cookie Bars

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Mongolian Beef

Ingredients

Directions

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

Maple Coffee

Poppy Love

Roasted Maple Butter Chicken

A Blessing for My Boys

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

Wordless Wednesday

My Favorite Things - Cloche hats

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

Ingredients

Directions

Framed Books of the Bible Print

Lead Me

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

GARNISH

Directions

Weekly Meal Plan (Jan 10-16)

General Tso Chicken

Ingredients

Sauce

Directions

A Few New Year's Appetizers

Ingredients

Directions

Strawberry Punch

Ingredients

Directions

Christ is Born

Looking Back:2010

Maple Walnut White Chocolate Chip Cookies

makes @ 24 cookies

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Sweet & Sour Smoked Sausage

Ingredients

Directions

Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad

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