Grilled BBQ Chicken using homemade sauce

3 cups Ketchup
¾ cups Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
2 Tablespoons Paprika
2 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 teaspoon Cayenne


Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan and heat it for just a few minutes on LOW. Cook for 10 minutes.

Brush on chicken and grill or bake.

Homemade Biscuits

You can thank my "bible" which is my betty crocker book for this recipe~!!




2 cups flour
1 tbs baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter (I used country crock since it was already soft)
2/3 cup milk

In bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Cut in shortening and butter with pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center, add milk and stir JUST UNTIL DOUGH CLINGS TOGETHER. Do not over mix!


Knead on a floured service for about 8 strokes. Roll, cut and bake at 450 for 10 minutes until golden. Brush with melted butter.

Makes 14 or so.

PMS Crunch..Better than Midol

Can't take credit for this one!! I found a new blog that I just LOVE! She is such a witty, funny writer and such a great cook.

http://asouthernfairytale.com/

If your like me when your pms'ing you want chocolate, sweet and salty and this is the perfect combo. So easy and even my kids are diggin it!

So here goes :)
YOUR HUSBAND WILL THANK YOU.......


PMS Crunch
1 bag butterscotch chips
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 box rice chex cereal
1/2 bag pretzel twists ( i use these for my salt.. you could use peanuts but, I don’t like them in this)
Melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over low heat on your stove.
I spread my cereal and pretzels in my big 10 x 13 baking dish.Spoon, drizzle, pour the chocolate over your cereal and pretzels.
Mix it well (I use my hands, it’s messy but, it works)
Spread the mixture out on parchment paper to cool

Cinnamon Toast

This was a staple growing up and def a staple for my kiddos!



white bread (we use sara lee whole wheat white)
1 teaspoon butter per slice
1 tablespoon sugar per slice
sprinkle with ground cinnamon


butter bread, sprinkle with sugar (can add more) and then cinnamon and then put under broiler until nice and toasty :)

*~Western Burgers~*

Ok I usually don't justify the way I cook or what I like but this is one of those things that people look at me like I'm flat out crazy for loving. So for the following reasons I will justify this recipe.

1) It's a very very special family recipe handed down from my great grandmother. She made it for me, my nana made it for me and my mom taught me how. My great granny was a cafeteria lady for many many years and towards the end of the year when they had a lot of condiments left, they had to find a way to utilize them since they couldn't throw them out. So they came up with this. I love the story, love the smell and the sentimental memories that come with it.

2) Never trust a skinny cook :) Since I am not one then you should trust me.

3) TRY IT. Because I SAID SO..


Western Burgers

1 lb ground sirloin
1/2 small onion
1/2 small green bell pepper
2 turns of the pan, worchishire sauce
salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder to taste (for meat)

sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup mayo, we use miracle whip in our house but use what you like
1/4 cup plain jane yellow mustard.don't even try to be a mustard snob and bust out the grey poupon. not only would it not taste right it would just be wrong. hear me!
1/4 cup worschishire sauce
salt and pepper to taste

1 to 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 large hamburger buns, you will use each the top and bottom giving you 6

Saute hamburger, season and add onion and bell pepper. Cook until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, mix together your "special sauce"

Take all 6 halves of the hamburger buns and lay on cookie sheet. Add a teensy bit of cheese on bottom.



Preheat broiler

Mix meat with sauce and spoon, or use an ice cream scoop and take a dollup of your meat sauce mixture and place on top of bun. Top with cheese and repeat until all 6 are full.



Place under broiler and broil until cheese is melted and edges of buns are crisp and the western burgers are bubbly.




These are also WONDERFUL eaten cold out of the fridge.

Trust me...

Crunchy Ranch Chicken Tenders

I realize there are 2 back to back ranch recipes and yes I'm serving them together. It's close to grocery day and I'm out of everything. These chicken tenders are using ranch on purpose, the potato casserole was not suppose to have ranch dip but its all I had and the kids were napping so I couldn't make it to the store. So we might be all ranched out tonight but thats ok because my kids eat Ranch with everything!

I didn't notice any ranch flavor so I reccomend marinating it for about 30 mins in the ranch ( i added that to the recipe )


Crunchy Ranch Chicken Tenders
2 large boneless/skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup ranch dressing
1 tbs water
1 1/2 cups mashed potato flakes
pinch of salt and pepper

Mix ranch and water together (the water is only to thin out the ranch), add salt and pepper. Let set in the refrigerator for 30 mins or so to let the ranch soak in.

Dip chicken in ranch then roll in potato flakes.

Spray 9x13 with pam. This made 14 chicken strips for me.

Bake at 400 for 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked thru.

Ranch Baked Potato Casserole

6 medium to small russet potatoes (i would prefer red potatoes but i didn't have any)
6 Bacon, Cooked & Crumbled
1 1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, probably could use more but i ran out, hey its close to grocery day!
1 cup Green Onions, Sliced
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Ranch Dip (i was out of sour cream so i used this instead)
1/4 cup butter (i used country crock since it was already soft so i could mix it)
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper


Preparation Instructions
Peel, cube and cook potatoes until just tender. Drain and place in a large bowl to cool slightly if making the casserole right away. If you are going to make this to reheat later, let the potaotes cool thoroughly. Combine the remaining ingredients and mix into the potatoes. Transfer to a 4-1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered for 30 mins or until bubbly and brown at 400°F. Add 15 minutes to the cooking time if the casserole has been refrigerated.

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Mac

This is on the menu for 9/2

Modified Rachael Ray Version


2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 pound chicken breast tenders, chopped
Salt and pepper, cumin, garlic powder
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound macaroni elbows
2 1/2 cups frozen broccoli florets, (thawed)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
3 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions
Place a pot of water on to boil for macaroni.

Heat a medium pan over medium to medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chicken and season with salt and pepper. Saute a couple of minutes then add onion and cook another 5 to 7 minutes until onions are tender and chicken is cooked through. Turn off heat and reserve.

To boiling pasta water, add pasta and salt to season the cooking water. Cook until pasta is done according to package directions.

While pasta cooks, heat a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter and melt, then add flour, salt and pepper and whisk together over heat until roux bubbles then cook a minute more. Whisk in milk raise heat a little to bring sauce to a quick boil. Simmer sauce to thicken about 5 minutes.

Drain macaroni or pasta and broccoli florets. Add back to pot and add chicken to the pasta and broccoli.

Add cheese to milk sauce and stir to melt it in, about a minute or so. Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli and cooked pasta and stir to combine.

Serve

Made this again.. Strawberry Cobbler

We have some strawberries that were too green and just didn't have much flavor so this is the perfect way to utilize them instead of just eating from the carton. So yummy!



http://sugardumplins.blogspot.com/2008/05/strawberry-cobbler.html

Chilli Cornbread Casserole

Chili CornBread Casserole



This was super yum but my cornbread made too much. If you like more cornbread than chilli then its perfect. If you cut it to serve and then mix it all up then you don't notice. But next time I will probably not make as much cornbread. Up to your personal taste. My kids and hubs ate it up!

1 lb. hamburger, browned
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1/2 of a bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 can chili beans(do not drain)
Worschishire (like i've told you plenty of times, i do not pretend to know how to spell or say that word nor do i plan to google the proper spelling)
salt & pepper
pkg of chilli seasoning
1/4 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup additonal cheddar cheese for batter (optional)
Homemade cornbread, recipe as follows OR you can buy the jiffy mix, i just always forget to buy it.

Mix Brown hamburger with onion, pepper and garlic. Add Tomatoes, chili beans and seasonings. Simmer for 10 minutes. Put into greased 9x13 pan and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Mix corn bread mix according to directions. (I add some cheese to the corn muffin mix before pouring it on top) Pour corn muffin mix on top of the chili and cheese cover completely. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

My go to cornbread recipe from my Betty Crocker BIBLE
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1/4 cup canola oil, melted
2 eggs
2 tbs sugar
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Whisk dry ingredients in bowl. Mix eggs and oil in milk mixture with fork and then add into dry ingredients. There you have it folks, easy cornbread.

Taco Casserole

This is a wonderfully easy dish and my kids just eat it up!
I serve it with homemade ranch dip but you could just use sour cream and it would be great. Served with a side of pinto beans ( in Texas we use Ranch Style Beans ) and a salad your good to go!



Taco Casserole
1 pound ground beef
3/4 Cup Pace Picante Sauce, extra chunky(this also eliminates having to add onions and bell peppers saving time)
1 pkg taco sauce
1/2 cup water
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or monterey jack blend would work great
1/2 bag tortilla chips, we use Santinos
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup

Saute hamburger and then add taco seasoning, water and pace and cook down the liquid. Stir in soup and turn off heat.

Spray 8x8 pan with Pam and crush chips and cover the bottom. Layer meat and then add cheese. Repeat one more time and then you will have cheese on the top. Spray the top of the foil that you will use to cover it with Pam.

Bake at 400 for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and dish is bubbly.

Hot Fudge Cake

YUMMMMMMMMM


Hot Fudge Cake
1 cup Flour
¾ cups Granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
sprinkle of cinnamon
¼ teaspoons Salt
½ cups Milk
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup Brown Sugar
¼ cups Cocoa
1-¾ cup HOT TAP WATER
Preparation Instructions
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix first six ingredients (flour through salt) in an ungreased square 9 x 13 pan. Mix in milk, oil and vanilla and stir with whisk until smooth. It will look like brownie batter. Spread evenly in pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and 1/4 cup of cocoa. Pour the hot tap water over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until center is almost set. Let rest about 10 minutes. While still warm, spoon into dishes and top with ice cream. Spoon sauce from the pan over the cake and ice cream.

Taco Meatballaroni

Lol! This is a combo of my taco macaroni but with meatballs like spaghetti and meatballs.

My kids love any kind of macaroni and cheese and when I add taco meat they eat it up. I thought it would be fun to make little meatballs and toss in my usual :)



Taco Meatballaroni
Meatballs
1 lb ground sirloin
1/4 cup mild pace CHUNKY picante sauce
1/4 cup mild taco sauce
10 crushed ritz crackers ( or can use bread crumbs )
salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder (season to taste)

Mix all together in a bowl and make little mini meatballs. Drizzle the pan with canola oil and saute until COOKED THRU or you can do like I did and brown really good on each side and then put in warm oven until ready to serve.

Ez, no bake Mac & Cheese
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 cup milk
8 oz. VELVEETA cut into cubes
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained
seasoned salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for this recipe i used a colby/montery jack combo shredded cheese)

While macaroni is boiling, mix together butter, milk, seasonings and velveeta in glass bowl. Microwave until cheese is melted and then stir. Toss in your macaroni and the shredded cheese and stir.

Then to make the taco meatballaroni, toss in your meatballs into the bowl and EAT!

BBQ Bisquits

9 years ago my husband came up with this and its a favorite esp once we had kids!!



BBQ Bisquits
2 cans bisquits (one can yields 10 but you will have meat left over so if you use 2 cans, you will have bisquits left over which is ok because I fry them up for donuts or use them the next day for breakfast)
1 lb ground sirlion or turkey
1 can corn
2/3 cup your fav bbq sauce, we use stubbs
1/4 cup water
1/4 small onion
1/4 small green bell pepper
seasoned salt, ground black pepper, cumin, garlic powder
2 tbs worchishier sauce (won't ever learn how to spell that or say it right)
shredded cheddar cheese

Saute meat and season well. When almost cooked add your onion, bell pepper and worchishier sauce.

While thats cooking, spray your muffin tin ( I used one 12 and one 6 but you can cut this down, we freeze leftovers) and place a bisquit in each hole. press down and around sides just a bit. Sprinkle a tiny bit of cheese on bottom.

Once meat is cooked add in bbq sauce, water and corn and cook until combined and not runny.

Fill muffin pan with meat/corn mixture and the top with shredded cheese. Bake at 400 until cheese is melted and the bisquit is browned ( you won't be able to tell if it is until you remove with a spoon and see if its brown ) Takes about 10 to 12 minutes.

Cheesy Squash

This is a super easy dish that is super creamy and yummy! We have an abundance of squash this year so this is a great way to utilize it.


Cheesy Squash
2 to 3 medium squash cut into half moons
4 oz velveeta
1/4 of a small onion
3 tbs butter
1 drizzle of the pan of canola oil
salt & pepper to taste

Add your squash and onion to the pan you've drizzled with canola oil. Salt and pepper it to taste. Place little pinches of butter all around the top of your squash. Sautee until soft and tender. When cooked add your cubes of velveeta and stir until melted. Serve.

Fresh Blueberry from scratch waffles

These are crispy and the waffles pop in your mouth. Just the right amount of blueberries. YUM!





This recipe is a very easy and versitle recipe to use!

HOMEMADE WAFFLES

1 3/4 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. milk
1/3 c. canola oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat waffle iron. In large bowl mix first 4 ingredients; add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended. Can use any add ins.

I just tossed in about 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries and I hit them with my whisk while I was mixing batter. But during the cooking process they cook down perfectly and melt in your mouth.

Sugar N Spice Donuts

Super easy and my mom always made them growing up. My kids just love them and I always make little donut holes for them.
On the back of the biscuits, there was a recipe that said you could bake them. That sounds like a good idea. Although if its not fried then its not a southern recipe hahah!


Sugar N Spice Donuts
Canola Oil
1 - 2 cans buttermilk biscuits
1/4 c Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon

Heat about 2 inches oil in a large pot I use my spaghetti pot to 350 degrees. I learned a really cool trick from Sara Molten, you take the end of a wooden spoon and put in the center of your pan and oil and when bubbles come up all around really fast, then your oil is ready.

Take your dough and punch a hole in the center with your finger and spread a bit. Fry until golden brown on each side. Drain on paper towels and then toss in your sugar and spice mixture. To make the holes, just pinch off lil pieces and roll in your hands until a smooth ball forms.

Nana Nut Muffins

So much faster than actually waiting for 2 loaves of bread to cook!
Great for breakfast. I actually got 24 out of this recipe.




BANANA NUT MUFFINS

1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. bananas, mashed
1/2 c. nuts

Cream together sugar and shortening. Put dry ingredients in bowl and whisk. (Martha Stewart says thats the best and fastest way to sift) Add the rest of ingredients and mix well. Spray muffin pan with Pam. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

What's for dinner?

Tator Tot Casserole (going to try a different recipe than mine to see if its better), Duggars Family Rolls (cut in half) and fresh steamed brocolli.


Hmmmm I'm thinkin I like my recipe better than this one :/

Tator Tot Casserole
Ingredients
1 1/2 - 2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 large onion diced
1 pkg tater tots (32 oz)
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
3/4 empty soup can of milk
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
salt
pepper
season salt
garlic salt

Brown ground beef and diced onions, adding salt, pepper, seasoning salt and garlic salt to taste. Drain.
Pour ground beef & onion mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
On top of the ground beef layer spread the tater tots.
In a seperate bowl (or the pan you browned the beef in if you don't want to dirty any more dishes) mix together the soup and milk.
Pour the soup mixture over the tater tots, spreading it evenly, trying to cover them all.
Sprinkle the grated cheese over the entire casserole.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake 10 more minutes until the casserole is bubbly and cheese is completely melted.

These are fantastic! I didn't follow her instructions tho, I pinched mine off instead. Actually got 24 small rolls and they didn't look like the picture lol. But they were easy and yummy. I bet if I had let them rise longer they would have been even better.

DUGGAR FAMILY ROLLS
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 pkg. yeast
5 cups flour, divided
2 eggs
Combine shortening, sugar, salt, yeast and 2 cups flour in large bowl & cut with pastry cutter. In a 2 cup measuring cup beat 2 eggs and then fill cup to 2 cup mark with hot water. Pour over dry mixture. Slowly add: 3 c. flour. Cover. Let Rise 20 minutes in warm oven. Pour onto floured surface.Knead. Flatten with hands into large pizza shape. Cut with pizza cutter into16 slices. Roll up from wide end to point. Place in greased pans leaving space for rolls to double in size. (can shape like crescent or lay on side where swirl shows.) Cover. Let rise in warm oven at least 20 min. Remove from oven. Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 375. Bake 20-30 min. depending on how dark you prefer. Immediately brush with 1 stick (1/2 c.) melted butter. Makes 16 Rolls in 2-9”x13” pans

Popeyes

OHhh brings back memories. My mom used to make these and I love them and my kids do toooooo!

Popeyes
Bread, we use sara lee whole wheat white
1 whole Large Egg
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 pinch(es) seasoned Salt
1 pinch(es) Pepper
Preparation Instructions
1. Butter one side of the bread. Using a large biscuit cutter or glass, cut a round out of the centre of the bread. Leave the round in the bread crust frame.

2. Put the bread, buttered side down, in a frying pan over medium heat. Butter the top side of the bread. Crack egg into hole and season it.

3. Fry until the underside of the bread starts to turn golden-brown, then flip. Move the bread circle elsewhere in the pan.

5. Cook 1-2 minutes, until the egg starts to set, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes. The white should be cooked through and the yolk still a little runny (though you can cook it longer if you don’t like runny eggs).

6. Serve on a plate with the bread round, which is great for soaking up and eating the runny yolk with.