Friday, July 29, 2011

Anniversary Chicken

Everyone raves about this recipe, and it's just too easy! I found Anniversary Chicken, and am I ever so glad! All Recipes has provided our family with many ideas for superb meals. Don't let the name of the recipe fool you. I serve it often......not just for anniversaries. ☺

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Suzie's Rice Casserole

A dear friend from Kentucky shared this recipe with me many years ago. It's a nice complement in place of potatoes...EASY AND YUMMY!!!

Ingredients:

2 cans chicken broth
2 cups instant rice
1 green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
2 jars sliced mushrooms
1 stick butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring broth to boil, stir in rice and set aside.
3. Saute pepper, onion and mushrooms (do not drain) in stick of melted butter.
4. Mix vegetables and rice in large casserole dish.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cheesy Bacon Green Bean Casserole Pot Pie

Although I am not a fan of traditional green bean casserole, I found a delicious Cheesy Bacon Green Bean Casserole Pot Pie that is quite the side dish! It is very popular at our house. The only revision I make is using canned Italian cut green beans...just because we like that particular green bean. Take a few minutes to check out Picky Palate. Jenny's recipes are absolutely the best!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Fresh Broccoli Salad

I found this delicious Fresh Broccoli Salad at one of my favorite"go to" recipe websites... All Recipes.

Here's my easy version...we love it!

2 heads fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
1 medium red onion, chopped
3/4 bag Oscar Mayer bacon pieces (not bits)
3/4 c. raisins
3/4 c. sliced almonds

Dressing:
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. sugar
2 TBSP. white wine vinegar

Directions:
1. Blend all dressing ingredients until smooth.
2. Stir everything together (including dressing)
3. Refrigerate.

Stuffed Strawberries

Ingredients:

1 pint fresh strawberries
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar (or to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or to taste)

Directions:

1. Cut the tops off each strawberry and stand upright on the cut side.
2. Make 2 (criss cross) cuts 3/4 of the way down from the tip of the strawberry towards the bottom.
3. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Place cream cheese mixture into a piping bag with a star tip, and pipe into each strawberry.
5. Arrange on a serving platter for a pretty display.

Cracker Barrel's Green Beans

This copycat recipe for Cracker Barrel Green Beans is as close to Cracker Barrel's version I've ever made...YUMMY!

Ingredients:

1/4 lb sliced bacon
3 (14 1/2 ounce) cans green beans, with liquid
1/4 yellow onion
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon until lightly brown but not crisp.
2. When bacon has browned, add green beans.
3. Add salt, sugar and pepper and mix well.
4. Place onion on top of green beans.
5. Cover saucepan with a lid and bring to a light boil.
6. Turn heat down to low and simmer beans for 45 minutes

Strawberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

2 premade graham cracker crusts
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen sweetened strawberries, thawed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 eggs
1 tablespoon water

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, combine strawberries and cornstarch; cover and process until smooth.
2. Pour into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Boil (and stir) for 2 minutes.
4. Set aside 2/3 cup strawberry sauce to cool.
5. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce for serving.
6. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
7. Gradually beat in milk.
8. Add lemon juice; mix well.
9. Add eggs to cream cheese, and beat on low just until combined. Be careful! If mixed too much, the cheesecake will crack when baking.
10. Pour half of the cream cheese mixture over the crusts.
11. Drop half of the reserved strawberry mixture by 1/2 teaspoons on cream cheese layer.
12. Spoon remaining cream cheese mixture over sauce.
13. Drop remaining strawberry sauce by 1/2 teaspoons on top.
14. With a knife, cut through top layer only to swirl strawberry sauce.
15. Bake at 300 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set.
16. Cool on a wire rack for about an hour.
17. Refrigerate overnight.
18. Thin chilled strawberry sauce with water if desired, and serve with cheesecake.

BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
16 oz. box pasta (I use medium shells.)
1 1/2 bags pre-cooked Oscar Mayer bacon pieces
2 cups ranch dressing (Light ranch is good too.)~ may need a little more if dry
1 small onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 - 2 heads chopped Romaine lettuce

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to box directions, and drain.
2. Mix all ingredients together for a tasty summer pasta salad.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

7-Up Biscuits

These biscuits are very good...light and fluffy! You can find the 7-Up Biscuit recipe at one of my favorite cooking blogs.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Cooking Bacon ~ The Easy Way!

This is, by far, the easiest and cleanest way to cook bacon.


1. Lay bacon in a 9x13 dish. DO NOT overlap the pieces of bacon. I usually use two 9x13 dishes, so I can cook the entire pound of bacon at one time.


2. Put both dishes in a cold oven.


3. Set oven at 400 degrees.


4. Set timer for 25-30 minutes.


5. Voila'! The bacon is crispy, and it hasn't shriveled up either. PERFECT BACON!


6. The clean up is a breeze too!