Saturday, August 22, 2009

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies have a secret. The oatmeal, brewers yeast and flaxseed are helpful for nursing moms to increase production of milk for your baby(ies). The cookies themselves are just yummy!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2-4 tablespoons brewer's yeast




Preheat oven to 350°.

1. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
2. Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
3. Add eggs and mix well.
4. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla; beat well.
5. Sift together flour, brewer's yeast, baking soda, and salt.
6. Add dry ingredients to butter mix.
7. Stir in oats and chips.
8. Scoop onto baking sheet.
9. Bake for 12 minutes.
10. Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray.

I didn't get any pictures of the finished product because well...um...they got eaten too fast! But they were soooo yummy....my whole family loved them. :) I made a huge batch for our vacation and they helped me keep my supply up which I was worried might decrease while we traveled.

Special thanks to my friend Kristin for posting this recipe in a group I'm a part of!

Enjoy!!!

Next week's menu:
King Ranch Casserole
Coke-A-Cola Chicken
Pizza

I need more ideas...I'll let you all know! :D

Friday, August 21, 2009

Beef Stroganoff

This is my comfort food. Seriously....this is my go-to food when I'm sad or happy or cold. I can't tel you the number of times I made this while Philip was deployed!! At least twice a week...lol.

Anyway, enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
10 oz sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 bag of egg noodles (I think that's about 8-10 oz, I haven't ever really measured)
1/2 water


In a large skillet (that has a top -- I can't tell you how many times I've made this and forgotten to use one of my skillets that has a top!), brown ground beef. Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, water and noodles. Stir well till noodles are all coated.


Reduce heat to a little above medium, cover and let noodles cook and get soft. When noodles finish cooking, add sour cream. Stir well and reduce heat to Low. Cover for 3-5 minutes.

When finished, stir well and serve! I usually either make green beans or a salad as the side with this. My favorite way to eat this is served with very, very well sweetened tea, a salad of mostly spinach with a little bit of mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top. Best. Dinner. Ever. (for me...like I said, this is my comfort food...haha.)

Enjoy!!

Tomorrow: Dessert -- this is a good one for nursing moms --- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies. This is good whether you are nursing or not but, definitely helping for those who are breastfeeding. I got the recipe off of a group I'm in....I love it!

Also, next week's menu!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Chicken Florentine Ring

First off...sorry for the delay.

This week has been insanely chaotic! Three doctors appointments, car issues....but, things are finally slowing down!

Chicken Florentine Ring

-This would be PERFECT for a brunch. It is very yummy and filling and quite dainty looking (I think anyway). It was pretty easy to make...enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 can of chunk chicken (I hate canned chicken so I just used a regular chicken breast, cooked and cut up)
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/2 chopped spinach
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp salt
2 cans of crescent rolls

I cut this recipe in half last night. It was just Philip and I and I've got a fridge full of leftovers so...we didn't need more!

Preheat oven to 375. Combine all ingredients except crescent rolls in large bowl. Mix well.


Unroll crescent rolls in ring on baking stone. Fill center with chicken mixture. Roll up and put crescent rolls with chicken filling together. (The idea is you want the roll dough to bake together so it can be something to be sliced apart.) You can see from the picture that this would work better with two cans of crescent rolls but, this was more than enough for just us two!


Bake for about 20-25 minutes. I did them for 22 minutes and that was almost too long so, stick closer to 20 minutes.

I served it with mixed fruit and sweet tea. It was yummy! :) Philip and I both really enjoyed it!!

Tomorrow: My comfort food --- Beef Stroganoff

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Ooey Gooey Bars and next week's menu!

This is probably the biggest dessert request I get from my husband, he loves these things!

Ingredients:
1 package butter cake mix
1 stick butter
3 eggs
1/2 package of chocolate chips
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar



Mix together cake mix, butter and 1 egg. Pat into bottom of greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips.

In a separate bowl, cream together remaining ingredients and pour over crust in pan.


Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. The top will be a light, tan color. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Enjoy!

***

Next week's menu:
Monday: Beef Stroganoff
Tuesday: Chicken Florentine Roll
Wednesday: Easy Lasagna
Thursday: Coke-a-cola Chicken
Friday: Spaghetti Casserole (crockpot!)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, see you all on Monday!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Pizza Teaser

This is a great appetizer...I made it as a meal and added some stuff to it but it'd be great to take to a party.

Ingredients:
1 can of buttermilk flaky biscuits
1/2 cup tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic
Olive oil
1 tbsp oregano
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese

On round baking stone, cut biscuits in half to make 20 pieces. Arrange pieces on baking stone in a"flower-like" pattern. Press edges together. Coat evenly with olive oil. Sprinkle tomato, green pepper and pressed garlic onto biscuits.


Top with oregano and parmesan cheese. Cook at 400 for 15-17 minutes, until edges of biscuits turn golden brown.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Let cool for about 3-5 minutes.


I served this with fruit and it could've used another side but my husband and I were going out for ice cream so we didn't make an extra side. :)


Enjoy!

Tomorrow: Dessert Day - Ooey-Gooey Squares, as well as a menu and shopping list for next week!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Chicken Soft Tacos

So....I know I said today was easy lasagna but plans had to change. My husband had to work late so I decided to do a crockpot recipe instead so he'd have a warm dinner when he got home (which, we didn't know what time that was exactly...so, that's the beauty of crockpots!!!

Ingredients:
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, frozen
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 can of diced tomatos and green chilis
Tortillas
Optional Ingredients:
sour cream/guacamole
shredded cheese
refried beans
black beans
Mexican rice
Basically whatever you would like on a soft taco!

Put chicken, taco seasoning and tomatos/chilis into crockpot. Cook on low for 4-8 hours.


After 4-8 hours, use a fork to pull apart and shred chicken. Then place in tortillas and add whatever toppings you want.

I don't have a picture of the finished product because it's just a rolled up tortilla....but here is the chicken shredded and put on the tortilla:

This recipe is perfect for those days when you have to run around doing errands and then throw dinner together before an evening activity. Prep is about two-three minutes before hand. It takes me about three-five minutes to shred the chicken and build one taco. Fast and easy!!

Enjoy!

Tomorrow: Pizza Teaser

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Philly Cheese Steak Roll

So...new recipe, I had never tried it. It turned out pretty well. Needs some "handling" improvement.

Ingredients:
2 cans of pizza dough (I used the pizza dough mix, 2 bags)
deli sliced roast beef
deli sliced American cheese
1/2 cup green bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup onion chopped
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

Heat oil in medium saucepan. Add green pepper, onion, oregano and pepper. Using garlic press, add garlic cloves to mixture. Cook 3-4 minutes or until veggies are crisp.

On floured baking stone, roll out pizza dough in two equal halves. Layer dough with roast beef, cheese and veggie mixture. Roll dough in pinwheel manner and attach the two halves by their ends.

Mix egg white and water together and brush onto dough. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Here are some pictures of why I say I need more "handling" improvement:

You can see it got really thin where I attached the two rolls together. Also, you can see where the dough split as it cooked so, I guess I either need to use more dough or not roll it so thin. Here is a close up of the split:
Here is a picture of the inside:

Either way...it turned out really yummy. Philip said it was quite possibly the best thing I've ever cooked for him. I served it with a tossed salad of baby greens sprinkled with mozzarella cheese.

We DID have left overs, we had a whole tupperware container of them, but...after Philip left for work this morning I noticed the container was in the sink so....he either took them with him for lunch or ate them for breakfast...or both. Oh well...at least he's a happy boy.

Tomorrow: Easy Lasagna

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Parmesan Chicken Strips

I got this recipe out of a Pampered Chef Stoneware cookbook. My husband really likes these and requested them one day but I didn't have all of the ingredients. So...I tweaked it a little bit. Below is my recipe. If you want the Pampered Chef one, e-mail me at princesskymberlee@gmail.com and I'll send it to you. :)

These are perfect for summer and for kids because they are finger foods and not super messy!

Ingredients:
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 a sleeve of ritz crackers
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk (2% seems to work best but I've used fat free)
1 tbsp parsley <--- not paisley like I originally said...
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper


Thaw chicken and cut into strips. This is what I love --- you can make the strips however big or small you want. I make them various sizes, just for the fun of it.

Crush ritz crackers in plastic bag and combine all dry ingredients. Shake up the bag to mix them well. Empty bag into small saucer. Put milk into separate saucer.

Dip chicken strips into milk, then into the crumb mixture. Cover evenly.











When chicken strips are coated, arrange on baking stone. (If you are using a regular baking pan, grease the pan first. If using stoneware, no need to do anything.) Cook at 400 for 10-15 minutes, or until the coating is a little brown.



I serve these with ranch dipping sauce, fresh fruit and sweet tea. It takes about 20-25 minutes from start to finish (provided you thaw the chicken before hand.)

Enjoy!

Tomorrow: Philly Cheese Steak Roll

Monday, August 10, 2009

Fiesta Nachos

My husband loves these....they are perfect for Friday night movie nights. :)

Ingredients:
Flour or corn tortillas
1 lb of ground beef (or turkey) --- for just Philip and me, I use 1/2 a lb
1 can of diced tomatoes and green peppers
1 packet of taco seasoning
Salt and pepper
Chili powder
Shredded Cheese
Sour cream/guacamole (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.
Cut tortillas into wedges and arrange on round baking pan. I use my Pampered Chef Stoneware (shown below):


Bake tortillas for 5-7 minutes or until edges curl

While the tortillas are in the oven:
Brown turkey in skillet
Add taco seasoning, diced tomatoes and green peppers, chili powder (however little or much you want!), and salt and pepper.
When tortillas are done, sprinkle them with cheese, then add the meat mixture and top off with more cheese.
Put the nachos back in the oven till cheese is melted.
Remove and serve with sour cream/guacamole or whatever other sides you want.

Sometimes I serve these with a salad or nothing at all. It takes about 30-35 minutes from start to finish. Warning....it is messy!! :) But...messy equals good, usually.

Enjoy!

Tomorrow: Parmesan Chicken Strips

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The first post - Chicken in White Wine Marinade

How exciting! You all have to bear with me while I figure out blogspot, okay? :)

Here is the first meal I'm going to post. This is the first time I've made it so...my changes are to use either more chicken or bigger chicken breasts, since it was just for me and my husband.

Chicken in White Wine Marinade

Ingredients:
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup vertically sliced onion (about half of a large onion)
1 tsp thyme
4 chicken breast halves
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper



Combine first six ingredients in a large ziploc plastic bag, eal. Marinate in refridgrator for 4-24 hours. (I did put it in the fridge in the morning around 8 and we ate around six, so, about 9-10 hours).

Preheat oven to 375
Place chicken in baking dish. Pour marinade over chicken.


Cover and bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 40 minutes until done. Transfer chicken to platter, discard bay leaves and marinate. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper.


While the chicken was cooking I made rice, green beans and yeast rolls, and of course...sweet tea like a good southern girl should. The chicken was very moist so, I think the 9-10 hours was perfect. My husband wanted the onions on his rice so, we didn't have to discard them! It took roughly 10 minutes to prep in the morning, then an hour to cook. Not much time at all!

Tomorrow: Fiesta Nachos :)