Bacon Potato Chowder

This recipe is from a church cookbook that my friend Barb got for me and it is very easy and very good!

Bacon Potato Chowder

8 slices bacon, cut up
1 c onion chopped
1 c celery chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 c chicken broth
1/4 c fresh parsley
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c sour cream
1 1/2 c milk
salt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, cook bacon, onion and celery until bacon is lightly browned and veggies are tender. Pour off drippings and add potatoes, broth, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 12-15 mins until potatoes are tender. Stir in soup, sour cream, milk and parsley. Heat through.

Serves 6

I had some heavy whipping cream to use up so I used that instead of the milk and it just made it even  thicker and creamier, so use whatever you have on hand.

Well I am going to yet another scrapbooking weekend and this time I only needed to bring a treat to share. I made these to take with and boy oh boy are they addicting! Worth all the time needed to make them, ha ha ha, really it took more time to break the pretzels than anything. This is another great Pinterest find and it came from blog called Sweet Little Bluebird.

Homemade Sourdough Ranch Pretzels

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Canola Oil
• 2 envelopes Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (not the dip)
• 2 teaspoons Garlic Salt
• 1 rounded teaspoon Lemon Pepper 
• 2 teaspoons Dill Weed
• 2 bags of Sourdough Pretzels (1 lb bags)

Directions

Break pretzels into small, bite size pieces.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl, then toss in the pretzels until coated well.  Lay coated pretzels on a jellyroll pan and bake at 200 degrees F for 1 hour - stirring/turning every 15 mins.  Cool & ENJOY!

Weight Watcher's Sticky Chicken

I started Weight Watchers back in November and I am always looking for really good diet recipes and if you have ever been on a diet, most recipes are lacking in flavor. Well I hit the jack pot when I found this recipe. It's another very easy and very good tasting one at that! The best thing of all is that it is only 5 pts + for each serving!

Weight Watchers 5 Pt Sticky Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dry mustard

Place chicken in baking dish.
Mix other ingredients, spoon over chicken.
Bake uncovered at 350F for 40 minutes or so.

I used bone in chicken thighs and I didn’t have regular vinegar

I used balsamic vinegar

My meal for the scrapbooking weekend was breakfast so I tried a breakfast bake that I found on Pinterest and it was very easy to make and great tasting too! With this I served my Bapple Bread, the recipe can be found under breads.

 Tator Tot Breakfast Bake

Ingredients

1	pound ground pork breakfast sausage (or cubed ham or bacon, whatever you like best) shopping list
2-4	cups shredded cheddar cheese
2	cups milk
4	eggs
2	pounds frozen tater tots

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the sausage, bacon, or ham evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Spread cheese over meat. I use 4 cups of cheese, but you can use less if you prefer to reduce the calories. In large bowl, beat together milk and eggs. Pour over cheese. (May be refrigerated overnight at this point). Top with frozen tater tots. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Some ovens may take more or less time. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Here's another recipe from the scrapbooking weekend. These were AMAZING and very easy to put together.

Chicken Pockets

4 chicken breasts cubed and cooked

1 ½ pkgs cream cheese

paprika to taste

dried onion flakes

Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder to taste

2 pkgs crescent rolls

butter

Croutons

Mix the first 4 ingredients together. Unroll crescent rolls,

Keeping 2 triangles together and press seams together. Put

A scoop of chicken in the middle, fold over and seal the

Edges. Brush with butter and top with crushed croutons.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins or until golden brown.

I went to a Scrapbooking weekend where each of us brought a meal to share and boy did we eat good. Here is one of the recipes that at we had. This was soooo incredibly good and so very easy to put together and make.

Liz’s Chicken

2 c cooked chicken

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 c sour cream – She used lite

Mix and put into a baking dish. Crush one sleeve of any

Kind of crackers such as Ritz or Club crackers. Sprinkle

On top of chicken mix and drizzle ¼ to ½ melted butter

Over crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 mins.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Quiche Lorraine

This is one of my very favorite things to eat. I LOVE quiche of any kind. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try and it was fantastic! Easy to make and since I was making one I decided to make two. It sure didn't take long for them both to disappear. I love having something that is quick in the morning and you can't get anything easier than popping a slice of this in the microwave in the morning!

 

I actually ate more of this for dinner and lunch than I did

for breakfast! A slice and a salad and I was good to go!

Quiche Lorraine

Ingredients

• 1 9 inch unbaked pie crust
• 1 C shredded Swiss cheese
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 C ham, minced
• 2 green onions, sliced and chopped
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 C half and half
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard

Instructions

• Bake unpricked pastry shell for 5 minutes at 425 degrees
• Remove from oven and place cheese, bacon and ham in bottom of shell
• Add green onion
• In medium bowl mix together eggs, cream, salt and dry mustard
• Pour evenly over cheese mixture
• Bake at 325 for 45 minutes or until set
• If the edges of the crust begin to get to brown cover them with foil
• Remove from oven and let stand for about ten minutes before serving
• Makes 6 servings

Freezer Apple Pie Filling

I went apple picking at my friend Barb's mom's place and I had a TON of apples. I had already made two batches of apple sauce and needed something else to do with all these apples. Well I went searching Pinterest and came across this recipe and it was easy and tasted fantastic so I made two batches of pie filling to put into my freezer.

Here's what it looked like all done and cooling

 This batch made enough for 6 pies! 

I made up two pies and here is filling for 4 more. For a 

regular pie crust you will need 3 cups of filling and if you

are doing a deep dish pie you will need 6 cups of filling. My

bags are filled with 3 cups.

 My baked apple pie with Streusel topping!

Ok here are the recipes for both the pie filling and the Streusel topping with the 

baking instructions too!

Freezer Apple Pie Filling

Ingredients

• 18 cups peeled, thinly sliced apples
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional – I leave this out, but some people like nutmeg, the crazies :))
• 8-9 cups water

Instructions

1. In large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice and set aside.
2. Pour water into largest pan/Dutch oven you have, and place over medium heat.
3. Combine sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to water and whisk well. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Add apples and return to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until apples are tender and mixture is thickened, about 6-8 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes before dividing over 5 freezer containers, leaving ½” head space in each container. Leave lids off and cool at room temperature for 1 – 1½ hours, then seal and freeze.
5. This can be frozen for up to a year. 

Streusel Topping

 1 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened 

 

Preheat oven at 375 degrees with a cookie sheet on the center rack.
Pour apple mixture into frozen pie crust.
Make the streusel crumb topping by mixing together with a fork in a medium bowl the flour, cinnamon, and light brown sugar. Then mix in the softened butter with a fork, stirring and blending until the mixture resembles crumbs.
Top the pie with the crumb topping, place on the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 40 - 45 minutes until the crust is a deep golden brown and the filling bubbles.
Remove from oven, cool 30 minutes and serve warm with ice cream and caramel ice cream topping drizzled over pie, if desired.

Official Summer Pool Drink

Here's another great recipe that I got off of Pinterest! This is so refreshing and can be made either with alcohol or without!

Official Summer Pool Drink

1 46oz can Pineapple Juice
1 c Country Time Lemonade Mix
2 c Water
2 cans Sprite
*Pineapple Coconut Rum

Mix the first four ingredients together well.
Fill your glass with ice, add alcohol and
add mix. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

*I didn't have Pineapple Coconut Rum so
I just used coconut rum and it was awesome.
You can use vodka, Bacardi Limone, Bacardi
O or any other alcohol you like.

Fruit Dip

I was looking for a different fruit dip other than the good old stand by of Marshmellow Creme and Cream Cheese and I came across this recipe and just had to try it. It was AWESOME but be warned, it makes a lot!.

Fruit Dip

1- 3.4oz pkg Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 8oz container of Cool Whip
1 8oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened
1 c Powdered Sugar
1 c Whole Milk

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
Serve Chilled.

Maple Cranberry Spread

I went to another art day with my scrapbooking friends and brought along a new recipe for them to try. I pinned the recipe for Maple Cranberry Spread a while ago on my Pinterest breakfast board from the Inspiration Cafe blog and thought there wasn't a better time to try this since all of my friends are guinnea pigs when it comes to new recipes that I find! Plus I have been looking for a way to save money and this will save me a ton of money by not having to buy already flavored cream cheese!

Maple Cranberry Spread

1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/3 c maple syrup
1/4 c toasted pecans, chopped

Mix all together using an electric mixer. Cover
and refridgerate for several hours.

Makes 1 1/2 cups

I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought that it looked really good so I just had to try it! I am sure glad that I did it was fantastic!

Classic Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup onion , chopped
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 (32 ounce) jar meatless sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 (16 ounce) package Ziti pasta , cooked and drained
• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 350
2. In a large skillet – heat oil and cook onions for 8 minutes than add garlic and cook for one minute. Add beef and cook till no longer pink ( drain excess fat).
3. Stir in sauce, chicken broth, pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. Heat through.
4. Stir 1 cup of sauce into the “cooked” ziti pasta.
5. Place ½ of the ziti into a 13×9 baking dish.
6. Place 1½ cup of mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese
7. Top with rest of sauce.
8. Top with rest of pasta.
9. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
10. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
11. Cook till cheese is golden brown

5 Soup Hotdish aka Mock Chow Mien

Many years ago a girl that I worked with gave me this recipe and it is just too good to be true! It is very easy, fast and delishious.

5 Soup Hotdish aka Mock Chow Mien

1-2 lbs Hamburger, cooked and drained
1 large onion, diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can vegetable beef soup
1 can chicken with rice soup

Cook hamburger and onion until done, drain.
Add all the rest of the soup to the hamburger mixture
and heat until hot. You can put this into a crock pot on
low. Serve this over chow mien noodles and rice.

Dill Dip

My friend Barb at work let me borrow her most favorite cookbook and I found this recipe and had all the ingredients on hand to make it so I thought I'd give it a try. I took it to work and got a thumbs up from everyone who tried it so I will definitely be making this again and again!

Dill Dip

2/3 c Mayonaise
2/3 c Sour Cream
1 tsp Beau Monde Seasoning
1 tsp Dill Weed
1 tsp Parsley Flakes
1 tsp Onion Flakes

Mix all together and let sit 1-2 hours. 
Serve with crackers, pretzils or fresh
vegetables.
 

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

This recipe was found on Pinterest by my friend Shannon who made it and raved about it so of course I had to try it and it is FANTASTIC!! I did not have reduced fat sour cream so I used full fat and it was really good! 

Crisp Cucumber Salsa
Yield 2-1/2 cups

2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Tortilla chips

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately with chips.

Veggie Pizza

I got this recipe from my friend Barb and it's the best Veggie Pizza that I have tasted so far!

Veggie Pizza

2 pkg crescent rolls

Press into a jelly roll pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins.
Cool completely

2 8oz cream cheese
3/4 c Hellman's Mayo
1/4 c milk
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp dill weed

Mix together and spread onto cooled crescent rolls.
Top with:

Grated carrots
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Black Olives
Celery
Green/yellow/red/orange Peppers
Raddishes

What ever else you like for veggies. Cut into squares and serve!

Oriental Coleslaw

This recipe was served at a bridal shower for my friend Brittany and it is the best Ramen Noodle salad that I have tried yet.

Oriental Coleslaw

1/2 c butter
2 pkgs Oriental Flavored Ramen Noodles
1 c slivered almonds
1 pkg coleslaw mix
5 green onions, chopped

Dressing

2 seasoning packets from the noodles
1 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 c water
1/2 c vinegar

Line a baking sheet with foil. Place butter on pan and melt under the broiler. Break up noodles, save the seasoning packets, and almonds. Add to melted butter and mix well. Put pan under broiler and broil until brown, stirring occasionally, cool. Place coleslaw mix and onions into a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate. In a saucepan mix together all of the dressing ingredients and cook over med heat, stirring often. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 min., Let cool. Just before serving mix together and top with toasted almond mixture.

Cheese Tortellini Salad

This is another fast and easy salad to whip up in a hurry, you can also make this ahead of time and have it ready to serve for guests.

Cheese Tortellini Salad

Cheese Tortellini
Bacon
Parmesan Cheese
Red Onion
Cole Slaw Mix
Spinach
Bottled Ranch Dressing

Cook the tortellini according to the package directions and chill.
Mix the Tortellini, bacon, cheese, onion, cole slaw mix and ranch dressing
together. Right before serving mix in the spinach and serve. This makes a
lot of salad and keeps well but only add the spinach before serving because
it wilts and doesn't look very good. You can also use romaine lettuce in place
of the spinach either works great!

Neiman Marcus Dip

I know this isn't the best photo but this dip is AWESOME!! It is very easy and you probably already have all the ingredients in your fridge already. This can be whipped up fast and it is great when guests drop in and you need something quickly! I didn't have a jar of bacon bits but I did have regular bacon so I cooked up that really crisp and used that instead.

Neiman Marcus Dip

5 - 6 green onions

 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 jar Hormel Real Bacon Bits

1 pkg. slivered almonds

Chop the green onions.

Shred the cheddar cheese.

Mix the onions, cheese, mayo, bacon bits,

 and slivered almonds together.

Chill for a couple hours.

Serve with Ritz crackers or corn chips.