Coconut Almond Crisp

This recipe I got from a sister in law a couple years ago. It is delicious and reminds me of fried ice cream.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

On baking sheet place:
1 1/2 C Coconut
1 C Almonds, chopped
Put in oven and turn/stir every few min until golden brown.

In a large bowl mix tog:
1 1/2 C brown Sugar
3 C. Rice Krispies
and coconut/almond mixture

Melt 1 stick Butter and pour over all the other ingredients. Mix tog well.

Lightly spray a 9x13. Press 1/2 the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Take a 1/2 Gal of Ice cream and peel down the sides of the carton. Slice the ice cream in 1 1/2" thick slices. Lay the ice cream evenly over the mixture in the bottom of the pan to fill the whole pan side to side. Top with the other 1/2 of mixture and refreeze before serving.
We just like it plain but you may wish to serve it with Chocolate sauce and whipped cream or Danish Dessert.

Green Chilies and Chicken

So the other day I was making Chicken Enchiladas for dinner. I hate when you boil chicken and it is all tough so I had this idea: I will put it in my crock pot- that also would heat up my house less than boiling water. So I put the chicken, a can of green chilies and some spices like cumin and such in the crock pot with a couple Tablespoons of water and a dash of chicken bullion. Let that do it's thing all day then shredded it up and added it to my enchilada mixture. It was delicious. Since then I have done the same thing again but used it in Chicken Tacos. I also added limes to it and sprite and cilantro and made Chicken Cafe Rio style salads. The possibilities are endless. You could just eat it as Chicken breasts or tenders, and not shred it. Yum! Experiment with it, let me know what you come up with and how you like it?

"Funder and Lightming"

It has been a rainy weekend complete with as my 3 year old says "Funder and Lightming" so for dinner today we are having my dad's Famous and Award Winning Chili. He won the church Chili Bake off so many years in a row he felt bad and stopped bringing it to give someone else a chance to win. It has perfect flavor and is a no fail recipe. Super easy and quick to prepare.

Dad's Award Winning Microwave Chili
Saute together:
1 med Onion, chopped
½ C. Celery, chopped
1 lb Hamburger
Add: 2 cans (15 ½ oz) Kidney beans
1 can (3 oz) Tomato Sauce
1 can (28 oz) Whole Tomatoes
1 t. Chili Powder
1 t. Salt
1/8 t. Cayenne Pepper
1/8 t. Garlic Powder
Mix all together in Microwave safe dish and microwave for 13-20 min. (I usually just put it on the stove top and simmer it for a while instead of in the microwave).
Today I am using my crock pot, I sauteed the hamburger, onion and celery together and added everything to my crock pot. It will be ready whenever we are ready to eat, I am giving it a few hours.

A lot of the times I am not a recipe follower. I just throw in what ever I want. This Corn bread is a recipe I have never measured or written down, just add stuff till it looks the right consistency.

Creamy Corn Corn Bread
box of Corn Bread Mix
some of the liquid called for on the box
box of Yellow Cake Mix
some of the liquid, oil and eggs called for on the cake mix box
Can of Creamy Corn
Option: for a spicy kick add a Can of Green Chilies

Bake as directed probably on the cake mix, either in a 9 x 13 or in muffin tins. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Enjoy!

Birthday Cakes!

I LOVE to plan and throw parties. All parties must have a theme. I find it ironic since I grew up with a mother who HATED Birthday parties, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers any thing of the sort. To me it is NOT about getting presents but about putting together a gathering of family and friends that is a blast and being together. I am beyond excited for Millie's 5th birthday where I am planning a Carnival Party. It will be her first friends party and I am even putting on the invites no gifts please, we won't have time for that (and besides we have no more room in this cramped space). I decided since I have not been cooking lately to have pictures of recipes to post instead I will post about all the birthday cakes I have made for my kids' birthdays.

For Millie's first birthday it was a polka dot party. This was my first attempt at a birthday cake and at fondant. It is weird stuff and all I used it for was the polka dots!

For her 2nd birthday we had a fishy or as she called them "bishy" party. I loved this cake and thought it was adorable. For Millie's 3rd birthday we did a dress up/ tea party. I found the "how to" on making a cake purse and thought it turned out great! For Xander's first birthday we had a cousin Jungle Animal party and I made him this cute tiger.

We celebrated with his cousin Ryan while on vacation at Bear Lake so I made Ryan a basketball cake.

We were back in Arizona for Xander's actual birthday so fir our little family celebration we invited Grams over and I made him this adorable Elephant.

For Millie's 4th birthday. We had a butterfly party. I shaped and frosted the butterfly and then Millie decorated it ALL by herself. She was so proud of it! I was surprised she tried to make it match on both sides. She did a great job.
For Xander's 2nd birthday we had a Treasure Hunt Party. That was a blast. His treasure chest cake was a challenge but turned out okay.

Black Bean Soup

Thank you Amber for this amazingly delicious recipe. My camera is on the fritz so I don't have pictures but this is what we are having for dinner tonight.

Black Bean Soup
1 ½ T Oil
1 ¼ C Onion, chopped
½ t. Garlic, minced
3 cans Black Beans, drained
3 C Water
1 ¼ t Cumin
2 Cups canned, diced Tomatoes, not drained
1/8 t Cayenne Pepper
2 ¾ t Chicken Bullion
6 oz. canned, diced green Chilies
1 ½ T Lemon Juice

In a large pot, heat oil. Cook Onion and Garlic until tender. Drain beans and mash 1/3 of them. Add ALL beans, water, spices, undrained Tomatoes, Chicken Bullion and Chilies. Stir Well. Simmer 15-20 min. About 10 min. before eating add Lemon Juice.
Serve with a dollop of Sour Cream.

At Halloween last year, I hallowed out a pumpkin and poured this in it after it was cooked and called it Bat Dropping Soup. It was great for our Halloween party.

Tatar Tot Casserole

1 lb Hamburger sauteed with one Onion, chopped. Seasoned with Garlic Salt, Oregano, Pepper, etc. When cooked thoroughly, stir in 1 can Cream of Celery Soup and 1/2 the soup can of water. Cream together and pour into 9x13.

Layer on Tatar Tots. Top with Grated Cheese.
Bake 350 for 30-40 min. until cheese is melted and heated through.

Xander "Mmmm, this is Alicious!"

Millie "This is so hot, I better hork it down!"

I don't know who taught her that but it was really funny.

From Salad to Dessert- A Complete Meal

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to take dinner to a cute new couple in our ward who just had there first baby. (A girl! How fun) When I take dinner to someone, I like to make sure that I use dishes that they don't have to return because, that is a pain(for them)! So simply use disposable, paper, aluminum pans, etc. Make there lives as easy as possible, isn't that the main reason you are taking dinner in anyway?
So here is the menu: Chicken Almond Casserole, Layered Jell-o, Bread Sticks, Green Salad, and Cheese Cake for Dessert

Chicken Almond Casserole

3 Chicken Breasts, cooked and cubed
Make sauce with the following:
1 C. Celery, chopped 1 ½ C. Cooked Rice
1 can Cream of Chicken 1 can Cream of Celery
3 T. Onion, very finely chopped 2 T Lemon Juice
3/4 C Mayo
Butter or grease 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Combine chicken with sauce mixture and spread into pan.
Topping:
½ C Cornflakes ¾ C Almonds
Butter to moisten. Sprinkle topping on. Refrigerate overnight
(I don’t do this though the recipe says so. I just cook it without refrigerating.)
Bake 300˚ 1 hour (½ hour covered, ½ hour uncovered)
**This is also good with ham, hamburger or shrimp.**

Cutting, mixing, measuring (above)

and the final product. (below)

A Aluminum Pie Pan of casserole for them and Corelle Ware for us!Layered Jell-o

2 small boxes of Jell-o (in different or the same flavors)

2 1/2 C water, divided

1 container of Yoplait Yogurt (about 2/3 C)

Boil 1 Cup of water, stir in a box of jell-o to dissolve

(I used Island Pineapple, I also doubled this recipe)

Whisk in the yogurt (I used French Vanilla)until smooth

pour in to dishes and refrigerate until set, it takes about 30-45 minutes.

As soon as you put the first layer in the fridge, boil another cup of water and dissolve the second box of Jell-o ( I used Strawberry). After it is dissolve add 1/2 C Cold Water. Then just sit it on the back burner or on a hot pad to chill out while it waits it turn.

When the first layer is set up, pour in the second layer, since it has already cooled off it will not take nearly as long to set up. Top with cool whip or Whipped Cream and garnish!

Again this was a container they didn't need to return.

Green Salad

Romaine Lettuce, torn

Carrots

Avocado

Celery

Tomatoes

Hard Boiled Egg

Croutons
A small container of Ranch Dressing

Bread Sticks

1 T Yeast
1 ½ C. Warm Water
2 T Sugar
3 ½ C Flour
½ t Salt
Knead 3 minutes. Let rise 10 min.
Melt ¼ C Butter in 9x13 pan. Roll out dough to fit in pan, put in pan. Let rise 10 more min. Score down the middle, the long way, and then across into how ever thick you want your bread sticks. Sprinkle with Garlic Salt, Seasoning Salt & Salad Supreme.
Bake 320° for 20 min.

For them (What it looks like uncooked)

For Us (After being cooked)

Dad’s Favorite Cheese Cake

Cream Together:
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 C Powdered Sugar
1 t Vanilla

After those ingredients are mixed together very well, fold in:
1 12 oz container of Cool WhipMillie always helps in the kitchen, especially if it means she gets to lick something!Pour into 2 Graham Cracker Pie Crusts. (We always just do the store bought ones.)
I did mini ones for them.
Chill for a couple of hours. Top with your favorite pie filling.

**Dad’s is Blueberry or Raspberry.**

This was Boysenberry Pie Filling.