Mexican Casserole

I made this for dinner tonight and I was a little scared at first but I loved it. I wanted to eat more but I was stuffed after one serving. I got the recipe off Allrecipes.com and then modified it a bit because that's how I roll.

Ingredients
oil for frying
3/4 pound cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast meat
1/2 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained (I used pinto beans and didn't drain them)
1 (8.75 ounce) can sweet corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa (My new favorite is Targets fresh Mild Salsa)
water as needed (if you don't drain the beans you don't need to add water)
1 cup shredded Mexican-style cheese
1 1/2 cups crushed plain tortilla chips (I cut up flour tortillas and added a layer to the center aswell as the top)

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute chicken in oil until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Add taco seasoning, beans, corn, salsa and a little water to prevent drying out. Cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Transfer chicken mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup of the cheese and crushed tortilla chips.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I threw a little cheese in the middle for good measure but waited till the tortillas where crisp before I put some on top then cooked for about 5 mins more.

I know this is about the most non-thanksgiving recipe I could post the day before Thanksgiving but it's what I had for dinner and I liked it so much I had to post it. Thanks Cate for all your fun holiday recipes.

Thanksgiving

If you're like me you are going through all your recipe boxes looking for all the holiday favorites (Like the Trader Joe's Stuffing that was such a big hit last year that I can't seem to find this year...) So I thought I would help out and try to put some favorites here so they're easier to find... Most of these are from Debbie and Sharon. There is also one from Grandma Hatton that Mom always made (before discovering the Easy Rolls (I'm going a step further this year and just doing frozen rolls...) There's also one from Chad's grandma (any surprise it's the Jell-0 Salad - that's about the extent of her cooking :)
Sorry, no pictures yet... I'll try to take some as I go.

Cinnamon Rolls

2 Pkg yeast 14 cups flour

2 cups water 3/4 cup melted butter

2 Tbs sugar 1 cup sugar

1 cup evaporated milk 6 eggs

1 cup boiling water 1 tsp salt

• Put 2 cups water and 2 Tbs sugar in bowl.
• Combine boiling water and evaporated milk and add to mixture.
• Add 3 cups flour with yeast sprinkled on top. Beat well.
• Melt butter and add 1 cup sugar. Add this to mixture.
• Add eggs, salt and remaining flour. Mix 10 minutes.
• If you do not have bread mixer add last flour and mix with hands. (will be soft dough).
• Let rise 2 hours or until double.

• Roll to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with butter, sugar (I like to use brown sugar) and cinnamon.
• Can add pecans, walnuts, or raisins.
• Roll up like jelly roll and cut in 3/4 to 1 inch pieces.
• Place on greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 1 hour
• Bake 10 - 15 minutes or until brown at 350° F.

Frost with glaze. I like to use a thin frosting made with cream cheese and powder sugar butter and canned milk.

Mom was always a high achiever - waking at 6 am to stuff the turkey, make cinnamon rolls and everything else from scratch! Wow... I get tired just thinking about it (but will a reminiscent smile on my face :)

Stuffed Mushrooms

50 Medium-sized fresh mushrooms
1/2 lb country- style sausage
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
3 Tbs fresh parsley, chopped
3/4 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

• Wash and remove stems from mushrooms
• Combine uncooked sausage, cream cheese, parsley, garlic powder, salt, & pepper.
• Roll stuffing into small balls & fill mushroom caps (I just use a small spoon to fill them)
• Cover and bake @ 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.
• Drain drippings and serve hot.

Crab Dip

1 Pkg Cream Cheese (Softened)

1/4 Cup Cocktail Sause

1 Can Shredded Crabs (Drained)

Wheat Thins

• Spread cream cheese a plate.
• Spread cocktail sause over cream cheese.
• Drain can of crab meat, sprinkle over the top.
• Serve with Wheat Thins

Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

12 servings (I usually double it)

1 - 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup grated Romano cheese

1 clove garlic, peeled & minced

½ tsp. dried basil

¼ tsp. garlic salt

1 - 14 oz can artichoke hearts, (drained & chopped)

(I used ½ of an 8 oz frozen package for a double batch)

½ cup frozen chopped spinach

¼ cup shredded mozzarella

• Mix everything but the spinach, artichoke & mozzarella in mixer.
• Gently fold in artichoke & spinach.
• Put in baking dish & top with mozzarella.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Party Potatoes

9 large potatoes

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp. onion salt

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 Tbs. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease one 2 quart casserole dish and set aside.
• Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm. Drain, and transfer to a large mixing bowl; mash until smooth.
• Add cream cheese, sour cream, onion salt, salt, pepper and butter; beat until light at fluffy.
• Place into prepared casserole dish and dot with butter.
• Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Citrus Jell-O Salad

1 Lg Pkg. Orange Jell-O

1 Can Pineapple pieces, drained

1 Can Mandarin Oranges, drained (optional)

1 Pkg. Instant Lemon Pudding

1 ½ Cups Milk

1 Container Cool Whip

½ Cup Cheddar Cheese

• Prepare Jell-O as directed. Add fruit.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Combine pudding with milk until thicken, add Cool Whip.
• Sprinkle with cheese. Refrigerate.

Sweet Potato Surprise

4 sweet potatoes, baked and mashed

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup margarine, melted

½ cup milk

2 eggs beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

1 cup grated unsweetened coconut, dried or fresh (see directions for cooking fresh coconut)

1 cup pecans

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup margarine

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
• In large bowl, mix the sweet potatoes, sugar, margarine, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
• Transfer the mixture into a 2 ½ quart baking dish.
• In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until crumbly.
• Distribute the topping over the sweet potatoes.
• Then bake the casserole for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Serves 6 to 8.

Grandma Hatton's Porterhouse Rolls

2 pkg dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 Tbs sugar

• Mix together & let stand 20 minutes in warm room

1 cup scalded milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

2 tsp salt

2 eggs beaten

• Mix these ingredients together well. Add 4 - 5 cups flour. Then add yeast mixture and flour, stir well, then knead until smooth. Add just enough flour to make a soft dough that can be handled well.
• Let rise to double in size.
• Roll out and cut into biscuits. Cut half way through each one and dip in melted butter. Fold over half way.
• Let rise in pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown.
• Makes about 30 rolls.

Easy Dinner Rolls

Mix in bowl.

2/3 cup scalded milk

1 cup warm water

½ cup butter or margarine (melted)

½ cup sugar

1 ½ tsp. salt

3 eggs

5 ½ to 6 cups white flour

2 Tbs yeast added with flour

• Knead for 10 min
• Let dough rise till double,
• For rolls, break off pieces and form into balls and put on cookie sheet.
• Let rise.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 min.

Variations:

2 Tbs. honey

1 cup Quaker Instant Oatmeal

1 cup whole wheat

2 Tbs molasses

Chilli, Indian Fry Bread & Wheat Bread

Here's another of Sharon's meals - that Mom made - and I'm posting - deligation at it's best!

Sharon’s Chili and Fry Bread

1 lb hamburger
1 cup chopped onions (I use 1 small onion)
¾ cup chopped green pepper
1 glove garlic minced
Brown and drain the above ingredients

Add:
1 16 oz can cut up tomatoes
1 16 oz can red kidney beans (drain and rinse)
1-8 oz can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons basil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Simmer 20 minutes. Serve over fry bread

Indian Fry Bread

Mix:
1 cup hot mashed potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons melted shortening
2 Tablespoons yeast dissolved in 2 cups warm milk
2 beaten eggs

Add: 6 cups flour approximately
Let rise/ roll out/ cut in squares/ fry

Sharon’s Whole Wheat Bread

Use Hard White Wheat

9 cups fresh ground hard white wheat
3 cups white flour
2 T Salt
½ cup powder milk

Mix slightly

Add:
½ cup canola oil
½ cup honey or sugar
2 T lecithin
3 eggs
5 cups very hot water from tap

Mix till moist

Add:
2 ½ T yeast
Mix 10 minutes

Add more flour if needed

Let rise. Flour counter. Cut into four equal pieces. Press out and roll to make loaf. Flour outside. Place in ungreased pans. Bake 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Variations:
Add 2 cups 6 grain flour for 1 cup whole wheat flour
Can add cranberry dried things for fruit

Can roll and add butter, cinnamon and sugar and roll to make cinnamon loaf

Healthy Snack!

Just a reminder if you cut up fruit and make it easy for your kids to eat, they will usually eat it. Of course, a little carmel dip never hurts!

Corn Chowder

Corn Chowder

(requested by dad)

Fry until tender:

1/2 pound bacon

2 cups red potatoes

1 cup onion

Mix:

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

1 cup sour cream

pepper thyme

Add potatoe mixture and one small can of corn (drained).

Heat until flavors blend. (about an hour)

For my family I at least double it. You can estimate and adjust depending on your family or in my case, who will be home to eat on a certain night.

These are my favorite rolls to make with it altho corn bread is always good and easy.

Oatmeal Rolls

2 c boiling water

1 cup quick oats or regular

2/3 cup brown sugar

3 Tab butter

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup cold water

2 Tab yeast

4 cups flour

Cook quick oats in boiling water for 1 min. Combine brown sugar, butter, salt, and cold water. Add oats and leave till butter melts. Add yeast and flour beat dough and knead for 4 minutes. Let rise till double. Spoonful in balls, let raise 30 min. Bake 350 20-25 minutes.

I love these rolls because you don't have to shape them. They are a little sticky and you just take a large heap on a spoon and let it goop on the pan. I'll take a picture next time. Sorry.

They are really easy and yummy. Amy Hatfield gave me this recipe. Thanks Amy!

Banana and Granola Pancakes

Banana Pancakes

Pour batter on hot griddle

add 4-5 slices of fresh bananas. Turn over and finish cooking.

Add 4-5 slices on top of finished pancake. Add chopped pecans and sprinkle powder sugar. Drizzle buttermilk syrup over the top. The Best!

Granola Pancakes

Pour batter on hot griddle.

Add a TAB or two granola on top.

Flip over to cook other side.

After pancake is cooked, put on plate and sprinkle more granola on the top. Add a few slices of banana or fresh fruit (strawberries are yummy). Drizzle with buttermilk syrup

The key to both is the syrup. Don't bother making if you are too lazy to make the syrup. It just won't be the same. This is especially good on conference Sunday!

Buttermilk Pancakes

Don't even start making these pancakes or you will gain 10 pounds! Seriously, I have to restrain myself. Once I started making these along with homemade buttermilk syrup or homemade strawberry freezer jam. . . forget about it! (That was with a jersey accent)

David thinks I am crazy because my favorite food is pancakes. I can't explain it.

BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil

blend with wisp then add:

2 cups buttermilk

blend then add the rest:

1 1/2 cups flour (I always use 3/4 white and 3/4 wheat)

1 tsp soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 salt

I blend by hand with a wisp just because I am too lazy to get out my mixer. It works great and makes it easy and quick.

One time I made it with all white flour and max said I made it wrong and wouldn't eat it. Funny because my kids sometimes complain I only buy wheat bread, but they never noticed that was what made the pancakes soo good.

Good Luck. I think Cathy posted the syrup earlier, but here it is so you don't have to look it up:

BUTTERMILK SYRUP

(We call it carmel syrup)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup sugar

bring to a boil

add 1 tsp soda

1 tsp vanilla or mapleine

(I like mapleine, it gives it a stronger flavor)

Make sure you make this in a large enough pot because when you add the soda it will foam up to the top. I have made several messes on my stove thinking I would pull it off the heat in time.

Hint: I always bake with real butter. I know it costs a little more, but I can't go back to margarine now.

Burnt Toaste

Sarah wants you to know that if you toaste your bagel too long, it doesn't taste very good! Didn't Dad always tell us that burnt toast made his hair curly? Ha Ha. And Max still believes his Dad is the David that killed Goliath. Be careful what you tell your children.

Fish Tacos!

Can you believe it? I threw together some tacos tonight and actually had my camera in the kitchen. Are you proud of me Marjorie? My pictures are in the wrong order, but I'll try to remember how I made this. I usually make it up depending on what I have in the fridge. I like fresh veggies.

FISH: The fish I made real simple. It is Talapia (great for tacos, very mild) I diced some butter on top, salt, pepper, and squeezed some fresh lemon on the top. I cook all fish 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Flakey and perfect!

PICO DE GALLO: All you spanish teachers can correct me on the spelling. Two large tomatoes diced, 1/4 diced onion, handful cilantro chopped, I used sea salt but just salt and pepper to taste makes it perfect. Add a jalapeno if you have one.

AVOCADO SALSA: Two avocados diced (I'm jealous I don't live in an orchard of them any more). This is where i make it up every time. Tonight I used some corn, whole beans (usually black beans if you have them) 1 tomato diced, two scoops of any kind of salsa. Add seasoning to taste (I.E. salt, pepper, onion salt, garlic salt, celery salt).

CREAM SAUCE: equal parts mayo, ketchup, and plain yogurt. Sounds gross, but it tastes great.

Warm corn tortillas, shred some cabbage and set out grated cheese. Its real important to serve your fish on a "fish plate" with the eyeball showing. Its all about presentation. Or whatever makes your kids laugh!

YUMMIE! DELICIOSO!!

Sorry this recipe is a little scatter brained. Sarah is waiting to use the computer for her homework and there is too much pressure!!! I'll do better on the next one. We had Calzones yesterday!

Roasted Chicken ala Hager

I caught the end of Oprah last week and everyone was making recipes with the chicken they had roasted during the first half of the show. I thought that sounded like a good idea so without really looking at the recipe I bought two chickens. I finally printed out the recipe as I was getting ready to put them in the oven. The marinade for each chicken (so double) was 1 cup of Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup of soy sauce & 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Well I have Dijon, but not that much and I wanted it for my sandwiches. Besides the chickens already cost $5 each (not much cheaper than you can buy them already roasted) and I figured the mustard would probably cost another $3 plus you were suppose to stuff the chickens with "a poultry mix of fresh herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano" Isn't that at least another $3.

Anyway, I had lemons. And some "Citrus Grill" seasoning. So I rubbed that on my chickens, stuffed a lemon inside each one (that's from the recipe), covered in foil and cooked at 425 for 2 hours. I came out yummy.

Someone will have to make the Oprah chicken someday and tell me if it was good also. Probably was.

See Oprah's recipe here