Day 31 - Earthquake Cake

Cali requested this for her b-day dessert. Love it!!

Earthquake Cake

Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Cover the bottom of the pan with 1 cup chopped walnuts (or nut of your choice) and 1 cup coconut. Prepare a chocolate cake mix as directed on the package. Pour over nuts and coconut (don't mix). Mix together 8 oz. cream cheese (softened), 1 cube butter (softened), 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Drop spoonfuls of this mixture on top of cake batter. Don't mix. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. The cake will set up more as it cools.

Day 30 - Fried Rice

calrose rice
eggs
crisp bacon
grilled chicken
green onions
soy sauce

Cook 4-5 c. rice in rice cooker in the morning. Let sit during the day.

Pour a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a hot skillet. Break 6 eggs into skillet and stir around until fully cooked. Add crisp bacon, cooked grilled chicken and green onion. Stir in cooked rice and enough soy sauce to cover all the rice. Eat by the bowlful!

Day 29 - Best Chicken Marinade

Put chicken breasts in a gallon Ziploc bag and marinate overnight:

1 bottle Lawry's Teriyaki Pineapple Marinade
1 can Coca-Cola

Day 28 - Biscuits & Sausage Country Gravy

Old-Fashioned Biscuits

About 10 biscuits

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 c. butter or shortening
3/4 c. milk

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Sift or whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. With a pastry blender or fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk all at once. Stir quickly with a fork just until the dough clings together; do not overmix.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 10 or 12 times. Excess handling makes biscuits tough. Just be sure all the ingredients are well-distributed throughout the dough. Gently roll or pat the dough to about 1/2 inch thick. Press a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter into the dough and swivel once or twice to make sure it has cut through. Dip the cutter into flour between cuts. Gather up the dough scraps into a ball and pat out again to cut one or two more biscuits.

Place the biscuits close together in a square baking pan and bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Serve warm, right out of the oven.

Sausage Country Gravy

8 oz. maple-flavored bulk sausage
1/4 c. butter
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. milk
1 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper

Prepare the biscuits and bake them while you make the gravy.

Cook and stir the sausage in a small skillet over medium heat, crumbling it with a wooden spoon. Drain the fat, if necessary.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Cook until the roux begins to darken slightly. Slowly whisk in the milk, water, salt, and pepper. Continue stirring until the gravy thickens and comes to a simmer. Stir in the sausage.

Break the warm biscuits in half and cover with the gravy.

Day 27 - Santa Fe Lime Rice & Pinto Beans

I love to serve this rice with tacos, on Cafe Rio Salads, or just on the side of just about anything. It has a fabulous flavor and a great texture!

Santa Fe Lime Rice

I usually 4x this recipe because everyone loves it so much!

1 cup uncooked calrose rice
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp. salt
juice of 1/2 lime
2 T. butter
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp. ground cumin

Put all ingredients in a rice cooker. Voila! or . . .

For the stove . . . Combine the rice, broth and salt in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to simmer and add the lime juice, butter, cilantro, and cumin. Stir, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender.

Pinto Beans in the Crock Pot from Dabney!

4 c. pinto beans
garlic
olive oil
water

Put about 4 c. of pinto beans in your crockpot. Cover with water. Add about 1 Tbsp. minced/crushed garlic and a couple Tbsp. of olive oil. Generously salt. Cook overnight and all the next day on high. Add more water as needed. These beans turn out very tender and have a delicious flavor.

We put this rice/beans into tortillas and serve with salsa, guacamole, cheese and sour cream. It can last for a week!!

Day 26 - French Toast

The best french toast is made with day-old french bread. It makes yummy edges!

French Toast
eggs
1/4 c. milk/egg
cinnamon
nutmeg

Slice thick slices of french bread. Dip in egg/milk mixture. Cook on sizzling hot griddle that has been sprayed with Pam or slathered with Crisco. (Boy, Crisco makes things taste good!) Sprinkle sides with cinnamon and nutmeg while cooking. Best topped with strawberry jam or homemade syrup!

Sterling's Best Buttermilk Syrup from Sarai Memmott

1 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. buttermilk (I make my own: 3/4 c. milk + almost a T. vinegar; set for 5 min.)
1/2 c. butter
2 Tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla

Combine the first 5 ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Yummy!!

Day 25 - Taco Soup

This is my favorite recipe for taco soup. I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. The whole family loves it -- except Ian gags on the corn!

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg. mild taco seasoning mix
1 (16 oz.) can cut corn
1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28 oz.) can stewed tomatoes (I chop these up really small)
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
tortilla chips
grated cheese

Brown ground beef in heavy saucepan. Drain. Saute chopped onions; add to ground beef. (I actually combine those steps and cook the onion with the beef). Stir in taco seasoning, corn, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Serve topped with tortilla chips and grated cheese.

Day 24 - Not So Tasty Pork Loin

I was so grateful to my mom for making dinner on Sunday. My only assignment was to bring the rolls. Now, I have spent a lot of time training my kids to always be polite about whatever is served for dinner. They can be honest, but not mean. For example, when I served the Pizza Casserole last week, I got comments like, "This is interesting, Mom." "Is this pepperoni in here?" and my personal favorite, "Are we going to be having this as leftovers tomorrow night?" Because I force the kids to be polite, I also have to be a good example.

So, when Mom showed up with dinner, we peeked under the foil wrapped skillet to see what the main dish looked like. To my chagrin, I saw 2 lumps of grey meat with dallops of purple goo on top. My nostrils quaked as the ripe smell of fish filtrated through the air. What were we having for dinner?

The kids voiced my thoughts, "What is it, Grandma Joannie?"

"It's pork tenderloin," my mom said. "All I had to do was put a little grape jelly on top, check it with a meat thermometer, and voila, it was done!" The side dish mom brought was a new recipe as well: vegetable curry. The kids looked mortified.

Nyah pulled me aside. "Mom, do I have to eat that?"

"Yes, Nyah. You at least have to try it!"

I was wondering if I was going to be able to get it down myself.

Everyone sat around the table, staring at the pork tenderloin medallions on the plate.

Carson voiced our thoughts, "It sure looks like fish!"

Ian, my fish lover, had already dug in. "It tastes like fish too, Grandma!" Ian was overjoyed!

At the end of the meal, the pork tenderloin medallions were almost completely gone, thanks to Aaron, Grandpa Markie, and Ian. Grandma Joannie and I also made a valiant effort at eating the fishy pork. Needless to say, all of the pork eaters, with Ian as the exception (he has an iron stomach), were in the restroom most of the night. This recipe will not be added to my recipe collection.

Day 22 & 23 - Salads

Some of my new favorite toppings for salads:

blueberries
diced apples
raspberries
Gorgonzola cheese
diced, cooked chicken
slivered, candied almonds
yellow, red peppers sliced
cucumbers
wonton strips (deep fried and tasty!)

Salads topped with all this yummy goodness may not be the healthiest, but at least we are getting our fruits and vegetables. Most of the topping ideas came from my favorite salad, Danae's, from The Trolley! I can't wait to go out to eat, so I don't have to try to mimic their version!

Day 21 - Dutch Baby Pancakes

This is one of the kids' favorites. They like to make it, because it involves the use of the blender! Anything that makes noise!!

Dutch Baby Pancakes

6 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt

Mix ingredients in blender. Melt 1 cube of butter in 9x13 pan(you can use only 1/2 stick if you want to make it healthier). Pour batter over hot butter and bake for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees. It will be tall and form bubble shapes on the top. The kids love to watch it bake! Serve it warm with syrup, jam, powdered sugar, or all three!!

Day 20 - Chicken Enchiladas

This chicken enchilada recipe is the easiest recipe in the world, and everyone loves it! Thanks to my neighbor, Amy, for this tasty dinner!

Chicken Enchiladas
1 big can green enchilada sauce
1 bag tortillas
chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
Colby/Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)

Pour s thin layer of enchilada sauce in bottom of a glass baking dish. Lay a tortilla out flat. Sprinkle a strip of cooked chicken down center of tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of chicken. Roll up and place in pan. Line filled tortillas tightly together in 1 layer in pan. Pour more enchilada sauce on top to cover tortillas. Sprinkle with more cheese. Cover with foil. Cook at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Cook for 5 more minutes. Serve with rice and beans. Yummy!

Day 19 - Pizza Casserole

I guess I should've known with a name like "Pizza Casserole", it was bound to be a disappointment. I ate this meal 12 hours ago and still feel like throwing up!

Pizza Casserole (make at your own risk)

3 c. macaroni, uncooked
1 lb. ground sausage
1/2 c. pepperoni (quartered)
2 c. pizza sauce
1 can Italian tomatoes, diced
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese

Brown sausage and drain. Add pepperoni. Cook 5 min. longer. Cook pasta 10 min. Rinse and drain. Add pizza sauce, seasoning, and 1 c. cheese. Pour into sprayed
9x13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Day 18 - Coconut Brownies

Coconut Brownies
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/2 c. coconut

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in coconut. Spread into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Toothpick test for doneness.

**Macey's was trying to sell coconut and had this sitting on a table to sample. I fell for the sale. Yummy!! You could probably substitute chocolate chips, M&Ms or nuts for the coconut. Nice brownie texture.

Day 17 - Homemade Noodle, Chicken Noodle Soup

This is the kids' all time favorite meal! They love the homemade noodles!

Chicken Noodle Soup
1 pkg. chicken breasts, cooked & broken into pieces
2 c. chopped celery
2 c. chopped carrots
1 chopped onion
1 batch homemade noodles, or 1 pkg. grandma's homemade store bought noodles cooked and drained.

Boil vegetables until tender. Drain off water. Use broth off chicken or 1 can chicken broth. Heat together with 2 cans cream of chicken soup and 1/2 cup milk. Add the vegetables, chicken and noodles. Enjoy!!

Homemade Noodles

6 eggs, beaten
2 tsp. salt
about 2 cups flour to start with!
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Add baking powder and salt to 1 cup of flour and mix with the eggs. Put the other cup of flour on a board and make a well to pour the eggs into. Fold in the flour as you knead it. Add more flour to your dough until it's not sticky. (I use a lot more!) Roll out thin. Cut noodles with a pizza cutter. Add noodles to a pot of boiling water. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring as you add them. I always taste test the last ones I've added to make sure they are all done. Add the noodles to the above soup recipe. Yummy!!

Day 16 - Raspberry Streusel Coffee Cake

This is the absolute BEST breakfast cake/dessert I've ever eaten! It takes a while to make, but is SOOOO worth the effort! Try to make it when raspberries are in season, or you can use frozen raspberries. Just as good!

Raspberry Streusel Coffee Cake

3 1/2 c. unsweetened raspberries
1 c. water
2 T. lemon juice
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. cornstarch

In a large saucepan, cook raspberries and water over medium heat for 5 minutes. If you don't use a LARGE pan, the raspberries will splatter all over you! Combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir into fruit mix. Bring to boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick. Cool.

Batter:
3 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 c. cold butter
2 eggs/lightly beaten
1 c. (8 oz.) sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, powder and soda. Cut in butter till it looks like crumbs. Stir in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Batter will be stiff. Spread 1/2 in a greased 9x13 pan. Spread raspberry filling on top of that. Spoon remaining batter over the filling. Combine topping; sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Combine glaze; drizzle over warm cake.

Topping:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter; softened
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Day 15 - Lasagne (without cooking the noodles!)

This is my favorite lasagne recipe, hands down! You skip the step of cooking the noodles (yes, you use regular lasagne noodles, not the no cook kind), and it has a great flavor. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Lasagne

1 lb. ground beef
salt and pepper
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 c. water
3 c. mozzarella cheese, grated
16 oz. cottage cheese
2 eggs
1/2 c. fresh grated Paremesan cheese
9 regular lasagne noodles (don't cook them!)

Brown ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and water to the meat. Simmer. Mix cheeses, eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl. Put some of the sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish and add 3 pieces of uncooked lasagne noodles, more sauce, and 1/2 of the cheese mixture. Add 3 more noodles, more sauce and the other 1/2 of cheese mixture. End with 3 more lasagne noodles and the rest of the sauce. Bake covered at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 minutes. Let stand at least 15 minutes before serving.

Day 14 - Breakfast Sandwiches

Has anyone ever heard of a KrustBuster? You basically make yourself a sandwich, with whatever you want inside, and squeeze off the yucky part of the bread! It's like an Uncrustable that you buy in the freezer section.

My kids' favorite sandwich to make is an egg, ham and cheese. You just layer, bread, a cooked egg, ham, cheese, and another slice of bread, squish it in the Krustbuster, pop it in the toaster to melt the cheese and VOILA! Delicious! The kids can even make it on their own.

Fun, fun, fun!!

Go to http://www.krustbusters.com to purchase one! **No, I'm not getting any royalties from this!

Day 13 - Leftovers Again!

Wish I could do this everynight!