Good Cafe Rioish Chicken

Thanks Sami for this recipe! Its our new fave at home!

6 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
1 can of green enchilada sauce
1 can red enchilada sauce
1 small can green chilies
1 can of Coke

Combine all the ingredients in your crock pot and stir together. Set crock pot on high and let cook for about 4 hours. Serve with tortillas and favorite Mexican food toppings or on a taco salad!

Happy Birthday John

So here's a video of John blowing out the candles of his birthday cake. I'm an evil mom and tricked him with trick candles. We did give him the slice of cake with the candles on it. We didn't want watered down cake. Enjoy

Mother's Day

Know a special mom? Um you all should know a special mom!!!! This special mom doesn't necessarily have to be you biological mother, just some female that you feel a maternal bond towards or a friend of yours that is special who happens to be a mom. Mother's Day is on Sunday. Make her this on Saturday for Sunday morning:

(Trust me)

12 crepes - if you don't know how to make them, buy them pre-made
2 lbs fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
1 container blackberries
1 container raspberries
1 container Philadelphia Cheesecake cream cheese
1 container Philadelphia Raspberry cream cheese
Raspberry dessert sauce
white chocolate chips

Whip the two cream cheeses together. Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture on a crepe. Place 3-4 Strawberry halves in the middle of the crepe in a straight line. Roll up the crepe carefully until you have a nice little burrito looking thing. Place on a nice platter or baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the crepes. Once you have all your crepes rolled up, zigzag the raspberry dessert sauce over the crepes. Sprinkle the chocolate chips, blackberries, raspberries and remaining strawberries over the crepes. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve or to take to you special mom's home! ~Enjoy

Grilled Veggies

It's almost summer time! My newest fave on the grill, veggies!

Chop of some some of the following in nice big chunks:

Zucchini
Yellow Squash
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Portabello Mushrooms
Red Onion
Sweet Yellow onion

Toss the veggies in olive oil and some Mrs. Dash's seasoning.

Wrap up in tin foil, or if you have one of those cool grilling baskets, use that.

Place on the preheat grill and grill tender crisp! Yummo!

Scentsy Party

Just to let everyone know, I'll be having a week long Scentsy party April 13th - April 18th. Perfect for Mothers Day gifts, or to just stock up on summer time scents. Oh man, they have some really yummy news ones too, Twilight being one of them. Yummo. So leave me a post, email me or call me if you'd like to set up a time to come over to my place, or me come to yours so that you can smell the smells and place an order for this wonderful product!

Jack O Lantern Anyone?

So here's my girl, with the funniest grin ever! My question is - How is she going to eat her favorite summertime food, Utah Corn on the Cob?

Strawberry Jam

Now is the time to be picking up flats of strawberries for killer deals and making strawberry freezer jam. Strawberries are in season!!! Spring is on it's way! Sounds hard and time consuming? Not at all! You can find great freezer jam recipes in with the pectin packets! It's so worth it and easy to do! My kids love strawberry jam on anything from ice cream to pancakes, and of course sandwiches! Your local grocer should carry all that you need strawberries, pectin, lemon juice and cute little Tupperware freezer containers! Have fun and enjoy!

Gone to the Dogs

You know, I find our news reports and reporters getting stupider every day. Take for instance this morning on several web sites part of the news is that Martha Stewart's puppy dies in a propane blast. Ok, you all know me, I love animals and get upset when an animal that is close to me dies. But I don't go calling the AP and have the news pasted all over the world. Why is it that a celebrities pet qualifies as news? Did that animal do something good? Bad? Amazing? Something news worthy? All that pet ever was was a private companion and a source of enjoyment of the owner. Not that that isn't nice, it's just not considered news worthy. Why not report something good to uplift souls instead of a death of some one's pet? Give the world something positive to think about instead of wasting space by reporting the latest celebrity mishap or whoops. Who really cares about whose dog died and who flashed their crotch to the world. Take back our news and request to be informed on important facts not trivial matters! Ask for something positive and uplifting. I know there's not much out there positive, but once you start looking it might amaze everyone.

Roasted Asparagus

2 lbs fresh asparagus, washed with 1/3 of stem removed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees. Toss the asparagus in the oil and seasonings. Arrange on a cookie sheet so all the steams are flat. Bake for about 12 minutes or until the asparagus is tender crisp. Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

My Latest Sin

So I know avocados are load full of good fats, but it's still fats right. Right. But a little bit is just fine in my book. Right now Chilean Haas Avocados are in season and oh my, they are the best! On eof my coworkers, DeeDee, makes the best guacamole ever with them! Here's the recipe:

3-4 medium ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
16 oz Harmons fresh salsa - Spicy is my fave
1 large ziplock plastic bag

Place all the ingredients in the ziplock back and seal. Give to one of your children to smoosh and squeeze or do it yourself. Once everything is all mixed, snip a corner off the bag and squeeze the guacamole out into a bowl. Add an extra dash of sea salt and a splash of lime juice and Voila! Guacamole!

Busy Days

So I know I said that I'd try to blog more often with healthy recipes, but I just haven't found the time. I've been working on myself lately, and it's paid off! 10 lbs gone and down the toilet! WOOT WOOT!!! My trick - eating! I eat 6 times a day, not big things, usually about 150-200 calories. Lots of lettuce, tomatoes, and such and watch how many carbs, proteins and fats. It's working!!! I'm slightly excited. So my goal for June, is to be under 200lbs. That's right. Still a lot to go, but I'm going to do it! I'll find a recipe later, and keep you all posted on this!

Tortilla Soup

• 9 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 6 cloves roasted garlic
• 1 bunch cilantro, finely minced
• 2 red bell peppers, roasted and diced
  
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 sweet onion, sliced
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 lime juiced
• 6 (6 inch) corn tortillas, cut into thin strips and toasted for garnish

In a heavy pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add garlic, tomatoes, chopped onion, oregano to the broth. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Broil the sliced onions until soft and a little brown. Ass broiled onions, red bell pepper, chicken, lime juice to soup until chicken is heated. Place toasted tortilla strips in each bowl and pour soup over strips. Garnish with a sprinkle of cilantro. Thanks to Joelene Craver's tortilla soup recipe for the base recipe!

This is the End . . . .

Of 2008!

I can't believe how fast 2005 has gone by! WOW! It's been fast paced with lots of changes and surprises! So, here's to ending the old year and starting the new year with a bang! For the month of January, I want to focus more on my eating habits. Not a diet, or following a set plan, but changing my bad to good! I'm thinking I'm going to have the kids go along for the ride and see how long we can make it last! So for the month of January, I'm going to be posting healthy recipes that I find and tweak to fit my cooking needs which fall into the category quick and easy to make! So long 2008 and hello 2009!

I Have a Problem

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

I've been making cinnamon rolls today.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

I might have to not ever bake them again.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

The smell so heavenly.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

The taste so good.

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

Here's the recipe:

Dough:
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 TBSP yeast
2 cups warm evaporated milk
3 TBSP white sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
8 1/2 cups of flour
1 instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
2 eggs

Filling:

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
6 TBSP ground cinnamon
nuts and raisins optional

Frosting:
2 containers of your favorite cream cheese frosting

Combine all the dough ingredients in either your bread maker or bosch. Set the bread maker to the dough cycle and let it do it's thing. If your using a bosch, let the ingredients mix for about 15 minutes. Let rise for about 45 minutes in a warm place. Punch down and let rise again for about 30 minutes.

While the dough is on it's final rise, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside for later.

Once the dough is ready, roll it out on a lightly floured flat surface. Roll it out into a big rectangle, about a 1/4 inch thick throughout. Spread the butter on the surface, until evenly coated. Sprinkle the brown sugar/cinnamon mix over the butter. Roll the dough, starting on the long side. Slice the roll into inch thick slices with a very sharp knife and arrange on a well greased pan. Let rise until doubled in height.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the tops are a light golden brown. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!!

Remove from the oven and smear the cream cheese frosting over the tops. Enjoy hot or let cool for awhile!

Seriously. Bad. Huge. Mistake.

Divinity

Ok, I know this sounds complicated. But it's really simple, as long as you have a candy thermometer. A candy thermometer is way different than a regular thermometer, so make sure it's really a candy thermometer!

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cups broken pecans - optional

Stir sugar, corn syrup and water over low heat until sugar dissolves. Cook without stirring, to 260 degrees on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball. In mixer bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites. Add vanilla, beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. Mixture may become too stiff for mixer. Fold in nuts. Drop mixture from tip of buttered spoon onto wax paper.

Easiest Fudge Ever

OK, so it's that wonderful time of the year! Time to bring out my inner kitchen diva! YeeeeHaaaaawwww! Christmas Goodies Galore!!!! Yum Yum! Here's my favorite fudge recipe:

3 cups milk chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup butter

Line an 8x8 pan with tin foil, leaving plenty of over lap. Place all the ingredients in a large microwave safe bowl. Zap for 3-5 minutes until the chips are melted, stirring ever minute. Give it a final stir before pouring into the pan. Refrigerate until set. Once set, lift the fudge out of the pan with the tin foil, much easier to cut and serve this way!

My Sister's Hot Cocoa

This is the very best Hot Cocoa recipe out there. Nuff said. Don't argue with me over this. Just trust me. (This makes a lot, but once you try it, it won't be enough!)

HOT COCOA

10 2/3 cups instant nonfat dry milk
6 ounce jar powdered non dairy creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
16 ounce can instant chocolate drink mix

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Put in airtight container. Store in cool dry place for up to 6 months.

Hahahahaha

So, I really haven't finished posting my thanksgivings for the month of November. Lets just say I was beat after the Thanksgiving rush. So to finish things out, here goes:
My family. Mom, Dad, siblings niece, nephew, all of my family. I had such a blast with Breezey and Jack Bug. They are just so cute! And I had a blast with my Mom and sisters just chillin. I'm so thankful for the chance to hang out together and just be a family. I'm also thankful for naps! Without them I don't know how I would have survived! I'm also thankful Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is finally here! I'm so excited and my kids are so very very excited! We have our Christmas tree up and decorated and new christmas clingons on the window and our stockings hung with care. I love this season and watching the excitement build in my children! It's the best! We opened our 1st day on our chocolate advent calendars today! Chocolate trains wooohooo! I know that only my sister will understand much of this, but oh well! Christmas music I am now allowed to offically blast for the next 24 days! Hot chocolate! I love this time if year! I'm so thankful for my many blessings and thank you for being patient enough to read my ramblings! So here's to a great thanksgiving season and looking forward to an awesome Christmas season!

Gram's Stuffing

This is all for you Ellyn! Please note, I have not measured out this recipe, it's one of those just add a little bit of this until it tastes good. My Gram taught this to me, and it's my favorite dressing in the whole world!

1 bag dried bread
1 package jimmy dean sage sausage
butter
2% milk
salt and pepper
sage
poultry seasoning
some celery and diced onions
some thyme

Crumble and cook the sausage until no longer pink. Drain off fat and rinse in warm water to get more fat off of it. While the sausage is cooking, simmer your diced onions and chopped celery in water until tender. In a Large bowl, Pour in your bread and seasonings and dry toss. Add in the cooked sausage and veggies. Mix well. Place in a large casserole dish and evenly distribute. Cover the bread in milk and add several generous butter pats all over the top of the bread mixture. Taste the mixture. Add more seasonings if desired. Bake in the over at 350 degrees until edges are brown. About halfway through add some more milk and more sage and poultry seasoning. I'm sorry if this is a really confusing recipe, but that's how Gram did it!

Roasting Chestnuts

Even though I can't have chestnuts, my boss has asked my to come up with a recipe for Roasting Chestnuts! You can do this on an open fire with Jack Frost nippin at you nose, but the oven works just as well!

First, rinse off the chestnuts that you buy from the store. Most grocery stores at this time of year have an open bin of them in produce. Try to buy those instead of the ones that come prepackaged in a plastic bag. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Next place one chestnut on a padded surface, like a clean kitchen towel, just so the nut is stationary and won't move. Then cut a cross into it's surface.

Place all the chestnuts you and your guests want to eat cross side up on a cookie sheet and sprinkle them with water.

Pu them in the oven uncovered for about 25-30 minutes or until the skins start peeling back from the nut. While they are roasting, line a bowl with a clean towel.

Once the nuts are roasted, place them in the towel lined bowl and wrap them within the towel for about 5 minutes.

Serve while still warm, the skins peel easier that way. Peel and sprinkle with some salt or a cinnamon sugar mixture. Or just enjoy them plain! If the nuts get cold while you're still eating them, place them back in the oven to heat them back up!