Peanut Buttery Goodness!

I found this great recipe over at Have Cake Will Travel. She has lots of great recipes, go on over & check them out!

Menu Plan Monday - August 18, 2008

Last week's plan went by without a hitch! I was so excited to make this week's plan that I did it this past Friday. I can't wait to make a menu for the next month. I have pre-ordered groceries from Angel Food Ministries. I pick-up them up on Saturday August 23. I will have entrees for 16 meals, a few vegetables, and fresh fruits. I am extremely excited as I've never ordered Angel food before but I've been told that everything is great quality at a great price.

For more menu plans head on over to Org Junkie.

Sunday -

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Chicken Enchiladas & Refried Beans

Dinner - Tacos @ church fellowship dinner I had to bring 20 flour tortillas

Monday -

Breakfast - Eggs & Toast

Lunch - Brown Bag Lunch

Dinner - Shrimp & Broccoli Pasta with White Wine Sauce

Tuesday

Breakfast - Breakfast Casserole

Lunch - Brown Bag Lunch

Dinner - Vegetable Soup & Cornbread

Wednesday -

Breakfast - Waffles & Eggs

Lunch - Brown Bag Lunch

Dinner - Manwich & French Fries

Thursday -

Breakfast - Oatmeal or Grits with muffins

Lunch - Brown Bag Lunch

Dinner - Pizza Pasta Casserole

Friday -

Breakfast - Pancakes

Lunch - Brown Bag Lunch

Dinner - BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Potato Salad

Slow Cooking Thursday - August 14, 2008

I found this great recipe this week and I can't wait to try it! For more slow cooker recipes visit Sandra at Diary of a SAHM.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

4 pounds ground chuck

4 (28oz.) jar spaghetti sauce

32 lasagna noodles

3 (15oz.) cottage cheese

4 t. dried Italian seasoning

11/3 cups water

4 (4oz.) cans of mushrooms

6 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Cook beef and Italian seasoning in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles; drain. Combine spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, seasoned meat and water in bowl. Layer thinly in bottom of lightly greased 5-quart electric slow cooker: 4 uncooked lasagna noodles, sauce mixture, cottage cheese & mozzarella cheese. Repeat for each layer (approx 8 total layers). Cover & cook on high setting for 1 hour; reduce heat & cook on low setting for 5 hours. Can do ahead and store in fridge!! Yields 16 Servings (one FULL 5 quart Crock Pot!!!)

This is a rather large recipe for me. I think I am going to cut it down by 4 and see what happens. I'll let you know.

Menu Plan Monday-August 11, 2008

It's been months since I've participated in Menu Plan Monday, but I've realized without a plan I ending up spending way too much money, and our meals are no where near as enjoyable. I actually created my Menu Plan on Saturday before I went grocery shopping. It worked really well for me, and I was able to start my plan yesterday!

Head on over to the Org Junkie for more menu plans.

Sunday:

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Baked Tilapia, Carrots, & Broccoli Cheese Rice

Dinner - Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwiches

**

Monday:

Breakfast - Eggs, Toast & Grits

Lunch - I pack lunches for the family, sandwiches, chips, etc.

Dinner - Tuna Patties, Mac & Cheese & Pinto Beans

**

Tuesday:

Breakfast - Waffles

Lunch - Sandwiches, Chips, or Fruit

Dinner - Red Beans & Rice with Sausage

**

Wednesday:

Breakfast - Omelets

Lunch - Sandwiches, Chips, or Fruit

Dinner - Hot Dogs, Chili, Slaw

**

Thursday:

Breakfast - Eggs & Toast

Lunch - Sandwiches, Chips, or Fruit

Dinner - Spinach Lasagna & Garlic Bread

**

Friday:

Breakfast - Pancakes

Lunch - Sandwiches, Chips, or Fruit

Dinner - Hamburgers, Pasta Salad

**

Lunch & Breakfast doesn't really change much. All of us, except for my daughter, eat sandwiches for lunch. Her lunch usually consists of cucumbers, carrots, grape tomatoes, and cheez-itz. Sometimes breakfast is just a granola bar. I try to have things that you can grab as your running out the door and things that can be cooked if you have time.

Check out my personal blog!

Works for me Wednesday Recipes

I browse through WFMW every week but I seldom participate. Today I am participating! The theme is simple recipes with 5 ingredients or less ingredients. Go over to Rocks In My Dryer for more recipes!

I have two easy recipes that I've posted before. They are:
Easy Crockpot Roast
Baked Parmesan Tilapia

My favorite simple recipe is Cheesy Rotel Chicken.
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Fiesta cheese soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes

Place chicken breasts in 3-1/2 to 4 quart crockpot. Pour the undiluted soups & Rotel over the chicken and stir to combine. Cover crockpot and cook on low 6 to 8 hours, until chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked. Serve with Mexican Rice for a wonderful and easy Arroz con Pollo!

Visit my Personal Blog!

Triple Decker Strawberry Cake

This recipe originated from Southern Living, but I was introduced to it by my new sister-in-law's aunt at a pre-wedding bridal luncheon. I fell in love with it and immediately asked for the recipe. I've made it twice since then. Once for my family and once for Krista's Kitchen. My family and my customers all raved over it. I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients
1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix

1 (3-ounce) package strawberry gelatin

4 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup milk Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Garnish: whole strawberries

Preparation:

Beat the cake mix and next 7 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Scrape down the sides, and beat at medium speed 2 more minutes, stopping to scrape down sides, if needed. (Strawberries should be well blended into batter.)
Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cakepans.

Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly pressed with a finger.

Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Strawberry Buttercream Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately, or chill up to 1 week.

I used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic White Cake Mix without pudding.

To make ahead: Place finished cake in the refrigerator, uncovered, and chill for 20 minutes or until the frosting sets. Cover well with wax paper, and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To freeze, wrap chilled cake with aluminum foil, and freeze up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter, softened (make sure that you use real butter)

2 (16-ounce) packages powdered sugar, sifted

1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

Preparation:

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 20 seconds or until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and chopped strawberries, beating at low speed until creamy. (Add more sugar if frosting is too thin, or add strawberries if too thick.)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

INGREDIENTS:
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup Hot Sauce or Buffalo Wing Sauce
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded cooked chicken

DIRECTIONS: 2 different ways
1st Way
HEAT oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep dish 9-inch pie plate. Microwave 1 min. to soften. WHISK in salad dressing, Frank's RedHot Sauce and cheese until smooth. Stir in chicken. BAKE 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

2nd Way (my favorite way)
Mix hot sauce with chicken while your cooking it. Layer the chicken mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Melt cream cheese in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Reduce heat & add blue cheese dressing. Stir together quickly so it doesn't scorch! Pour cream cheese mixture over chicken. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly, then add your mozzarella cheese & blue cheese. Yes, I said both. From time to time I'll use both if I have both. Bake 15-20 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with celery! Crackers or chips will work too...

I think this dip is best served warm either way you decide to prepare it It just isn't as good cold...
Check out my Personal Blog!