Halloweenies

Here's a yummy, easy recipe for some 'Halloweenies' I made the other day.

You'll need:

Nathan's hot dogs or some other Kosher hot dogs (cuz that's the only kind anyone should ever eat

anyway) - about 12 so 1 package and a half.

Pillsbury croissant creations dough

Ketchup or mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough and cut half inch vertical strips. Pat excess water off hot dogs and roll the dough strips around the hot dog to look like mummy wrappings. Takes 2 strips. Roll two little balls of dough for eyes.

Bake on a cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes. So yummy! I noticed the dough gets a little soggy if you refrigerate them then nuke 'em in the microwave so reheat in the oven.

Bennett thought they were pretty cute. When I showed them to him before I put them in the oven he looked at me and put his finger to his mouth and said "Shhhh!" like they were sleeping and said "eye". I love him!

Ketchup is fun because it looks like blood. Great Halloween lunch!

Bad Day Soup

I can't take credit for this recipe. I can't take credit for any recipe I post on here. If I could I would suggest you be very scared since I can ruin even the easiest, most delicious of meals. This came from Jeff's parent's and I'm not quite sure where they got it, but let me just say MY GOODNESS! I have had the worst day ever and this soup was just the thing I needed. Thanks Mike and Kathi!!! It's called Chicken Tortilla Soup, but after today I claim the right to rename it to "Bad Day Soup".

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 bunch cilantro, well washed (leaves only)

2-3 garlic cloves

1/2 small onion

4 oz can of green chilies

6 cups of chicken broth

14.5 oz can of tomatoes

1 tsp. ground cumin

1tsp. salt

2 Tbsp cornstarch (dissolved in a small amount of water)

Corn tortillas (about 10) cut into thin slices

vegetable oil (or I used olive oil, it's lighter)

1-2 cups cooked chicken (2 oz per serving

Monterey Jack cheese

1-2 avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced

sour cream

salsa

(When it comes to food I'm no minimalist, I include all the toppings on my plate, so I didn't list anything as optional because I believe it shouldn't be. But if you can't even read the ingredient with out your stomach flipping by all means don't include it. But you're missing out.)

Preparation:

Puree cilantro, garlic, onion, chilies and tomatoes in a blender or food processor.

Heat stock and add pureed mixture along with cumin and salt.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about an hour.

Stir dissolved cornstarch into stock. (Don't add if you like thinner soup, add more- which I did, if you like more)

Fry cut tortilla strips in oil in batches until crisp (I added a little salt as I fried them) drain well.

Add chicken to stock (FYI don't pull a Sara and use canned chicken and regret it later and end up cooking up some chicken the last minute any way. It tastes so much better.)

Garnish or top with shredded cheese (Jeff says don't skimp on the cheese), tortilla strips, avocado, sour cream and salsa and whatever else you prefer. I suggest going with a fresca type salsa.

Like Kathi said, the avocado and sour cream taste so creamy and cool with the warm soup then you have the creaminess of the cheese and the crunchiness of the tortilla strips and chunks of chicken and salsa. This soup is a melody of textures, temperatures and tastes - my bad day totally melted away in this soup along with the cheese.

Easy Peasy Pizza Cheesy!

Ingredients for crust:

2 1/2 cups of Krusteaz baking mix

1 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic salt

2/3 cups of water

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Mix baking mix, Italian seasonings and garlic salt together. Add water and stir until dough starts to form. Knead in cheddar cheese (about 40 kneads).

Roll out on lightly floured surface into 12 inch circle and bake at 425 degrees for 5 min.

* I usually add a little cornmeal just under where the pizza will lay*

Let crust completely cool before adding toppings.

Add whatever toppings you want and bake for another 10-15 min. And voila! Pizza with foccacia crust to die for!

Grandma's Apple Butter

Ingredients:

16 cups of Gravenstein apple pulp

8 cups sugar

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp cloves (optional)

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ginger (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a large baking pot or roasting pot and bake at 350 degrees until reduced (about 3 hours) stirring frequently.

Or, reduce on stove top on medium-low stirring frequently.

Once mixture is hot add 3/4 stick of butter (optional).

Then can! Tastes great on pancakes, peanut butter sandwiches, toast and I'm sure lots of other things. So easy!

What's 4 Dinner??

I feel like I am always being asked "what's for dinner"?


Ever popular foil dinner.



Stuffed Italian Meatball loaf. (Picture's up and down)


Sometimes I am crazy inventive..Sometimes I am boring! lol


This is one we really like.

Deli Sammie ring.

I sure wish I would take a picture of the meals before, during and after.


Taco Salad, one of the easy meals:)

London Broil

London Broil


Deedee and I have both made this steak at different times.. (please put your picture up Deeds)
I think it tastes better than if you went to a big named steak house.
Take a bite of steak with a little smearing of butter..YUMMY!

2 pounds London Broil


***Marinade***
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1/2 cup Olive oil (I used veggi it was what I had.)
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

***Chili Butter***


1 cup butter, softened (melt 1 in the micro and just stir the other one in till it is firm the set in the fridge)
2 teaspoon. garlic powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (..lol I used taco bell fire sauce! )

Marinade for at least 2 hours (can sit in fridge for 2 days)
bbq at low for 10 min then flip, 10 more min flip, and ten more and take it off. I let it sit for about 10 minutes before I slice. Slice on the 45* diagonal..YUMMY!

Side notes..you could also use a little lime juice in the marinade.
This cut of meat was like 1 1/2 inches thick..

I like to serve it with BIG Potato or a YUMMY Artichoke:)

the worst foil dinner ever!

ok..So I am sharing, here is a picture of the WORST foil dinner ever!



Enjoy~



I guess you all know what we had that night..
Poor Rune was trying to make dinner..I had Strep and he wanted to provide for the Fam:)

Salsa Chicken

This is so really easy..
My family all like it lots!
I put a bag of frozen chicken tenders or breasts in the crock pot and then pour a jar of Salsa on top of it and let it cook on high for 4.5 hours. After it has cooked you can either serve it like that with rice and beans, OR you can shred it. I like to make taco's or chicken enchiladas or qusadilla's or spicy chicken salad.. I think it is a great time saver and Yummy!
(ok..some people only like beef in their taco's I know BUT, it is fun to mix it up!)

Mango Guacamole

This colorful dish is great for a Duck game or tail-gate party. I got it from the May 2005 issue of Everyday Food magazine.

Makes 3 cups

Prep time: 20 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes

2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

*1 mango, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch pieces

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup packed chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

1 serrano chile, minced (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired)

coarse salt

In a medium bowl combine avocados, mango, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and serrano chile; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Fold gently, leaving texture chunky.

*Preparing mango:

1. Hold mango with a paper towel (to avoid slippage). Using a vegetable peeler, remove skin and discard.

2. Whith a knife, slice off wide, flat part of fruit on both sides of pit. Trim flesh from pit (discard pit).

3. Place parts cut side down; slice in half horizontally. Cut crosswise into thin strips; cut strips lengthwise into pieces.

I doubled this recipe and didn't put the chile in it and it still had a lot of bite. I was suprised the next day (we had left overs) to find the avocado hadn't turned that yucky brown color. Probably from all the lime juice in it? This dip goes perfect with Juanita's Tortilla Chips. Because these chips are so salty, I'd use a little less salt in the dip. Enjoy!!!

No "kneed" to rise Pizza Dough

INGREDIENTS
3 cups all-purpose flour 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 cup lukewarm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in the oil and warm water and yeast that you have been dissolving in a different container. (let that sit for 5 min or so.) Spread out on a large pizza pan or stone that has been lightly oiled.
   
2. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden.
3. Top as desired. and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

I put in things like garlic, onion or Italian seasonings in the dough also ..Whatever feels fun that day! :)
I love this. it is so easy! You can also make it into bread sticks!

Southern BBQ Crockpot Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon ground red hot pepper flakes, or to taste (I do MORE)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients for the sauce in the slow cooker. Add the chicken, try to coat it well with the sauce.

Cook on high 3-4 hours, or until chicken is fully cooked all the way through. Then shred or cut up the chicken, and replace it in the Barbecue sauce in the pot; mix it all up so all the pieces are coated.

I ALWAYS double the sauce and usually add 6 breasts and then cut up after cooked - sometimes shred for hard rolls. I slice onions and different cheese's and green bell peppers to put on top YUMMY! I put it in before church and about an hour after church start cutting all the add ons and about the 5 hour mark it is perfect!
(I got this from my friend Whit)