Cheddar and Herb Biscuits

I made these the other day with some soup. They were super yummy. Reminded me of the ones from Red Lobster.

2 c all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1/4 t garlic powder
1/2 t salt
2 T shortening
3 T butter, cold
1 c buttermilk
1 1/4 c grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. Cut in shortening and butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Lightly mix in grated cheese. Mix in buttermilk just until moist (dry spots here and there are ok - the biscuits will be tough if they are overmixed). Drop the biscuits onto a greased or lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until browned and golden. While the biscuits are baking, in a small bowl combine three tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 t dried parsley flakes, 3/4 t garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Right when the biscuits come out of the oven, brush the butter/herb mixure over the biscuits evenly (alternately, you can dip the top of the biscuit into the butter mixture). Serve immediately.

Freezer Friendly Friday - It's a Wrap!

This lady calls it a wrap. I call it a burrito. Not that it matters. All that matters is that I NO LONGER have to pack a lunch (or breakfast!) for my husband before he leaves for work!

This recipe can be mixed up SOOO many ways and, of course, I added some random things of my own, but here goes:

Chicken Taco Wraps

1-2 lbs. cooked, shredded or cubed chicken breast
4 cups water
2 cups salsa - any kind
1/4 cup taco seasoning mix (about 2 pkgs. if you don't buy it in bulk)
4 cups instant BROWN rice (just do it - you know it is healthier!)
1-2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed - (it will decrease the gassiness!!)
1 can corn, drained
flour tortillas
grated cheddar cheese - optional, but yummy!

Boil chicken, water, salsa and seasonings in saucepan. Add rice. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Mix with beans, corn, and any other add-ins you love. Spoon into tortilla, add cheese, then wrap up like a burrito (fold the first half in, then the sides, then roll). Place them on a cookie sheet, quick freeze them for a couple hours, then wrap up in plastic wrap or foil and freeze.

To reheat: Microwave for 2-2.5 minutes. Enjoy with sour cream, or ketchup, if you are like my guy.

Makes about 20.

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies

Found these here


•1 stick softened butter
•6 Tablespoons sugar
•6 Tablespoons brown sugar
•1 egg
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1 ¼ cup flour
•½ teaspoon baking soda
•½ teaspoon salt
•11 broken pieces Oreo Cookies
•1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter, and sugars until well combined. Add egg and vanilla until mixed well.
2. Place flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl, stir to combine. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients then stir in oreos and chocolate chips until just combined.
3. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until cooked, but still soft. Let cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

I made this the other day. It was .R.E.A.L.L.Y. good! I will definitely be making it again.

Chicken Ingredients
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 c cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c canola oil

Sauce Ingredients
3/4 c sugar
4 T ketchup
1/2 c vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1 t garlic salt

Directions
Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients together and pour over chicken. Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced - about 6-8 minutes.

Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins

From Daily Herald (March 28)

2 c flour
2/3 c sugar
1 t baking powder
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 c unsweetened blueberries, partially thawed if frozen
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 c butter

In large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Add blueberries; stir to coat evenly. In small bowl beat eggs with fork; beat in milk and butter. Add to blueberry mixture; stir just until blended. Fill greased or paper lined cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 15-20 minutes or until tops spring back when touched.

Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. It looked really good on this COLD April day (yes, I said April) and it seemed EASY! And it was...

1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth (*I did 1 can chicken broth and 1 can cream of chicken soup - made it creamier)
1 (10 oz) can chunk chicken
1 (15 oz) can black beans
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, drained (I only had stewed tomatoes, that I threw in the food processor and added a little can of diced green chilies.)

Pour everything into a large saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through. Ready in 20 minutes!!! Serve over tortilla chips or just in a bowl with corn bread. Don't forget to add cheese or sour cream also.

*I also added some chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and a little taco seasoning. Just add whatever spices you want. It is SUPER good...and probably would be fine, if you freezed it.

Easter Story Cookies

I just got this in a forward today...a couple days late. But I will keep it in mind for next year. It sounds like a really neat way to teach kids about Easter, the real Easter.

Let me know if you've tried it and it works.

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
A Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don't wait until you're half done with the recipe!
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rockytomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

NOW GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the firstEaster, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9