Tortilla Soup

Ok Brit this is for you.... but just so you know it is out the order I make up in my mind and it is really throwing me off. haha ok anyway. This is one of my favorite recipes. It is super simple and EVERYONE loves it, I get a lot of requests and compliments. I always make it in the hopes it will last a day or two, but everyone always eats it right up that night. Here you go.
Ingredients

2-3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 (4oz) cans chopped mild green chilies (drained)
3 cloves minced garlic
1 lrg yellow onion diced
2 (15oz) cans petite diced tomatoes including juice
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
2-3 limes
1 Can black beans rinsed and drained
1 can or freezer bag of corn
4-6 corn tortillas (corn or flour) cut into 1/4 inch strips
garnish: avocados, Monterey cheese, fresh cilantro.

Place chicken in crock pot. In a medium bowl mix chilies, garlic, onion, tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin, and juice of one lime. Pour over chicken. Cook on high 4 hours, or low 6 hours. (or in my case while you go to church) When meat is fully cooked shred chicken, add extra broth if needed. Add black beans and corn. Continue to cook 10-15 minutes until corn and beans are warm.
Next you can add all your tortihttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3390096373622891134lla strips to the soup BUT I prefer to add them to each individual bowl because they will get soggy and yucky if you have left overs. Then garnish each bowl, or allow those eating it to have a buffet of sliced avocado, cheese, fresh cilantro and extra limes.

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Original Recipe: Betty Crocker Slow Cooker

Easy Bubbas

So Makray has had this favorite blanket since he was about 5 months old. We call it his bubba and he has loved it to shreds, he was desperately in need of a new one and so we went to the fabric store. This is kind of a lame post, but it is such a fun and easy project. It is the super soft "cuddle fabric." They were having a sale on it at Sierras. Mak picked out the fabric and he loves it. Emmett loved it so much as well that the next day I made him one as well. We have dragged them everywhere and i have found that every other kid we see snatches them up as well.

What you need
2 pieces- 1 1/2 yards of CUDDLE FABRIC (a piece for the front and one for the back)
matching thread
sewing machine

All I did was lay out the fabric on top of each other, and folded the bottom side over the top, to make about a 2 inch hem. It is so fluffly there is no need to even fold it under to make a clean hem, just over the top and slow VERY close to the edge of your hem. Then wash to remove all the extra fluffiness.
You can hardly see my seems, there is no folding or measuring required EASY!!!

Tips:
1.The double sided material (that is fluffy on both sides) worked the best, because the fabric is so thick and you sew so tight you don't even see where you have sewn and it makes it have a really clean (not homemade) look.
2. If you lose control in a few spots (as we all do) and you sew to far in or not straight and your hem has scraggly edges, take some sewing scissors and just trim it as close as you can to your seems. It will clean it right up!!!

Pumpkin Rolls

This is one of my all time FAVORITE recipes. It is a little bit complicated but, I have found i can whip two rolls out in about 40 minutes, so it's not as bad as you would expect. It is so unbelievably good that it is worth it anyway. This is an aweful picture, it doesn't do it justice.


Ingredients

Cake:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
2/3 cup mashed (canned) pumpkin

Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15 X 10-inch jelly roll pan. Cut wax paper to fit the bottom of the pan and leaving about an inch overhang on each of the short ends of the pan. Lightly grease the wax paper and sides of the jelly roll pan.

Mix the sugar, flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, eggs and pumpkin in a large bowl. Pour mixture over the waxed paper and smooth it evenly. Bake for 14-15 minutes until edges pull away from the sides of the pan.

Lay a large dishtowel (try to use a towel with as little texture as possible) on the counter top. Spread a thick layer of powdered sugar over the towel. When the cake comes out of the oven, turn the pan upside down on the towel so the wax paper is on the top. Gently peel off the wax paper, being careful not to tear the roll. Starting at one of the short ends, roll the pumpkin cake up with the towel to cool. While the roll is cooling (about 20 minutes), mix the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together until it is light and creamy. Once the roll is cool, unroll and with an offset spatula, carefully spread filling in an even layer over the cake. Roll it up without the towel and place in the refrigerator (covered with plastic wrap) for about an hour before serving

Tips:
For whatever reason... it has been impossible for me to find pumpkin. So once you get a can save it! You can make about four rolls with just one can, so put it in the freezer. I know, I know this is my theory on everything. BUT REALLY i was shocked at how well the pumpkin thawed!!!

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Original Recipe: Michelle Kennedy

Easy BBQ Chicken

I like to do this dish when I need something in a hurry. It is a five minute meal with only 30 minutes to bake. It is pretty tasty.


Ingredients
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
16 oz bottle BBQ Sauce
1/4 Cup Honey
1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar cheese.

Mix up BBQ Sauce, honey, and mustard. Pour about half into glass baking dish. Lay in raw chicken and cover with remaining sauce. Cook on 350 for about 30 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with cheese, allow to cook 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

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Chicken Salad Sandwich

This is one of my favorite summer recipes. It is fun and easy, and perfect for a light lunch. The croissants make it absolutely delicious but it works fine on regular bread too. Enjoy!!
Ingredients
2-3 cups cooked chicken
1/2 cup celery
1 cup grapes cut in half
1 can pineapple tidbits
1/4 cup sunflower seeds or almonds
1/2 cup green onions
1/2 cup craisons
1 cup mayo or miracle whip (i like to use 1/2 cup each)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tbs. minced garlic
8 butter croissants

Mix all together, and serve on croissants.

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Original Recipe: Michelle Kennedy

Cheddar Potato and Ham Chowder

This is a total cheater recipe... in fact it can't really be called a recipe, but it is delicious, appears like it was a lot of work and only took about 15 minutes!!!
Ingredients
1 pack Bear Creek Cheddar Potato Dry Mix Soup
1 pack diced ham
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbs dry Parsley
1 Tbs Garlic Salt
Salt and Pepper to taste
Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare Dry Soup according to package. Add all other ingredients and allow to simmer 10-15 minutes, serve!

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Cheddar Biscuits

My husband and I love Red Lobsters biscuits, and I have searched and tested many recipes in an attempt to find something similar. I have FINALLY found it. This recipe is crazy easy and tastes the very same. Enjoy!!!

2 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs shortening
3 Tbs butter, cold
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, garlic powder and salt. Cut in shortening and butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Lightly mix in grated cheese. Mix in buttermilk just until moist. Try not to mix to much, it will make your biscuits less fluffy and more tough. Drop the biscuits onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until browned and golden. While the biscuits are baking, in a small bowl combine three tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Right when the biscuits come out of the oven, brush the butter/herb mixture over the biscuits. Serve immediately.

Tips: Not everyone has buttermilk on hand, so you can substitute regular milk with a splash of lemon juice in it. Let milk and lemon juice sit 1-2 minutes, then pour in just like it was butter milk

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original recipe: Mel's Cafe

Zoo Block Quilt

This is my first attempt at quilting. I had planned to have done for when Emmett was born. Well six months after it is finished. Don't worry it wasn't that much work..... I about had it finished before he was born, and then i just quit. So this week I pulled it out and finished it. This was a really fun project, and was not to difficult for a first attempt.
It ended up being slightly bigger than Crib Size
The pattern has cut out of animals, that you end up ironing on, then you can lots of embroidering extras, like buttons and yarn. It was tedious but lots of fun.
I made a few changes to the original pattern, like adding the triangle edging. This is really easy to do. You simply cut out a TON of small squares, fold in half to form a triangle, then half again to form a smaller triangle, then press it. Sew all your triangles in on long line, and then add as edging.

This was a fun quilt the original pattern is posted in the link just below!!!

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Chili Pork

I was really hesitant to make this recipe... pork scares me. I dont know why. Any how it turned out really good. The original recipe requires you to cook it in the oven at 200 degrees for 2 hours, instead i cooked mine in the Crock Pot for 4 hours on low. Either way works well I imagine.

Ingredients
2 Tbs chili Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp cumin
2 Tbs cilantro chopped
Black Pepper to taste
2 lbs pork tenderloin, cubed

Combine all ingredients and marinade over night, or at least a few hours. Place in slow cooker, cook on low 3-4 hours. Serve immediately.

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Tips:
I served this with my guacamole and cilantro lime rice.... and it was SOO good check out the links!!!

Original Recipe: Sara Burgess

Easy Guacamole

This is a simple recipe, made even better by a few tips and tricks I learned this week. It is delicious on EVERYTHING.
Ingredients

2 avocados
1 small onion finely chopped
1 tomato chopped
Juice of 1 lime
2-3 Tbs Cilantro Chopped
dash of Olive Oil
1 tsp white vinegar
1-2 Tbs sour cream (depending how creamy you want it)

Peel avocados and remove pit, smash it up. Add lime juice next to prevent avocados from browning. Add other ingredients and mix.

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Original Recipe: All Recipes