Holiday Candy Recipes

This time of year our family gets together to make holiday memories. One of our favorite holiday memories is Candy Making. So we want to share our favorite recipes with you!

Almond Bark Cookies Recipe:

Ingredients-

2 lbs. white almond bark chocolate (white chocolate)
3 cups captain crunch peanut butter cereal
3 cups rice krispies cereal
1 cup flaked coconut
1 can (13 oz) salted peanuts

Directions:
Melt almond bark (in double boiler) pour over all ingredients. Drop by spoonful onto wax paper and chill. This can be stored for quite awhile in a covered container. ENJOY!

Red Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe:

Ingredients-

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup hard red cinnamon candies ( about 6 1/2 oz.)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 quarts popped popcorn

Directions:
Melt margarine. Stir in baking soda, corn syrup, and sugar. Bring to boil. Boil on low without stirring for 5 minutes.Remove pour over popcorn and candies. Eat when cool!

* We like to double the sauce so that it has more gooey goodness!


Baked Caramel Popcorn Recipe:

Ingredients-

6 quarts popped popcorn
1 cup margarine
2 cups firm packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Melt margarine, Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to boil. Boil on medium heat, Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove add baking soda and vanilla. Pour over popcorn. Place popcorn on sprayed sheet pan. Bake at 250 F for 30 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes.


Marbleized Mint Bark Recipe:

Ingredients-

1 lb. white chocolate
1 cup crushed candy cane
1/3 cup mint chocolate chips- melt in double boiler

Directions-

Line a cookie sheet with foil. Melt white chocolate in a double broiler or on low in crockpot " stir constantly" over low heat.Add crushed candy cane. Stir in.
Stir to desired color. Spread thin ( 3/8 in. ) on a foil lined sheet pan. Melt chips. Drizzle across candy, then marbleize by drawing a toothpick down through the lines of the melted chips. Set until firm. Lift foil and break into desired pieces.

Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe:
Ingredients:
 1 lb. and 1 tablespoon butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
4 cups flour

Directions:
Mix, then knead. Put through cookie press. Bake at 350 F degree over until light golden brown. Will keep in air tight container for 2-3 months.

* We added our own touch by adding flavor to the dough:
examples: 1/2 teaspoon pure lemon juice or lemon extract
                 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
                 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
                 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
                 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* If you want a softer cookie, then store in a ziploc bag*


Cereal Candy Recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 small box corn chex
1/2 small box rice chex
1/2 small box wheat chex
12 oz. blanched peanuts
6 oz. unsalted raw sunflower seeds
2-1/2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup dark karo syrup
2 squares plus 2 tablespoons margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Mix cereal,peanuts, sunflower seeds, and raisins in a large pan or bowl. In a heavy sauce pan bring the sugar, syrup, margarine, and vanilla to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Pour over cereal mixture. Spread out on waxed paper. After it sets up you can break apart to eat. It can be stored in plastic bags or buckets. Tastes better after a few days. Great for camping, holiday treats, and traveling.

THAT'S ITALIAN!!!!

One of greatest things about the holiday season, is planning and preparing a theme night for dinner! Here is another one of our themed dinners, that we hope you will use in your upcoming family traditions!

 Meat Manicotti Recipe:

8 manicotti shells
1 lb.ground beef
1/4 lb.Italian Sausage ( We like to use regular sausage)

1 cup mozzarella cheese(grated)
1 cup cheddar cheese(grated)
4 oz. cottage cheese
4 oz. Ricotta cheese
1/4 cup cracker crumbs (saltine)          
1 small onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 Tablespoon parsley flakes
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs beaten  

Directions:

Cook manicotti according to directions on the box. Saute onion and garlic- add meats and cook until done. (Drain) Add spices. Put meat into a bowl and add cheese, eggs, cottage cheese, crumbs, and parsley. Mix together and stuff into cooked noodles. Lay single layer in 9x13 pan. Pour sauce over top. Bake at 325 degrees covered for 30 min. and uncovered for 10 minutes.

Sauce: Bottled spaghetti sauce or use our homemade tomato sauce that is on our blog ,and add your favorite Italian spices to it.









Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe:

2 pkgs. jimmy dean sausage
1- 8 oz. pkg, cream cheese                          
1 bunch green onions minced
1 Tablespoon minced green pepper
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions: Brown sausage. Drain grease. Press into paper towels to get as much grease out as possible. Mix sausage with cream cheese, onion, green pepper, and parmesan. Clean mushrooms. Remove stems and fill with sausage mixture. Dip tops into Italian bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 min.







Seasoned Swirl Rolls-

24 frozen rolls
1 Tablespoon seasoning blend (we use Italian seasoning blend for pizza and pasta)
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon dried basil or parsley
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup melted butter

Directions: Combine seasoning blend, oregano, basil, and cheese. Roll each roll into 10 in. snake rope and brush all sides with melted butter. Sprinkle one side with herb mixture. Roll up rope into a ball, seasoned side in. Place in muffin tins sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with wrap and let rise to double the size. Remove wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min. Remove from pan to let cool.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cake

Cake Recipe:
Make a yellow cake mix, make 2 oblong cakes by splitting cake mix in half.
(If you want to make up both cakes do the following for each cake)

Frosting Recipe-
Combine:
1- 8 oz. pkg.cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar                                    


Mix:
2 pkg.dream whip


Add Dream whip and cream cheese mixture. Put until of cooled cake and refrigerate. Mix up and cook 1 large pkg. strawberry Danish dessert. (Use fruit variations: by using juice from frozen strawberries as part of water). After cooled add to packages. Frozen strawberries or 2 cups fresh strawberries. Cool and spread on top of cake and keep refrigerated.

Chinese Cuisine

With the holiday season upon us watch for some new party themed dishes, and of course treats of various kinds for sharing.



 For our first holiday themed night we included a fun Chinese New Year celebration! Check out the recipes below!

Chicken Ala King:

In a large pan cook:
2 squares of butter
1 cup chopped celery
1- 4 oz. can of mushrooms or 1/4 cup fresh mushrooms
2 cups chopped chicken

Whisk together and add:                                                          
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
chopped pimentos (optional)
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
Season to taste with onion salt, black pepper, garlic salt.


(We add a couple drops of yellow food coloring to add color)

Serve over rice with shredded cheese and oriental noodles.


Pot Sticker Filling:

Ingredients- makes about 40 pot stickers

2 gloves garlic minced
1/4 cup fine diced white onion
1 lb. ground beef
Add granulated garlic to taste
Add salt & pepper to taste
Add Tabasco sauce to taste
Add worcestershire sauce to taste
1 head of finely chopped cabbage
1 package pot sticker wraps
1 cup shredded carrots

Directions:
- Sweat the garlic cloves, and onions until translucent
- Add meat and cook until done
- Add granulated garlic, salt & pepper, tabasco sauce, and worcestershire sauce
- Let cool for 30 min.
- Add Cabbage
-Fill pot stickers
- Cook in canola oil until lightly brown
- Cool and Serve with soy sauce


Oriental Chicken Wings:

2 1/2 lbs. chicken wings
1 cup corn starch
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp/.garlic salt
2 eggs (beaten)

Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. accent

Discard wing tips, ( other pieces of the chicken can be used- adjust the cooking time accordingly) and then cut in half. Rub garlic on chicken and let sit for 30 minutes. Put corn starch in paper bag, put wings in bag and shake. Dip coated wings in beaten eggs. Then fry until golden brown. Combine sauce ingredients, pour over wings and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Festive Kabobs!

Shrimp Kabobs: Makes 12

Ingredients:

Shrimp- 1 bag frozen 

Lemons-3 

Limes-3

Vegetable Oil- 1 cup    

Olive Oil- 1 cup

Lemon Juice-1/2 cup

Rice Vinegar- 1/2 cup

Cayenne Pepper- 1 Tbsp.

Cavenders Seasoning- 1 Tbsp.

Directions:

Slice up lemons and limes. Place shrimp, Lemons, and Limes on skewers. In a bowl mix oils,lemon juice, vinegar, cayenne pepper, and cavenders seasoning. Place skewers in pan and pour mixer over the top. Keep in fridge over night.Cook on Grill and Enjoy!

Steak Kabobs: Makes 12

Ingredients:

Steak- 4 (use your favorite steak)       

Mushrooms- 1 package

Zucchini- 2 of them

Strawberry Vinagriette Dressing- 3/4 cup

Teriyaki Sauce- 1 cup

Directions: Slice of steak and Zucchini. Place Mushrooms,Zucchini, and Steak on skewers. Mix together Dressing, and Sauce. Place the skewers in pan and pour the mix over the top. Keep in fridge over night. Cook on Grill and Enjoy!

Chicken Kabobs: Makes 12

Ingredients:

6  boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 package mushrooms

3 red bell peppers

3 green bell peppers

3 orange bell peppers

1 package cherry tomatoes        

2 cans pineapple chunks

1 bottle Berstiens Italian dressing

Directions: Cut chicken into 1 in. squares. Cut bell peppers in squares, and place peppers and cherry tomatoes on skewers with chicken. On different skewers place chicken, pineapple, and cherry tomatoes.  Coat pineapple in brown sugar. Place both types of skewers in different pans and pour dressing over the top. Keep in fridge over night. Cook on Grill and Enjoy!

Sensational Side Dishes

Chicken Dill Salad-

Recipe:
12 oz.pkg. shell pasta
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
1 Tbs. dill weed
1 Tbs. onion salt
2 cups chicken-shredded  
2 cups red grapes
2 cups chopped celery
* Chill for 10-12 hours*

Directions:
1- Boil Chicken until done
2- Shred Chicken
3- Mix all other ingredients together in a bowl
4- Stir in chicken
5- Chill in Fridge


Oriental Salad-

Recipe:
1 Tbs. oil
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/4 tsp. sesame seeds
8 sliced green onions
2 packages ramen noodles, broken    
1 large cabbage, thinly sliced

Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. pepper
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp. accent

Directions:
1- Brown almonds and sesame seeds in 1 Tbsp. oil.
2- In a large bowl, combine onions, broken noodles, and cabbage
3- Stir in almonds and sesame seeds.
4- Mix dressing ingredients and pour over salad.
5- Refrigerate overnight


7-Layer Bean Dip-

Recipe:
1 large can refried beans
1- 8 oz. guacamole dip
1- 8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix            
1 cup shredded cheese
1 small can sliced olives
1 tomato diced
1 green onion sliced

Directions:
1- Spread refried beans on decorative plate
2- Add guacamole on top of beans
3- Mix taco seasoning with sour cream
4- Add sour cream mixture on top of guacamole
5- Add cheese, tomato,olives, and green onion on top
6- Refrigerate until ready to serve
* Serve with Nacho Cheese Doritos or Tortilla Chips*

Stress Free Weekend Meals!

BBQ 7-UP Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients:

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 bottles of favorite BBQ sauce or homemade BBQ sauce (recipe below)
1 can 7-UP

1: Put chicken breasts in crockpot
2:Pour BBQ sauce over the top (completely cover the chicken with sauce)
3: Pour the 7-UP over the top of the sauce and chicken
4: Seal up the liner, and cook for 4-6 hrs on high or for moisture chicken cook for 8-10 hrs on low

* This recipe is great to send with your missionary*

Homemade BBQ Sauce:

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced fine
2 Tbsp. oil
2 Tbsp. vinegar
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup ketchup
3 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. dried mustard
1 cup water
1 cup celery, diced fine
salt to taste


Directions:

1: Mix all ingredients in pan
2: Simmer for 30 min.

* This sauce is excellent over ribs, chicken, and steak*

BBQ Ribs Recipe:

Boil beef ribs in water,onion,salt,pepper,and celery stalk for 1 hr.
Place in dripper pan, and pour the BBQ Sauce above over the top
Bake at 350 degrees for 1-2 hours or Grill Ribs

Twice Baked Cheesy Potatoes:

Wash and Bake potatoes in oven at 375 degree oven for 1 hr. When done spoon out potato flesh into a bowl, and save the shells. Arrange on foil lined cookie sheet. Mash potatoes and add 1 stick butter, 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese. Add milk as needed to get the right potato consistency. Spoon mashed potatoes back into empty shells, and top with shredded mild cheddar cheese, chives, and slice olives. Place back into oven and bake for 15 min. or until cheese is melted. Serve hot with butter and sour cream


Grandmother Bingham's Favorite Meatloaf:

This meatloaf recipe has lasted through generations of being one of the many favorites when it comes to meal planning. We have also included our own touch in bringing out more of the flavors.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup instant oatmeal    

1 cup ketchup
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1: Put all ingredients in a bowl
2: Mix together with spoon or hands
3: Place in a sprayed 9x13 baking dish or form into 2 loaf pans
4: Drizzle with extra ketchup on top
5: Put sliced onions on top and sprinkle with salt & pepper
6: Bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hr.

* Variation: replace the 1 cup ketchup with 2 small cans of tomato sauce for moisture meatloaf*
* You may also replace tomato sauce with BBQ sauce

Scalloped Potatoes:

Ingredients:

6-8 washed and peeled potatoes diced
1 1/2 cup milk or cream
2 cups of shredded or cubed cheddar cheese  
1/2 cup dice onion or 1 tsp. onion salt
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1:Arrange diced potatoes in the bottom of baking dish
2: Pour milk or cream over the top
3: Add diced onion or onion salt, salt & pepper
4: Sprinkle cheese on top
5: Cover with foil and Bake at 375 degree oven for 1 1/2 hrs.










Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole Recipe:

Ingredients-

6 Sliced Yams cooked or 1 large can Yams
6 Sliced apples
1 teaspoon salt  
1 cup white sugar
2 cups water
1/4 lb butter
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Cinnamon to taste

Directions-
Cook yams until done, and slice into thin pieces.Slice up 6 apples in thin slices, Add the rest of the ingredients in a sauce pan until thickened. Layer yams, layer apples, and then repeat. Pour sauce over yams and Apple Layers in a 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 F degrees for 45 min. Serve at your holiday party or weekend meal!

Philly Steak Stuffed Bell Peppers

Philly Steak Bell Pepper Recipe:

Ingredients:

8 oz. flank steak, thinly sliced into bite-sized strips  

8 slices provolone cheese
2 large green bell peppers
1/2 red bell pepper diced
1 medium onions, diced
4 oz. mushrooms, sliced (optional)
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. fresh garlic.minced
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees
lightly spray a 9 x 11 in. pan
2: Slice peppers in half lengthwise, remove ribs and seeds
3: Place halves two at a time in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. The skin on the peppers will look lighter green after boiled. Remove from water and set aside on paper towel to drain off excess water.
4: In large skillet saute garlic, onions, and mushrooms until soft.
5: Add steak and soy sauce cooking until meat is brown
6: Place bell peppers open side up in casserole dish, and place a piece of provolone cheese in the bottom of each bell pepper
7: Put a spoon full of meat mixture into each bell pepper until it's all used up.
8: Put a piece of provolone cheese on top of each bell pepper
9: Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown. Serve hot!

The Ultimate Cookie Recipes

You will no longer need tons of different chocolate chip and sugar cookie recipes! With these two recipes you will never go back to any other recipe again, because these are AMAZING!!! Not only are they delicious, but they turn out perfect after being frozen for future use!

Sugar Cookie Recipe: Makes 3-4 dozen cookies

Ingredients-
1-1/2 cups softened butter

 1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk    
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups flour

Directions: Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in buttermilk. Add dry ingredients. Chill overnight. Roll out on floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 400 F for 7 minutes. Frost and Decorate.

Frosting Recipe:

1-lb. powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter
3 oz. cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
Enough milk to blend to desired consistency

NOTES:

*As shown in the picture we formed the sugar cookie dough into balls, and we freeze it for future use

* When your ready to use the sugar cookie dough, just pull out of the freezer and let it unfreeze at room temperature. Then you roll out the dough, and used cookie cutters to cut the cookies into fun shapes. Use the same temperature as shown in recipe for baking

* This frosting can be frozen for future use

                                             

Chocolate Chip Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 bag chocolate chips ( We used half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet chocolate chips)

Directions: Measure and combine dry ingredients. Combine butter and sugars in mixer. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla, Add dry ingredients slowly. Add 1 bag chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Notes:

* We also formed these cookies into balls, and placed them on the cookie sheet. When then placed the pan of cookies in the freezer. When frozen take the pan of cookies out of the freezer, and put in a plastic freezer bag for future use.

* When you take the frozen dough out of freezer, you put the cookies on the pan, and bake at 360 F for 10 minutes.

Fiesta Time!!!

We have a family tradition of the way we make tacos! We have used this method of tacos for a long time, and we have Taco Tuesday every week.

Taco Meat:

1 lb.- Ground Beef

2 cans- Chili (you can use your favorite kind)   

Directions: Cook ground beef until brown and drain. Add chili and smash the beans with a potato smasher.

Toppings:

Shredded Lettuce

Tomatoes

Shredded Cheese    

Sour Cream

Hot Sauce                                                   

Sliced Olives

Guacamole

* Serve with corn shells or flour shells*

Erin's Amazing Enchiladas:

1 can- Chili

1 jar- Pace Salsa (We use Medium Heat)

3 cups-Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 teaspoon- Onion Salt

1 can- Corn

1 box- Rice A Roni (We use chicken flavor)

Directions:

1- Preheat oven to 425 F 

2- Mix together Chili, Salsa, and 2 cups of Cheese

3- Spoon mix into flour tortillas and roll up (make sure you leave half the mixture left over)

4- Place enchiladas in a greased 9x13 pan

5- Pour the rest of the mix over the top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with the other cup of cheese

6- Make Rice A Roni following directions on box

7- Add corn when you add the water and seasoning to the rice

8- Cook Enchiladas and Rice A Roni for 15 min. and serve!!!

Rise and Shine it's PIZZA TIME!!!!

Finding the perfect pizza dough is one of the most important ingredients to making a perfect pizza every time! Not only is this wonderful dough excellent for pizza, but also for making our one of a kind cheesy garlic bread sticks. What we love about this dough is that you can make thin, hand-tossed, or deep dish pizza out of one recipe, and it turns out just right every time! Our pizza sauce is made from scratch using our freezer tomato juice from previous posts.

Mama Ter's Pizza Dough: makes 2 pizzas

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 Tbsp. yeast
1 Tbsp.sugar
1/2 tsp.salt                                                

3 Tbsp. oil
4 cups flour

Pizza Dough Directions: Dissolve yeast in warm water, and add a little sugar at a time until foamy (don't stir and let it sit for 5 min.) Add salt and oil to yeast mixture, and beat for a few minutes until smooth. Add 2 cups flour ,and beat until smooth. Add the rest of the flour, and add more as needed. Mix by hand until the dough is soft, non sticky, and all blended in. Knead for about 5 minutes, place in clean greased bowl. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let the dough raise for 1 hour. Meanwhile pre-heat oven to 425 F. Sprinkle a pizza stone with cornmeal or spray a pizza pan and then sprinkle cornmeal on it. Roll out dough, and then cover with sauce and pizza toppings. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

* For a variation you may substitute 1 Tbsp. of honey for 1 Tbsp. of oil for a sweeter crust. Another variation is you can spread butter on pizza dough before adding toppings for a richer buttery taste.

Teri's Rich Pizza Sauce:Makes enough for 4 pizzas

Ingredients:
1- 12 oz. can tomato paste
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 cups tomato juice(fresh tomato juice is the best)

Pizza Sauce Directions: Mix in a sauce pan, and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
 ( this sauce can also be frozen for future uses)


Garlic Cheese Bread Sticks:

Ingredients:
1 stick softened butter
Garlic Powder (sprinkle to desired taste)

1 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Enough pizza dough to cover 1 rectangle cookie sheet

Directions: Roll out dough on greased cookie sheet, spread softened butter evenly on dough. Sprinkle with garlic powder and cheese.Bake at 425 F for 10-15 min, until outside edges of crust are golden brown.

* Use pizza sauce for dipping sauce for bread sticks*

Comforting Home style Soups

During winter time one of our favorite family traditions is to gather around a big crockpot of our favorite soups,with an added touch of fast and easy breadsticks or moist homemade cornbread.

Creamy Chicken Soup Recipe-

Ingredients:

4- Boneless and Skinless Chicken Breasts 

1/2 cup- chicken granules ( or 4 cubes)             2- stalks of chopped celery

4- peeled potatoes (diced)

3- peeled carrots diced

1- green onion cut finely

2- 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup

1- cup sour cream

1- cup velveeta cheese

Directions:

-In a large pot of water add chicken breasts,1/2 cup chicken bouillon, and celery

- Boil until done

- Remove cooked chicken and put aside

- Add to chicken broth carrots, and green onions 

- Boil for 5 minutes, and add potatoes

- Boil until potatoes and carrots are tender

- Turn heat on low, and wait until soup stops boiling

- Add chopped chicken, sour cream,cream of chicken soup, and velveeta cheese

- Stir occasionally until sour cream and velveeta cheese are melted

- Transfer to crock pot set on warm and enjoy!

Notes: 

*Several of the ingredients in this chicken soup recipe can be made ahead , and kept in your freezer for those last minute meal ideas

*As shown in the picture large amounts of chicken can be cooked ahead of time with the chicken bouillon and celery. After chopping chicken into pieces place in freezer bags or containers

 (sprinkle additional chicken bouillon in bag with chicken, then place in freezer)

* You can melt velveeta cheese and cream of chicken soup in a saucepan ahead of time (stirring frequently until melted) Put in freezer containers and place in freezer

Fiesta Taco Soup-

Ingredients:

1 lb- hamburger

1/2 cup-onion finely chopped or 2 teaspoons onion salt

2- 16 oz. cans kidney beans drained

3- cups water

2- 8 oz. cans tomato paste

1- large can stewed tomatoes chopped or 2- 16 oz. cans diced tomatoes

1~ 2- packages of taco seasonings (to taste)

1- large can of corn

1- can sliced olives

Garnish with sour cream, corn chips, and grated cheese                             

Directions:

1- brown hamburger with onion and drain
2- add hamburger to crockpot

3- add kidney beans, water, tomato paste, tomatoes, and seasonings

4- set on low for 8 hrs.

5- stir occasionally

6- serve with chips, sour cream, and cheese

Quick and Easy Breadsticks-

Ingredients:

1- loaf rhodes bread dough

1- stick butter

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt    

1/2 teaspoon basil

2 cups parmesan cheese

Directions:

1- Remove Rhodes dough from freezer and place in plastic bag in fridge over night

2:- In the morning take dough out of fridge and place on counter to let raise

3- Roll out dough on greased surface in a rectangle shape

4- Slice dough in half horizontally and cut in strips vertically

5- Take a 9x13 pan and place on stove top on low, melt butter

6- Add garlic powder and basil

7: Remove from stove and take each bread stick and dip in melted butter 

8: Place in the same 9x13 pan 

9: Sprinkle with parmesan cheese on top

10: Let breadsticks raise for 1 hr ( cover with greased plastic)

11: Bake at 375 F for 15- 20 min, or until light brown on top

The BEST cornbread around-

Ingredients: 

1 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup corn meal

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg beaten

1/2 box yellow cake mix (made as directed on box)

Directions:

1- Mix above ingredients and add 1/2 box cake mix (made up as directed on package)

2- Mix together well (stirring only)

3- Pour into greased 9x13 baking pan

4- Bake at 400 F for 20-25 min. or until light brown

5- Drizzle with melted butter on top