Sunday, February 28, 2010

Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad


Jim and I ate at Red Robin last week. We got there Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad. It was good, but while I was eating it I thought "I could make this at home!"
So today I gave it a try and here is what I came up with.

Di's Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad
Serves 4

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts- marinade in Grill Mates Chipotle Pepper Marinade for at least 1/2 hour.

1 large bag salad mix
1/2 a red pepper, diced
1/2 a green pepper, diced
1/4 of an onion, finely chopped
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Dressing:
3/4 cups ranch dressing
2 Tablespoons Salsa (approx)
2 teaspoons lime juice
dash or two of chipotle pepper powder
Fresh Cilantro (if desired)

Garnish:
2 avocados, diced
Tortilla strips
Banana Peppers or Jalapeno peppers.

Grill Chicken on hot grill for about 8-10 minutes per side. (Depends on how thick they are)
While chicken is grilling. Add salad mix, peppers, onions, cheese, and black beans in a large bowl and toss. Set aside.
Mix ranch dressing, salsa, lime juice, chipotle pepper powder and a few sprigs of Cilantro leaves together in a blender. Right before plating, pour over salad mixture and toss gently to coat everything.
When chicken is done, slice into thin strips.
To assemble, divide salad onto 4 larger dinner plates. Place one sliced chicken breast on the top. Sprinkle diced avocado around chicken along with a few banana peppers or jalapenos (red robin breaded and fried their jalapeno slices)
Garnish with tortilla strips.
The restaurant used the red and blue corn tortilla strips. I couldn't find so I made my own using corn tortilla's sliced thin and tossed with a little olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Bake in 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until crunchy like chips.
This recipe isn't that complicated. You can bake the tortilla strips and prepare the salad stuff while the chicken is cooking.
It's great for a main course and Yummo!!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Steak Un-Kabobs


I love steak or chicken kabobs but hate the mess and time it takes to skewer them. So I made this for dinner tonight. Yum!!


Steak Un-Kabobs

1 to 2 lbs petite sirloin steak
Marinated 3 to 4 hours in Grill Mates Montreal steak marinade (I do the soy sauce version on the packet instructions) The longer it marinades the more flavorful and tender it is.
1/2 red pepper
1/2 green pepper
1/2 onion
1 small container fresh mushrooms, slice or whole
1 bundle asparagus (opt)
Grill Mates Garlic, Herb & Wine Marinade packet

Slice Peppers and onion into approx. 1 inch pieces, place in glass dish with mushrooms (you can leave these whole or slice them) Break off tough ends of asparagus, then break in two and place in dish with other vegis. Mix Garlic, Herb & Wine Marinade packet like the instructions say on the back ( I use Balsamic Vinegar, instead of white) Pour over the veg's in the dish and toss to coat. Marinade for 1/2 hour or longer.

As you can see I didn't put mine in a big enough dish... so I marinated my mushrooms separatly.



Heat grill. I grill my veg's on a vegetable screen that I have for my grill for approx 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. (If you don't have one you can roast the veg's in the oven at 350 degrees. Spread out on a large cookie sheet. Roast in over 10 to 15 minutes or until Crispy tender. Stir around after the first 5 minutes.)
Put the steak on the grill along with the veg's, grill on each side for 4 to 5 minutes or until desired doneness.
Serve alongside vegetables. Goes good with seasoned wild rice or brown rice.

This is good done with chicken too marinated in Garlic, Herb and Wine marinade mix.

Chicken Fajita Tacos


I love to experiment when cooking... I made chicken Fajita tacos one night last fall, and made this recipe up but they turned out yumo!!!! As you can tell I like to use a lot of those Grill Mates Marinade packets-- I love 'em!

Fajita Chicken Tacos
Marinade 2 pounds chicken breasts or tenders in 1 package of Grill Mates Chipotle pepper marinade (mix like directions say on packet, (with the 2 tablespoons lime juice added.) Marinade for 30 mins to an hour. Grill on medium heated grill for approx. 8 to 10 mins. on each side.
While chicken’s grilling, sauté 1 thinly sliced red pepper, 1 thinly sliced onion, in a little olive oil till tender crisp, add 1 can black beans drained and rinsed. Saute a couple minutes more, add 1 packet of Lawry’s Fajita mix (added to ¼ cup water like directions on packet) add to black bean mixture, and simmer until thick.
Slice chicken in ½ thick slices when done, and mix into bean mixture.
In ½ cup or so of lite sour cream add ¼ tsp. of ground cumin, and ½ tsp. of Chipotle Chili pepper powder and 1 to 2 teaspoons lime juice. ( Can add more or less of the seasoning to taste)
Fry corn tortillas in skillet with about 1 inch of hot oil 1 at a time for about 30 seconds or so on each side, drain on paper towel. ( You want to cook them, but you still want them soft)
To assemble, spread sour cream sauce on ½ of tortilla, add a spoonful or two of chicken mixture, sprinkle with grated cheese, fold over like a taco and enjoy! Yum O!

Lemonade


I figured since I titled my blog "When life gives you lemons.... make lemonade and more!" I needed a lemonade recipe for sure! I love lemonade, especially on a hot day in the summer!! I got this recipe from Paula Dean from the food network! Yumm!

Lemonade
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time: 10 min
Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup hot water
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 gallon cold water
1 lemon, sliced
Mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions:
In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed. Pour lemonade over glasses of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top of each, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Symphony Brownies

First I'll give you the best and easiest brownie recipe that I've used through out the years!! I love it. And then after that I'll tell you how to turn them into Symphony brownies!! MMMMMMMMM...........


Sauce Pan Brownies

Melt in saucepan:
1 stick of butter
2 - 1 ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate

Remove from heat and add:
1 cup of sugar

Stir then add:
2 eggs, one at a time, stir after each

Then stir in:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Then add:
3/4 cups flour
dash of salt

Stir till well mixed. Can add nuts or chocolate chips. Bake in greased 8 x 8 pan at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes (or until desired doneness, I like mine slightly gooey)Sometimes I like to sprinkle nuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips on the top before baking, then when they're done I drizzle melted carmels over the top. Or drizzle with marshmellow cream and fudge frosting. Sinful.

To Make into Symphony Brownies:
I double the recipe, then in a 13 x 9 baking pan, I line it with parchment paper so there are about 3 inches hanging over the pan on the ends. Then pour 1/2 of the batter into the pan, then I lay 3 giant Symphony bars(i use the milk choc. with almond and toffee pieces ones) across it (may have to break one row off of one of the bars, I lay that along the side) then spread the rest of your brownie batter over the top. Bake in 350 pan for 30 minutes. (I find thats about the right amount of time, candy bars make it kind of jiggly till they cool). Cool on baking rack in pan till completely cool. Then grab wax paper ends and lift out of pan, remove parchement  paper from sides and cut into squares.. these are the best brownies ever!!!

Lasagna Roll Ups


Ingredients:
8 lasagna noodles (I find that there's enough stuff for 9 noodles)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped
spinach
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
21 ounces Alfredo-style pasta sauce(see home made recipe below.. it's better)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Rinse in cold water and drain well.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan over medium heat add oil and cook broccoli or spinach and green onions until tender, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and stir in ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt and egg.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Place noodles in a single layer on a sheet of waxed paper. Evenly spread some of the cheese mixture on each noodle. Roll up each noodle from the short end, jelly-roll style.
5. In a 8x12 inch baking dish, spoon about 3/4 of the Alfredo sauce on the bottom and spread evenly. Arrange the rolled noodles, seam side down, in the dish. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce. Cover loosely with foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted. Serve.
May want to double the alfredo sauce if you like it saucy... noodles tend to soak up alot of sauce while cooking.

*Can add chopped chicken to the cheese mixture, or I grill chicken breasts after marinating in Grill mates, Garlic Herb & Wine Marinade packet. Then I sliced it along with some roasted red pepper in thin strips and layed around the lasagna rolls... then poured the rest of the alfredo sauce on top ( I put the sauce on the bottom of the pan too like the recipes says) I also made my own alredo sauce-- See below!) You can make this without the chicken in it and have chicken on the side -still yummy.

Alfredo Sauce:
1 stick butter
2 cloves garlic minced 2 cups heavy cream
1/8 tsp pepper
pinch of salt
dash of nutmeg
1/2 to 3/4 cups parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat
Add the garlic and cook for a minute, add cream, pepper, salt, and nutmeg, bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down if the mixture reaches a rapid boil you don't want it to separate, you just want a low simmer. Add the cheese and continue to simmer sauce for 8 minutes or until it thickens.

I made this one year for our wedding anniversary. I did the recipe just like it says and had grilled chicken breasts separate. Was delicious And romantic by candlelight!! Even got my hubby to dance with me after dinner!! Enjoy!

Raisin filled Cookies just like Grandma used to make!





Raisin Filled Cookies
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Sift together in bowl and set aside.

Cream:
1 cup Butter
1/2 cup Brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar

Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. water or milk (if needed)

Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half, make two rolls (logs) on waxed paper,(I make mine about as round as when you put your thumg and pointer finger together and make a circle) and keep in the refrigerator.

Filling:
2 cups raisins
1 cup water
Grind in blender or food processor, keep it kind of chunky.
Add to saucepan with:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 to 1 cup finely chopped nuts (opt)
Cook over medium heat until thickened slightly.

Cut dough into 1/4" slices (approximately). ( I make the bottom slices a little thicker than the top ones and make a slight indention with my thumb) put a spoonful of filling on the bottom slice, and top with another slice. No need to press sides together. Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown around the edges.

These remind of when I was a little girl and my grandma made them. Mmmmmm the memories!

The Best Sugar Cookies Ever!!!

This is Alton Brown's recipe for the sugar cookies. I got it off the food network. The frosting recipe is my own....



Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
Directions
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg, vanilla, and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

Frosting
1/2 cup of butter softened (1 cube)
1 teaspoon vanilla
just a couple drops of coconut flavoring (this is the secret to great icing!)
Blend butter and flavorings together till smooth.
Add:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of milk (will add more a little later as well)
desired food coloring
Whip with electric beaters till fluffy, keep adding milk a tablespoon at a time until it's spreadable or the desired consistency that you want.
Frost cookies and add desired sprinkles on top. Depending on how thick you like the icing you may want to double the recipe.

Taco Soup












2 cans stewed tomatoes, or just diced tomatoes is fine
1 can red kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 small can roasted green chilies
1 lb hamburger, cooked with chopped onion, and garlic
1 cup frozen corn, or 1 can corn drained
1 pkge taco seasoning
Water, chicken broth OR v-8 juice as needed

Brown hamburer with chopped onion, and 1 or two cloves garlic, minced. Add the rest of the ingredients with enough water, chicken broth, or v-8 juice to make soupy. I added additional salt and pepper, chili powder, chipotle powder, and cumin to taste. Let simmer for about 20 minutes.
Serve in bowls, topped with grated cheese, sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.
Yum!!

mmmm who doesn't love chocolate Zucchini Cake!!


Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt together:
2 TBsp. butter
6 TBsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
Set aside.

In a mixing bowl cream:
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix the following together then add to the creamed mixture.
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups flour
Add in the cocoa mixture.

To one cup of chocolate chips add 2 TBsp. flour and coat well. (this keeps the chips from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
Add chocolate chips, and 2 cups of finely grated zucchini (I mince mine pretty small) to the mixture and mix well.

Grease a 13x9 in cake pan and lightly flour (I like to sprinkle mine with cinnamon sugar as well)
Add mixture and bake for 25 to 30 mins. or until toothpick comes out pretty clean. (or for a thinner cake can do in a jelly roll pan.. only need to bake 15 to 20 minutes.)
Cool.
Frost with Fudge frosting (yes, I like to use the canned frosting in homemade chocolate or fudge flavor) and then sprinkle top lightly with more unsweetened cocoa powder. Enjoy!
This is my favorite and it's healthy right... it's got zucchini in it! And eggs! :o)

Di's favorite Scone recipe



This is the Best Scone recipe I've ever had!
I got it from Deann Stott when we were in the Primary presidency  together. Now I make them every year for Breakfast on Christmas Day. I also made these with my YW, and we put mini candy bars in them and fried them and dusted with powdered sugar!! Those were pretty good too!! Thanks for the recipe Deann!


The Best Scone Recipe

1 Tablespoon yeast (1 envelope)
1/4 cup warm water
1 Cup Warm water
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water ( I added 1 Tablespoon of the 1/4 c. sugar.) Mix dry ingredients together then cut in shortening. Add egg, water, & yeast mixture until you have a smooth dough. Add more flour if needed ( I add about 1/2 cup or so more flour. You need to be able to handle it.)
Place in an oiled bowl and let rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Heat oil in a dutch oven and roll out dough to 1/4" thick. Cut into pieces and fry on both sides until done. Top with Honey butter or jam! YUM! :o)

Delicious Carrot Cake


I love Carrot Cake and this is the Best I've found!

Carrot Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional, I added on my own)
3 cups shredded carrot ( I put mine in my food processor and chopped it down Really fine)
1 cup cooking oil
4 eggs

In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add carrot, oil, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer till combined.

Pour into 2 greased and floured round baking pans, I use a big flat cookie sheet! Also along with lightly flouring pan I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on my last one, YUM!
Bake in a 350 oven for 30 mins if using round pans, Only about 18 to 20 with a big cookie sheet. Check after 18 minutes. Bake till you touch the center and it springs back. Cook on wire rack.
Ice with Cream cheese icing.

Cream cheese frosting
2-3 ounce packages cream cheese
1/2 cup softened margaring or butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 1/2 to 4 3/4 powdered sugar

In a bowl beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla till light and fluffy. Gradually add 2 xups of powdered sugar, beating well.
Gradually beat in enought remaining powdered sugar to make frosing of spreading consistency. Frost cake, and sprinkle with chopped walnuts if desired!

My Rice Krispie Treats


I promised I'd post this on my Blog, everytime I make them for treats in Young Women's some one wants the recipe so here it is.


Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light karo syrup

Mix together in medium size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, make sure it comes to a good rolling boil, don't boil to long or treats will be too hard, just . Then remove from heat.
Stir in:

1 cup peanut butter

Meanwhile have 6 cups Rice Crispies measured in big mixing bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over krispies and stir till they're all coated. Pour into buttered 13x9 can pan. Spread out with spatula coated with pam spray.
Melt 1 cup milk choc chips and 1 cup Peanut Butter chips in the microwave for about 40 seconds, stir, if not melted enough put back in microwave for 20 more seconds and stir, keeping microwaving for 20 second intervals until smooth like frosting, then pour over candy. Then spread around swirly with a knife.
Let cool and enjoy!


Variation: can use 5 to 6 cups cornflakes instead of rice krispies (depending how gooey you want them) and omit the topping.
This way tastes just like the peanut Butter treats we'd all fight over at the Groveland Elementary School on Fridays when I was little!! Yummo!

Di's Favorite White Bread Recipe














White Bread

1/2 cup Milk -scald in small saucepan, remove from heat and add:
2 Teaspoons Salt
3 Tablespoons of butter
Stir; let cool to luke warm.

In large bowl:

1 and 1/2 cups luke warm water
1 pkge. yeast
2 1/2 Tablespoons sugar

Whisk together in mixing bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes till bubbly.
add milk mixture to this, (be sure it's only luke warm.. too hot and it kills the yeast!
Add: 2 cups flour and mix well ( i use my Kitchen Aid and mix this all together for about 3 minutes)
Then add 2 to 3 more cups of flour one at a time.. while mixer is going till the dough is just right the right consistency.. I keep the mixer going for about 5 more minutes.. That way you don't have to knead it ( or you can hand knead it for 5 to 8 more minutes) Dough should be smooth and elastic. Put into a greased bowl and cover. Let rise for an hour or until doubled. Punch down and divide dough in-half, form each half into loaf shape and place in greased loaf pans. Let rise until doubled or the right size for bread ( it will rise a bit in the oven too) Bake a 375 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans and rub entire loaf with butter.


Hope you enjoy it!

Di's Pizza Dough Recipe


This is the best recipe for Pizza Dough! It originally was a recipe I had in a cook book for French bread. But I've tweaked it a bit by adding wheat flour and olive oil and love it for Pizza Crust! Enjoy!

Di's Pizza Dough
1 package active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
1 Tablespoon sugar

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water in mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until it's bubbly.
Add:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour (or bread flour which is my first choice if it's on hand)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBsp. olive oil

Beat until smooth. Stir in 3/4 to 1 cup more of the white flour to make dough easy to handle. I continue to mix in my Kitchen aid mixer for another 3 to 5 minutes. This makes it so you don't have to knead by hand. If you don't have a heavy duty mixer for bread doughs, knead by hand for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover with damp cloth until double in size.
I like to roll dough out in a mixture of flour and a little corn meal. Then place on hot pizza stone and quickly add the desired pizza toppings. Then I bake 10 to 12 minutes until bottom of crust and edges are brown. (Hint: I add all my toppings at first except cheese. I add that the last 5 minutes, doesn't burn that way)
This recipe makes one 16 to 18 inch pizza. Can easily double for two pizzas.

My version of California Pizza Kitchen's Chicken Club Pizza


Has anyone ever eaten at California pizza kitchen? Well Sarah and I do, and she loves the Chicken Club pizza so I made it at home!! Yum!!

Chicken Club Pizza
First for the crust, i tried it with a homemade recipe and a jiffy box pizza crust mix... both work good, for convenience go for the jiffy box and make according to instructions. Or you can use my favorite pizza crust recipe (see on blog)
For the pizza, i grilled 2 boneless chicken breasts that had marinated in italian dressing, then cut into bite size pieces (for convenience use Tyson grilled chicken strips, just as good). cook 4 pieces of bacon till crispy ( i used turkey bacon for lesss calories) and crumble into kind of big pieces.
I preheated my pizza stone in a 425 degree oven. ( or just heat oven and use a cold pizza pan)
Grease pan and spread pizza dough out on it (or being careful, get pizza stone out of oven and have your already rolled out dough ready to plop on it, no need to grease the stone) drizzle olive oil on the crust, not too much, just a drizzle ( i used a little italian dressing too for flavor) spread 1 to 2 cups of mozzarella cheese on it and top with chicken and bacon. Cook in oven for 10 to 12 minutes until crust starts to brown and cheese is melted.
While pizza is cooking chopp 3 to 4 cups of lettuce and toss in bowl with 3 to 4 Tablespoons ranch dressing. Slice an avacado into thin strips, and slice a roma tomatoe into thin slices.
When pizza is done, cut into pieces, and top the whole thing with the lettuce and ranch and put a slice or two of avacado and tomatoe on each slice. sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!!
Yum!!

Tastes just like California pizza kitchen or better cuz you made it at home!! I love using my pizza stone this way, the pizza crust it crispy!! i have a wire handle rack it sits on in the oven tho' so it's easy to pull out of the oven to put the dough and stuff on . Then when ready to assemble pizza my dough is about the shape and size of the pizza stone and I just plop it on.. it starts to cook a little, so you have to be quick and finish rolling out a bit (i have a fancy pizza dough roller from pampered chef) but i did try it just using my fingertips and it does work. don't worry if you get holes in the crust, or it's thin.. doesn't matter.
Hope you try it sometime!

Rib Eye Steaks



I got 3 1-inch to 1 and 1/2 inch thick boneless rib eye steaks. I rubbed them with Lawrys seasoned salt and Tones coarse ground pepper and set aside. ( Steaks cook more tender if they are about room tempature when you grill them) I sliced one medium onion in thin strips, and washed 1 small container of mushrooms, and sliced those thin as well. Saute in a frypan sprinkled with Olive oil until starting to lightly brown. Add 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup red wine vinegar(recipe called for red wine but isn't vinegar close??)and 1 to 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 TBsp. butter. Simmer until thickened or until the moistures is almost gone in the sauce(doesn't take too long, about 5 to 10 minutes) and salt and pepper to taste!! I grilled my steaks on hot grill for about 4 minutes per side (Jim likes them pretty pink in the middle) Grill to your liking. Let rest on plate for about 4 or 5 minutes, top with mushroom sauce and enjoy!! Yummy!!!
I served with fresh steamed asparagus and salad.. a crusty french bread would be good too!!

Yummy Lemon Bread


Yes.. even I need a break from chocolate at times! After chocolate I like lemon!! Here's a yummy lemon bread recipe I found a Allrecipes.com (one of my favorite sites!)

1 (18.25 ounce) pkge Lemon cake mix (not the kind with puddding in it)
1 (3.4 ounce) pkge instant lemon pudding mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 cup 7-up or Sprite ( i used 3/4 cup and 1/4 lemon juice)
2 Tablespoons poppyseeds
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. ( I heated the oven to 350 and used mini bread loave pans.)
Combine cake mix and pudding mix, then stir in the oil. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the lemon-lime soda. Then stir in the poppyseeds.
Pour batter into prepared pan or pans. Bake for 35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. For mini loave pans test after 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes then take out of pans.For glaze mix 2 cups powdered sugar with 1/4 lemon juice and 1/4 cup butter. This is tart, but tastes yummy on the bread. After bread is mostly cool, but still stlightly warm, drizzle over the top. Yum!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies







I love Sunday afternoons and making cookies! Here's one of my favorite cookie recipes:


CHOCOLATE OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
Add:
1 egg
2 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted (or 1/4 cup of coco powder)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp. of almond extract (optional)
Mix well.

Sift together:
1 cup of flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Add to chocolate mixture, and mix well.

Stir in:
1 cup of quick Quaker oats
1 to 2 cups chocolate Chips (depending how chocolaty you want them)

 And there's your Dough!!! I've eaten half my bowl full! If you have dough left--Drop by tablespoons full onto greased cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes!!

Or if you want ....
 look at the size of cookie you can make!!! haha!!

New and Improved Chicken Enchilada Soup

I have a few different Chicken enchilada / chicken tortilla, and different chicken soups on here, but I did a few things different yesterday...