Check it...

Just found this on Nic's Blog and thought it was kinda cool! Click the image to find the site!

New Chicken Enichiladas

Today I tried a new chicken enchilada recipie. I was out of stuff for my usual recipie and so I tried to find a recipie that used what I had in my storage room and refridgerator. Everyone seemed to enjoy it!

16 oz container sour cream
16 oz jar salsa (I actually used half salsa and some chopped tomatoes with canned green chilies, because the salsa can was half empty)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup diced onion
1 can black beans

Dump it all together and mix it up.

Then add a few cans of chicken with taco seasoning to the mixture above.

Shred corn tortillas and layer a few times with the chicken mixture, corn tortillas and shredded cheese in a 9x13 pan.

Bake in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes and let it cool before

I think it would also be good with corn mixed in.

Its big enough to serve 10-12 people.

Crockpot on SUNDAY!

Southern BBQ Pork

2 Onions, sliced
1 (4-5 lb) pork roast
5-6 Cloves
2 Cups water
16 oz BBQ sauce
1 Lg Onion, chopped

Put One sliced onion in the bottom of the crockpot then add meat, cloves, and water. Put the second sliced onion on top. Cover and cook 8-10 hours on LOW(or overnight). Remove bone and fat from meat and shred as desired. Put meat back in crockpot. Add last onion and BBQ sauce. Cover and cook for 1-3 hours on HIGH stirring 2-3 times. Serve on Large Buns.

Limey Smoothie

This recipe comes from my in-laws. For those of you who don't know, my father in law is a nutritional health doctor and cures people of their ailments.. which include all of the very serious variety. He has around a 90% success rate of curing people who are terminally ill with cancer, diabetes and so on. To learn more you can go to their website at pHmiracleliving.com.

Anyway, I have a hard time eating as healthy and granola as Andrew does (he's on a much looser version of his parents health regimen.) But when his mother Shelley made this for me I absolutely LOVED it! I had a hard time believing what was in it when she told me. So any who, give it a try.. it's the PERFECT ultra ultimate healthy cool summertime snack.

Ingredients
- 1 whole english cucumber
- 1 HUGE handful of spinach
- 1/2 an avocado (large or small)
- 3 peeled limes
- 1 TSP green stevia (or sugar, but stevia's the natural healthy alternative :])
- Plenty of ice

Blend and enjoy! Tell me what you think. You love it or hate it, but all I know is that it's the tastiest healthy snack I've ever had, and it's so simple to make! (PS don't let the photo fool you, it tastes better than it looks, you can tell your kids it's a monster slime smoothie. :])

Yummy Blueberry Pie

I like this recipe because instead of two crusts it's a one cruster so it cuts the fat significantly. And because it is so yummy.
Tyler's mom's famous Blue Berry Pie
1 qt sliced fruit blueberries
¾ cup warm water
1 cup sugar
3 T cornstarch
1 T lemon juice
1 T butter or margarine
Pinch of salt
Baked 9 inch pie shell
Whipped cream
Cut 1 cup of the fruit(put the rest aside) and add water and cook 4 minutes.Mix sugar and cornstarch and add to fruit mixture.Cook until thick and clear. Add lemon juice , butter and salt.CoolArrange remaining fruit in a cooled pie shell.Pour cooled glaze over fruit.ChillTop with whipped cream and a few pieces of fruit. 6 to 8 portions

FYI...Food & Family!

I don't know if any of you get this magazine in the mail or not -- but it is free - and usually has quite a few wonderful things in it -- and easy things  --- and fun things for the kids! -- if that means anything to you!   so I would highly recommend subscribing to this one!  ( click photo to go to subscribe)

Spoon Tacos

1.5 lbs ground Beef

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Taco seasoning

1 tsp chili powder

1 Onion Chopped

1/2 cup Chopped Celery

1 Cup Shredded Zucchini

1 Can Stewed Tomato's

1 can tomato sauce

2 cups refried beans

1 cup Jack Cheese

1 cup Cheddar

Cook meat until brown adding taco seasoning,

Celery, zucchini & Onions , & spices to taste

Once meat is cooked add stewed tomato's,

beans, and cheese forming a sauce

And you are done --

Serve over tortilla Chips and lettuce

top off with Sour Cream

& enjoy - These are so so yummy!

From the Kitchen of Carol White (Jeb's Mom)

PS - I have also added carrots to this recipe --

I am sure there are lots of things you could

add that would taste just fine

we all scream for ICE CREAM!

ICE CREAM IN A BAG

Remember making butter in YW or on your Pioneer trek if you ever did that? Everyone passed around the jar of cream and gave it a good shake. After a few rounds, the cream had magically turned to butter. Here is a similar feat that not only yields dessert but exercise for the kids--ice cream in a bag. Here's how it works.

1: Place 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup light cream (half and half)
and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a quart-size heavy zip-top plastic
bag and seal.

2. Place that bag in a gallon size heavy zip-top bag. Layer ice
and rock salt in the gallon bag and seal.

3. Toss the bag back and forth for approximately 10 minutes, and
voila, it's ice cream. Serves 2 hot kids (or adults).

Okay, that's all there is to it but...do not, I repeat do not, toss it in the house cuz the zip lock could come open and make a mess with the ice and rock salt. hehe I would recommend wearing gloves cuz even though it's only 10 minutes it really does get mighty cold. If they want to make their own they can just pass it from one of their hands to the other...you do get some rather tasty, creamy ice cream. ENJOY!

Yummy Side Dish

Here is a really yummy side dish we love.

Saute 1/2 white onion in olive oil or butter
add 1 can of drained white beans
1 can of drained black beans
1 can of drained pinto beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 tsp of italian seasonings
1 tsp of salt

Cook for 3 minutes and serve as a side.

DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS... & lovin' it!

Ok I think most of us try to do this any way with veggies our kids won't touch with a ten foot pole --- aka anything that is green! This book has so many good Ideas on how to include veggies into regular items your kids probably eat on a regular basis as well as some new items that I would not have ever thought of!

ones' we've tried this week in the Stokes Home that have passed the Child test!

ALOHA CHICKEN Kebabs
Prep - 10 mins
Total- 25 Mins
Serves 4

1 Cup whole wheat Bread Crumbs
1/4 Flax seed meal
1/2 sweet potato puree
1/4 Pineapple puree
1 tbsp reduced sodium Soy Sauce
1 egg white , Lightly Beaten
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 lb boneless chicken cut into fingers
1/4 tsp Salt
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
Non Stick Cooking Spray
1 tbsp Olive Oil


in a small bowl mix bread crumbs w/ flax seed meal

In a second bowl combine the sweet potato and pineapple,
soy sauce, Egg white & Coconut & mix w/ fork

Thread Chicken fingers length wise onto skewers - Sprinkle both side of chicken with salt - & then with flour - Dip the chicken into the egg white mixture & then roll it in the breadcrumbs until completely coated.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium high heat. When the pan is hot add the oil.

Add the chicken in single layer and brown for 3-4 minutes each side until the chicken is cooked thru and is browned all over.

YUM YUM YUM!

& 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup brown sugar

6 tbsp Butter

1/2 Banana puree

1/2 cup zucchini puree

1 lg egg white

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 - 

coat 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray

in a bowl combine flour, oats, 

baking soda, salt & cinnamon & stir to mix

In a large bowl beat the sugar and softened butter 

with a wooden spoon until just combined - do not over mix. 

Add the Banana & Zucchini purees and the egg white and stir just to blend

Add the flour mixture, raisins and walnuts

Drop the dough by heaping tbsp onto the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between. Bake until golden brown 12 - 15 mins. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 4-5 mins - just until they are firm enough to handle - then transfer to rack to cool.

PS - my improvisation - we had no raisins - & Jeb just doesn't like them

Instead of raisins we added 1/2 cup of craisins - and mini chocolate chips 

my sister's famous peanut butter bars

1 cup sugar
1cup brown sugar
1 cup margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 cups oats
Cream sugars, margarine, eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter. Add flour, salt, and soda. Mix in oats and pat into a 12x18 pan. Baken at 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven even though bars may still seem soft. Let cool, but while still warm spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars and then top with chocolate chips and let them melt on top. Eat them up, yum!

Just Peachy!

Meet our "Just Peachy" jam.

Homemade with love by:

Brooke Baker & Haley Earnshaw

I understand this is not a recipe, but I was mainly hoping to get everyone in the mood for baking/cooking/whatever! Learn something new that you always wanted to try! Make jam, make your own pickles, anything! It's just so fun to learn new stuff.

Fresh from the Garden Lasagna

Here is our new favorite dinner made from our fresh produce grown in our garden...

Hunts spaghettisauce
1 package lasagna noodles
16 oz of Cottage cheese
3 heaping handfuls of mozzarella cheese
4 homegrown tomatoes
1 homegrown zucchini
3 homegrown peppers
1 homegrown onion

Drizzle a small amount of spaghetti sauce in bottom of 9x13 pan. Layer Noodles, cottage cheese (spread evenly over noodles), cheese, sliced tomatoes, slices zucchini, sliced peppers, sliced onion, sauce, then repeat layers two more times. Cover top layer with sauce and cheese. Cook for 1 hour on 350.

Yum Yum Good!

Pretzel cheesecake dessert

Used to have this recipe at the break the fasts in Hawaii. SO YUMMY! Just had a craving for it hte other day and so I whipped it up. mmm...better than I rememer.
crust:
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup margarine, melted
2 teaspoons white sugar
filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup cool whip
topping:
1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
2 heaping cups frozen strawberries or mixed berries

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, mix crushed pretzels, margarine and sugar.
Press crushed pretzel mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish, and bake in the preheated oven 8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Blend together the cream cheese and sugar. Fold in whipped topping and spread evenly over cooled pretzel mixture.
In a medium bowl, dissolve the strawberry flavored gelatin in boiling water. Mix in strawberries and set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
Pour gelatin mixture over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

Beach Day Chicken-Crockpot

I always make this on days we're going to the beach. It doesn't heat up the house AND it's ready for when we get home :)

12-15 chicken tenders (or chicken breast-doesn't matter)
salt and pepper to taste
Jar of favorite salsa (I use Pace Thick n' Chunky in Medium)

Cook in crockpot for 6-8 hours on low, 3-5 on high

Make your own tacos with tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, etc!

*Could it get any easier?

Moroccan Chicken in slow cooker

two 16 ounce cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
one 15 ounce can of tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut
1 medium sized onion chopped
1/4 golden raisins
2 tbs tomato paste
2 tbs water
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch of paprika
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into cubes
2 tbs creamy peanut butter, almond or cashew
serve with couscous or brown rice
Put everything in slow cooker (except peanut butter) and stir well. cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Stir in peanut butter and serve over rice or couscous.
So yummy! Whole family loved it and it was so easy!

chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

I think this is a basic but very, very yummy recipe. Love it! Wouldn't change a thing.
1 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups choco chips
I'm serious, don't change anything and cook them at 350 for 6-7 minutes. Don't over cook.

FYI...

PLEASE Feel Free to invite someone you know to join this cooking blog! 

The More the merrier! 

This is how -- 

Once you have signed in -- 

Go to customize - 

then Settings - 

then Permissions - 

Plug your buddies emails in - 

and you've done it!

Hope we are all having fun!

There have been a lot of people who have just recently Joined - 

We are glad you are here! & we are really excited to get your input!

Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Here's a really good one. They almost taste like a candy bar. And it works great if you freeze the dough for later. It is big recipe, so it's broken down into a 2/3 recipe at the bottom.

1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 lb butter, softened
4 eggs, beaten

CREAM FOR 2 MINUTES, THEN ADD:

1 T and 1 tsp vanilla
5 3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup oatmeal flour (if I don't have this, I just add 1/3 cup regular flour and it turns out okay)
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
3 bags chocolate chips (1 of each: semi sweet, milk chocolate, and white chocolate)

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 7 TO 10 MINUTES.

CAN BALL ON PAN, FREEZE AND STORE IN ZIPLOCK BAGS, BAKE AT 350 FOR 15 MINUTES IF FROZEN.

2/3 RECIPE
1 cup sugar
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
2 5/8 sticks butter, softened
3 eggs, beaten

CREAM FOR 2 MINUTES, THEN ADD:

1 T vanilla
3 5/8 cup flour
less than 1/4 cup oatmeal flour
1 1/3 tsp salt
1 1/3 tsp baking soda
2 bags chocolate chips (1 of each: milk chocolate and white chocolate)

On My Mind...

Any one have any great Cookie recipes they could share?! 

I have not been thrilled with my cookie making skills lately - 

& I think it is just because I need to change it up -- 

& I realized I don't even have just a 

basic chocolate chip cookie recipe that I love... 

So what do ya got!

Thanks! Chris!

Brown Rice and Chicken

Now that my DH has lost 80 Lbs this has become a healthy and easy family favorite.

In a large baking dish:
Drizzle olive oil around bottom of dish
add 2 cups of short grain brown rice
4 cups of water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
20 baby carrots
top with 4 half chicken breasts
Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings.
Cover and Cook at 375 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Bread Pudding

2 cups sugar

3 large beaten eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

3 cups cubed bread

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup Butter Softened

1 cup Chopped Pecans (optional)

This is one of my favorite things!

You can eat it as a dessert or a breakfast!

It is a great way to use bread that has gotten a little stale!

You can add fruit to it...

I like it with peaches or apples - it tastes sort of like a cobbler.

It is also good if you add raisins or crasins!

Enjoy!

Tropical Salad w/ Pineapple Vinigarette...

1 Package of Chopped Romaine
1 Cup Diced Fresh Pineapple

1/2 cup Macadamia Nuts Chopped and toasted (also good plain)

3 green Onions

1/4 Cup Flaked Coconut

6 slices of Bacon

1/4 cup of pineapple juice

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Cook Bacon pat dry & crumble

In a container with a lid (a mason Jar works great) Combine pineapple Juice, Red Wine vinegar, oil, pepper and salt - Cover and shake well.

In a large bowl toss together lettuce pineapple, nuts, onions and bacon pour dressing over salad and garnish with coconut.

YUM YUM YUM - that is all i will say!

chinese cabbage rolls

This is a wrap I had at the Cheesecake factory. This is me trying to reinvent it.
Veggie mixture:
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
thinly sliced zucchini
ginger and garlic

two chicken breasts seasoned with teriyake (SP?) and soy sauce, thinly cut
five to eight cabbage leaves or romaine leaves
Chinese rice noodles cooked

Saute veggies in olive oil and water and add ginger and garlic to season.

I just put the veggies, the chicken, the noodles and the cabbage leaves out on the table and let the family wrap up their own wraps. I layered noodles, veggies and then chicken and then wrapped it up. I had a couple sauces to dip it in. So yummy. My new favorite summer meal.

Fried Chicken

12 chicken thighs or drumsticks
3 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place flour in a shallow plate or bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Put the bread crumbs in another shallow plate or bowl and beat the eggs in another bowl.
Dredge the chicken piece by piece in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs, until all pieces are coated. Pour the oil into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add the chicken to the dish and sprinkle with paprika to taste. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then turn pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels. I served with baked sweet potatoes, corn on the cob and peas. Enjoy!

Olive Garden's ***Zuppa Toscana***

After a few months of not feeling well with morning (a.k.a. -- All day) sickness, I decided to get ambitious and cook dinner again.

If any of you have been to Olive Garden, this is the white soup with potatoes and kale. This recipe is so easy and yummy. ENJOY!!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Sausage meat
3/4 cup Diced onions
6 slices Bacon
1 1/4 teaspoons Minced garlic
2 tablespoons Chicken stock
4 cups Water
2 medium Potatoes, cut in half and then into 1/4 slices
2 cups Kale, cut in half and then sliced
1/3 cup Heavy whipping cream

Directions: Cook sausage meat and set a side. Place onions and bacon in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until onions are almost clear. Add garlic and cook an additional 1 minute. Add chicken base, water and potatoes, simmer 15 minutes. Add sausage, kale and cream. Simmer 4 minutes and serve.

***Side Note*** I used the sausage meat that isn't in formed links from Sprouts; so it looks like ground whatever.

Better Late than Never!

I said I would grade the Pizza Hut Tuscani Pasta....Sooooo?

I give the pasta a "10"! It was so so so yummy. I had it the next day and it was yummy again. Yummyness! Mmmmm!
We had to have Pizza with it, of course.
Kayla Loved the PIZZA!
and Ryleigh Loved the PASTA!

Tuscani Pasta

I've been seeing these yummy commercials about "Pizza Hut's" Tuscani pastas. I just made an order for the ?Big meat maranara? one, so I will let you all know how that turns out ASAP.
That's what's for Dinner!

Cashew Chicken

I came across this on Recipe Zaar. It looks intimidating because it has so many ingredients, but I just substituted whatever frozen or fresh veggies I had on hand.

1/2 cup ketchup
4 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
2 T worcestershire sauce
3 T sugar
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (more to taste)
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 T cornstarch
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tspsalt
3 whole chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces (or chicken tenders)
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 T fresh gingerroot, minced (I used dry ginger)
1 T minced garlic
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced thinly
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cups snow peas
1 1/2 cups cashew
2 cups cooked white rice

Combine ketchup, soy sauce, salt, Worcestershire Sauce, sugar, sesame oil, cayenne pepper, and chicken broth and set aside. In a bowl, combine cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Toss the chicken with cornstarch mixture. Heat a wok or frying pan to a high heat and add cooking oil. When oil is hot add chicken. Add ginger, garlic and onion. Stir fry mixture until chicken is cooked through and opaque. Add bell pepper and carrots, stir fry until tender crisp about 2-3 minutes, then add snow peas. Continue to stir fry until tender crisp. Add ketchup/soysauce mixture to chicken and vegetables and cook until it comes to a boil. Add the cashews and serve immediately over a bed of white rice.

Paula Deen's Chicken & Rice

I made this for dinner yesterday. It was very easy and the whole family liked it. Hope you try it and like it too!

Ingredients

3 cups diced cooked chicken(I used a rotisserie chicken)

1 medium onion, diced & sauteed

1 (8 ounce) can water chestnut, drained & chopped

2 (14 ounce) cans green beans, rinsed & drained

1 (4 ounce) can pimientos, rinsed & drained

1 (10 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup

1 cup mayonnaise

1 (6 ounce) box uncle ben's long grain and wild rice blend, cooked according to package directions

1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

1. 
   

   Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix all ingredients together & pour into a 3-quart casserole.

2. 
   

   Bake for 25 minutes.

Hey there - Where did ya all go - Did you stop making dinner? 

Lets see here - what have we had lately - 

I guess I have kind of been slacking in the dinner department too.. 

But I did make some yummy cookies the other day ---

Here's the recipe

Hermit Cookies

Grandmother White's Recipe

1 Cup of shortening

2 cups Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

3 1/2 Cups Flour

1/2 Tbsp Salt

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

1/2 Cup Sour Milk

(Sour your own milk by adding a little 

vinegar to it. 1/2 tsp is plenty I think.)

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped Dates

1 cup Chopped walnuts

Directions

Cream together shortening and brown Sugar

Mix in Eggs

Add dry ingredients and sour milk 

Alternating ( a little dry - A little milk - Etc )

Bake at 375 for 15 mins

(Dough is good in the fridge for at least a week)

ENJOY!

Crock Pot Blog.....

Ok, all of you have great ideas and recipes. I have to say Court cooked Chris's pasta dish tonight and everyone loved it.

I came across this Blog with Crock Pot recipes with her own reviews. There is quite of few that look pretty good. I love to cook with the Crock Pot. I will let you know when I try one of these. Or, if you decide to try one first.....let us know how it was and which one.

Primary skillet dinner

primary skillet dinner-my sister in law got this out of the Friend magazine way back in the day. Made it tonight for the first time and loved it.
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 onion finely chopped
4-6 carrots
4 medium sized potatos thinly sliced
1/3 head of cabbage thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
can of cream of mushroom soup
1 cup of cheese
dash of salt
seasoning salt

Pat ground beef in to the bottom of a cold skillet and pat onions on top of the meat. Layer rest of the veggies on top. Add seasoning. Top with a can of cream of mushroom soup and spread to the edges. Cook on medium/low for 30 to 40 minutes. Add cheese when veggies are just barely soft. Cook till cheese is melted. Yum!

Chicken and Biscuit Pie

Click on it and it will get bigger so you can read it.

My menu

Okay those of you who know me know that I am crazy scheduler/planner. When I go grocery shopping I make a menu for at least 2 weeks and buy everything that I will need to complete those meals. Chris told me to post my menu so here is the last two weeks and then next week. It always turns out that the menu lasts longer than the two weeks because things always turn up like birthday parties and last minute date nights and stuff but anyway here it is.

Mon 17th (St Pattys Day) - corned beef and cabbage (not a normal thing in our household but we love it once a year)
Tues- Homemade Pizza and green salad (Winco sells balls of dough for 98cents, which totally takes a big step away, and then I just add what we like on it. I make my own sauce out of tomatoes, olive oil, basil and garlic.)
Wed - ***Random Date Night
Thurs - Cream Cheese Chicken (recipe from this blog) over pasta with brocolli on the side.
Fri - BBQ Bacon Hambergers with fries (we mix in BBQ sause while shapping our hamburger and also put sause on the bacon and BBQ it as well. - it is delicious and adds flavor that you will make you never go back the old way. - family secret)
Sat - ***Birthday party we were asked to bring a side so I brought jello dump salad
Sun - Easter Dinner - Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Jello Salad, green salad, carrots, green beans, rolls and carrot cake.

Mon - Leftovers from Easter Dinner
Tues - Sloppy Joes ( I have a really random recipe that is delicous and you just put it on a bun, we ate it with corn and chips)
Wed - BBC bowtie pasta (this is a recipe I got from real simple - it is delicious and only takes 20 minutes from start to finish - it has bacon, brocolli, corn (sometimes chicken chunks) and bowtie pasta - it is yummy)
Thurs - Hot BBQ ham sandwhiches
Fri - *** Date Night
Sat - BBQ chicken with aug potatoes
Sun - Pork chops with rice and squash

Mon - Homemade Chicken Pot Pie (recipe from family fun you make the "gravy" add chicken and veggies put in cassorole dish and raw biscuits on top (I use a can of refridgerator biscuits) and then bake - it is really yummy)
Tues - Homemade pizza again (I bought two dough balls when I went to the store and so I need to use the rest of the pepperoni and bell pepper)
Wed - Tacos with mex rice and refried beans (rice - tomato sause, oil and garlic salt and the beans - can of pinto beans put the whole thing in a fry pan (don't drain) add pepper and salt and garlic to taste (I like mine peppery) and smash them up and the liquid cooks off and simmers away and the beans are delicious) I make extra for later.
Thurs - Lazagana (beef, cheese, sause and cottage cheese and noodles in layers) with salad and bread and a veggie.
Fri - Chicken Enchiladas (chicken, tortillas, cheese and green ench sause) with leftover rice and beans.
Sat - Chinese noodles and chicken with veggies (slice chicken breast really thin and marinate in soy sause, vinigar, garlic and b sugar and fry until done remove from pan, and take top ramen cooked until still a little firm, drained put on fry pan that you cooked chicken in with oil and soy sause - and fry until a little crispy) eat with steamed veggie.

Thats all folks!

farmer basics

Things that I can remember making in the past week or so.
Spinach Alfredo Lasagna
1. 12 oz. lasagna noodles
2. 1 lb bulk pork sausage you can also use a couple shredded up chicken breasts
3. 1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained or use a few handuls of fresh spinach chopped up
4. 1 jar alfredo sauce (I make my own: ½ cup butter, 8 oz. cream cheese, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup milk (just melt all together until smooth.)
5. ½ tsp salt
6. ¼ tsp pepper
7. 1 egg
8. 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
9. 1 carton ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
10. ½ cup parmesan cheese
11. 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Soak noodles in hot water for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in skillet, brown the sausage. Drain noodles; set aside. Drain sausage and add spinach, alfredo sauce, salt and pepper. Combine egg and cheddar, ricotta, and parmesan cheeses; mix well. In an ungreased 9x13 pan, layer 1/3 of sausage mixture, noodles, and cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

Ham hock soup (with my left over Easter ham

1 pound navy beans
2 quarts boiling water
2 ham hocks or a meaty ham bone
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
chopped ham or ham from the meaty bone
salt and pepper to taste (I add a little seasoned salt along with regular)
PREPARATION:
Wash beans; place in a large bowl and add boiling water. Let beans soak for a few hours. Simmer ham bone or hocks with the beans until beans are tender. Remove bones and chop ham. Add chopped onions and celery. Add water to make about 1 gallon. Add ham meat, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook about 30 minutes longer. Navy bean soup recipe serves 12 or more.

I had this last night at a Relief Society Party. Everyone loves this recipe
Sweet and Crunchy Chinese Salad
1. ½ cup red wine vinegar
2. ¼ cup vegetable oil
3. ¼ cup water
4. 1 tbsp. soy sauce
5. 2 tbsp sugar
6. ¼ cup butter
7. 2 pkgs. Ramen noodles
8. ½ cup slivered almonds
9. 1 head bok choy or romaine lettuce or a combination of both
10. 4 scallions, finely chopped
11. ½ cup dried cranberries or 1 can mandarin oranges
12. ¾ lb. cooked chicken, chopped
In medium jar, combine vinegar, oil, water, soy sauce and sugar. Shake thoroughly to combine, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Discard flavoring packet from noodles. Break the noodles into small pieces. Sauté noodles and almonds, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Combine the bok choy or lettuce, scallions and dried cranberries in a large bowl. Toss with dressing (you probably won’t need all of it), noodles, nuts, and chicken just before serving, so the salad doesn’t wilt.

Hawaiian haystacks, chili, spaghetti, stew, fajitas...

those are some favorites too.

BASICS?....

Stokes Basics

Ok so i have had some request for the basics - no need to just put your fanciest meal - tell us what your making for dinner - whether it is a recipe or not - If you are like me you just slap some things together and call it dinner...

here is what we had for dinner last week - 

Monday - Baked Chicken w/ Spaghetti Sauce

Just stuck the chicken in a baking dish poured Spaghetti Sauce and a little salt & pepper & Baked till done ate over pasta!

Also had Asparagus and Salad and Cottage Cheese

I don't know why cottage cheese always goes with red sauce in my mind?

I think the Monroe's did it to me w/ their Spaghetio's & Cottage cheese?

Anyway..

Tuesday - Leftovers - Spaghetti & Chicken

Most of our meals last 2 days - Only 2 Adults Eating... Kind of nice

Wednesday - Pork Chops & Pinapples MMMMMM

Just threw 4 chops in a skillet with 1/2 a cup of chicken stalk some seasonings  and garlic 

threw some fresh Pinapple in cooked till meat was browned and stalk was mostly gone - ate it over Rice

Thursday - Fakie Pizzas

Flat Bread or Pita Bread

Pizza Sauce 

Cream Cheese

Turkey Pepperoni

Spread Cream cheese onto the Flat Bread

spread sauce over that place pepperoni on top 

Microwave for 45 seconds 

i know it's weird but I really liked it!

Friday - Pulled BBQ Pork Wraps

{Wraps} Because my silly husband was already passed the store when I called and asked if he would bring buns home...

MMMM these were so good & soo easy - 

Throw A Giant pork Roast into the crock pot

with a bottle of your Favorite BBQ Sauce

Cook on High for 6 hours

Shredd the meat...

And you are done

Saturday - Leftover Pork Roast

Sunday - Strawberry Shortcake! Love Grandmother White!

Make the Shortcake Recipe on the side of your Bisquick Box

Spread the mix onto a cookie sheet ( I think we triple or quadruple the recipe)

About 1 1/2 inches thick

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes as instructed

Mix 5 basket of strawberries (smashed)

1 pint of Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Quart of Half & Half

1 cup of sugar or until sweet enough for you...

pour mixture over top and Enjoy!!!

If you feel so inspired - let us know what you had for dinner last week- even if they are not really recipes - or give us your menu plan for this week - I am not personally that organized - but that is just me --- 

Thanks

Chris Stokes

OK .... so what are we all making for Easter Dinner?!
Can you believe it is here already - Wasn't it just CHRISTMAS last week!? -
Come on I need some assistence! We are very new to this cooking our own Holiday meals thing - What are some of your Family Favorites and traditional dishes! Help Me out over here - I have no family to Mooch off of this year!

By the way found this great Easter Egg Decorating Idea off of a friends Blog --- Idea coming from none other than MARTHA herself - I have to say the lady drives me bonkers - but they are coming up with some great ideas over in her "evil" little workshop! JK - she is great.

Stenciled Eggs

Martha did it again! Here is the project in her own words:

With stencils made of waterproof vinyl adhesive tape and cut-out shapes, you can create perfectly rendered patterns on your Easter eggs. Make plaid, polka-dotted, punctuated, or monogrammed eggs, or create your own designs. Any color that you cover with tape will remain unchanged throughout the process. The instructions below are for creating the plaid egg.

Tools and Materials

Eggs
Food coloring
Waterproof vinyl adhesive tape and stencils
Burnishing tool (available at art-supply stores)
Small bowls
Paper towel


Stenciled Eggs How-To

1. Start with a white egg or one dyed a pale color. Band the egg twice lengthwise with a 1/4-inch-wide masking tape, repositioning as necessary to get a tight fit. Firmly rub the tape with your fingernail or a burnishing tool so that the dye can't seep underneath.

2. Dip egg into dye, raising and dipping until the color deepens as desired. Blot egg with a paper towel. Let dry ten minutes. Remove tape.

3. Band the egg's width with tape at its widest point, then repeat to make smaller circles around each end. (Try alternating wide strips of tape with narrow ones.) Burnish, dye, and dry as before.

4. Remove tape. If you used a raw egg, carefully blow out contents

Addicted

This is so easy & really so, so good & completely stolen. My sister went to Cafe Rio when she was out west & loved their cilantro dressing so she found it on the internet. I highly recommend it. It's always a huge success with some tortilla chips around here...

1 1/3 C Sour Cream
3/4 Mayo
1 Bunch Cilantro
1 package Ranch Dressing Mix
4 T salsa verde
2 cloves Garlic
1/8 t tobbasco sauch
1 juice of lime

Just put it all in the blender & mix it all up & YUMMMMMM!

Happy St Patrick's Day

Corned Beef Hash Patties1-1/2 cups shredded and coarsely chopped, cooked corned beef brisket 3 medium potatoes, cooked, peeled and coarsely shredded 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup butterIn a large bowl, combine corned beef, potatoes, onion and pepper. Shape mixture into four patties, each about 4 inches in diameter. In a very large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add patties and cook for 5 minutes. Turn and cook for 5 minutes more or until golden brown. Serve patties hot and crispy from the skillet. Makes 4 servings.

Sugar?

I Read this - this morning - & thought it was funny - Funny because it is true - I think we have all set out to make sure our little babies get only the best of nutrition and somewhere along the way reality sets in - This is the story of my life - Brayden is getting better - but usually will not touch anything green with a ten foot pole!
What kinds of things do you do or offer your children to try to integrate healthier items into their diets?

Do you know that I once had a theory that if you fed Children nothing but nutritious foods, with no additives, preservatives, or sugar, they would learn to prefer these foods?
I should have recognized the reality at the first birthday party, When tradition triumphed over nutrition and I made a chocolate cake for the guest of honor. He put a fistful in his mouth and gave me a look I would not see again until I brought our next baby home from the hospital and told him that the baby was going to stay. The cake look, roughly translated, said,

" You've been holding out on me."

He of course set about catching up... The barber gave him lollipops the dry cleaner a tootsie roll. At the circus he had cotton candy, which is the part of the balance of nature designed to offset wheat germ.
The other night for dinner he was having vegetable lasagna and garlic bread, picking out the zucchini, the spinach, even the parsley - "all the green stuff" - Eating only the parts of the bread that had butter.

"Know what my favorite 

food is, Mom?" He said. "Sugar."


Anna Quindlen
Living Out Loud (1988)

Bread Machine Wheat Bread...

Well - I have always been sort of intimidated by our food storage -- And I have all this wheat that Carol has been so kind kind to give us - She often gives food storage or preparedness items to us for Christmas - She has given me all the tools to be able to do this - I even Have a wheat Grinder! - so what am I so afraid of - well I thought recently that maybe if I had a Breadmaker recipe to use my wheat in it wouldn't be so scary - so I search the internet for a recipe with whole wheat flour that I could do in the bread machine &  yesterday I buckled down & Tried it out --- And you know what - not so scary --- 

Brayden Actually did most of the work - Go Brayden...
I felt Really fancy at the store buying Vital Wheat Gluten & Flax seeds -
What the heck is that!

It really came out so perfect ---
Tastes just like the fancy bread I've been buying lately!
Even Better! Yay Me!
Can you tell that I am
quite Proud of Myself!


So Here it is ---

100% Whole Wheat Bread

For 1 1/2 lb. bread machine
1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
3 cups 100% Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 cup sunflower sesame or flax seeds, or a combination
1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

Put all of the ingredients into the bread pan in the order listed.
Making sure to not let the Yeast touch the water yet
( I make a little hole in the flour and pour the yeast into that)

Program for basic white bread, and press Start.

And Walla! Almost no thinking invovled - My kind of baking!

Good Luck!

Yummy Italian dessert!

Olive Garden's Chocolate Ricotta Pie

Ingredients

Crust:

1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

Filling:

1 lb ricotta cheese

3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 tsp almond extract

1 cup toasted almonds

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

MIX graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar together in a bowl. Shape inside 9” pie plate. If crust is too crumbly, add a small amount of butter so crumbs will hold together. Allow to cool.
COMBINE ricotta, confectioner’s sugar, and almond extract in a bowl and set aside.
COMBINE almonds and chocolate. Chop together in a food processor; do not chop too fine.
FOLD together cheese mix and chopped almond & chocolate and chill.
WHIP heavy cream until stiff. Fold into ricotta and chocolate mix half at a time.
SPOON into chilled crust and let sit overnight before serving.

Serve with chocolate sauce, if desired

white chile

Here's what we ate tonight after coming in from playing in the snow.
White Chile
couple breasts of chicken cooked and cubed
1 can of chicken broth
1 cut up onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
two cans of northern white beans drained
1 diced green pepper
1 can diced green chiles
I also chopped up some cauliflower very finely and threw it in so I could get another veggie in my kids tummy. It's the right color and doesn't change the flavor at all...in my opinion.
Throw it all in a pot and let it simmer for a good long while until the veggies are cooked. Top with lots of monterey jack cheese and tortilla chips. Mmmmm...was it good.

cream cheese mmm...

Hey ya'll. I'm new here...but I've been mentioned. I guess I'm the cream cheese girl. Inspired by that comment I decided to make an old favorite of mine that I haven't made in awhile. My cream cheese enchiladas.
Corn or Flour Tortillas ( I like corn better)
filling for enchiladas are as follows
three to four chicken breasts
cup of cooked rice (I use brown)
cube of cream cheese
can of diced mexican style tomatoes
mix and fill up tortillas. top with green enchilada sauce and cheese. serve with salad and black beans. mmmmm....now I am going to go enjoy this meal. Happy eating.
-April

Amazing Family Favorites Cookbook

I just bought this amazing cook book from BYU-idaho. It was put together by students and mothers from all over the u.s. It also has some international meals. It's so great. It was only $10.00. You can email ibccookbooks08@gmail.com to get more information on how to get yours. There are even entries from sister Clark.
Here's one of the main dishes from it.
Chicken Puffs
Ingredients:
8oz cream cheese
4 Tbs butter, melted
2 Tbs milk
3-4 chives or green onions, chopped
3 chicken breasts
2 cans croissants
croutons, crushed
chicken gravy
Rice Pilaf or Reg rice (optional)
Directions: Pre-Heat oven 350
Mix cream cheese, milk, butter, chicken, and chives together. Spread each triangle of croissant out and put a dollop of chicken mixture on it. Fold the croissant up into a square. Roll in Butter, then in crushed croutons. Bake and when done, pour gravy over top.

Many more recipes like this one. Simple, but tastey.

Ummm - Can I just start off by saying Yum!

 Sunday dinner's are my favorite - Lately we have been trying something new - Mostly thanks to all of your wonderful suggestions - {by the way} thanks for all being here - I am loving this site and loving all the wonderful recipes! It makes it so much easier compared to a regular cookbook - to think hey she makes this for her family often - it must be a winner - you know what I mean! anyway thanks guys!                                                                                                              

Ok so back to the meal of the day...

Spaghetti with Meatballs...

don't laugh I know it's basic - but I like that!

& I had never made my own Meatballs before - 

& I was quite proud because they came out rather tastey if I do say so myself... 

And it was kind of a little bit healthier twist to the original.

Preheat the oven to 375

Meat Balls

- 2 slices of whole grain white bread torn into pieces

- 1/4 cup of Milk ( we used fat free )

- 1 pound of ground turkey  or chicken ( we used turkey ) 

- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

- 4 tablespoons Italian Seasoning

- 2/3 teaspoon Salt

line a rimmed baking sheet with foil 

and place a baking rack over it, 

coat rack with cooking spray and set aside

in a large bowl combine bread torn into small pieces and milk

let stand for a few minutes to soften bread

mash with Fork until a paste forms.

Add Meat, Parmesan, Seasonings, & Salt

Stir until evenly mixed

Shape into round meatballs and place on prepared baking rack.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes

While that is cooking - for extra healthy sauce try this --- 

this was great for Jeb who loves tomatoes but hates traditional Red Sauce.

We Served dinner tonight with both options... the Kids & I ate the Jar sauce of coarse...

But this was really easy to make - jeb was trying to eat it as a salad instead of over his pasta.

Sauce

1 tablespoon Canola Oil

2 pounds Plum Tomatos

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

1/8 easpoon Black Pepper

1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

2 garlic cloves ( I use the kind in a jar - 2 tbsp = 1 clove )

Heat Oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat - Add Garlic - Cook fo 1 minute

Add tomatoes, Balsamic Vinegar, Seasoning & Pepper

Cook for 10 minutes and your done.

And for a really healthy meal serve over a fiber and calcium enriched pasta

We also had Asparagus - Which suprizingly even Brayden will eat - 

he normally doesn't try to eat anything like that!

Yum! Enjoy!

HA... Thought this was Funny...

So - Jeb Thinks our little web site is a little bit sexist

(please keep in mind that he is taking a Women's history course this semester )

between the "Title" of the Blog and the "Superwoman" 

song that is often playing in the backround

But I will let him know that I was going to Title the Blog

"Hey Lady... What's for Dinner"  Because that is often what Jeb 

says when he gets home starving at the end of the day...

so if that's not sexist I don't know what is...

We are just kidding around with each other of course!

 

So for all you  Men looking on - Dad's or Husbands or Not - 

Don't let the title disturb you or Discourage you from cooking 

yourselves the yummy meals the site has to offer!

Feel free to cook for your wife 

or your girlfriend or yourself! 

More Power to ya!

And what do ya want me to call it anyway

"Hey you... what's for dinner!"

come on! what do you want from me!

heeheehee!

Ps... 

Thanks Jebby for all the dinners you cook!

You are amazing!

Sausage, Peppers & Onions...

For Lack of a more creative name...

OK - so all of my recipes 

I am realizing come from Carol White --- 

Whatever - she makes Yummy things!

So here's another one!

Last night we had this - and I loved it - It is super easy - 

perfect for when you need to just throw something together!

1 Onion

I used 4 Bell Peppers

(one of each color of coarse to make it pretty)

One of these packs of sausage

we used the Kielbasa

but I bet it would be good 

with one of the other flavors too.

If you are making rice or pasta I would start that now 

because this doesn't take very long to make

So you just cut into slices the Peppers and Onions and the sausage

And throw them in the pan till they look done... 

I put a little  olive oil into the pan first - 

I don't know why - It just seemed like the right thing to do.

We throw the mix on top of Fettucine noodles 

with the Alfredo sauce already mixed into them.

But I bet it would taste good on top of other things too

Enjoy!

Pork Tacos

My friend Jackie made these for us when we were visiting last year. Since then I have made them for family dinners, Bree's 2nd birthday, and New Years Eve. If you need to make food to feed a lot of people try this one. Everyone I have made it for loves it!

Pork Roast (Costco has a 2 pack for about $11 with very little fat on it. They also have huge ones for about $20 but you have to trim it up more and it would feed an army)
Coke or Pepsi (I have even used caffeine free)
Taco Seasoning
Brown Sugar
dash cumin

Put the pork in the crock pot. Cover with the soda. Cook until meat starts to shred. Add taco seasoning to taste (I had a lot), about 1 cup brown sugar and a dash of cumin. Let sit for a few minutes.

In the meantime prepare flour tortillas (we use the make at home kind from Costco--hooked on these too). Just warm the regular kind.

Shred meat. Servie in tortilla with guacamole, cheese and whatever else you like in tacos.

Chicken Rancheros

I, like Chris, didn't know what to do with my crock pot until the past year. A friend of mine makes this for anyone who has a new baby. etc. This is a really easy one and it gets great reviews.

Put chicken breasts in the crockpot (however many you need)
Add: 1 packet of Enchilada Sauce seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce (if you are making more than 3-4 breasts use the bigger can)
Water (enough so chicken doesn't dry out)

When the chicken is done use a fork to shred it. Serve with rice, green onions, sour cream and monterey jack cheese. Either mix in each bowl or in a casserole dish. Voila! Chicken Rancheros.

Another Good Sunday One!

Thank you April -
We often Make this on Sunday...
In Fact I think We will Have it tomorrow...

I never new what to do with the
2-3 crockpots that for some reason I own
until April came to visit a few months ago...
this is now one of my favorite no brainer meals!

So are you ready
don't blink...
or you'll miss the recipe!
This is so easy & Suprizingly So tasty!

Get your Crock Pot out
Put 4 (FROZEN) Chicken Breasts in it
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 block of Cream cheese
1 Can of Milk
and a packet of Italian Dressing Mix -

turn the crockpot
on high for 4 hours
and your done!

Now get out the door & go to church!

Told ya it was Easy...

When you get home all you have to do is
make some rice or Pasta
and a Veggie and your good to go!

PS...
- one week we didn't have An Italian dressing pack
so I put Green Enchilada Sauce in instead -
Don't put the Milk in if you do this though
or the sauce will be too runny...
We found that out the hard way

We ate it with Rice and Refried Beans - Yummy!

Perfect Breakfast for Sundays!

This makes a great Sunday Breakfast --- Although we have often had it for Dinner!
You guys probably have all had these - The White's makes them-
And I'm pretty sure I remember eating them at the Romney's a couple of times
But I didn't know how to make them until recently --Any way here goes..

Yummy!
PUFF PANCAKES...

Ingredients...

6 eggs
1 cup of Milk
1/4 cup Orange Juice
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 cup Flour
1 pinch of Salt
1/4 cup Butter

Preheat oven to 425

Melt butter in baking dish a few minutes (don't burn the Butter)
Take pan back out and swish the butter around coating the entire pan with Butter

While melting the butter
mix other ingredients in the blender

Pour mixture into HOT Butter coated pan
Bake for 20 Minutes until Puffy and Brown!


Super Easy and Super Yummy!

You can serve anything on top!

Carol makes like a smoothie type mixture to pour over top - it is quite Tasty that way
It's Kind of Funny - they Call it Fruity BoBo... { HaHa }

but we have served it with different fruits
or even just powdered Sugar and Syrup

Butter Schnitzel

I found this recipe on a website and adapted it a little since I didn't have fresh mushrooms (nor do I like them) or white wine. This was seriously SO, SO yummy. Another PS is that instead of the fresh mushrooms I just added half a can of Cream of Mushroom soup and then instead of the wine, water. Stephen and I were in heaven eating it!

25 Min
COOK TIME
30 Min
READY IN
55 Min
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 12 servings (changed to 4 servings for our family)

.
INGREDIENTS
4 boneless pork loin chops, 3/4 inch thick
2/3 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2-1/2 ounces butter
2/3 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup dry white wine (optional)
5 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons water
olive oil as needed

.
DIRECTIONS
Pound the pork chops with a spiked meat mallet until 1/4 inch thick; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, salt, and pepper. Press the pork into the crumbs to bread thoroughly; set aside.
.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and sliced mushrooms. Allow to simmer and cook until the mushrooms have softened, about 10 minutes. Stir together the cornstarch and water, then add to the mushroom sauce. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, then remove from the heat and set aside.
.
Meanwhile, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the pork cutlets a few at a time until golden brown and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve with reserved mushroom sauce

Recipe Software

I have to share my new love of a recipe software that I found while visiting my family back in Utah. Some in Utah may have heard of it because I guess the lady was on Channel 5 news. So check it out. I have begun in my ward here a freezer made meal group.

The software lets you input your own recipes and they don't need to be freezer made only ones either. It lets you make a menu and then it creates a shopping list for you as well.

I have been looking for a nice presentable, easy to use program for just recipes because I don't like a pile of cookbooks in my pantry. I just want to go to the computer and access it that way besides it creates my shopping list so I don't personally have to write it all out.

www.dinnerisready.com

HOW ABOUT BREAKFAST INSTEAD?

...THIS IS REALLY JUST A SIMPLE SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS AND YOUR KIDS ARE HAVING CEREAL FOR THE MOST PART IN THE MORNINGS, BECAUSE IT'S FAST AND EASY, BUT SOMETHING JUST AS FAST AND EASY IS CREAM OF WHEAT.

MY HUSBAND ANDREW IS ALWAYS IN A HURRY, AND WANTS SOMETHING WARM IN THE COLD MORNING ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND SCHOOL.. SO I MAKE THIS FOR HIM.

AND TO MAKE IT TASTIER AS WELL AS CREAMIER FOR KIDS TO ENJOY, USE SOYMILK INSTEAD OF MILK OR WATER.. IT GIVES A REALLY NICE FLAVOR, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD BROWN SUGAR.

FAST, TASTY, AND IT WILL REALLY FILL YOU UP!

..ARICA.

Must be soup weather .. I'll add another one

Jills extra thick tortilla soup

2 chicken breasts (frozen okay)
6 cups water
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 cups uncooked rice ( 1 cup for thinner soup)
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 tsp garlic

toppings: cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips

Mix everything in a large pot. Bring to boil and then turn down to low and cover for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken and cube or shred then return to pan.

Serve with sour cream and cheese and eat with tortilla chips instead of a spoon.
Enjoy!

This soup I invented because my husband is a little picky - but all of family LOVES this soup I think because you eat it with chips (if you make it with 2 cups rice it is almost like eating dip ). I LOVE this recipe especially because it is so EASY - everything out of a can and cooks in less than 30 minutes! If you try it let me know what you think. ;)

Grandmother's Potato Corn Chowder...

{From the Stokes Home}

ingredients:

1 Quart Chicken Stock
4 Potatos peeled
1 onion Chopped
1 Can of Corn
1 Pint of Half and Half
1/2 cup of Flour
2 cups of Cheddar Cheese
2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Pepper

Bring Chicken broth and veggies to a boil
and cook until potatoes are soft
In a seperate container Mix Half & Half with flour until there are no lumps ( We shake it in a tupperware )
Reduce heat and add flour & half & half mixture to soup
add cheese and salt and pepper
and your done!
it is great -
It really only takes as long to make as it takes for potatoes to get soft!
Enjoy!

Brayden & Kylie Attempting to Help peel Potatos -
By the time they finished one potato each
the soup was already done cooking -
so we made a little bowl of mashed potatoes for them
It was pretty funny to watch!

This isn't our fall back dinner but it is really easy and one that Jeb had been craving... So... Carol White (AKA - Grandmother)is the most amazing maker of soups --- and usually we are home in CA and get to enjoy her soups all winter - But this year we have been away we haven't been able to -- So I had to call her and get the recipe - which is hard for her because she just makes it - She doesn't really have a recipe written down - but she gave us what she had - and we made it last weekend and it was wonderful!

Our New Favorite Dinner... Chicken Veggie Soup

I am all about easy (and when I say easy, I mean easy)...

Ingredients:

- 1-2lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Frozen mixed veggies
- Seasoning
- Water

Take boneless, skinless chicken thighs (the thighs have more flavor) and put it in a crock pot all day on low with some water, salt, pepper or whatever other seasoning you like.

About 30 mins before dinner take the chicken w/ any broth and pour it into a pot on the stove. Take a fork and shred chicken in the pot. It should just fall apart. Add mixed frozen veggies...(we love the mixed peas, carrots, corn and green beans from Costco) and again, any other seasonings you like. Let simmer until you're ready to eat.

Add sour cream on top and serve with whatever bread you like.

***I also sometimes I crock pot chicken all day, drain the liquid, add BBQ sauce, toast bread, top with cheese, bake french fries and walla...we have BBQ chicken sandwiches.***

Here we go...

Hey Girls What's for dinner?!

I think it would be fun to start out witha simple one or your fall back dinner - you know the one --- It's the dinner you make when there is nothing to eat or you are having a crazy day and you just have to throw something together. It can be simple or not - healthy or not - everything goes... Breakfast lunch or Dinner!

I am really excited to see what you guys are making for dinner!

Love Chris

Ps.... By the way - I am giving everyone administration Privleges so that you can feel free to invite your friends - I know I probably missed some friends that I do not have Email addresses for or if you have friends where you live who would like to participate - I say the more the merrier!