Sunday, February 14, 2010

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

One of my mom's classics.  I am not really a casserole fan, but I LOVE this one, and so does my family.  Sure to please!

INGREDIENTS


4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 pound broccoli florets, cooked
2 cans condensed cream of chicken/mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
1/2 tsp. curry powder (optional)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup dry stuffing mix
4 tbls. butter

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Boil chicken in water with some chicken bouillon until tender and shred or cut into bite size pieces OR shred a rotisserie chicken. Meanwhile, steam broccoli until crisp but tender.

3. In a small bowl mix together the soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder. Set aside.
 
4. In a 9x13 inch baking dish layer the chicken, broccoli, soup mixture, and cheese. Toss dry stuffing mix with melted butter and sprinkle over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.

Crock-Pot Italian Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

4 frozen chicken breasts
1 package dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken

DIRECTIONS:

Place ceverything in Crock pot.  I usually will add a little water or chicken broth, as well. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

Serve with noodles or rice.

The Infamous Goulash

If Aaron offers to make you dinner, this is what you'll get.  People rave about it's goodness.  I am warning you to eat it at your own risk.  :)  Here are the directions, per Aaron.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. of ground beef
1 lb. of bacon
1 lb. of butter (that is 4 sticks)
2 onions, chopped
a bunch of potatoes cut up (probably 10-12 or so)
"seasoning" (says Aaron)
2 tbls. minced garlic

DIRECTIONS

1.  In a large skillett, cook the bacon.  Set aside.  Reserve about 1/2 cup of the grease.

2. Cook the ground beef in the bacon grease.  Set aside the beef, but keep the grease.

3.  Add the butter, potatoes, onions, "seasonings" and garlic to the leftover grease.  Cook "a long time" until potatoes are soft

4. Once potatoes and onions are soft, add the beef and bacon back in the mix, cook for a little while longer and serve.

**My suggestions: Save the bacon grease, dump the beef grease, and only use 1 (maybe 2) sticks of butter.  I also have made this with chicken instead of the beef, added carrots, and topped with cheese, with a lot less grease, and it was pretty good. 

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Spicy Chicken Soup

Kind of like taco soup, but a little creamier, and with chicken.  Serve with cheese and chips.  Ingredients list looks long, but it isn't as complicated as it looks.

INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 quarts water
2 cans chicken, or 3 cups shredded chicken
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans, undrained
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
 
DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in olive oil until slightly browned. Add chicken, water, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, onion powder and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes
 
2. Stir in salsa, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato soup, chili powder, corn, chili beans, and sour cream. Simmer 30 minutes.

FOR THE CROCKPOT:  Throw it all in and cook on high 4-5 hours

Chocolate Scotcheroos

Peanut butter flavored Rice Krispie treats that are heavenly, chewy goodness!!  And actually much easier to make than the regular Rice Krispie treats.

INGREDIENTS


1 cup white sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

DIRECTIONS
1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and corn syrup, and bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter. Mix with the rice cereal until evenly coated. Press the mixture into the prepared pan.

3. In a saucepan, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips, stirring occasionally until smooth and well blended. Spread over the top of the bars. Chill until set (about 45 minutes), then cut into bars and store in airtight containter.

Homemade Oreos a.k.a. Whoopie Pies

Every small-town Mormon cookbook I have has this recipe (or one like it) at least twice...it's one of those "staples" and I love it!

Also good with a Red Velvet or Spice Cake Mix



INGREDIENTS

Cookies:
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened

Filling:
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

2. Blend the cookie ingredients together with a pastry blender until mixed.

3. Roll in balls about the size of a quarter and place on ungreased baking sheets. Make an even number of balls.

4. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cookies stand on cookie sheet for 5-6 minutes before removing them to cooling rack. After cookies have cooled, put Cream Cheese Frosting (beat together the above frosting ingredients) between two cookies, putting bottom sides together.

Store in airtight container in the fridge

Pizza Rolls

I am not sure why I haven't done these before, maybe everyone knows how wonderful and these are, but I recently figured them out and am officially obsessed.  So easy, and so yummy, and definitely W.T.

INGREDIENTS:
1 can refrigerated pizza dough (you can also use a can of breadsticks dough)
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 package pepperoni
shredded mozzerella

Optional:
melted butter
garlic powder
seasoned salt
parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees

2. Roll out pizza dough on cookie sheet and using pizza cutter, cut in half lengthwise, then in quarters (to make 8 "squares")

3. Spread sauce on each square, leaving about 1/2 inch on the edges

4. Place 3-4 pepperonis down the middle of each square, and a small handfull of cheese

5. Fold over dough squares and pinch the edges so everything is contained

6. OPTIONAL: Brush melted butter over each roll and sprinkle seasonings

7.  Bake for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown

YUM!