South of the Border Chicken and Vegetable Soup




Created this yummy "tortilla soup" Christmas Eve.  It turned so so healthy and delicious!

  1 can cooked chicken breast
1 can tomato sauce
1 can beef broth
1 can water
1/2 large onion, chopped
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, small chop
1 stick celery, cut in half lengthwise and chopped
corn from one cob or 1/4 cup kernels
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
1-2 Tb. olive oil
salt
lemon pepper
cumin powder
chili powder
cayenne pepper

1. In pot, heat olive oil.  Saute onion, garlic, carrot and celery until soft.
2. Add tomato.  Saute additional 3-5 minutes.
3. Add tomato sauce, broth, chicken and water.  Cook until boiling.
4. Add spices according to taste.
5. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream or tortilla chips.

Serves approx. 4

Macaroni Salad

Invented this one today and several people said they really liked it. Hope you like it too.

Mix in Bowl:

1 box cooked elbow macaroni
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tb dill relish

Mix in separate bowl the dressing:

1 C. Mayonnaise
2 tb milk
2 tb red wine vinegar
1 tb spicy brown mustard
1-2 tb sugar
1-2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tb dried dill weed

Pour over macaroni mixture and stir.

Lemon Berry Ice Cream Sundae

Vanilla ice cream is the best. It's so versatile and oh so yummy. This is just one of the ways that we like ours.

I took frozen berry blend and warmed it over the stove with a small amount of sugar, corn starch and lemon extract. We then served it warm over vanilla ice cream with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of chopped peanuts.

Buying only vanilla ice cream is also a great way to add variety to desserts though various toppings as well as save money only buying one type of ice cream.

John's Famous Cheese Biscuits

These cheese biscuits are apparently famous around his family. I wouldn't know of their goodness since John has never made them for me in the 5+ years we have been together but here is the recipe for you to enjoy even if I never will.

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 butter or margarine

1 cup water

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1. Measure flour, baking powder and salt in bowl

2. Cut in butter until crumbly

3. Add water and cheese, stir to moisten

4. Drop tablespoon sized amounts of patter onto greased baking sheet

5. Bake in 425F oven for 10-15 minutes

Broiled Asparagus

This recipe is so easy and so delicious. It makes asparagus so tasty and the perfect texture.


fresh Asparagus
oilve oil
lemon pepper

1. Place in baking pan and lightly coat the asparagus with oilve oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper.
2. Place in oven under the broiler for 5-15 minutes (time depends on how much you use and how thick the asparagus is). You will want the asparagus to just barely get a tiny hint of gold.

Sweet Baslamic and Basil Dressing

This is a delicious dressing and the sugar sweetens the pungent vinegar for a nice balsamic flavor that is subtle and sweet.

1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic dressing
1-3 Tb. brown sugar (to taste)
1 tsp. dried basil or use fresh if you have it
1 small clove garlic minced or a few dashes of dried
fresh ground pepper to taste

Whisk together, blend in food processor or blender or shake in a sealed container.

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Serving suggestions.

1. Cut up tomatoes, purple onion and cucumbers. Coat in dressing and add fresh mozzarella or feta cheese. Eat with warm french bread or place mixture in a pita pocket.
2. Use french bread to make a sandwich. Add leftover steak or roast, purple onion and cheese (feta is a good one but all kinds work). Broil in the oven until lightly toasted and cheese is melty. Dip sandwich in dressing mixture.
3. A dip for garlic bread.
4. Any salad.

Lemon Berry Trifle

1 box yellow cake mix

2 boxes lemon pudding (plus 4 cups milk)

2 small cool whip containers or 1 large

Frozen berry mix, thawed

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1. Bake cake and let cool. Cut into squares.

2. Make pudding and let it set

3. Layer ingredients in Trifle dish.

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* You can use fresh berries but the frozen add just a little extra juice which spread the berry flavor further. If you are interested in making Chocolate Trifle click here.

** Also, did you see that adorable diaper cake in the background. No, you don't eat it, it is just made with little diapers as a cute decoration and gift for the mom. Again, this was Mary's creation. She might start selling them on etsy here soon so keep an eye out for them!

Tasty Chicken Salad Hors d'oeuvres

1 can shredded chicken
1/2 block of cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. chopped red onion
1/8 c. Craisins
1/8 c. toasted almond slices
1 T. lemon juice
salt and pepper

1. Mix all ingredients together
2. place a small spoonful of salad on top of Ritz crackers.

Honey Dijon Spinach Salad

1 Large bag of spinach
1 can of mandarin oranges
1/4 of purple onion sliced thin
1/4 c. Kraft Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
1/8 c. feta cheese crumbles
1/8 c. Craisins
1/8 c. toasted almond slices

1. Toss dressing with spinach, onions, oranges.
2. Sprinkle feta, Craisins and almonds on top.

Apple-Raisin Bran Muffins

A Great Way to Use Up Those Apples and the Last Little Crumbs of your Raisin Bran Cereal!
















1 1/2 c. raisin bran cereal
1 c. milk
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. finely chopped peeled apples
1/2 c. walnuts (optional)
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
3/4 c. sugar
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Spray muffin tins
3. Combine: cereal, milk, oil, eggs, vanilla. Let stand 10 minutes.
4. Stir in apples, walnuts and extra raisins
5. Add remaining ingredients
6. Pour into tins and bake 16-18 minutes

New Salad Invention!!! - Asian Spinach Salad

Asian Spinach Salad
(amount is for two LARGE salads)

- 1 Large Chicken Breast
- Lemon Pepper
- 1 bag or bundle of fresh spinach
- 1/2 medium onion sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- crumbled up Ramen noodles or crunchy La Choy Rice Noodles

Dressing
- 1/2 cup salad oil
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 Tb. White Vinegar
- 1 packet of Oriental Flavor Ramen Noodle Seasoning Packet

1. Slice chicken breast into strips or dices and season with lemon pepper, cook in pan.
2. Mix spinach, onion, cilantro and cranberries in large bowl. Set aside.
3. Put all dressing ingredients in blender or food processor and mix until well blended.
4. Immediately pour dressing over salad mixture and mix.
5. place in individual bowls and top with chicken and crunchy noodles.

This salad is filling and oh so delicious. You will want to drink the dressing it is so good!

Guacamole

When I was 4 I got a cookbook and many cooking items. This was the begining of my love of food. The first thing I ever made from this book was guacamole. It has become my signature dish in my family and I have changed it over the years. Measurements are not precice and they aren't meant to be. Use your tastebuds as you put ingredients together and make it according to what you think tastes the best. It's very simple. That's what makes it taste so good.

2 avocados, mashed

1-2 roma tomatoes, diced

1/2 large onion, diced

1/4 c. cilantro, chopped

1 Tb. olive oil

2-3 Tb. lemon juice

salt to taste

Mango Salsa

1 mango, diced
2-3 roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 large onion, diced
1/4 c. chopped cilantro
2-3 Tb. olive oil
1-2 Tb. White vinegar
1-2 Tb. lemon juice
a few dashes of salt
a few dashes of chile powder

1. Mix is bowl. Best if served the same day.

Great with mexican food. I also make a bacon wrapped chicken with BBQ sauce that I eat with rice. It tastes great with this salsa over top.

Thai Beef Salad

This dish was invented by me last week and after eating it again tonight for dinner we can call it a success.
1/4 head of cabbage shredded
1/4 c. shredded carrots
1 green onion sliced
1/4 c. cilantro, large chop
approx. 1/2 pound steak, sliced thin
1/4 c. Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
1/4 c. water
approx. 1 Tbs. soy sauce
salt and pepper
La Choy Rice Noodles

1. Place cabbage, carrots, green onion and cilantro in a bowl.
2. In separate bowl mix Thai Sweet Chili Sauce and water. Pour over salad mixture. Let sit.
3. Slice beef and lightly salt and pepper it. Place it in a hot pan until completely cooked. Remove from heat and add soy sauce.
4. Place warm beef over salad. Garnish with La Choy Rice Noodles.

Easy Banana Cream Pie Recipe

Chris makes this easy recipe and it turns out every time with great taste.

Pie Filling
Use Jell-O Banana Cream Cook & Serve pudding. Follow the directions on the back. We usually cook it in the microwave, but be careful that it doesn't boil over.

Graham Cracker Crust
This is the recipe on the back of the HoneyMaid Graham Crumbs box.
Combine 1 and 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs with 1/4 melted margerine or butter. Press on bottom of a 9-inch pan or 9-inch pie plate.

Cover the crust with sliced bananas. Pour the pie filling on top. Place in refrigerator to set. Top with real whipped cream and more sliced bananas.

Dream Whip Banana Cream Pie

2 envelopes Dream Whip
2 3/4 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 packages Jell-O instant banana pudding
1-2 bananas
1-2 graham cracker crust pie shells (depending on size)

1. Whip Dream whip with 1 cup of milk and vanilla until fluffy
2. Add remaining milk and pudding packets, continue to whip
3. Place sliced bananas in pie shell and spoon pudding mixture on top
4. Chill for 4 hours

This is the recipe that comes on the Dream Whip box. I have found it to taste the best. More or less dream whip can be used to change the sweetness.

Award Winning Cranberry Apple Pie

True story - I won 1st place at a baking competition for this little concoction. I came up with it 45 minutes before the competition. It must have been an inspired recipe.


1 can apple pie filling
1 can cranberry suace (whole berries)
1 deep pie shell

1. Mix pie filling and cranberry sauce.
2. Pour into shell
3. Bake in oven at say, 375 until crust is golden brown, maybe 30 minutes.

Bread

I love bread making. Breads are easily my favorite thing to make. I have stopped buying bread since I left work and make only homemade bread now that I am home long enough to do it!

Here's yesterday's batch. I should probably add that it was made with Canadian flour! :)
Homemade Bread

Soften 1 T. yeast in 1/4 c. warm water

In a mixer combine 2 1/2 c. hot water, 1/4 c. oil, 1 T. salt and a little less than 1/2 c. sugar. Mix until dissolved and blended. Add 4 cups of flour, mix until blended well. Add yeast, and mix thoroughly. Add about 3 c. more flour. Let raise until doubled (at least an hour) twice, if needed. Form into loaves (2) and let raise at least one more hour. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes on the rack second to bottom.

Pierogis

When we were in Rexburg Alicia made these one Sunday and we stopped by to try the leftovers. It was my first experience and I've been hooked ever since. This is her recipe. I always serve these with kielbasa sausage sliced and fried a little.

Dough:
3 c. flour
2 eggs
1 c. sour cream (I use light and it works just fine)
1/2 t. salt

Filling:
5 potatoes
1 onion, diced
3 slices of American cheese (I use a little more)
butter

Boil potatoes, drain, add sauteed onions. cheese, and mash. Set aside. Combine dough ingredients and knead for about 10 minutes. Roll out and cut in circles using a cup. Put 1 t. (I do a little more) of filling in each circle. Fold over dough and seal edges. Boil in water for 5 minutes and drain. Saute more onions in butter. Add cooked pierogies and fry a little. Sprinkle with dried parsley. Serve warm with sour cream.

Easy BBQ Recipe

Put equal amounts of soy sauce and olive oil in ziploc bag (we used canola oil). Add seasonings to taste (lemon pepper, garlic salt, etc.). Add pork, chicken or beef. Preheat BBQ on high, then put on low while you cook your meat.

This is delicious. Taylor made it tonight with pork chops and I was in heaven. We cut up the meat and used it to make fajitas.