Lazy Lasagna...

I'm going to be honest...
I don't have a picture of this because...

well...

it's really ugly and I didn't want to scare you away...

it's delicious and one of those foods that totally hits the spot...

trust me...

I love love love lasagna but it can sorta take awhile/be complicated...

so I created this little gem by combining a couple of different recipes and I loved it!

I really think that the egg noodles is what made it though...

the texture of those bad boys was perfect...

I hope you will at least try it!

Lazy Lasagna:

1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 lb. container cottage cheese

parmesan cheese, enough for your liking

cheddar cheese, about 1-1 1/2 cups

1 package egg noodles, prepared.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 

Mix the hamburger and sauce together, add some parmesan cheese.  Layer the noodles in a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Spread the cottage cheese over the noodles and then spread the sauce over that.  Cover with shredded cheddar cheese.  Bake in the oven until cooked through and cheese is nice and melty...enjoy with your favorite garlic bread.

My kids don't like to see tomatoes in their dinner so I always blend up my chunky spaghetti sauce before I mix it in with the hamburger...also, I was afraid they would shy away from the cottage cheese cuz they don't like that either...so I blended it up with the sauce...this is why it looked soooo ugly and I couldn't fathom posting such a bad picture.  But it was good and that is all that matters...right?

See how easy...

Cheesy Chicken and Vegi Soup...

This soup is so Delish...

and I am putting a personal guarantee on the fact that you will never have to look for a good, creamy, cheesy soup recipe again...

Cheesy Chicken and Vegi Soup:

1 lb Chicken (tenders or breasts)

1/2 cup onion, diced small (I just use minced onion)

3-4 carrots, sliced

3-4 stalks celery, sliced

3-4 potatoes, diced

water (I don't have an exact amount so I just eye-ball it and add more if I need it)

Put chicken and onion in soup pot and bring to a boil.  Turn down heat to medium and cook until chicken is done.  Remove chicken and bring water back up to a boil.  Add vegi's and a cup of cold water.  Shred or dice chicken and add to pot when the vegi's are cooked.  Bring down heat. 

In a separate sauce pan, melt 1 cube butter, add 1 cup milk, 2 Tbsp. flour and 3 boullion cubes.  Whisk until mixed good.  Add 16 oz. of Velveeta cheese that has been cubed and continue to cook on med. heat until the cheese is melted.  Add this to the chicken and vegi's.  Now add some broccoli that has been cut into smaller pieces.  Cook on low heat until broccoli is tender, being really careful not to scorch the soup cuz it's gross if you do...I would know.  Serve.

Pizza Crust...

We made pizza's for YW the other night and I found this recipe on a blog and decided to give it a go...

it was soooo good!!!

and the crust was all brown and cooked all the way through...

unlike other recipes I have tried...

this will only make one pizza so I suggest doubling or tripling it if you are feeding a crowd the size of my crowd...

I can't remember the blog, but because I changed the recipe a bit so I don't feel too bad...

I did steal this picture from a blog too because I never took one of  my own...

doesn't that look delish?

Pizza Crust:

1/2 cup warm water (from the tap is good, I let mine get a little hot)

1 1/4 tsp. yeast

1 1/2 cups bread flour

1 tsp. salt

Combine the warm water and yeast in a bowl.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Add the flour and salt and mix in a countertop mixer for 3-4 minutes.  Roll dough onto cookie sheet...no need to grease the sheet, just a little flour and you will be all set.  Top with your favorite toppings and bake.

The trick to a good pizza crust is a really hot oven and putting it on the lowest rack in your oven.  This recipe calls for a 420 degree oven and baking it for 11-13 minutes.  

Also, we tried doing a pizza without using any sauce and it was really good.  In fact, it was so good that I have to intention to ever make my pizza with sauce again!  The flavor really comes through with your toppings...YUM!

Meatballs...

I'll admit...

I do not normally like meatballs...

but this recipe is exceptional!

My SIL ran across it in the Worldwide Ward cookbook and we have been making it ever since she introduced us to it!

It's delish!

 

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup quick oats
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup dehydrated oonion
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into balls using the pampered chef medium scoop. Place in a 9X13 casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Sauce:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
2 teaspoon mustard
1/2 cup barbeque sauce {Tony Romas Carolina Honey is the best)
2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly.  Note:  We usually 1 1/2 times the sauce cuz it's so good.

Strawberry Chicken Salad....

Okay...

So you HAVE to try this...

I'll admit, I was skeptical at first...

but I love salads and wanted to give it a try...

and it was FABULOUS!

You'll like it...

I promise...

Strawberry Chicken Salad:

Mix together in bowl:

2 bags shredded lettuce

1 cup sliced strawberries
6-8 chicken tenders, cooked and shredded

a small handful sliced almonds

a handful of real bacon bits

Top with your favorite poppy seed dressing and those amazing new tortilla strips you can buy by the salad dressing isle...by the real bacon bits.

So good!

Yummy Pulled Pork sandwiches...Cake Mix Cookies

So my phlebotomy teacher is pretty awesome...

and, yes I am brown-nosing right now...

hopefully he reads this...

 hahaha...

Any who, this recipe comes courtesy of him...

apparently it's like his favorite thing ever...

and I must admit that they are super tasty!!!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches:

1 3-5 pound pork roast (any kind)

1 2 liter bottle Mug Root beer

1-2 bottles Sweet Baby Ray's original BBQ sauce

In a large crock pot place the roast and cover completely with root beer.  I set my crock pot on low and let this baby cook for about 24 hours.  Drain the root beer off of the roast and shred the meat.  Pour the sauce over the meat and incorporate so that the meat is completely saturated in the sauce.  Leave the crock pot on a warm setting for about 1-2 hours until ready to serve.  If you don't have a warm setting, just turn it off and don't remove the lid.  Serve inside your favorite rolls...I like those diamond shaped ones from Wal-Mart...I think they are called boullilo or something like that!  Enjoy!

Oh and Mark...can I totally use you as a reference whilst applying for jobs?...just checking (hahaha...)

 Have you ever had cake mix cookies?...

Well I had them years ago and wrote them off totally because I thought they were so bad...

until I came across these little beauties...

so simple and Oh So Good!!!

 Cake Mix Cookies:

1 box cake mix
1 cube butter, softened
1 egg

Mix the cake mix, butter and egg together until well combined.  Drop by rounded tablespoon (medium scoop) onto a cookie sheet.  (about 15 cookies per sheet)  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-11 minutes.  Do not over bake.  These puppies are so delish and the possibilities for cake mixes are endless...yellow is my favorite...my kids liked the lemon ones (probably cuz I drizzled them with a lemon glaze) and the funfetti ones are so dang cute!

The only downfall to these little gems is that it only makes about 20 cookies...total bummer!

Rich Man's Dinner...

Hold the phone cuz I am posting again...I finally found something blog-worthy and I think you will agree.

This dish is called Rich Man's Dinner for a reason...it's expensive to make but super delicious. It's one of those meals that you make for special occasions or on February 29th! Ashley, you are considered a 'special occasion' in my book...Love Ya!

Rich Man's Dinner:

Spray a 9X13 pan with pam and lay in some sliced ham, good quality ham about a 1/4 inch thick.

Wrap desired amount of chicken tenders with bacon (uncooked) and lay on top of ham.

Make a sauce with a big can of cream of chicken soup, 1-2 cups sour cream and some milk for thinning. Add some salt and pepper to sauce and pour over chicken.

Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 2-3 hours and serve over rice! So Good!!!

I wanted to throw in this adorable picture of Jenner enjoying her favorite meal from Taco Time...every day she wants "chips" for lunch and she can eat the whole thing too!!!

Chicken Carbonara

I saw this recipe on Everyday Italian the other day and I was so excited to try it...of course I made a few changes to make it more my own and it was Delish! And it's practically fat-free...hahaha!

Chicken Carbonara

Saute in a large sauce-pan with olive oil:

4 oz. pancetta, cut into small pieces (Wal-Mart has it for about $2.50)

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

Add some cooked chicken either cubed or shredded, however much you want. Turn down heat to med-low and add 1 lb. cooked pasta...any kind.

Mix together:

1 pint heavy cream

6 egg yolks

1/2 bag italian shredded cheese blend (I got mine at Wal-Mart)

1/4 cup more parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. italian seasoning

Pour mixture over pasta and chicken and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle extra parmesan on the top of each serving.

This makes a ton of carbonara, I doubled the recipe for 13 people and we had leftovers...It is soooo sinfully good! Even my funny picky Rhett loved it!!!

Sarah's Chili and Apple Fritters...

During the summer we spend alot of our time swimming with cousins at their house...we have so much fun! On many of our days spent there Sarah and I decide to do things for dinner...we usually see what I have in my freezer and what she has in her freezer and try to make a meal out of our combined items...it's quite fun. A couple of weekends ago, they invited us over for Sunday dinner and I didn't have to do a thing...imagine my complete happiness with this notion (I owe you Sarah)...and this is what she made! Homemae Chili...and for dessert...Apple Fritters! Try them both and I promise you that you will walk away a very happy woman!


Sarah's Chili:

3/4 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 16 oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried basil
Salt and Pepper

Brown ground beef with onion, pepper and garlic in a large soup pot. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes...or for as long as you need. Makes 4 main dish servings! Top with cheese, sour cream, green onions, chips or whatever you like! Sarah usually doubles or triples this recipe when she makes it...YUM!

Apple Fritters: (recipe from the Worlwide Ward Cookbook)

4-5 medium apples, peeled and sliced

2 cups flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

2 Tbsp. oil

dash of salt

1 cup milk (plus a little more)

Get your apples ready and pour some lemon juice over them so they don't brown. Mix the rest of the ingredients together to make a batter. Dip the apples in the batter one at a time and fry in hot oil, turning to brown on all sides. Roll in cinnamon sugar.

These are so good...I am not a big fan of cooked fruit and especially not a big fan of Granny Smith apples but this recipe has both and I loved them. Sarah was even kind enough to fry me up some batter balls without apples cuz hey, who doesn't love a little fried dough now and then...more now! This batter has got to be one of the best frying batters out there! If you make them soon...you know where I live...(hint)...

If you have the Worldwide Ward Cookbook you know how good it is...I really need to get me a copy of it soon...also, you can go to the authors blog at www.worldwidewardcookbook.blogspot.com and submit your recipes...you know I did!!!

Southwestern Chicken Egg Rolls...

Southwestern Chicken Egg Rolls...

6 chicken tenders, cooked and diced

1/2 can diced tomatoes

1/2 can black beans

1/2 can corn

Chicken taco seasoning (enough for taste)

Mix all together and place filling into uncooked tortillas with a little cheese and roll up egg roll style...seal with a little water. Fry in hot oil until golden brown. Enjoy with your favorite Cilantro Ranch Dressing...either from Cafe Rio, Bajio's or Costa Vida. I have added 1 avacado to 1 cup dressing and blended it up and it's delicious!

Why? and a Pot Roast to DINE for!!!

Why is it that whenever I am asked to do a favor for someone something CRAZY happens...take last night for example...our cute neighbors Dave and Michelle just had their cute little squishy baby girl and asked if I could help them out with their older son Sammy...Sure I could...I can definately do THAT...right??? Well Lo and Behold this morning when Jenner woke up (in my bed) she had this weird crusty reddish orange-ish crap all over her...hmmmmm...I wonder if she threw up and I didn't even know it!!! Nothing in my bed....hmmmmm....so I head on over to her crib in Taylor's room and I see nothing....until I pull up the blankets and there is SPEWWWWWW all over the place...really? I pull up all of her bedding (including bumper pads) and then I give the call of shame to Dave....um Dave? My baby threw up and I can't help you this morning....SORRY? I feel sooooo bad!!! Thanks to my other neighbor Hollie for saving the day and taking Sammy this morning....again SORRY!!!


So the moral of this story is...why do these things always seem to happen when I am trying to help someone out...or go visiting teaching...or be visit taught...things like this happen all the time and I tell ya, I have yet to figure it out!


On to the POT ROAST TO DINE FOR!!!


My genious brother in law, Brandon, is a wiz in the kitchen and his recipe for Pot Roast is soooo good...I suggest you try it this Sunday!!!


1. Rub Pot Roast all over with Lowry's seasoning salt
2. Place roast in slow cooker
3. Pour 1 can of either beef broth or chicken broth into cooker
4. Sprinkle 1 packet beefy onion soup into broth and whisk until blended
5. Cover and cook on LOW for about 12-18 hours...put in the night before


To make mashed potatoes taste Oh so Heavenly...add some butter, sour cream, s&p, and my secret ingredient...Parmesan Cheese...gets em' beggin for more!!!


And to make the EASIEST gravy ever...use the drippings from the meat and add some Cream of Chicken soup to it...warm on stove...YUM!!!


I know what I am having for dinner SOON!!!

Holy Chicken Alfredo and Homemade Bread BATMAN!!!

See here for more details...are you drooling yet?

Sweet Pork Tacos and Cilantro Lime Dressing....

Sweet Pork Tacos/Salads...

4-6 lb. Pork Roast

Rub:
2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 1/2 tsp. Red pepper flakes
2 tsp. Cumin
1-2 tsp. salt
Rub on roast and brown in oil.

Put roast in crock pot the night before you intend on serving it. Add 2 cloves garlic and some water. In the morning add; 1 can Coke, 1 can Chicken Broth, 1 onion chopped, 1 cup Brown Sugar...continue to cook on low until ready to eat. 1 hour before serving, shred pork and add 1 cup Brown Sugar.

Cilantro Lime Dressing:

1 pkg. dry ranch dressing
8 oz. Salsa Verde (green salsa, we use Herdez)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup Mayo
3/4 cup Sour Cream
1-2 dashes hot sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
Cilantro, opt. (however much you want)

Blend in blender and store in fridge.

Pico de Gallo

Chopped Tomatoes
Chopped Onion
Cilantro, minced

Guacamole

Avacodoes, mashed
Sour Cream, spoonful
Mayo, spoonful
Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper

Spray skillet and warm tortillas in it. We like those uncooked ones that you brown up yourself....yummmm. Or, if you are using the regular tortillas, shmear them with butter first.

Make tacos like this...

Tortilla
Meat
Black Beans
Lettuce (Romaine)
Dressing
Parmesan cheese (or Cotija)
Pico
Guacamole
Crushed tortilla chips

These are the best sweet pork tacos you will ever make...

Yummy summer dinner

You know those days when you just can't imagine heating up your house anymore by turning on the oven to cook? I was having one today. I am usually so good about just forgetting about the heat when it comes to dinner because hey, I've got to feed my family right? Well today I decided to do something different and I am sad I haven't done it sooner.

Pasta salad

1 bag corkscrew pasta, cooked and drained

1-2 cucumbers, diced

some tomatoes, either grapes halved or roma diced

1/2 can olives, sliced

cheese cubes

Mix all together and pour Kraft Zesty Itailian dressing over it until all of the pasta has sauce on it. So good, Chris' favorite salad.

Fruit salad

For this I used what I had and what I got from a neighbor.

Strawberries, sliced

Peaches, diced

Green Grapes

Sugar

Mix all together and enjoy. Such a wierd combination on paper but so good in my tummy.

Rotissere Chicken

Store bought bread

This makes such a delicious meal. I put the chicken in my pasta salad and it was also divine.

Why does this baby only sleep when I don't want her to...Another long day of fighting naps and she passes out right before dinner. UGHHH

Fresh from the Garden

Yummy Goulash...We had this the other night and I love it.

Brown 1 lb. hamburger in a large electric fry pan. Season with salt & pepper, remove from pan

Saute in butter in the same pan:
2 small zucchini squash
2 small yellow crookneck squash
salt & pepper to taste

Add hamburger and tomatoes, I added canned ones but you can use fresh too. I sometimes add corn too but this time I did not.

Add 3/4 lb. pasta, cooked and drained. Mix well. At this point I add maybe 2 Tbsp. of ketchup. Taste it and see if you need more. Top with cheese when serving. Super good and healthy for you.

Rustic Italiano...

This recipe comes to you courtesy of my good friend Heather. She shared this yummy dinner with our family years ago and it quickly became one of Chris and I's favorite. Of course, I changed the recipe to my liking like I always do, but the key ingredients are the same...Enjoy!!!

Spaghetti

Grown up spaghetti (my kids call it)

and as I like to call it,

Rustic Italiano:

1 lb. breakfast sausage

1 can petitie diced tomatoes

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 can olives, sliced

1 can mushrooms (I run these through the chopper so Chris doesn't know that they are in there)

Italian seasoning to taste...1-2 tsp. maybe?

1 box small bowtie pasta, cooked and drained

parmesan cheese, to mix in and for the top

Brown the sausage really good and add the tomatoes, olives, mushrooms and seasoning. Let it simmer for a few minutes (like 10). Add the pasta and parmesan cheese. Serve it up with more parmesan on the top.

Tostada Pizza

So my friends little sister posted this pizza on her blog and I decided to make it since it looked so good. She didn't post a recipe so I just winged it, and like always I changed a few things cuz that's what I do, I change recipes.

Tostada Pizza

1 roll pillsbury pizza crust, cooked for about 10-14 minutes

Layer in order given:

Refried beans

Cheese

Grilled chicken, cubed

Cook for another few minutes until cheese is nice and melty.

Top with:

Lettuce

Sour Cream

Olives

Salsa

Guacamole

Crushed torilla chips

Delicious and so fast and easy!

Recipes anyone...

So I thought it would be fun to put up some recipes. This first one is Grady's very favorite and a crowd pleaser at that. We love it at our house and people who have tried it seem to love it too.

Tortellini

1-2 bags tortellini prepared
equal amounts of marinara sauce and alfredo sauce (I like bertolli marinara)
provolone cheese

Mix tortellini and sauces together and put in a greased casserole dish. Lay cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees until warmed through. About 20-25 minutes. You can add shredded chicken to make it a protein friendly meal.