Chicken Tortellini Bake

I made this for dinner tonight and it really just hit the spot. It's fairly easy and really satisfying.

We're not mushroom people so I left those out, but as we started eating I mentioned that I thought it would be good with chopped broccoli and Aaron thought that would have been perfect. So if you don't do mushrooms, maybe try broccoli?

Also, you'll probably want to salt and pepper the chicken sauce part of it as it's cooking. I didn't think about it since the recipe didn't say to, and we ended up salting it at the table. Which is always kind of annoying.

Recipe here.

Also, if you're not reading My Kitchen Cafe, you might think about giving it a try. I swear every single one of her recipes sounds absolutely fabulous. None of them are too complicated. Just basic, every day type cooking.

Cherry Dump Cake

1 can cherry pie filling,
1 large can crushed pineapple,
one box yellow cake mix,
1 cube butter.

Grease a 9X13 pan, put cherry pie filling first, put pineapple next undrained, put dry cake mix over top of that and dot with butter on top. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. You can put nuts on top also before baking if you wish. It is so easy and great warm with vanilla ice cream.

Pineapple Coconut Angel Food Cake

This is another recipe of Catherine Tackett's and is incredibly good!!!!

Using a box of Angel Food Cake- make as directed, except in place of the water add a can of crushed pineapple, juice and all! (DO NOT ADD THE WATER). Pour into a greased 9x13 pan, top with coconut and bake! Serve with ice cream! Try not to eat the entire pan yourself!

Blender Salsa

If you want a quick salsa, this is so easy and so yummy!

2 cans mexican stewed tomatoes (do not use store brands, it is not as good, use name brands)
1 can diced green chiles
1/4 cup cilantro
1 bunch green onions
1 tsp garlic salt

Mix in a blender!

MARINATED FLANK STEAK

Ingredients:
2/3 cup olive or vegetable oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider or red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak

In a large re-seal able plastic bag or shallow glass container, combine the first nine ingredients; mix well. Add steak and turn to coat. Seal or cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain and discard marinade. Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 6-10 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired done-ness (for rare, a meat thermometer should read 140 degrees; medium, 160 degrees;
well-done, 170 degrees).

Pork Loin Roast

Ingredients:
1 pork loin
Bread crumbs-Italian seasoned
Dijon mustard, small jar
Black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 F.
To a bowl, add Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper. Paint the loin with the mustard mix and then roll in seasoned breadcrumbs until it is completely covered. Place loin on a broiler rack and cook for 45 minutes. DO NOT BROIL. Bake on the lower rack of the oven. Slice and serve. This is excellent either hot or cold and reheats in the microwave very well.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Bake at 350 in a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish
Mix olive oil and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs,Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper. Dip chicken breast in the oil mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Put in a lightly greased, 9X13 baking dish and top with any remaining bread crumbs. Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is not pink.

Homemade Granola Bars

A little while back I made these granola bars. The recipe makes enough to fill a 9X13 pan, and ours were gone within a couple of days. Everyone in the family liked them. The only thing I did differently from the recipe was to omit the wheat germ (didn't have any) and add in a little extra flour plus ground flaxseed to compensate.

You could play around with the ingredients like adding in coconut, nuts, craisins, etc. I think next time I'll put in chocolate chips. Mmm, the possibilities...

French Dip Sandwiches

One eye of round roast (fat trimmed off)- covered in sea salt (and/or garlic salt) & crushed pepper.
One can of beef consume

Cook in the crock pot on low.
I also throw in some onions ...and peppers (for me).
You can shred the meat after several hours. Buy your favorite sandwich rolls and wallah...french dip!

Save your meat & make Bethany P.'s Sheppard's pie the next night ( http://recipemamas.blogspot.com/2007/10/shepherds-pie.html)

Chicken Artichoke Pesto Calzones

We had these for dinner tonight and they were SO GOOD. This recipe is going on The List of Foods We Need to Eat Frequently.

Pizza dough (I used my favorite recipe and got 2 calzones out of it)
shredded mozzarella cheese
cooked chicken (I used leftover from this recipe)
pesto
chopped artichoke hearts (I used about half of one of the little jars from Frys)
olive oil (for brushing)

Preheat oven to 500. Put cookie sheet (or pizza stone, if you're fancy) in while it preheats. Divide pizza dough in half and roll into 7 or 8 inch circle. Spread each with pesto, stopping about 1/2 inch from the edge. Add mozzarella, chicken and chopped artichoke hearts to one half. Fold other half over and fold edges over to seal. Transfer to hot cookie sheet, brush with oil, and bake for 13-15 minutes.

Recipe adapted from here by here.

Sister Crites' Wheat Bread

From Sister Crites' baking class at Women's Conference.

5 cups warm water
add 2 T yeast
add 3-4 cupes whole wheat flour and mix well
add 2/3 cup oil
and 2/3 cup honey
add another 3-4 cupes whole wheat flour and mix well
add 2 T salt
add 4 cups white flour and knead 10 minutes
If using hard red wheat you may want to add 1/2 cup gluten or dough enhancer
Mix together, cover and let rise double. Punch down and form into 6 loaves. Let rise again. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Homemade cost: $2.66 for 6 loaves
Purchased wheat bread: $1.88-$4.50 for one loaf, depending on brand


These loaves freeze really well..I just made a whole bunch and stuck them in the freezer so we can pull them out as we need them. Plus they're really good!

Cornflake Balls (2 versions)

This is a recipe I got from a friend of a friend, these are so yummy! My kids devour them...

The old-fashioned recipe:

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
6 cups cornflakes

In a microwave safe dish mix the first 4 ingredients together and microwave just until bubbly. Pour over cornflakes and mix together. Drop balls onto wax paper or tin foil. Let cool and enjoy.






Healthier alternative to the original recipe:


1 cup sugar
1 cup brown rice syrup
1 1/2 cups natural crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
6 cups organic or non-genetically modified corn flakes



In a microwave safe dish mix the first 4 ingredients together and microwave just until bubbly. Pour over cornflakes and mix together. Drop balls onto wax paper or tin foil. Let cool and enjoy.

Granola

This is Catherine Tackett's recipe. It's the chewier granola, which I prefer!

5 c rolled oats
1 c dry milk
1 c honey
1/2 c olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
optional:coconut, sliced almonds, craisins, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg
Mix everything together, put on a greased cookie sheet, BAKE for 30 min @ 350 or until lightly golden. Allow to cool for 30 mins.-2 hrs. (if you allow it to fully cool it is more likely to stay in BIG pieces but sometimes I can't wait that long).

Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

This salad is the best. It comes from a former co-worker of mine, who was always asked to bring it to events.

Salad Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bacon
• 1 1/4 lb. fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
• 2-3 heads broccoli, chopped into florets
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• red onion, finely chopped (to taste)

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 t cider vinegar

Cook bacon, cool, and crumble. Cook tortellini for 8-10 minutes, drain, and rinse under cool water. Mix dressing ingredients. Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl; add dressing; toss. Serve chilled.

Egg-less Pancakes

I know, it doesn't sound that good. But these are, I promise! We all gobbled them up. My kids woke up wanting pancakes last Saturday, and it sounded good to me too, but we didn't have any eggs in the fridge. So I found a recipe, modified it to our liking, and came up with this:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup white flour
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk (I used lactose free)
  
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• a handful of chocolate chips (oh yes I added that to the recipe)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flours, flaxseed, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Pour in the vanilla, water and milk. Mix until all of the dry ingredients have been absorbed, then stir in the pecans and chocolate chips.
2. Cook pancakes (about 1/3 cup of batter) over medium heat on a large skillet or griddle.

Grapefruit Slushes

I grew up making these and have been making them for Adam and I almost every night. Very refreshing! It's a great way to use your citrus.

2 grapefruits, juiced OR 10-12 oz. of grapefruit juice
1 1/2 C water (10-12 oz.)
1 C sugar

Put ingredients in blender and then add ice (so that the ice is just covered by the juice...probably about 3 C). Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This is a main dish, not an appetizer. I made it for my mom and sister last week, and they both asked for the recipe!

1 can (8-12 oz) pineapple chunks, packed in juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 T cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 T vinegar
1 1/2 t soy sauce
1/4 t dry mustard
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 t bouillon granules)
1/2 lb. frozen meatballs (or, half recipe of the Quick Meatballs below)
julienned carrots
3 cups cooked rice (1 cup uncooked)

Cook rice. Prepare meatballs (or heat up prepared meatballs according to package). Meanwhile, place carrots in frying pan with butter and a little water, and steam to soften to desired tenderness. Drain pineapple chunks, saving juice. In a medium saucepan, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, water, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, and bouillon. Cook and stir until thick. Add meatballs, pineapple, and carrots. Cover; simmer until all ingredients are hot, stirring occasionally. Serve over hot cooked rice with additional soy sauce if desired.

Serves 4.

*Notes: The original recipe calls for green bell peppers (instead of carrots), which you can just cut in strips and add in at the same time as the meatballs if you want them. Ditto with sliced water chestnuts (I just don't care for them).

Quick Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 t salt
1/2 t Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients. Shape into 1-inch meatballs. Arrange in single layer in unheated skillet. Set over medium heat and brown, turning with spatula as necessary.

Variations: You can also bake in a large dripper pan at 400 degrees in the oven for 12-15 minutes, turning once or twice. If you want to make a lot and freeze some for later: arrange meatballs on a large cookie sheet. Freeze for 30-60 minutes. Then move them to freezer containers to store.

Blender Whole Wheat Pancakes

My friend Kristi posted these pancakes forever ago on the other recipe blog I'm a part of. I finally made them this morning and discovered that I should have been making them all along. They are a good way to use food storage items (you can use your wheat without grinding it!) and they're tasty and healthy and Wes snarfed 'em right up. Kristi told me they freeze well and easily reheat for quick breakfasts and snacks.



1 C whole wheat kernels
1 C milk (or 1 C water and 1/3 C dry milk)
2 Tbs Oil
2 eggs
2 Tbs honey
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

Put 1 C whole wheat kernels and 1 C milk in blender. Blend 3 minutes. Add eggs, oil, honey and salt, blend for 30 seconds. And baking powder and pulse three times. Make pancakes immediately.

*I also added a little cinnamon and vanilla to my batter since that's how I roll.

Black Cookies

2 cups- sugar
1 cube- butter/margarine
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
3 cups oatmeal
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine 1st four ingredients & heat to a boil. Turn stove down to medium heat for FIVE minutes. Then remove from heat and add oatmeal and vanilla. Mix well. Scoop out spoonfuls on wax paper and let cool.

Very similar to Janell's no bake cookies, this is Kent's family's version....

Chicken Milano

Adapted from Domestic Diva in Training.

1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
8 ounces dry pasta - fettuccini, penne, linguini, etc.

In this recipe, you basically have three pans on the stove top doing three different things:

1. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter; add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and chicken broth; increase to medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are tender. Add the cream and bring to a boil; stirring. Simmer over medium heat until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the chicken (from step 3) and basil and adjust seasonings to taste.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccini and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, transfer to a bowl and toss with 3 to 4 tablespoons of the sauce.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil, add chicken to pan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is no longer pink inside. Add chicken to sauce and stir.
   

Transfer the pasta to serving plates; top with cream sauce; serve. I LOVE this pasta!!

Tomato Bisque Soup

3/4 cup onion, chopped
2 (28 oz.) cans Italian stewed tomatoes
2 c. tomato puree (comes in 28 oz. cans by the tomato sauce)
4 c. chicken broth
2 t. dried basil
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream

Saute onion and butter. Add all other ingredients except cream. Simmer 10 minutes. Cool (if you have time) and blend in blender. Reheat and add cream. Do not boil after adding cream.
Note: If you don't have Italian style tomatoes, just use regular canned tomatoes and add the Italian spices (oregano, basil, and garlic).

* This makes a LOT so I recommend sharing, freezing half, or just halving the recipe!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

It's taken my a few years to come up with the just right chicken noodle soup recipe, but this is one I make very frequently and my kids love. The cream of chicken soup adds a GREAT flavor and makes the soup just slightly creamy.

1/2 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 C carrots, cut up (or 1/2 bag of baby carrots cut up)
3 stocks of celery, chopped
2 T. butter
1 chicken boullion cube
1/4 C water
dash of seasoned salt and pepper
Put chopped veggies in the bottom of a large pot with butter, water, chicken cube. salt and pepper. Stir and put lid on and steam till veggies and tender or translucent (about 10 minutes).

Then add to the pot and bring to boil:
1 1/2 - 2 cans of chicken broth
4 C hot water
3 chicken bouillion cubes
Once boiling, add 1/2 package of noodles or pasta (8-10 oz.)*. Boil noodles in broth for about 8 minutes (or according to package).

Then add:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded/cubed**
2 cans cream of chicken
1/4 t. seasoned salt
1/4 t. pepper

Boil until cream of chicken soup has dissolved and soup is creamy.
Note: You may need to add 1/2-1 C water if soup is on the thicker side.

*I use whatever pasta I have in my pantry. My kids love bowties, shells, or penne and they work great plus it's easier for the kids to eat.
**I cook my chicken in the crock pot with 1/2 can of chicken broth and a generous sprinkle of seasoned salt and pepper on top for a few hours (2 hours on hight for 2 FROZEN breasts or 3-4 hours on low).

Chex Muddy Buddies

15 minute prep time
18- 1/2 cup servings

9 cups any flavor CHEX cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Measure cereal. Put in a large bowl and set aside.

In 1-QT. microwavable bowl, microwave choc. Chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on HIGH 1 minute. Stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until the mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2 gallon resealable storage plastic bag.

Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Cous Cous with Peanut Sauce

It's the new Mac and cheese! At least it might be at my house, since my kids loved it and don't really care for mac and cheese (weird I know). I got this recipe from The Vegan Spoonful (click the link to see a picture). I made a few slight alterations such as using regular milk instead of soy, and also halved the recipe (it was plenty for us plus leftovers), but otherwise my version is almost the same.

Peanut Sauce:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1 and 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or hot water with bouillon)
1/2 tsp chili powder
salt to taste
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup milk

Saute onions and garlic in olive oil for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in peanut butter and allow it to melt a little. Add vegetable broth and whisk until smoothly incorporated. Add spices and simmer on medium-low heat, covered, for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in milk and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Cous Cous

1 cup dry cous cous
1 T olive oil
1 t vegetable bullion powder (I used chicken)
1/4 t paprika
1 cup boiling water

Stir olive oil, bouillon powder, and paprika into dry cous cous until thoroughly mixed. You can do this right in your serving bowl. Stir in boiling water and cover for 5 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork. Serve peanut sauce over hot cous cous. Enjoy!

Layered Bean Dip

It's game day!!! Here's a great layered bean dip for the crowd!

Ingredients:
2 large, ripe avocados
1 T lemon juice(*OR one container of avocado dip - then you wouldn't need the first two ingredients)
1 can refried beans (16 oz)
1/2 C chunky salsa
2 C sour cream (16 oz)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 can green chiles (4 oz.)
1 C canned corn
1 C Cheese (cheddar or monterey jack)
1 can sliced black olives, well drained
6 green onions, chopped

Directions:Peel, pit, and mash avocados. Add lemon juice and mix well. Set aside.(*OR for quicker and sometimes cheaper opt. use one container of avocado dip). In a small bowl mix refried beans and salsa. Spread beans over the bottom of a large plate. Spread avocados on top of beans. Stir taco seasoning and sour cream together and spread on top of avocados. Sprinkle tomatoes, green chiles, & corn. Top with layer of cheese and green onions & olives. Serve with tortilla chips.

Tomatillo Green Salsa

Easy and good. Great as salsa or to season chicken/beef/pork for burros or enchiladas.

28 oz. can tomatillos with juice (usually found in mexican section of grocery store)
½ bunch cilantro (1/2 C) *I just cut off the top of the bunch and use the top leafy part (not the bottom stems)
Two 4 oz. green chiles
½ C onion, chopped
½ C chicken broth
5 T. sugar
½ t. cumin
½ t. garlic salt
1 lime, juiced (I just squeeze it by hand)
dash salt & pepper...to taste

Dump everything in the blender and blend until smooth and everything is chopped finely.

Tomatillo Cilantro Cream Sauce

My sister told me about this recipe and I knew I had to try it. I LOVE it. We eat a lot of mexican food around here, so this something I will be making frequently.

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese, softened
3 T sour cream
1 C tomatillo salsa (I homemake mine, but you can buy cans at the store)
2 spoonfuls of jalepenos (from a 4oz. can), opt.
1 t pepper
1 t seasoned salt
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t cumin
1/2 bunch of cilantro
1 T lime juice

*Blend all of the ingredients except the cream cheese and sour cream in the blender or food proccessor until cilantro is finely chopped. Pour into saucepan and add cream cheese and sour cream and heat until creamy and smooth. Serve on top of chicken, burros, chimis, enchiladas. It is great as chip dip. It can be served warm or cold.

Never Flat Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm always on the lookout for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe--one that makes cookies that are chewy and soft in the middle and slightly crisp on the outside, and that don't get flat or seem too dense. I found this recipe when organizing my cookbooks/recipes this weekend, and decided to try it. I think my search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie may be over--these cookies were SO yummy!

*Note: this makes a large batch, so feel free to half it if you want a smaller/normal sized batch. I rolled the extra dough into balls and froze them for later use.

Combine the following until creamy:
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 lb. (4 sticks) real butter (softened)
2 cups brown sugar
2 Tbsp. vanilla

Combine the following and then mix with the creamy mixture:
6 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 heaping cups (1 pkg.) chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

Oriental Chicken Salad

I don't usually eat large portions of salad, but I do when it's this kind!

Salad ingredients:
1-2 cooked chicken breasts, diced (I dice them when raw, marinade in a little teriyaki sauce, then saute in a skillet)
~1 1/2 heads lettuce, greens, spinach, etc.
1 can mandarin oranges
3 green onions, chopped (optional)
1 pkg. ramen noodles, uncooked
1 small pkg. sliced almonds

Dressing ingredients:
4 T sugar
2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
4 T vinegar
1/3-1/2 cup salad oil (I use canola)

Combine dressing ingredients. Combine salad ingredients. Toss salad with dressing.

Whole Wheat Bread

I got this recipe from Kristin Free's bread-making class over a year ago. I've been making it frequently since then, and we all love it. Sadie will not eat store bought bread but she eats this. Also, Kristin's original recipe is four times this one--I cut it down to one loaf, because that's how much I make at a time and it fits in my bread maker.

1 1/4 cup warm-hot water
1/2 T yeast
3 1/3 cups whole wheat flour (I usually use white bread flour for the last cup and a 1/3 just to make it a little lighter)
1/6 cup oil
1/6 cup honey
1/2 T salt
1/2 T gluten (optional)
1/2 T dough enhancer (optional)
1/2 T lecithin (optional)

Measure ingredients into bread maker in the following order:
water, yeast, 1 cup flour, oil and honey, 1 cup flour, salt, 1 1/3 cups flour. Mix on "dough" setting. After cycle is complete, shape dough into a loaf, place in greased bread pan, and let rise until doubled in size. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Brush top of finished loaf with butter.

*More notes: For the oil and honey, I use a 1/3 cup measure and fill it half full with oil, then to the top with honey before dumping it all in. The honey slides right out that way and you don't have to scrape it.
I have never included the last three ingredients but I'd like to get them and see what kind of difference it makes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is "the BOMB" according to my brother Ben. I had made a different tortilla soup and had him over for dinner. He said it was good (I thought it was really good), but my sister's tortilla soup was "the BOMB." So my curiousity got the best of me and I had to have her recipe and find out for myself. And it is excellent. Easily Adam's favorite soup.

2 C cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
1 15 oz. diced tomatoes, mostly drained
1/3-1/2 can of Hatch's green chile enchilada sauce (16 oz.) - this makes it a little spicy so you may want to add slowly little by little
4 oz. green chiles
15 oz. pinto beans (or I've used white or black), rinsed and drained
1 small onion, chopped (I sautee in butter till they're clear before I add)
2 T minced garlic
14 oz. can of chicken broth
15 oz. can of corn, drained
1 15 oz. can of cream of chicken
1 1/2 C water
2 t. chicken bouillion
1 t. cumin
1/2 t seasoned salt
1/2 t. salt
8-10 corn tortillas, cut up in small squares (I have used tortilla chips instead and they worked well)
*Sour cream, tortilla chips, cheese (to put on top of soup)

Dump all the ingredients in crockpot, except tortillas and the toppings (sour cream, chips, & cheese). Cook on low for 4 hours. Add tortillas for the last hour or so (they will mostly dissolve). OR you can cook on stove top for an hour (same thing...dump everything in) and add the tortillas once the soup is boiling. Garnish with sour cream, chips, & cheese!

EASY Peanut Butter Cookies

So easy and very good...you won't believe they only have 3 ingredients!

1 C chunky peanut butter (or creamy)
1 C. sugar
1 egg

Combine peanut butter, sugar and egg. Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. I always press my cookies down with my hand. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.
*This recipe has been with me for a long time...probably because it's so easy to remember! :)

Buttermilk Pancakes

I make these probably once a week for dinner.

1 C buttermilk (or 1 C milk +1 T. vinegar)
1 t. salt
2 1/2 T oil
2 T. baking powder
2 1/2 T sugar
1 C. flour
1 egg

Mix together and let batter rise. Do not stir again. batter will be thick. Pour on griddle. Makes 12 small-medium pancakes.

Preparedness Tip

Preparedness Tip - Inexpensive Eggs for Food Storage:
Eggs are essential basic cooking ingredients, but have a short shelf life and powdered eggs are expensive. Wendy DeWitt, who created food storage recipes for the Mesa LDS cannery, said unflavored gelatin mixed with water makes inexpensive eggs, and cornbread I made with unflavored gelatin that was over 10 years old was delicious! 1 lb of gelatin will make 192 eggs (16 doz). It's much cheaper if you buy in bulk; I get mine from bulkfoods.com.

To Make One Egg: Stir 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin with 3 Tbsp cold water until dissolved, then add 2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp very hot water and stir. Decrease liquid called for in your recipe by about one-fourth cup to compensate for the added water from the egg.