Whole Chicken Limitless Possibilities

I check the grocery ads that come in my mail faithfully each week for good buys. With the ads I will plan out my menu and shopping list and head off to the store. I love to find whole chickens on sale. When they hit .79 a pound I usually try to stock up on a few of them to have in my freezer.

My favorite thing I love to do with these chickens is to cook them ahead of time, cut into cubes , measure them into portion sizes and freeze for another day. When two of my five daughters got married they wanted to have chicken salad sandwiches to serve at their wedding receptions. For a couple of months I cooked and froze chickens to have ready for their receptions. It was wonderful to be able to pull that chicken out and have it ready to go. Since then I keep it on hand for salads, casseroles, quick enchiladas, soups. It is such a time saver. This also allows you to mix the dark and light meat together for better flavor in meals.

I simply boil the chicken with salt, pepper, and chopped onion. I usually do two chickens at a time simply because it is just as easy to do two at a time and save time in the long run. When making Homemade Noodles or more specifically Chicken Noodle Soup I will add celery and carrots to the pot. You may want to add other spices if you like but I like to keep it simple and then add the flavorings to other dishes as I make them. It is important not to forget the salt though. You can never get that same flavor after the chickens have been cooked.

These chickens are also great for roasting - you can do your own rotisserie chickens. Fixing two this way is also quick and easy. Make one for dinner and another to debone and freeze for another day. Make one with Italian spices and another with Mexican. Tucking fresh herbs into the skin and basting with butter makes an excellent tasting bird.

* Deboning a chicken is easiest when it is still warm.

Limitless Possibilities

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (recipe coming)
Chicken Salad
Quick Chicken Enchiladas (recipe coming)
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken and Noodles
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Zucchini soup
White Chicken Chili
Wild Rice and Turkey (Chicken) Soup
Creamy Turkey (Chicken) Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Orzo
Chicken Squares
Chicken and Rice (In a rice cooker)
Chicken A La King
Chicken Divan

Spring-Creamed Potatoes and Peas

Each spring my Mother would make "new potatoes and peas" and tell me it was one of her favorite foods growing up in Idaho. Her mother died when she was only fifteen and so her memories of her Mother were sweet ones. It occurred to me when I was making these that it was only a small tie to my Grandmother and Mother. Not all of my girls like this recipe but I will continue to make it once in awhile to keep the "tradition" alive. Isn't it something how food can tie generations together. Never knowing either of my Grandmother's it is kind of comforting.

Creamed Potatoes and Peas

1 lb. unpeeled red potatoes, cut into wedges (unless the are really small)
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen peas
2 T. butter
2 T. flour
¾ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
1½ c. milk

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water; cook until tender. Cook peas. In a small saucepan blend flour and milk and cook until thickened. Gradually add milk and stir for two minutes or until thickened. Drain potatoes and peas cover with sauce and stir to coat.

Creativity at it's best!

My daughter has become very good at making special birthday cakes for her kids. This is the most recent one, obviously a Pirate theme. I just couldn't resist showing this. I wish the pictures were a little better but with the party going and kids waiting to cut into the cake I rushed to get these taken. Guess it pays to be on time doesn't it?

Everyone including the birthday boy loved the cake. It was hard to watch them cut the masterpiece!

Stuffed Pork Chops in a Slow Cooker

5-6 thick loin chops, butter flied
Stuffing Mix, pork flavor
Water
3 t. chicken bouillon or three cubes
Olive oil
2 c. water

Spoon dry stuffing mix into the pocket of the butter flied pork chops. In large skillet heat olive oil and brown the pork chops.
Place the pork chops into the crock pot with the pocket side facing up. Pour water into the skillet and add bouillon. Heat to boiling. Pour liquid over the pork chops in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours, or high 4-5 hours.

Super Easy Pot Roast

1 5-6 lb. beef chuck roast, boneless
medium onion, sliced in thin rounds
1 10 3/4 oz. can Golden Mushroom Soup
1 c. water

Sear the roast on all sides. Place the roast on top of onions in slow cooker, cover the meat with the soup and add water. Cook for 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Serve with mashed potatoes the soup makes an excellent gravy. Optional cut red potatoes and carrots and place in the slow cooker along with the meat.

(This is my adaptation of my son-in-laws family recipe. The meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork)

Oh Henry Bars (copy cat recipe)

Oh Henry Bars (copy cat version)

1 c. sugar

1 c. corn syrup

4 c. Rice Krispies

1 c. peanut butter

1 12 oz. pkg. milk chocolate chips

In a large saucepan combine the sugar and corn syrup and bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Stir the peanut butter and the rice until well blended. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray then pour the mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Melt the chocolate chips and spread over the mixture in the pan.

(From my daughter Rebecca)

Mmmm Bruschetta Chicken

I seriously don't remember where I found this recipe but it is one of my all time favorites particularly in the summer time when I can go out to the garden and pick the veggies and herbs fresh. The flavor from fresh tomatoes is simply outstanding. I can hardly wait to have my garden later this year!

I

Bruschetta Chicken

2 T butter
flour as needed
2 full chicken breasts, cut in half (pound evenly)
Roma tomatoes, diced (about 8 T.)
Basil (fresh chopped 2 T.)
Green onions sliced
salt
Angel hair pasta
Zucchini/Italian squash
Fresh or canned sliced mushrooms
Parmesan cheese
Parsley (chopped, optional)

Melt butter in large skillet. Place chicken in zipper bag and pound evenly ¼’ in thick. Dredge chicken in flour and cook on medium heat. When chicken is almost done, add tomato, basil, green onions, and garlic. Cook until heated through. While chicken is cooking place angel hair pasta into boiling salted and cook. Drain. Melt small amount of better in a saute pan and lightly cook vegetables until done. Add salt, Italian spices and minced garlic.
Place chicken on top of pasta. Pour tomato, basil, garlic and mix over chicken.

Italian Sub Soup (Rachel Ray)

Italian Sub Soup (from Rachel Ray)

2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. mild Italian sausage, fried
¼ lb. pepperoni stick, diced
1 ham steak, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded, quartered and diced
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
salt and freshly ground pepper
6 c. chicken stock
½ lb. gemelli pasta or other short-cut pasta

In a soup pot preheat to med. heat. Add olive oil to the pan and add the sausage. . Brown the sausage and crumble, drain off excess grease. Then add ham and pepperoni. Cook meats together for two minutes then add peppers and onions and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Add diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add chicken stock and bring stoup to a boil. Stir in pasta and cook for 8 minutes. Make croutons while pasta cooks.

Croutons

5 c. cubed crusty bread
3 lg. cloves garlic, removed from the skin
½ c. grated Parmigiano-reggiano cheese
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes
½ t. dried oregano

In a large skillet heat ¼ c. of olive oil. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add bread to oil, and toss, toast for 5-6 minutes. Season the toasty bread cubes with red pepper flakes, oregano and lots of grated cheese.
Ladle the soup and float several toasty garlic breads cubes in each bowl.

This is a family favorite even for those in the family who think they don't like soup. We got it from Rachel Ray's Thirty Minute Meals.

New Recipe-Baked Rigatoni with Spinach

Baked Rigatoni with Spinach

1 lb. rigatoni
1 lb. Italian sausage, cooked and drained
3 T. olive oil
1 10 oz. pkg frozen spinach, thawed
2 c. ricotta cheese
5 T. Parmesan cheese, grated
½ t. nutmeg
¾ t. salt
¼ t. ground black pepper
1 ½ c. mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450. In a large pan cook the rigatoni until al dente. Drain. Put the pasta and the sausage in a 9x13 pan and toss with 1 T. of the olive oil. Squeeze as much water out of the spinach as possible and place in a food processor with ricotta, half of the Parmesan cheese, the nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese. Stir the spinach mixture into the pasta and sausage and top with the remaining cheeses. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on top.

Mimi's Carrot Bread, YUM

This isn't actually the original recipe but a copy cat version to which I have made some modifications, and have here. I am actually going to keep working with this one to make it a little healthier but for now this is pretty close to the original and very yummy.

Carrot Raisin Bread

1 ½ c. flour, sifted
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
¼ c. molasses
½ t. vanilla extract
1 c. shredded carrot
½ c. golden raisins
¼- ½ c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl combine oil, sugar, eggs, molasses and vanilla mix well;
add carrot. Gently fold in the raisins and walnuts and then the flour mixture, until well mixed but don’t over stir. Pour into two greased medium loaf pans. Bake for 60 mins, but check after 45-50 mins.

More than one meal from one meal!

Sunday's we love to fix Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots. (A previous post) Because our family is smaller we have meat leftover quite often. After fixing it this last week I decided try several different ways to use it. I took my Chicken Pot Pie recipe and adapted it to a Beef Pot Pie, it was marvelous, a definite keeper. While I am printing the Chicken Pot Pie recipe once again I will add the changes to the side.

Beef Pot Pie

1 1/2 c.-2 c. cubbed left over roast

Make Gravy:
2/3 c. margarine or butter
2/3 c. flour
1 t. salt
½ t. pepper
3½ c. chicken broth (subsitute beef broth)
1 1/3 c. milk

Melt butter over low heat, blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly, remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. (reserve about 1/3 of gravy for top when serving.)

Stir in
2-4 boiled potatoes, cut up
1 medium onion, diced and sauted lightly
cooked meat, cubed
1 can mushrooms
or 1 16 oz. bag of frozen vegetables, adding the potatoes

Pie Crust
1/3 c. plus 1 T. shortening (This is the recipe that I use 90%
1 c. flour of the time.)
1/2 t. salt
2-3 T .cold water
(Double for two crust)

From this Chicken to Beef-easy as pie!

Shepherd Pie

Another one of those comfort foods.

Shepherd's Pie or Green Bean Casserole

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 15 ½ oz. can green beans, drained
1 10 ¾ oz. can of tomato soup
3-4 medium potatoes
cheddar cheese, grated

Peel potatoes and cut into smaller pieces to speed up the cooking time, add to salted boiling water. In a large frying pan brown the ground beef, add the onions when the meat is no longer pink. When the onions become translucent, stir in the green beans and tomato soup, heat through. Place the meat mixture into an oven safe casserole dish and top with the mashed potatoes and cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly on top.

Comfort Foods-Scalloped Potatoes

There are many recipes that could qualify as comfort foods depending on what you like or liked as a child. One one of these recipes for me is Scalloped Potatoes. I loved when my mom made scalloped potatoes for dinner, but the best part was having them warmed up for breakfast on Saturday mornings. It is something we carried over in my family in fact I make large batches just so we have the leftovers for breakfast.

Gotta love those Saturday Morning Breakfasts, at least once in awhile!

Scalloped Potatoes

8-10 large potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
1 medium onion, sliced thin or chopped
3 t. salt
¾ c. flour
4 c. milk
1 cube butter

Butter inside a glass 9x13 pan and gently flour. Put a layer of the potatoes on the bottom, dot with slices of the butter, salt generously, and add a layer of the onion. Repeat until the potatoes are gone. Cover with milk until the potatoes are covered. Place in the microwave for 10 minutes to aid in cooking time. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes longer until the top of the potatoes are golden brown and crispy.

For Saturday Breakfast melt a little butter in a skillet and warm the potatoes until they get a slight brown on the bottom and are heated thoroughly.

For Christmas my sister-in-law made these cute aprons. I am told that she made seventeen of them. I opened mine in the morning and then later that night I realized I was still wearing it. They are so cute and vintage looking that it makes anyone feel good wearing it while you are cooking.

Roasted Chicken

Roasted Chicken

2-3 lb. roasting chicken

3-4 sprigs fresh Thyme, stripped

3 sprigs fresh Rosemary, stripped and chopped finely

butter

Take the skin from the chicken and pull away from the meat, generously spread the butter along the cavity. Add the Thyme, and or Rosemary and pull the skin down over the meat. Tie the legs together and back at 375 for 1 & 1/4-3/4 hours or until meat registers 180 on meat thermometer. Serve with garlic roasted mashed potatoes.

Christmas Food Traditions

My mother always made fudge on this plate at Christmas time so now I carry on the tradtion! I can remember her making Fudge and Divinity by hand and sitting on the back porch while doing it. I have been able to master the Fudge but the Divinity is another story. Other than my neighbor across the street no one makes Divinity like my mom. Many people don't like Divinity but they never had the really good stuff!

Fudge

4½ c. sugar
1 can evaporated milk
2 sticks butter
1 pint jar of marshmallow cream
1 t. vanilla
1 pkg. semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
nuts, optional

In a medium heavy saucepan combine sugar, milk, and butter. Boil hard for 12 minutes. Take off of the heat and add chocolate chips, vanilla and marshmallow. Beat until the fudge stands in peaks or changes in texture. Pour and let stand 24 hours.

Divinity

2 c. sugar
2 egg whites, beaten stiff
½ c. corn syrup
½ t. salt
½ c. hot water
1 t. vanilla
nuts as desired

Dissolve sugar, salt, and syrup in hot water. Cook without stirring to spin with thread or when it cracks in cold water. Remove from heat and gradually pour over stiffly beaten egg whites beating constantly. Add vanilla and continue beating until mixture stands in peaks. Drop by the spoonful on wax paper.

Toffee, Divinity, Fudge

When we see a certain pan come out of the cupbaords we know that it is time for Kerry to make Toffee, yum, yum. He has made this candy every year since we got married thirty years ago. Now he is teaching all of our girls to make it. *This can't be made on a humid night or the toffee will turn to sugar. The same with Divinty and Fudge.

Toffee

1 lb. butter
2 T. corn syrup
2½ c. granulated sugar
½ c. water
1 c. slivered almonds
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Boil in a heavy pan to 300 on candy thermometer. Stir until dark golden brown. Turn onto a cookie sheet and top with chocolate chips. Spread nuts on top.

This is a new favorite for the family, so easy and yummy! Thanks to Natalie

Oreo Yummies

1 Package of Oreos, Crushed up fine (food processor)
1 Package Cream Cheese, Softened

Mix together and roll into balls.

Dip in melted chocolate and place on wax-paper-lined-cookie sheet. Put sheet into fridge until hardened.

If you want, drizzle with white chocolate. (Or coat with white and drizzle with brown... whatever!)

Introduced to us by my sister, Rosemarie many years ago this has been a fun tradition for us all to make and to give to neighbors as a simple gift. They can actually be molded into any shape we just started out with "Bears and Bunnies!"

“Bears and Bunnies”

6 oz. bag puffed rice or wheat
2 c. brown sugar
2 sticks butter
1 c. corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Boil butter, sugar, syrup and milk for about 6 minutes. Place cereal in a large bowl and pour the mixture over the tip, mix well. Spray mold with a vegetable spray and fill with the mixture. Remove from mold immediately.

Hopscotch

½ c. peanut butter
2 c. mini marshmallows
2 c. chow mein noodles
6 oz. butterscotch chips

Melt peanut butter and butterscotch chips. Pour over noodles and marshmallows and turn into a 9x13 pan, chill. Cut into squares and serve.


Caramel Corn

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 lb. brown sugar
1 c. corn syrup
1 stick butter

Combine ingredients and bring to a boil, to a soft ball stage. Cover 10 quarts popped popcorn.


Peanut Butter Cups

1 pkg. graham crackers
2 c. peanut butter
4 c. powdered sugar
2 sticks softened butter, not melted
1 pkg. chocolate chips.

Mix together graham crackers, peanut butter, powdered sugar and softened butter, blend well. Form into balls or place in mini cupcake holders. Melt chocolate chips and spread over the peanut butter mixture.

(Grandpa Smith really loved these for special treats.)

This cookie recipe is a year round favorite! One special memory for me is a Christmas one when my three oldest girls were quite little. We had a cookie decorating party at our house with their friends. What a mess!! But at the same time so much fun. Everyone certainly left our home on a sugar high that day. And who doesn't like to leave Sugar Cookies for Santa Claus?

Sugar Cookies

1½ c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
½ t. almond extract
2½ c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and almond extract. Mix in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half on to a lightly floured board. Cut into shapes. Bake until edges are light brown 7-8 minutes.

Swiss Cheese Pie

1 prepared pie crust
4 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
2 t. instant minced onion
1 t. salt
dash cayenne pepper
dash nutmeg
6 oz. Swiss cheese, grated
½ lb-1 lb. bacon cooked, crumbled or
½ lb-1 lb. cooked ham, cut into small cubes.

Combine eggs, milk, minced onion, salt, cayenne, and nutmeg. In the bottom of the pie crust place the bacon or ham, top with the Swiss cheese and then pour the egg mixture on top. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 325 and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

(The first time I ever ate this was in Portland when I went to meet Kerry’s family for the first time. I had never had Quiche so it sounded really strange to me. I loved it of course and it has become a Christmas morning tradition for our family over the years.)

Peppermint Brittle(Jessica)

1 bag white chocolate chips, preferably Guittard

1/4 c. crushed peppermint candy canes

1/2 t. peppermint extract

In a glass bowl place the chocolate chips and place int microwave. Heat for 30 seconds at a time and stir between each heating. When chips are melted and smooth add the extract and stir until smooth. Finally add the candy and stir. Pour the mix onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet and chill until firm. Later break the candy up into pieces and serve.

Breakfast Anyone? German Pancakes

German Pancakes

6 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. flour
½ t. salt
6 T. butter

Beat eggs. Add milk, flour, and salt. Heat butter in a 9x13 pan. Pour batter into pan of melted butter, bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes. Serve hot with syrup

(On a more relaxing more you will see this on our breakfast table.)

Sunday Favorite-Pot Poast With Vegetables

Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

4 lb. blade or cross rib pot roast
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 small potatoes
8 medium carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
1 medium onion cut into small pieces
2 T. water
Onion soup mix (below)

Place a piece of heavy duty foil in baking pan. Mix soup and bouillon onion soup mix; spread over beef. Place vegetables around the outside edge and sprinkle with the water. Fold foil over and seal. Cook in 300 oven for four hours. Serve with the gravy.

Bouillon-Onion Soup Mix

¼ c. instant minced onion
2 T. instant beef bouillon
½ t. onion powder

(To make the soup, stir in 4 cups boiling water; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for five minutes)

(Sunday’s we like to make meals that are full flavored and fairly easy. This recipe has been a family favorite since we married twenty nine years ago. It is one of those “put it in and forget it until it’s done” recipe’s.)

Pizza (more Thanksgiving leftovers)

My Favorite Pizza Dough

3 c. water

1 T yeast

1 T salt

1 T sugar

2 T olive oil

5 c. flour, add more as needed

Mix ingredients ten minutes; let rest for another ten minutes. Add flour as needed to prevent it from being sticky. Place favorite toppings on the crust and bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until crust edge is golden brown.

Creamy Pesto Pizza

8 oz. cream chees, softened

2 T butter

1 c. buttermilk

1/2 c. milk

1/3 c. parmesan cheese

1/2 t. salt

1 t. pepper

2 t. basil

2 t. garlic powder

1 T. pesto (Pesto recipe at the bottom)

topping suggestions:

spinach

tomatoes

onions

chicken (turkey)

artichoke hearts

olives

mozzarella cheese

cheddar cheese

BBQ Chicken Pizza

chunks of chicken, or turkey

Favorite BBQ sauce

red onion, chopped

mushrooms, sliced

rings of green or red pepper

olives

mozzarella cheese

Pesto
2 c. fresh basil leaves, packed
¼ c. grated parmesan cheese
½ c. olive oil
3 T. pine nuts or walnuts
3 garlic cloves, finely minced

Place basil leaves in small batches in food processor and whip until well chopped (about ¾ c. at a time). Add about 1/3 the nuts and garlic, and blend again.
Add about 1/3 the parmesan cheese; blend while slowly adding about 1/3 of the olive oil, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container.
Process basil pesto until it forms a thick smooth paste. Repeat until all ingredients are used, mix all batches together well. Serve over pasta. Basil pesto keeps in refrigerator one week, or freeze for a few months.

Left Over Turkey Dinner Suggestions

While everyone knows that the next day turkey on a soft roll is the best way to have left overs even that can get old quickly so here are a few ideas to use up all of that turkey.

Turkey or Chicken a la king

½ c. margarine or butter
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 4 oz. can mushroom stem and pieces, drained (reserve liquid for later)
½ c. flour
½ t. salt
½ t. pepper
1½ c. milk
1¼ c. chicken broth
2 c. cut up cooked chicken or turkey
1 jar diced pimentos drained
Noodles, or hot cooked rice

Heat margarine in a 3 quart saucepan over medium high heat. Cook bell pepper and mushrooms in the margarine, stirring occasionally

Stir in flour, salt, and pepper.

Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until bubbly. Stir in milk, broth and reserved liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute.

Stir in turkey and pimentos, heat until hot. Serve over rice or noodles This can also be done in the microwave for a super fast and easy meal.

Chicken Zucchini Soup (Turkey)

5 chicken tenders or 2 chicken breasts or 2 c. turkey
3 T. butter
1 large onion, chopped
4-5 zucchini sliced
1 can chicken broth
½ c. whipping cream
¼ c. flour

Fry chicken with small amount of oil. Brown and cook chicken, take chicken out of the pan and set aside. Add butter and chopped onion to pan. Cook until tender. Move zucchini and onions to sauce pan, add the can of chicken broth. Dice chicken and add to pan. In bowl mix flour and whipping cream add to sauce pan, heat on high until bubbling. Lower heat; simmer until soup thickens.

White Chicken Chili

1 med onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. olive oil
4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
1 4 oz. can chopped, green chilies
2 t. ground cumin
2 t. dried oregano
1½ t. cayenne pepper
3 14.5 oz. great northern beans, drained, mash third can to use for thickening
1 c. shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
jalapeno pepper, chopped

In a large saucepan cook onions and garlic in oil until translucent. Add chicken, chicken broth, green chilies, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper, bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low. With a potato masher mash one of the cans until smooth. Add to saucepan. Add remaining beans to saucepan. Simmer for 2-30 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Top each serving with cheese and jalapeno pepper, if desired.

Creamy Turkey Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Orzo

2 T. butter
1 med onion, chopped
½ t salt, plus more to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. flour
7 ½ c. homemade turkey stock or canned chicken stock
1 T. fresh thyme leaves
1 c. diced sweet potatoes
2/3 c. orzo pasta
1 c. cooked turkey meat, cubed
¼ t. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
½ c. cream

In a large stock pot, heat the butter over med heat until melted. Add the onion and cook for three mins. until fragrant. Mix in the garlic, salt, and flour, and cook, stirring continuously, for another 6-7 mins. Pour in the stock and turn up heat to high. Bring liquid to a boil, then stir in the thyme, sweet potatoes, and orzo. Cook at a gentle boil for 8-10 mins., until the potatoes and the orzo are tender. When the pasta is nearly finished, add the turkey to the soup and warm through. Salt and Pepper to taste. Whisk in the cream just before serving.


Turkey or Chicken Squares

2 8 oz. cream cheese
½ t. salt
2-4 c. cooked turkey or chicken or 2 large cans chunk chicken
¼ t. pepper
2 8 oz. can crescent rolls

Blend cream cheese until softened. Add turkey, salt, pepper, onion, chives, and milk. Mix well. Separate the 2 cans of crescent rolls, into 8 squares. Firmly press perforations to seal. Spoon ½ c. of meat mixture into the center of each square. Draw the corners of the dough up and around the meat and twist to seal. Brush top with butter. Dip in seasoned bread crumbs or sesame seeds. Bake at 350’ on cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Good with gravy on top.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

3-4 c. cubed cooked chicken or turkey
2 c. cubed fully cooked ham
1 ½ lbs. Swiss cheese, grated
1 small onion, diced, sautéed to soften
4 T. butter
½ c. flour
2 c. half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
3 c. crushed corn flakes
½ cube butter
dash of nutmeg

Grease 9x13 pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, mix ham, chicken, and 1 pound of the cheese. In a sauté pan melt the butter, add flour, and whisk to mix. Pour in the half and half and thicken. Pour into the chicken mixture along with the onions. Mix well and out into a greased cake pan. In a small bowl melt the remaining butter and add the corn flake crumbs. Combine the remaining cheese and top the meat mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes until heated through.

The above recipe makes a large batch so I made a small one for dinner and then freeze another one for a "Rainy Day Meal"

Dave’s Chicken Casserole

3-4 c. bread crumbs, mix with a few T. melted butter
1 10 ¾ oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 10 ¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup
cooked, diced chicken
broccoli, corn, or whatever vegetable you want

Layer the bottom of the pan with half of the breadcrumbs then pour on one of the cans of the soup, then a layer of chicken, then a layer of the vegetables, then another layer of the chicken, then the other soup and then the rest of the breadcrumbs. It works best if you can make it and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. Bake at 400 for one hour.
(Our first Dave made this for our family as one of his favorite’s just after he married Jessica.)

Cameron's Chicken Divan

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into chunks
1 bag frozen broccoli florets
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 T. lemon juice
1 t. curry powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
croutons or buttered bread crumbs

Just microwave the broccoli and line the bottom of a 9x13 pan with it, then cover with chicken pieces. Make a sauce from the other ingredients and smooth over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle cheese on top and cover with croutons or bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and serve with rice.

Wild Rice and Turkey or Chicken Soup-already posted under fall soups

Chicken (Turkey) Pot Pie-already posted, this recipe is large enough to make two pies one for tonight and one for the freezer for a "Rainy Day!"

Browned Beef Stew

While not everyone in my family loves soup I am pretty sure that this is one they all like. Especially when it is really cold outside. Mix it up with a green salad and some warm rolls or breadstick for a great winter meal.

Even though I buy the leanest meat that I can find I usually trim it up even more and then cut the pieces into smaller sizes (I think I originally started doing this when my kids were little and needed smaller bites) so that you can get a bite of the meat with every spoonful.

Browned Beef Stew

2 lbs lean stew meat
2-3 carrots, sliced round
2-3 celery stalks, sliced
1 onion chopped
2-3 potatoes cubed
2 qts. water & 4 t. beef boullion or
64 oz beef broth
2 T. olive oil
flour

Cut any fat off the meat and dredge in the flour. (Save remaining flour.) In large heavy pan add oil and brown meat. Add water or beef broth to meat. Add vegetables, salt and pepper to taste. Cook until tender, on low heat. Just before serving add left over flour to thicken.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup-My mom's version

One of my favorite memories of food has to be Chicken Noodle Soup that my mom made from scratch. I can remember coming home from school and seeing the noodles drying on the kitchen table or counter top and knowing that we were in for a treat for dinner. When I had my second daughter my mom came to stay with me for a week to lend a hand, I asked her to teach me how to make the noodles and soup. Little did I know that it would become a fun tradition in my own little family. I say little because the tradition began when they were all little. I also did not realize that she was just making egg noodles and I could have learned it from others but the experience was very fun.

It all begins with eggs, flour, and salt. Roughly two eggs per cup of flour and one t. salt.

Mix until the egg is blended into the flour and salt and makes a stiff flour ball.

Roll the flour ball out onto a flat surface as thin as you can get it. You will have to continue to add flour to keep the dough from sticking to the surface or the rolling pin.

Once you roll it out, generously flour the sheet and roll up cinnamon roll style.

Cut into thin rounds.

Then spread the noodles out onto the floured surface once again to dry. (I have a Kitchen Aid pasta maker but this creates a rough noodle which makes a rustic soup and gives the kids an opportunity to help in the process. Each one of my girls would always love to throw the noodles out on the surface from the time that they could stand on a chair beside me.) While the noodles are drying place a roasting chicken in a large pan and cover with water. Chop a medium onion into small chunks and add with a t. salt. Boil the chicken 45-60 minutes. When the chicken is done pull from the broth and set aside to cool. When completely cooled pull the chicken from the bones and cut into small cubes. Add the noodles to the broth and return the cut up chicken, the flour around the noodles will thicken the broth. Cook on medium heat until the noodles are soft and tender.

My girls loved to add the dried noodles to the pan and play with the strange shapes they dried into.

This will always remind me of my mom and it has become a family favorite for all of us.

For a close substitution you can use a rotisserie chicken from a local grocery store or Costco and use "Kluski" enriched egg noodles. They are pretty close to making the noodles yourself, but not nearly as much fun or traditional.