Easiest Peach Cobbler

Summer time equals cobbler time!! I found this recipe in our ward cook book.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup of flour
1 T of baking powder
1 can of peaches

Melt a cube of butter in a pan @350 degrees. Place batter in the pan. Put the sliced peaches on top of the batter and melted butter.
Bake @ 350 for 1 hour. Serve with cool whip or vanilla ice cream.

Homeade Dumpling Soup

I told Alisha I would post my favorite soup. It is super super easy and so good!!!

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breast
1 bag of frozen california blend veggies
2 cans of chicken broth
seasoned salt

throw all ingredients in crock pot and shake in some seasoned salt. Cook on high for 4 hours. When chicken is cooked pull it out shred it and put it back in soup.

Dumplings

1 cup of flour
1 egg
milk

mix egg and flour add milk until dough like.

boil a pot of water dip a spoon into boiling water and then in dough and back into water. Dough will slip off spoon into water. Repeat until all the dough is used. Dumplings are done when they float to the top. Drain and add to soup.

Eat and enjoy

Ravioli Filling

I made ravioli for the first time on Sunday and had to call mom for the filling ingredients so I figured I'd put them up here.

Ingredients:

2 large Chicken Breasts
1 container of Ricotta Cheese
1 box of frozen spinach
Italian Bread Crumbs
1 egg

Directions:

Cook the chicken breasts and chop it up with a chopper. Defrost the spinach and try to get most of the water out of it. Then put all the ingredients in a bowl, mix together. As far bread crumbs go, I just added some until it looked good. We all know that mom used to split the two up and have spinach ravioli, and chicken ravioli, but now she just mixes it all together. To split them up, the spinach and ricotta cheese go together in one bowl, while the chicken, breadcrumbs and egg go in another bowl. Also, I'm kind of guessing on portions for the chicken and egg. This is what I did and it turned out great, it made a lot, but tasted great.

The best way to burger

How to make a perfect burger

I found this in one of my magazines and since I am married to a major burger lover I thought I could always use a little help bettering the burger. Casey ,being to amazing grilling man that he is probably already knows all of these tips but I thought the rest of us could try them.

1-Mix meat and other ingredients lightly by hand until just blended -then stop. Over handling can cause meat to turn tough.


2- Lean meats light chicken and beef need extra moisture from the inside, so mold patties around cheese or salsa. Or build your burger around an ice cube to keep them moist.

3-When forming the burger patties, make them uniform in both size and thickness so they'll cook in the same amount of time. Also press your thumb into the center of a meat patty to form a quarter inch depression. the meat will expand to the indentation which will keep the burger flat and help it cook evenly

4-Lightly coat burger with olive oil or vegetable oil to lock in the juices and prevent sticking

HAPPY GRILLING EVERYONE!!!!

Avocado Black Bean Salad

Ingredients

2 cups chopped romaine lettuce hearts
1 avocado, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 T diced green onion
1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed
1T diced fresh cilantro
1 T olive oil
2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp lime zest
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper

In large bowl toss together lettice,avocado,tomato,beans,green onions and cilantro.
In a small bowl mix olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper.
Pour dressing over salad and toss well to coat

Simple Strawberry Dessert

Okay, you will just have to trust me on this one because I know it may not sound all that appetizing but it really is. I first had these from a little old lady I used to do therapy on. She invited us over for lunch and this is what she served us for dessert. All you do is take a strawberry, dip it in sour cream, then in brown sugar and eat. She says it is best to chill the plates first so there ya go. Give 'em a try!

Decisions, decisions.....binky or strawberry?

Monkey Bread

I got this recipe from a friend and I have not tried it but I want to. It is a really good dessert bread.

You can either use Rhodes Rolls or use your own bread dough.

Ingredients:
Bread dough
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 3/4 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C evaporated milk
3/4 C butter

Directions:
Mix cinnamon with 3/4 C sugar. Cut 1 loaf of bread dough into 64 pieces and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Mix 1 C sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk and butter in sauce pan; bring to a boil. layer 1/3 of the rolls on the bottom of a greased bunt pan, pour 1/3 of the sauce over the rolls. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 min.

Chili Lime Chicken

Hello from California! I found this recipe in one of Andy's mom's cook books. I'm excited to try it, and its healthy!

Ingedients

For the chicken:

2-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz chicken broth
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1-2 limes, freshly squeezed

For the Salsa:

1 plum tomato
3 tbsp fresh cilantro
A dash of chili powder and garlic powder
5 tbsp chopped onion
1 lime freshly squeezed

Other:

1 cup brown rice (cooked according to directions on packaging)
1 medium stalk of broccoli steamed
1 oz blue cheese

Directions:

1. Take a zipper storage bag big enough for the chicken, chicken broth, lime, chili powder and garlic powder.

2. Mix the spices, lime juice and the chick broth together, add the chieck and let it set for 1-2 hours.

3. When it is done, you can either BBQ it or bake it. While the chicken is cooking, start your rice.

4. Prepare the broccoli to steam

5. Start ont eh fresh salsa, dice the tomato, add chopped onion and cilantro and the dash of chili powder and garlic powder and lime juice.

6. Start your broccoli steaming about 10 minutes before the chicken is done.

7. When everything is ready, start the plating with 1/2 cup of rice, lay your chicken over the top of the rice, put half of the blue cheese on your chicken, and top with the fresh salsa.

8. Add the broccoli and serve

Note: The recipe mentions that the flavor of the chicken can be really strong! It may take a couple of tries to get it how you like it! Also, I would skip out on the blue cheese, but I know Andy would like it.

Nutritional Info:

Fat: 7.6g
Carbs: 41.1 g
Calories: 346.9
Protein: 31.2 g

Chicken Salsa Pizza

1 prebaked italian pizza crust (I like Bobli)
2 cups (8 oz) Shredded chedder cheese,divided
1 jar (11 oz) salsa
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

Place pizza shell on pizza pan, sprinkle with 3/4 cup of cheese.
Top with salsa, chicken,and remaining cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Peanut-Butter Chocolate Balls

Here is an easy quick and yummy dessert.

Mix 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter,1/3 cup honey and 1 cup of powdered milk in a bowl. Roll into twenty 1 inch balls.

Melt 6 oz of dark chocolate and dip balls in chocolate.

Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.

Hoisin-Glazed Pork Chops

Well it's that time of year again. That magical time when Casey starts a new diet and exercise program and suddenly loses 20 pounds like it's nothing. He'll tell you it's due to the humidity but don't believe him, he's been doing really well--keeping a food journal and everything. As such, we have been trying new healthy recipes. This one is from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook (thanks MaryAnne) and we really enjoyed it. If you've never used Hoisin sauce then FYI it is an Asian sauce.

Ingredients:

Olive oil in a sprayer

4 (4-ounce) trimmed, boneless pork loin chops, about 3/4-inch thick

1 tsp. garlic powder

Salt, to taste

Ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

Directions:

Preheat the broiler. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray the foil with olive oil.

Lightly spray both sides of the chops with olive oil and season evenly with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the chops on the prepared baking sheet and broil about 3 inches from the heat for 2 minutes per side (be sure to leave the door open a crack when broiling). Remove from the oven and brush or spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of hoisin over the top of each chop. Continue broiling for 1 minute longer. Turn the chops and brush each with an additional 1 1/2 teaspoons sauce. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes longer, or until the pork is just barely pink inside and the hoisin sauce is a bit caramelized. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition Information per serving: 177 calories, 26 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 75 mg cholesterol, trace fiber, 261 mg sodium.

Ash gets her exercise too by playing in the sprinklers!

Grandma Vanderhoef's Cheesecake

I'm so sorry for dropping the ball again. We've been packing and I just forgot...but I'm surprised no one has put this up here yet. This is Andy's all time favorite home made cheese cake.

2 large cream cheese (please do not use low fat)
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Beat and pour into a graham cracker crust. Bake 15 minutes at 350

one 8 oz sour cream
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix and spread over cake. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees

Refrigerate for 5 hours.

**I change this a little bit. I made it wrong by accident, but it actually turned out really good. I bake it without the topping for 20-25 minutes. I take it out when the whole thing jiggles as one piece, if that makes sense. Then I let it sit for about 5 minutes on the counter. Then I put the topping on and broil it for 2-5 minutes or until it just starts to brown. Then it goes straight into the fridge over night. Its really delicious!

Cherry Berry Smoothies

Here is a smoothy recipe for Casey and Kristi to give Ashlynn after a nice hot Texas day. Maybe it will decide to be hot in Utah soon and I can make it for my girls also.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups unsweetened apple juice
1 cup frozen unsweetened rasberries
1 cup frozen pitted dark sweet cherries
1-1/2 cups rasberry sherbert

In a blender, combine the juice and fruit. Add sherbert; cover and process until blended. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediatetly

Easy with Cheese Manicotti

Evan though I can't this I thought it looked so yummy!!

Ingredients
1 8 oz package uncooked manicotti shells
1 15oz part-skim ricotta cheese
3 c shredded mozzerella cheese divided
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 T dried parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 c or 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 c water

Heat oven to 350. Put water and sauce in saucepan and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to simmer.
Meanwhile,stir together ricotta,2 cups mozzerella cheese,Parmsean cheese,parsley, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spoon cheese mixture into a gallon zip lock bag. Snip a one inch hole in a bottom corner of the bag.

Grease a 9x13 pan and spread a thin layer of spagetti sauce on the bottom. Pipe cheese mixture into each uncooked manicotti shell and place in the prepared pan. Pour remaining sauce over pasta; cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes. Remove foil ; top pasta with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake 15 minutes longer

Mom's Meaty Lasagna

In honor of Mother's Day coming up on Sunday I decided to post one of my favorite recipe's of my mom's . There are 3 things my mom makes really well that we always get excited for--waffles, spaghetti sauce, and lasagna. She makes other things well too but this is one of those things we would never want to miss out on.


1/2 lg. onion, chopped
1/2 lg. green pepper, chopped
1 1/2 lb. hamburger
1 sm. can tomato paste
1 qt. whole tomatoes (or 1 large can)
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. pepper
8-10 lasagna noodles, cooked
16 oz. cottage cheese
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, sliced
Parmesan cheese, grated

In a large frying pan, brown hamburger; lightly season with onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Add onions, green peppers, tomato paste, tomatoes, oregano, garlic powder, basil, onion powder, pepper, and bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 30 min. stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Remove pan from heat. In a buttered 9 x 13-inch pan, layer lasagna noodles, sauce, cottage cheese, sliced mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 min.

Peanut butter cookies tweaked a little bit

So we all know that I have been trying to eat healthy lately. Tonight I wanted a treat so I took a peanut butter cookie recipe that I had a tweaked it. Aaron refuses to try them but Ellie and Tanner enjoyed them. So here is the original (I may have posted it before) and my new modified version

Regular Peanut butter cookies

3 T butter
2 T peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

Cream butter peanut butter and sugars together. Add egg white beat until blended. Add vanilla. Combine flour,baking soda and salt in another bowl and gradually add to creamed mixture

roll into balls and flatten with fork. Bake at 350 for 6-8 min.

My Version

3 T all natural no sugar added applesauce
2 T all natural peanut butter
1/2 C honey
1/4 C splenda
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 flour ( may need a little more)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

follow the original baking directions. Will be a lighter color and softer texture

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They may even be my favorite cookies of all time.

Ingredients:
1 C margarine or butter
2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 (15 0z) can of pumpkin
4 C flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 pinch nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 C chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla and pumpkin until well blended. Add dry ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 min. or until edges begin to brown.

Haystacks

Today was Andy's birthday so for dinner, we had haystacks! This is something that I discovered when I married into the Hunt family. They are one of Andy's favorites and its really easy, so here it is!

Haystacks

1 pound of ground beef (or turkey)
1 can of campbells french onion soup
1 can of refried beans
1 can of chili
1 bag of fritos scoops
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Sour Cream
Olives
and such...

Heat the ground beef on the stove until brown. Drain the fat. Add the french onion soup to the ground beef and let it heat through. In a separate sauce pan, mix the chili and the refried beans, heat until hot. On a plate, put a layer of fritos (I use hint of lime chips), next add the chili/bean mix, add the hamburger, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and sour cream!

Honey Garlic Chicken

I haven't had a chance to try this one yet but am going to.

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves (4oz each)
2 T spoons of honey
2 T of orange or lemon juice
1 T of vegetable oil
1/2 tsp of salt
Dash of pepper
1 to 2 garlic cloves minced

Placed chicken in greased 13x9in baking dish. In small bowl mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.

Bake uncovered at 400 for 15 min. Brush occasionally with sauce