Monday, March 16, 2009

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

I got this recipe from Christie Gardiner who got it from Julie Beck (LDS Relief Society General President) who was my one of her young women leaders in my ward growing up.

Warm slowly in sauce pan till sugar dissolves:
1 c sugar
1 c light karo
Dash salt

After warm add:
2 C creamy peanut butter
Take off of stove and add:
4 C rice krispies
Dump on ungreased cookie sheet.

Frosting:
Melt together
½ Cup butter
½ Cup Brown Sugar

Remove from heat and add 2 TBS Milk and 1 tsp Vanilla. QUICKLY stir in 2 ½ cups powdered sugar with a wire wisk. Pour over top and spread. Cool and Cut. Makes 4 dozen.

Oven-Barbecued Chicken

Vegetable oil
3-4 lbs. chicken
3 Tbs. butter or margarine
1/2 c. chopped onion
3/4 c. ketchup
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. vinegar
3 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. prepared mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Heat oil in large skillet; brown chicken on all sides. Drain; transfer chicken to a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. In a saucepan, melt butter; saute onion until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until juices run clear, basting occasionally.

From Debbie Rhoads

Salsa Chicken Tacos


1 lb. chicken, cooked and diced
salsa

Stir in salsa picante to cover chicken. Simmer 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Fill warmed tortillas and put whatever you like in it; cheese, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, lettuce, etc.


From Karen Hunt

Rustic Peasant Pasta


This recipe makes 2 9 x 13 pans--make one for dinner and freeze the other (I do this big batch because the ricotta cheese and spinach come in packages too large for one pan and if I don't make it now--it goes to waste)

500 g package of your favorite pasta (penne, radiatori, fusili, farfalle or shell are good)
1-1 1/2 lbs. of lean ground beef or ground pork (I use 1/2 and 1/2)
3-5 cloves fresh garlic minced
25-30 oz. package of Ricotta cheese (I use low fat)
1/2 c. fresh Parmesan cheese
3-4 cups of cottage cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 lb. 13 oz. bottle of pasta sauce (or use your own if you are ambitious*)
mozzarella cheese
any veggies you like (I use mushrooms and 1 package of fresh spinach)

Boil pasta (salt the water and use a TBSP of olive oil to keep from boiling over). Drain pasta and set aside. While the pasta is boiling, brown the ground meat. In the last minute add the garlic and salt to taste. Add your veggies to the meat and cook until tender (I just wilt the spinach-it wilts WAY down in size). Cool the meat/veggie mixture while you combine the ricotta, cottage and parmesan cheeses and the mayo. Add the cooled meat to the cheese mixture. Layer in the 9 x 13 pans starting with a thin layer of sauce. Split the pasta into the 2 pans. Cover the pasta with the cheese/meat mixture split between the 2 pans. Top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake for 1/2 hour at 350 until heated through and all bubbly. If you are using the frozen pasta--leave in the fridge overnight and then cook it for 45 minutes (or until hot in the middle).

*An easy pasta sauce can be made by taking a large basket of grape tomatoes washed and put in a roasting pan. Coat the tomatoes with sea salt and fresh minced garlic. Roast in the over uncovered (about 400) until the tomatoes lose shape. Mash them up with a potato masher and you are good to go.
Recipe from Rachelle Stubbs

Easy Chicken Enchiladas


Tyson's (or other) chicken fajita strips (you can buy these pre-cooked in the frozen section)
Mexican cheese blend
1 pt. sour cream
2 can cream of chicken soup
1 pack flour tortillas
(green chilis optional)

Heat up (thaw) chicken strips until soft. Cut up into little pieces. Mix with cheese. Mix sour cream and soup together. Put a thin layer spread into bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Roll chicken mixture into tortillas and place in pan. Cover with sauce mixture. Green chilis on top are optional.

This recipe is so versatile. You can adjust how much chicken and cheese and tortillas you use depending on how many you need to make!
Recipe from Melissa Willie

Smothered Home Fries with Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 c sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 c vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 Tbs. poppy seeds

Cook in 365 degree oven 11 minutes for mini muffins, 14 minutes for regular muffins. The pans need to be heavily greased.

Smothered Home Fries

*Peel potatoes and cut into about 3/4 inch dice
*Put in a sauce pan, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
*Simmer potatoes for about ten minutes or until slightly soft.
*Drain potatoes and toss in a skillet with 1 Tbs. vegetable oil on medium high heat. Add a generous amount of barbecue seasoning, chicken seasoning, or any spice mix you like.
*Fry and toss potatoes in the skillet for 5 to 7 minutes until all sides are somewhat crisp and starting to turn golden.
*Drain on a paper towel if you need to then put in a large dish or plate.
*Top potatoes with cheese, scrambled eggs, sour cream, green onions, and bacon.

Serve with fresh fruit and Almond Poppy Seed Muffins. No one will leave the table hungry.

Recipes from Mindy Lines

Friday, March 13, 2009

Kauai Chicken

8 small chicken breasts (I used one package of tenderloins)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 Tbs. hoisin sauce (in the oriental section in grocery store in a jar)
1 clove garlic, minced

1. Rinse and dry chicken. Arrange slightly apart in a shallow-rimmed baking pan or casserole dish.

2. Stir sauce ingredients together and pour 1/2 over chicken.

3. Bake @400 degrees for 20 min. Turn chicken over and top with remaining sauce. Return to over and continue to bake until meat is done (Approximately 15 minutes.) (If cooking larger pieces of meat, turn heat down and cook for longer).

4. Serve with rice. Pour drippings from pan over the rice for flavor.



Sunday, March 1, 2009

Grasshopper Pie



1 1/2 cups cold milk

1 pkg. (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix

2 3/4 cups whipped topping, divided

1 package mint Andes candies, chopped, divided

1 chocolate crumb crust

1/4 tsp. mint extract

2 drops green food coloring

In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in 3/4 cup whipped topping. Fold in 3/4 cup candies. Spoon into crust. In another bowl, combine extract and remaining whipped topping; add food coloring if desired. Spread over pudding layer; sprinkle with remaining candies. Cover and regrigerate for 4 hours or until set.