Chicken Veggie Casserole

This was another of my childhood favorites. This is not a quick dinner. It takes a while to get all the veggies cooked and it takes a few pans, but it is so delicious. If you have a large family, or a very hungry hubby, use a 9x13 pan. When I make it for me and Scott, I usually use two 8x8's and freeze one. When I make this I keep a colander in the sink to drain everything, and a large bowl to mix it all together.

• 1 12 oz bag of curly noodles, cooked and drained
• 2 12.5 oz cans chicken in water, break up the large chunks into bite size bits, you can use leftover chicken if you have it, just cut it up small.
• 1 onion sauteed in 2 TB butter (I usually just put this in the microwave and let it go for a few minutes, stirring a few times, until the onion is translucent.
• 4-8 cups cooked vegetables. You can use any combo of sliced carrots, brocolli, peas and corn. I like a lot of veggies in mine, so I usually do a full 8 cups of goodness.
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups Cheese Sauce
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Cheese Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter melted in a small sauce pan
• 1/2 cup flour, added slowly and whisked together
• 2 cups warm milk, stir with a whisk until it is boiling,
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, mozerella or jack cheese, adding a little at at time and stirring until it is melted.

Mix everything together in a large bowl and spread in a 9x13 pan (or 2 8x8's). Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake for 30 minutes at 350, or until heated through. If you freeze half of this, thaw it in the fridge at least 12 hours before you put it in the oven.

Saucy Chops

When I was growing up, this was one of my absolute favorite meals. I particularly liked the onions on top, and my mom would sometimes cook extra onions for me. It is great with rice and a side of applesauce. Apples and pork go great together! Sorry there isn't a picture, I had devoured it before I remembered.

1 large onion
1 TB butter
6 pork chops, seasoned with salt and pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup water + 1 chicken bullion cube
1/2 cup ketchup
2-3 Tea Worchestershire sauce

Slice the onion into six slices. In an electric frying pan, or large skillet with a lid, melt the butter and cook the onion slices for a few minutes on each side until tender. (Use toothpicks to hold the rings together if necessary.) Remove from pan and brown both sides of the pork chops, adding a little extra butter if necessary.

While the chops are browning, heat the soup, water, bullion, ketchup and worchestershire sauce in a sauce pan, until mostly smooth. After you turn the chops over, put an onion slice on top of each chop, and pour the sauce over everything. (You might want to lift the chops up a little so some sauce gets under each one.) Cover and cook for 45-60 minutes, depending on how thick your chops are. If you have a meat thermometer, it should register at 170 degrees. Enjoy!

*I made these a few weeks ago with thick Costco pork chops, they are more than an inch thick and it took an hour to cook. If they are just regular 1/2"-3/4" chops, 45 minutes will do it. I usually make brown rice with these, it takes about 45 minutes to cook, and then everything is done at the same time.

Curly Noodle Chicken Soup

This soup tastes INCREDIBLE! The spices are perfect.
1 lb chicken cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced
4 celery ribs
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp olive or canola oil
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 C flour
1 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
6 oz uncooked tricolor spiral pasta

1.In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, saute chicken, onion, celery, carrots and garlic in butter and oil for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in flour, basil, oregano and pepper until blended.
3. Gradually add broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour.
4. Return to a boil; stir in pasta. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Serves: 9

Hawaiian Meatballs & more

These are sweet and sour, kids may not like it. Great with chow mein noodles on rice.Basic Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 egg
1-2 Tbsp milk
1/2 C bread crumbs or crushed saltines
salt and pepper to taste

1. Mash ingredients together, roll into balls. Pan fry, rotating the balls frequently so all sides brown. Remove balls from skillet.

(This can also be used as a meatloaf recipe. I like to add BBQ Sauce and onions. Put into a loaf pan and bake at 350 for 30-60 minutes until done. Or you can use it to make hamburgers.)

Hawaiian Sauce:
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 C brown sugar
1 can pineapple tidbits, reserve juice
1/3 C vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce

1. Mix cornstarch and sugar.
2. Stir in reserved pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth.
3. Pour into skillet, cook until thickened. Boil and stir one minute.
4. Add meatball and pineapple tidbits. Heat thoroughly.

Here are some different sauces to try with the meatballs.

Mushroom sauce:
2 mushroom gravy mixes
1 small can drained mushrooms

1. Spread on meatballs while still in pan until sauce warms.

Chicken sauce: (kids love this one)
1 can cream of chicken
1/2 C sour cream
1/8-1/4 C milk

1. Combine and spread over meatballs while still in pan until warm.

Tomato sauce:
1 can tomato soup
water

1. Combine and spread over meatballs while still in pan until warm.

Strawberry Salad

I know Miss Erika posted a Strawberry Spinach Salad. But here is one that I like to make.
2 bunches of spinach (I used romaine lettuce since that's what I had)
4 cups sliced strawberries

dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp poppy seeds

1. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, toss to coat.

Mile High Lasagna

Here is a great recipe for lasagna or just a great idea of doing it in a loaf pan lined with foil. I got the idea from Rachael Ray so here is the link to her recipe, it is so yummy:) Mile High Lasagna

Pizza Rolls

This is a fun and easy dinner idea. Simply make Erika's 60 minute rolls as directed but let them rise as big as you can then turn them over and gently stretch them out and put mozzarella cheese and whatever pizza topping you like then pinch them closed. Cook as directed and enjoy them with pizza dipping sauce:)

Mandarin Chicken Salad

I really love the Wendy's Asian Chicken Salad with the Mandarin Oranges so I developed this recipe so I can make it at home and enjoy it more often. I took it to our ward's fourth of July Festival pot luck lunch this year & it seemed to have good reviews there. I hope you like it!

Mandarin Chicken Salad
Serves 10.

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb.), cooked, cubed and chilled
2 cans mandarin oranges, well-drained & save juice
1 half of a purple onion, chopped finely
1 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chow mien noodles, optional
2 heads of Romaine lettuce, washed, patted dry and torn into pieces
Dressing: Ken's Steakhouse Lite Asian Sesame with Ginger & Soy

First, I drain my mandarin oranges and save the juice to use for cooking my chicken in. Next, I cook my chicken in the mandarin juice with a bit of seasoned salt and lemon pepper. Cube the chicken and chill. Then prepare your lettuce, carrots, and onion and toss to combine together. Add your mandarin oranges, chicken, almonds and chow mien noodles just before serving. Toss lightly to combine all. Top with dressing. Take a bite and see what you think.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Rice

This is so simple, and you can just throw it in the microwave while you're cooking the main course. And it's actually really good!!

Broccoli Cheese Rice
1/2 C long grain rice
2 C chicken stock (or broth)
2 C broccoli
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
soy sauce to taste

Instructions:

1. Place rice and chicken broth in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave on high, uncovered for 15 minutes.
3. Add broccoli, toss to combine.
4. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and cook on high for an additional 3 minutes.
5. Stir in cheese.
6. Season with soy sauce.