Dinner Rolls

This is my Mother in Law's recipe for dinner rolls - they are simply amazing.  I make them for all special occasions and sometimes just for a regular dinner for fun!  They take a lot of time to rise and knead so I make them on days that I know I'll be preparing dinner in 10 minute increments throughout the day anyhow!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 package of yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• scant 4 Tablespoons of olive oil (I always feel that 4 is too high so I usually use closer to 3)
• 1 egg
• 6-7 cups flour

How To:

• Dissolve yeast in water (let it sit for a few minutes).
• Add sugar.
• Mix in salt, oil and egg.
• Add flour to make a thick dough.
• Knead for about 5 minutes.
• Place in an oiled bowl for an hour or more - until doubled.
• Punch the dough down and knead for 3 more minutes.
• Roll into 2 inch balls and let rise on oiled baking pan.
• Let rise until doubled (about 45 minutes - 1 hour).
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Apple Chicken

This is not the healthiest meal (turn your head as you add all the butter) but boy is it yummy!  And my kids will actually eat cooked apples...maybe it has something to do with all that butter....hmmm...

Ingredients:

• 4 regular sized apples (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
• 1-2 Tbsp diced onion (your preference)
• chicken (enough to feed your family)
• flour
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch

How To:

• Rinse and roll the chicken in flour to coat.
• Heat 1Tbsp of butter and 2 Tbsp of oil over med heat.  Cook chicken until cooked through adding oil if needed to prevent burning.
• In another pan, melt 2 Tbsp of butter.  Add the onion, apples, and thyme.  I never measure the thyme - I just sprinkle a bunch on.
• Cook until the apples are softened.  I let it go until they are nice and soft (maybe 5 minutes) and they will smell amazing!
• Remove the apples.  In the same pan, warm up the chicken broth and 1/4 cup of half and half until its hot.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining 1/4 cup half and half.  Add this to the warmed broth/half and half mix.  Cook until the sauce thickens (I let it go while I set the table, stirring often so it doesn't burn).
• Serve the apples on top of the chicken and the sauce on top of that.

Enjoy!

 

Bacon Mushroom Soup

Everything is better with bacon - right?  That is only one reason why this soup is so creamy and yummy!  I make enough for my husband and I to enjoy and my kids to taste - so if you want more, you may want to double the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 Tbsp onion minced
• 2 cups mushrooms (white or brown) chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup half and half
• salt
• pepper

How To:

• Cook the bacon until crispy.
• Add the onion to the back grease and cook for 3 minutes. 
• Then add the mushrooms, rosemary and garlic.  Cook for 5 minutes.
• Return the bacon to the pan and add the flour.  Stir to coat and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add the half and half.
• To make it smooth, you can blend (or food process) about a cup of the soup and then return it to the pot.  Try to get the larger mushrooms in the cup to blend so that the soup is smoother.

Enjoy!

Pot Roast

The most important part of the pot roast is the meat - so pick out a good cut of meat to roast!  This turns out juicy and delicious.  Serve with some egg noodles.

Ingredients:

• 1 beef chuck roast
• 2 russet potatoes, quartered
• 2 carrots, cut in 2 inch pieces
• 2 ribs celery, cut in 2 inch pieces
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp rosemary leaves
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 cup beef broth

How To:

• Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper.
• Add the veggies, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary to the crock pot.
• Place beef on top.
• Pour the broth over the beef.
• Cook in crock pot for 8-9 hours until the beef is tender.

Enjoy!

One Dish Lemon Chicken with Green Beans and Potatoes

This is a great one-dish meal.  Make it ahead and just throw it in around dinner time!

Ingredients:

• 6 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 lemons (1 sliced, 1 juiced)
• 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 2 handfuls of green beans
• 6 small red potatoes, quartered
• chicken (we use a breast, drumstick, thigh, and breast tender)

Directions:

• Mix the lemon juice, 5 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper in a bowl.
• Coat the bottom of a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Arrange the lemon slices on the first layer.
• Add the green beans to the lemon mixture.  Toss, and add as a layer to the baking dish.
• Add the potatoes to the lemon mixture.  Toss, and add around the edges of the dish.
• Add the chicken to the lemon mixture and toss.  Add to the baking dish on top of the green beans.
• Pour any extra lemon mixture on top of the chicken.
• Roast for 50 minutes in 450 degree oven.
• Then take the chicken off and let the potatoes and beans go for another 10 minutes in the oven.

Enjoy!

Taco Seasoning

We use this for all sorts of things - fajitas in the crock pot, taco night, whenever it seems like a good idea!  This recipe makes a lot so I just make it up and keep it handy.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chili powder
• 1/2 cup corn starch
• 1/8 cup salt
• 1 Tbsp black pepper
• 3 Tbsp paprika
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• 2 Tbsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp oregano
• 2 Tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 2 tsp coriander

Mix all ingredients together and you have a taco seasoning in the cabinet!

Enjoy!

Ugly Fajitas

Yes - ugly fajitas!  They taste awesome but when they come out of the crock pot - they are ugly looking :-)

Ingredients

• 1 onion (sliced)
• 2 bell peppers (sliced)
• chicken (as much as you want to make - a breast, a thigh and a leg for our family of 4)
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp cumin
• 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• a lime
• chicken broth (1/4-1/2 cup depending on how saucy you like it)

How to:

• Oil the bottom of a crock pot.
• Put the veggies in next.
• Then the chicken.
• Sprinkle everything with cumin, chili powder, and salt.
• Add the chicken broth.
• Squirt a lime over everything.
• Cook for 8 hours on low.
• When done - shred the chicken and combine with the peppers and onions and sauce and serve with warm tortillas.

Enjoy!