Chunky Chicken Salad

This is a recipe that I "created" a few years ago.  My husband and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this chicken salad!  It is seriously yummy!!!  (And everyone I've made it for has gobbled it up!)  But its not a "sandwich chicken salad."  Its way to yummy and chunky for that!  This recipe is best served with your favorite cracker!  :)

Luscious Lemon Sugar Cookies

OK folks.  I know.  I know.  Its been a while since I posted a recipe on the blog.  I've been SUPER BUSY the last couple of months doing blog reviews on my other site (www.theproverbs31mama.blogspot.com). But I'm back!  And I've got a KILLER sugar cookie recipe for you guys today!!!!

Neapolitan Cupcakes

I consider myself the "Cupcake Queen." That's a self-imposed title. It doesn't really have anything to do with my cupcake making abilities, its more about my love of making them! I'm always looking for a new way to make my cupcakes more fun, so when Kimber Cakeware sent me a set of Batter Babies to review, I was so excited! I immediately began to think about what I wanted to make. Then it came to me - Neapolitan Cupcakes!!! My husband LOVES Neapolitan ice cream. I mean, what's not to love? - Chocolate - Yum! Vanilla - Yum! Strawberry - Yum!

So, you guys get 2 posts for the price of one today! Yep! That's right! You get a product review AND a recipe! (Well, more of a recipe "idea." I used box mixes and store-bought frosting for this recipe because I wanted to get it done quickly so I could post it.)

For this recipe, I used 1 box of Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix, 1 box of Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, and 2 cans of Betty Crocker Whipped Strawberry Mist Frosting. (This recipe will make approximately 3 dozen cupcakes.)

First, prepare the cake mixes according to package directions. Then, place paper liners in your cupcake pan(s). Place the Batter Babies into the middle of each cupcake liner like so...



I would strongly suggest buyiny TWO sets of the Batter Babies.

They come in sets of 6, so your baking will go a lot quicker with more than one set.

Fill one side with yellow cake batter and the other side with chocolate fudge batter...



No Fail, Easy Pork Chops

I am constantly on the lookout for yummy easy make ahead meals.  I made this 1 up and you can alter to suit your tastes but here is my version.  Remember, I feed 6 pigs people so adjust accordingly.

2.5 pounds bone-in pork chops
garlic powder
salt
pepper
brown sugar
broth

Wash the pork chops(I don't know why but I saw it on the food channel so I do it).  Place them in a baking pan(needs to be deep).  Rub them with garlic powder, S&P, and brown sugar on both sides.  Pour broth over chops in pan to make about 1/4 inch in the bottom.  Cover tightly and bake on 300 for about 3 hours.  They will be so tender that you will have a hard time getting them out of the pan in 1 piece.  I serve them over rice or potatoes.  Easy and yummy!

Terrific Tortellini Bake

A few months ago, I bought a package of  Buitoni refrigerated Herb Chicken Tortellini while I was shopping at Publix.  It was just calling my name.  (And I think it may have been on sale, which probably had a lot to do with it.)  ;)  I threw it in the freezer and then began to debate what to do with it.  I looked at all sorts of recipes, but couldn't find one that suited my family's tastes.  So, I decided to just wing it! 

Again, as I've mentioned MANY TIMES before, there are 2 things I love:(1) a recipe that's easily adaptable, like my Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad, and (2) a recipe that can be prepped ahead of time (during my little one's naptime) and then just be tossed in the oven.  This recipe fits both of those categories PERFECTLY!!!  In the morning, I baked the chicken breast & let it cool.  Then, while my little one slept, I boiled the pasta, shredded the chicken, mixed it all together, and poured it in my baking dish.  Then I just covered it in foil and put it in the fridge. About half an hour before it was time to bake it, I took it out of the fridge (to take some of the chill off). Voila! This is PERFECT because I'm often exhausted by the end of the day - having a toddler will do that to you - so just being able to throw something in the oven is HEAVENLY!

As far as being adaptable, this recipe is TOTALLY adaptable!  I used an Herb Chicken Tortellini, but you could use cheese tortellini, or even your favorite refrigerated ravioli!  You could also use ground beef in this recipe instead of shredded chicken - or even Italian sausage!  Use whatever type of pasta sauce you like too!  (I used a chunky mushroom pasta sauce because, well, we love mushrooms!)  You could even use a cream-based sauce (like an alfredo sauce) if you like.  Throw in some veggies too! - Maybe some green peas!  Make this dish your own!  :)

Chicken Tamale Pie

As I've mentioned SO many times before, I love a meal that I can prep ahead!  My little one takes a nap in the early afternoon, so I love to be able to do meal prep while she's asleep.  It makes my life easier.  Plus, it gives me more time to play with my angel!  :)  Another thing I LOVE is cornbread!!!  My pantry is ALWAYS stocked with Jiffy!  :)  Seriously, I don't know what the deal is with me and cornbread, but its deep and its real!  I previously posted a recipe for Chicken Cornbread Dressing - which is one of my FAVORITES!  So when I found this recipe for Chicken Tamale Pie, I KNEW I had to try it!  It was something I could prep ahead (bake the chicken and make the cornbread during naptime) and its made with cornbread!  Holla! 

I changed the original recipe - quite a bit - to fit my family's taste.  And boy was it tasty!!!  :)  Just to explain HOW GOOD this was, let me tell you about my hubby.  He's a thinker.  He likes to really think about it before he gives me his opinion on a new recipe.  That drives me crazy!  I'm extremely impatient, so I hand him a plate and a fork, and as soon as he takes the first bite, I say, "What do you think???????"  He always says, "I don't know.  Let me finish my plate first and I'll tell you."  (I'm not making fun of him.  In fact, I love that he's that way.  I really know if he likes what I make because he takes time to make up his mind.)  But, anyway, back to this recipe...  Tonight, he took ONE bite and said, "This is good!"  That is SO UNUSUAL for him!  I knew I had a winner!!!  And my little one - who has been going through that "picky toddler stage" - just DEVOURED this!  I love it when a new recipe goes over this well!!!  :)

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Cookies

I HATE waste!  Seriously!  I'm always looking for ways to use up the food that we have - including any snacks.  (That's how I came across my recipes for Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats, Best Ever Banana Nut Muffins, and many other recipes.)  So when I saw this recipe for Pretzel, Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chip Cookies, I thought, "Hey!  I can use up those extra pretzels in the pantry before they go stale!" 

Unfortunately, I didn't have any peanut butter chips.  But that wasn't about to stop me from my food thrift!  (That's right!  I call making cookies "food thrift!"  I mean, should I let those pretzels go to waste?  Of course not!)  ;)  So I thought about it.  What is one of my FAVORITE snacks?  Chocolate-covered pretzels!  They are the PERFECT combination of salty and sweet!  Combine that with a cookie and OH MY GOODNESS!!! Does it get any better than that???  So I hopped up off of the couch - and away from Pinterest - and got to work immediately!  And boy am I glad I did!  These babies are YUM-MY!!!

The original recipe said to bake them for 10 minutes (or 12 for crispier cookies), but after 12 minutes mine were still very chewy on the inside - which I LOVE!  The second pan I baked for 15 minutes and they seemed a bit over-done to me, so I would suggest baking them 12 to 14 minutes.

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Cookies

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/4 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 cup of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup of tightly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg (beaten)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup broken up pretzel pieces
Preztel Salt or Sea Salt

1.) In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2.) In a larger bowl, beat butter and sugars together on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). On low speed, slowly add the beaten egg and vanilla extract. Beat to combine, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
3.) Add flour mixture and beat just to combine. Stir in the chocolate chips and preztels.
4.) Preheat the oven to 350F. Scoop out well rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough and sprinkle with pretzel salt. Leave about 2 inches between each ball. Bake for 12 minutes. If you prefer crispier cookies increase the baking time by 1-2 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing.

Hello, Salty-Sweet Goodness!!!  :)

"Egg-cellent" Egg Salad



My hubby LOVES egg salad - which is a good thing, because we have it several times a month!  Egg salad and chicken salad are staples in this house - especially on evenings when a quick meal is in order.  But I'm always looking for a way to make even the most basic of recipes "zazzy." - You know what I mean - just a little bit of pizzaz!  Well, this egg salad is "zazzy!"  ;)

I originally came up with the idea to try and "zazz" up my egg salad after reading this recipe.  It seemed so yummy - and on toasted bread!  OH MY!  The problem was, that my hubby is more of a purist.  The idea of diced celery adding "crunch" to his egg salad wasn't appealing.  I guess, in his mind, egg salad shouldn't "crunch."  I can understand that.  So, I changed the recipe up a little bit to fit our tastes.  It was a HUGE hit!!!

Now, this recipe makes quite a lot, but we are having it for dinner tonight AND lunch for the rest of the week.  You could easily have the recipe if you like.

Oh, and the toasted bread is a MUST!  Just trust me.  Try it.  You won't regret it.  ;)


"Egg-cellent" Egg Salad

9 hard-cooked eggs
mayonnaise - to taste (I use 3 or 4 large tablespoonfuls)
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp pepper


1.) Dice eggs.  (This is very important.  Don't "mash" them.  Trust me on this.  It makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE when it comes to good egg salad!) 
2.) Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate.
3.)  Serve on toasted bread.  YUM!  :)

Citrus Lane Box Subscription - April 2012 Box Review

www.citruslane.com

Yeah! The day my little one and I look forward to ALL MONTH LONG finally arrived! Our Citrus Lane box came today! If you have never heard of Citrus Lane, its a WONDERFUL subscription company that sends out a monthly box for your child - based on their age and gender. The boxes cost $25 a month (that INCLUDES shipping!) and they are filled with safe, fun products for you and your children to use and enjoy. Every month has a theme and this month's theme was "Bath and Bedtime Fun." (If you'd like to see my review on last month's box - theme: "Dining Out" - just click HERE.)



As I mentioned before, the boxes are based on your child's age, so a baby would not receive the same thing that a 2 year old would receive. My daughter is nearly 2, so the box we receive is a "toddler" box.



The first thing that greets you when you open your box each month is this lovely yellow tissue paper! I love the color yellow! Seriously, is there a "happier" color in all the world!!! (I save the tissue paper for fun art projects with my little one, like "stained glass" suncatchers.)



Rebekka's Menu Plan for Monday, April 16th through Monday, April 30th

Monday, 04/16 - Cube Steak and Gravy over Rice, Squash and Onions, Green Bean Fries
Tuesday, 04/17 - leftover Cube Steak dinner
Wednesday, 04/18 - Baked Mini Corn Dogs and Potato Chips
Thursday, 04/19 - Teriyaki Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Asian Veggies
Friday, 04/20 - Slow Cooker Pork and Beans, Rice, Jim'N'Nick's Cheese Biscuits
Saturday, 04/21 - light lunch, dinner at Olive Garden!  WooHoo!  ;)
Sunday, 04/22 - leftover Pork & Beans for lunch, leftover Olive Garden for dinner
Monday, 04/23 - Frances' "Momma's Chicken Pot Pie"
Tuesday, 04/24 - leftover Chicken Pot Pie
Wednesday, 04/25 - sandwiches
Thursday, 04/26 - Chicken Tamale Bake
Friday, 04/27 - Tortellini Bake
Saturday, 04/28 - leftover Tamale bake for lunch, Chili Tater Tot Casserole for dinner
Sunday, 04/29 - leftover Tortellini Bake for lunch, leftover Chili Tater Tot Casserole for dinner
Monday, 04/30 - Smothered Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Lima Beans

(These are just my dinner plans - and lunches on Saturdays and Sundays.  For breakfasts, lunches, and desserts check below...)

My Momma's Chicken Pot Pie

2 Frozen Deep dish pie shells
2 Frozen Regular pie shells
1 Rotisserie chicken or 2 lg. cooked chicken breasts- chunked or shredded
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 Lg. can Veg-all mixed veggies-drained
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can each of green beans and corn- drained
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
LOTS of black pepper! :)

Ranch Oyster Crackers

While visiting my in-laws a few weeks ago, my little one had oyster crackers for the first time.  I can't believe I had never thought of those as a snack!!!  I mean, they are the perfect size for little hands!!!  As soon as we got home, I went out and bought 2 bags of them from Walmart.  (By the way, buy these babies at Walmart!  For normal grocery shopping I go to Publix because its closer, but they charge about $3.00 a bag for oyster crackers and Walmart sells them for about 99 cents!) 

Anyway, I mentioned the purchase to my friend Tara over at Mommy Time and she mentioned that she makes Ranch Oyster Crackers for the family to snack on.  Holy Cow!  That sounded YUMMY!!!  I love oyster crackers AND I love Ranch dressing!!!  Perfect!  So I looked around and found this recipe on allrecipes.com.

These are SUPER easy to make and a SERIOUSLY delicious!!!  Give them a try.  You'll probably love them as much as your kids do!

Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats

Ever have half a box of cheerios left over and you know they are gonna go stale before they get eaten?  Well, that's what happened to me last week.  I don't eat much cereal, and my hubby only its it occasionally.  That only leaves my toddler who, let's face it, can't pound down a full box before it gets old.  I HATE for things to go to waste though, so I set out on pinterest to see if I could find something fun to do with these cheerios.  That's when I found this recipe for Cheerio Treats.  These were SO easy and quick to whip up!  And my little one loves them!  The only warning I'll give you is that the sugar and corn syrup gets very sticky, so as soon as you're done making these you should go ahead and wash your bowl and utensils.  If you rinse them off with hot water, they are pretty easy to clean though.  :)

Coconut Pineapple Banana Muffins (Vegan)

OK, third and LAST banana mufffin recipe for tonight!  Haha!  As I mentioned in my Best Ever Banana Nut Muffin recipe and Blueberry Banana Muffin recipe posts,  I had a bunch of brown, mushy bananas that I wanted to keep from going to waste, so I went hunting for some new muffin recipes to try.  (I like making muffins because I can then freeze them and they can be pulled out individually for a quick breakfast or a yummy snack.)

I found this recipe for Coconut Pineapple Banana Bread on joythebaker.com  This recipe was PERFECT because, after making the banana nut and blueberry banana muffins, I was out of eggs.  No problem!  These babies are vegan!  :)  When I mixed these up, the batter was super thick, so I wasn't sure how they would come out.  They aren't the "prettiest" muffins, but they were pretty yummy!  My sweet toddler LOVED them, which is a HUGE point in their favor!  :)

The recipe below is how I made them today.  (I made a couple of small changes.)  If you'd like to see the original recipe, just click on the link above.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

As I mentioned in my Banana Nut Muffin recipe, I had about 5 old, brown, mushy bananas on my counter and wanted to make sure they didn't go to waste.  So, I went hunting for a few new recipes!  The banana nut muffins recipe used up about 2 of the bananas, so I kept hunting!  I came across this recipe for Berry Banana Walnut Bread (which was perfect because I also had about 1 cup of frozen blueberries that were looking for a tasty home) on cooks.com.  As with the banana nut muffins, I made this in a muffin tin.  I also decided to leave out the walnuts in this recipe and just make it Blueberry Banana Muffins.

The recipe below is how I made the muffins today.  If you'd like to see the original recipe, just click the link above.  :)

Best Ever Banana Nut Muffins

What do you do when you have a bunch of bananas that are all brown and mushy? (YUCK!) You make Banana Bread, that's what!!! I was determined not to let those bananas go to waste this morning, so I went looking for a new banana bread recipe to try. (I'm always looking to try a new recipe!) I found a recipe that claimed to be the "Best Banana Bread Ever" over at allrecipes.com. There were lots of great reviews, so I thought I'd give it a try - and boy am I glad I did! DELISH!!!

I did follow some suggestions on some of the reviews and changed things up a bit. Also, instead of baking it in a loaf pan, I made muffins. I like to do this because I can freeze them individually for a quick breakfast or snack. Below is the recipe as I made it this morning. If you'd like to see the original, just click the link above. :)

WARNING! If You're Posting Photos Online From Your Smart Phone, Ipad, or Ipod, You NEED TO READ THIS!!!

I just recently got an Ipod Touch. I LOVE it!!! Seriously! Its great! I can listen to music, take pics and videos, play games, etc. Its been great for taking quick pics of my little one or the food I just made or the craft I just finished. I also love the GPS inside! As long as I have internet access I can search for the nearest Chick-fil-a or the nearest Target. It ROCKS!!!

But there is one SERIOUS DOWNSIDE. That little GPS in my ipod also affects the camera. That means that every time I take a pic with my ipod and post it on the internet it includes location data. Now, the data is imbedded, so most of us don't even know its there. But it can be found pretty easily.

“Any 16 year-old with basic programming skills can do this,” said Gerald Friedland, a researcher at the International Computer Science Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

- Quote from "Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live"

Kate Murphy, New York Times

Cream Biscuits

So simple, but sooooo delicious!  I even added cheddar cheese to them tonight and made them even better! :)  This is a Paula Deen recipe but I have added my own touches to make these just perfect!  You don't have to pull out the biscuit cutter or rolling pin.  Keep it simple! :)  I just used one of my children's juice cups for that perfect circle cut.  I didn't use the rolling pin either.  I just pressed it out with the palms of my hands. :)  I can start these and bake them in a flash.

Celebrating 12 Days of Easter - Ideas for Crafts, Activities, and Snacks

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: Proverbs31 Mama.


Yes, this is my second Easter post in less than a week.  I can't help it.  I love this holiday!!!  I mean, COME ON!  What could be better to celebrate than the resurrection of our Savior!!!  And just as I mentioned in my previous post (which is also full of craft ideas), I really think we should give Easter the same attention that we give to Christmas.  After all, if the Resurrection had never happened, then Christmas would be meaningless!

Easter At Our House (and Some Ideas for Yours)

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

Our Little One's Easter Basket this year -

Complete with Easter Storybook, The Parable of the Lily,

Veggie Tales DVD, Stuffed Lamb with the words "He Lives"

and Lindt's chocolate lambs

Let me start out by saying that the Easter Bunny doesn't visit our house. Yes, you heard that right. Santa doesn't come here either. Now, I know that's an extremely unpopular thing to say, so before you label me the "Worst Mother In America," let me clarify a few things...

Citrus Lane Box Subscription - March 2012 Box Review

www.citruslane.com

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

OK folks!  I am SO excited about this review!!!  In fact, this is the entire reason that I started the "Moms Need To Know" review section of this blog!  I signed up for Citrus Lane's monthly subscription service last month, so I've been anxiously waiting for a little less than a month for my first box to arrive so I could share this with you guys!  So, lets get started, shall we?  To begin with, I'm going to tell you just a bit about Citrus Lane.  Then I'll tell you (and show you) what we received in this month's box.  Lastly, I'll try to anticipate and answer some of the questions you may have about Citrus Lane.

Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

 

I found this recipe on Pinterest.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Pinterest!!!! Apparently, Cafe Rio is a restaurant out West.  I've never been there.  I've never had their chicken, so I can't say if this is even close to their recipe.  All I can say is YUM-MEE!!  I served this chicken on flour tortillas with "Coleslaw Bobby Flay Style".  That may sound weird, but WOW!  It was so delicious together!  The hubby doesn't like coleslaw, so he just topped his with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.  He also suggested that I make it again, but the next time I should make grilled onions and mushrooms to go on it.  I think that sounds wonderful too!!!  You really can't do this wrong!
If you'd like to see the website I got this recipe from, you can click HERE.

Now, on to the recipe...

Wuvees - Product Review

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

OK, OK, so technically, I guess you couldn't really say this item makes my life "easier."  But it sure does make my little one happy!  :)  This is a "Wuvee," and so far I've only found them on amazon.  My daughter has 2 - the pink dog pictured above and this cream-colored lamb:

Redneck Chicken Cordon Bleu

We went on vacation and I took some chicken and poultry seasoning but forgot everything else so this is what I made:

2 lbs Chicken breast cut into pieces
1/2 stick of butter
5 slices of bacon, chopped
Poultry seasoning
Mozzarella cheese shredded

Galt Activity Dino - Product Review

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

OK folks!  I'm on a roll!  Here's my second product review!  And, surprise, surprise!  Its another Galt product!  I love Galt products!  They are so adorable, well made, and fun for kids!  They can also be a bit pricey, but amazon.com usually has a more reasonable price for them.
 

Galt Play Nest - Product Review

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

I'm starting off the "Moms Need To Know" review section with one of my FAVORITE kids products: the Galt Play Nest!  This thing is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Seriously, I can't say that enough.  Its such a simple concept too!  You receive what appears to be an inflatable innertube and a cloth cover.  You slide the innertube inside the cover - BEFORE YOU BLOW IT UP.  Then, you blow it up and VOILA!  A play nest! 

Mom's Need To Know - Product Reviews

NOTICE: All craft posts, product reviews, and any other posts that are not food-related have been moved to my other blog: The Proverbs31 Mama.

Hello everyone!!!   I've decided to start a new - and hopefully very exciting - section on the Proverbs31Cook Blog: "Mom's Need To Know."  As moms and/or wives, we are always looking for new, fun, and helpful products - things that will help make our lives easier.

So, here are the rules.

1.)  Your review can be in-depth, filled with pictures, etc., but it doesn't have to be.  You can simply write a couple of sentences about the product and why you love it or how it makes life easier - or more fun.  The only thing that I ask, is that you please make sure to include a link to the product (on amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com, toysrus.com, etc) so that people can check it out.  (Even if you picked the item up at a local store, odds are that you can find it on amazon!)
     *Note - If, for some reason, this is a specialty item that can't be found online, please make sure to include at least one picture of the item along with instructions on where it can be located.

Chicken Teriyaki Casserole

First, I'd like to say that I still consider myself a new mom.  I know.  I know.  My baby is 19 months old.  But I think that, with your first child, your kinda always a "new mom."  Every new phase of development makes me feel like I'm starting all over again!  Its so much fun!  But its also a challenge.  My baby just recently went from 2 naps to 1.  She's also walking, running, climbing, and getting into everything. It can make for some interesting challenges when it comes to preparing a meal.

So, I've become the self-proclaimed Queen of Casseroles.  I LOVE a good casserole!!!!  Something that can be prepped during my daughter's naptime and then just be thrown in the oven at dinner time.  That's my favorite kind of meal!

White Chocolate Pretzels

For Saint Patrick's Day this year, I decided to make this yummy treat  The best part about it - its SOOOOO easy!!!!!!!!!

What you'll need:
1 bag of pretzels
2 bags white chocolate chips
2 Tbs shortening
Sprinkles or colored sugar (optional)

Mama's Cornbread

When I don't have Jiffy Mix, this is the cornbread I like to make :-)  Mama's recipe!

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil

Red Beans and Rice

This recipe comes from a lady in my church who is, in my opinion, chef extraordinaire!  I'm posting the recipe as she makes it, but I have to admit that I omitted the celery and bell pepper - as well as the white pepper.  But, it's only because I didn't have those ingredients on hand when I spontaneously decided to make it :-)  It's really easy to make, but it does take some time to cook.  So, it fits the bill for a weekend meal at our house.

1 lb. dried red beans, or dried kidney beans
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp salt, to taste
3 cloves minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp each: red, white, and black pepper
1 lb. smoked sausage
1 ham bone  (I ended up using a "seasoning ham bone" I had stored in the freezer for cooking with collards)

BBQ Pork (Sanwiches or not :)) by Paula Deen

Now this says you can add your favorite sauce at the end.  But this was so yummy right out of the oven it didn't need the sauce!  But you can decide.

We ate this as a roast for dinner, then as pulled pork sandwiches for lunch the next day!  Yummy!

Ingredients

Dry rub:

• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon cayenne
• 4 pound shoulder pork roast
• 2 cup apple juice
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire
• 1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 6 soft hamburger buns with seeds
• Bbq sauce
• Cole slaw

Coleslaw Bobby Flay Style

Fantastic!!  I made this to put on top of homemade pulled pork sandwiches!  See recipe for BBQ Pork By Paula Dean.

Coleslaw:

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 3 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small head cabbage, cored, finely shredded
• 2 carrots, finely shredded
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

Apple Walnut Cake/Bread

I baked this recipe in a bundt pan thinking that it would turn out more like a cake, but it ended up very dense like a flavored bread.  At least, that's the way I thought.  My husband, on the other hand, said it was more cake-like.  So, I've added this recipe to both the bread and dessert sections.  Bread or cake,  THIS THING IS DELICIOUS!!!

Easy Buffalo Chicken Strips

I have recently developed a love for mildly spicy things.  I came up with a recipe that my kids would eat and wouldn't be too unhealthy or expensive(wings can be costly).

1 pkg chicken breast strips
1/2 bottle Texas Pete Buffalo Sauce
Bread crumbs
Chip(crushed) plain
Cooking spray
Ranch dressing mix in envelope.

Mississippi Mud Cake

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  This thing is SOOOO good!!! 
I had found a few different Mississippi Mud Cake recipes online, but really wasn't satisfied with any of them, so I took things from all of them and made my own recipe.  Now, this cake is not the prettiest, but WHO CARES when it tastes this good!!!  Its sort of like a cake, and a brownie, and a smore all rolled into one!
Note:  You can make the chocolate frosting a little thinner by only adding 2 cups (16oz) of powdered sugar and then you could drizzle it on top of the cake all nice and pretty.  I didn't do that.  I like my frosting a little thicker, so I added another 1/2 cup to 1 cup of powdered sugar, but then it doesn't drizzle and look all pretty.  Seriously... WHO CARES.  Its that good!  But I just wanted to add that note for anyone who wants their cake to look prettier - especially if you make this for a party or get-together.

Anyway, on to the recipe...

Bacon and Cheese Muffins

Good morning everyone!  This morning I got up early specifically to try out a new breakfast recipe - Bacon and Cheese Muffins!  I found this recipe on bigoven.com.  If you've never check it out, its an AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME site.  (Did I mentions that its awesome?)  I have the BigOven app on my ipod touch & I LOVE IT!!!!  So many great recipes with tons of ratings and reviews.  ONe really cool feature of the ipod/iphone app is the "What's Cooking Around You" feature.  The app actually uses your location (if you give it permission to) and it shows you what people that live near you who are using BigOven are making for dinner.  How cool is that!

Roach Family Meal Plan - Feb 27th - March 5th

Well, I'm finally back into the swing of things!  After being gone myself for two weeks and then my husband being gone for a week (leaving the day after I came home), it's been pretty hectic around here.  But, I recovered this weekend and am back into normal life.... so with normal life comes a meal plan.  I also need to get moving posting some new recipes......But first, the meal plan:

Rebekka's Menu Plan for Saturday, February 25th through Tuesday, March 13th

Saturday, 02/25 - Sausage and Rice Casserole, Green Beans, Roasted Cauliflower (lunch)
Saturday, 02/25 - Jammin' Jambalaya (dinner)
Sunday, 02/26 - leftovers from Saturday
Monday, 02/27 - eat out
Tuesday, 02/28 - Crockin' Pork Chops, Little Ma's Potato Salad, Squash and Onions, Field Peas and Snaps
Wednesday, 02/29 - Chicken Salad Sandwiches and chips
Thursday, 03/01 - leftovers from Tuesday night
Friday, 03/02 - Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes served over rice, Cuban Crushed Potatoes, Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart
Saturday,03/03 - Taco Bake (lunch)
Saturday, 03/03 - Chicken Cornbread Dressing, Macaroni and Cheese, Lima Beans (dinner)
Sunday, 03/04 - leftovers from Friday night
Sunday, 03/04 - leftover Taco Bake

Southwest Chicken

Well, its been a little while since I posted a recipe.  Sorry.  We've been out of town twice, and between those visits sickness has been running rampant in our house.  But I'm back!  Unfortunately, we are all sick - again.  UGH!  Thank goodness for super easy recipes!  And this just happens to be one of them!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!  Seriously!  Its probably the easiest recipe I make, yet its SOOOO yummy!!!  And because of its antioxident properties and immune-boosting properties, its the PERFECT meal for my sick family.

Vietnamese Fried Rice

This is one of the first things I learned to cook.  It was a staple in our house.  My mama made it a lot because it was one of my dad's favorites.   I love how "customizable" it is!  Add whatever floats your boat!  My mama even changed up the meat in it.  Sometimes she used chicken, occasionally strips of steak, and even ground hamburger.  We weren't big seafood eaters in our house, but I bet if you love shrimp, that would be yummy too.  Today I added about 1/2 a cup of frozen peas, which is something I'd never done before.  You could also add carrots, scallions, water chestnuts, baby corn, etc.  Get creative people!  :)

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits

Awesome, awesome, awesome is all I have to say.  Cooked these today and they are fantastic!  I mixed everything by hand and they were fluffy and delicious! :)  I also added as much cheese as I wanted...didn't stick to the 1 cup.  Yummy!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1/2 cup cold buttermilk, shaken
• 1 cold extra-large egg
• 1 cup grated extra-sharp Cheddar
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water or milk
• Maldon sea salt, optional

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna

 I made this for the first time last night. I forgot that it takes a little longer to prepare lasagna, but it was well worth it. I'm not a big red sauce fan so this was perfect for me! My husband on the other hand I think would eat red sauce every meal if given the chance...so when we sat down he tasted it, liked it, and then went and grabbed some leftover tomato sauce to add to his. He said he would eat it again so that's always good with a new recipe!!

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Lasagna

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk
1 (1 oz) pkg. Ranch Mix (not the dip blend)
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (16oz) lasagna noodles, cooked
1 1/2 to 2 C cheddar cheese, grated (I used 1 cup per layer...made two layers total)
1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese, grated (again I used 1 cup per layer)

Italian Mac and Cheese

I made this last night for Italian night at church.  It was absolutely fantastic!   We are eating the leftovers today for lunch!  This is the ulitmate in comfort food!!! 

          Butter, for greasing dish

• 16 ounces wide egg noodles
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups (packed) grated Fontina
• 3/4 cup (packed) finely grated Parmesan
• 3/4 cup (packed) grated mozzarella
• 4 ounces cooked ham, diced, optional
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves (I used dried)

Best Banana Pudding EVER!

3 cups milk
1 family size instant vanilla pudding
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can sweetened condensed milk
8 ounces cream cheese softened
8 ounce container frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip) thawed
6 (or as many as you like) bananas
12 ounce package vanilla wafers

Cayman's Menu Plan for Feb. 5-11

For whatever reason this week was a struggle to come up with menus, but they are done! So here is my meal plan for Feb. 5-11

Sunday- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak, rice, green bean casserole, bread, and jello

Monday- chicken roll ups (these were one the menu last week, but we never got around to making them)

Tuesday- Slow Cooker Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Rebekka's Menu Plan for Wednesday, Feb. 1st through Monday, Feb. 13th

Wed., 02-01 - Eat Out
Thurs., 02-02 - Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread
Fri., 02-03 - Grilled BBQ Chicken, McCormick BBQ Potatoes, Lima Beans
Sat., 02-04 (Lunch) - leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs
Sat., 02-04 (Dinner) - Pork BBQ Sandwiches, Corn on the Cob, Sweet Potato Fries
Sun., 02-05 (Lunch) - leftover BBQ Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries
Sun., 02-05 (Dinner) - Appetizers to watch the rest of the Super Bowl (after church)
                             will probably make some finger sandwiches, some stuffed mushrooms, some
                             chips and dip, etc.

Chicken Tetrazzini

I was never much for Chicken Tetrazini but I think it's because it was a recipe I didn't grow up having.  My mom never cooked it for some reason or another, but it is such an easy meal to throw together and put in the oven that I quickly got the recipe from my Mother in law.  I know it is not my husbands favorite either but sometimes its the easy go to recipe.  Plus I can freeze half of it for another dinner because we only need an 8x8 of it at a time.

Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

Once again another wonderful Pinterest find.  I am telling you if you aren't on there you should be cause I have made some good stuff thanks to recipes on there.  And I can say I love a box strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting so I knew these cookies would fit right in!!

Before I was a sahm I spent some time being a nanny for these two children who are now basically like my own.  Well Caroline came over to spend the night with me so we had a girls night....baking, movies, and so forth.  I decided to try this recipe out that I found on Pinterest and we loved it.  The recipe called for half the cake mix box but I doubled the recipe because I knew she would want to take some home, and of course I was gonna want to keep some too :)

Here is my picture taken with the iPhone again...sorry doesn't make the prettiest pictures but it's easy!!

You can find the original recipe here since I doubled it here is the recipe with the whole box of mix: (I would say just for kicks head on over to her blog and read the recipe because her pictures are MUCH prettier and she probably gives you more explanation than I did)

Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad

We just got back from out of town last night.  I realized this morning that I didn't have anything planned for lunch for me and the munchkin, so I decided to go with an old standby - and personal favorite - this pasta salad.  I call it "Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad" because its totally customizable and extremely "pantry friendly."  You can just see what's in your pantry or fridge and invent a new pasta salad!  Just throw in everything but the kitchen sink!  ;)

Crockpot Chicken Casserole

No doubt about it I love using my crockpot for sure!  This is a super easy and flexible recipe as well.  I thought I found it on pinterest but I couldn't seem to find the pin so I am guessing that I got it from Crockin Girls on Facebook.  This is super easy!

I didn't take this picture I found it online but had to put a picture with it!!

Ingredients:

4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (On a side note....I always salt, pepper, and garlic powder my meat!)

4 slices Swiss cheese (if you aren't a Swiss fan, put your fav cheese on there)

1 can cream of mushroom soup (or can substitute cream of chicken if you don't like mushrooms)

1/4 cup milk

2 cups stuffing mix (flavored stuffing makes it awesome)

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 

Menu Plan for Jan. 29th-Feb.4th

Here is the menu plan starting Jan. 29th-Feb.4th

Sunday- chicken from the freezer (already bought seasoned just have to cook it), green beans, bread, Parmesan rice, and jello

Monday- hot dogs, mac and cheese

Tuesday- omelets in a bag, bacon, muffins, hash browns, and pretzels with white chocolate slightly melted and a yellow M&M on top (to represent bacon and eggs)

Sarita's Carbonara

I had a limited amount of time and energy so this is what I came up with.

1 lb of pasta
2 boiled chicken breasts shredded or cubed(done earlier for another meal)
4 slices bacon chopped
1/4 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
3 tbsp oil
1 pat butter
Parmesan cheese

Pizza Biscuits

This is another wonderful Pinterest idea but it didn't come with a link.  It could easily be an appetizer if you wanted it to be, but I often make these on a night where we don't want a big dinner or we have something going on and need a quick dinner.  They are super easy and a big hit at my house!!!

the picture is from Pinterest but like I said it didn't come with a link to the website

Can of Biscuits (I usually buy the four pack pillsbury and use them for different things like this and mini monkey breads)
Mozzarella Cheese
Pepperoni (cut up or buy the mini's)
Garlic Powder, Basil, Oregano, Parsley (this is where you can get creative and add whatever you want or nothing at all!!!)
Pizza Dipping Sauce

Herbed Lentils and Rice

3 1/3 c. veg. broth                                     3/4 c. dry lentils (rinsed)
3/4 c. chopped onion                                 1/2 c. uncooked brown rice
1/4 tsp. salt                                                1/2 tsp. dry basil
1/4 tsp. thyme                                            1/4 tsp. dry oregano (I omit this)
1/8 tsp. pepper                                           1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Balsamic Roasted Potatoes

I made these with supper last night and they were so good!  Of course I saw the idea on Pinterest but when I looked at the original recipe I didn't need 3 lbs of potatoes and I am not a big thyme fan because it always ends up overpowering everything else when I cook with it!  So I checked out this recipe then kinda just rolled with it.

Welfare Peanut Butter Cookies

Today is National Peanut Butter Day!  (Did you know that?  I sure didn't.  Just happened to run across that info online this afternoon.)  I love peanut butter, so in honor of today I thought I'd post a recipe for something peanut butter.  Hmmm...  What to choose??? - Cookies!  I actually found this recipe about a week ago on another blog called Lick The Bowl Good.  I've already made them once.  In fact, I had planned to blog this recipe last week.  I got all my ingredients and placed them on the kitchen counter and got to work.  I finished making the dough and started spooning it out onto the cookie sheet.  I noticed it seemed awefully crumbly.  The first batch went in the oven and smelled DELISH.  That's when I noticed the 2 eggs sitting on the counter.  That's right.  The 2 eggs that were supposed to be in the cookie dough.  ARGHHHH!!!!  Oh well!  My bad!  That was last Thursday.  Then today I was kicking around the idea of making these cookies again when I saw that it was National Peanut Butter Day.  I figured that had to be a sign!  Haha!  Maybe God wanted me to make these cookies?  Don't dismiss that thought entirely.  I mean, my hubby does love cookies and surprising him with these is a way I can show him love.  So I got to work!

Meal Plan: New Years Resolution

Well I'm the new one here but I have to say I love to cook!!! I mean not sure if its a "Southern thing" or everywhere, but I grew up in the kitchen with my mama.  If she was cooking I was in there helping or learning. (especially when she was baking because we all like to lick the batter!)  And although I learned a lot from her I never fully grasped what all it took...until I said "I do" I can remember growing up to supper on the table every night and she had a full time job.  I was a couple weeks into being married and constantly thinking "What should I cook tonight?"  "Oh no I don't have all those ingredients, off to the store I go again!" "How in the world did my mom always have a full pantry?  How did she do this every night?" But I still loved doing it...it was built in me from the beginning that nurturing side that I was made to take care of my husband, or family in general, and this is what I LOVED doing!  To this day that has not changed.  It's kinda funny because it may take awhile to prepare, definitely wrecks up my kitchen, going to the store isn't always fun, and clean up is the worst....but I never seem to have an attitude when it comes to cooking a meal for my family.  Isn't is amazing how that happens!!  Don't get me wrong this Mama loves to be taken out to eat when need be as well.  But I am sure we could all agree its just what we love to do.  We find fulfillment in knowing we took care of our family!!!

^"She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens." Prov 31:15

Crockin' Pork Chops

4 boneless pork chops

1 can cream of mushroom

1 package Lipton onion soup mix

1 onion

Salt and pepper to taste

2 soup cans of water

Beef Taco Bake

1 pound ground beef 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup 1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce 1/2 cup milk 6 flour tortillas (8-inch) or 8 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces) 1. Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring often to separate meat.  Pour off any fat. 2. Stir the soup, picante sauce, milk, tortillas and half the cheese in the skillet.  Spoon the beef mixture into a 2-quart shallow baking dish.  Cover the baking dish. 3. Bake at 400°F. for 30 minutes or until the beef mixture is hot and bubbling.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Makes: 4 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each).

Pigs in a Pig - (Easy Appetizer-Perfect for Super Bowl Party)

I love football which makes my hubby love me even more!  Score 1 for me!  When we have a big game coming on, we try to easy foods so that we aren't in the kitchen instead of watching the game.  Here is a family favorite:

Pigs in a Pig:

2 packages of Lil' Smokies(any flavor)
2 packages sliced bacon(cut into 3rds)
1/2 cup of brown sugar

Last Minute Salsa

I went to visit my parents yesterday, for a little while.  And, as usually happens when leaving, we end up with a bag of "leftovers" and such to bring home with us.  Yesterday it was piles of pancakes.....and tortilla chips. I know, odd combination :-)   Anyhow, I really like munching on tortilla chips - especially if I have a dip to go with them.  So, last night, I was making chili for the hot dogs we were going to eat for my daughter's birthday supper.  Hot dog chili for me is just browning some hamburger, then throwing in a little bit of Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce and chili seasoning....and a little ketchup and mustard.  Anyhow, I had about 3/4th of a can of Manwich leftover.  And, rather than waste it, I decided I'd take some of the tortilla chips and dip them in the Manwich sauce (since I didn't have any salsa).  Well, it tasted pretty good.....but, seemed to be missing something - the "chunkiness" of salsa.  So, that's when I decided - hmmmm, wonder what it would taste like with a can of Rotel?  So, I drained a can of Rotel, added it to the Manwich sauce, and put it through the blender (my hubby doesn't like chunky tomatoes, so I was trying to be considerate <chuckle>)....and VOILA!  Salsa!  I don't know if it's of any cost savings or not, over a jar of Picante......but it served its last-minute purpose, and the fam enjoyed it! :-)  

Roasted Pork Chops with Potatoes, Carrots and Onions

Ingredients:
6 Thin sliced pork chops
1/2 onion cut into slivers
1/2 bag baby carrots
1/2 bag red potatoes quartered (peeled or not)
salt, pepper, and garlic pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and lightly spray 9x13 baking dish. 
Quarter potatoes into baking dish then add carrots and onions.
Pour about 2 to3 Tbls. of olive oil on top. 
Generously sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic pepper on top then toss with hands. 
Now, lay pork chops on top and generously sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic pepper on top of chops. 

Roach Family Menu - 1/21 - 1/31

Well, it's Saturday morning, which means it's menu planning day at my house.  Menu planning day and grocery list making day.  I used to REALLY dislike this day, but now, with new recipes to try out, I was kinda looking forward to it this week!  I bought a calendar just for daily meals.  It's easier for me than making a list, and I can cross stuff out, move it around, and if I want to, go back and look at the whole month of menus and get new ideas.  I can also color code the days - which meals were a big hit (do them again) or which went over like a flop (never make again).  So, I have the calendar filled out, and I'm going to put it up here, how I have it on the calendar - but it's gonna change.  The important thing I guess is that I have a meal for every day planned.... then I can move them around as I choose.  The one thing I noticed was that I have a lot of chicken dishes and they are all right together.  I'll need to move them so we don't have chicken three nights in a row!  

Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs

This is a yummy recipe that I found in one of those little cookbooks in the checkout line at the grocery store.  If you don't want to take the time to make the marinade, you could simply use your favorite store-bought marinade or salad dressing.


2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small eggplant, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices (rounds)
2 medium onions, each cut into 8-inch wedges
16 medium mushrooms, stems removed
16 cherry tomatoes
1 cup fat-free reduced sodium chicken broth
2/3 cup balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
3 Tbs olive oil
4 tsp dried basil
1 Tbs dried oregano
2 tsp grated lemon peel
Chopped fresh parsley
4 cups hot cooked whole wheat couscous

Chicken Cacciatore

This is one of the hubby's FAVORITE recipes!  He is overjoyed when he comes home to this meal cooking on the stove.

8 oz uncooked pasta
1-2 chicken breasts
1 (15oz) can chunky Italian-style tomato sauce
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
Nonstick cooking spray
Salt and pepper - to taste

Baked Corn Pudding

This is one of my FAVORITE Christmas dinner recipes!!!  Its easy to make and SOOOO good.  My hubby is not a huge fan of corn, so he doesn't eat a lot of this.  But that's OK with me!  That just means I get more!  :)  I originally found this recipe on AllRecipes, but I changed it a little to fit my tastes.  If you'd like to see the original recipe, click here.

Baked Corn Pudding

1/4 cup sugar
1 box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can cream-style corn

Glorified Graham Crackers

I got this recipe years ago from a coworker.  The first time I tasted these babies, I was hooked!  Who knew they'd be so easy to make!  :)

1 stick butter
1 stick margarine
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 box honey graham crackers

Nitey Night Cookies

This is a recipe I found a few years ago.  I enjoy making these on Christmas Eve night.  You place them in a preheated oven, turn the oven off, go to sleep, and they are ready in the morning.  These are GREAT to do with kids (although, I did these even before we had our daughter).   These would also be great the night before your child's birthday.  Make the cookies with them right before their bedtime, then tell them when they get up in the morning it will be their birthday and their cookies will be ready!

I got this recipe from AllRecipes.  If you'd like to see the original post, click here.

Nitey Night Cookies

2 egg whites
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Italian-Marinated Vegetable Salad

OK folks, I rarely post recipes that I haven't made yet.  In fact, this is the first one.  But I saw this recipe and it looked and sounded so yummy that I couldn't wait to post it!  I found this in one of my old Kraft "Food and Family" magazines.  Anybody remember those magazines?  They used to send them out for free.  Now they charge like $10-$15 a year.  :(  Oh well, I'm still holdin' on to my free copy from December of '08.  :)

1/2 lb fresh green beans, cut in half
2 cups cauliflower florets
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 cup sliced stuffed green olives
1/4 cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing

Stuffed Mushrooms

This is one of my husband's FAVORITE appetizers.  On Christmas Eve, we like to do finger foods instead of a big meal - since I'm usually prepping lots of stuff for Christmas dinner - and this is the first thing he requests every year.  These are a big crowd pleaser as well.  :)