French Onion Soup (MiMI's)

I was searching for a French Onion Soup recipe that did not require 3-4 hours to cook.  I finally found one that claims to be the same soup you can find at MiMi's Restaurants all over the nation.  I tried it, loved it and I am now passing it on to you.

1/4 cup butter
3 medium white onions, sliced
3 14-ounce cans beef broth (Swanson is best)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons Kraft grated parmesan cheese
6 to 12 slices French bread (baguette)
6 slices Swiss cheese
6 slices mozzarella cheese
6 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese

You’ve just cloned a batch of the best onion soup from any chain.
Got spoon?

1. Sauté onions in melted butter in a large soup pot or saucepan for 15 to 20 minutes or until onions begin to brown and turn transparent.

2. Add beef broth, salt and garlic powder to onions. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Add the grated parmesan cheese in the last 10 minutes of cooking the soup.

3. When soup is done, preheat oven to 350 degrees and toast the French bread slices for about 10 to 12 minutes or until they begin to brown. When bread is done, set oven to broil.

4. Build each serving of soup by spooning about 1 cup of soup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a toasted slice or two of bread on top of the soup, then add a slice of Swiss cheese on top of that. Place a slice of mozzarella on next and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the other cheeses.

5. Place the soup bowl on a baking sheet and broil for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese begins to brown.

Makes 6 servings.

Caramel Apple Blondies

This is one of my new favorite fall dessert recipes! Enjoy :)

ingredients:

*2/3 cup room temperature butter

*2 cups packed light brown sugar

*2 eggs

*2 tsp vanilla

*2 cups flour

*2 tsp baking powder

*1/2 tsp salt

*1 cup peeled, chopped tart apple (1 large)

*1/2 cup Kraft caramel bits (can use toffee bits)

instructions:
*Preheat oven to 350'
*Spray 9x13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray
*Cream butter and brown sugar in mixer until smooth
*Add eggs and vanilla and beat on medium until combined
*On low, add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until just combined
*Stir in the chopped apples and caramel bits
*Spread in prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes until the center is set
{Picture above is BEFORE the oven ;) }
*Let cool completely before slicing or frosting
{Frosting recipe below--I didn't use frosting}
~brown sugar frosting~

ingredients:

*1/2 cup butter

*1 cup packed light brown sugar

*1/4 cup milk

*2 cups powdered sugar

instructions:

*Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar and milk and bring to boil.

Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes.

*Stir in powdered sugar with a whisk.

*Let cool until it thickens enough to spread.

Wienie-Lottas (Think: Chili Cheese-dog Enchiladas)

~sorry no pics for this one~
I first read the recipe from my sister's mom-in-law and I just about gagged. BUT... it is actually very good & super easy to make!

Ingredients:
8-10 flour torillas
2 cans no-bean chili
1/4 cup minced onions (or a little onion powder)
8-10 hot dogs (I used BEEF dogs. I think Wrangler dogs would be amazing! Use what you like.)
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 can green chilis (Ha! I just realized I used the whole can. Just more spicy I guess)
Shredded cheese

Steps:
Warm tortillas in microwave. Boil hot dogs. Combine chili and onion. Place a hot dog on each tortilla, top with 2 tbsp chili mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and place in 9x13 pan until all the hot dogs/tortillas are rolled up. Mix remaining chili with tomato sauce and green chilis and pour on top of tortillas. Bake at 350' for 25 minutes. Top with cheese and bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chicken Parmesan Skillet Pie

You need:

-28 oz can crushed tomatoes (I used a jar of spaghetti sauce so that my kids wouldn't "know" it was tomatoes) ;)

-1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp ground black pepper

-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (can use a rotisserie chicken)

-1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

-3/4 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

-1 refrigerated pie crust, room temperature

-1 egg white

-1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
-1 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

Then you:

-Preheat oven to 350'

-Pour tomatoes into a 9 inch cast iron skillet. Season with Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper, stirring to combine. Add chicken and stir to cover with sauce. Top with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.

-Unroll pie crust and lay over chicken and cheese. Press edges around the skillet, or tuck inside the skillet. Make a couple small slits in crust.

-Whisk egg white with 1 tsp water and brush over crust. Top with Italian Seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

-Enjoy! :)

THE BEST Baked Mac & Cheese

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:
2 T Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. pepper
Pinch of Ground Cayenne Pepper
2 T Butter
1/4 C. Chopped Scallions
1 1/2 C. Milk
1/2 C. Sour Cream
1 3/4 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 1/2 C. Elbow Macaroni, Cooked.
1/4 Unseasoned Bread Crumbs (for the top)

In a small bowl combine flour, salt, mustard, pepper & cayenne. 
Melt butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.
Add scallions & saute 2 minutes or until softened. Add flour mixture & cook 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook 15 minutes stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 1/2 C. cheese & sour cream. Add Macaroni. Pour in greased baking dish. Top with remaining cheese & sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bread crumbs are lightly browned.

Makes a great dinner or side dish!

-Mary

Quick and Easy Bread Pudding

This was surprisingly delicious and super, duper easy! The best part... I already had all ingredients on hand. :)

Ingredients:
6 slices of bread (I used wheat to try and make it a bit healthy)
Butter
Non stick cooking spray
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk
Cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toast and butter each slice of bread. Cut each slice into even, small squares (9 squares per slice).
3. Put bread in the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Combine sugar and eggs in a medium bowl. Beat well. Add milk and vanilla and stir just a little until its all mixed.
5. Pour egg mixture over bread pieces.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon. You could also add raisins and/or nuts if you want.
7. Bake for 45 minutes.
8. Serve warm. I topped mine with vanilla ice cream and it was DELISH!

Wagon Wheel Supper

Ever have those days where you have no clue what to make for dinner and really, really don't want to go to the grocery store to figure it out? That was me last week. I decided to just open my pantry to see what we had. Staring me down was an almost full box of wagon wheel pasta that I'd had to buy for a 4th grade science experiment. I hadn't know what to do with it, so it'd been sitting on the shelf for quite some time. Today was the day of conquest... so I threw some other random items together and the result was this DELICOUS pot of what I call "Wagon Wheel Supper".



Ingredients:
Wagon wheel pasta (or any other pasta really could work)... I used about 2 1/2 cups

1 pound of chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces

1 jar of salsa

1 bag of frozen corn

5 oz cream cheese, cut into bite sizes pieces

Chili powder to taste (I think I used about 1/4 tsp... Maybe a little more)

Grated cheddar cheese

Steps:
1. Cook and drain pasta. Set aside.
2. While pasta is cooking, cook chicken in a LARGE skillet! (I used the biggest I had and ended up having to transfer it a to a pasta pot because it was overflowing...)
3. Add salsa, corn, cream cheese, and chili powder. Simmer and stir occasionally until the cream cheese is melted all the way.
4. Add pasta to the mix and a handful of cheddar cheese. Stir and simmer until the cheese is melted and it's warm all the way through.
5. Top with more cheddar cheese, but don't stir and just let it melt on top.
6. Grab a large bowl, dish up, and enjoy! :)

Salsa

This is an excellent non-chunky (which I prefer!) salsa recipe. Think Chili's type salsa. Yum!

Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• ¼ cups Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• ¼ teaspoons Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• ½ whole Lime Juice

Instructions:

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel I didn't have any so I just used 2 more cans of tomatoes-it was fine, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Be careful to just do short pulses. The salsa starts to turn a little green if you mix it too much. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

All Day Chicken Noodle Soup

*This fills a 7 quart crock pot to the top.

Ingredients:

4 Cans Campbells Cream of Mushroom w/ Garlic
1 Can Cream of Chicken
4 Large Chicken Breasts (around 2 lbs)
2 Small White Onions
1/2 Bag of Baby Sized Carrots
6 Celery Stalks
2 Boxed Containers of Swanson Low Sodium Chicken Broth (16oz)
Egg Noodles

Directions:

Coat the chicken breasts in a little oil then salt and pepper a little more than you normally would. Roast the chicken breasts for 1 hour 30 minutes in the oven at 350.  When the chicken is done shred it into bite size pieces and set aside.  Cut up the onions, celery and carrots to a size you like.  Mix the broth, cream of chicken and cream of mushroom w/ garlic in the crock pot.  Add the chicken, carrots, onion and celery.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Boil the noodles and add however many you would like right at the end of cooking.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

I usually make this and separate it into 3 batches.  2 go into the freezer and 1 into our bellies right away.  It is also delicious with a dumpling crust.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1-1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 very ripe bananas)
2 cups chocolate chips

*Preheat oven to 400'. Grease cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together and set aside.
*Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
*Bake at 400' for 12-15 minutes.

These cookies are cake-like and very moist... they'll dissapear FAST! :)

Breakfast Burritos

Oh man, these were good. Super simple and something a little different for dinner. We devoured them so quickly that I was only able to grab a pic of the last bite!



Ingredients:
Eggs
Precooked sausage pieces
Potatoes
Oil
Cheddar cheese
Milk
Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)
Tortillas
Ketchup

1. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and cook in a hot skillet with oil. Season to taste and set aside.



2. Cook/reheat the sausage. These Jimmy Dean crumbles were SO good! I highly recommend the turkey sausage. It sounds weird but tastes the same (or better in my opinion)
and is a lot healthier for you.

3. Scramble your eggs. I usually make 6 and always pour a little milk in before cooking to make them fluffy.



4. Combine the potatoes, sausage, and eggs together in a skillet and sprinkle cheddar cheese while stirring. The melted cheese sticks it all together. Season it how you wish.

5. Serve in warm, cooked tortillas with ketchup and more cheese on top.

Taquitos with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans

Isn't that the yummiest thing you've ever seen? Mmmm.

Okay, so for the taquitos head on over to Our Best Bites, their recipe is fabulous.

Sometimes when I'm feeling super ambitious I make my own tortillas. This is the recipe I used (I usually half it though, the lady whose blog I got it from has 9 kids. This is her mother's recipe and her mother is from Mexico)

Tortillas

9 cups of flour

2 tablespoons of salt

2 tablespoons of baking powder

1 cup shortening

3 1/2 to 4 cups warm water

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the shortening and knead until the mixture has a gritty texture. Add water a little at a time and knead dough until it forms a ball. Divide dough into small balls. With rolling pin, roll the dough balls into circles. The tortilla should be thin. Cook tortilla on the hot griddle (comal). Cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes or until lightly brown.

She's an amazing woman. Click here for a link to her blog.

I just saw on Our Best Bites that they too have a tortilla recipe. Gonna have to try that one, they always give great cooking tips.

And now for my FAVORITE part... this part is my very own creation inspired by something I saw once.

Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans

2 giant Sweet Potatoes or Yams, peeled and diced

2 cans black beans

1/2 cup - 1 cup Green Salsa

Put diced Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish at 400 degrees for about an hour or until soft. Combine Sweet potatoes, black beans, and salsa in a pan and simmer for a few minutes.

Then serve it with your taquitos (or enchiladas or anything mexican), sour cream, and avocado.

I think it's my new favorite meal. The only problem with this recipe, is how much I eat when I make it. :)

Chili Frito Delight

Here is a little secret: I made up the name of this dish right now. That is why it isn't very good of a name.


I have thought about this meal a few times the past couple of weeks.  I had all the ingredients handy, just had to find the right day on the menu for it.  We all loved it so that must be a success.  It is a family sized version of chili Frito school lunch.  Wait what?!? You never got this for lunch at school? Well I did and I loved it then too.


Ingredients:

• 1 Can of your favorite chili
• 1 lb of hamburger
• 1 bag of your favorite size of Fritos corn chips
• Toppings: cheese, onions, olives, and sour cream.

Directions:

• Brown hamburger and drain.
• Add can of chili. The consistency should be fairly thick, not soupy.
• Put a handful of the corn chips at the bottom of a bowl, 
• Add chili/hamburger mixture.
• Top with your favorite toppings.
• Pair this with a green salad.
• Enjoy!

Total Prep Time was 15 minutes.

This would make 3-4 moderately sized servings.

For a healthier option use a low sodium/fat chili, ground turkey, baked tortilla chips, low fat cheese and sour cream.

Ravioli Bake :)

Definately adding this recipe to my box... it's quick & easy and both the boys ate it without complaining... how much better can it get, right? :)

WHAT YOU NEED:

*1 jar spaghetti sauce (any flavor)

*14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used basil, garlic & oregano flavor)

*1/2 cup water

*2lbs frozen ravioli (I used 1lb cheese and 1lb beef)

*7 oz shredded Italian Blend cheese

*2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

WHAT TO DO:

*Heat oven to 400'

*Mix spaghetti sauce, tomatoes & water; spoon 1 cup of the mixture onto the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish.

*Layer 1/2 of the ravioli & 1 cup of cheese over sauce.

*Top with other 1/2 of the ravioli & the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top & cover with foil.

*Bake 30 minutes; uncover & bake 15 more minutes or until ravioli is heated through and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese; let stand 10 minutes & enjoy! :)

Easy fried rice

Ingredients:
3 cups of cooked rice (leftovers work wonderfully)
4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
3 eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
Veggies (frozen or canned both work... carrots, peas, pretty much any kind- I just used a can of mixed veggies)
Cooking oil (you really could leave this out if you wanted to make it healthier)
Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce to taste

Directions:
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil. Add the bacon pieces and fry until almost crisp. Add the onion and cook until soft. Move the mixture to one side of the pan. Scramble the eggs in the other side of the pan. Mix the scrambled egg, bacon, and onion together. Add rice and veggies and stir until heated through and until it's as crisp as you like. Add soy sauce or teriyaki sauce until it tastes perfectly.

Chicken Noodle Spaghetti Bake

I didn't get to take a picture of this before we ate it, but I am sure you can picture it in your mind.  I was drawn to this recipe originally because it has all the ingredients I have in my pantry, food storage and freezer in it.  Which is the type of recipe I look for all the time.  It was good and is a recipe that can have many different variations.


Ingredients:

• 2 - 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1 Jar/Can of your favorite pasta sauce
• 2 Cups of shredded cheese
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1/2 a box of spiral pasta
• Salt & Pepper to taste.

Directions:

• Grille, Sautee or Poach the chicken then shred it.
• Sautee the onions until soft.
• Cook the noodles to package instructions, but drain and stop the cooking process right before they are fully cooked.
• Mix the jar of pasta sauce, 1 cup of the cheese, the noodles and the shredded chicken.
• Put it all in a greased 9 x 9 casserole dish and cover with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes on 350 degrees.
• Makes 4 good sized portions and great with garlic bread and a salad.

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Download onto your computer or print....OR BOTH!!

Cheesecake

This. Is. So. Good!

Crust:
3 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 40 squares)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

Filling:
2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint sour cream

To prepare crumb crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients together with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides on the pan, use your fingers or the smooth bottom of a glass. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling.

To prepare filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute just until smooth and free of any lumps. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to slowly beat until combined. Stir in the vanilla. Blend in the sour cream. The batter should be well mixed but not overbeaten. Overbeating incorporates too much air and will cause the cake to puff when baking, then fall and crack when cooling. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 50-55 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle slightly, it will firm up after chilling. Be careful not to overcook! Do not do a toothpick test in the cake’s center, this will make a crack. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours to set up. Demold and transfer to a cake plate. Slice the cheesecake with a thin, nonserrated knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each cut.

Enjoy!
*Taken from melskitchencafe.com (one of my most favorite cooking blogs.)

Burrito Casserole

This is a go-to in our house.  Super easy, 4 ingredients and cheap.

Ingredients for a 9 x 13 casserole:
1 family sized package of frozen burritos (bean and cheese are the best)
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cans of Rotel Tomatoes or 2 small jars of your favorite salsa
Grated Cheddar Cheese

Directions:
Lay your frozen burritos out in the bottom of the casserole dish.
Mix the cream of chicken soup and tomatoes/salsa together.
Cover the burritos with the mixture.
Cover with cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

I only make a 9 x 9 for my small family which is half the recipe.

Delish!!

Mexican Lasagna

This is one of my favorite recipes that I remember my mom making when I was little. Childhood memories... how precious!

Ingredients:
1 pound hamburger
1/2 of an onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can enchilada sauce
Milk
Cheddar cheese
Tortillas
1 can sliced black olives
Pam

1. Cook hamburger and onion in a skillet until hamburger is brown.
2. In a small bowl, mix soup, 1/2 can of enchilada sauce, and 1/2 can on milk.
3. Mix sauce and meat together.
4. Grease a casserole dish with Pam.
5. Layer: one tortilla, meat mix, shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla, meat mix, shredded cheese, etc until you have filled your casserole dish (about six tortillas).
6. Top with shredded cheese and black olives. (I usually have to cut my tortillas in order to fit in the pan. I always top with sauce, the extra tortilla pieces, then the cheese and olives. The tortillas usually crunch up a bit and are yum)
7. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.



It is tradition to serve with Spanish rice and refried beans.

Enjoy!

Chicken Lasagna Roll-Ups

This is a YUMMY and FUN twist on Lasagna! ENJOY!

Ingredients:

*12oz can of chicken

*2 cups Ricotta Cheese

*1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

*2 eggs, beaten

*1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning

*12-15 lasagna noodles, cooked
*1 jar spaghetti sauce

*1 1/2-2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese

PREHEAT oven to 375*

SAUTE chicken in a little bit of oil with a dash of Italian Seasoning to give it some flavor; Cool before adding to the rest of the ingredients.

COMBINE first 5 ingredients after chicken has cooled. SPREAD onto cooked lasagna noodles. ROLL up tightly. ARRANGE filled-rolled noodles, seam-side down into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish. COVER with spaghetti sauce. TOP with mozzarella cheese.

BAKE 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Cheese Enchiladas

These are THE best enchiladas.

It's one recipe of my mom's that we love and they are easy-peasy!

I'm ALWAYS craving them too.

::INGREDIENTS::

*1 Lb Hamburger

*1 Can Cream Of Mushroom Soup

*1 Can Green Chilies

*1/2 Can of Milk

*(1) 10oz Can Enchilada Sauce

*18-20 Corn Tortilla Shells

*Cheese

Brown hamburger. Add rest of sauce ingredients. Simmer.

While sauce is simmering, cook shells in hot oil. (this was so intimidating to me at first, but its not bad once you get the hang of it)

Roll each tortilla up with cheese and place in 9x13 ungreased pan.

Cover with sauce and top with cheese.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 15-20min

Sorry no pictures :( They were devoured before I found my camera :)

P.S.. I always make double for left overs. They are just as amazing the next day.

Homemade Granola Bars

These are quite delicious and very easy to make. Yum-o!

Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 T. light corn syrup
2 T. honey
4 c. rolled oats

Optional:
Chocolate Chips
Craisins
Raisins

Instructions:
In saucepan, melt butter, sugar, corn syrup, and honey over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in oats. At the very end quickly stir in chocolate chips, if using, (they will start to melt). Spread mixture into a 9 x 13 pan. Press mixture flat. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then carefully cut into bars. Let cool completely before lifting bars out of the pan. Enjoy!

Mashed Potato Soup

Simple solution of what to do with lots of leftover mashed potatos...




Ingredients:
2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 stick butter
1 teaspoon celery salt
Shredded cheese
Optional frozen veggies (I tossed in a couple handfuls of frozen peas... Carrots would be yum too)

Mix all ingredients- except cheese- in a pot and heat until warm and creamy. Top with shredded cheese.

Banana Nut Waffles

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
2 T. sugar
2 T. oil
2 mashed bananas
1/4 c. chopped walnuts

Beat egg in small bowl. Add milk and mix. Add flour, soda, powder, vanilla, sugar, and oil. Mix until somewhat smooth. Add bananas and nuts and mix lightly. Pour batter into greased and warm waffle maker. Remove after waffles are lightly brown. Add syrup and whipped cream. Enjoy!

Lentil Stoup

I tried a new recipe tonight that was super filling, super easy, super cheap, super healthy and super yum!




Ingredients:
1 pound (2 cups) dried lentils
2 cans (14.5 oz each) of beef broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bag (16 oz) california style veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
1 can cream of mushroom soup

1. Rinse lentils off in a colander. (Make sure your lentils don't fit through the holes in your colander... ;)
2. Combine lentils, beef broth, salt, and pepper in a crock pot.
3. Cover and cook on low for at least 2.5 hours... probably longer... until lentils are soft and tender. (unless you like them a bit crispy... to each their own)
4. Stir in veggies and cream of mushroom soup.
5. Cover again and cook on low for another 30 minutes to one hour until the veggies are soft and the sauce is warm.




Enjoy!

Fruity Jello Salad

Do you love easy recipes that can be made with different flavors of ingredients again and it seems like a brand new recipe? Well this is one of those recipes! Customize it to your liking and you'll have a yummy treat.

Ingredients:
One 3 ounce package of jello (any flavor)
One carton of cottage cheese
One tub of cool whip
Fruit (I highly recommend one can of crushed pineapple and then any other fresh/canned fruit that you like... The possibilities and combination are endless!)

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl and stir until the jello is incorporated all the way.

That's it! I told you it was easy...




(For this batch I used strawberry banana jello, crushed pineapple, one sliced banana, and one can of sliced peaches cut into chunks.)

Parmesan Dijon Chicken

I made this today and it was absolutely delish. It's from that Best of Betty Cookbook I put up a couple weeks ago. Basically it's a healthier, more grown-up version of chicken nuggets. The mustard taste was pretty mild, so I think kids would go for it too.Ingredients:
2 lbs. chicken breast cut into strips
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 T. Dijon mustard
3/4 c. bread crumbs (I didn't have any so I used mashed Ritz Crackers.)
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

Combine melted butter and mustard in bowl. Coat chicken in mixture. Put bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and coated chicken into a large ziploc bag. Shake until chicken is covered. Put in shallow baking dish and bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

I don't have a picture yet, but just imagine Chinese Take-Out Sweet and Sour Chicken, and that's what it looks like!

Chicken:

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
*1/4 cup canola oil
Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Cut chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch then in egg. Fry chicken chunks in hot oil until browned but not cooked through. Place browned chicken in a single layer in a 9x13 baking dish. Mix together sauce ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake for about 45 minutes at 325 degrees turning chicken every 15 minutes. If you'd like extra sauce, mix together another batch of sauce ingredients while chicken is cooking and cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced, about 6-8 minutes.

*I've never used that amount of oil, I always use way more oil than that. Guess I better try it like that to see which way is better.

Russian Chicken

We went out of town with friends this weekend for New Years, and my friend Shana made this yummy chicken for dinner one night. It was seriously SO good! I just had to take a picture of the recipe so that I could make it myself.  Random sidenote: we also watched the movie Salt that night (about a Russian spy) that fit quite nicely.  Great theme night for sure.

Use one chicken breast per person (we used 4 and there seemed to be a lot of sauce).  Cooking time can be adjusted... We only cooked it for 45 minutes.  Just watch it and take it out when its done. Also it was really good with white rice because the sauce flavors the rice really well.  

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

Oh yeah. Warm. Gooey. Chocolately. Yum!

Ingredients:
6-8 very ripe bananas
4 eggs
2 c. sugar (I never add more then 1 c. and I've never been able to tell the difference)
3/4 c. oil
4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder
1 bag chocolate chips

Mash bananas into a large bowl. Add eggs, sugar, and oil then mix well. Mix in flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Add the bag of chocolate chips. Pour batter into 2 greased bread pans. Cook at 325 for 50-60 minutes. Enjoy!

Best of Betty 2010

Go here to download a copy of the Best of Betty Crocker 2010 Cookbook. Haven't tried any yet, but they look delicious.

Happy New Years Everyone!