Recipes

Nikki's post the other week about cooking got me thinking about meals. I'm probably the worst person to talk to on this subject, because at our house we end up eating out more than we eat at home - but with that said - I do enjoy cooking. It's not the cooking part that gets me down - it's the grocery shopping and deciding what to make that makes me want to scream sometimes.

I end up making the same few meals over and over. One because I know they're good, and two because I usually can't think of anything else. I've been trying to expand a little. Chicken is kind of a touch and go thing with me, so I've been using rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken on my own. I add it to things, and we eat it on it's own. Pick up a caesar salad from Costco while you're there, and voila an easy dinner. I know this is nothing new, I'm guessing you probably already do this. Click here for a Rotisserie Chicken ideas.

One thing I did this week when I put this dinner together was make homemade breadsticks. I tried a recipe that requires no rise time. They were so yummy fresh out of the oven.

Homemade Breadsticks

1 Tablespoon yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups warm water


Add 2 cups flour.


Mix in your bosch it will be pasty/sticky. Then add 1 1/2 cup more flour and mix/knead in mixer. Take out sit for 10 minutes. Melt 1/2 cube butter on cookie sheet in oven @375 degrees. Roll out and strip dip in butter twist and put on cookie sheet sprinkle parmesean cheese, garlic. Bake for 15 minutes.

I also thought I'd include some of my favorite meals, in the hope you'll share some of yours. It's always nice to have tried and tested recipes on the front of the brain.

Crouton Chicken with Honey Mustard Dip
I'm not usually a fan of honey mustard, but these are so easy and so good. I love serving them with a baked potato and a vegetable.

Crouton Chicken 

Chicken breasts cut into strips/pieces

Croutons

1 - 2 eggs

Cut chicken breast in like 3 or 4 pieces, and then pound out with a meat tenderizer. Put about 1/2 box of croutons (our favorite kind is Ms. Cubbison's Restaurant Style) into a bag and smash to be crumbs. (You can use a meat tenderizer or rolling pin). And then put the crumbs in a bowl. Beat the egg in a bowl. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg first, and then the crouton crumbs. Grease a cookie sheet and lay chicken on it. Bake at 350. Serve with honey mustard dip and cheesy mashed potatoes.

Honey Mustard Dip

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

Big squirt of Mustard

Big squirt of Honey

Stir up to be smooth.

French Onion Pork Chops
My mom made this for me right after Linley was born, and it's tasted good ever since. I don't have the exact recipe. I usually just throw everything in, so here goes.


4 pork chops
1 cup milk
1 cup rice
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup


Season pork chops with salt and pepper, brown in a skillet. Combine milk and Cream of Chicken Soup and pour over rice in casserole dish. Place pork chops in pan. Sprinkle Lipton Onion Soup mix over top. Bake for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven.


Spaghetti Bake
I'm sure there is an actual recipe somewhere, but I just throw everything in and it turns out.


1 package of spaghetti (can substitute other noodles)
1 package of cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, and parmesan cheese. Cook noodles and put in pan, pour cheese mixture over noodles. Pour spaghetti sauce over noodles and cheese mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Quantity Measure Item

Sweet and Sour Chicken
I made this for the first time on Sunday, and it was really good. My mom got the recipe from a friend and it's been a hit.


4-8 chicken tenders
1 egg beaten


Dip in egg, and roll in cornstarch. Brown in a skillet with a little oil.


Make sauce and pour over chicken.


3/4 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons Ketchup
1/2 cup vinegar
1 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt


Bake @325 for an hour.