Need some new recipes

Does anyone have any yummy soup recipes or dinners in the oven or crockpot dinners? I just feel with the cold winter coming that I need some new warm cooked dinners. Please post if you have some good ideas.

Pumpkin Bars

So I have this recipe for pumpkin bars and they were just too bold for me, so over the years I have made some modifications until they turned out just perfect. They are a very addicting dessert and if Scott could he would eat the whole pan.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
4 beaten eggs
1- 15 oz. can pumpkin mix (I think that Libby's is the best)
about 3/4 cup or a touch less oil

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, pumpkin mix and oil and mix well. Pour into an ungreased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, (I find that 27 minutes in my oven is perfect) or until a fork comes out clean. When cooled frost with cream cheese frosting (see below). I usually just make half a recipe of the frosting because it makes a lot, or just store it in the freezer for next time. Enjoy!!

6 oz. package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. vanilla
4 1/2 to 5 cups powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in 2 1/2 to 3 cups more powdered sugar until it reaches the desired thickness.

The Best BBQ Sauce

You guys are very lucky, because I have decided to share the family recipe with you. My step dad created this sauce and it is the best you have ever tasted. It is great with ribs and chicken.

2 lb Light brown sugar- break up all lumps
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
2 18 oz Bottles of KC- Original or Hickory
1 T white vinegar
1 tsp Wright Natural Hickory flavor
Mix in order. Get rid of all lumps. Refrigerate one hour. Can be refrigerated several months. When basting meat, cannot contaminate container by dipping brush into it. (Recipe can also be halved)
Let me know if you want to know how to make BBQ ribs and chicken

Bean and Beef Enchiladas

1/2 lbs. ground beef (I used 1 pound so it was meatier)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp. chili powder
1- 15oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1-4oz can green chili peppers
1-8oz. container sour cream
2 TBS. flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8-6" corn tortillas
1-10oz. can enchilada sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet cook the ground beef, onion, and chili powder; drain. Stir in pinto beans and chili peppers set aside. In a small bowl combine sour cream, flour and garlic powder; mix and set aside. Place half of tortillas in the bottom of a lightly greased 2 quart baking dish. Top with half of meat mixture, half of sour cream mixture, and half of enchilada sauce. Repeat layers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover with foil. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 5 more minutes.

Pesto Feta Bread

Pesto Feta Bread

1 loaf of the skinny bakery bread (baguette)
Pesto
Feta Cheese
Tomotoes

Slice bread and top with pesto. Cook in preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. Immediately top with feta cheese and diced tomatoes.

I loved it-Thanks Becky, it came from your magazine

We need to do better

Girls,
I love the idea of having a blog full of recipes. It is such an easy way to exchange recipes, but some how we need to do better. Winter is coming, which means we will be staying home longer, and I am ready to use my oven. I feel like I cook the same thing over and over. Plus I love trying new recipes. Let's try and post at least 1 recipe each a month. Can we all commit to doing that? Please? Maybe we should invite other people to join to add more recipes. Any suggestions of people to invite and how to make time to type up recipes can be posted in comments!

Chicken Enchiladas

6 to 8 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, baked 1 hour (I just boiled chicken on stove for 20 min)

Sauce:
3 c Mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken soup
green onions to taste, chopped
Olives (if desired)

After chicken is cool, chop it into small pieces. Spoon into soft white flour taco shells. Cover with a little sauce; roll taco shells up in 9 X 13 inch dish and cover with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. This recipe makes plenty of sauce for 1 1/2 pans of enchiladas.

I liked this recipe because the mozzarella cheese gives it a different flavor.

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

These are pretty close to the real thing.
The recipe is from cdkitchen.com

Ingredients:
***DOUGH***
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk -- room temperature
1 large egg -- beaten
1/4 cup butter -- softened
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups all purpose white flour
1/2 package instant vanilla pudding
mix1 tablespoon bread machine yeast
***FILLING***
1 cup brown sugar -- packed
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter -- softened
***CREAM CHEESE CINNAMON FROSTING***
4 ounces cream cheese -- softened
1/4 cup butter -- softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Dough Add the dough ingredients, in the order listed, to the bread machine and prepare using the dough setting. On a lightly floured surface, roll out to an 18" by 30" rectangle. The dough can also be handmade. If you use regular yeast, you may want to let the rolls proof for 15-30 minutes after assembly. Filling: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread the softened butter over the dough and evenly sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Starting at the long edge of the dough, roll up tightly. Mark the roll every 2 inches. With a thread cut the roll by placing the thread under the roll at your mark, crisscross over and pull to cut. Place rolls into greased 8" or 9" baking pans 2" apart. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft free place until almost double, approximately 1 hour. After rising, rolls should be touching each other and the sides of the pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cream Cheese Cinnamon Frosting: In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla and milk. Add powdered sugar and cinnamon and mix until smooth. Spread on warm rolls and serve immediately. This recipe has been adjusted so that the dough can be prepared in your bread machine.
This recipe from CDKitchen for Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls Clone serves/makes 10

Spicy Cashew Chicken

Go this recipe out of the Lincoln Journal Star and finally tried it. It is REALLY yummy and SUPER easy! Those are my favorite kind of recipes!

Spicy Cashew Chicken

1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green pepper, cut into strips
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/4 in slices or bite-size pieces
Vegetable oil or olive oil
1 cup picante or salsa (from mild to medium-hot, depending on taste)
4 Tbs soy sauce
4 tsp sugar
4 Tbs white cooking wine (apple juice or chicken broth)
1 cup cashews, halves or pieces (I used unsalted)
2 cups Rice (brown or white)

Pour 2 cups rice in a saucepan and add 4 cups water. Turn on heat to high until rice and water start to bubble.
Turn down heat source to low and put the lid on the pan. Don't peek until time is up. For brown rice: set timer for 35 minutes. For white rice: set timer for 20 minutes
While rice is steaming pour some oil into a skillet and turn heat to medium-high.
Add onion and pepper and saute until the veggies are crisp tender. Remove the veggies from pan and set aside.
Add more oil to skillet and add chicken pieces. Stir occasionally until the chicken is cooked evenly through and starting to brown.
While chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce in a medium sized bowl. Stir together the salsa, soy sauce, white wine and sugar.
When the chicken is cooked through and starting to brown, add the vegetables. Continue to heat through at a medium-low heat until bubbly. ( I continued to simmer until a thicker consistency)
Stir in 1/2 cup cashews
Transfer chicken to a serving bowl or platter and scatter another 1/2 cup cashews over the top.
When the rice timer says it is done, fluff it a little with a fork and transfer to serving bowl.

Makes 4 servings.

Cheese Herb Bread

I usually make this bread to go with the baked ziti. It has a lot of flavor, so if you like herbs you will love this bread. I have never done it in a loaf, I always braid it and cook it then everyone just breaks off what they want.

Cheese Herb Bread

1 Tbs yeast
3 cups flour
2 Tbs sugar
1-1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs dry milk
3 Tbs grated Parmesan
1-1/2 tsp marjoram
1-1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil
1tsp oregano
2 Tbs butter
1-1/4 cups warm water

This is a bread machine recipe, so place ingredients in machine in this order. I have also made with my mixer. Just activate the yeast and then add remaining ingredients.
To Braid: divide dough into 3 equal balls. Roll into ropes. attach all 3 together at top and braid. Butter top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake 350 F for 20-25 min or until golden brown.

Baked Ziti

This is a super easy recipe and it taste's so yummy! I usually use Ramano and Parmesan cheese Ragu. Also, the only place I have found actual Ziti noodles is Walmart. You can also use Penne noodles. I hope you enjoy it!

Baked Ziti

1/2 lob (8 oz) ziti pasta
1/2 onion, chopped (I never put this in)
1/2 lb ground beef
1 (26 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
3 oz provolone cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
3 oz mozzarella cheese
1+ Tbs grated Parmesan

Cook noodles in large skillet. Brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce and summer 15 minutes. Butter 9x13 inch pan and later as followed:
1/2 ziti
provolone cheese
sour cream
1/2 sauce
remaining ziti
mozzarella cheese
remaining sauce
Top with Parmesan cheese and Bake 20 min at 350 F or until cheeses are melted.

Poppy Seed Chicken

2 lb chicken, cooked and cubed
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers, crushed
2 T poppy seeds
1 stick melted butter

Layer chicken in bottom of 8 X 12 casserole dish. Mix soup and sour cream. Put on top of chicken. Stir cracker crumbs into melted butter and poppy seeds. Pour of soup mixture and spread evenly. Bake 30 minutes until hot and golden brown at 350.

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 milk
1 tsp baking soda
3 mashed bananas (a fork works great)
2 1/2 cups flour

Mix together sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat. Then add salt, baking soda, and flour. Add milk and beat together. Add smashed bananas. Bake in greased loaf pan at 325 for 45-60 minutes. Poke with toothpick in different several places to make sure it is done.

Calzones

1 bag frozen Rhodes White Bread dough (3 loaves)
1 jar traditional spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
Any toppings you would like inside the calzone: olives, onions, green peppers, pepperoni, any meat, mozarella cheese

1. Thaw Rhodes dough and let rise
2. Cut loaves in half (1 loaf= 2 big calzones)
3. Roll out dough into circle
4. Fill half of dough with cheese, spaghetti sauce and toppings of your choice
5. Fold over dough to cover toppings and pinch together to close
6. Spread a little olive oil on top of calzone and sprinkle parmesean cheese over oil.
7. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and place calzones on sheet.
8. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for approx 15 minutes, OR until the dough is done and top of calzone is golden brown or just follow baking instructions on back of rhodes dough bag.

We had these the other night, and they were DELICIOUS!

Oriental Cashew Asparagus

1 lbs. asparagus spears, bias-sliced into 1-inch spears
1-1/2 cup fresh button mushrooms
1 med. red onion, cut into thin wedges
1/4 cup red sweet pepper
1 TBS butter or margarine
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 TBS teriyaki sauce
1 TBS water
2 TBS cashew halves
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Place steamer basket in sauce pan. Add water til just below the bottom of basket. Bring water to a boil.
Add asparagus to basket. Cover and reduce heat; steam for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, onion and sweet red pepper. Cover and steam for 2-5 minutes more or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove basket; discard liquid.
In same saucepan, melt butter; stir in cornstarch and black pepper. Add the teriyaki sauce and water. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Return vegetables to pan; toss gently to coat. Top with cashews.

This is a great and easy recipe. The best part is that you can add whatever vegetables you want. It really doesn't matter. I also thought about adding shredded chicken to it as well. Depending on your taste, I would recommend adding only 1/8 tsp. of black pepper the 1/4 tsp. was a bit much for me.

Tiffany's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix together in small bowl
21/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Then in seperate bowl

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

white and milk chocolate chips to your desired amounts

Cream white and brown sugar, margarine, and shortening until creamy. Add vanilla and eggs beat well. Stir in flour mixture then add chocolate chips.

Bake 10ish minutes at 350 on an ungreased cookie sheet.

No Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
3 T cocoa
Mix together in pan over stove
Stir 1/2 cup milk
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
Boil 1 minute or until butter has melted
Add 1/2 cup peanut butter
After peanut butter has melted, add 3 cups oatmeal.
Remove from heat and drop spoonfuls onto wax paper.
If you like them more firm add extra oatmeal (about 1/2-3/4).

These are one of my favorite treats and they are so quick and easy to make!

Granola

8 cups quick Oatmeal
3/4 cup Wheat Germ
3/4 cup Wheat Bran
Mix in 8 1/2 X 11 pan and bake 325 for 10 minutes
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
Raisins if you want
Mix and bake for another 10 minutes

This is very yummy! I like it in my cereal, either Cheerios or Rice Krispies. You could also put it on ice cream or in yogurt.

Peanut Butter Pie from Fiddlehead

Crust:
2 Oreo crusts or other graham cracker crust

Ganache:
1/4 Cup heavy cream
2 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Filling:
5 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 smooth peanut butter
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups chilled heavy cream

1. Prepare Ganache: Bring 1/4 cup heavy cream to a boil in a small pan over medium-high heat, or microwave for 2 minutes (careful if boils over quickly) and pose over chocolate chips. Whisk together until smooth. Pour into pie shell and spread evenly over bottom. Refrigerate.

2. Prepare Filling: In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer set on high, whip cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. Beat until well mixes.

3. In a separate bowl, whip chilled cream until stiff and fold into peanut butter mixture. Spoon gently into chilled crust and smooth out. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

4. Garnish with chocolate shavings, crushed peanuts, whipped cream, or extra ganache and serve.

Shrimp Scampi

1 TBS. Olive Oil
1/4 cup Chicken Broth
4 Garlic Cloves, minced or 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 cup Clam Juice
Salt and Pepper
2 Lbs. Extra Large Shrimp, peeled
4 TBS. Cold, Unsalted Butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 TBS. Lemon Juice
2 TBS. Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Heat oil, then add garlic. Cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, clam juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper; bring to a boil. Add shrimp, cover and cook until shrimp are slightly translucent; about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, stir, cover and cook until shrimp are just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Put shrimp aside. Bring sauce to a boil until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Whisk in butter 1 piece at a time; stir in lemon juice and parsley. Pour mixture over shrimp. Serve over hot spaghetti noodles. Serve 4 to 6.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 package 3 cheese tortellini (frozen or fresh)
2 cans chicken broth
1 can Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes
Any veggies you want to add. I usually add: peas, carrots, zucchini (corn, celery, etc is good too)
Italian seasonings
Parmesean cheese

In a large pot, add 2 cans chicken broth and can of stewed tomatoes; do not drain juice. (cut up tomatoes if they are too big). Bring to boil. Add tortellini to cook in broth. While tortellini is cooking, prepare veggies. (I like to steam all my veggies first before I put them in the soup for time purposes. You can also cook the veggies in the broth.) Add veggies and shredded chicken once the tortellini is ready. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until all veggies are completely cooked and everything warmed. Add any Italian seasons to taste, and sprinkle parmesean cheese on top. Serve Hot with rolls or croissants.

Homemade Oreos

Cookies:
1 pkg devil's food cake mix
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cube margarine, melted
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/3 cup margarine
3 oz cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 T light cream or milk
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cookies; mix together cake mix, egg and melted margarine. Form into balls the size of walnut and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 10 minutes. Prepare filling: Cream margarine and cream cheese; gradually add 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar blended well. Beat in vanilla, remaining sugar, and enough cream to make filling spreading consistency. Spread filling between cooled cookies and enjoy!

These are very yummy. I like to double them for more to share.

Lets get together!

So this thursday we will be making strawberry jam at my house. Plan between 1:30-2:00. Just let me know if you can make it and I will let you know what to bring

Sizzling Summer Chicken Fajitas

1 TBS. Olive Oil
2 TBS. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Chili Powder
1 tsp. ground cumin (optional)
1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
4 Chicken Breasts
1/2 of a Green Bell Pepper, cut into sticks
1/2 of an Onion, cut into sticks
Tortillas
Cheese
Sour Cream
Tomatoes

1. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, salt, chili powder, cumin, and cilantro in a zippered plastic bag. Add chicken breasts and shake gently to coat with the mixture. Marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. In a large frying pan saute up the onions and green peppers.
3. Either grill up the chicken or just cook it in the frying pan. I use the same frying pan so that the onions and peppers get the marinade on them.
4. Slice the chicken into diagonal strips.
5. Place some chicken, onions and peppers on a tortilla and add some garnishes and enjoy.

Quick Chicken Parmesan

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lbs)
salt and pepper
1 T Olive oil
1 1/2 cups pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook on both sides about 5 to 7 minutes, depending on thickness.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Spoon pasta sauce over chicken and simmer for additional 3 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella, cover, and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted and gooey. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese.

When I made it I put extra sauce in the pan and had spaghetti noodles with it. Also salad goes great with it or rolls.

Cream Cheese Chicken

This is a yummy and very easy recipe to make.

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts cubed
1 cube butter
1 pkg dry Italian Salad dressing mix
Put in crockpot and cook on high on low for 3 hours
Watch, it cooks fast
Then turn on high for 1 hour
1/2 hour before serving add:
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
Serve over rice

Made-Over Meatloaf

This is not your run of the mill meatloaf. It is delicious-and I don't even really like meatloaf. So easy, too!

Made-Over Meatloaf

2 eggs (beaten)
2 lb. lean ground beef
1 pkg. Stove Top Stuffing (dry)
1 c. water
1/2 c. bbq sauce (Famous Dave's Rich and Sassy is the very best!)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until well combined. Grease a large cookie sheet and shape mixture into two loaves (like french bread loaves). Bake 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees or to an internal temp of 165 degrees (until it is not pink inside at all). Approximately 10 minutes before it is done, remove it from the oven and spread approximately 1/4 c. more bbq sauce over the top of each loaf. Place back in the oven for about 10 more minutes.
Delicious served with mashed potatoes.

Labels

Remember when you're typing a new post to enter in a clear label for what you're writing about(ex: dessert, main dish, off topic, etc). I say this just because the labels will appear on the sidebar, so that one day if you wanted to look at all the beef recipes people have posted about, you could click on that and see only those recipes. I have added a few general labels, you can add what you want. Also, you can label it as more than one thing, for example: A steak recipe you can label it as a main dish and a beef recipe.

Main Dish-Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Yeah! Im excited for this! Since Im not the best cook, I will start out with the easiest recipe I know that Chris and I just love. (Amy has tried this one already too :) )
And just to warn you, the recipe ingredients dont sound that great, but it really turns out yummy.

Thawed Chicken Breasts (however many you desire)
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 can whole cranberry sauce (brand doesn't matter)
1 small bottle Russian Salad Dressing
Cooked White Rice

Mix packet of Onion Soup mix, whole cranberry sauce and full bottle of Russian Salad dressing in medium bowl until blended. Place thawed chicken breasts in crockpot, cover with cranberry sauce mix. Cook on High for 4-6 hours or until chicken is cooked through. (Chicken will turn color of sauce, but....it makes it yummy :)
Serve hot over cooked white rice.

Here we go and Steak Marinade

So we have been talking about getting together to teach each other our strengths and improve our weaknesses in cooking. I have started the blog, so from here you can post:
-Recipes that you enjoy and would like to share
-Questions about cooking/baking
-Requests for certain recipes
-OR anything else you would like ;)

We will get together and teach each other how to do what we do best. Once I have heard from everyone we can start teaching. Also, if you can think of anyone else you think would be interested, let me know so I can invite them. If you have questions you can e-mail me or just comment. I'll start by sharing a yummy recipe that we tried the other night:

Ultimate Grilled Steak

1/2 cup A.1. Original Steak Sauce
1/2 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
2 steaks

Mix first 4 ingredients. Pour 3/4 into ziplock bag(reserve remaining marinade to serve with steak), add steaks. Marinade for at least 30 min. Cook steaks to desired doneness and serve with reserved marinade.

*I only made 1/2 recipe of the marinade and it was plenty for 2 steaks.