Pumpkin Brownie Bites

One 18.25-oz. box Chocolate/Devils Food cake mix
15 - oz pure pumpkin

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly -- batter will be VERY thick -- and transfer to a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray; bake at 400 in the oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. MAKES 12 SERVINGS.  We usually make these as mini muffins.

Feta Cheese Roll-ups

12 oz whipped cream cheese
4 - 6 oz plain feta cheese crumbles
1 bunch green onions, chopped (green only)
8 oz Craisins (chopped)
1 c chopped pecans/walnuts
4 burrito size flour tortillas

Mix all ingredients up to tortillas.  Divide mixture over tortillas.  Roll each one up and cover (wrap in plastic wrap).  Best if made 24 hours before you want to serve.  To serve, unwrap and slice in rounds.

Enjoy!

I've never had extra to freeze.  If anyone makes these and freezing them let us know how they are.

Easy Chocolate Croissants

I had forgotten about these until we were talking "simple desserts" at work.  I came home and made a batch, the girls loved them.

8-count tube refrigerated crescent rolls

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chopped semisweet chocolate

Heat oven to 375° F.  Unroll the dough and separate it into 8 triangles. Place about 10 chocolate chips on the bottom third of each triangle and roll the dough up around the chocolate. Transfer the croissants to a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper, if desired, for easier cleanup). Bake until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.  Can be dusted with powdered sugar ot frosted with powdered sugar frosting.

It's that time again!

Ok, we are pouring over our "notebooks".  We are looking for great suggestions for the month of September. Anyone have any great ideas or suggestions?

Thanks

More Dinner Updates

Ok, Taco Quiche gets to stay along with the Beef Ranchero Casserole.
The Bacon Bleu Cheese bugers were AWESOME!!!!!

All we have left is buttermilk chicken, pecan chicken, asian flank steak, meatloaf, brisket and lettuce wraps.

Gathering recipes for August any suggestions?

Dinner Report

Ok, tonight we had the Chicken Ranchero Casserole.  It gets a little spicy after being frozen, not a lot, just a little.  Matthew topped it with ranch dressing and loved it more.

Since I last posted a dinner update we've enjoyed the Sesame Ginger Chicken, Fajita Burgers and Taco Mac and Cheese, Cafe Rio Chicken. 

All get thumbs up to make again (Sesame Ginger Chicken is a every time thing).

Later,

Easy Paella

1 ½ lb shrimp
16 oz smoked sausage, sliced
¾ lb chicken tenders
20 oz rotel w/lime & cilantro
28 oz chicken broth
½ tsp cumin
10 oz saffron rice
9 oz frozen peas
¼ c green onion

Peel and devein shrimp; set aside. Sauté sausage and chicken tenders in a large skillet over med-high heat for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, chicken broth, and cumin. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice, and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 45 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed, stirring occasionally. Stir in shrimp and peas, and cook 4 minutes or until shrimp turns pink. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

        Crust:
2 cans of crescent sheets or rolls
        Filling:
3  8 oz pkgs cream cheese
1 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
       Topping:
1/2 c sugar
1 TBS cinnamon
1 stick butter melted
In a 9 x 13 baking dish, roll out 1 can of rolls (make sure the cuts are pushed together). Then spread on the cream cheese mixture. After that, roll out 2nd can of rolls and pour on butter. Sprinkle the cinn/sugar mixture on top and bake at 350 for 35 minutes Serve hot, room temp., or cold.
 
This makes a great breakfast dish or a great dessert  This is my most requested dessert.

This is linked to Ear at Home Ingredient Spotlight.

Cheater's Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

16 oz cream cheese
½ c sugar
1 egg
2 rolls chocolate chip cookie dough

Put cream cheese, sugar and egg in a mixer bowl. Beat until combined. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Take 1 roll of cookie dough out of the freezer. Open the package, and slice the frozen dough in about 1/2” thick slices. Put the slices on the bottom of the 9x13 pan to cover it. Use the whole package on the bottom. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cookie dough and spread evenly edge to edge. Take the second roll of cookie dough out of the freezer and slice it as you did the first. Cover the cream cheese layer with the cookie slices. Use broken pieces to fill in holes and cover the entire surface. Bake at 325 for 45 minutes. Use the jiggle test to check if it’s done. Also watch the edges to make sure they don’t get too brown. Cool completely. Can be frozen.  (easy if cookie dough is not cold)
 
**Make two 8x8 pans instead of one 9x13. Use one cookie dough roll per pan… half for the bottom and half for the top. Divide the cream cheese mixture between the pans. Bake both at the same time, still for about 45 minutes each.

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb hamburger
1 c picante sauce
1/2 c onion
3/4 tsp cumin
12 corn tortillas
1 ½ c cheddar cheese
1 can chili no beans
2 tsp taco seasoning

Brown meat w/onion, drain. Stir in ½ c of picante sauce, cumin and taco seasoning mix. Warm tortillas. Dilute chili with about 1/2 c of water. Spread ½ c diluted chili in baking dish. Spoon meat mixture down center of each tortilla, roll and place seam side down in baking dish, spoon remaining chili over enchiladas, top with cheese. Bake @ 350 for 15 to 20 minutes, until hot. Can be frozen before baking.

I think these are the original OAMC Enchiladas.  I usually make a pan of just cheese also -- to do that, just omit the beef  before rolling. Then cover with "gravy" and more cheese.

Pineapple Carrot Bread

2 c sugar
3 c flour
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 c oil
1 c crushed pineapple, undrained
1 c grated carrot
2 tsp vanilla
1 c nuts

Stir together the dry ingredients in a mixer bowl. Add the others in the order listed, mixing between each. Pour into 2 loaf pans that have been greased and floured very well. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Remove from the pans immediately.
 
Our notes: We made in mini loaf pans and got 8 mini loaves.  Perfect for breakfast!

Tuscan Chicken and Gravy

3 - 4 blsl chicken breast
1 TBS oil
2 cans Chicken Gravy
1 can Italian tomatoes
¼ tsp garlic powder
2 TBS Parmesan cheese
Pasta

Coat chicken with flour. Heat oil in skillet, add chicken and cook until browned. Remove chicken and keep warm. Add gravy, tomatoes and garlic powder to skillet. Heat to a boil. Cook over low heat 5 min. Stir in cheese. Serve over chicken. Serves 4.

I have had this for years.  If you have cooked frozen chicken it makes for a quick dinner.  Is also good to take to someone for a meal.

Monterrey Chicken Quesadillas

2 c chicken, cooked and diced
1 ½ c bbq sauce
1 lb bacon, cook and chopped
1 c onion
4 c Jack Cheese
12 flour tortillas

Combine cooked and diced chicken and bbq sauce. Set aside. Heat a little butter or olive oil and cook the sliced onion in a skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, until fully cooked. Remove onions with a slotted spoon. Place one tortilla into skillet and cook until starting to turn brown, turn over. Fill one side of the the tortilla with chicken, bacon, cheese and onion. Fold other half over mixture. Continue cooking until golden brown and cheese is melted, turning over at least once. Place on cooking rack to cool. When cool place in 4 gallon freezer bags (3 each). Freeze. To serve: Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. 4 gallon freezer bags.  * Our notes: We made them up and used the griddle to grill all at one time.

Not all are freezer recipes

Over the next several days I will share family favorites.

Some have been frozen, some haven't -- if you try them and they freeze well let us know.

Great Dinners

Ok, so we've been eating out of the freezer (isn't that the plan?) and having teenagers home makes it nice having something to "pull out".

So far collectively we had buttermilk chicken, asian steak, baked ziti w/queso sauce (this needs more pasta-after baking sauce thins out, and really only feeds 3), Pam's family really liked the Cafe Rio Chicken (next on our list), the Black Bean and Mango Salad is a hit w/all of the teenage boys (with or without chicken), Bruchetta Chicken.

More updates as we dine, until then

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

4 blsl chicken breast halves
¼ c KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing, divided (**STOP**)
1 tomato, finely chopped
½ c Mozzarella Cheese
¼ c chopped fresh basil or1 tsp. dried basil leaves

PLACE large sheet of heavy-duty foil over half of grill grate; heat grill to medium heat. Meanwhile, place chicken in Ziploc bag. Add 2 TBS dressing; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing. GRILL chicken on uncovered side of grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine remaining dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil. TURN chicken over; place, cooked-side up, on foil on grill. Top with tomato mixture. Close lid. Grill 8 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF). (Our Version -- Chicken and dressing only to make a dump recipe).

Apricot Pound Cake

2 sticks butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 c sour cream
10 oz apricot jam

In a mixer bowl, beat the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture, alternating with the sour cream. Mix just until blended after each addition. Place 1/3 of the batter in a greased and floured bundt pan. Spread the apricot jam over the top of the batter. Add another 1/3 batter over the jam, then spread the rest of the jam. Finish with the last of the batter. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the pan and cool completely. I made a simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk to drizzle over the top.  (Our version will be made into mini loaves).

Breakfast Pinwheels

from Hungry Girl


Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Dough
Meatless Breakfast Sausage

Preheat oven to 350. Roll out the entire package of dough so you have a big rectangle. Then scatter 6 oz crumbled meatless sausage on top. (Get a pre-crumbled type -- like the frozen kind by Morningstar Farms -- or thaw some patties and crumble them yourself.) Starting with one of the short sides of the dough, roll it up into a log. Cut it into eight little breakfast biscuits with a serrated knife. Plop 'em on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray, with the swirls facing up. Then just bake them in the oven for about 15 minutes.

Slow Cooker Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 TBS sesame oil
3 lb ground chicken
1 ½ TBS ginger
¾ c hoisin sauce
3 TBS soy sauce
1 ½ TBS chili sauce with garlic
8 oz water chestnuts, chopped
2 head Bibb lettuce

Heat sesame oil in a large skillet and add ground chicken. Cook until no longer pink, breaking up into chunks. Add ginger root and cook for another minute. Drain meat and transfer to a slow cooker. Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce. Stir into meat. Cover and cook on high for 2 - 3 hours or low for 3 - 4 hours. Stir in water chestnuts. Keep on warm until ready to serve. Scoop spoonfuls of chicken mixture into each lettuce leaf and serve.  Serves 12

To Die For Pot Roast

1 beef roast
1 pkg each:     Brown gravy mix, Italian salad dressing mix, Ranch dressing mix
1 c water

Place beef roast in slow cooker. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast. Pour the water around the roast. Cook on low for seven to nine hours. Side Dish Fare: You can put vegetables (carrots and potatoes) into the slow cooker and cook them with the roast. This creates an all-in-one meal! Amy’s Tips: This roast is the best roast ever! It is a challenge, in our house, to have any leftover. If you want to add to the color of the meat sear it in a pan before placing it into the slow cooker.

New Orleans Flank Steak

This is from Robin Miller's Quick Fix Cookbook


2 TBS red wine vinegar
2 tsp light brown sugar
2 tsp Creole or Cajun Seasoning
2 tsp teriyaki sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 ¼ lb flank steak

Mix marinade and pour over steak. Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze 3 months. Thaw & grill.

Taco Quiche

2 unbaked pastry shells
2 c cubed cooked chicken/ground beef (use soy crumbles)
2 pkg taco seasoning, divided
1 c salsa
2 c cheddar cheese
8 eggs
2 c half & half
2 TBS butter, melted
4 oz green chilies
½ c ripe olives

Line unpricked pastry shells w/ a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake @ 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Remove foil, bake 4 minutes longer. In a small bowl, combine chicken and one envelope taco seasoning; spoon into pastry shells. Top w/salsa and cheese. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, butter and remaining taco seasoning. Stir in chilies and olives. Pour over cheese. Cover and freeze one quiche for up to 3 months. Cover edges of remaining quiche loosely w/ foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. To use frozen quiche: Remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (DO NOT THAW). Cover edges of crust loosely w/ foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake @ 400 degrees for 70-75 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Taco Mac and Cheese

12 oz whole wheat spiral pasta
1 lb hamburger
2 small onions, chopped
1 TBS flour
1 TBS butter
2 c milk
2 c Mexican-blend shredded cheese
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can Rotel

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, brown hamburger with onion. When browned, remove from skillet with slotted spoon, leaving the drippings. Set aside meat/onion. Add butter and flour to skillet; whisk together. Let bubble 1 minute. Whisk in milk. Stir constantly for 8-10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese. Add hamburger mix, taco seasoning, and drained Rotel to the sauce. Toss with pasta and serve immediately.

Bacon & Bleu Burgers

Servings: 16


4 lb ground beef
2 2/3 c bacon crumbles
1 1/3 c bleu cheese crumbles

Cook bacon at 400 in the oven on a cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes, or until crisp. Remove, allow to cool and chop in food processor. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients until well incorporated. Make a large ball of the meat and then divide into fourths. Make 4 quarter pound hamburger balls and then mold into patties. Using sheets of wax paper to divide them, place them in freezer bags and freeze. To serve: Thaw. Cook on hot grill for 3 minutes on each side or until hamburgers are cooked to desired doneness. Serve on buns with additional toppings if desired. Containers Needed: wax paper & quart freezer bags
(Our change -- use bacon bits from Sam's. Our regular Bacon Burgers have cheddar cheese added to them)

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Servings: 16 (MAKE ½ RECIPE)


5 C blsl chicken breast, cooked & diced
2 c celery, diced
2 c bleu cheese crumbles
1 ½ c ranch dressing
3TBS buffalo wing sauce
16 flour tortillas, large

In a small bowl, mix together ranch dressing and buffalo wing sauce. In a large bowl, mix together chicken, bleu cheese crumbles and celery. Add ranch mixture to the chicken mixture and stir. Add 1/2 C of the mixture to each tortilla and fold tortilla like a burrito. Wrap in plastic wrap. {**If you are concerned about soggy tortillas (they shouldn't be but there is a chance) you can simply put the 1/2 C mixture in sandwich bags and put those inside a gallon freezer bag to freeze. Then assemble the tortillas when you are ready. You can add fresh veggies to them this way also.} Place in gallon freezer bag and freeze. To serve: Thaw. Cut in half. Containers Needed: plastic wrap & 2 gallon freezer bag

Black Bean & Mango Chicken Salad

Servings: 16 (MAKE ½ RECIPE)

3 c blsl chicken breast, cooked & diced
60 oz black beans, rinsed
40 oz frozen corn
4 c mangoes, diced
2 c red peppers, diced
1 1/3 c red onions, diced
1 1/3 c cilantro, diced
1 c lime juice
4 envelopes GOOD SEASONS Italian Dressing Mix

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Divide into 4 quart size freezer bags and freeze. To serve: Thaw. Serve with tortilla chips or in a tortilla wrap. Containers Needed: 4 quart freezer bags (Our version will be portioned out into lunch sized portions and then frozen).

Baked Ziti with Chicken in Queso Sauce

2 c Chicken (cooked) 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can mild ROTEL
2 inches Velveeta "cheese"
2 c Shredded Cheese
1 box Ziti Noodles (cooked as directed on box)

Cook chicken and shred. Cook Ziti as directed on the box and drain. Melt the Velveeta cheese in the microwave. Mix cans of soup, ROTEL, and melted Velveeta cheese together. Stir all ingredients together and pour into 9x13 dish. Bake at 350 for 45 min or until bubbling. After serving portions onto the plate, top with a sprinkling of shredded cheese. ENJOY!! Freezing Instructions Mix shredded chicken, cooked Ziti, soup, ROTEL, and melted Velveeta and place wet ingredients into a freezer safe container. Place into freezer. On baking day, thaw completely and place in oven safe dish. Bake as directed and serve.

Beer & Brown Sugar Steaks

2 small steaks
¼ c beer
2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
2 TBS brown sugar
½ TBS seasoned salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder

Heat grill to high. Slightly oil grill. Using a fork, poke holes on the surface of the stake and place is a dish to marinade. Mix beer, worcestershire sauce, & brown sugar, then pour over steaks. Marinade 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside in marinade for 10 minutes. Turn steaks over, and sprinkle other side, then let sit for 10 more minutes. Remove steaks from marinade and place on grill. While the steaks cook for approximately 7-10 minutes per side, boil marinade on the stove. During the last few minutes, baste with marinade.  http://ingoodcents.com/

Ranchero Casserole

2 boxes Zatarain’s Spanish Rice
2 cans Rotel (mild) cooked w/rice
3 c cooked shredded chicken/ground beef
¾ - 1 c sour cream
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c frozen corn, thawed
1 c Mexican cheese (plus extra for topping)

Heat oven to 375. Cook rice as directed; minus 5 minutes with rotel (sub rotel for diced tomatoes as directed on box). Spray 9x13 baking dish. In large bowl combine cooked rice, meat, sour cream, beans, corn and cheese; mix well. Spread in dish, bake covered for 20 – 25 minutes or until heated. Uncover, top with cheese, bake until melted, 5 – 10 minutes.  Can be put in 8 x 8's or freezer bags and frozen.

Cafe Rio Chicken

2 lg chicken breasts
½ bottle Italian Dressing
½ TBS cumin
½ TBS chili powder
2 cloves garlic

Place in crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken and return to pot for the last hour.

What we will be cooking in May

Ok, so we alway think we are OVER doing when we plan -- sometimes we are right!!
I find most of our recipes from other blogs (I've been bad on not noting where recipes are from -- I'll be better).  Most of this month is new.  There will alway be a few things we do every session as they are family favorites.

Beef
Meatloaf
Asian Flank Steak
Sweetheart Flank Steak
To Die for Pot Roast
Brisket
Fajita Burgers
Bacon  & Bleu Burgers*
Ranchero Casserole (w/soy crumbles)
Taco Mac  and Cheese (w/soy crumbles)*
Taco Quiche (w/soy crumbles)*
Beer and Brown Sugar Steak*
New Orleans Flank Steak*
Flank Steak Pinwheels*
Bake Ziti w/Queso Sauce*

Chicken
Buttermilk Chicken
Sesame Chicken
Ranchero Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Wrap* (1/2 recipe)
Black Bean and  Mango Salad* (1/2 recipe)
Chilie Lime Chicken*
Lettuce Wraps*
Bruchetta Chicken*
Cafe Rio Chicken*
Pecan Chicken*
Oven Baked Chicken Fingers*

Side Dishes

Twice Baked Potatoes

Desserts

Hummingbird Cake*
Lemonade Pie*
Apricot Pound Cake*

Breakfast

Crecent Pinwheels