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!

Print this Recipe

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

Print this Recipe

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!!!

Print this Pattern

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.

Print This Recipe

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.

Print This Recipe

Original Recipe: All Recipes

BBQ Pasta

This is a really different dish. It is not one of my favorite, but it was fun to make. If you love BBQ sauce you will likely love, and my two year old went NUTS over it. It is fast to make, from start to finish was about 25 minutes.Ingredients

1 Tbs olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
1 red onion, diced
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
salt to tase
12 ounces penne pasta
2/3 cup BBQ sauce
1/3 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese

In a LARGE skillet (or pot if you don't have a really big skillet.) heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and onions and saute until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and onions to a plate and set aside.

In the same skillet, add the water, chicken broth, penne and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the moisture absorbed. Stir in the barbecue sauce and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the reserved chicken, onions and shredded cheese. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through. Garnish with additional tomato, green onions and shredded cheese.

Print This Recipe

Original Recipe: Kitchen Cafe

Cilantro Lime Rice

This is one of the world's easiest recipes and its one of my favorites. This goes along with a lot of dishes and is a breeze to make.Ingredients
3 cups cooked rice (I totally skimp out and use minute rice)
2-3 Tbs cilantro finely chopped
Zest and juice of 2

Combine and Serve

Tip:
ok so my husband gives me crap that a normal person will think the lime is to strong, I like a lot of lime so for me its perfect, but if you are a normal person..... start with one lime and test it.

Print This Recipe

Black Bean Enchiladas

We tried these for Sunday Dinner. It was a nice change up from my chicken enchiladas and all three boys enjoyed them. In fact i think they are already all gone!!!

Ingredients
1 Tbs Oil
1 Lrg Onion
1 (7oz) can green chilies
1 Tbs minced Garlic
1 (20 oz) can Black beans Drained and Rinsed
12- 6 inch corn or flour tortillas
5 cups shredded Monterrey or cheddar cheese
1 (16 oz) Can enchilada sauce (I prefer green, but any works well)
Your favorite chunky salsa (but click on this link and use my homemade salsa because it is THE BEST!!!!)

In a large skillet saute onion, chilies, and garlic in oil until onion is translucent. Remove from heat and add black beans. Pour half the can of enchilada sauce in a 13X9 inch baking pan. Spoon bean mixture into toritillas, sprinkle with 2-3 Tbs. of cheese, roll and place seam down in baking pan. Pour Enchilada Sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 Min. top with salsa.

Tip
OK this is an IMPORTANT one. If you go with the corn toritillas you are going to want to cook them in hot oil for a couple seconds on each side. If you don't they are going to break in half and crumble when you roll them, also they will be hard and chewy after you bake them. If you use flour it dont worry about this little memo.

Print this Recipe

Sour Cream Banana Bread

We have been on a real banana bread kick as of late, and this is so the best recipe that exists. We made two loaves and they were both gone within hours. Yes my diet is going well hahaha!!!

Ingredients
1 cube butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas
1 cup sour cream
2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt


mix all together. put in 2 bread pans (spray with pam). 350 for appx 40 minutes, you want golden brown tops.

Tips:
David loves chocolate chips in his banana bread, I dont. But if you are a chocolate fan, heres what ya do. After the last step of pouring banana bread into to loaf pans, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and spoon them around. Don't push them down to far, and dont completely mix with dough they will sink to the bottom and burn!!!

Print this Recipe

Original Recipe: Melissa Stout

Italian Chicken and Fruit Salad

My friend introduced me to this delicious salad that is not really a recipe, but just a plain brilliant idea. I love it, and that is saying a lot for a person who NEVER eats salad. Thanks Brittany!

Ingredients

Chicken
2-3 Chicken Breasts
Non-fat Italian Dressing

Marinate raw chicken in Italian dressing for at least a couple hours. Cut into bite sized pieces, grill in skillet.

Salad
1 package or your Fave leafy greens
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 pear peeled and sliced
1/2 cup grapes cut in half
1/4 chopped almonds
1/4 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/4 cup raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Toss salad and chicken! Enjoy!!

Print this Recipe

Original Recipe: Brittany Jones