Chicken Rice Casserole

It's been some time since there was posting activity on this blog but I actually do frequent it to look up recipes. I was surprised that Chicken Rice Casserole was not among them. I finally took the time to make it today really in hopes of finding things that Jax would eat without whining. It was not as tasty as I remember. In fact it was rather bland. But Jax enjoyed it.

Stew 1 chicken with 1 large onion, 1 tsp salt, 3-4 celery stalks (you may include the leaves) and carrots until the meat falls off the bone. Shred chicken meat and save the broth to use for the rice and sauce.

Cook 2 1/2 cups of rice in 6-7 cups of water and/or chicken broth.

Make your sauce by melting 3/4 cups of margarine butter, add 1/2 tsp salt, 1 /2 tsp turmeric, dash of black pepper, 3/4 cup flour. Stir till it starts to bubble, then add 1 can evaporated milk, 4 cups of chicken broth, and dry minced onions. (Ensure that the fat is removed from your chicken broth and blend the vegetables in. This is how to get some hidden veggies in those kids.)

In a big bowel, combine rice, sauce and shredded chicken. Put mixture into 2 large, greased casserole dishes. Cover top with grated cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven for 20-30 min at 350 degrees. (My recipe was not specific if the casserole should be baked covered or not. I did and it was fine.)

Great Grandma M. Vereen Morris John's Rocky Road Cake

1/2 c. Margarine
1/2 c. Oil
1 c. Water
In a small saucepan bring to boil. Remove from heat and let cool 10 min.
2c. Flour
1 3/4 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 c. Cocoa
Combine in large bowl in large bowl, pressing out lumps. Pour in liquid mixture and stir till smooth.
2 eggs
1/2 c. Buttermilk
1 1/2 c. Vanilla
1 tsp. Baking soda
Beat in eggs. Add remaining ingredients until fully mixed.
Pour into greased 9x13 pan.
Frosting:
1/4 c. Cocoa
1/3 c. Buttermilk
1/2 c. Margarine
Combine ingredients in a saucepan.  Heat mixture over low heat until margarine melts and mixture is smooth.
Transfer mixture to a bowl. Beat 3 1/2 c. Powdered sugar until mixture is satiny and spreading consistency.
2/3 c. Mini marshmallows
1/2 c. Chopped walnuts
1 tsp. Vanilla
Stir in ingredients and spread on top of cake.

Potato Pancakes

1c. flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 c milk
4 T melted margarine
2 T grated onion (or 1/2 T dry)
3c finely grated raw potato

Mix batter. Add grated potatoes. Place spoonful on hot griddle and spread out slightly. Cook at 350 degrees until brown on both sides. Serve with brats and sauerkraut ...if you dare! (PS-two of the four kids actually ate sauerkraut happily. and zero of two parents.)

Amber's Shepherd Pie

1 1/2 pounds of potatoes
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. sour cream

2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
olive or canola oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound hamburger
1 pound sausage, I like Jimmy Dean's Spicy sausage
3T flour
3T tomato paste
1 c. chicken or beef stock
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
pepper

chedder cheese

1 can corn
1 can green beans

Wash potatoes and dice them about 1/2 inch. In salted water, boil for about 12 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash potatoes til smooth. Add in butter and sour cream.

While potatoes are being cooked, in skillet, combine onion and carrots with a bit of oil. Cook for about 4 minutes. Add garlic, beef, and sausage.  Brown. Once browned, sprinkle flour over mixture and toss to coat. Add the tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme and pepper. Stir in and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

In a lightly greased 11 x 15 baking dish, spread meat mixture on the bottom. Sprinkle evenly corn and beans. Sprinkle layer of cheese. Next spread potato mixture and last top with another sprinkle of cheese. Cover with foil. In a 400 degree oven, bake for 25 minutes.

Manicotti

1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp dried parsley
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
5 1/2 ounces manicotti pasta

1. Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
4. Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

Chicken and Potato Chowder

1/4 c. butter
1 small onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 tsp. thyme
1/4 c. flour
3 c. chicken broth
2 c. milk, or more as needed
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 c. diced cooked chicken breast
1 1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
2 T. chopped fresh parsley

Melt butter in large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium hear.  Add onion, carrots and celery.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.  Stir in thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.  Gradually whisk broth and milk, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes.  Stir in potatoes.

Bring to a boil;reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 12-15 minutes. Stir in chicken and cheese, a handful at a time, until smooth, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.  If the chowder is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.

Serve immediately, garnished with parsley and extra cheese, if desired.

Compliments of http://damndelicious.net

Peanut Butter Cyclops Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. white sugar

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. baking soda

milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped...please

In a large mixer bowl beat the butter or margarine and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup of the white sugar and the brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the egg, milk and vanilla and beat well.

In a medium mixing bowl stir together the flour baking powder, salt and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed gradually add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Beat until well combined. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (205 degrees C).

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are firm. Immediately press a chocolate kiss atop each cookie. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool.