Honey Mustard Chicken

I got this recipe from church because they served it at a dinner activity just over a year ago and everyone raved about it (I wasn't at the activity). I picked up the recipe and finally gave it a try a few months ago and the family LOVED it! It's definitely a favorite in my house!

Menu Monday: 2/22/10

I did some MAJOR grocery shopping this week and am excited for the menu! If there are any recipes you want, just ask!

Monday: Chicken Rice Broccoli Casserole/Rolls

Tuesday: I will probably be out of town so the fam will probably have frozen pizza or leftovers

Wednesday: Steaks/Funeral Potatoes/Parmesan Asparagus

Thursday: Orange Chicken/Ham Fried Rice - I use Lindsay's recipe for the Fried Rice except I do ham instead of chicken...

Friday: Ribs/Potato Salad/Corn

Saturday: Homemade Pizza with Alfredo Sauce for mine!

Sunday: Tif's Chicken on Egg Noodles/Green Salad/Fruit Salad

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

This is a easy, tasty dish that my mom used to make us and now I make for my family...

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs - Betty Crocker

Meatballs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 T cornstarch
1 can pineapple chunks
1/3 cup vinegar
1 T soy sauce

Cook meatballs in skillet; remove. Drain fat from skillet.
Mix brown sugar & cornstarch in skillet. Stir in pineapple (with syrup), vinegar & soy sauce.
Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat. Add meatballs.
Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice.

Pizza Sandwiches for Lunch?

The other day I made pizza sandwiches for lunch after Jaiden asked for them and thought I'd share them here...

My siblings and I grew up eating these (they were something even we could make!) for lunches or an after-school snack... When I called my parents to find out the history of them, I was told I was doing them all wrong... lol

My Grandma used to make them for my step-dad and he says that they might even go back further than that...

So I guess I'll give you the "original" recipe and just share with you what changes I make in the directions...

Ingredients:
- slice of bread
- slice of the Kraft sliced cheese
- tomato slice
- oregano or Italian Seasoning
- grated Parmesean Cheese

Directions:
1. Place a slice of cheese on the bread. - Dad says the bread needs to not be too big - otherwise you'll need to break another slice of cheese to cover all the bread. He also says that it MUST be Kraft sliced cheese - Me? I use regular cheddar cheese because I'm too cheap to buy KRAFT sliced cheese! lol

2. Place a thin slice of tomato on the cheese. - Me? I LOVE tomato so I usually put on 1 1/2 - 2 slices!

3. Sprinkle on oregano (or Italian Seasoning) and some grated Parmasean Cheese. - Me? When he told me this I remember the parmasean cheese growing up but had been forgetting to put it on! ugh! So it will now be added to my pizza sandwiches from this time forth! But I also remember putting on garlic salt... so I've always put garlic salt on mine...

4. Place on a pan in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (until the cheese melts and the bottom starts getting toasted). Then broil for about 2 minutes (watch it because it will burn fast) to toast the top. Dad says it's done when the cheese starts turning brown. - Me? This is another reason I don't use the Kraft Singles - they will brown... I like my cheese melted but not browned... My dad? He likes his cheese brown... lol

Works for Me Wednesday: Chocolate Covered Raspberries

My FAVORITE candy from the store is Chocolate-covered Raspberries! Delish!

But I have something even better! This is one of the finest things in life as far as I'm concerned...

Chocolate Covered Raspberries!

Hard and chocolate on the outside...
Sweet and juicy on the inside!

You want to make some?

First you will need to wash and dry your raspberries...

Then space them out on a pan so none of them are touching and throw into the freezer for 30 - 60 minutes.


Next, you'll melt your chocolate - I actually have a "Chocolate Warmer" because I LOVE to dip things in chocolate.


Once your raspberries are nice, cold, and firm you just need to cover them with chocolate and set them on foil or wax paper to set up...


Once the chocolate is set up you can throw them together in a bag or dish. You'll want to let the raspberries thaw so they are nice and juicy when you bite into it.



Seriously - such incredible yumminess for such an easy treat!

If you are going to keep them around for a few days, I would definitely store them in the fridge. (I've never kept them around that long - they are usually gone in the next few minutes because I JUST can't RESIST!)

Chocolate Covered Raspberries - it DEFINITELY works for me!!!

Menu-Planning Monday

Monday: BBQ French Dip Sandwiches/Baked Potatoes/Jello

Tuesday: Honey Mustard Chicken/Rice-a-Roni/Mixed Veggies

Wednesday: Manicotti/Salad/Bread

Thursday: Shepherd's Pie/Rolls

Friday: Take-n-Bake Pumpkin Pizza

Saturday: Taco Soup

Sunday: Leftovers

Treats: Banana Bread (see recipe), Zucchini Crisp (tastes JUST like Apple Crisp!)

Banana Bread
Grease and flour bread pans.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1/2 cup nuts

Bake for 40 minutes.

Crab Boil!

My parents are to Washington State this week so we went for a fun little visit this weekend. And on Friday night they spoiled us with a Crab Boil! Such yummy deliciousness!!!

Well, all these years I had never paid attention to how they cook it, so I figured I'd figure it out this time - and guess what!?! I'll even share the goodness with you!

Start by cutting up the red potatoes into nice chunks... we used about a potato per person...


and throw in the pot...


Then sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning...


Next throw in the corn-on-the-cob... (we used frozen cobs that were about the size of a third of a normal big ear of corn - and you could probably figure one or two per person)... You should put the corn on it's end the best you can for the first layer and then just throw the other ones on top (gotta pack it in so all this goodness fits!)


Then sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning...

Next you add the onions which you just cut into quarters...


Then sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning...

Then you add the sausage which is also cut into nice chunks...



And sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning...

Next is the Crab Legs! You'll need to lay them all in there and try to get them to fit. (My awesome mom bought too many and we had to cook some on the stove.)


Remember to sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning...

And finally the Shrimp!


And sprinkle LIBERALLY with Cavender's Seasoning once again, but make sure you kind of mix it in so it is sprinkled THROUGHOUT the shrimp layer...

Then you add some Worcestershire Sauce (we used 1/3 - 1/2 of the bottle) to the top.


Add about 1.5 cups of water to the bottom (we just poured it down the side)...


Cover and cook on high until the shrimp on top is pink and done! (DON'T over cook!)

Meanwhile spread out newspaper on the table or a plastic tablecloth if all the newspaper has been used for packing boxes...

When shrimp is done, lift basket out of pot to drain and dump on the table!


And DIG IN!

Personally, I like it with melted butter, but you can serve it with tarter sauce and cocktail sauce...

Once you are done eating just wrap it all up in the newspaper and toss!

We LOVE pizza in our house. We seriously could eat it twice a week for the rest of our lives and be completely happy... In fact, Bryan always says that if he ever gets so rich that he never has to work, he'll go get himself a job at a pizza place! (In college he was the "dough boy" - person who makes the pizza dough - each night for Pier 49 Pizza and it seriously was his favorite job ever!)

SO we've been trying to make a good "homemade" pizza for years now but have never had much success at making it taste DELICIOUS until now. We've had it taste GOOD and maybe sometimes even REALLY GOOD, but never AWESOME or JUST LIKE DELIVERY! The crust was never anything special... But after we pulled it from the oven Friday night and took our first bite, we knew we had finally nailed it.



I found the recipe online here. I made the dough in my breadmachine, then rolled it out on the pan and threw some Ragu pizza sauce on it... Then we all made our own half of a pizza using Mozzerella Cheese, Pepperoni, Canadian Bacon, Mushrooms, Olives, and/or Pineapple. DELISH!

Pizza Hut Style Pizza Dough
1 1/3 cups water
2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp cornmeal
3 1/4 cups flower
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine and run dough setting. After machine beeps, roll out the dough.
Prebake the crust with a drizzle of olive oil on it at 450 degrees for ten minutes (I actually did it for 5 minutes). Remove crust and add sauce and toppings. Place into oven for another ten to fifteen minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Notebook Entry 3/20

Definitely want to make this cute crayon roll!

Fun bubble magnets I want to make! I've even bought the bubbles already!

I LOVE this privilage chart and actually started to make one before my design software died! I think this could be a huge help in my family!

I have talked to my friend, Alisha, a lot about making my own baby food when the time comes. Here's a post that explains how she does it...

I LOVE this pattern for throw pillows. Must make me some!

One day I would love to try to make this mudroom storage bench...

I have always hated writing but have tried to be better at it... maybe these journaling prompts would help...

I really need to organize my filing cabinet at always wonder how long you should keep your records...

How cute are these tote bags for the kids? I have been wanting to get them their own bags to take with them to church...

How cute are these pretzel shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day?

This Princess Birthday Hat is so cute! How fun to make these for the girls!

My crafty mommy friend is awesome with her kids and made Leprechaun beards and ears this year for St. Patricks Day! How fun!

Don't know if I'll ever have a fancy dinner party... but this would teach me how to fold the napkins!

Recipes Anyone?

I have a TON of recipes to post so get ready! lol

I have GOT to try this Fruit Pizza! YUM!
And here's another version of Fruit Pizza!

Some Chicken Tortilla Soup, Anyone?

Crockpot Meatloaf? Sounds like I need to try this out! I love my crockpot!

I need to try these rolls...

I LOVE cooked carrots but my kids don't... maybe these would help change their minds!

I NEVER cook pork chops but maybe I should try these Honey-Mustard style!

My family is a fan of the cornish hens - I should try them this way...

I love me some Baked Teriyaki Chicken!
Or this sounds Swiss-n-ham chicken sounds so good and I can use the crockpot!
And this recipe for the Swiss Chicken Bake sounds similar!
Or maybe this Hawaiian Chicken Bake?
Or maybe my college roommate, Danyale's recipe for Lemon Chicken?
Or Pioneer Woman's Parmesan Crusted Chicken?

I've GOT to try this Best, Easiest Hot Fudge Cake EVER!

Can I just say I LOVE Firehouse Pizza and their Roasted Chicken Pasta? Must try this at home!

And maybe some cheese bread to go with it?

Looks like I had better get into the kitchen!!! LOL

A smorgasbord of fun ideas!

• Marshmallow Lollipops! Awesome for all sorts of holidays! http://www.graceviolet.com/2009/02/how-to-make-marshmallow-lollipops.html We tried this one for St. Patrick's Day and it was a big hit! We will definitely be doing it again!
• St. Patty's Craft! http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/featured_on/story/Lucky-Leprechaun-Hats/S6iSvor0n0m7P1CK8Cjaew.cspx
• What a fun Birthday Cake! http://pshelovesyou.blogspot.com/2009/02/birthday-party-highlights.html
• Some awesome valentine ideas (gum & chocolate) that you really could adapt to any holiday! http://ppbits.blogspot.com/2009/02/procrastination.html
• How much fun would this be for a Girl's Night Out? http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/2009/02/ugly-dress-party.html
• Andre's been losing his teeth left and right! I really should make him one of these! http://missyballance.typepad.com/crafty_carnival/2007/01/easy_tooth_fair.html
• These would look cute on clips for the hair! http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-butterfly-brooches.html
• I have a TON of scrap paper that would work great for this project!!! http://scrapmatters.com/wordpress/2009/03/12/new-monthly-hybrid-challenge-project-renewit/
• Anyone for some Green Eggs & Ham cupcakes? http://shabbymissjenn.typepad.com/shabby_miss_jenn/2009/03/too-many-things-to-blog-about.html

Notebook Entry for Friday the 13th

Wow! I haven't posted over here for awhile and my favorites tabs are overflowing so I figure I'll try posting a few ideas here every day or two until I get caught up!

Crafts:

• Here's another fantastic tutu tutorial! I may try this SOON! http://vermillionrules.blogspot.com/2008/12/extremely-detailed-tutu-tutorial.html
• A fabulous cover for a crate! Another project I plan on trying very, very SOON! http://lauragunn.typepad.com/paintinmyhair/2008/09/post-1.html
• This SO makes me want to go to DI and find some furniture to paint! http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/shelving-storage/before-and-after-revamped-storage-078400
• How freakin' cute would these be with a matching table runner? And how easy!!! http://blairpeter.typepad.com/weblog/2009/03/the-daily-placemats.html
• I think this looks like a great project! Don't think I'd ever use them... but it could be a fun project! lol http://craftstylish.com/item/42331/how-to-make-a-woven-button-coaster
• This diaper case might come in handy shortly! http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/dipecase.html
• Okay... how fun are these homemade Christmas ornaments? http://handpickeddaisy.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-ornament.html

Family:

• I have always LOVED the idea of shades to make it DARK in the bedrooms! http://justusgibsons.blogspot.com/2009/03/whether-springing-forward-or-falling.html

Kids:

• My friend had a little fun with her kids and some pudding! http://scottandcrystal.blogspot.com/2009/02/chocolate-pudding.html We tried it and the kids LOVED it! Thanks Crystal!

Recipes:

• I wouldn't make the crosses but I'm definitely thinking about making maybe my own chocolate bunnies... it actually might be a fun project with the kiddos! http://www.centsablemomma.com/2009/03/easter-make-your-own-chocolate-cross.html
• I wonder if these cupcakes are any good... http://allthatnaz.blogspot.com/2009/03/wfmw-doctoring-box-cake-mixes.html
• When I first got my bread machine many, many, MANY years ago I tried making pretzels (I'm a HUGE fan of PretzelMaker! yum!) but they did NOT work out. Nasty! Maybe I'll have to try again... http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/making-the-best-ever-soft-pretzels/

Notebook Entry 1/22

Lots of Fantastic Stuff out there so my list may be a long one today! LOL

Fun stuff for the kids:

• Inside Snow Day! My kids would LOVE this! http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com/2009/01/snow-inside-adventure.html
• Family Interviews - http://smallnotebook.org/2009/01/21/family-interviews-for-fun/
• Candy Cane Hearts! So CUTE! http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/01/21/candy-cane-hearts/
• Fruity Playdough - http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2009/01/play-it-again-momma-fruity-play-dough.htm

Recipes:

• YUMMY potatos by Pioneer Woman! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/fluffy-new-potatoes/
• Ranch Style Chicken - looks so yummy!!! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/ranch-style-chicken/
• Stir-fry - Looks good!!! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/12/monday-night-stir-fry/
• Peanut Butter Energy Bars - I REALLY need to try this because we have a bunch of old cereal in the pantry! http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/farmchicks/2008/11/peanut-butter-energy-bars.html

Finances:

• Great advice on why to drive an older car... http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/01/21/why-i-drive-a-13-year-old-car/
• Free Debt Snowball Worksheet http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/26/free-debt-snowball-spreadsheet/

Things for me:

• 5 Tips for taking pics of the kids. I NEED this! http://www.makeandtakes.com/5-easy-steps-to-taking-great-pictures-of-kids
• 12 Days of Birthday... How fun to do for a friend! http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/2009/01/fun-weekend.html
• Tips for starting a garden http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/01/11/7-tips-for-starting-your-own-vegetable-garden/
• Filing! something I need to work on!!! http://orgjunkie.com/2009/01/my-filing-system.html

Just for fun!

• HILAROUS You-tube video http://xboxwife.blogspot.com/2008/04/commercial-revisited.html

Basic Bread Recipes for Bread Machine

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rons-Bread-Machine-White/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Bread-I/Detail.aspx - Did not work out for me! lol Hard as a rock! Into the garbage it went!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Bread-II/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Basic-White-Bread/Reviews.aspx

This should get me started... LOL

Some recipes to try...

Homemade Pizza Crust... http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/12/homemade-pizza-crust.html

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole (kids might LOVE this?) http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/05/tuna-noodle-casserole.html

Brushetta 'n' Cheese-stuffed Chicken Breasts (look SO good and pretty easy!) http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/12/bruschetta-n-cheese-stuffed-chicken.html

Golden Honey Pan Rolls http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Golden-Honey-Pan-Rolls

Pizza Hut Breadsticks http://www.recipezaar.com/Bread-Sticks-Pizza-Hut-Style-137629

Pizza Hut Dough http://frugalupstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/pizza-hut-crust-clone-recipe.html - I tried this out and it was DELICIOUS!

More Christmas Ideas...

• Have you ever had the MONSTER APPLE at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory? It's delish! Which makes me think... these might be pretty dang good! http://deannasstuff.blogspot.com/2008/12/teachers-gifts-and-some-class-goodie.html
• I've been wanting to make a magnetic calendar using these but what a great idea for a teacher gift! http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets/
• A cute homemade ballerina tutu! http://www.designmom.com/2008/12/homemade-sibling-gifts-2008.html
• Need to tie a bow for your package? She shows us how! http://smallnotebook.org/2008/12/17/tie-a-trouble-free-gift-bow/