Peanut Butter Krispies

1 Cup of Canola Oil

1 Cup of White Sugar

1 Cup of Peanut Butter

6 Cups of Rice Krispies

Optional:

(1/4 cup of chocolate chips)

Bring corn oil and sugar to a boil. STOP immediately. Add in peanut butter and stir. Add in rice krispies and stir. Transfer to a pan and press into it. If you want you can sprinkle chocolate chips on top. 

*We usually form these into giant hershey kiss shapes with a real hershey kiss in the middle and wrap them with tin foil as we leave love notes on the tail that comes out the top. This is fun to sneak into lunches.

Pork Tenderloin

This is such a great recipe! I just made it for the first time Sunday. It's easy and delicious. Sorry, there's no picture.

1/2 c soy sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp ginger or 1 T fresh ginger, grated
1 T sesame oil
1-11/2 lb pork tenderloin
1/4 c honey
2 T packed brown sugar
1/4 c sesame seeds

Combine first four ingredients in bag. Add meat and marinate at least 2 hours.
Combine honey and brown sugar.
Remove pork from marinade and pat with paper towel. Roll in honey mixture and then in sesame seeds.
Roast in shallow pan for 20-30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Poppy seed dressing

Ingredients:

1 cup oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 green onions
dash of salt
3 Tbsp poppy seeds

Combine ingredients in the blender. Makes enough for 2 salads.

I like this best over fruity salads. My favorite is salad greens mixed with mandrine oranges, candied pecans, craisins and feta cheese.

Chicken Salad

Someone asked me for this recipe, so now you all get it. :)
It is from Tasha's shower

Ingredients:

1 can chicken breast (1-2 boiled chicken breasts)
2 green onions
1 celery stalk
halved grapes (I prefer red, but other kinds may work)
slivered almonds (can substitute with cashews)
1/4-1/2 cup miracle whip with a little milk to soften it and a little sugar (about 1 Tbsp)

Cut up green onions, celery, and grapes (also cube chicken if using a boiled breast). Put in a bowl with chicken and almonds. In a small separate bowl, mix miracle whip, milk and sugar. Pour over chicken mixture and stir to coat. Adjust portions to liking. I like fruits, so I will sometimes add mandrine oranges and pineapple to this. Serve in a croissant, roll, or just on bread. Enjoy!

Chicken bacon ranch pizza

This is one of my favorite pizzas we have made. :)

Dough:

4 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp olive oil (can use shortening if you prefer)
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/4 Tbsp yeast
1 1/4 Tbsp sugar

Proof yeast in warm water and sugar. Mix flour slat and oil. Add yeast mixture. Mix. Knead for about 4 minutes. Let sit about 15 minutes. Roll out dough. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 450 degrees. Take out and add toppings. (If you have a favorite pizza dough recipe, use it. As a disclaimer, I use half wheat and half white flour, so I can't vouch for how this will turn out with all white flour because I've never made it that way).

Suggested Toppings:

Ranch dressing
Cubed grilled chicken
Cooked crumbled bacon
Grated mozarella cheese
Fresh vegetables (we did tomatoes, peppers and onions)

Pour dressing over dough (Not an exact amount, just depends on how saucy you like it). Cover with remaining toppings and cheese. Oh, and we sprinkled parmesan cheese over the top too. Bake for 10-15 minutes more at 350 degrees until done (will look golden brown).

This is pretty easy and delicious!

egg casserole

Here's the egg casserole from Rachel Fordham's shower. I'm not huge on egg caseroles so Rachel Nielsen kindly gave me this recipe. It was super easy! I didn't have dry mustard so I just left it out.

12-15 slices of bread (cut up into cubes)
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
3 c. milk6 eggs
3/4 t. salt
3/4 t. dry mustard
In a greased casserole dish, alternate layers of cubed bread, milk mixture, and cheese. Bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Pork Chops and Potatoes

I made these two recipes last week for the two of us on Sunday and divided it to last for Jacob's lunch for about 3 days after.

Pork Chops:

6 boneless pork chops (I had three and cut them in 1/2)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

2 cloves garlic crushed

salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon ground ginger (optional) 

1 teaspoon of cornstarch (optional if you like it saucy)

Put pork chops in a crock pot. Stir everything else except cornstarch and pour over the meat. Heat on low 4-5 hours and add cornstarch premixed with some water if you want a thicker sauce when done.

Bay Potato Casserole 

8 medium potatoes cook until almost done with bay leaf ( which means drop potatoes and one bay leaf in enough water to cover potatoes and cook, I just have bay leaf pieces in the spice rack so I sprinkled the top of the pot with them) 

When they are cooked, peel skins and cube very small  

Combine  :  

1  can cream mushroom soup                     

1 cup onion chopped                     

3/4 cup sour cream or butter milk                     

3/4 cup mayonnaise   

Pour over potatoes and mix well. Sprinkle 1 cup grated cheddar cheese over the casserole. Bake at 350 degree for 20-30 minutes.

And we sided the meals with corn muffins and steamed broccoli with Velveeta melted on top.

Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is really easy and fast to put together but does take planning as it takes a long time to cook. This is actually one of Eric's favorites.

1 1/2 c. rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cans milk
1 can water
2 chicken breasts
salad shrimp (optional)

chop up and add however much of these veggies you want (you may omit whatever you don't like)

onions
celery
carrots (grated)
mushrooms
green pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Butter the bottom of a 13x9 pan. Sprinkle rice evenly over bottom and then sprinkle all the veggies and shrimp over top. Cut up chicken into the sized you want and place it raw on top of the casserole. Mix soup, milk, and water together then pour over the casserole. sprinkle Mrs. Dash, paprika and a little celery salt over the top.

Cover with foil and cook for 2 1/4 hours.

Boston Cream Cakepuff

My cousin's recipe: She calls it a mix between an eclair and Boston cream donut.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup margarine

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

1/2 package (1.5 ounces) instant sugar-free vanilla pudding mix

1/2-3/4 cups fat-free milk

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

Ganache (melted chocolate with a little milk added to make smooth)

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring water and margarine to a boil, stirring constantly until margarine is melted. Reduce heat to low; add the flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture leaves sides of pan and forms a smooth ball. Remove from the heat.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until the batter becomes smooth. Spread into a greased 8 inch cake pan. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until puffed and golden. Immediately remove from pan and cut in half horizontally. Cool completely.

For filling, beat the pudding mix, milk and cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Just before serving, place bottom eclair layer on a serving platter; cover with filling. Replace top layer and drizzle with chocolate. 

Mushroom and Sweet Onion Cheesesteak

I found this recipe on cooking light and tried it this week. I absolutely loved it but forgot to melt the cheese on top. It tastes better when you do.

2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
12 ounces top round steak, cut into thin strips
1 1/2 cups thinly vertically sliced Vidalia or other sweet onion
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
1/4 cup Madeira wine (I used chicken broth)
1/2 cup green bell pepper strips
1/2 cup red bell pepper strips
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
4 (2-ounce) ciabatta rolls

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add steak to pan; cook 2 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Remove steak from pan. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and garlic to pan; sauté 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms; sauté 6 minutes. Stir in wine; cook until liquid evaporates (about 1 minute). Add bell peppers; sauté 4 minutes. Return steak to pan. Stir in Worcestershire, salt, and black pepper; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat. Sprinkle mixture with cheese; stir until cheese melts. Divide mixture evenly among rolls.