Chicken Cordon Bleu

    Pinterest strikes again! This was a gem of a find. Delicious, and not too complicated, although it looks and tastes like it. My kids even gobbled it up! (Always a big endorsement around here).

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half (like you’re butterflying, but finish the cut)
• 12 slices deli ham
• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 6 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese

Parmesan-Dijon Cream Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard (more if you like a strong mustard flavor)
• ¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• Parsley, for garnish
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons melted butter; set aside.
3. Lay all of the chicken breast halves in a single layer in the bottom of your baking dish. Top each breast with two slices of ham and 1 slice of cheese, so that the entire breast is covered. Sprinkle buttered bread crumbs over the top of the chicken.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (clear juices), the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are golden brown. You may want to broil the chicken for a minute or two to really brown the bread crumbs.
5. While the chicken is cooking, melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux, cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and chicken broth while whisking constantly, make sure there are no clumps. Whisk constantly until the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese, until the cheese is melted. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Keep the sauce warm.
6. Remove chicken from oven, plate, and top with sauce. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired. I added the parsley to the sauce itself.

Source: www.whitelightsonwednesday.com

Beef and Broccoli Pie

    My wonderful Mother-In-Law gave me a huge recipe book for Christmas a couple of years ago. I am slowly working my way through it because it is filled with recipes from some of the best cooks I know. We tried this one out last week and really liked it! It was easy to double the recipe and have one to freeze. Hope you like it as well!

Beef and Broccoli Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 c chopped onion
2 T. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 1/4 c. milk
3 oz. soft cream cheese
1 beaten egg
10 oz. cooked chopped broccoli florets, drained
pastry for 2-9" pies
4 oz. Monterey Jack Cheese

Directions:

    Brown beef and onion. Drain fat. Stir in flour, salt, garlic salt. Add milk and cream cheese. Cook until smooth and bubbly. Add a small amt of mixture to the egg to temper. Return egg mixture to skillet. Cook until thick (1-2 min). Stir in cooked broccoli. Line pie plate with half of pastry. Pour mixture inside, top with cheese. Cover with other pastry and seal edges. Perforate top and brush with milk. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Let stand 10 min before serving.

Source: Anne Judd

Black Bottom Coconut Bars

    Do you like Brownies? Do you like Coconut Macaroons? Then you will LOVE this dessert! These are wonderful, they don't take a lot of ingredients, and they have a definite WOW factor at any gathering. I inevitably get asked for this recipe. Thank you Martha Stewart.

Ingredients

For Brownie Base

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

For Coconut Topping

• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (real really is best)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 1 package sweetened shredded coconut (7 ounces), 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling

Directions

      For chocolate base: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a slight overhang; butter bottom and sides of foil (not overhang). Melt butter in large microwave safe bowl in microwave. Add sugar and salt; whisk to combine. Whisk in egg, then cocoa and flour until smooth. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake just until sides begin to pull away from edges of pan, 10 to 15 minutes (do not overbake). Let cool slightly while preparing topping. (Keep oven on).

 

    For coconut topping: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla. Gently mix in flour and coconut (except 1/2 cup reserved for sprinkling). Drop mounds of mixture over chocolate base; spread and pat in gently and evenly with moistened fingers. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup coconut. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Lift cake from pan, peel off foil, and cut into 24 bars.

 

Source: Martha Stewart Everyday food

Italian Love Cake

    When I think about what cooking was like before the internet, I feel flabbergasted (and old) by how different my culinary experience is. When I went to college, I took my little 3x5 card file with a few of my favorite recipes that I hand copied from my Mother's stash. Now you can find any recipe complete with reviews and ratings. Pinterest has also been a great source and that is where I found this little gem. Dare I say life-changing? I just might. This is an easy cake that looks and tastes very impressive! You can play with the flavors by changing the cake mix base, but Chocolate is still my favorite. The interesting thing about this cake is how the layers trade places while it cooks. A little bit of culinary magic.

Italian Love Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 package chocolate cake mix with all other ingredients to prepare according to package (most sites recommend Betty Crocker Brand)
• 2 lbs. ricotta cheese
• 4 eggs
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1  package instant chocolate pudding mix (5.1 oz.)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 8 oz. Cool Whip or other prepared whipped topping

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350*.F Spray a 9×13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, mix together cake mix according to the directions on the box. Set aside.
3. In another bow, using a hand mixer, beat together the ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
4. *The following directions are correct. The layers switch during the baking time!
5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Spread to fill the pan evenly. Once the cake batter is in place, carefully pour the cheese mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter. Spread to cover the cake batter.
6. Bake the cake at 350* for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
7. Once the cake is cool, stir the pudding mix and milk together with a whisk until combined. Carefully, fold the Cool Whip into the pudding until combined.
8. Spread the pudding mixture over the top of the cooled cake. Cover the cake and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving. It tastes even better the next day.

Source: www.inspiredreamer.com

Chinese Dim Sum

Chinese Dim Sum

    Ever since my hubby went on his mission to Singapore and Malaysia, he has had a passion for all foods Asian. We love Dim Sum and my friend had a recipe for a homemade version of steamed buns that we really enjoy. We bake them, but you could steam them if you had a steamer. The filling is delicious and I used a homemade roll dough for the outside, but you could certainly use Rhodes rolls thawed for speed.

Ingredients:

12 frozen rolls or one recipe roll dough

1 lb. ground pork

1/2 onion finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 t. ground ginger

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. soy sauce

1 T. cooking sherry or OJ

2 T. soy sauce

1 T. rice vinegar

1 T. cornstarch

Directions:

    Thaw and raise rolls according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook pork and onion until pork is almost done, drain pork. Add garlic, ginger, sugar, 1/4 c. soy sauce, and OJ in a skillet until pork is done. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and add to skillet. Heat until thickened, remove from heat and cool.

    Flatten rolls into 4" rounds and place 2 Tbsp. filling in center of each round. Pull edges up and pinch in center to seal. Place in a foil-lined baking pan sprayed with oil seam side down. Let rolls rest 15-20 minutes. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until bread is done. Top rolls with melted butter if desired. You may find you can get a few more out of this recipe, I got about 18.

Source: Katie Konold 

Turtle Cookies

Turtle Cookies

    These might be my new favorite cookie! They are soft, the caramel is gooey, and aren't they pretty? The perfect holiday cookie. They were also not difficult at all and pretty foolproof, which is always a bonus!

Ingredients:

Cookie:

1 C. flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick (8 Tbsp.) butter, softened

2/3 C. sugar

1 large egg, separated, plus one additional egg white

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp milk

1 1/4 c. finely chopped pecans

Caramel filling:

14 traditional caramels (I used Werther's soft caramels)

3 Tbsp. cream

Chocolate Drizzle:

2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate bar

1 tsp shortening

Directions:

Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a bowl and set aside. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on med-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, vanilla, and milk until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture just until incorporated. Do not overbeat. 

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour.

Whisk egg whites until fluffy (by hand). Place pecans in a separate bowl. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Dip in egg whites and then roll in pecans. Place on cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart. Use the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Bake at  350 until set, about 12 minutes.

For caramel filling: Microwave caramels and cream, stirring occasionally, until smooth and melted, about 1-2 minutes.

When cookies come out of the oven, gently re-press indentations. Fill with 1/2 tsp. caramel filling. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to wire wrack. 

Melt chocolate and shortening together in a plastic bag dipped in hot water. Cut tip off bag and drizzle over cooled cookies.

Yield: About 30 cookies. 

Source: America's Test Kitchen

Cookie:

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

8 T. (1 stick) butter, softened

2/3 c. sugar

1 large egg, separated, plus 1 additional egg white

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. pecans, finely chopped

Caramel Filling:

14 soft caramel candies (I used Kraft Traditional Caramels)

3 T. heavy cream

Chocolate Drizzle (optional):

2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (I used 2 squares of Baker's semi-sweet chocolate)

1 tsp. shortening

Directions
Prepare the Cookies:  
1.  Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside.

2.  With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla; mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture until just combined.

3.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.

4.  Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy.  Place chopped pecans in another bowl.  Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans.  Place balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 12 minutes.

Prepare the Caramel Filling:  
6.  Microwave caramels and cream together in a small bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.

7.  Once cookies are removed from the oven, gently re-press the indentations.  Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of the caramel mixture. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Chocolate Drizzle (optional):  
8.  Place chocolate and shortening in a small zip-top plastic bag.  Set bag in a bowl of warm water to soften.  Gently knead the chocolate with your fingers until melted and smooth, placing back in the warm water for a minute or two as needed.

9.  Snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag.  Drizzle chocolate over the cooled Turtle Cookies.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Enjoy! 

Read more at http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2012/09/insanely-delicious-turtle-cookies.html#vAFMPMioIaCqGHIJ.99

Cookie:

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

8 T. (1 stick) butter, softened

2/3 c. sugar

1 large egg, separated, plus 1 additional egg white

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. pecans, finely chopped

Caramel Filling:

14 soft caramel candies (I used Kraft Traditional Caramels)

3 T. heavy cream

Chocolate Drizzle (optional):

2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (I used 2 squares of Baker's semi-sweet chocolate)

1 tsp. shortening

Directions
Prepare the Cookies:  
1.  Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside.

2.  With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla; mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture until just combined.

3.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.

4.  Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy.  Place chopped pecans in another bowl.  Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans.  Place balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 12 minutes.

Prepare the Caramel Filling:  
6.  Microwave caramels and cream together in a small bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.

7.  Once cookies are removed from the oven, gently re-press the indentations.  Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of the caramel mixture. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Chocolate Drizzle (optional):  
8.  Place chocolate and shortening in a small zip-top plastic bag.  Set bag in a bowl of warm water to soften.  Gently knead the chocolate with your fingers until melted and smooth, placing back in the warm water for a minute or two as needed.

9.  Snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag.  Drizzle chocolate over the cooled Turtle Cookies.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Enjoy! 

Read more at http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2012/09/insanely-delicious-turtle-cookies.html#vAFMPMioIaCqGHIJ.99

Quinoa Cakes with Poached Eggs

    Quinoa is such a popular grain these days, I decided to give it a try. And boy, is this the way to try it! These cakes are savory, hearty, satisfying, and bursting with flavor! My kids gobbled them up. This was also the first time I tried to poach an egg without a poaching pan, and it was a little bit exciting, like a delicious science experiment.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked Quinoa, at room temperature
2 large eggs, beaten
1/3 cup minced fresh chives
1/2 tsp coarse salt
2 green onions or large shallots, finely chopped
3 cloves minced garlic
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs plus more if needed

To make cakes:

Combine quinoa, eggs, chives, salt, onions, garlic, and parmesan. Gently add bread crumbs until incorporated. Form into 6 cakes, 3-4 inches each.

Heat enough olive oil to coat the bottom of  large saute pan over medium heat. Add patties, not touching. Cook about 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Put on paper towels to drain. serve with additional salt and pepper, parmesan cheese, and top with poached egg. For instructions on how to poach an egg, see http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_poached_eggs/.

Notes: It is very important to thoroughly rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer for at least two minutes to remove the bitter coating. To cook it, boil 2 cups of water, add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, cover and simmer about 20 minutes. Fluff with fork. This makes 3 cups of cooked quinoa, so I just 1 1/2 times the recipe because these are so good!

Source: Annie's Eats

Taco Soup

    I know many of you may already have a recipe for this. There are many variations, but this one is our favorite. It is super easy, quick, delicious, healthy, and economical. What more could you ask for in a recipe? My kids love it and it is even better as a leftover. I love soup season!

Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained.
1 quart jar canned tomatoes or 48 oz. stewed tomatoes, blended
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can great northern beans
1 can ranch style beans
1 can kidney beans
1-2 cups corn (canned or frozen)
1 packet taco seasoning

Sour cream, cheese, avocado, and chips for garnish.

Directions:

Brown beef in a large stock pot. Drain. To beef, add all other ingredients. Simmer 20 minutes or until ready to serve. Garnish as desired. (I told you it was easy!)

Source: Aubrey Adams

The Educated Woman

    We are taught in the LDS church that education is very important, both for men and for women. We are also taught that our primary responsibility as women is to our home and family life. I feel we are bombarded with mixed messages from many different sources that tell us that women should be able to have it all and have it all right now...a fulfilling and ambitious career, a PhD, and a family. As we know, the reality of it is that there is not enough time in our lives to have everything we think we should have right now. Something will suffer. One of the many balls we juggle will eventually fall.
    However, I do not share the world view of the housewife as a woman tied to screaming children with a load of laundry in one arm and a mop in the other (although some days that is definitely not far from the truth). The women I know who choose to stay home to raise their children are much more than that. They are largely educated women who choose to spend their time using that education to enrich their homes and create an atmosphere conducive to learning in their own children. What is more noble than that?

 "The meaning of education is often assumed to be somehow related to “going to school” or learning as an external experience, related only to acquiring knowledge or skills helpful toward work productivity in society. All too often, when a woman makes the conscious effort to become “educated,” she perceives her alternatives as the following: (1) to seek fulfillment outside her home, (2) to sacrifice her education in order to raise a family, or (3) to try to balance career and family in some “superwoman” fashion. But I submit that the education of a woman is much broader, comprehensive, and perhaps more personal. Let us begin by considering the term “education.” Education is seen here, in its most idealistic sense, as an unveiling of the natural thirst of the mind and soul, and subsequently their replenishment, refreshment, and expansion. Considered in its broadest sense, education may occur at school, at home, with family, at church, or even with an enlightening thought in a moment of solitude. Education is more than learning. It is a complex interactive teaching and learning process." -- Elaine Shaw
 
  I consider myself a stay-at-home mom, even though I work part time as a nurse doing a few night shifts a month. I am lucky to be able to use the education I received to contribute to the family income while not having to find childcare for my kids. I realize how lucky I am. I have also come to realize while my job can be challenging, it is not nearly as mentally and emotionally challenging/rewarding as raising children. I think it is easy to lose sight of that as women and to feel that what we are doing is unimportant or menial.
    I also have come to realize that being a stay-at-home mom in no way means that we must stop progressing and learning. What a wonderful world we live in where we have so much information at our fingertips! We can learn about anything we want to in our spare time. The moms I know are well-read, well-balanced, and happy. Isn't that the goal?

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

        One of my dear friends brought this over when I was laid up and I can't tell you how wonderful it tasted! It has been one of our favorite recipes ever since. It is hearty, creamy, comfort food at its finest! I love it served in a homemade bread bowl.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

1 package Wild Rice Rice-A-Roni
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup butter
2 chicken breasts, cubed
1/4 cup flour
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup cream (I usually use milk; the cream makes it pretty heavy)

Mix Rice-A-Roni (rice and seasoning packet) with the water and bake in a pyrex baking dish covered with foil for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

After you pull the rice out, in a soup pan or dutch oven, saute carrots, celery, and onion in butter. In a separate pan, begin sauteing chicken cubes in a little bit of olive oil. When veggies are tender, add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then add chicken broth, milk, and rice. Add chicken when it is cooked through. Simmer until it is a little bit thickened. It will thicken additionally as it cools.

Source: Julie Roberts

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    Who doesn't love a good old Mac n' Cheese? I certainly haven't met anyone who doesn't! This is supposedly the original version of the recipe that Thomas Jefferson brought back from Europe along with the first Macaroni machine. Feel free to fact check me on this. 

Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 lb Macaroni

1 Tbsp butter

1 egg

3 cups cheddar cheese

1 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Pinch of Paprika

Cook macaroni, add butter, 1/2 to 3/4 of the cheese to hot macaroni. Mix. To make milk mixture warm milk (not too hot), add egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Put pasta in 13x9 inch baking dish. Pour milk mixture over pasta. Top with remaining cheese (or extra if desired). Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. 

Optional: top with buttered cracker crumbs or panko.

Source: Kim Anderson

Buttercup Yeast Bread

This is another recipe I wanted to slide in before squash season is over. I had a subscription to Taste of Home magazine for a few years and this is one of my favorite finds from the magazine. You can use any type of hard squash. I have used butternut, acorn, and sweet mama, all with good results. The squash just gives the bread a lovely golden color and  a hint of sweetness. Everyone loves this recipe!

Buttercup Yeast Bread

Ingredients

• 3 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast (about 2 3/4 tsp)
• 1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2-1/2 cups mashed cooked buttercup or butternut squash
• 2 cups milk
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 13 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

• In a very large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the squash, milk, brown sugar, butter, eggs and salt; mix well. Add 6 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours.
• Punch dough down. Divide into three portions; shape into loaves. Place in four greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 4 loaves (16 slices each).

 

Summer Garden Vegetable Soup

    As summer winds itself to a bounteous close, I wanted to share this recipe while the veggies in it are still in season. It is a GREAT way to use up some of that zucchini and those tomatoes I never have quite enough uses for. My kids (who hate zucchini and said tomatoes) even like it. Win-win!

Summer Garden Vegetable Soup
     Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

• 3 medium zucchini, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 4 medium tomatoes, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped)
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
• 1 ½ cups frozen or fresh corn kernels
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or more :) to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add the zucchini, basil, parsley and onion and saute, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes (I always do it longer, until it is pretty tender). Add the flour, salt and pepper and stir and cook for one minute to remove the raw flour taste. Gradually add the chicken broth, whisking or stirring constantly. Add the lemon juice; mix well. Bring the soup to a simmer, stirring to prevent sticking, and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the zucchini is tender but still has some bite to it (it will continue cooking for a few more minutes). Add the tomatoes, evaporated milk, and corn.
2. Bring the soup to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the soup and simmer until the corn and zucchini are tender. Stir in the cheese just before serving.

Coconut Drop Cookies

    I'm always a fan of a good no-bake cookie. And anything with coconut. So when I saw this recipe, I had to try it. I thought it was really good and a quick treat in a pinch.

 

Coconut Oatmeal

No Bake Cookies

2 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. butter
2/3 c. milk
1 (3.4 oz) box instant coconut flavor pudding mix
2 1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1 c. sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 tsp. vanilla pinch of salt

In a large sauce pan, mix together sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Turn off heat, add in the pudding mix, oats, coconut and vanilla. Let stand 5 minutes before dropping by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Cool completely and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Source: auntpegsrecipebox.blogspot.com

Chicken Tortellini

    A friend made this for me years ago and we all instantly fell in love! Creamy, flavorful, hearty, it is comfort food at its finest. It freezes very well, so it is a great one to take to neighbors who need a meal or to make ahead for yourself. I prefer using frozen tortellini over dried, I think it is more tender. Enjoy!

Chicken Tortellini

5 T. margarine or butter
6 T. flour
3 C. chicken broth
1 C. light cream or milk
1 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
Dash nutmeg
7 C. cooked tortellini
1 C. cooked chicken, diced (I use one breast)
1/2 C. parmesan cheese
1 C. mozarella cheese

Combine chicken and tortellini in a 9x13 pan, set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, blend in flour and cook for one minute. Stir broth into mixture; add cream or milk and cook until mixture thickens and bubbles. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour sauce over chicken and pasta; Sprinkle cheeses over the top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden. I like to broil it for a minute or two at the end to give the cheese a nice brown crust. You can obviously add more cheese to your taste.

Source: Katie Konold

Cranberry White Chocolate Scones

    I have never been that interested in scones until my friend made these for me. They are delectable! Soft, buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness. They are quick to put together and make a great treat to take to neighbors that is a little out of the ordinary. I consider them comfort food myself...

Cranberry White Chocolate Scones

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
3 Tbsp white sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup firm butter
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
4-6 Tbsp half and half or milk
Decorating sugar (coarse sugar sprinkles)

Directions:
    Heat oven to 400. Sift together dry ingredients. cut in butter with a pastry cutter or fork until it looks grainy. Stir in beaten egg. Add in craisins and white chocolate chips. When mixed together, add in just enough of the milk or half and half until the sides come away from the bowl. Place dough on lightly floured surface, gently roll in flour to coat.
    Knead lightly 10 times, then shape into a long, flat rectangle, about 2 1/2 inches wide, 3/4 inches thick. Using a sharp knife, cut triangles all the way down the log. Brush milk over each scone and sprinkle with lots of the decorating sugar--these are crucial! Place on greased cookie sheet or parchment paper and bake for 13-16 minutes. Pull them out when they just start to brown slightly and don't overcook. Enjoy!

Source: Pamela Fisher

Scuderi Fast Fake-Baked Ziti

      If your family is anything like mine, you will always appreciate a good pasta recipe. It appeals to adults and kids alike. This one is a gem. I think my hubby saw it on Rachael Ray and wanted me to give it a try. Are we glad we did! It is so fresh and springy, which is unusual for a baked pasta dish.  There is something magical about the combination of fresh basil, tomatoes, and fresh mozarella. 

Scuderi Fast Fake-Baked Ziti

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 cloves finely chopped garlic

28 oz. can whole tomatoes

14 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 tsp sugar

Coarse salt

Handful of fresh basil leaves, rinsed, patted dry, and torn

1 lb. box of ziti rigate or penne pasta

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp flour

Freshly ground black pepper

Generous grating of nutmeg

2 cups whole milk

1/2 C. Asiago cheese, grated

1/2 C. Parmesano-Reggiano cheese, grated

1 C. sliced fresh mozarella

Note: I never spend the money for all of the cheeses, I buy the grated parmesan blend and the fresh mozarella, and it is wonderful.

Directions:

Boil pasta water.

Chop whole tomatoes. Heat oil in medium saucepan, add garlic and saute for about 1 minute, watch it carefully, or it will burn. Add chopped tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and salt to pan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add basil and simmer 10 minutes more.

Cook pasta according to directions, until Al Dente.

Bechamel Sauce:

While pasta is cooking, melt butter in medium saucepan. Whisk in flour and stir to cook for one minute, adding salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Whisk in milk. Cook until bubbly and reduce for about 5 minutes until thick.

Drain pasta. Put in 9 x 13 casserole dish. Pour tomato sauce over pasta and turn to coat. Pour bechamel over already coated pasta. Top with Grated cheeses, then sliced mozarella. Place under hot broiler until cheese is browning and bubbly, 3-5 minutes. 

Adapted from: Rachael Ray

Sweet & Sour Chicken

       I love sweet n' sour chicken. It is asian inspired cuisine that even my kids will eat (and enjoy!). I found this recipe and it was as good as promised. I also loved that the ingredients were on hand and inexpensive!

Sweet N' Sour Chicken

 

Ingredients:

3-4 chicken breasts

salt and pepper for seasoning

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup cornstarch

1/4-1/2 cup canola oil

Sauce:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp garlic salt

Directions:

    1)Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

    2) Cut chicken into bite size pieces, season with salt and pepper

    3) Heat oil in medium sized skillet over medium heat

    4) Place cornstarch in gallon sized ziploc bag. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat.

    5) Whisk eggs in shallow pie pan, dip chicken pieces in egg and place in hot oil.

    6) Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden but not all the way cooked through.

    7) Place cooked pieces in single layer in baking dish. Continue with all pieces.

    8) Mix all sauce ingredients together and pour half of mixture over chicken pieces.

    9) Bake for one hour, turning chicken several times during cooking to coat with sauce.

    10) While chicken is cooking, heat remaining sauce over medium heat until combined and thickened.

 Serve over rice with extra sauce as desired.

Recipe source: Mel's kitchen cafe

   

Prayer

What is the purpose of prayer?

    We have struggled with infertility for years. It is a common challenge for many people, but that doesn't make it any easier when you are faced with it yourself. Over the years, I have run the gamut of emotions ranging from disappointment, to anger, to resignation and defeat. Having children is a righteous desire, so why couldn't we, who are trying to be good people and who would give children a loving home, have children easily? 

    I also had a difficult time knowing how to pray about it. On one hand, we are taught that if we are faithful, our prayers will be answered. On the other hand, we are taught that the purpose of prayer is to bring our will in line with God's will. The two ideas seemed a little contradictory to me. I felt a little bit guilty praying for a child if it wasn't God's will for us. As I was sitting in Sunday School one day, the lesson was on prayer and the teacher referred us to the bible dictionary. What I read changed my perspective forever:

     "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

    When I was able to view prayer as a form of work, I no longer felt guilty for praying for a child. It released a huge burden and I could pray without reserve while hoping that it was a blessing God was willing to grant. This lesson has helped me in every trial since and I hope it helps you as well. God wants to bless us, but we have to do our part.