Saucy Chicken and Vegetables

 

This is a super easy dish to prepare, especially if you are tired and don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  You can serve this meal with rice, potatoes, or dinner rolls.  Best of all, it is a one dish meal, so you don't have a lot of dirty dishes to wash.

Instead of using plain bread crumbs, add more flavor by using dried croutons or stuffing mix.  You can also cut the chicken up into strips or cubes.

Ingredients

1 Tbs. butter
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 boneless chicken breasts, skinned and halved
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 (16 oz.) pkg frozen broccoli cauliflower mix
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 tsp. thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. parsley flakes
1/8 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp. Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
1/3 bread crumbs

Directions

Sprinkle salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder over both sides of the chicken breasts. 

In a heavy cast iron skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and brown the chicken on all sides. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Add the frozen vegetables, onion, pepper and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté until crisp-tender and the frozen vegetables are no longer frozen. Return chicken to skillet.  In a small bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, thyme leaves, parsley flakes, paprika, celery seed, and Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning. Give it a taste to see if it needs more salt or pepper.  Pour over the chicken.  Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top.   Bake for 1 hour, or until chicken is fully cooked.

 Pumpkin Ice Cream Squares

Pumpkin isn't just for Halloween or Thanksgiving, it is good any time of the year. When you combine pumpkin and ice cream together, you get a delicious treat that is sure to please.  It is an easy dessert to put together and everyone will think it took you hours. You can add some nuts or cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. melted butter 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter together. Press in the bottom of a 9-inch square pan.  

Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool.

Prepare the rest of the dessert recipe when the crust is cool.

Ingredients

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. cloves
1 qt. vanilla ice cream, softened

Directions

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin , brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves together.  

Fold in ice cream.  

Pour the pumpkin mixture over the cooled graham cracker crust. Cover and place in the freezer. when the mixture if firm, cut into squares. 

Set out 20 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream and pecans if desired.

 Marble Squares

If you are looking for a soft, chewy cookie bar that is loaded with chocolate and marbled throughout the dough, then this recipe is perfect. It is so much easier then making individual cookies and they are the perfect treat for any time of the day.

Ingredients

8 oz. cream cheese
1/3 c. sugar
1 egg

Directions

Combine softened cream cheese, and sugar.  Add egg and mix well.  Set aside. 

Ingredients

1/2 c. butter or margarine
3/4 c. water
5 Tbs cocoa
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
6 oz. chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. 

In a saucepan, combine butter, water and cocoa.  Cook and stir until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat.

Stir in flour and sugar until thoroughly combined. 

Add the eggs, sour cream, soda and salt.  Mix well.

Pour into the prepared pan. 

Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the batter.  Cut through the mixture with a dull knife to give it a marbling effect throughout the bars. 

Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

 Banana Cake With Brown Sugar Frosting

If you find bananas on sale or just wondering what to make with them, this cake recipe is sure to please. It’s moist, delicious and so easy to prepare. It is a good way to use those over-ripe bananas and a nice switch from making banana bread. 

Ingredients

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed up
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. chopped nuts, (Optional)

Frosting

1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
6 Tbs. milk
2 1/2 to 3 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 

Mix in the bananas, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. 

Alternately, add some of the flour and then some of the buttermilk, beating well after each addition. 

Stir in the nuts if desired.

Bake for 25 to 30  minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow the cake to cool. 

Prepare the frosting.

In a saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar and milk.  Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool until the mixture is lukewarm. 

Stir in the vanilla. With a mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer to high speed and beat until the frosting reaches the right consistency for spreading on your cake. 

Chili Beef Cottage Pie 

 

This recipe is a chili base with mashed potatoes and melted cheese over the top.  Some people drain the kidney beans, but I do not. To me, it adds flavor. You can also use a package of chili seasoning if you have one handy and omit the chili, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

Ingredients

1 lb. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (15 oz.) can mixed vegetables, drained or 1 pkg. frozen vegetables
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 Tbs. cumin ( you can use less, but we like the taste of cumin)
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 c. beef stock or broth
2 1/2 c. to 3 cups mashed potatoes
1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. 

In a large cast iron skillet, combine the hamburger, onion, and garlic cloves. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Stir in the mixed vegetables, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and beef stock or broth. Cook and stir until bubbling and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat.

Spoon the mashed potatoes over the hamburger mixture and smooth it so they to cover the top.

Bake for 25 minutes. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake until cheese melts. 

* You can transfer this to a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or casserole dish instead of keeping it in the cast iron skillet..

 Mashed Potato and Beef Hot Dish

 This recipe is another easy to make dish. It is also a great way to use up left over potatoes instead of throwing them away because no one will eat them.  You can also add some cheese over the mashed potatoes toward the end of cooking time.

Ingredients

5 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 c. warm milk
1 beaten egg
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet pepper. chopped
1 Jalapeno pepper, chopped (Optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 can french cut green beans, drained
1 can tomato soup, condensed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Fill a pot with water and add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt. Add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are tender, but still firm. This can take about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Using a potato masher or electric mixer, beat the potatoes on low speed. Slowly pour in the warm milk and then add the egg. Continue beating on a higher speed until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Taste the potatoes and add salt and pepper to your liking.

While the potatoes are cooking, begin to prepare the ground beef mixture.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef, onion, sweet pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Drain the excess grease off. 

Stir in the green beans and tomato soup.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the ground beef mixture into a casserole dish. 

Spoon the mashed potatoes into mounds over the top of the meat mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.

 Buttery Yeast Dinner Rolls

Homemade yeast rolls are a wonderful way to treat yourself and your family. They bake up soft and light and are the perfect accompaniment to any meal.  They can also be a meal in themselves. Cut them in half and slather on some butter.  You can also use them for hamburger buns. 

Ingredients

1 Tbs. yeast
1/3 c. sugar
2 1/4 c. warm water
3 eggs
3/4 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. dry milk
1 tsp. salt
7 1/2 to 8 c. flour *

Directions

Grease two 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and water. Stir to dissolve the yeast and sugar, and then place the bowl in a warm location for 10 minutes, so the yeast can bloom. 

Add the eggs, butter, dry milk, salt and 1-cup flour. Beat with a wooden spoon for a minute or two until they are thoroughly combined. 

Add the remaining flour, a cup at a time, stirring until it forms a soft dough. When it gets too hard to stir, turn out the dough onto a floured surface.  Knead in the rest of the flour.  Knead for 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. 

Place the dough in a greased bowl. Turn the dough over so the top is greased. This prevents the dough from drying out. I usually put my dough in the same bowl that I mixed it in and pour a little oil over the top of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm location. It can take about 90 minutes for it to rise until doubled in size. 

Punch the dough down and turn out on to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 36 pieces.

Form the dough into balls.  Divide the dough buns between the 2 baking pans. Brush the tops with oil and place in a warm location to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. *

Preheat the oven to 375°.  Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.   Brush the tops with butter.

Tips

The amount of flour depends on the type of flour and the humidity in the air.  Some days you will use less and some days you will use more flour. 

I have a stove/oven that uses a pilot light.  What I do is I place the dough in the oven to rise.  On the last rising, when the rolls are formed and ready to be baked, I leave them in the oven until doubled in size.  Then, I turn the oven on and allow the extra heat to help the dough rise more, so they are lighter and fluffier. 

To cut down the mess on buttering the tops of the baked rolls, remove the wrapper over part of the stick of butter.  Run the exposed part of the butter stick over the hot rolls.