Homemade Salsa...

This is the best salsa ever!!! And I have a very picky salsa family!! Can't be too chunky,  too store-bought tasting, to hot, too mild, to small chunky...ya get the point!! But this one seems to be a keeper and it's from my dear friend Tammie who shared her recipe {and two big containers she made} with us!!!
 So I am thankful she shared so my family can enjoy it!!
And so John won't be begging her to make it for him every 3 days!!! And so him and Hannah won't fight over it!! And he can have his own container so he doesn't have to have all the broken chips and double dips from the kids!!! 

3 lbs. tomatoes ~ seeded and diced {Romas are best but can use what ever, dice into size that your family likes}

1 lg. white onion ~ diced 

1 jalapeno ~ use as much as your hotness level allows and can handle

1 "clump" cilantro ~ cut off above the stems and mince

Stir together in a container of your choosing then mix together:

1/3 c. lime juice

1 1/2 T. kosher salt

1 t. minced garlic 

Stir all together and enjoy! Can been refrigerated for up to 2 weeks!!

It's so yummy!!!!

Chicken Ranch Pasta

This was so good and so easy and again....Justin liked it so that's a huge plus!!! And I got it off Pinterest {I LOVE Pinterest}!!The recipe comes from Plain Chicken as does the yummy picture...

It really turns out as yummy, bacony, and creamy as it looks!!

8 ounces penne pasta

1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
1/3 cup cooked, chopped bacon
2 cups cooked chopped chicken 

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In same pot melt butter. Add flour and stir. Cook flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Continue cooking until sauce thickens. Stir in ranch dressing mix and cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add chicken, bacon and pasta.  Stir to coat.

Easy Crockpot Soup

Justin ate two bowls and has requested it twice now so it must be good!! It comes from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour as do the pictures....it links to all her soups!! 

1 30 oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns 

3 14 oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese {don’t use fat free.  It WON’T melt!!!}

In a crock pot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.  About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.  Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, or green onions.

Chicken Ranch Tacos

These were good and fast!! Had  'em for Sunday dinner!! The recipe and picture come from "Do you smell that"? She made hers on the stove top but I threw it in the crock pot and let it go for 4 hours while we were at church!! I followed the version off pinterest and it was very yummy!! Go visit her blog for stove top version.

Chicken tenders ~ I used a full bag of Tyson's and I threw them in frozen
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 pkg. ranch mix
1 can chicken broth

taco shells
shredded cheese
shredded lettuce
ranch
salsa
tomatoes
and anything else you like on your taco's

I just dumped in the frozen chicken, sprinkled over the taco seasoning and ranch, then added the chicken broth and let it go for 4 hours. Remove chicken, shred with fork, add back to crock pot until ready to assemble. I just put a scoop of chicken some cheese, lettuce, ranch, and salsa!

Two Timin' Pasta Bake

This was super yummy and super fast!! Another Pinterest find!! Even Justin likes it so ya know it has to be good!! The recipe comes from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour!! The pictures are her too!! She has TONS of yummy recipes to try!!! Go check her out!!

So here it is.....

Two Timin' Pasta Bake







1 box penne pasta

1 (15 oz.) jar Alfredo sauce

1 (24oz.) jar Marinara sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions and drain. Mix the sauces together in a large bowl.

Add the mozzarella and stir to combine.

Then toss in the penne and toss to coat.

Pour pasta into 9x13 baking dish and cook on 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and bake for another 5 minutes.

I made some Amish White Bread {easiest bread EVER} to go with it and it was so yummy!!!

Another Pinterest find!!! Comes from Cravings of a Lunatic and the colorful picture too!!! Go check her out!!

Ingredients:

1  bag of mini marshmallows

10 cups Trix cereal

1/4 cup butter

Instructions:
Place the butter and marshmallows in a glass bowl and pop in the microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes to melt ~ I just did it on the stovetop Stir well. Mix in your trix and stir.

Pour into a large greased pan (9 x 13 or 11 x 11) and press down with a spoon.

Cut into squares ~ the cool lookin' part ;) If you spray your spoon with non stick spray before using it to press down the krispies it works really well. ~ I just buttered my hands and used them

Copy Cat Chili's Salsa

Recipes {and tons of other things} found on Pinterest are my newest obsession!! This was super easy and tasted pretty close to the real thing!! It comes from Six Sisters...

2 cans (14.5 oz each) whole tomatoes, drained
1 small (4 oz) can diced or whole jalapenos (not pickled)--about 4-5 jalapenos (or less if you don't like a lot of spice)
1/4 c. yellow onion, cut into quarters (you can also use dried minced onion)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt (depending on how much you prefer)
1 tsp. cumin ~ I left this out cause I didn't have any
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lime juice

Place all of the ingredients together into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.
The kids really liked it!! Didn't make a whole lot so next time I will double the recipe!!

Pepperoni Cheesestick Pizza Roll Ups

Another kid-friendly {easy}, yummy {everyone loved it} dinner!!! Recipe comes from The Girl Who Ate Everything along with the picture!!

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent roll dough
4 cheese sticks, halved
1 (3.5 ounce) package sliced pepperoni
optional - marinara or ranch sauce for dipping

Garlic Butter Glaze:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take each triangle of crescent roll dough and place about 6 pepperoni on the bottom of the triangle. Place half of a cheese stick on top and roll up. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown.

While rolls are cooking, combine the melted butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.

When rolls are done remove from the oven and brush with the garlic butter glaze. Serve with marinara or ranch for dipping.

I served a green salad and potato chips {cause my kids think chips are a side dish}.

Acorn Cookies

This poor neglected little cooking blog!! Where I have been you ask?? On Pinterest!!! What's Pinterest you may ask?? If you don't know what it is go here.....it will change your life!!

I made these darling, yummy tasting cookies for Thanksgiving and they were gobbles {get it "gobbled"} right up!! And they are super easy!! The recipe and picture was found here at Six in the Suburbs.....





1. Melt 1/2 bag of Mini-Chips {5 second interval in the microwave, stirring really good each time} {I just used a can of already made chocolate frosting}
2. Dip the flat end of the Hershey's Kiss into melted chocolate and top with a bite-size Nutter Butter {I spread a little frosting on the end of each kiss and then stuck cookie on}
3. Dip the flat end of a Mini-Chip into the melted chocolate and stick it to the Nutter Butter {again just used a tiny dab of frosting}

So there are a few different ways to do it!!! And any way you choose will be just yummy!! She also suggests if you have someone with a peanut allergy you can use Nilla Wafers.

 

Meatball Sliders

Doesn't happen too often but every once in a while the kids slip something in the grocery cart and I don't catch it!! Usually a candy of some kind!! Well we were in Sam's Club around Superbowl time and Hannah slipped these in the cart...

A huge bag of meatballs! She had a sample of one and decided we needed a whole bag!! {Seriously don't know how I missed that one}! So tonight we had Meatball Sliders! They were pretty yummy!! I didn't have an exact recipe {not really that hard though} but followed this from The Girl Who Ate Everything. The picture is hers too!

24 frozen meatballs, thawed

2 cups marinara sauce
8 ounces sliced provolone or mozzarella {used swiss}
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
24 dinner rolls or 8 hot dog buns cut in thirds {I use the King's Hawaiian Rolls, perfect size}


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9X13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Warm the meatballs in the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Separate the dinner rolls or hot dog buns and place one saucy meatball on the bottom roll. Top with mozzarella or provolone. Place the top roll on and push down slightly. Place meatball slider in the pan and continue to assemble the rest of the sliders. Microwave butter in a bowl in the microwave until melted. Add garlic powder and Italian seasonings and mix well. Brush tops of buns with melted butter mixture.
Toast in oven for 8-10 minutes or until toasted. Served with french fries and a green salad!! On the menu for tomorow.....Swedish Meatballs!!

Bow-Tie Lasagna

This was very good!! So easy to whip up!! It comes from Chef Mommy who got it off Tasty Kitchen. The picture is hers also!!







1 pound ground beef
3 cups bow-tie noodles
3 cups spaghetti sauce ~ I used Prego
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cups mozzarella cheese
½ cups sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
Directions:
Cook ground beef in a non-stick pan. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. After noodles are cooked, drain and drizzle with olive oil. Mix in your spaghetti sauce. Add the ground beef and seasoning. In a small bowl combine the sour cream, mozzarella and Parmesan. Add to the pasta mixture and fold together and allow it all to combine and melt together, over low heat, for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and additional Parmesan.
I added a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese when adding the other cheeses because that's what I always put in my lasagnas and because the girls love it! Served with green salad, green beans, and french bread! It was a winner!! And I didn't double it and had enough for John's lunch!!

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

I got his recipe from Good Food, Good Fun {she makes so many yummy things}which she adapted from Tasty Kitchen! This was really quick and easy and did I mention yummy??

6 pieces Frozen Chicken ~ I used a bag of frozen tenders
16 ounce Sour Cream
1 package (1 Oz. Package) Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 cans (10.75 Oz. Can) Cream Of Mushroom Soup ~ I used one big can, I think it's 26 oz.
Your Choice Of Noodles ~ I used curly egg noodles

In a slow cooker, add all of the chicken. In a separate bowl, add the sour cream, onion mix, and soup.

Pour mixture over the frozen chicken in the crock pot. Cook on low setting for 6-8 hours. When there is about an hour left, start boiling the noodle of choice. Take chicken out and shred. Add chicken and drained noodles back to the crock pot when noodles are done cooking. Mix well.
I added a dollop more of sour cream on top and some Parmesan cheese! We had green beans, rolls, and salad! The kids each had seconds!!!

Chalupas

It really doesn't get much easier than this!! And the kids loved it {except for the beans, but I made 'em eat 'em anyway and they all lived and didn't complain too much}! The recipe come from the Recipe Girl! I found the recipe at Real Mom Kitchen and she linked up to the Recipe Girl! The picture is from Real Mom Kitchen! Like I said...super easy! It's mainly a taco, but it's an easy way to "mix it up"!

Nonstick cooking spray
(Eight) 6-inch flour tortillas- or use corn if you’d like, but they should be fried first
2 cups refried beans
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese blend
1 cup fresh salsa
1 cup sour cream
2 cups finely chopped lettuce (optional)
1 cup guacamole (optional)

1. Preheat the broiler. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place 4 tortillas on the baking sheet and heat on the center rack in the oven for 4 minutes.
2. Remove the baking sheet from oven and turn over the tortillas. Spread each tortilla with 1/4 cup refried beans and top with 1/4 cup cheese. Bake until the cheese is hot and bubbling and the tortillas are crisp, 5 to 7 more minutes. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
3. Serve immediately, topping each tortilla with salsa & sour cream. Add lettuce and guacamole too, if desired.
Tips:
*Have leftover taco meat? Crumble it on top to make this meal more substantial.

I did cook up some hamburger and added that and of course the kids added ketchup and ranch!! Served with some chips and jello!!

This was a fast, easy, meal! We've had it before but this one had a little twist and John really liked it!! The recipe comes from Favorite Family Recipes as does the picture!!!

1-2 cans canned chicken {or you can use 2-3 chicken breasts that has been cooked, cubed, and shredded}

1 8oz. package cream cheese
2 T. milk

salt and pepper to taste

2 cans crescent rolls

2 c. crushed croutons

melted butter

Mix together first four ingredients. Separate crescent rolls into triangles. Spoon some chicken mixture into the end of each crescent roll, fold ends in, and roll up. Roll in melted butter and then in crushed croutons. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. If desired {which I did} mix together 1 can cream of chicken soup with 1/2 c. milk that you cooked in microwave for a few minutes and spoon over cooked crescent rolls. Serve with green salad.

Roast Beef Wrap

This is my new favorite wrap, kinda strange but so very yummy!!!

tortillas {I used carb balance ~ Mission brand}
deli sliced roast beef
deli sliced Swiss cheese
broccoli slaw
zesty Italian dressing
dried cranberries
sliced avocado
salt and pepper

Assembly...
Marinate about 2 cups of broccoli slaw with 2-3 T. of zesty Italian dressing for at least 10 minutes ~ I make a big bowl and let marinate for a few days. Take 1 tortilla and layer with 2 slices of roast beef, Swiss cheese, a little of the broccoli slaw, a handful of dried cranberries, and 2-3 slices of avocado. Season with salt and pepper! Serve with fruit! I keep all the ingredients on hand and make them for John and I! I'll take a picture next time I make one....which will probably be tonight!!

Sinful Ice Cream Concoction

Found this recipe how I usually find my recipes....recipe blogs!!! I love recipe blogs! I love that others share their wonderful and yummy recipes! I found this ice cream dessert at The Girls Who Ate Everything And ya know what makes it even better??? It was super easy!! It kinda reminded me of fried of cream or she said it reminded her of Sydney's Sinful Sundae at Outback ~ which I've never had but after having this I might give it a try next time we are there! I whipped it up Sunday morning and we had it after Sunday dinner!

1 half gallon vanilla ice cream
4 c. crushed corn flakes
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. coconut
1 c. melted butter

Get ice cream out to thaw for a bit. Mix everything but ice cream together and layer half on the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish, spread softened ice cream on top of that layer {I found it easier to use a metal spoon that I ran under warm water to spread the ice cream} and then top with remaining mixture.Put in freezer to chill. I served it with some caramel drizzled on top and it was so very good!! And since it was almost gone before I got a picture {cause I like pictures on recipe blogs} ya get to see what was left after John nibbled on it all weekend... Go check out her blog for a yummy looking picture and more great recipes!!

Chopped Ranch Salad

I discovered this recipe from a couple of different blogs on the same day and they were pretty similar. One was from Blogging...It's whats for dinner where she just had the salad part and the other was from John's niece, Sherelle Christensen where she had something similar and put it in a pita! So good!! I just made a big bowl of this so my measurements aren't going to be exact! You could make enough to feed 6 or more or just make enough to feed one!!

Pita pockets ~ I used whole wheat
chicken ~ cooked and diced
tomatoes ~ diced ~ I used 3
1 lb. cooked and crumbled bacon
cucumber ~ peeled and sliced
2 head of hearts of Romaine
Prepared Ranch dressing
cheese of your choice ~ either shredded or diced into small cubes, if you use cubes I would add it to the mixture, if you use shredded I would just put it on top!!

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Add ranch and toss to coat! Serve in pita's {I warmed them in the microwave for about 5-20 seconds to warm and soften a little bit} and top with cheese! Remember you can adjust this to feed alot or just a few! You can mix everything together except the ranch and keep in the refrigerator and add ranch as needed if you're making this for one or two people and have for several days! Next time I am going to add sprout and some diced avocados. Oh and salsa would be good too!!

Salisbury Steak

This was really good and so easy!! I forgot to take a picture cause I always like to include one with the recipes. I will take one next time cause I will definately make this again! This recipe comes from Recipes For Moms. As always I doubled this to have some for John's lunch! I love that he loves leftovers and doesn't complain!

1 lb. ground beef
1/2. saltine crackers ~ crushed
1 egg ~ beaten
1/4 c. onion ~ chopped
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 c. water
1 12 oz. jar turkey gravy ~ I used the beef flavor

Combine beef, crushed crackers, beaten egg, onions, salt and pepper into a large mixing bowl. Mix well and form into 4-6 patties depending on size the want them. Set aside. Combine water and gravy in a large skillet over medium heat. Add patties. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, turning once halfway through. Whip up some mashed potatoes,pour over some of the yummy gravy, have some green beans and you have yourself another hearty meal!!

Stromboli

This was good and fast...two of my favorite things when it comes to cooking dinner! It comes from Good Food, Good Fun! She has so many good recipes to try!!

pizza dough ~ I used the pizza dough from the can but you can make your own or get some from your local pizza place! She has a good recipe on there too you can use!
salami
pepperoni ~ used this instead of ham
mozarella cheese
spaghetti sauce
Roll out your pizza dough into a rectangle. Layer salami, pepperoni, and cheese in a few layer down the middle of the dough. Wet the edges of the dough and roll up lengthwise. Fold ends under. Bake as directed on can or at 375 for 20-22 minutes. Warm spaghetti sauce in a microwave dish and serve as dipping sauce.

Swiss Chicken

This was SO good! It's my new favorite! It was so easy too! I have recipe that is kinds the same thing that you do in the crock pot but thos was s simple to throw in a casserole dish and bake! I am making it again soon! It came from a recipe blog called "Ok, Maybe Just a Sliver" and I didn't get a picture cause I was too busy eating it and scrapping the dish afterwards!

8 chicken breasts
slices of swiss cheese
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
2/3 cup water
box of seasoned stuffing
1/3 cup melted butter

In a 9x13 casserole dish place chicken, lay a slice of swiss cheese over each piece of chicken. Mix soup with the 2/3 cup of water and pour over cheese. Top withe package of stuffing. Drizzle melted butter over casserole. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. SOOOO good!