I love it when I have extra chicken (tht just happens to be laying around...) on purpose I bought a bigger package of chicken today (for pretzel chicken) so that I would have extras...
I want some chicken salad this week and I cannot wait to have some...
my recipe?
cooked and diced chicken (of course)
diced celery
2 diced granny smith apples
chopped walnuts
dried cranberries
mayo
and oh my goodness, you mix it all up and serve it on some really nice big, soft potato rolls...my mouth is watering just thinking about it...
California Pizza Kitchen used to make a version of this, (but they added onions too) and that is always what I got, but I guess they quit making it...went there with my neighbor for lunch and I did not even look at the menu, I asked for this and the waiter looked at me like I was crazy...LOL
Saturday, March 30, 2013
pretzel coated chicken
I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time now and today (Saturday) has been sort of a lazy day (though seriously catching up on put aside house work) and Tim has had a very hard work week and I wanted him to be happy...he loves pretzels...everytime we go near the mall, you will bet he will be at the Pretzel place and the frozen ones he likes also...
haha...funny story (well Tim did not think it was really funny) we went to Sam's Club this morning and I ordered him a soft pretzel to being home to him...once I got home, I realized they did not give
us his pretzel...too far for us to go back for a pretzel...
so, I thought this the next best thing...
and Tim proclaims it very very good and would like it again...
we also have not had macaroni salad all Fall and Winter and Tim also loves my pasta salad so since I
aimed to please him today....that is what I did...
my pasta salad?
1 pkg of pasta (my family likes either salad roni or shell roni) boiled till al dente
6 hard cooked eggs, diced
diced celery
diced green onions
small can of sliced black olives
diced kosher dills
your choice seasonings
mayo
mustard
mix all together, I add garlic salt and pepper, I add enough mayo to hold it all together, enough mustard to sort of make it yellowish (does that make sense?) and then I add a little of the pickle juice and mix it up real well and refrigerate it...everyone loves my pasta salad...
want to try this
http://www.smuckers.com/Recipes/Details.aspx?recipeID=6938
oh my goodness doesn't this look scrumptious??? cannot wait to try this...
oh my goodness doesn't this look scrumptious??? cannot wait to try this...
Thursday and Friday
I have been staying at Zoe's school a lot lately, and I have been exceptionally busy there...it is like I have a full time job...Thursday and Friday Elaine and I had tons to do, the only time we sat down was when we were stapling papers together...(well and yesterday she did buy us lunch from Pick Up Stix...(their beef friend rice it to die for)...
so as I said we have been so busy and then Thursday at 5:45 was Open House at the school so not a lot of time to make dinner but I came up with homemade Mac and Cheese with biscuits and Tim put a vegetable on...
my mac and cheese is the one my mom made when I was a kid...
I use shell roni, cook al dente and then layer macaroni and then shredded cheese and ending up with the cheese...I sprinkle seasonings to taste and then pour 2 cans of evaporated cheese over the top...sometimes I add cracker crumbs...bake at 375 for about 1/2-3/4 of an hour...
very good...
Friday we had had a long hard week and Tim (being the good son that he is) took us to TGIF for dinner...it was so nice to get away...Zoe was spending the night with the neighbor girl so we were kidless for once...
hubby got the California Club sandwich, Tim got the JackDaniel's chicken with baked potato and broccoli and I got a cheeseburger with bacon (of course) and the loaded mashed potatoes (cause I love their potatoes so much...)
we had a terrific night, ending up at Target and picked up a few more things for the kid's baskets...
so as I said we have been so busy and then Thursday at 5:45 was Open House at the school so not a lot of time to make dinner but I came up with homemade Mac and Cheese with biscuits and Tim put a vegetable on...
my mac and cheese is the one my mom made when I was a kid...
I use shell roni, cook al dente and then layer macaroni and then shredded cheese and ending up with the cheese...I sprinkle seasonings to taste and then pour 2 cans of evaporated cheese over the top...sometimes I add cracker crumbs...bake at 375 for about 1/2-3/4 of an hour...
very good...
Friday we had had a long hard week and Tim (being the good son that he is) took us to TGIF for dinner...it was so nice to get away...Zoe was spending the night with the neighbor girl so we were kidless for once...
hubby got the California Club sandwich, Tim got the JackDaniel's chicken with baked potato and broccoli and I got a cheeseburger with bacon (of course) and the loaded mashed potatoes (cause I love their potatoes so much...)
we had a terrific night, ending up at Target and picked up a few more things for the kid's baskets...
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
pea soup with grilled cheese...
I just kept thinking of pea soup and Tim and I happen to love the canned soup variety...we make it a little thick, so that it covers your grilled cheese instead of sliding off of it...
Tim and I are the only ones that will eat it but that was ok tonight as hubby and I had a late lunch at Anchos and he is not real hungry and if he is there are still leftovers...
yummy
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
April's main dish announcement
April 2013 menus...main dishes
1. gumbo
2. poppy seed chicken
3. chicken with pea pods
4. cashew chicken
5. bourbon chicken
6. swiss steak
7. shepards pie
8. meat pies
9. saucy orange chicken bake ($5 cookbook)
10. braised chicken
11. tangy chicken bake
12. maple bbq meatballs
13. no peek tips
14. swedish meatballs
15. cheeseburger flatbreads
16. chicken soup
17. buttercream chicken
18. scalloped potatoes with ham
19. twice baked potatoes
20. pork chops with apples
21. meatloaf sliders
22. mac & cheese
23. chicken and cheese quesadilla pie
24. pad thai (wish me luck with this one)
25. slow cooker breakfast casserole
26. pretzel crusted chicken
27. asian lettuce wraps
28. cheesy beef corn chip skillet
29. potato soup
30. slow cooker lemon garlic chicken
you will notice some recipes that carry over from month to month...they are ones I have not tried...I am going to try really hard to cook every night...tho, I might add my BD is this month and I cannot help it if someone wants to take me out (*hint, hint*)
also hubby is going to see his mom for a week and if you have read here long enough, you remember that we have cat's away dinners (items that hubby hates) while he is gone...
so, I probably won't get to all of these menus this month and some will carry over to May...
1. gumbo
2. poppy seed chicken
3. chicken with pea pods
4. cashew chicken
5. bourbon chicken
6. swiss steak
7. shepards pie
8. meat pies
9. saucy orange chicken bake ($5 cookbook)
10. braised chicken
11. tangy chicken bake
12. maple bbq meatballs
13. no peek tips
14. swedish meatballs
15. cheeseburger flatbreads
16. chicken soup
17. buttercream chicken
18. scalloped potatoes with ham
19. twice baked potatoes
20. pork chops with apples
21. meatloaf sliders
22. mac & cheese
23. chicken and cheese quesadilla pie
24. pad thai (wish me luck with this one)
25. slow cooker breakfast casserole
26. pretzel crusted chicken
27. asian lettuce wraps
28. cheesy beef corn chip skillet
29. potato soup
30. slow cooker lemon garlic chicken
you will notice some recipes that carry over from month to month...they are ones I have not tried...I am going to try really hard to cook every night...tho, I might add my BD is this month and I cannot help it if someone wants to take me out (*hint, hint*)
also hubby is going to see his mom for a week and if you have read here long enough, you remember that we have cat's away dinners (items that hubby hates) while he is gone...
so, I probably won't get to all of these menus this month and some will carry over to May...
Monday, March 25, 2013
mock lasagna a family favorite
tonight I made a family favorite, a recipe that I have been making for about 35 years...
with all of the problems all over the internet about recipes and who has claim to them (it really is a
big deal) I cannot honestly say this is my original...I found it in an old magazine (then 35 years ago) and I have tweaked it and done so many things differently that it most likely does not resemble the original one and at all but I will not lay claim to it, cause I believe that is wrong...
there are so many recipes and foods and the like that I do not think there is anything original anymore...people may claim it as their own and maybe they believe it after having a recipe for so long and then tweaking it and changing it to their own tastes but it still started somewhere...
for my recipe I brown hamburger and sweet Italian sausage together...I add it to a sauce that I make
with 2 cans of 1 lb, 12 oz of diced tomatoes (& since some people in my family hate pieces of tomatoes, I puree these) and 2-16 oz cans of tomato sauce and 4 cups of water...I also add Italian
seasonings to tasste...bring to a boil, and then simmer for 15 minutes...
I then spread a thin layer of the sauce in a 9 x 13 greased pan...spread a layer of UNCOOKED egg noodles over the sauce and then pour the rest of the sauce over the noodles...add a layer of mozzarella cheese...cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes...if you bake much longer than that,
the noodles turn a little gummy...
I believe the dish is called Mock Lasagna because when you cut into it, it cuts very nicely into a square on your plate...hubby likes his with more sauce so I ladle a little bit out at the beginning and he adds his to his plate...
you must try this, you will love it as much as we do...this is one of those dishes that after a hot summer this is one of the first dishes you are craving...
with all of the problems all over the internet about recipes and who has claim to them (it really is a
big deal) I cannot honestly say this is my original...I found it in an old magazine (then 35 years ago) and I have tweaked it and done so many things differently that it most likely does not resemble the original one and at all but I will not lay claim to it, cause I believe that is wrong...
there are so many recipes and foods and the like that I do not think there is anything original anymore...people may claim it as their own and maybe they believe it after having a recipe for so long and then tweaking it and changing it to their own tastes but it still started somewhere...
for my recipe I brown hamburger and sweet Italian sausage together...I add it to a sauce that I make
with 2 cans of 1 lb, 12 oz of diced tomatoes (& since some people in my family hate pieces of tomatoes, I puree these) and 2-16 oz cans of tomato sauce and 4 cups of water...I also add Italian
seasonings to tasste...bring to a boil, and then simmer for 15 minutes...
I then spread a thin layer of the sauce in a 9 x 13 greased pan...spread a layer of UNCOOKED egg noodles over the sauce and then pour the rest of the sauce over the noodles...add a layer of mozzarella cheese...cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes...if you bake much longer than that,
the noodles turn a little gummy...
I believe the dish is called Mock Lasagna because when you cut into it, it cuts very nicely into a square on your plate...hubby likes his with more sauce so I ladle a little bit out at the beginning and he adds his to his plate...
you must try this, you will love it as much as we do...this is one of those dishes that after a hot summer this is one of the first dishes you are craving...
sloppy joes
from my posts, it looks like I have not made dinner at all...LOL
and now I cannot remember what I did make...
Wednesday I know I did make sloppy joes, tator tots and corn...and I did not feel good so I did
not eat...
and now I cannot remember what I did make...
Wednesday I know I did make sloppy joes, tator tots and corn...and I did not feel good so I did
not eat...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
meatball soup
this was not on my rotation of menus for March but I wanted it tonight...it is always down home comfort food to me and it was so delicious...
super easy too...
I start with 2 pkgs of Mc Cormick Beef Stew seasoning and mix with 8 cups of water, add premade frozen meatballs (as many as you would like) bring to a boil and add 3/4 pkg of any pasta (our favorite is egg noodles) and right at the end, I add 1 pkg of frozen peas...
voila done...
Tim bought and artisan bread to go with it...
super easy too...
I start with 2 pkgs of Mc Cormick Beef Stew seasoning and mix with 8 cups of water, add premade frozen meatballs (as many as you would like) bring to a boil and add 3/4 pkg of any pasta (our favorite is egg noodles) and right at the end, I add 1 pkg of frozen peas...
voila done...
Sunday, March 17, 2013
corned beef and cabbage
this year we bought 2 corned beefs and ran the 2 crock pots all day...the corned beef came out really good altho I did not eat dinner...my stomach was upset after lunch and this is one of my favorites too...
I boiled some potatoes and carrots...and then I did the cabbage...now when I was a kid, I never had cooked cabbage and therefore I do not like it now...but hubby does, and so a couple of years ago I wanted to surprise him with a really good cabbage dish and came upon this recipe, re-vamped by me several times...
I saute an onion in some butter and once translucent, add thin slices of cabbage and cook it down with some garlic salt and pepper, and I add a few drops of water every so often to help it steam...he loves it like this and will not eat it another way...when we went to the Indian (San Manuel) casino for their buffet, their cabbage was sort of like this, but they also added bacon...
this is one of hubby's favorite dinners...and we have lots of leftovers tonight too...the picture above was of Tim's plate and he hates cabbage...
I boiled some potatoes and carrots...and then I did the cabbage...now when I was a kid, I never had cooked cabbage and therefore I do not like it now...but hubby does, and so a couple of years ago I wanted to surprise him with a really good cabbage dish and came upon this recipe, re-vamped by me several times...
I saute an onion in some butter and once translucent, add thin slices of cabbage and cook it down with some garlic salt and pepper, and I add a few drops of water every so often to help it steam...he loves it like this and will not eat it another way...when we went to the Indian (San Manuel) casino for their buffet, their cabbage was sort of like this, but they also added bacon...
Saturday, March 16, 2013
chicken taco casserole and corn cakes
http://bevcooks.com/2012/08/chicken-dorito/
this is what was for dinner tonight...nobody was real hungry as we had a huge lunch at Olive Garden today that was very yummy, so I am expecting a ton of leftovers...
also made the El Torito pkg mix for mini corn cakes...
this is what was for dinner tonight...nobody was real hungry as we had a huge lunch at Olive Garden today that was very yummy, so I am expecting a ton of leftovers...
also made the El Torito pkg mix for mini corn cakes...
Thursday, March 14, 2013
tacos and Irish soda bread
it's what's for dinner...tacos and there is no secret to my tacos...haha tonight it was so hot here (95 to be exact...) and frying tortillas was a pain...OMGoodness I am not looking forward to summer...yuck...
but I made dinner and I got 4 tortillas done and I was hot, out of breath and hurting so I decided to make my own dinner and I sat down and ate efore everyone else did...was kind of nice...
made 3 small mini ones of this for Zoe's teachers for St Patty's Day:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amazingly-Easy-Irish-Soda-Bread/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=107570748&prop26=Baking&prop27=2013-03-11&prop28=Feature&prop29=TextLink&me=1
and I was so happy that I had green gingham ribbon to tie around them...
but I made dinner and I got 4 tortillas done and I was hot, out of breath and hurting so I decided to make my own dinner and I sat down and ate efore everyone else did...was kind of nice...
made 3 small mini ones of this for Zoe's teachers for St Patty's Day:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amazingly-Easy-Irish-Soda-Bread/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=107570748&prop26=Baking&prop27=2013-03-11&prop28=Feature&prop29=TextLink&me=1
and I was so happy that I had green gingham ribbon to tie around them...
Monday, March 11, 2013
family favorite...homemade chicken pot pie
tonight I was feeling extra nice and decided to make my neighbors a pie also...I have made for the elderly people across the street from me and they love it, so I was first going to make it for them and then I remembered the ones next door would be getting home from work about the time it came out of the oven and I thought I would surprise them with dinner...she said it is her hubby's 2nd favorite dinner, the first being the Spam pie I made them last week...
super easy recipe...
I use Pillsbury all ready pie crusts and then make a roux with 6 tbs butter and 6 tbs flour add in 2 cans of evaporated milk and 2 cans of chicken broth, and add what seasonings you like...add diced chicken and frozen peas, carrots, and corn...
bake 375 for about 30-40 minutes...
yummy
Saturday, March 9, 2013
bacon and potato hash
tonight, I made banana muffins with it...
fried some red potatoes, added carrots and celery with garlic salt and pepper and diced onion...as soon as it was nice and crisp I added some cooked thick bacon...
love this stuff...
korean beef and rice...(really was Friday night)
http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2010/05/korean-beef.html
this is what I made for dinner tonight and since I was not home to enjoy it, pictures did not get taken...as I made this dinner, I tasted and I thought it very good...(very good) and the picky princess came into the kitchen and said it lloked very good and smelled fantastic...as soon as it was done, she
was right there waiting with a bowl and spoon...she filled the bowl and I was amazed that she ate every drop...she was even trying to lick the bowl...this is a very good sign...
she and I were going to go to Bingo at her school at 4:30 and I was also babysitting Cj and needed something that would go together quickly and this did fit the bill...
Cj came into the kitchen and said, " don't you think you are getting too old to cook?" I said, "no..."
he said " yeah well how many times have you gotten burned?" funny funny 5 year old...
so we went to Bingo and I called later and asked how dinner was? Tim was very upbeat about it, said
it was delicious and he mixed in some broccoli with his...he would want it again...
hubby now, is going thru a grumy stage and when I called him, he said it was just OK, but then I found out when I got home, he did not even try it...
there are leftovers and Zoe has already laid claim to them...
you should try this...pretty yummy
this is what I made for dinner tonight and since I was not home to enjoy it, pictures did not get taken...as I made this dinner, I tasted and I thought it very good...(very good) and the picky princess came into the kitchen and said it lloked very good and smelled fantastic...as soon as it was done, she
was right there waiting with a bowl and spoon...she filled the bowl and I was amazed that she ate every drop...she was even trying to lick the bowl...this is a very good sign...
she and I were going to go to Bingo at her school at 4:30 and I was also babysitting Cj and needed something that would go together quickly and this did fit the bill...
Cj came into the kitchen and said, " don't you think you are getting too old to cook?" I said, "no..."
he said " yeah well how many times have you gotten burned?" funny funny 5 year old...
so we went to Bingo and I called later and asked how dinner was? Tim was very upbeat about it, said
it was delicious and he mixed in some broccoli with his...he would want it again...
hubby now, is going thru a grumy stage and when I called him, he said it was just OK, but then I found out when I got home, he did not even try it...
there are leftovers and Zoe has already laid claim to them...
you should try this...pretty yummy
Thursday, March 7, 2013
chicken and wild rice casserole
http://www.southernplate.com/2012/01/chicken-and-wild-rice-casserole-and-becoming-the-crazy-daffodil-lady.html
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March menu's main dish (sides TBA)
March Menus
4. chicken pie by special Tim request...haha
5. gumbo
6. chicken taco casserole
7. chicken and wild rice
8. poppy seed chicken
9. chicken with pea pods
10. bourbon chicken
11. beef vegetable soup
12. swiss steak
13. new shepards pie
14. meat pies
15. tacos
16. cashew chicken
17. corned beef and cabbage
18. bacon hash
19. spicy orange chicken bake
20. braised chicken
21. pork chops with apple stuffing
22. tangy bacon chicken
23. meatball soup
24. korean beef with rice
25. maple bbq meatballs
26. no peek tips
27. cheeseburger flat bread melts
28. meat loaf sliders
29. swedish meatballs
30. round steak with onions
31. Easter
4. chicken pie by special Tim request...haha
5. gumbo
6. chicken taco casserole
7. chicken and wild rice
8. poppy seed chicken
9. chicken with pea pods
10. bourbon chicken
11. beef vegetable soup
12. swiss steak
13. new shepards pie
14. meat pies
15. tacos
16. cashew chicken
17. corned beef and cabbage
18. bacon hash
19. spicy orange chicken bake
20. braised chicken
21. pork chops with apple stuffing
22. tangy bacon chicken
23. meatball soup
24. korean beef with rice
25. maple bbq meatballs
26. no peek tips
27. cheeseburger flat bread melts
28. meat loaf sliders
29. swedish meatballs
30. round steak with onions
31. Easter
February's favorite dinners
for first place for the month, hands down would be:
country club chicken...yummy
we also really liked:
beef and barley skillet
and once again, revamped for our taste:
chicken taco casserole
country club chicken...yummy
we also really liked:
beef and barley skillet
and once again, revamped for our taste:
chicken taco casserole
cranberry chicken
was going to make roasted potatoes, and discovered we were out of potatoes so I made Rice a Roni, which I happen to love...
voila a dinner everyone loves...
orange juice cake
http://www.southernplate.com/2011/04/aunt-sues-orange-juice-cake-from-danielle-dykman.html
made this the other day for Zoe's class but, I made into cupcakes...now they were OK, but, I will not
be making as cupcakes again...hard to pour the hot syrup over them...much easier to do as a poke cake and the syrup really can get into the cake...
one of the best cakes I have ever made...
made this the other day for Zoe's class but, I made into cupcakes...now they were OK, but, I will not
be making as cupcakes again...hard to pour the hot syrup over them...much easier to do as a poke cake and the syrup really can get into the cake...
one of the best cakes I have ever made...
applesauce bread
hubby likes to tell people that the only reason he married me was because I can bake...haha...
and this particular bread is one of his absolute favorites...I have the flu right now but thought I would make this for the family for dinner and hopefully put a smile on everyone's face...Zoe came over while I was mixing (she usually wants to help but has a big project going on) and she said, "call me the minute the bread is done, I can't wait to try it..."
I have made this bread since before we were married, so for about 40 years? wow, where has the time gone?
Applesauce Bread:
1/2 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
16 oz of applesauce (today I used a chunky one)
1/2 cup of oil
2 eggs
3 tbsp of milk
2 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 tsp of salt
nuts if desired...
mix wet ingredients with sugars then add the flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts...
this makes one big loaf...
bake 350 for approx 50-60 minutes
happy eating
and this particular bread is one of his absolute favorites...I have the flu right now but thought I would make this for the family for dinner and hopefully put a smile on everyone's face...Zoe came over while I was mixing (she usually wants to help but has a big project going on) and she said, "call me the minute the bread is done, I can't wait to try it..."
I have made this bread since before we were married, so for about 40 years? wow, where has the time gone?
Applesauce Bread:
1/2 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
16 oz of applesauce (today I used a chunky one)
1/2 cup of oil
2 eggs
3 tbsp of milk
2 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 tsp of salt
nuts if desired...
mix wet ingredients with sugars then add the flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts...
this makes one big loaf...
bake 350 for approx 50-60 minutes
happy eating
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