Show Us Your Life - Favorite Holiday Recipes

I make this grape salad for our holiday get togethers and always end up having to make another dish for myself. It is so good! It is also really easy. Here is the recipe:

2lb. seedless white grapes
2 lb. seedless red grapes
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and sour cream in mixer until creamy. Stir gently into washed grapes. Top with brown sugar and pecans. Serve immediately or chill.

Love People...

What a cool order is this?  I love this quote and these cheery colors!  It's also got some light distressing around the edges to give it a vintage feel.

 

This etsy order was placed to give as a gift for a friend who loves this saying.  This large 12x24 would brighten up any kitchen and look great in any color combination.  Do you know anyone who loves to cook some tasty food?

Show Us Your Life - Main Dish Recipe

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today to share my favorite main dish recipe.  Anytime we went to an Italian restaurant, my husband always ordered chicken carbonera.  I got the idea to try and learn how to make it at home for him.  I found this recipe and gave it a try.  It turned out to be a family favorite and is one of our regular dinners.  If you like it more pasta like, just use less broth.  If you like it more soupy, add a little more.  You can also add more peas or bacon. depending on how your family likes it!

Ingredients:

4 slices cooked bacon, chopped (I use turkey bacon)

2 eggs

2 c spaghetti broken into smaller pieces

4 tbsp olive oil

1 c diced chicken breast

1/2 c frozen green peas

3 chopped green onion

3/4 c heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 c chicken broth

3 oz shaved Parmesan cheese

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

pinch of pepper

Directions:

While bacon is cooking in the microwave and spaghetti pieces are boiling, beat the eggs in a large bowl until frothy.  Cook spaghetti al dente and drain.  Pour into bowl of eggs and immediately begin tossing, the heat will cook the eggs.

In a large sauce pan, heat the oil and add the chicken cook for a few minutes and then add then peas, onions, and cook a few minutes longer.  Slowly add cream stirring.  Slowly add broth stirring again.  Heat for another five minutes under low heat.  Add the cheese, bacon, garlic, and pepper and stir until cheese is fully melted.  Add to the the spaghetti mixture, mix well, and serve hot.

My family loves this with focaccia bread with olive oil and Italian herbs for dipping - just like in the restaurants!  It is also even better, if possible, the next day for lunch!

I'm A Cooking Machine!

Since we just got home from vacation last night, I had a to make a big run to the grocery store after church today. I had read all of these "woman" magazines that Mike's aunt had given me and was fired up to try all of these recipes. I knew there was a reason I never buy those things! After I got home, I absolutely tore up the kitchen! I started with Frozen Coconut S'mores. I love anything coconut and these just looked delicious. They are.

Frozen Coconut S'mores
6 to 8 graham crackers
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
4 oz semisweet chocolate
3 large egg whites
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup cream of coconut

Line the bottom of a 9" baking pan with aluminum foil leaving an overhang on the sides. Place graham crackers in the bottom of the pan, cutting them to fit if necessary. Heat 1/3 cup of the cream in a saucepan until it barely begins to simmer, remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and stir until smooth. Spread the chocolate over the graham crackers and freeze for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites in a large bowl until frothy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form. In a separate bowl (no need to clean the beaters), beat the cream of coconut and the remaining cup of cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the two mixtures together and spread over the frozen chocolate. Freeze for at least 6 hours. When ready to serve, lift the foil out of the pan, peel off the s'mores, and cut into squares with a pizza cutter.

I made my stand-by finger food, vegetable pizzas, for a get together after church tonight. These are the easiest things int he world, healthy, and delicious. My kids live them! I made a double batch so we would have some to snack on around here.

Vegetable Pizza

1 tub of whipped cream cheese
1 packet of ranch dressing mix
1 tube of crescent rolls
shredded cheese
assorted raw vegetables

Roll out the crescent rolls onto a greased cookie sheet. Pinch together the seams so your crust won't fall apart. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Mix the whipped cream cheese and ranch mix together. After the crust cools, spread evenly. Finely chop whatever vegetables you plan for your pizza. I always use broccoli and cauliflower. Sprinkle over pizza. Add shredded cheese. Press the entire mixture down with your hand and slice into squares with a pizza cutter.

Finally, I made a Coca-Cola Cake for the baseball team swim party tomorrow night. Yes, our summers are busier than our school year! This makes a large cake and everybody loves chocolate so it is perfect for when you have to take a desert.

Coca-Cola Cake

Cake:
1 package white cake mix
1 c regular Coca-Cola
2 eggs
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c margarine, melted
1/4 c baking cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c mini marshmallows
Frosting:
1/4 c baking cocoa
1/2 c margarine
1/3 c regular Coca-Cola
4 c confectioners sugar
1 c chopped pecans

Ina a large mixing bowl, mix the first seven ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in marshmallows. Pour into greased 13x9 pan and bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool before frosting. Meanwhile, to make frosting, mix cocoa and margarine in saucepan. Cook on low until margarine is melted. Stir in Coke until well blended. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar until smooth. Fold in nuts. Spread over warm cake. Let stand 20 minutes before cutting.

New Recipe Week

Do you ever get to that point where nothing sounds good to cook? I cook just about every week night and I was getting tired of the same old same old. I dragged out the cookbooks and we are trying something new every night this week. Exciting! Here is out menu...

Saturday - Taco Soup and Cheese Quesadillas
Sunday - Subway (our Sunday night regular!)
Monday - Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, and Sister Shubert Rolls
Tuesday - Pepper Steak over Rice
Wednesday - Dinner Out (TTU Class and Church)
Thursday - Melt In Your Mouth Chicken, Mixed Vegetables, and Hawaiian Bread
Friday - Off to the grocery store to do it again!

I found the recipe for Banana Split Cake while I was going through cookbooks and couldn't resist. I just ate a piece and oh my word was it good!

Show Us Your Life - Desserts

This is a repost from May...I couldn't help it! It really is my favorite dessert recipe!

Lauren asked that question about the pie I made to take to Steve and Carolyn's for dinner. "It's the good kind, baby," I replied. After she chewed a minute, she said, "Mmmmm, you got that right"!
The "good kind" of pie is actually Buttermilk Pie. It is so easy and soooooo yummy!

3/4 stick of margarine melted
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
4 eggs
Mix all of the ingredients together well and pour into a pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Show Us Your Life - Dinner Recipes

This one is not exactly original. I think it is more of an oldie but a goodie. I got it from Pampered Chef. This cheeseburger ring is really easy and everyone in my family loves it. I serve it with chips. It got gone so quick that I almost missed the photo opportunity!


















Cheeseburger Ring
1/4 c. chopped onion (I leave this out!)
1 lb. ground lean beef
1/4 c. ketchup
3 tbsp. mustard
5 slices American cheese
1 package cresent rolls
dill pickle slices
lettuce and tomato

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In large skillet, brown hamburger meat and onion and drain. Add ketchup, mustard, and cheese slices. Stir until cheese is melted. Remove pan from heat. Unroll cresent roll dough and arrange in a ring on backing stone or sheet. It looks like a star! Put as much meat mixture as you like on each one, place a pickle slice on top, and fold the dough over. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. I serve it with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes in the center. Yum!

Lauren ate all of hers so she could get to that candied apple. Yes, she wears jewelry. With her gown. At lunchtime.

"Mom, what kind of pie is that?"

Lauren asked that question about the pie I made to take to Steve and Carolyn's for dinner. "It's the good kind, baby," I replied. After she chewed a minute, she said, "Mmmmm, you got that right"!

The "good kind" of pie is actually Buttermilk Pie. It is so easy and soooooo yummy!

3/4 stick of margarine melted

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

4 eggs

Mix all of the ingredients together well and pour into a pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

I gave out several jars of homemade Brown Sugar Body Scrub as Christmas gift this year. I've had requests to share the recipe. I admit that this is not my original recipe. My very crafty friend, Sonya Cantrell, made this for our annual ladies' retreat at church and I fell in love.

I have very dry skin, especially in the winter, and really had not found anything that helped long term...until this! I love using it because it is inexpensive, all natural, smells great, and it really does work. Enjoy!

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
Mix well

That's it! Really! I quadruple the recipe when making a large batch for gifts and it works great. I put mine is a classic mason jar, added a bit of ribbon, and printed some labels on a favorite scrapbooking paper.

Chicken Carbonara

Here is my family's new favorite recipe.  Mike says that I should "put it in the vault", but I like to share!
Ingredients:

4 slices cooked bacon, chopped (I use turkey bacon)

2 eggs

2 c spaghetti broken into smaller pieces

4 tbsp olive oil

1 c diced chicken breast

1/2 c frozen green peas

3 chopped green onion

3/4 c heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 c chicken broth

3 oz shaved parmesan cheese

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

pinch of pepper

Directions:

While bacon is cooking in the microwave and spaghetti pieces are boiling, beat the eggs in a large bowl until frothy.  Cook spaghetti al dente and drain.  Pour into bowl of eggs and immediately begin tossing, the heat will cook the eggs.

In a large sauce pan, heat the oil and add the chicken cook for a few minutes and then add then peas, onions, and cook a few minutes longer.  Slowly add cream stirring.  Slowly add broth stirring again.  Heat for another five minutes under low heat.  Add the cheese, bacon, garlic, and pepper and stir until cheese is fully melted.  Add to the the spaghetti mixture, mix well, and serve hot.

My family loves this with focaccia bread with olive oil and italian herbs for dipping - just like in the restaurants!  It is also even better, if possible, the next day for lunch.