Doritos Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Ingredients: 

1 regular sized box of pasta

1 regular sized bag of Doritos

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 block of Velveeta (cubed)

1 large can of pre-cooked chicken

1 cup of salsa

1 8oz package of sour cream

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. 

Boil and drain noodles.

Crush bag of Doritos into crumbs

Directions:

Place crushed Doritos onto bottom of greased baking dish.

In a seperate bowl, combine all other ingredients.

Spread evenly on top of crushed Doritos.

Place in oven and cook for 20 mins.

Review: While it was ok and everyone ate it, next time I will leave out the salsa. My family all agreed that the salsa was too overpowering for us.

31 days of....

Two years ago, I joined in with hundreds of other bloggers in 31 days of blogging. I didn't do it last year, but I am again this year. This year, I am doing 31 Days of Recipes! My husband is very excited. So, join me on my recipe-a-day blog journey!

This post will contain all the links to each recipe I post, so you might want to bookmark it. :)

Recipe: Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour                       2 large eggs (beaten)
1 tsp. baking soda                               4 large overripe bananas (mashed)
1/4 tsp. salt                                         1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter (softened)                     1/2 cup finely diced walnuts or pecans (optional)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 5"x 9" loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking and salt. Set aside.
3. In separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. 
4. Stir in eggs, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, (and nuts if desired).
5. Add flour mixture to banana mixture and stir until blended.
6. Pour batter into greased loaf pan.
7. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 60-65 mins, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan for 10-15 mins, then finish cooling on wire rack.
9. Optional step, cut while warm and serve with butter. 

Cheesy Ranch Chicken Lasagna

I saw this recipe all over Pinterest. It thought it looked good, but I also thought it'd be better with some tweaks. So here is MY version.

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
2 (1oz) packs of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix (NOT dip mix)
2 (12 oz) cans of evaporated milk
2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese
1 (32 oz) container of ricotta cheese
1 1/2 boxes of lasagna noodles, cooked (I used 12 -14 noodles)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

2. Combine 1 package ranch dressing mix and both cans of evaporated milk into 3 qt. saucepan. Heat on low until dry ingredients are completely dissolved. Simmer for 20-25 mins. Stirring frequently. Pour on to shredded cooked chicken and stir well.

3. Combine mozzarella, cream cheese, ricotta, and last package of ranch dressing mix. Stir until well blended.

4. In well greased 9x13 baking dish, stack layers. Start with noodles, followed by half the chicken mixture, more noodles, cheese mixture, noodles, the rest of the chicken mixture. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.

5. Cover and bake for 30 mins, or until bubbly and golden. Let set for 5-10 mins before serving.

Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef, turkey, or chicken

1 pound of sasuage (we used Sweet Italian)

1 large onion (we used a sweet onion)

4 cloves of garlic

4 various color bell peppers

1 large jar of spaghetti sauce ( the biggest one they sell!)
1 package of fresh mushrooms, or 1 large portabella

Directions:

Step One: Dice the oinion and sautee it , over low heat, in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. While it starts to sautee, dice the garlic and add it to the pan.

Step Two: While the oinion and garlic sautee, dice up the peppers and mushrooms

Step Three: Add the ground beef and sausage to the garlic/oinion in the frying pan. Heat over medium heat until browned. Do not drain.

Step Four: Add it all into a large stock pot with the jar of sauce. Simmer for 1 hour stirring frequently.

Step 5: Boil your choice of noodles or rice, and serve! Garnish with shredded cheese if wanted. Yum!

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bakes

Ingredients:

1 cups graulated sugar
4 TBSP cocoa
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 TBSP vanilla extract (1/2 TBSP if using real vanilla)
3 cups quick oats (do not use regular oats)
Waxed paper

Directions:

1. In a heavy saucepan, bring sugar, cocoa, butter and milk to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 min.
2. Pull mixture off of heat and add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until blended.
3. Add hot mixture to oats. Blend well.
4. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Sit until cool and hardened.

Notes: Do NOT double. This recipe is very particular and doubling mostly leads to a failure to set properly. Also, high humidity can cause the cookies to fail to set.

Fat Free Strawberry Raspberry Trifle

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen strawberries (thawed)
1 bag frozen raspberries (thawed)
1 package angel food cake mix
1 can fat free whipped cream
1 container strawberry glaze (you can also use strawberry jello)

Directions:

1. Bake angel food cake according to package directions
2. Cut up cake into small squares.
3. Layer cake, glaze, strawberries, whipped cream, raspberries alternating until you run out of stuff!
4. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

4 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts (~2 lbs)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Cream of Broccoli soup
2 cups of water
2 cups UNCOOKED rice (I use quick cooking white rice)
10 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 stick of butter or margarine (cut into small squares)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Combine both cans of soup, water, rice and butter in a mixing bowl. Pour into 9x13 casserole dish.
3. Place chicken breasts on top of rice mixture.
4. Sprinkle cheese on top.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 45 mins or until chicken is cooked and rice is tender. Let stand for 5 mins before serving.

Sausage Cheese Balls

Ingredients:

2 cups Bisquick

10 oz shredded cheese

1 lb non-link sausage

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Knead together until well mixed. *this takes a while*

3. Roll into small balls and place on large ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 20 mins. Let stand 5 mins before serving.

This is probably one of the easier things I make, but everyone LOVES them. There is NEVER any left.

Jam Suprise Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick butter

1 egg

1 cup milk

Any flavored jam/jelly

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2. In medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3. Cut in butter until well blended. (Will look like a rough cornmeal). Make a well in the center and set aside.

4. In a seperate bowl, wisk together egg and milk. Pour into well in dry ingredients and mix until just moistioned. (About 25 strokes) Batter will be lumpy.

5. Fill greased muffin cups about 1/3 full. Put 1/2 tsp of jam on top of batter and fill another 1/3 of muffin cup. Total of 2/3rds full.

6. Cook at 425 degrees for 20-25 mins. Remove from tray and let cool.

Apple Cheddar Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup finely chopped oinion

1 tbsp butter

2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced

2 cups apple cider

1 tsp fresh snipped thyme or 1/2 tsp crushed dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

Dash cayenne pepper

1 medium cooking apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp all purpose flour

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (~ 1 cup)

Garnish:

fresh apple slices

green peppercorns

Directions:

1. In large saucepan, cook oinion in hot butter over medium heat until tender.

2. Stir in potatoes, cider, thyme, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 mins.

3. Add chopped apple. Cover and simmer for 5 mins or until potatoes are tender.

4. In a small bowl, combine milk and flour; stir into soup. Cook and stir until bubbly.

5. Slowly add cheese, wisking until cheese is melted.

6. Divide into serving dishes and garnish with apple slices and peppercorns.

Reactions:

All three kids liked it, but Emali complained an hour later than she was hungry again. So, it was good, but not filling.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

3 oz of your favorite chocolate
2 tsp of hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice

Garnish:

Whipped Cream
Chocolate shavings or sprinkles


Directions:

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and melt in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occaisonally while melting. Add hot chocolate mix and sugar, stirring until well blended.

2. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup milk, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

3. In a blender, place remaining 1 cup milk, the chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into giant goblet and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.


Note: It may take a few tries to get the chocolate to melt correctly if you choose to use a standard saucepan instead of a double boiler. Plan ahead.

Reactions:

YUM! - from all three

Lemon Slice Cookies

photo by: Frances Janisch for Parents Magazine

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powered lemonade mix (pink)
1 egg
red food coloring
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp (pinch) salt
1/4 cup pink decorating sugar
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups powered sugar
2-3 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, and lemonade mix. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy (about 3 mins). Add egg and 8 drops of food coloring; beat well. In a seperate bowl, combine flour and salt. Gradually add flour/salt mixture to previous mixture, beat until dough begins to cling.

2. Gather dough into a ball and shape into a log about 7 x 2 1/2 inches. Wrap in wax paper. Chill no less than 3 hours until it's firm enough to slice.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place decorating sugar in a shallow bowl. Brush outside of log with corn syrup. Cut log crosswise into 1/8th inch thick slices. Lightly roll edges of slices in the decorating sugar. Place on cookie sheets approx. 1 inch apart. Cut some cookies in half, if desired. Score the top of cookies with the back of a small knife to make them resemble citrus segments.

4. Bake for 8 minutes, until edges are firm. Let cool on wire rack.

5. Mix powered sugar and lemon juice; place in a resealable plastic bag. Snip a small hole in one corner of bag. Pipe icing onto scored lines and add dots to resemble seeds. Let stand until icing is set.


Reactions:

Alvin(2) and Erin(6) both devoured these every chance they got. Emali(9) liked them, but she said she'd prefer chocholate chip.

Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 cup chunky salsa
1 cup garden variety spaghetti sauce
3 cups hot cooked spaghetti
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Cook beef or turkey in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. Stir in salsa and spaghetti sauce. Heat through.

2. Mix spaghetti, parmesan cheese, egg, and margarine. Spread on bottom of a greased 10" pie plate. Spread ricotta cheese into spaghetti shell. Top with beef mixture.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min or until hot. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Let stand 5 min before serving. Cut into wedges.


Reactions:

All 3 kids (Ages 2, 6, 9) love it. Nothing was left over.

TatT: Eric's Spaghetti Sauce

I'm participatin in Tuesdays at the Table (TatT) this week. I had Eric make me his famous spaghetti sauce while he was home! I was able to freeze 3 more servings of it too! Yummo!

Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef

1 pound of sasuage (we used Sweet Italian)

1 large oinion (we used a sweet oinion)

4 cloves of garlic

4 various color bell peppers

1 large jar of spaghetti sauce ( the biggest one they sell!)
1 package of fresh mushrooms, or 1 large portabella

Step One: Dice the oinion and sautee it , over low heat, in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. While it starts to sautee, dice the garlic and add it to the pan.


Step Two: While the oinion and garlic sautee, dice up the peppers and mushrooms

Step Three: Add the ground beef and sausage to the garlic/oinion in the frying pan. Heat over medium heat until browned. Do not drain.

Step Four: Add it all into a large stock pot with the jar of sauce. Simmer for 1 hour stirring frequently.

Step 5: Boil your choice of noodles or rice, and serve! Garnish with shredded cheese if wanted. Yum!

the things they do....

Ok, day started out wonderful. I got to sleep in! til 7am! woo hoo! After going to bed at 7pm, I really thought that Alvin would wake up early. Luckily, he slept until 7am. It was wonderful. So, i get up, feed and change him, put him in his little Jumperoo for some amazing play time and check my email. Yay! Email from Eric! He talks about his day, major boring stuff, but still, I like being included in how his days go. Then we get to this line:

"that hug sounds really good right about now, i have beeen trying to hug different guys to try to find one that hugs like you but so far no dice."

Really? That is sooo freaking funny. I can picture him doing this as well. Just hoping it doesnt freak anyone out. That was the start to my day, laughing my ass off at my husband's antics.

Then we move on to this afternoon. Apparently, the girls left the side door open and our cats got out. *sigh* After a short trip to the grocery store, both were lured back home with the appetizing scent of gourmet wet cat food. *yuck* At least they are home though.

I decided to ~not~ make the spaghetti for the meeting tonight. I am however making Spaghetti Pie. It is soo easy to make too.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. ground beef
1 cup chunky salsa
1 cup garden variety spaghetti sauce
3 cups hot cooked spaghetti
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. margarine OR butter, melted
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:

COOK beef in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. Stir in salsa and pasta sauce. Heat through.

MIX spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, egg and margarine. Spread on bottom and up side of greased 10" pie plate. Spread ricotta cheese in spaghetti shell. Top with beef mixture.

BAKE at 350°F. for 30 min. or until hot. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Let stand 5 min. before serving. Cut into wedges.

I normally double this and put it into an 8x8 casserole dish. Yummy! My mom came up with this when I was kid and I just LOVE it.