Baked Potato Soup

Well, Autumn is back, and that means so am I!  :)  I have the hardest time wanting to be in the kitchen during the summer months and once it gets a tid bit chilly I find myself LOVING the kitchen!  I made this YUMMY soup for my cute family on Sunday, and the husband LOVED it.  My 1 year old gobbled it up too.  Hope you enjoy it!

2/3 cup butter

7 cups milk

4 green onions diced

1 1/2 cup shredded cheese ( I use sharp, and I add to taste)

3/4 tsp salt (Sea Salt is what I used and it tasted great)

2/3 cup flour

4 large potato peeled and cubed (boil first to make soft)

1 package Real Bacon toppers (found in the salad isle)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp Pepper

In large skillet melt butter.  Stir in flour, heat and stir til smooth.  Gradually ad in milk, stirring constantly until thickened.  Add soft potato cubes and onions.  Bring to a boil, stir constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until cheese is melted.  ENJOY!

Cheddar Broccoli Fish Bake

      This is one of my all time favorite recipes!  I found this a few years back when I was trying to impress the husband, and boy did I ever!  He LOVES this meal, as do I, and any one the I've made it for.  Even kids like it. :)

1 package (about 10 ounces) frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained
4 fresh or thawed frozen firm white fish fillets (cod, haddock or halibut) (about 1 pound)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Broccoli Soup
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon paprika

1- Place the broccoli into a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with the fish. Stir the soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour the soup mixture over the fish. Sprinkle with the cheese.
2- Stir the bread crumbs, butter and paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over all.
3- Bake at 450°F. for 20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Tasty Taco Burgers

    I made these last night for the Father in Laws Birthday Bash.  They were a complete success!  The family loved them and they went great with the Chili's Chips and Salsa and avacado ranch (try it! MY FAVE!!!) and the Rice a Roni Mexican Rice I made.  Really, what a fantastic meal!  Top with sour cream and salsa and it makes for a fantastic change to an all time favorite!

1 pound groud beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
8 kraft american cheese singles
4 kaiser rolls, split (I just used normal hamburger buns)
lettuce leaves
salsa
sour cream

MIX 1 pound ground beef and taco seasoning mix.  Shape into 4 patties.
GRILL patties on the grill until desired doneness.  Top each patty with cheese.
FILL rolls with lettuce and cheeseburgers.  Top with salsa and sour cream.

Pasta Bake with Veggies

   I found this recipe a few years back when I quickly had a find a meal to feed an entire family.  This really is SO EASY, and so yummy!  This is a great family meal and has everything all in one. Unless you want some french bread of course!  I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does!

1 package frozen italian veggies, thawed
5 cups cooked pasta
1 jar (28oz) pasta sauce
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated mozz cheese

STIR veggies, pasta, sauce and grated topping together.
SPOON into 13x9 dish, top with cheese.
BAKE at 375 for 20 minutes.

Chicken and Pasta Primavera

    This is a really easy, impressive meal and a nice change to the normal pasta rut I find myself in.  I hope you enjoy this great flavor!

1 TB butter
3/4 lb bonless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup water
1/2 dry white wine
1 package KNORR recipe classics spring vegetable soup, dip and recipe mix
1/2 tsp fresh group pepper
8 oz linguine, cooked and drained
grated parmesan cheese

- In a large skillet, melt butter over med heat and cook chicken and garlic for 5 mins.
- Stir in water, wine, recipe mix and pepper.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.  Reduce to low and simmer 5 mins or until chicken is no longer pink in center.
- Toss chicken mixture with hot linguini.  Serve with grated cheese.

Tilapia in Tomato Soup

I was looking through my mom's recipes recently and I came across this dish. Apparently it was one of my Grandma's favorite recipes when my mom was growing up. They had it all the time. Though my mom never made this for us!? It was really SO yummy! The saucy soup was what MADE this dinner. I think I'll try this again with smoked sausages too. :) Try this! It totally sounds weird, right? Tomato and Fish? Hmmm... but it is oh so delish!!!

4 Tilapia Fish Fillets

1/2 Diced Med. Onion

1/2 Diced Red Pepper

1/2 Diced Green Pepper

3 Tbs. Butter or Margarine

1 Can Tomato Soup

1/4 Cup Water

2 Tbs. Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp Thyme

1 tsp. Onion Salt

Dash Pepper

In Sauce pan cook onion, peppers with butter until nice and tender. Add 1 can tomato soup with 1/4 cup water, lemon juice, thyme, pepper and onion salt. Cook on low heat for 10 or so minutes. Pour over Fish arranged in shallow baking dish. ( I just layer in a 9x9 dish)

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

I served with grilled cheese on wheat bread. Great for dipping!!!

Catalina Chicken & Rice

Brandon Loved this dish. I only liked it ok. But is was very very easy, and has veggies, meat, and rice all in one. Try it at least once to see if you like it too. :-)

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
3/4 cup Catalina Dressing
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 package frozen mixed veggies, thawed or 3 cups cute up fresh veggies (which I always prefer) brocolli and peppers are really good with the sauce.

Cook and stir raw chicken in dressing, soy sauce and garlic powder for 5 minutes. Ad veggies and cover. Simmer 7 mins or until veggies are crisp and tender and chicken is cooked through. Stirring frequently. Serve over rice.

Beef & Brocolli

This dish was pretty good. It was really easy, but next time I'm going to pound the meat out to soften it and make it more tender, which I didn't do this time. Also, I'm going to marinade the meat in the sauce mixture over night because the meat had no taste when you bit into it. Though the sauce was very yummy... I'll for sure make this again, only after doing these few key points. Hope you like it!

1 tb olive or vegetable oil

1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch strips

1 package (10 oz) frozen brocolli florets, thawed. (I steamed fresh brocolli though)

1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix

1 1/4 cups water

1 tb firmly packed brown sugar

1 tb soy sauce

1. In 12 inch skillet, heat oil over med-high heat and brown steak only, stirring occasionally, in two batches. remove steak from skillet and set aside.

2. Stir in broccoli and soup mix blended with water, brown sugar and soy sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes.

3. Return steak to skillet and cook 1 minute or until steak is done to your liking. Serve over hot rice.

Chicken Pasta Salad

This was a extended family dinner mainstay.

It is one of my favorite's during the summer.

I like to make it and save it for lunches for the week.

My hubby likes to just eat a few bites of it through passing. :)

Great meal, side or snack.

4 cups cooked cubed chicken. (I usually just simmer frozen chicken breasts with onion salt)

2 1/2 cups small shelled (uncooked) pasta- cook according to directions. I like spiral pasta however...

2 cups diced celery

2 cups red grapes

2 cups peeled and diced red delicious apples

1/4 cup diced green onions

1 small can crushed pineapple (drained)

2 cups cashews (I don't add this when I prepare it though)

*Mix 1 cup mayo with 1 cup coleslaw dressing. (for a sweeter tasting pasta sauce replaced mayo with miracle whip, I like this better.) Toss with other ingredients.

German Pancakes

Learned how to make this one when I was in Jr. High cooking class.

Has been a favorite breakfast meal since. :)

Easy and fun for kids to make.

Great with any breakfast meat.

3 TB margarine or butter

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup flour

3 eggs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

place butter in a 9x9 dish and let melt (not cook) in oven.

Beat remaining ingredients well.

Pour batter into the hot buttered pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.

It makes hills and valleys and is fun for kids to watch bake.

Serve with jam, powdered sugar, cinnamon or syrup. :)

Tortellini Soup

I made this tonight for the first time. I can't even begin to tell you how absolutley DELICIOUS this was!!! This is with out a doubt my new favorite soup. :-) The great thing about it is you can cook this all year round. It calls for fresh veggies and with the summer months coming up it will be perfect to just grab ingredients from your garden. MMMM... I'm just salivating thinking about this dish!!!

3 tbsp. Olive Oil

1 cup carrot straws

1 zucchini halved lengthwise and sliced

1 yellow crook neck squash, diced

1 qt. jar of Classico tomato & basil sauce (24 oz.)

32 oz. of Chicken broth (more or less)

9 oz. pkg. stuffed cheese tortellini (or 1 1/2 cups)

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Saute veggies in olive oil for 10 mins or so, in a large soup pot. Add chicken broth and tomato sauce, (which has been blended in a blender until smooth), stir well. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 min., or until pasta in tender. Top with parmesan cheese.

ENJOY!!!

Grandma's Sweet n Sour Meatballs

Boy oh boy does this bring back memories of family dinner growing up. Such a distinct taste. Such a yummy taste. :) Another favorite.

1 lb ground beef
1/2 tsp ginger spice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 egg
Cornstarch or flour

Mix spices and mix into meat. Form into meatballs. Roll into beaten egg then into flour or cornstarch. Brown in frying pan.

Remove meatballs from pan and add in:

1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
juice from 1 lb can of pineapple chunks
2 tbsp corn starch mixed with a little cold water.

Mix that and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add pineapple chunks and 1 medium chopped green pepper. Add Meatballs and let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Serve over rice.

Tangy Taco Salad

This was my favorite when I was a kid.

I had forgotten about it until recently.

So yummy and feeds about 8.

A great family meal.

1 head of lettuce

2 Tomatoes

1 bottle Catalina Dressing

1 Can black Olives

2 lbs ground beef

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 can kidney beans

1/2 lb. Cheddar Cheese

1/2 bag Tortilla Chips

(my family grew up doing Doritos though)

Brown Meat. Sprinkle seasoning on.

Add Kidney beans & liquid.

Add bottle of dressing

Let simmer while chipping salad.

Serve in 9x13 pan in layers of:
Salad
Chips
Meat
Mixture
Cheese

Shredded Chicken Taco's

Goodness were these GOOD!!! Because we stewed the chicken the meat was so so tender! It was heaven eating these!!!
Stew chicken like shown in previous post.
Put chicken back in pot and add chicken taco seasoning
a can of salsa (add little by little until the consistancy you like.)
and a little more than a half a cup of chicken broth.
Heat through.
Add to flour tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, avacados, lime juice, sour cream and salsa.

Grandma's Parmesan Pork Tenderloin

This was an absolute favorite at Grandma's house growing up!

1 Long Pork Tenderloin

1/2 tsp Season Salt

1/8 tsp Pepper

1 Egg

1/2 Cup parm. cheese + Mozz Cheese.

1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs

1 Cup Spagetti Sauce

* Mix egg, pepper and Salt together. Dip Meat in egg mixture and dip in bread crumbs. Brown meat on all sides. Put in 9x13 casserole dish. Pour sauce over meat and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over it. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1/2 an hour. Uncover and sprinkle Mozzarella cheese on it and bake for an additional ten minutes.

Serve over pasta with extra spagetti sauce.
Great with Salad and breadsticks!
Bon Appetite!

Stewing a Chicken

I will admit. I had no clue how to do this until this past weekend. My sister taught me and it is so yummy and tender! I'll be doing this a lot from now on!

Fill a pot of water so its berely covering the chicken.

Cut a few slits in the chicken and add onion, salt and pepper, and a few boullion cubes.

Put water to a boiling then let simmer on low for a few hours.

Jenny likes to flip the bird half way through so its tender throughout.

Peel off the skin and then start shredding the meat.
To use the chicken broth do as the picture shows a few times to catch all the extra stuff that fell off the bird. You can make chicken soup or freeze the broth for the next time you need it.

Mexican Lasagna

This is probably one of my top 5 favorite dinners.

So yummy...

So easy...

It will become a family favorite!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 tiny can tomato paste

1 can green enchilada sauce

1 packet enchilada seasoning

1 can mexi corn

1 can black olives

1 can black beans

1/2 cup grated cheese (I like to use mozz. or colby jack)

4 flour torillas

brown ground beef, drain fat, place in large bowl

drain black beans can place in the large bowl

dice 1/2 can of olives and place in large bowl

drain corn and place in the bowl

pour 3/4 can of green sauce and add to mixture

Get a sauce pan and put tomato paste with one can water

and enchilada packet and simmer.

Pour remaining green sauce on bottom of 13x9 dish

fold large tortillas in half and place covering the bottom of the dish

spread mixture from bowl out on top of tortillas

Place the remaining torillas the same way on top of the mixture

Place the enchilada sauce from pan ontop and spread out.

Place cheese and remaining olives on top

Bake at 375 for 20 mins or until cheese in melted and bubbly.

I like to put a little sour cream on my helping. :)

A mexican salad is a nice addition to this meal.

Feeds approx: 8 hearty servings

ENJOY!!!

Shore Lunch Soup Mixes

Ok, I totally admit that I was OBSESSED with these this winter!

I made probably one packet a week at least.

They taste homemade and are SO YUMMY.

I loved to put them in bread bowls from Harmons.

They are around $4 each, but most stores will have them on sale.

Each pack feeds about 5 to 6, depending on how hungry you are. :)

Chinese Boxed Dinner

Usually I only do boxed dinner's if I have NOTHING to prepare for dinner. But I LOVE these Wanchai Boxed dinners! I just add fresh cooked brocolli or green beans and wa-lah! These are under $5 at the grocery store and feed about 4. Enjoy these, we sure do!

Rice
1. Pour Rice from pouch into 2-quart saucepan; add 1 1/2 cups water. Heat just to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer about 20 minutes, without stirring, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, continue with step 2.
Chicken
2. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces; pat dry if necessary. Empty Seasoned Cornstarch into medium bowl.* Add chicken; stir until completely coated. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 10-inch nonstick** skillet over medium-high heat; rotate skillet until oil covers bottom.
3. Carefully add chicken to hot oil; cook about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown on all sides and no longer pink in center.
Sauce
4. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in Spicy Garlic Sauce and 1/3 cup water. Drain Bamboo Shoots & Water Chestnuts; stir into chicken mixture. Simmer uncovered about 2 minutes or until hot. Serve with rice. Refrigerate leftovers.
Tips: *You can also use a food-storage plastic bag to coat chicken.**If using skillet without nonstick finish, increase oil to 1/4 cup.

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Bread Sticks

1 1/2 c. warm (105-115 degrees) water
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. yeast
1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 1/2 c. flour
In a large bowl (the bowl of your mixer,if you have one), combine water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes or until yeast is bubbly. Add salt and stir. Add 1 1/2 c. flour and mix well. Gradually add more flour (usually between 3-4 cups, depending on your elevation and your humidity) until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl and it barely sticks to your finger.Spray a glass or metal bowl with cooking spray and place dough in the bowl.Cover and allow to rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Remove from bowl and place on a lightly-floured surface. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Roll into a rectangle and cut into 12 strips with a pizza cutter.Roll out each piece of dough into a snake and then drape over your forefinger and twist the dough. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining 11 pieces of dough. Try to space them evenly, but it's okay if they're close.Cover pan and allow dough to rise for another 30 minutes.

When there's about 15 minutes to go, preheat your oven to 425. When done rising, bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Rub some butter on top of the breadsticks (just put a ziploc bag on your hand, grab some softened butter, and have at it) and sprinkle with powdery Parmesan cheese in a can and garlic salt. Or you could sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar. I did that once. It was awesome.
They are super easy, just a little time consuming, so make them when your home cleaning or something. :)(ps... I doubled it this time, so I have twice as many as you would with the recipe.)