Don't Cook!

I haven't really felt like cooking lately so my post for now is go to Famous Dave's BBQ on Blue Diamond Road. It was AWESOME!!! I loved it. And for those of you who know me ( I'm not real big on meat, especially on the bone) I LOVED the ribs. Their Corn bread muffins are so yummy too.

The BEST Chicken Tortilla Soup -thanks Melinda

I have been craving this soup but it seems weird to make soup when its 90+ degrees outside.

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Melinda Anderson
2-3 chicken breasts
2 Tbsp oil
1 clove garlic
1 medium onion
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
4 Tbsp lime juice
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp sugar
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheddar cheese
Fry chicken in pan with garlic, shred and set aside. Dice onions and saute in oil. Add everything together in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer on low 1 hour.
Crumble chips in bowl add soup and then put cheese on top.

Good for Sunday dinner

I love using my crock pot on Sundays so I can come home from church and have good food to eat right away. I think I will have to use my crock pot a lot more during the week. Looks like we will be having Soccer on Monday and Wednesday, Dance on Tuesday and scouts on Thursday. Another reason why Friday is my favorite day!


Country Style Spare Ribs – Crock Pot
Halene Cypers – Mom
1 cup ketchup
½ cup water
2 Tbsp brown sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 Tbsp vinegar
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ Tbsp mustard
Brown ribs in skillet (boneless country style spare ribs)
Place in crock pot with onions.
Pour sauce over meat.
Cook on high 3-4 hours, low 6-8.

I usually make mashed potatoes with this. The sauce makes a yummy gravy.

Frog Eye Salad

Frog Eye Salad
Jennifer/Mom

½ box Acini Pepe Pasta
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
13/4 cup milk
¼ cup sugar
1 small vanilla instant pudding
8 oz crushed pineapple, drained
2 cans mandarine oranges
2 cups cool whip
3 cups mini marshmallows
½ cup coconut
Cook pasta and rinse in cold water.
Mix ½ reserved pineapple juice, milk, sugar and pudding and beat 2 minutes add pasta and let chill over night. Add fruit and marshmallows and cool whip, mix and serve

GOOD Baked French Toast

I think my friend, Erin Fonnesbeck, gave me this recipe. I usually find that when I make baked french toast recipes they turn out a little soggy so I usually don't like them. This one I thought was really good. I changed it a little.

Armstrong Mansion Baked French Toast
½ loaf French bread (I used the whole loaf)
8 oz cream cheese
10 eggs ( I used only 8 eggs)
1 ½ cups half and half
¼ cup maple syrup
8 tsp butter

I also added 2 tsp vanilla and sprinkled in some cinnamon too.

Cube bread and layer half in a 9x13 pan. Cut cream cheese in slices and layer on top of bread. Cover with remaining bread.
In a bowl mix eggs, half and half, syrup and melted butter. Pour over bread press down so bread absorbs egg mixture. Refrigerate over night. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

Chocolate Candy Bar Cake

I love this cake. i've only eaten one cake that I like better - my moms 4 layer chocolate cake that she makes every year for my birthday and I can't bring myself to give out that recipe! This cake is so moist and the frosting is the best.



Chocolate Candy Bar Cake
Jacki Chantrill

1 pkg Devils food cake mix
1½ cups milk
3 eggs
¾ cup oil
1 pkg (3.4oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
½ cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
12 oz cool whip
1 cup chopped pecans
4 Hershey’s candy bars, chopped

Preheat oven 325. Grease and flour 3 8 inch cake pans.

In bowl combine cake mix, milk, eggs, oil and pudding. Beat on low until blended. Scrape bowl and beat another 4 minutes on medium. Pour batter into pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Beat cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Fold in cool whip, pecans and chopped chocolate. Spread between layers, on top and sides. Garnish with chocolate.

Apple Pancakes

When Riley was little he would wake me up by coming in my room, putting his face inches in front of mine and saying, "Mom, the suns up! I got a good idea. How 'bout we make apple pancakes." This is how he woke me up a lot when he was about 3. He use to get up really early (before the sun) so I started telling him to stay in bed until the sun came up. The good little kid that he is, he would stay in his room until the sun was up and then come let me know. He loved these pancakes. I made them for him this morning for breakfast but told him he had to say the line first. He did.

1 apple peeled and diced
1/2 cube butter

2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 flour

1/3 cup sugar
cinnamon

Heat oven to 350.

In an oven safe large skillet melt butter on stove top and cook the apple pieces until they start to brown. Mix eggs, milk and flour together and then pour over the apples.

Remove from heat and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top.

Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

If you're not sure if your skillet is oven safe you can use a 9x13 pan after cooking the apples.