Cute Cakes

Need an idea for a cute birthday/party cake? Check out this blog.

Father's Day

I just wanted to remind everyone that we still have a bunch of the pocket hunting knives left. They would make a great Father's Day gift. You can look here to see what they are. They make good birthday gifts too. If you are interested leave me a comment on this post. Father's Day is June 21 and it isn't too early to start thinking about it!

Chicken Salad Sandwich

I found this recipe because it seems like a summery type meal. I know it is chick food, but I love it and it is supposed to be just like the chicken salad at Arby's.

Ingredients:
1 (13 ounce) canned chicken, drained (I am going to use cooked chicken breasts)
1/2 apple, sliced and chopped small
1/4 cup shredded carrot (I'll probably omit this)
1/4-1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup red grapes, sliced in half
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise or ranch dressing
1/2 cup chopped and toasted pecan
2-4 leaves lettuce
1 sliced cucumber
2-6 slices bread, for sandwiches

Combine first seven ingredients in medium size bowl, stirring until moist.
Serve on bread or toast with sliced cucumber and lettuce. I am using croissants.
Spread additional dressing or mayonnaise on bread as desired.

Picky Eaters

My kids do not like to eat anything unless it is deep fried or covered in sugar (syrup counts under this) or a combination of both. Tonight I was able to trick my daughter into trying tomato soup. I put it in an orange plastic cup with a straw. It's a trick I learned from a friend. I mention that the cup was orange because this way she could not see what it was. She tried it once and was mad about the trickery but soon realized she likes it. It was so nice to add another thing to the list of approved foods for her. She especially loved dipping her grilled cheese in it and then adding goldfish crackers.

Free Food

If you like KFC go here to print a coupon for a free meal. It has to be done today or tomorrow.

Ruby Red Squirt Chicken

This is so easy, and believe it or not, it tastes really good. It looks nasty, but trust me, it's good.

Ingredients:
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Ruby Red Squirt
Soy Sauce

I didn't put exact amounts because you can make as more or as little as you want very easily.
Put your chicken in a bowl or Ziploc bag
Pour in enough Ruby Red Squirt to cover the chicken
Add a bit of soy sauce, if you like a salty flavor add more if not add less
Put in fridge to marinate, I'd make it in the morning and let it sit for 6-8 hours, the longer the better!
Cook it on a BBQ

The reason I think it looks gross is because the Squirt turns the chicken pink. It's unnatural!

Three Columns

If anyone reading this knows how to make a three column template will you please email me mealtimehelp@hotmail.com. I’d really like to add a third column for a new idea I have! Thanks!

Cornflake Chicken Drumsticks

In our town there is a contest call The Meltdown. My husband and I are in it. It's a weight loss thing and I really hate it now. But my hubbie is always on the lookout for healthy stuff to eat, I like greasy, fried fattening things! This sadly is not one of those. It seems to me like a healthy version of fried chicken.

Ingredients:
24 small chicken drumsticks (I am going to use boneless skinless breasts)
1 qt milk
4 eggs
1 pint flour (That's about 2 cups, who says a pint of flour?)
2 cups crushed cornflakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Mix the milk and eggs in a bowl
In a separate bowl mix the flour and cornflakes
Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture then coat with the cornflakes
Place the chicken on a sheet pan and bake for 25 minutes until they are cooked though and golden brown.

This came out of the March 2009 issue of Men's Health

The Winner Is...

I really like random.org. Who thought of that? The winner for the hand soap is:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:9
Timestamp: 2009-03-27 17:10:26 UTC

Sarah said...
Yay for soap! Enter me in your contest!
March 21, 2009 8:54 AM

Sarah also became a follower. You have until Monday to post a comment here or email me letting me know you saw that you won. (Even though she's a friend she still has to play by the rules!) Once I hear from you I'll get you the soap!

Thanks everyone who entered, and a double thanks to those of you who are now followers. Recipes will start again on Monday!

The Next Giveaway-Soap

My kids have RSV. That's been one of the main reasons I haven't posted. I had a fun little deal for St. Patricks day. My husband has been emailing me recipes while he should be working and I've been introduced to the most amazing blog ever. If you haven't already please check out The Pioneer Woman. I'm infatuated. But there is one even better, if you only want to eat cake and cookies. This woman is Bakerella and she is right up my alley. But I digress. This month I have been so tired and annoyed by illness! I am waiting for the day the four of us are healthy all at the same time! So in honor of cold and flu season, this month's giveaway is a bottle of Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Anti-Bacterial hand soap. I tried to get them to donate, but it was kind of a circus to get a $3 bottle of soap donated, not worth it. So I just bought one. Washing your hands is an important step of the cooking process that's how I am making the connection between soap and a dinner blog! Plus, who doesn't love this soap? It's at all my sinks at home. This flavor or should I say scent is my husbands favorite. It's pretty neutral so I thought I couldn't go wrong with it.

Simple rules for this one:

1. Leave your name as a comment on this post

2. Check back next Friday March 27 to see if you won

3. For a second chance to enter become a follower of this blog. It's over on the right side. If you already follow this blog (there aren't many yet) just leave your name and I will enter you again, but please mention to me that you already follow.

Please keep in mind if you win I will need you to email me your address when the contest is over.

Also, if you read this blog and have never received an email from me and would like to, please send your email address to mealtimehelp@hotmail.com. I usually only send emails to let you know of giveaways, I'm not a stalker.

Saturday Sweets

Last summer a friend made this for my family. It was sooooo good. So I made it for a group of my friends and it was a total hit. I'm on a "diet" right now. I try to eat healthier, that's all. So I made my own little variations on it.

Ingredients:
1 Box Mix of brownies
You'll need the eggs and water that the box calls for, but replace the OIL with APPLESAUCE

Make the brownies according to the package, but like I already said use applesauce instead of oil.
Once the pan brownies cool, slice bananas on top.
Cover the bananas and brownies with fat free Cool Whip.
Top with strawberry halves.

It's so easy and so good. I call it chocolate made healthy! Ha ha!

Friday the 13th... Steak Bites with Bloddy Mary Dipping Sauce

I wanted to be a little festive today after all it is Friday the 13th. Ooohhh Scary! I searched for freaky foods and scary foods. Of course the majority was for Halloween. I didn't want pumpkin or bat type stuff but I did find this recipe here. It's from Rachel Ray, I don't love her like most people do. I think she's OK, but I hate how she says EVOO and when she says sammie, my husband turns the channel. Dumb I know, but I think she's obnoxious. She does make some tasty stuff though. Enough of my opinions, moving to the recipe already!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup vodka (We don't drink and I don't have vodka. I hope it will work without if my friend doesn't have any. If you don't drink either but have access, the alcohol will burn off. I guess it's for the flavor.)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1 rounded tablespoon prepared horseradish
Salt and pepper
1 1/3 pounds beef sirloin cut into large bite-sized pieces, 1 by 2 inches
Steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and black pepper
6 to 8 inch bamboo skewers

Heat a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add oil and onions and saute 5 minutes.
Add vodka and reduce by 1/2.
Add Worcestershire, hot sauce, tomato sauce and horseradish.
Stir to combine the dipping sauce and return the sauce to a bubble.
Add salt and pepper and adjust seasonings.

Heat nonstick skillet over high heat.
Coat meat bites lightly in oil.
Season with steak seasoning blend or salt and pepper, to taste.
Cook the meat until caramelized all over, about 2 minutes on each side.

Transfer dipping sauce to a small dish and place at the center of a serving platter.
Surround the dip with meat bites and set several bamboo "stakes" or skewers along side meat.

Now here's the deal. I really like steak cooked on the BBQ. I like that flavor...a lot! So, that's how I am going to cook mine. I will cut the steak first and put a piece of foil down on the grill to put the meat on so it won't fall through.

Roasted Chicken

I found a totally wonderful book at the library last week. It's called Frickin' Fabulous by Clinton Kelly. It has some tasty recipes in it. I'm only going to post one maybe two, so you should get the book to see the rest. It's not just recipes, there is other fabulous stuff too. But let's get on with the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 Roasting Chicken (4-5 pounds)
A bunch of fresh herbs (Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, or a combo of the all)
1 Lemon
Butter Softened (about 2 Tbs)
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Rinse the chicken inside and out
Towel dry the chicken
Put the lemon inside the chicken
Put the herbs inside the chicken (I could only find fresh thyme and rosemary so that's what I put in the chicken)
Rub butter on the chicken
Sprinkle with salt and pepper (I had dried sage so I sprinkled it on also)
Roast for 20 minutes
Reduce heat to 350 and cook for an additional 15 minutes per pound (A 4 pound chicken will cook for an additional one hour, a five pound needs 1 hour fifteen minutes)
Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes

Elk Roast in Foil

A while back I posted a recipe for Deep Dish Hunters Pie. I had a couple emails saying thanks for the recipe. I can't stand wild game. It smells funny. But to each their own. A few years ago after my husband shot an elk a friend recommended this. I will admit I never tried it. But I came across it online here today and thought I'd post it.

Ingredients:
Three to four lb. roast
1/2 pkg. of dry onion soup-My friend actually said use a whole packet

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place roast on piece of heavy duty aluminum foil.
Sprinkle 1/2 pkg of dry onion soup over meat.
Bring edges of foil together and seal tightly.
Place in shallow roasting pan and bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
There will be ample juice collected inside foil which can be thickened for gravy.

I know you can make this in a crockpot too. I'd add a little water in the bottom with the roast.

And the Winner Is...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:9
Timestamp: 2009-02-20 17:10:49 UTC

Number 9 is the winner this time: Gloria

You have until Monday to email me your mailing address at mealtimehelp@hotmail.com or I will draw another name.

Thanks everyone who entered this drawing. Check back soon for another!

Ravioli Casserole

My sister found this recipe on another blog. It's called Real Mom Kitchen. It's a great blog, you should check it out. She has pictures too. But, my sister made this for dinner on my mom's birthday. It was good. Plus, it looked really easy to make! It's a lot like a ravioli lasagna.

Ingredients:
1 jar (28 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 package (25 ounces) frozen cheese ravioli, cooked and drained-You can also use fresh
2 cups (16 ounces) small curd cottage cheese
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Spread ½ cup of spaghetti sauce in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
Layer with half the ravioli, 1 ¼ cups of sauce, 1 cup cottage cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes or until bubbly.
Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
6 to 8 servings.

I think the secret to this is choosing a good ravioli. Use one that you've tried and know tastes good! You can also use a meat or spinach ravioli, we just like cheese. You just cook it according to the directions on the package. Also, be sure to use cottage cheese NOT ricotta. My sister bought ricotta by accident, it wasn't bad, but I think cottage cheese would be way better. One other thing, I love fresh stuff, so use fresh Parmesan, it's worth the little extra cost and work!

Teriyaki Bowl

I just love having a husband who loves to cook. He is always on the look out for new stuff to try. He came across a new sauce. It is the KC Masterpiece brand Marinade, Honey Teriyaki with Sesame. It's a 30 minute marinade. I love it!

Here's what you need:
1 bottle of the Honey Teriyaki with Sesame Marinade
1 boneless skinless chicken breast per person
Minute rice
Broccoli (I used frozen this time)

While it is a 30 minute marinade, I actually let mine go for a couple days. Just marinate it at least 30 minutes-in the fridge. Obviously, the longer you go, the more flavor you'll get.
I put my chicken in a Ziploc with about a cup of marinade.

Even though it was snowing, I cooked them on the BBQ! It tastes so good!
Once it is cooked, bring it in and cut it into bite size pieces.

When you are making your rice, plan for 2 servings per adult and follow the directions on the box.

Since I used frozen broccoli, I put in a microwave safe bowl with water on the bottom and covered it. I put it in the microwave for a few minutes to steam heat it.
If your using fresh, steam it on the stove top.

Now I hate when you go to a restaurant and you ask for extra sauce and they bring it to you straight from the fridge cold. My meal is warm, I want warm sauce.
Pour some of the marinade in a bowl and heat it in the microwave, just so it's warm.

To assemble:
Put rice in a bowl and kind of toss with the warm sauce-just enough to coat the rice
Add chicken and toss that into the coated rice
Add broccoli on top
If you like more sauce add more.

One thing I would do different next time is add some more sesame seeds. I love those, but since I don't keep those in stock, we didn't have them!

Giveaway

I've got another item for a giveaway. A friend of mine from high school used to sell Pampered Chef. She had a leftover orange peeler. Thanks so much Erin! I love these things. It makes peeling oranges so easy! There is only one, so there will only be one winner this time. All you have to do is leave your name in the comments. Check back next Friday, the 2oth to see who has won. You'll have until Monday to claim your prize. Just send your address to mealtimehelp@hotmail.com For extra chances to win send an email telling me about any recipes you've tried from this website and what you thought, good or bad. For each story you'll get an extra chance to win.

Fix it and Forget it Friday

Wow, it's been a long time since I've done one of these! My friend Becki told me about this little charmer.

Ingredients:
2 Cornish game hens OR 1 whole chicken
1 bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian salad dressing

Put chicken/s in crock pot
Pour salad dressing over top
Cook on high 4-6 hours

This is the part I am totally unsure about. She adds minute rice right in the crock pot 10 or so minutes before she is ready to serve the chicken. She said the juices and dressing cook the rice. I'm more comfortable making it on the stove, extra pan and all. I like that the box tells me how much rice and how much water. If I tried to guess how much rice to put with the chicken, I'd have a mess. If you try this and add the rice in the crock pot, let me know how it went and how much rice you put in!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe was submitted by LaDona. I love that name by the way. I just want to say it again and again. LaDona! Anyways, thanks for the recipe! I'm glad to see someone is still checking this blog after I was such a slacker!

Ingredients:
2 Chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped and sauteed
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cans chicken broth
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed out well
1 can petite tomatoes with green chilies
1/2 cup salsa

Combine ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. Simmer until served. Makes about 8 good sized servings.
She likes to serve this over tortilla chips & shredded Monterrey cheese. You can also top this with sour cream & black olives or what ever sounds good. This is also delicious as left overs. Enjoy!

I've never heard of petite tomatoes, can someone enlighten me?

A Lesson in Italian-Gnocchi

So a long time ago I said I was going to post this recipe. Here is finally is. They are called gnocchi, you say it like this: Yo-Key. Typically this pasta is made with potatoes. I learned from a little old Italian man that there is a simpler way that tastes just as good.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tub of ricotta cheese (the smaller size) I was told I said ricotta wrong here is the proper way Ri-Coat-a
A few shakes of Salt and Garlic Powder
Grated Parmesan Cheese (Fresh is better)

So you add all the stuff together, minus the cheese
Knead it until it forms a dough ball
Add enough cheese to cover the top of the dough maybe a little more if you like it, I do.
Knead in the cheese

Now take little sections of it and roll them out like a snake, they should be the thickness of you little finger
Cut them into 3/4" sections
This part is kind of tricky to explain. You're going to take a fork and turn it around so the curve is out. Roll the pasta down the for to create ridges. This will help hold sauce on it.
Cool in fridge for about 10 minutes.

Add to boiling water
Cook about 5-10 minutes, or until they are floating at the top
You should test one to be sure it is cooked how you like

Top with marinara or Alfredo sauce. We like to use the pork marinara sauce I posted previously.

Chicken, Cheese and Broccoli Soup

I found this recipe in a church newsletter. It came from a friend of mine. We'll be trying it this week.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. finely chopped mushrooms
1 finely chopped onion
6 cups water
6 chicken bullion cubes (If you buy the powder bullion, I think 2 tsp=1 cube)
8 oz. angel hair pasta broken up
1 lb. cooked chicken, cubed
Cooked Broccoli (The recipe doesn't say how much, start with a cup and add more if you want. I like a lot of broccoli in soups like this.)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
6 cups milk

Saute onions and mushrooms in 2 Tbsp butter
Add water and bullion
Boil until dissolved
Add pasta
Boil for 3 minutes
Add cooked broccoli, chicken and seasonings
Add cheese and milk
Cook on low heat until cheese melts-stir frequently so it doesn't burn on the bottom

Back in the Saddle

It's been a long time since I posted last. My sister made me aware of this! So I'm getting back on top of it and have some new dinner ideas to share. Enjoy!