Chicken with Wild Rice Soup

I am simmering this as I post and my kids are begging for more.  I had them sample it and their mouths are watering!  This recipe is from allrecipes.com

1/2 cup butter
1 finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups chicken broth (I used chicken stock concentrate)
2 Cups cooked wild rice (the grocery store was out of bags of wild rice?  So I bought the Uncle Ben's wild rice that cooks in the microwave in 1 minute.  Made it very simple)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and cubed
1/2 tsp. salt (I didn't add this)
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. mustard powder
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup slivered almonds (I didn't add this)
3 T. dried sherry (I used 3 T orange juice)
2 cups half-and-half  (I used 1c. fat free)

Melt butter in a large sauce pan saute onions, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes.  Add mushrooms and saute for 2 more minutes.  Turn heat down to simmer and slowly add flour and whisk briskly until all flour is added.  Slowly add broth, stirring constantly until all is added. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer.

Next add the rice, chicken, and salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley, ground black pepper, almonds and sherry.  Allow to heat through at a low to medium heat.  Then add half-and-half and stir well.  Let simmer for 1-2 hours.  (Note: DO NOT BOIL or your roux will break.)

Yummy Lowfat Chili

I found this a couple of years ago when searching online for "yummy chili." This is a Weight Watchers recipe.  It says one serving is 2 points and the serving size is 1 cup.

1 lb. of 93% lean ground beef
1 can kidney beans
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can corn (We like white shoepeg corn.  It is crunchier gives a nice texture)
1 - 4 ounce can chopped green chilis
1 can fat free Refried beans
1 - 15 ounce can chopped-diced tomatoes
1 - 16 ounce can tomato sauce
1 large onion
1 cup water (I don't always add this....we like our chili thick.)
1 package taco seasoning
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch DRESSING mix (NOT buttermilk one)

Directions:
Chop onion and brown ground beef.  Add the rest of the ingredients (DO NOT DRAIN ANYTHING)
Bring to a boil over medium heat and then simmer for 15 minutes.  ENJOY!

Prep time -10 minutes  Cook time - 25 minutes    Serves - 8 to 10

White Chicken Chili

4 Cups Northern Beans (I used 5 cups)
2 lbs Chicken Cubed (I used 3 small breasts and cubed them while they were defrosting - makes it a lot easier)
1 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth (I use Chicken stock concentrate)
1 medium onion chopped
2 - 4 oz cans green chilis
2 T. cumin
1 1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 1/2 Cups Cream

Put it all in crock pot together on low for 6-8 hours.  SOOOOOOO YUMMY!  I doubled this and froze half of it.  When we defrosted it I added another can of beans and the green chilis.  I didn't add the chilis the first time because I was afraid it would be too spicy for our kids but it wasn't even spicy once I added them, just added a great flavor.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

I know that we've entered December, so maybe no one is still in the mood for pumpkin. BUT if you are like me and still have some in your garage....this might be my MOST favorite dessert EVER.

Bread Pudding

2 cups half and half

15 oz pure pumpkin

1 cup (packed) plus 2 TBS dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I never have this so I used half ginger/half nutmeg)

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

10 cups of 1/2 in cubes of egg bread

(I don't know where to find egg bread. Great Harvest Cinnamon Chip is the best in this recipe, but I have also used a dense loaf of cinnamon swirl bread from my grocery store.)

(And I just cut it up until it mostly fills a 9x12in pan, I've never measured 10 cups)

Caramel Sauce

1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar (I used light last time and it was fine)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup whipping cream

For bread pudding: Preheat oven to 350*F. Whisk half and half, pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, spices and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Fold in bread cubes. Transfer mixture to a 9x12in glass baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake pumpkin bread pudding until tester entered into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare caramel sauce: Whisk brown sugar and butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Whisk in cream and stir until sugar dissolves and sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes.

Serve bread pudding warm, spoon caramel sauce over individual servings.

I would say it serves up to 12 people. Pictured above are two left over slices, which we ate cold. It is also delicious cold from the fridge.

Fluffy French Toast

I got this recipe from AllRecipes website and it is the tastiest French Toast I have ever made.  My kids can't get enough of it and I make extra at breakfast so we can pop the left overs in the toaster for lunch.  Super Easy and SOOOOO worth it!

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white sugar
12 thick slices bread

Directions
1.Measure flour into a large mixing bowl. Slowly whisk in the milk. Whisk in the salt, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar until smooth.
2.Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium heat.
3.Soak bread slices in mixture until saturated. Cook bread on each side until golden brown. Serve hot.

Romantic Potatoes

Romantic Potatoes a.k.a. Fleming's Steakhouse Potatoes (from the RecipeZaar)

My husband has made these potatoes for our Valentine's dinner for the last three years. I love it!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, flakes
• 2 teaspoons finely ground white pepper
• 1 small jalapeno, seeds removed and minced
• 3 ounces leeks, chopped (white part only)
• 3 cups grated good quality cheddar cheese
• 4 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray bottom and sides of a 9x12 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Place cream, half-and-half, salt and pepper in a heavy sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.
4. Place jalapeno, leeks and cheese in a large mixing bowl, add cream and mix thoroughly.
5. Add potatoes and mix.
6. Spread potato mixture evenly in prepared baking dish, cover tightly with foil and bake 45 minutes.
7. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes or until browned and potatoes are tender.

Applesauce Muffins

Something about these cold snowy days has made me think of lots of excuses to turn the oven on. Today I decided I wanted to try to new recipe, but I wanted something easy. I found this recipe on Rebecca Cooper's blog and thought it sounded good, Applesauce Muffins. I had all the ingredients on hand already, so no need to run to the store. I thought they were really good.

This is her photo:

Here's her recipe (with a couple of edits):

Applesauce Muffins

1/2 cup room temperature butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cups applesauce
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

topping

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon (I like cinnamon, so I actually used a full tsp.)

Cream butter & sugar. Beat in eggs until fluffy. Add applesauce. Sift in dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Scoop batter into 12 muffin papers, or greased muffin tin. Bake at 350f until tops are golden brown, about 15-18 minutes. While muffins are still warm, dip tops in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Turkey Pom-Poms

This is a recipe that I got at a Relief Society recipe exchange a couple summers ago.  I tried it for the first time last night with left-over Thanksgiving turkey that was in my freezer.  It was pretty easy and my kids really LOVED them (especially my 5 year old son, I lost track of how many he ate).  They certainly aren't fancy. 

The two on the right were rolled in seasoned bread crumbs, the two on the left were not. 

I made a half batch of the recipe below and it made about 25 2" diameter pom-poms.  Also, I ended up adding a lot more cooked rice than it called for in order to be able to form into balls (maybe I didn't let the mixture thicken enough??).  I was thinking that you could probably just put the mixture into a casserole dish with some seasoned bread crumbs on top, a cracker or potato chip topping, or additional cheese and serve it like that, too.

1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 TBS poultry seasoning
1 TBS salt
4 cups broth or water
1 cup dry milk powder
6 cups cooked rice
5 cups diced turkey or chicken
2/3 cup grated cheese

Saute celery and onion in butter until transparent. Blend in flour and seasoning. Remove from heat. Add broth. Sift dry milk slowly into mixture. Beat until smooth. Return to heat. Stir until it thickens. Mix sauce with rice, turkey, and cheese. Form into balls. Can roll in bread crumbs if you like. Cook in greased baking dish for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F. They freeze well.

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

I found this recipe on the back of a package of Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas and modified it a bit. My family really loved it. It was quick and healthy.

6 whole wheat tortillas, warmed
1/2 package taco seasoning
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 cup water
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 avocado
1/2 cup ranch dressing, prepared
Hot sauce, to taste
2 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (I didn't use this)
3/4 cup carrots, shredded
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
romaine lettuce, chopped

Combine taco seasoning, oil and 1/4 cup water to make marinade. Add chicken.

In small bowl, mash avocado into small chunks and mix with ranch dressing until smooth.

Remove chicken from marinade and cook in a saute pan until cooked through.

Build tacos with chicken, carrots, cilantro, lettuce, and the avocado ranch dressing.

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Kim Edwards invited me to contribute to this blog a year ago and I'm finally posting a recipe. I am giving these cookies as Christmas gifts this year.


Don't they look good?

Chocolate Mint Cookies

(I am adding my own notes to the original recipe because I made so many of these cookies, I learned some things along the way.)

Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs
2 cups (1 bag) chocolate chips
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 boxes Andes mints (The official name is Andes Thins Crème de Menthe)

Directions:
Stir butter, brown sugar, and water in small saucepan over low-medium heat until just melted. Remove pan from heat. Stir in the chocolate chips. (I think Guittard Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the best.) Keep stirring until chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

While that's cooling, beat the eggs in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Then add the eggs to the cooled chocolate-butter-sugar. Finally add the flour mixture. Stir by hand with a large spoon until there are no visible streaks of flour.

Chill dough in refrigerator for 45 minutes or more. How cold the dough is will determine the finished cookie. If you want the cookies to be thinner and crisper, keep the dough a little warmer. If you want the cookies thicker and chewier, keep the dough very cold.

Preheat oven to 350 f.

Roll the dough into 1 tablespoon size balls. I use a Pampered Chef scoop which makes the job much easier. Flatten the dough balls slightly and place 12 on a cookie sheet. Parchment paper is a good idea for this recipe because when the mint drips off the cookie, you don't have to wash the cookie sheet before you do the next batch.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. I thought 9 minutes was perfect. While the cookies are baking, unwrap the Andes mints. I gave my kids this job because they can't really mess it up (other than eat too many of them).

When the timer goes off (or a little before), open the oven and slide the rack out, quickly put a mint on the center of each cookie with the writing side up (if it's writing side down the mint tends to slip off). Then put the rack back and let the cookies sit in the oven another 15-20 seconds. Take the cookie sheet out and set it on your cook top or counter and use the back of a spoon (or an off-set spatula if you're feeling fancy) and stir the mint around the top of the cookie like icing.

Allow to cool (I put mine on cooling racks, but you don't have to). I think they are best fresh out the oven, but they are still good the next day. Enjoy!