Pigs in a Blanket

Every kids favorite! I love this because it's easy, my kids love it because it's finger food, and my man loves it because it's totally a guy food...meat n' rolls! I bring these to school Thanksgiving Finger-Food Feasts and the "mummy" dogs are a hit @ halloween. I cut the crescent rolls and hot dogs in half so they were about 3-4" long when cooked and I served them on a platter w/ ketchup n' mustard dips. They were a HUGE hit...with the adults too!!


Ingredients:
~ 1 pkg. hot dogs (cheap $.88/8 pk. are great for these) - make mini piggies with lil' smokies and they're fantastic too and a fun appetizer!
~ 1 pkg. crescent rolls (the cheap ones are perfect), biscuits work as well, but we like the crescent rolls.
~ ketchup
~ mustard

Directions:
If making full-sized, just open the crescent rolls and roll your little piggie in its blanket, with seam down. For smaller ones, cut crescent rolls and hot dogs in half and roll. Bake according to crescent roll directions. (Growing up, my mom made these with packaged biscuits instead of crescent rolls. Good also!) Serve with dips of ketchup and mustard.

*You can also place a slice of American cheese in the crescent roll with the hot dog if you'd like.

For a fun, spooky treat, you can make "Mummy" pigs in a blanket for halloween. Always a fun, festive fav!

Press together 2 crescent roll triangles to make a rectangle and slice into 10 strips lengthwise. Wrap around hot dog w/ seams on bottom and a space for mummy's "face."

Garlic Panko Chicken Strips

This is an easy, delicious recipe and I love panko! It's crunchy and delicious and less expensive and healthier than other crunchy crumbs out there. Very good! I make this with homemade mashed potatoes (with lots of butter & sour cream whipped in with a little milk, salt & pepper), and chicken gravy.

Ingredients:
~ 5 tablespoons butter
~ 2 cloves garlic, minced
~ 3/4 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
~ 1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
~ 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
~ salt and pepper
~ 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts

Directions:
1 In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat; as butter starts to melt, add minced garlic into the saucepan.

2 Once butter has melted, remove from heat and pour garlic butter mixture into a low flat dish, like a soup plate or pie pan.

3 In another low, flat dish, combine panko, Parmesan, and parsley if using (some kids don't like green bits in their food, so feel free to leave out); add salt and pepper to suit your tastes.

4 Preheat oven to 400F; have ready a 13x9 baking pan that's been lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

5 Cut breasts crosswise, and then into strips (You want them on the thinner side. This puts more yummy coating on each piece.)

6 Roll chicken pieces into garlic butter, then completely dredge in panko mixture; place on prepared baking pan.

7 Should you have any panko mixture left over when you are done, sprinkle over chicken strips; should you have any melted butter left over, pour over chicken.
(I sprinkle a little extra Parmesan cheese on top too)

8 Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked through.

Tin Foil Dinners

Tin foil dinners are easy to make and clean up, not to mention delicious. Try one for your next camping adventure or throw one in the oven for an easy meal. Shawn asks for this particular recipe anytime there's a campfire.

Ingredients:
~ Raw Chicken Breasts, cubed
~ Potatoes (Idaho or red), peeled and diced (the smaller they are, the faster they cook!)
~ Packaged Italian Dressing Mix (optional)
~ Butter Cubes
~ Salt & Pepper
~ Celery, Carrots, Onions; diced (all optional; I leave my onions fairly large)
~ Aluminum Foil
~ Shredded Cheese (optional)

Directions:
Layer 2 18" long sheets of aluminum foil per dinner. Place about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of potato pieces in the center of the foil and cover with chicken and veggies (as much as you'd like). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and generously with Italian dressing seasoning packets. Mix well with your hands and then spread out lengthwise in the middle of the foil to about 4" x 12". Cover with pats of butter, about 3-4T per dinner, depending upon how large they are. Bring together long sides of foil over meal and fold 2-3 times, ensuring there will be no leaks when dinner is flipped on the fire. Push meal flat and then roll the ends in tightly. Cook over hot coals for about 30 min. or until done. Flip for final 10 min. or so. We love to open them up and smother with cheddar cheese and Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy BBQ sauce (found at the grocery store).

Our friends who gave us this recipe have never used chicken or Italian dressing mix. They always use hamburger meat and other pantry seasonings. You could give that a try too!

Tip: This is much easier to throw together if made ahead of time. The trick is to place the potato pieces in a container covered with water until you drain and use them or they will turn yucky and brown.

Recipe from: Jon & Jessica Croxford

Creamy Chicken & Bow-ties

This is one of those yummy, simple meals that's a hit with kids and men...my kind of meal!

Ingredients:
~ 1/2 box bow-tie pasta, cooked according to pkg directions
~ 2 small cans cream of chicken soup
~ 4 chicken breasts, cubed
~ cheese (any, we use cheddar)
~ tortilla chips (any would work, we also used Doritos and Sunchips out of desperation, but tortilla is our fav.)

Directions: In a large skillet, cook and season chicken. I season with Mrs. Dash, garlic, and Organic No Salt Seasoning from Costco. Add cream of chicken soup and cooked noodles to skillet with chicken. Mix well. Top with shredded cheese. Just before serving, top with broken up tortilla chips. We serve the tortilla chips on the side so everyone can dish them up themselves. Enjoy!

Easy Chicken Roll-ups (yummy! Guys love 'em!!)

I had these first when my mother-in-law made them for her fam. Her kids have all started making the recipe regularly, with minor variations. While they're not exactly diet friendly, they're very good! Here's the recipe as we like it. (The simple gravy is a MUST, but the pic. just shows the chicken roll-ups before serving w/ gravy). All the men in my life :) love 'em!! Definitely a guy pleaser!



Ingredients:
~1 8 oz cream cheese
~2 cups cooked and shredded/cubed chicken or turkey
~3 Tbsp butter, softened
~green or regular onions, diced (optional)
salt & pepper to taste
~2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls
~1 recipe quick chicken gravy (see recipe under label "sauces & gravies")

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except crescent rolls. Open and separate crescent rolls. Put about a tablespoon or a little more filling onto rolls and roll up, tucking and pinching all edges so filling doesn't ooze out while cooking. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Ladle hot chicken gravy over the top. I HIGHLY recommend using my quick chicken gravy recipe!!!! 2 ingredients and about 30 seconds to make. VERY GOOD!

Recipe by: mom-in-law, Dot

Fantastic ( 3 ingredient!) Italian Grilled Steaks

Make skewers too!!







Skewer steak cubes with any of the following... Peppers, Onions, Pineapple, Zucchini, Squash, Red or White Onions, and Grape Tomatoes




Ingredients:
~ Steaks (Any, but the nicer the cut the better, of course!)
~ Italian Salad Dressing Mix Packets (on the Salad Dressing isle)
~ Seasoned Meat Tenderizer

Directions:Place steaks on a platter and sprinkle very generously with the powdered dressing mix. Sprinkle moderately with meat tenderizer and flip. Season opposite side equally. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours (I like to refrigerate overnight). Grill on your BBQ and serve immediately.

If skewering, cut raw meat into large cubes and toss with seasoned meat tenderizer. Skewer (with veggies, if preferred) and season entire skewer with Italian Salad Dressing Mix. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to overnight. Grill on BBQ.

Amazing (2 ingredient!) Italian Grilled Chicken

I know this sounds too simple to be delicious, but the chicken turns out amazing every time! You can bake in the oven or, our fav, BBQ on the grill! You can skewer the chicken, cube it, cook it in strips, or as whole chicken breasts. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
~ Chicken Breasts or Tenderloins, we like them cubed and then skewered. As a rule, I don't love whole breasts, I'd rather have strips or cubes because there's more seasoning per bite!
~ Italian salad dressing mix (in the packets)

Directions:
If baking in the oven, melt a little butter (about 2T for a 13x9) in a shallow dish in the oven, remove pan from oven with melted butter and tilt pan so the butter spreads as evenly as possible. Place chicken in the pan in a single layer and sprinkle well with Italian dressing mix. Bake for 15 min. Turn chicken and sprinkle top side. Bake an additional 10 minutes or so (depending on how you cut your chicken, smaller pieces will cook quicker) until internal temp is 165 degrees. (Don't overcook or it will be dry!)

If grilling (THE BEST!!!), place chicken (however you've cut it) on a platter and season both sides well with Italian dressing mix. Place on the grill and grill on both sides until internal temp reaches 165. (Don't overcook or it will be dry!) ENJOY!!

Steamed New Potatoes with Chicken 'n' Asparagus

This is delicious for lunch or dinner and is great as leftovers. Also, it is super quick and easy if you make the "Simple Steamed Potatoes" ahead of time!


Ingredients:
~ Simple Steamed New Potatoes (see recipe posted under "side dishes" label...easy!)
~ Grilled Chicken/Turkey Breasts or Pork, cooked and cubed
~ EVOO
~ Asparagus, chopped into bite-sized pieces
~ Onions, sliced (optional)
~ Salt & Pepper

Directions:
Cut steamed potatoes into bite-sized pieces and place in a serving bowl. Add meat. Fry asparagus for 2 minutes in EVOO, then add onions and fry until tender and caramelized. Season with salt and pepper. Add to potatoes and meat and toss. Serve hot.

Quick Maple-Glazed Pork Chops (10 minutes)

This is a 5 star Paula Dean Food Network recipe. I've never liked pork chops...until this! They are really good and my babes loved them too.


Ingredients:
~ 4 tsp chili powder
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 6 (10 oz) pork chops, bone-in (I use boneless and it's great), about 1" thick
~ 1 T olive oil
~ 3 T balsamic vinegar
~ 1/2 cup butter maple syrup (I use original maple syrup flavor)
~ 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
Pecans, toasted and chopped, optional garnish

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the chili powder and salt and sprinkle evenly over both sides of the pork chops. Heat olive oil over med-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook until browned, about 2 min. per side. Reduce heat to med., and cook until desired doneness, about 4-6 minutes.

In a small skillet, over med-high heat, add balsamic vinegar & cook untill reduced by half. Stir in maple syrup and chicken stock. Cook over medium heat until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.

Transfer to a platter and serve with the maple syrup. Garnish with toasted pecans.

Penny Supper (Mac n' Cheese and Hot Dogs!)

This is an American staple so I just had to include it :) Silly, I know, but when I print this cookbook out and pass it down to my children someday, I want to be sure to include all of their favs!


Ingredients:
~ 1 Box Kraft Cheesiest Macaroni & Cheese
~ 1/4 cup Milk
~ 4 Tbsp butter or Marjorie
~ 4+ Hot Dogs (any brand, our fav is Ballpark"

Directions:
Make mac n' cheese according to pkg directions, using the milk & butter. Cut up hot dogs, stir in and serve steamin'! WA LAH!

Recipe From: Every American Family (with good taste!)

Just Spaghetti

With all of the fancy spaghetti recipes out there, this is one of our favorites. Especially coming home late and in need of a quick dinner, or coming home from church on Sunday and wanting something quick but satisfying before crashing for your Sunday nap!! It's really "just spaghetti" in that there's nothing unique about it.



Ingredients:
~ 1 can spaghetti sauce (the kind that comes in the metal can, either Del Monte or Hunts)
~ Noodles, just about any...reg. spaghetti is our fav. (whole wheat for us, of course)
~ Ground Beef/Turkey OR Costco's Italian Style meatballs
~ Cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions:
Cook noodles according to pkg directions. Cook meat in a skillet and season OR cook meatballs according to package directions. (We microwave the meatballs to make it quick and less clean-up.) Heat sauce in a saucepan or in a bowl in the microwave. On serving plates: place noodles, top with sauce & meatballs and sprinkle with cheese. We think french bread is a must w/ this meal!

Recipe from: Tiffany

Zucchini Pizzas

These are fast, easy, and SOO good!!! I'm always looking for something to do with ALL of my garden zucchini, especially the overgrown ones, and this is perfect!! You've gotta try. You'd never think that zucchini could make such a yummy meal.


Ingredients:
~ Thick slices of zucchini (about 1/2" thick circles) I use the overgrown ones, any will do
~ Spaghetti or pizza sauce (only about 1 Tbs for each)
~ Mozzarella cheese
~ Pepperoni (I use the mini ones)
~ Olives, sliced (optional)
You could probably add more toppings but, I've never tried anything else



Assembled and ready to bake





Directions:
Spray a cookie sheet with PAM. Place zucchini slices onto cookie sheet. Top each w/ about 1 Tbs sauce and spread. Sprinkle with cheese and spread pepperoni and olives on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until zucchini is as tender as you'd like. Let cool a few minutes and serve with forks.

Recipe from: Mrs. Wolfe, Katelyn's 1st grade teacher at Ridgecrest Elementary

Simple Taco Soup

This is a delicious, very quick, and healthy recipe our friends made for us. I don't love to spend hours slaving in the kitchen on Sunday, so this is a great quick meal to enjoy...just before naptime :). It makes a TON so you can eat all day and even share with friends.





Ingredients:
1 can of each of the following:
~ olives, sliced
~ chili (sometimes I use 2 cans :)
~ red beans (I also add 1 can black beans occasionally, if you do you will need to pour in the entire can of V8)
~ corn
~ tomatoes
plus:
~ V8 juice (2/3 of big container)
~ 1 lb ground turkey/beef OR chicken (we like chicken)
~ 1 med. onion
~ 1 packet taco seasoning


Directions:
In a large pot over medium heat, mix all of the cans plus V8 juice. Let that simmer. Meanwhile, brown meat with onion in a skillet. Season, according to package directions, with taco seasoning. Add meat to soup. Cook as long as you'd like and serve hot with the following...

Serve with:
~ Fritos
~ Sour Cream
~ Cheese (just about any type is great)

Recipe from: Friend, Sara Murray

Chicken Stroganoff Bake

Ingredients:
~ Wide egg noodles
~ 2-3 chicken breasts
~ Cheddar Cheese
~ Sliced olives (optional)
~ 1 can cream o' mushroom soup
~ almost 1 small container sour cream

Directions:
Season chicken with salt and pepper and fry in a little olive oil until cooked through; add soup, about 1 c. cheese, olives and sour cream and mix well. Cook noodles according to package directions, add to mixture. Spoon mixture into a casserole dish, top with additional cheese and bake at 350 degrees until cheese is bubbly and casserole is heated through.

Recipe from: sister-in-law, Liz

Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:
~ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
~ 1-2 cans cream o' chicken soup
~ 1/2 c. sour cream
~ 3/4 c. milk
~ 4 slices ham
~ 4 slices swiss cheese
~ salt & pepper

Directions:
Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in a 13x9 baking dish, top with ham. Mix all other ingredients except cheese and pour over chicken and ham. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and place one slice of cheese on each piece of chicken. Allow to melt and serve. This is really good served over rice.

Simple Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
~ 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
~ 1 chopped onion (optional)
~ 1 can tomato soup
~ 1/2 tomato soup can of water
~ 1 can green beans, drained (optional, can substitute for frozen)
~ 4-6 servings of prepared mashed potatoes
~ cheddar cheese

Directions:
Brown beef and onion in frying pan. Add soup, water and beans. In the bottom of the casserole dish, place mixture. On top of that, spread your mashed potatoes. Top with cheese. Pop it into the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 min.

Recipe from: Tiffany Eaton

Three Cheese Stuffed Shells

This is a yummy, healthy meal.


Ingredients:
~ 12 dried jumbo pasta shells
~ 1 beaten egg
~ 1 12oz low fat cottage cheese
~ 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
~ 1/4 c. Parmesan
~ 2 T fresh parsley (I use dried)
~ 1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
~1 14oz can Italian style stewed tomatoes, cut up
~ 1 8oz can tomato sauce


Just out of the oven...



Directions:
Cook pasta 18 min., drain and cool of foil. Mix all other ingredients except stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Spoon into shells in baking dish. Mix stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce and pour over top. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until heated through.

Recipe from: Tiffany Eaton

Santa Fe Casserole Bake

Ingredients:
~ 1 lb ground beef
~ 1 pk taco seasoning
~ 2 c. water
~ 2 tsp chicken bouillon
~ 1/4 c. flour
~ 1 c. sour cream
~ 1 can 7 oz diced green chilies
~ 1 pk 11 oz tortilla chips
~ 2 c. grated cheese
~ 1/2 c. sliced green onions

Directions:
Brown meat, drain. Add taco seasoning. In a separate bowl combine boullion, flour & water, add to beef and taco seasoning. Bring to slight boil to thicken. Stir in sour cream & chilies. In lightly greased 13x9 place 1/2 of the chips, top w/ 1/2 beef mixture, 1/2 of the cheese and 1/2 onions, repeat. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool 5 min. Serve with salsa or taco sauce.

Recipe from: my sister, Tricia

Delicious Quick Stroganoff

This is a great quick meal my fam absolutely loves with ingredients I usually always have on hand which makes it so easy.


Ingredients:
~ 1 8 oz sour cream
~ 1 pk egg noodles, cooked
~ 1 can cream o' mushroom soup
~ 1 lb ground beef

Directions:
Saute mushrooms and ground beef until meat is cooked through. Add cooked noodles, sour cream and cream o' mush soup. Serve hot.

Broccoli, Rice & Chicken Casserole (delicious!)

This is a very quick, easy & yummy recipe off of the instant rice box. I've never used instant rice for it though.

Ingredients:
~ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked & cubed (optional - this is a great meal even without the chicken!)
~ 1 can cream o' chick soup
~ 2 c. uncooked white rice
~ 2 c. broccoli
~1 c. grated cheese

Directions: (2 cooking options!)
To the cooked rice add: chicken, cream o' chick soup & broccoli. Mix well. Top with add'l cheese and serve

OR

heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix chicken, cream o' chick soup and cheese. Place in baking dish, top with broccoli and bake for about 10-15 minutes or so.