FHE

In an attempt to actually have Family Home Evening I went to Deseret Book today and purchased a fun little book with lesson and coinciding treats. Well I am not going to make the treats tonight, but picked out a lesson and thought I would share, plus the coloring pages/activities that I will do with it. Maybe I will actually be able to commit to doing it on a weekly basis now.

Lesson: Nephi obtaining the brass plates

Scripture Story: 1 Nephi 3:28-4:34

Activities: Coloring Page, Hidden Message Activity

Treat (if I was doing it): Sword of Laban Bread sticks: The corresponding recipe doesn't sound all that great, and if it hadn't been a BUSY day I would have done some churro's or something.

Strawberry shortcake with a twist

Not the best of pictures, but you get the idea.

1 box of yellow cake mix, made according to directions
1 can of cream cheese frosting
1 pint of strawberries, washed and sliced
1 container of strawberry glaze

Make the cake according to the directions on the box. When cooled frost with a thin layer of the cream cheese frosting. Lay out the sliced strawberries, however you want to try and make it look pretty. Top with container of strawberry glaze.

This is a really yummy and easy dessert.

Comments wanted

So I have gotten a few hits here, and was wondering if people are actually trying some of the recipes. So if you have tried one and loved it, hated it, or tweaked it to your liking leave a comment and let me know!

DIY

Need some help on little do it yourself projects around the house? Try THIS website. I found it when Jeff was outta town one weekend and I needed to find out why my garbage disposal wasn't working, and wanted to try to fix it myself. This site has also helped me: fix my own toilet, fix/replace the door bell chimes, determine what was wrong with our garage door, and a few other handy dandy tips. So if you want to try and do things on your own, check it out.

Fancy French Toast

5 eggs
2 Tbs Sugar
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1 Tbs Vanilla
3 Tbs Milk

Mix everything together then dip in bread and cook up. I also just learned from another sister in law that if you put butter on the pan you are cooking on it helps keep them crispy when they are cooked. I like to use French bread for this recipe.

Fried Rice

3 eggs scrambled, pushed to side of skillet
½ cup ham sliced and cooked in skillet
4 or 5 pieces of bacon sliced and cooked in skillet
3 or 4 green onions, sliced and cooked in skillet
1 cup of peas
Soy sauce

Cook these until peas are soft. Add some cooked rice, I usually cook up about 4-6 servings and put in as much as I need. Cover with soy sauce until you have as much as you want. Put a little on at a time and just keep tasting.

Teriyaki Chicken or Beef

1 cup soy sauce
¼ cup pineapple juice
½ cup oil
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup BBQ sauce
garlic powder to taste (approx 1 tsp)

Pour over as much chicken as you want to cook up. I usually do tenderloins as there isn’t as much fat on them. Or if I do beef, I buy London Broil, and have the butcher slice it lengthwise about a quarter of an inch and put them on skewers and then marinate. If chicken marinate about 4-6 hours, if beef do 8-10 hours. If you do the beef on skewers, soak them in water first for a little bit, so they won't splinter while putting the beef on.

Potato Salad

2-3 lbs of Red Potatoes- boiled, salted and cut- leave skin on
4 hard boiled eggs
¼ chopped onion
2 chopped Sweet Pickle

Dressing:
1 cup Mayo
½ cup cool whip
1 ½- 2 Tbs Pickle juice
Lemon pepper and salt to taste

Boil potatoes and then let them completely cook. Put in pickles, onion and top with dressing, add eggs last so they don't get smushed.

Thanks to my sis-in-law Kendell for this one too!

Chicken and Pasta Salad

This recipe takes some time to prepare, but it is SOOOO worth it! Thanks to Laura for it!

16 oz. Bowtie Pasta
Chicken (as much or little as you want)
1 Bottle Kikkoman’s Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
10 oz. Fresh Spinach, stems removed
6 oz. of dried Craisin’s
2- 11 oz. cans of Mandarin Oranges, drained
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
6 oz. Honey Roasted Peanuts

Dressing:

1 cup oil (I used Virgin Olive Oil)
2/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce
6 Tbs. Sugar
¼ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
2/3 cup White Vinegar

Blend dressing ingredients together and set aside. Cook pasta according to package instructions (al-dente). Toss pasta with dressing and let soak for about 2 hours.

Marinate Chicken in Teriyaki sauce for ½ hour then Grill. Cut up into bite size pieces. Toss all other ingredients in a big bowl with chicken, add pasta and as much of the dressing as you would like. DON'T MIX UNTIL JUST BEFORE SERVING!
Serves 20.

Chicken Pot Pie

Crust- I just use a Pillsbury Pie Crust

Filling:

3 or 4 Chicken Breast- cooked and shreded
2 cups Frozen Veggie Mix ( I usually just do the peas and carrots mixture and then add some frozen corn)
2 pkgs of Chicken Gravy
Salt & Pepper- To taste
Dry Onion- To Taste (OPT)
Parsley- To Taste (OPT)

Put bottom crust in pie pan, fill with Chicken, Veggies and seasonings. Cook gravy per instructions and pour over Chicken. Put on top crust, seal and cut some vent holes. Bake at 400 for 20- 30 minutes

Chicken and Potato Bake

4 or 5 Red potatoes cut up
1/3 cup of Italian Dressing
1 Tbs of Italian Seasoning
Parmesan Cheese
4 Chicken Breast- Raw

Put Chicken in a greased 9x13 pan, put potatoes in around them. Mix dressing and seasoning and pour over. Cover with some Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake at 400 for an hour.

Bean Dip

1 can of refried beans
Salsa
Kraft 4 cheese Mexican Cheese

In a microwavable bowl, put in one can of beans, about 1 cup of cheese, and 1 cup of salsa (I guesstimate on the salsa and cheese). Mix together and microwave for 4-5 minutes, stirring after every 2 minutes or so. Dip in tortilla chips, or put some on a plate and top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, olive, etc and eat with tortilla chips. This is pretty close to Serrano's bean dip, but even better!

Chicken Taco's

Chicken (frozen or thawed)
Bottle of favorite salsa

Put both in crock pot, cook on low for 4-6 hours and then shred chicken when done. Add to tortillas with whatever you want, we do brown rice, kidney beans, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, etc.

This is my EASIEST recipe, and it is very good, even better that it takes NO thought!

Sweet Pork

1 pork roast or tenderloin. Place in crock pot.

Mix together:
1 c. ketchup
1 can coke
1/2 c. brown sugar
Approx. 1 tsp each garlic powder and cumin (can add more or less)

Pour over roast and cook on high for several hours until pork shreds easily. I thought it was a mistake that the recipe said cook on High the first time I made it. It is not a mistake, when you cook it on high it comes out more tender, even more tender if you use a tenderloin! Roll in tortillas with grated cheese and rice and serve with sour cream, shredded lettuce, etc. This is a pretty close replica of Cafe Rio's and Costa Vida's sweet pork. Thanks to Tammy for the recipe.

Lasagna

Sauce:
Browned ground beef
2 packets McCormick Thick and Zest Spaghetti Sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 15 oz cans of Tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 Tbs Oil

1 box oven ready noodles
Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese

I usually throw the sauce in the crockpot in the morning and let it cook all day. And then just layer with noodles and cheese. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Thanks Tammy for the recipe! This is a great one to do for a family with a new baby, and I have gotten alot of compliments on it.

Also I once didn't realize it but I put in diced tomatoes with green chilies for one of the cans and Jeff really likes it with that little bit of spice!

Strawberry Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
5 Tbs Margarine, melted

Mix in a bowl, them press into a round cake pan or spring form pan. You can use a measuring cup to press everything evenly up sides and on bottom. Set aside

Cheesecake:
4 (8oz) pkgs of Cream Cheese (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs

Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together on medium speed, once blended add eggs one at a time on low speed. Once blended well, pour into crust. Bake at 325 for 55 minutes, when cheesecake starts to barely crack at edges you know it is done. Let sit for at least 4 hours before serving, overnight or all day is better.

Topping:
1 pt strawberries, sliced
1 container of Marie Calendar's strawberry glaze (usually right next to the strawberries in the grocery store)

Mix together and put on top of cheesecake and serve.

Fresh Salsa

3 or 4 Roma Tomatoes
Onion- Chopped
3-4 Garlic Cloves- Chopped
1 Tbs. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Cumin
Cilantro- chopped (opt.)
1 Can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies

Put everything in blender except can of tomatoes, pulse until it is consistency you like. Add can of tomatoes and pulse one or two more times. Chill and serve.

I usually make this the night before I need it so it can sit for a bit. Also I occasionally add a little lime juice if I have it, lemon too, yum!

Chicken Salad

4 chicken breast- cooked and shredded
Celery- chopped
Green Onion- chopped
Apple-cut up
Grapes-cut in half
½ cup sliced almonds

Dressing:
2/3 cup mayo
2 Tbs Cider Vinegar
½ tsp sugar

Combine chicken and rest of stuff in bowl. Pour over dressing a little at a time until you reach the desired amount. Serve on croissant rolls.

This is one of my most requested recipes, so thanks to my sister in law Kendell for sharing it with me!

Slow Cooked BBQ Chicken

3-4 Chicken Breast (can be frozen)
2 cups ketchup
4 Tbs Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Worchestershire Sauce
1 Tbs Soy Sauce
1 Tbs Vinegar
½ tsp garlic powder

Put everything except chicken in crockpot, put in chicken and cover with sauce. Cook on high for 4-6 hours (6 if frozen), shred and serve. You can put on buns or serve as is or add it to whatever you want.

I just throw a bunch of frozen tenderloins in and let it cook all day. The finish product doesn't look like it will have a ton of flavor, as the sauce doesn't cook up thick (like you would think BBQ sauce would), but I promise you, you will love it. I HATE BBQ sauce and this is one of my favorite meals.

Calzones

I usually just buy my pizza dough ready made from Fresh and Easy, it is less than $1 a ball and one ball is enough for me and the boys to share and then another one for Jeff.

1 jar of Pizza Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Any other toppings you want. We usually do pepperoni, olives, and Jeff like to add some crushed red pepper and bell peppers to his.

Roll out dough to desired thickness, and circle. Put sauce on half of it, do more sauce than you would like as the dough absorbs some while baking. Add cheese, and toppings. Fold plain half of crust over and seal edges together with a fork. Slice some vent holes. Brush with some melted butter or margarine, and you can sprinkle with some Parmesean cheese or garlic salt/powder.

Cook at 450 for 15-20 minutes.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

3 C. whole wheat flour
1/3 C. gluten flour (you can use white flour as it has gluten in it)
1 ½ T. instant yeast
2 ½ C. hot water
1 T. salt
1/3 C. oil
1/3 C. honey
1 ½ T. lemon juice
3 C. whole wheat flour (I do white flour here and just do half and half)


Mix together first 3 ingredients in a mixer with a dough hook. Add water all at once and mix for one minute. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Add salt, oil, honey and lemon juice and beat for one minute. Add last flour one cup at a time, beating between each cup. Beat for about 10 minutes until dough pulls away from side of bowl. This makes a very soft dough. (if you're using a Kitchen-Aid, this may climb up the collar of your dough hook. Lube the hook and collar and don't walk away from it while it's kneading. You may need to stop the mixer and push the dough back down a few times. Slip it over the hook, rather than pushing it through, so you don't disrupt the gluten strands.)


Preheat oven to lukewarm (I do about 200 degrees) for one minute and then turn off. Turn dough onto oiled counter top. Divide into 2 loaves and place into 2 4X8 bread pans, previously sprayed with a non-stick spray. Place in warm oven to let rise for 15 to 20 minutes, until dough reaches about ½ inch above top of pan. Do not remove from oven. Turn oven on to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. (Start timing when you first turn on the oven, not when the oven reaches temperature.) Remove from pans and cool on rack.


I buy my Wheat Flour from Freash & Easy, it is really good. Also even with the half and half with the wheat and white flour it can be hard on kids systems so you may want to do more white flour than that, or just monitor how much they have!

Crepes

1 1/4 cup Flour
2 Tbs. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 1/2 cup of Milk
3 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
2 Tbs. melted Margarine

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth, let sit for 1 hour. Put butter/margarine in a hot skillet and then pour in some batter, roll the pan around to distribute the batter and help keep it thin. You will need to rebutter the pan before each crepe. It takes a little bit to get the hang of it and flipping it. Cook both sides. Fill with whatever you like. Makes 10-12 Crepes.