Whew!

Wow, I did it! :) Wasn't too sure if it was all gonna get done or not!!! But I made it! :)

I made the chocolate chip cookies on Friday. Then Saturday I finished the desserts. Yes, I said desserts. I made 2 different kinds, but I made each one twice. I wanted to make sure there would be enough! Pastor told me at first there were gonna be about 50 people, then he told me closer to 40. So I HAD to make sure there was enough dessert!!!! ;)

I also made pizza last nite for supper! I am not really sure what I was thinking, making all the desserts, just getting them done at 5, my little eating machine needed to eat at 5, I had to roll out the pizza dough, get it in the oven, make 2 calzones... I had pizza on my menu and really wanted to follow through with it! I was super excited to try the recipe I found since I haven't found a good one yet! Found out some secrets as well... (will share those when I post the recipe!)

So I got the pizza and calzones in the oven, fed my little eating machine, we ate and it was edible, it was really good infact! :) Then we gave 2 of the kiddos showers, back downstairs, movie in, the littlest then got a bath, got them all a snack, got 2 boxes of pasta cooked, then had to put the munchkins to bed, another 2 boxes of pasta made, fed the eating machine and got into the computer for a little, watched a movie, then bed... Except, I wasn't able to sleep, not because I wasn't tired, but because a certain little bubby decided he wasn't feeling so hot! He had a fever, then it broke, then he got it again... This happened about 4 times last nite, every time I was just about to go to sleep, he would wake up again! I think I got about 2 hours of sleep! I ended up on the couch and just held him all nite! Poor little guy! Not sure if he is teething, or is in the beginning stages of getting sick! :( I wanted to be up by 6 (that's usually when he eats...), get in the shower and get crackin on the rest of the pasta! I wanted to be done in PLENTY of time, that way I wouldn't feel like I was being rushed! Well.... My little guy woke up at 7:15 to eat, (I actually got one solid hour of sleep! WHOO HOO) fed him, laid there, out of it... Realized what time it was, almost 8,YIKES!!! Still needed to get a shower, feed the others, and get myself looking half way alive after the shower, and finish the food! Oh boy, a little bit of panic struck me, but then I am like, I can do this! God give me the strength! Boy He did! I didn't really freak out or panic about the time, just got it all done! I wasn't even running around like my head was cut off! :)

I seriously wasn't stressing about getting it all done, thanks God for the calm nerves!!! :) My hubby wasn't going to go to prayer meeting this morn, but I told him to go, then he took one of the munchkins, so it was fine! :)

I did let the girls watch some Mickey Mouse this morning since it was on! I know, bad mommy! But I REALLY wanted to get the food all done and not worry about them fighting! :) My little guy was still pretty cranky and tired, but he sat and watched it!

My hubby called after they were done and asked if he needed to come home and help, but I said I was getting it all together, so no worries!

I wanted to be at the church by 10:15, but I got there at 10:30, so I guess not to bad! :)

Got everything in the kitchen, then realized that the pans were a little bit bigger than I thought, or the oven was smaller than I thought! I could only get 2 pans in at a time, I had 3 pans... So I was like oh boy, now what? Ok, put those 2 in now, the one pan was still a tad warm from me cooking the pasta this morning, so put the 2 cold ones in, got them out at 11:45, put the other one in, and it was all good! :)

Now I need to get cracking and get these recipes on on blog! :) I haven't been doing so hot this week on getting a new one everyday! Opps... Been a crazy week! Will TRY to do better next week! I am going to TRY and post ONE new recipe everyday, except Saturday and Sunday. I wanted to put some type of scripture with some thoughts on Sundays, but forget about it on Saturday nite and don't have the energy to do much on Sundays... Will try and do better at that! :) That's my goal, will see if it happens!

So be on the look-out this week for the recipes of the food I fixed today for membership class!

As tired as I am, mostly because of being awake half the nite, I had a BLAST! I LOVE cooking and helping out! I LOVED doing the breakfast bar at JCFC and am glad that I can help out now at the Garage! Next membership class may have even more people, BRING IT ON!!!!!! :)

Fish Sticks

Okay, so those of you that know me, know I HATE and I do mean H-A-T-E fish!!! I've tried it, but just don't like it! So for me to have a fish recipe up here, ya know I am cooking it for my hubby and munchkins!!!

Which they all LOVED!!!! It is messy and took some work, but I guess it was worth it! :)


I made these especially for my hubby, he has endured some recipes that were not his fav, so I made something for him, because I am nice and sweet and loving like that! :)



I used 2 different types of fish, Cod and Haddock. I cheated and got the frozen fillets, they were on sale, so I used those instead of getting the fresh from the counter.


Place some flour in a bowl/plate


Parmesan cheese...


Add the bread crumbs with the cheese. You can make your own bread crumbs, but I totally cheated and bought these! (ok, so my hubby bought them for me because I forgot to pick them up!)


Mix it together...


Cut your fish into "sticks"


Drop the fish into the flour



Drop the flour covered fish into the beaten eggs




Drop the flour, egg covered piece of fish into the bread crumb and Parmesan cheese mixture...



Your hands get a TAD bit messy!!!


Finished product!


Fish Sticks

1/4 cup flour
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 pounds white fish fillets, such as haddock, cod, or pollack
1 cup bread crumbs (you can decide if you want to make them or use store bought)
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut the fish fillets into "sticks". Make them whatever size you want, but try to make them all the same size.
Put the flour in a bowl/plate, and beat the eggs and place those in a different bowl/plate. Mix the Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs together in a separate bowl/plate.
Place the fish in the flour and roll around to coat. Then place the flour coated fish in the beaten egg. Roll it around to coat, then place the fish stick into the Parmesan cheese and bread crumb mixture. Roll around to coat. Place it on a cookie/baking sheet pan/stone.
Bake for 10-15 minutes turning once until golden brown on the outside. (you can also fry these in some oil until golden brown)
Serve with tartar sauce.

*I really didn't measure the cheese or bread crumbs, so I may have had more.
I cooked mine for 15-20 minutes.
If you fry them, fry a few at a time and make sure you turn them over half way through cooking.
I also served this with spaghetti sauce. You could serve it with salsa as well.

I always make my own tartar sauce... Here's how I make it...
Miracle whip or mayo
Relish, we use sweet, but you could use dill if that's what you like

Mix it up and serve!

*I don't measure this, I just guess, but here's a pic to help! :)

Butternut Squash Soup

When we still lived in Iowa, my hubby and I had the privilege of getting to go to 801 and Grand. It is a Steak House and oh my goodness, YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!! The steaks we got just melted in your mouth! And the desserts were pretty amazing too! :)

Anyways, my hubby got butternut squash soup as an appetizer and he told me he had it one other time. He really liked it, I am thinking, ok, I can make that, right? Well, I never tried his, so I wasn't sure what it really was supposed to taste like! I took 2 different recipes and put some other things in it on my own to make this soup. I tried it and was like, I am not sure if this is right or not? But my hubby really liked it! It was pretty good! I think next time I make it, I will have some steaks to go with it! We just ate it with bread!


Chop up the squash, carrots and onion and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes...

I added some sugar, cinnamon, chicken broth, water, salt, pepper, turmeric before I brought it to a boil.

When it's soft, take half of the pot and put in blender, blend it up, put the other half in there, blend it until nice and smooth, add the milk and let it warm back up, and ENJOY!!!!


Butternut Squash Soup

2 butternut squash, cubed
1 medium carrot, sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced and cut up
14oz chicken broth
1 - 2 cups water
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste
sprinkle/dash of turmeric
4 oz cream cheese
milk
3 to 4 teaspoons sugar

Combine the butternut, carrot, onion, chicken broth, water, cinnamon, salt and pepper, turmeric, and sugar in pan. Bring to a boil and then turn down heat and cover and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes. Just until veggies are nice and tender.
Put 4oz cream cheese in blender, dump half of the pan into the blender. Blend until smooth. Remove that, then dump in the other half and blend until smooth. Put it all back in the pan and add just enough milk to make it the consistency you want it. Add less for a nice and thick soup, add more, for a thinner soup.

*To make it easier to cut the squash, place in microwave for a minute or until the outside is slightly warm. It will be easier to cut!
Don't add more than 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric. I think I added in between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon!
I probably added about 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk.
Enjoy!!!

Sloppy Joes

Yummy! Sloppy joes!!!!!

I didn't take pictures as I was making these, but they are pretty easy! :)

I browned my beef, I added onion and garlic to it. After it was brown, I drained all the extra grease off, which wasn't very much since I got 93-7 ground beef. Then I put it all in the crock pot with all the other ingredients. i put it on low and let it sit for 3 hours. IF you are putting it in the crock pot, and it will be in longer than 3 hours, make sure you add MORE liquid, like ketchup, tomato sauce or bbq sauce, that way it won't burn.




Sloppy Joes

2 pounds hamburger
1 onion
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Brown onion and hamburger and drain fat. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.
Serve on hamburger buns.

* I should mention this is my mom's recipe, so thanks mom! :)
You can also either use all turkey, or half turkey and half beef.
I also add a couple gloves of garlic when browning the hamburger and onion. I like using purple onions too.
I add a small can of tomato sauce, but if making a bigger batch, like double, I use the bigger can.
I sometimes add bbq sauce too.
I haven't measured the ingredients to this for years now. I just dump! :)
I don't always add the vinegar either.
Those of you who are "beginners, try using the recipe then add and take away after you've made it. Or if you feel comfortable, try it anyway you like!
I guess this recipe is more of a "guideline"!
Enjoy!

Wild Mushroom Beef Stew

(It may not look so tasty, but it really is GOOD!!!!)
Here is a very yummy crock pot recipe! Super easy, throw it all in the crock pot, turn it on and forget about it til you are ready to eat! Smells good and tastes good!



Mix flour, salt and pepper in a small dish, then our over beef stew meat and then stir to coat


Then add beef stock and paprika


Then add all the other ingredients


Ready to eat!!!


Wild Mushroom Beef Stew

1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
1/8 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, sliced

Put beef in crock-pot. Mix together flour, salt, and pepper, pour over meat and stir to coat each piece of meat with flour. Add beef broth and paprika and stir. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to mix.
Cover and cook on low 10 to 12 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours or until done.
Stir before serving.


*I bought already cut up stew meat.
I added more than 1 1/2 cups of beef broth.
You can use a different type of mushrooms if you want.
It only took about 3 hours on high for my crock-pot.
I would add more carrots and potatoes.

Egg Sandwiches

This is not the "normal" egg sandwich. I tried this over 9 years ago. It's the way the Cecil's make it. I remember my hubby cooking one up for me and then I saw what he was putting on the bread. I am like, I am NOT going to eat this, let alone like it... Well.... This is the only way I make egg sandwiches now, and my kiddos love them as well! Don't knock it til you try it! That's all I'm gonna say!!! Seriously, let me know what you think. AFTER you try it! Good and bad comments, I can take it!! :)



Put some coconut oil in a pan..


Poke a fork in the yoke...


... break it up, but don't scramble it


I season my egg sandwiches with Spike (it can be used for other things as well...)





Cook until light brown and crispy...


Remember, don't knock it til you try it!
Peanut butter on one side and ketchup on the other


Place egg on one side...


Enjoy!!!


I am not going to type this one out, it is pretty easy...

Cook as many eggs as you need, one per sandwich... Put peanut butter on one side of a piece of bread, and ketchup on the other piece. Cook the egg until light brown and crispy, place on the bread, close up and enjoy!

Fried Rice

I served this with cut with chicken.



Beat eggs and soy sauce together and fry it up


Break it up


Stir fry the cut up celery in sesame oil for a couple of minutes


Then toss in the yummy mushrooms!!! Stir fry that all together for a few minutes


Then toss in all the other ingredients




Fried Rice

2 eggs beaten
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup sliced celery
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups cooked white rice
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup sliced green onions

In a small bowl combine eggs and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Pour sesame oil into a wok or large skillet. Preheat over medium heat. Add the egg mixture and minced garlic, stir to gently scramble. When set, remove from wok/skillet and place in a bowl. Pour the cooking oil into wok or skillet, return to medium high heat, and stir fry celery for a couple of minutes. Then add the mushrooms, stir fry for a couple minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add cooked rice, peas, carrots, green onions, eggs and sprinkle with soy sauce. Cook and stir for 4 to 6 minutes or until heated through.


*I used sesame oil when cooking veggies.
I also used 3 eggs instead of 2 and I used 3 cloves of garlic instead of one.
I served this with cut up chicken that I fried in Italian dressing. I cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Faster cooking that way and then I didn't have to cut it up for the kids! I placed the chicken in the heated skillet and then poured about 1/4 of a bottle of Italian dressing over the top and cooked until no longer pink!