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!