Corndogs? Muffins? What about BOTH?

I saw an idea on Pinterest the other day and I thought I would try it out.  I thought it would be something that the kiddos would love and, they did!  What's even better is that it is an easy recipe. 

You basically just take Cornbread mix & add cut up hot dogs in the middle of the muffin mix. Then, cook as directed.  Easy!  And, YUM!  ;)

This is the mix I used:

I cut the hotdogs in three pieces.  I filled up the muffin tins with the mix and then placed the hotdog right in the middle.  Next time, I will probably double the muffin mix to make more.  :) 

Here is the end result!

Before I cooked them.  (See, I think I should have added another box of mix and poured that on top)

Up close!

Finished product!

Chicken Chimichangas!!!

I haven't posted in a while.....Summer has taken over our household and we have spent every minute possible outdoors!  I wanted to post a new, easy, perfect week night recipe to share with everyone. 

Chicken Chimichangas Recipe

As usual, I altered to my pantry and made a smaller, simpler version so I wouldn't waste any food. 

Ingredients:

1/2 Rotisserie Chicken - shredded
1/2 - 3/4 cups salsa
1/4 cup water (give or take a little)
10 inch tortillas
Shredded Mexican cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  I shredded the rotisserie chicken and mixed it with salsa & water. I simmered on low for approximately 15 minutes until the chicken soaked up all the juices.  You take the tortilla and spoon the chicken in the middle.  Then, spoon the shredded cheese on top of the chicken.  Fold the sides in, fold the bottom up and then fold the top down.  I cut off a little off the top to make a perfect rectangle.  I also used toothpicks to keep everything closed while cooking.  Put the tortillas folded side down on a pan.  Cook 7 minutes and then flip, remove toothpicks and bake for an additional 5 minutes. 

 I shredded the rotisserie chicken and mixed it with salsa & water. I simmered on low for approximately 15 minutes until the chicken soaked up all the juices.

You take the tortilla and spoon the chicken in the middle.  Then, spoon the shredded cheese on top of the chicken.  Fold the sides in, fold the bottom up and then fold the top down.  I cut off a little off the top to make a perfect rectangle.  I also used toothpicks to keep everything closed while cooking. 

Cook 7 minutes and then flip, remove toothpicks and bake for an additional 5 minutes

End result....I added fresh garden tomatoes and sour cream on the side.  They were very good and so easy!

Trifle...Dump Cake...whatever you want to call it - IT'S GOOD!

This is another one of those quick and easy fix deserts.  I get on a kick...which I find something I like, I make it ALL the time and I bring it to EVERY function for a period of time until I find another recipe that I get a kick for!  ;)  This is an oldie, but goodie....

I don't really have a name for it because it has been called a trifle but I really don't think it fits the trifle description.  It really is a dump cake.  You dump everything in, stir and bake.  Perfect and yummy. 

Dump Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
1 box of vanilla cake mix
1 can crushed pineapple (drained)
1 can cherry pie filling
1 stick of butter

Ingredients

Mix can of crushed pineapple & cherry pie filing

Mix well

Dump the cake mix on top (**Dump cake, remember!)

Spread it out....

Cut up the butter and arrange evenly on top

Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown

This is really good with a big ole' scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

We enjoyed this as desert with homemade ice cream on the porch at my Mom's house.  It was the perfect treat!  I hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day! 

Fruit Dip ~ Quick/Easy/Delicious!

Here is a quick, easy recipe for a fruit dip.  It's really good with apples but you can use it with any type of fruit.  Last time I made this, I warmed up some brown sugar to soften it and ended up with a huge burn on my hand.  Two, almost 3 weeks later....still have a spot and I am guessing that this will end up with a nice scar.  Nothing like a scar from brown sugar......guess I am a dangerous baker.  ;) 

Fruit Dip Recipe

1 package cream cheese

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Soften the cream cheese, then mix all together and there you go.......fruit dip.  Perfectly delicious! 



Mama Belle's Roast - Crockpot Recipe!

My mother has always made the BEST roast and you know what is even better about her recipe??  It's a crockpot recipe!  It makes a huge roast and you can use the leftovers later on in the week for sandwiches or any other recipe you can incorporate this in to. 

Mama Belle's Roast Recipe:
2 cans Beefy Mushroom Soup
2 cans water
1 large roast
1 package Lipton onion soup mix
flour
Seasoning Salt

Whisk the soups, 2 cans water, and one package of the Lipton onion soup mix in your crockpot.  Coat the roast with flour and the seasoning salt.  Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides.  Put the roast in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.  The last hour you can add any veggies you want to add in.

Whisk the soups, 2 cans water, and one package of the Lipton onion soup mix in your crockpot

Coat the roast with flour and the seasoning salt

Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides

Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides

Put the roast in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours

Serve it with your choice of sides....I had Hunky Ranch Potatoes!

Chicken Enchiladas and Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved the Black Bean Salsa.  I saw a recipe on-line here:

Chicken with Black Bean Salsa

I made the Black Bean Salsa but I altered the recipe just a bit.....

Black Bean Salsa
1 small container of cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 can Black Beans (rinsed and drained)
1 small can of white corn
Juice from 2 limes
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons of chopped red onion

Mix all together and serve as a side or serve with tortilla chips. 

We also made Chicken Enchiladas.  This is a recipe from one of my friends, Lara.  It is quick and delicious!  My son, Will, gobbled these right up!

Combine in the same bowl, chicken, sour cream, chilies.

  Mix well and fold in the cheese that you shredded.

Take mixture and place in tortillas.  Roll the tortilla up and place in a greased pan. 

Pour the red sauce and cheese over the enchiladas.  Cover and put in the oven @ 425 for 30 minutes. 

Take cover off and cook until cheese is melted or for about 15 more minutes.  I have already taken the kids servings out to cool in this picture. 

This is my plate......I ate my Black Bean Salsa with some chips!  Yum, yum!

Chicken Enchiladas (makes about 8)
Ingredients:
1 Rotisserie Chicken  or 3/4 pieces of boneless & skinless chicken (cooked & cubed)
1 small onion (I didn't use an onion)
1 can of chopped green chilies
1 block of Monterey Jack Cheese
12 oz Sour Cream
Tortillas
2 cans of Red Sauce
Yellow Cheese (any kind)

Shred the chicken from the rotisserie chicken (or cube and cook the chicken breasts with chopped up onion). 

Grate the Monterey Jack cheese.

Combine in the same bowl, chicken, sour cream, chilies.  Mix well and fold in the cheese that you shredded.

Take mixture and place in tortillas.  Roll the tortilla up and place in a greased pan. 

Pour the red sauce and cheese over the enchiladas.  Cover and put in the oven @ 425 for 30 minutes. 

Take cover off and cook until cheese is melted or for about 15 more minutes. 



Broccoli Casserole ~ very easy!

I have all three kiddos this week - my two boys and my niece.....so I am all about easy recipes!  We had spaghetti, broccoli casserole and fruit for dinner last night.  My Dad just brought me fresh broccoli from his garden so I made a broccoli casserole with it.  Fresh broccoli just can't be beat!!  It is tender and it is delicious just by itself BUT the kiddos need some cheese to get them to eat these veggies.  ;) 

I used my Mom's recipe for her Broccoli Casserole but I needed to speed up the process to referee the kiddos.  See the recipe below:

This is all you need and 2 tablespoons of butter.  I used a bag of the fresh broccoli, 1/2 of the large Velveeta cheese,  3 tablespoons of milk, 2 tablespoons butter and a sleeve of wheat Ritz crackers. 

I went ahead and cooked the broccoli and melted the cheese.  I added about 1/4 cup of milk to the cheese to melt.  It was too much so I would recommend using 3 tablespoons. Microwave in 30 second intervals and stir in between until melted. 

Put the broccoli in the dish and pour the cheese over the broccoli. 

Then stir everything together.  When you do this, the broccoli will break up into pieces.......especially this fresh broccoli....as I mentioned it is very tender and DELICIOUS!  In the meantime, I put the Ritz crackers in a Ziploc bag and gave it to Will & Claire.  They crushed them up for me AND it entertained them for a second.  :)

Sprinkle the crackers on top of the cheesy broccoli mixture and then pour the melted 2 tablespoons of butter on top. 

This is our finished project.  Since I needed a quick dinner, I cooked broccoli and melted the cheese so everything was already heated throughout.  I just had to broil the top to brown the crackers.  I broiled for approximately 2 minutes.  I highly suggest keeping a close eye on it while doing this........I broiled mine a little TOO much!  :)

Broccoli Casserole Recipe

2 tablespoons of butter

bag of the fresh broccoli (you can use a bag of frozen)

1/2 of the large Velveeta cheese 

3 tablespoons of milk

2 tablespoons butter

1 sleeve of wheat Ritz crackers (or regular, depending on your preference)

Cook the broccoli and melted the cheese. Add about 3 tablespoons of milk to the cheese to melt.  ** You can use more if needed.   Microwave in 30 second intervals and stir in between until melted.  Put the broccoli in the dish and pour the cheese over the broccoli.   Stir everything together.  When you do this, the broccoli will break up into pieces.......especially this fresh broccoli....as I mentioned it is very tender and DELICIOUS!  In the meantime, crush up the Ritz crackers in a Ziploc bag.  Sprinkle the crackers on top of the cheesy broccoli mixture and then pour the melted 2 tablespoons of butter on top.  Since I needed a quick dinner, I cooked broccoli and melted the cheese so everything was already heated throughout.  I just had to broil the top to brown the crackers.  I broiled for approximately 2 minutes.  I highly suggest keeping a close eye on it while doing this........I broiled mine a little TOO much!  :)