Mexican Cheese Log

8 oz. Velveeta cheese, rolled out between wax paper or scran wrap

8 oz. cream cheese
4 oz. diced green chilies
4 oz. diced olives
Mix cream cheese, green chilies and olives together(I mix them in Kitchen aid). Spread cream cheese mixture on the rolled out cheese. Roll into a log and then serve with crackers.

Lemon Sour Cream Pie

I made this recipe for Thanksgiving.......it was so easy and so yummy!!! If you love lemon you will love this pie!!! SOUR CREAM - LEMON PIE

1 c. sugar 3 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch 1 tbsp. lemon rind, grated 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten 1 c. milk 1/4 c. butter 1 c. cultured sour cream 1 baked 9" pie shell 1 c. heavy whipping cream, whipped Lemon twists for garnish Combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon rind, juice, egg yolks and milk in heavy saucepan; cook over medium heat until thick. Stir in butter and cool mixture to room temperature. Stir in sour cream and pour filling into pie shell. Cover with whipped cream and garnish with lemon twists. Store in refrigerator.

smoothies

For my birthday this year I got one of these- a blendtec.

Oh how I love it!

These are the same blenders Orange Julius & all the big name smoothy chains use. The blendtec has a way of really whipping them up- to just the right texture. We make soomthies on a regular basis now.

I buy berries (all kinds), Kern's fruit nectars, & light yogurt at Costco in the big packs-

then mess around with different flavors. This one is strawberry mango!

Frozen strawberries

One can of Mango nectar

2 strawberry yogurts
-Blend-

It's good & good for you!!
Warning: to get the true smoothy experience these need to be sucked down with a straw... seriously folks- it's all about the straw.

Karens Chicken Noodle Soup

Karen's EASY But So Good -I'm talking the best- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Ever!!
(this recipe is doubled- it makes about 5-6 qts of soup)
6 Tblsp. Butter
2 Cups chopped onion
2 Cups chopped celery
2 Cups sliced mushrooms
Saute until everything is tender in a soup pot.
(I added 1 cup carrots diced also just because it seemed like the right thing to do & I didn't have that much celery )
Now add:
2 Cups cooked chicken -(I added 3 boiled chicken breast diced)
4 Cups of Noodles
Cover everything with water- just barely. I used the water from boiling the chicken & a little more.
Now add:
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
Bring to a boil & simmer until the noodles are tender! Salt & pepper to taste.
ENJOY!

Homemade Waffles

This recipe was given to me by a friend a few years back. I don't make them very often but they are a huge hit when I do. They are so light and fluffy. I usually double the batch and freeze the extras for the kids for breakfast.
2 egg yolks (put whites aside for later in the recipe)
2 c milk
2 c flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/3 c. oil

Mix the above ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Beat on low until moist and then increase to medium until smooth. In another bowl mix the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold in the egg whites in with rest of the ingredients. Cook in your waffle iron until golden brown. (My waffle iron takes about 1 cup of mix for one waffle)
Enjoy!

Stove Top Stuffing Casserole

This has been a family favorite for a long time and the best part it is quick and easy!! There are a few variations of this recipe but this how I make it most of the time. This is a great recipe for left over turkey or chicken.


2 cups sour cream
2-3 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 pkg Stove Top Stuffing(do not make the stuffing)
2-3 cups of diced chicken or turkey

Combine sour cream and 2 can of soup together with both packages of stuffing and then add chicken. If the casserole seems dry add 3rd can of soup. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until bubbly. This serves about 5 people, if you had a larger family I would double the recipe. Enjoy!

black bean tortellini soup

I originally got this recipe here. It was in the Family Fun October 2000 issue. I love that magazine & don't get it anymore... Kristy gave me her copy this month & it got me thinking of this soup. I used to make it all the time & it's one of Brett's favorites. I changed the recipe up a bit to suit my family & my own tastes. We really love it.

It's different than the other soups I make. It's healthy- full of fiber & really good.
If you give it a try, let me know :)

3 tsp. canola oil

1 medium onion chopped

1/4 cup minced/chopped carrots

1 tsp minced garlic

1 can diced tomatoes & juice blended (my kids don't like tomato chunks in soup..?)

3 cans black beans drained & rinsed

8 cups water

10 chicken bouillon cubes

1 tsp. each dried oregano & dried basil

1/2 tsp black pepper

salt to taste

19 oz. bag of frozen cheese tortellini

In a large soup pot, saute the onion & carrot in the oil until translucent. Add the garlic & stir for maybe 30 seconds. Add everything else except the tortellini & simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the tortellini & simmer until tender. This is a surprisingly fast dinner! I served it with garlic cheese bread.

Clam Chowder

This is a really easy yummy recipe for clam chowder

1 c. celery (diced)
2 c. cubed potatoes
1/2 onion (diced)

Boil the above in water until tender. Add the juice from the clams to the water to help flavor the veggies.

When veggies are almost done:

Melt 1 c. butter and then add 1 c flour and mix together. Add 6 cups of milk and heat until the roux thickens (if it is too thick you can add some more milk to thin out). Add about 2 t salt and 4 t pepper and about 1/2 T of sugar(you can add more or less salt, pepper or sugar per your taste). When veggies are done drain and add to soup. Add 2 cans of drained diced clams. Heat until everything is warm and enjoy!

***Optional****This is a great soup to serve in bread bowls

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I'm making these for dinner tonight- don't they sound good?!

I'll let you know how they turn out

Here's the recipe

Update: in the words of R.R.~ YUM-O!! we loved them- we skipped the cheese- who needs it? they were great! Here is a picture of my version.

These are really easy & surprisingly not very spicy. I even made wheat rolls in the bread maker. Look at them green beans! Chloe picked them from our garden.

Pumpkin Cookies

This is one of my favorite cookie recipes. It was given to me by a friend several years ago and has become a family favorite. DO NOT double this recipe.....it makes a huge recipe that fills a kitchen aid mixer.

1 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

cream the above ingredients and then add the following:

1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 large can pumpkin (29 oz can)
Mix together and then add 5 cups of flour and then 1-1 and half bags of chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-13 minutes(varies depending on your oven) or until light brown.