Vanilla Pound Cake

This is a beautiful pound cake from the wonderful blog, Mommy's Kitchen.  I sliced up tons of strawberries today for our bbq tomorrow and I plan to serve this pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream!
Pound Cake
1C butter, softened(leave out about 30minutes)
21/2C sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
3C sifted CAKE flour
2tsp vanilla
1C whipping cream
Beat the butter until creamy gradually adding sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each.  Add flour and whipping cream alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Add 2tsp of vanilla and mix. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15minutes. Cool in pan for a bit and then let cool on a wire rack.

The Best Baked Beans

We thankfully made it through many rounds of storms the last couple of weeks.  We had lots of wind and  rain, but thankfully no large hail and tornadoes like so many other places.  Living in Kansas you somewhat expect this weather this time of year, but nothing ever quite prepares you for a tornado. I've seen several over the years and they are some kind of amazing force! Our prayers are with those that lost loved ones and homes.  There are many small towns that had damage and even deaths, but no media coverage, because bigger towns had more damage and more deaths.  So remember those towns that are so small that no one hears about because they still need help as well.  It is awesome to watch how a community comes together, and even complete strangers, to help one another through these terrible trajedies.  I remember when I was young there was a huge tornado that killed many people and demolished miles of houses and we didn't live that far away from it, and my parents got my brother and I in the car and we spent many hours helping to clean and go through wreckage that the tornado left.  That was one of the first times when I was a kid that I learned that you put others first, especially in times of need.  I saw what devastation those poor people had gone through and they literally had nothing left, not even a pair of shoes or a toothbrush.  I remember finding old pictures and old love letters that a married couple had written one another during the war and I made it my mission that day to track down who they belonged to and I finally found the old lady they belonged to and she just cried and cried and thanked me.  I'm so thankful that my parents always found ways to get my brother and I involved in helping others, it really helped open my eyes that there is a huge world of people in need and there is so much more to life than being selfish and only focusing on what I want.  We each can make a huge difference in people's lives if we just take the time to look and listen to others.  One of the best things we can teach our children is to do for others, this helps them to be thankful and thoughtful and to really see how blessed they are.

This recipe is wonderful and I like to make it ahead a couple days so it can sit and mingle flavors together.  You can cook it in the oven or the crockpot.
The Best Baked Beans
6cans pork-n-beans, or 3 large Bush's baked beans
1 chopped onion, optional
2T mustard
1C ketchup
1/3C brown sugar
1pd cooked and crumbled bacon
I love to add around 2-3T liquid smoke, but this is optional
I also save around 2T bacon grease and throw it in
Combine all of the ingredients and bake at 350 for one hour, or place in a crockpot on low for a few hours to heat through.

Irma's Macaroni Pasta Salad

Irma is a dear elderly neighbor, who over the last four years I have become good friends with.  My daughter and I always go visit her and we have wonderful talks.  Since I had to move away from my own grandparents, Irma has been a blessing to me in adjusting to not visiting my own grandparents 3-5 times a week like I use to.  I miss them SO much!    Irma had this pasta salad last summer and sent some home with me and my son and I went crazy over it and I had to have the recipe! My daughter and husband do not like it, they think it is too sweet, but my son and I think it is perfect. On a hot day it is refreshing and cool. It makes a huge amount, so it is great for potlucks and picnics.
Irma's Macaroni Pasta Salad
1pd shell or elbow macaroni, cook and drain and cool
1medium onion, grated
4 carrots, grated
1C shredded cheddar cheese
*instead of the carrot and onion, I just buy a bag of prepared coleslaw
Mix 11/2C mayo, 1/2C vinegar, 1small can sweetened condensed milk.  Blend with the cooked macaroni, carrot, onion and cheese. Refrigerate for one hour.
I also like to add 2-3 green onion and 2 celery to the bag of coleslaw...green pepper would be great too

Fiesta Pasta Salad

This recipe makes a bunch and I am planning on making it this weekend while family is in town for Memorial Day.  This is a tough Memorial Day having lost my brother and sister-n-law this year, but with family gathered together this weekend, we will share memories and celebrate their lives.  And of course, pray for those in the military and also ponder and thank those whom lost their lives while fighting for our freedoms.  What an amazing nation we live in. Freedom is never free and Memorial weekend is a special time to remember the enormous sacrifices our military men and women, and their families, make for each one of us.  I am so proud of my ancestors who fought so long ago for my freedoms and I am so proud of my sister-n-law who is an officer in the Navy and my brother who was a sargeant in the Marines and my friend Scott who is now on his fourth tour in Iraq right now.  I have watched the sacrifices these people make with their families, so that they can defend our country and work many long hours and be gone for months at a time and it is just amazing to me.  It isn't just the person in the military making the sacrifice, but their families as well. Their spouse and their children are just as much to thank for our freedoms.  Our present government is not one I agree upon, but it is still our nation and I am blessed to live in this beautiful land.  This nation was founded upon Christian principles and the more God gets pushed to the side, the more chaos we will see. 
On to the recipe!
Fiesta Pasta Salad-adapted from allrecipes
1(16oz)pkg rotini pasta
11/2C salsa
1C mayo
1/2C sour cream, I use light
1can black beans, rinsed and drained(or use chili beans)
1can corn, drained(I use frozen)
1/2C chopped red bell pepper(optional)
2 green onions, sliced thin
1small can sliced olives, drained
1/2tsp each garlic powder, cumin, cilantro (I use fresh cilantro...big difference!)
1tsp salt
pepper to taste
Cook rotini and drain under cold water, set aside. Mix the rest of the ingredients together well and add cooked pasta and mix. Refrigerate atleast 2 hours, or overnight, before serving.
To make this a main meal, add fajita chicken, or cooked ground beef!

Next time I am going to add cubed cheese and grilled chicken!
This recipe is linked to Potluck Sunday at the blog Mommy's Kitchen, come join the fun!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I love these sandwiches! I started eating them back when Arby's came out with them a few years ago and just make my own version at home.  You don't have to heat up the house and they are quick and versatile, I just throw in whatever ingredients I happen to have. 
The base is cooked chicken. Use your own that you've precooked, use rotiserrie, or use canned.  This time I used one can of chicken and shredded it good. Then I added around 1/2C mayo. I used 1 green onion, finely chopped and 1 celery stalk, finely chopped.  Add in as many grapes as you like and cut them in halves, I used around 1C of grapes. If you don't want grapes, you could use craisins or raisins.  I diced up an apple and threw it in. I like walnuts on my sandwich, but no one else does, so I throw some walnuts on mine at the end.  Mix everything well and spread onto a croissant, or bread, or a tortilla.
Easy! and very Good!

The kids loved these wrapped in tortillas! I wrapped them in foil and they were perfect for our picnic!

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you ever looked on a package of dried cranberries and seen this cookie recipe? I did a few years ago and they sounded wonderful so I made them and they are AWESOME! I didn't have white chocolate chips, so I used chocolate.  I love anything oatmeal and then you add cranberries and white or chocolate chips and that is just yummy in my tummy! I'm sure you could sub raisins for the cranberries, but you should try the cranberries, they are so good.
Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies-OceanSpray
2/3C butter, softened(lay out for about 30minutes)
2/3C brown sugar
2 large eggs
11/2C old-fashioned oats
11/2C flour
1tsp baking soda
1/2tsp salt
11/4C Craisins
2/3C white or chocolate chips, or chunks
Preheat oven to 375. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl.  Add to the butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each.  Stir in dried craisins and white or chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 10-12minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire rack.  Makes around 21/2 dozen cookies

These are so soft and chewy and delicate!

Chicken Poppyseed Pasta Salad

I LOVE pasta salads! They are perfect for hot weather and summer picnics and potlucks and quick suppers! And when the garden is in full bloom it is so fun to go pick half the ingredients and throw them in a bowl and make pasta!  I got this recipe off of allrecipes.com, but like all other recipes,  I change it up a bit to fit what I have in the fridge(or garden) and what our family prefers.  Have fun with it!
Chicken Poppyseed Pasta Salad
1pkg(16oz) penne pasta
11/2C cooked cut up chicken(I use rotisserie, or grilled, or fajita chicken)
2 stalks celery, finely cut up
1C dried cranberries
4 green onions, finely cut up
11/2C creamy poppyseed dressing
2tsp lemon juice(I omit this)
crushed walnuts(optional)
Cook pasta until al dente, about 8-10minutes and drain and cool under cold water and drain very well. Place the pasta, chicken, celery, green onion, cranberries into a large bowl and pour in the dressing and lemon juice and stir evenly. Stir in walnuts if desired. YUMMO!

Roasted Asparagus

So far my Spring favorites have not gone on sale at the store...strawberries and asparagus. Spring is quickly passing by and I'm tired of waiting for those bargains and I am craving both of these foods! So tonight I made some roasted asparagus and fixed one craving...oh it was SO good! You can season asparagus many ways and in my book they are all good!  I only got three lonely asparagus in my garden, maybe next year I will get 6 and that will be enough for one serving! This is the first year for it, so I'm sure I will get more next Spring.  If you are one of those people,(or you have kids that are) who won't eat asparagus because it looks like a weed, or it looks gross and weird(which it does!), trust me...you have to atleast try it, I bet you will like it.  Don't try the canned stuff first, it tastes totally different than fresh....kinda like canned spinach tastes way different than fresh.
Roasted Asparagus
One bunch of asparagus
olive oil
sea salt
fresh pepper
fresh parmesan cheese
garlic, minced ( I didn't have any so I sprinkled it with garlic powder)
Place asparagus(after you snap the ends) on a plate and drizzle with just a bit of olive oil and move the weeds, uh, I mean asparagus, around to coat them.  Then season with salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and garlic and toss around again to coat evenly.  Bake at 425 for around 15 minutes. I don't use one whole bunch of asparagus at one sitting, so my asparagus cooks quicker.  You can just check it at half the time and stir it around and take one out to check and see if it slices easily with a knife.  The parmesan cheese tends to cook fast and can burn if you don't toss them around while they cook. I also line my baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.

This recipe is linked to Potluck Sunday over at the blog Mommy's Kitchen

Strawberry Bars

I am STILL waiting for strawberries to go on sale...I'm getting nervous that it's not gonna happen! It is almost the end of May and where I live they have not had any "good" sales on this sweet red fruit! Usually by now I have some in the freezer and I have my freezer jam made and fruit salads ate and yummy pies and cakes made, but...I'm still waiting for the sales. I want my strawberry short cake!!!
I went to Louanne's cute blog and found this Strawberry Bar recipe...I've seen this many times before, but with raspberry, but I'm sure it would be good with any fruit preserves. Once I get my strawberries I will make this out of my freezer jam, YUM!
Strawberry Bars
3C flour
1/2C quick cooking oats
1/2C shredded coconut(optional)
1tsp vanilla
3/4tsp baking soda
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3C strawberry preserves
Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, oats, coconut, vanilla and baking soda.  Cut in softened butter until mixture clumps between your fingers.  Reserve two cups of mixture and press the rest in an ungreased 13x9 dish. Bake crust for 18minutes and let cool for 15minutes.  Don't turn off oven.  Spread preserves onto cooled crust and sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Return to oven and bake for 30-35minutes.  Let cool and cut into bars. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Malibu Chicken

Wind Wind Go Away, don't ever come back another day! I know this is Kansas, and at that, it's Western Kansas....but, I seriously did not know the wind could blow so strong for so long! WOW! I literally can not even walk in a straight line outside and I know if I put my 5 yr old daughter outside she would blow to Texas!  I guess that means no grilling tonight, ugh! This is a very simple and kid friendly supper that I found over at the cute and yummy blog One Crazy Cookie.  It's a great idea and so tasty! If you don't want to use breaded chicken tenderloins, try the fully cooked grilled chicken breasts, those are good.
Malibu Chicken-
fully cooked breaded chicken tenders
slices of swiss cheese
slices of ham lunch meat
fresh baby spinach(my addition, optional)
Cook chicken tenders according to package directions in the oven. Place some ham lunch meat and then a slice of cheese on top. If using fresh spinach add that too, under the cheese.  Put back in the oven long enough to heat through and melt the cheese, VOILA, supper is done!  I am serving these with roasted asparagus and a fruit salad.  Visit One Crazy Cookie to get her yummy mustard dipping sauce.  We use ranch.   Update: Next time I make these I will use the fully cooked grilled chicken breasts, I think that will keep the chicken moist. The breaded chicken tenders tend to be dry and if you don't dip them in a sauce they are too dry.

Easy Strawberry Pie

I would like to start listing some summer recipes for when the kiddos are home. This includes quick and easy recipes! My favorite! If you have a favorite summer recipe that is quick and easy leave me a comment!  The recipe below could be used for any fruit and jello combination!
Easy Strawberry Pie
1 graham cracker crust
1small pkg strawberry jello
4C strawberries, sliced
1/4C sugar
1T cornstarch
1C water
In a saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, and water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for about 2minutes until thick. Remove from heat and stir in jello pkg and stir until dissolved.  Cool for 15minutes. Place sliced strawberries in graham cracker crust and pour jello mixture over the top and refrigerate for atleast three hours, or until set.

Banana Bread

This is a more classic version of banana bread versus the other one I have on my blog.  Both are great! I got this version from the blog Live.Love.Eat.
Banana Bread
10T butter
2C mashed ripe bananas (4-5)
1/2C sour cream
2 large eggs
11/2tsp vanilla
2C flour
3/4C plus 2T sugar
1tsp baking soda
3/4tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
1C chopped walnuts, optional
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x5pan. Puree the bananas, sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in another bowl.  Add the 10T butter to the banana mixture and mix on med-low for about 30seconds. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture in three batches, scraping the sides of the bowl and mixing on medium speed between each addition. Fold in the nuts. Pour into loaf pan and bake for around 70minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10minutes before turning out onto wire rack to cool. May use a bundt pan and bake around 35-38minutes.

Potato Salad

This is a yummy recipe from the wonderful blog Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  This is a wonderful site full of great recipes! The version below serves 10, but visit their site for another version that serves 50!
Potato Salad
7-8C potatoes, peeled, cooked, cubed(I used 8medium yukon gold and boiled them whole for 13-15min)
10hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
1/2C celery, finely chopped(I used 4stalks)
1/3C green onions, finely chopped(I used 3)
11/2C Miracle Whip
1T prepared mustard
1/2T salt
1/4tsp pepper
1T vinegar
Combine potatoes, eggs, celery, and green onions in a large mixing bowl.  Mix rest of the ingredients together well and pour over potato mixture, stir until combined.  Cover and chill until serving.

Cloudy day+ old camera= Bad picture!

Sausage Skillet

This recipe is adapted from the blog Mommy! I'm Hungry and I believe she got it from the Hillshire Farm recipes.  I adjusted this recipe to make it easier and healthier.  Very simple and quick! 
Sausage Skillet
1pkg kielbasa sausage, (links)fully cooked,cut up(I use turkey sausage..it is SO good and very low fat)
2pkgs(4oz each) Knorr-Lipton Pasta Sides, use any flavor, I use butter herb
1pkg shredded coleslaw
Make pasta according to package directions. Cut up sausage.  Place fully cooked sausage chunks into pan and lightly brown and then add the package of coleslaw. It will seem like a lot of coleslaw, but it cooks down. Let the coleslaw simmer for a bit, around 5-7minutes, until it softens, stir every so often. Add the cooked noodles and mix. YUM!



I am a VERY blessed and Happy Mommy!



Spinach Bacon Cheese Quiche

I love Paula Deen's down home cookn, it is true comfort food(and truly fattening!).  I just take her recipes and adjust the ingredients to low fat and I rarely notice any difference in taste(probably because I feel MUCH better about cutting down the fat!).  It was hot today and I did not want to turn on my oven and heat up the house, but I wanted this quiche and had the ingredients for it that needed to be used before they spoiled.  SO, I got out my new toaster oven.  I had an old one that we got when we married, but it is too small to fit most dishes so I went and got me an extra large toaster oven and it's perfect.  I love to use this kitchen appliance during the summer months so that I don't heat up the house, I even move it out to the garage during the real hot days.  This quiche fits perfectly in this toaster oven and I didn't have any hot flashes while it cooked!  I try to grill and use my crockpot a lot during the summer to keep the house cool.  I hope you all had a terrific Mother's Day! We went to church and out to my MIL to have pizza and dessert(not so healthy, but a very yummy treat) and then I came home to study most of the day, UGH! I have a huge essay due and lots of work to go on it.   I want to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day(since I didn't post yesterday) and thank her for being so fun and I am thinking of you extra today as you experience your first Mother's day after the loss of your son(my brother), I know it's a tough day for you as you reflect on his life and being his mom for 36 years.  I also am thinking extra of my MIL as she also celebrates her first Mother's day after the loss of her daughter a few weeks ago. As you both reflect on their lives and your time as their mother, may you find comfort in the memories and God's love for you.  Day by Day God will help us all to press on and press through this tough time.  You are both wonderful mother's and I am so blessed to have each of you in my life.
Spinach Bacon Cheese Quiche-Paula Deen
1pd bacon, cooked and crumbled(I use the new Farmland brand that is All Natural and does not contain nitrogens, preservatives, hormones,etc)
6 large eggs, beaten
11/2C heavy cream(I have not yet tried my 2% to see if that will work)
salt and pepper
2C fresh baby spinach, chopped
1C shredded cheese(I use freshly grated sharp cheese)
1 pie crust, I use Pillsbury
Preheat oven to 375. Combine eggs, salt and pepper and cream in a blender. Layer the bacon, cheese, spinach,(and I add in fresh mushrooms)in the bottom of the pie crust and then pour the cream mixture over the top. Bake 35-45minutes, or until the egg mixture is set. Cut into 8 wedges.

This recipe is linked to Potluck Sunday at Mommy's Kitchen

No Bake Bars

Yesterday I got to be outside the whole day playing in the dirt and planting stuff in the garden and the flower garden, my definition of a perfect day! Atleast until my back said otherwise! Last night was a hot tub night for sure...the ol back didn't like the ALL day idea like my brain did.  My husband's ideas are so different than mine when it comes to landscaping and it always ends up in a "disagreement"  He likes things in perfect lines and in certain places and his thinking is that less is more. He doesn't like me planting flowers and bushes and things all over the place by the house and definitley not in his back yard.  He would rather there be a garden for the flowers and then keep them all in that area and nowhere else. I am just the opposite and I love flowers and plants and want them surrounding me, in no particular order. Growing up in the country that is more or less how we did it.  So he and I butt heads when planning where to plant what. So when I can, I just do it before he comes home from work and has a "say" in it!  But, yesterday I ran into needing him to dig some holes for me(after the ol back went out) and carry some heavy bags of soil....so last night he got a bit grumpy after finding out my plans of where I was planting things, whoops.  This is why we need to find some land and move into the country, you would think in the Heart of America, smack dab in the wheat capital of the world, in good ol OZ land, we could find some land...but, nope, it is all "farm" land and if any of it comes up for sale, it is hundreds of acres for a "farmer" to buy, atleast in NW Kansas.  Both my husband and I grew up in the country, so that is what lives on in our hearts and we are not happy until we are back there again.  Then (and only then) can I plant things where I want them and as many things as I want. And I can have animals galore! I want a piggy and rabbits and a sheep and definitley horses and cows, oh, and a fainting goat...those things are funny.  Then I will have peach and apple and pear trees and blueberry and blackberry bushes and a MUCH bigger garden...I'm talking sale my own produce kind of garden. I want lilac bushes and on and on. I know...I have a "wild" heart.....the only thing is that right now it can't run free(because it doesn't have the land too!).
With a soak in the hot tub and a good nights sleep the hubby is happy again and later in the summer when all those pretty flowers are a bloomin, he will be happy he went along with my ideas!

On to the recipe:  I can't remember which blog I got this recipe, but I did change it up from the original. These are a great snack for the long summer days and besides the corn syrup in them, they are somewhat healthy!  The kids can help make these and you don't have to turn on your oven and make the kitchen all hot.
No bake snack bars
4C cheerios
2C rice krispies
2C m&m's
1C corn syrup
1C sugar
11/2C peanut butter
1tsp vanilla
optional: add raisins,crasins,peanuts
In a big bowl, mix together cherrios, rice krispies, and m&m's (and any optional ingredients). Set aside. In a saucepan, cook sugar and corn syrup until it boils and mix until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and mix well. Grease a 15x10x1 and spread into pan, or into a 13x9 for thicker bars. Let cool and cut.

Use seasonal M&M's to be festive with the colors!
This recipe is linked to Mandy's recipe box, Totally Tasty Tuesday's

Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars

My idea for Mother's Day is to not have to cook anything(unless I want to) and definitely not have to do any dishes! The kids not fighting or whining would also be a great gift!  So, after church I am assuming my mother-n-law and I will get taken out to eat by our loving husbands.  But, I did spot this recipe over on the blog Sweet Treats and More and I have really been wanting to make it, it sounds delicious! So after we get taken out to eat we can come back to the house and all have this yummy dessert! Hopefully I will also get some of my garden planted later that day...I can't wait to plant stuff! I always get so excited this time of year and plant things early and then it freezes on me, so I have restrained myself this year and I am waiting patiently until Mothers Day.  I try to plant atleast one new thing each summer and this year it's going to be brussel sprouts.  Maybe with enough butter and garlic we will all eat them! 
This recipe is so easy and comes together quickly, yum!
Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
source: Sweet Treats and More
For the bar layer:
1box carrot cake mix
1stick butter, softened
1 egg
Preheat oven to 350.  Mix together the cake mix, butter and egg until it forms into a thick dough.  Press into a greased 13x9 dish. Set aside while you make the cheesecake.
Cheesecake Layer:
16oz cream cheese, soft
1/2C sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the cake layer and bake 30-40min or until the edges start to pull away from the pan. Let cool completely.  Cut into squares and put a dollop of cream cheese frosting(store bought or homemade)on each square. You could even leave the cream cheese frosting off of it, it is perfect with just the cake layer and the cheesecake layer.

Eclair Dessert

There are many versions of this recipe, but it is so fast and very yummy. With warm weather coming, this would be a great treat to have on a hot day, and there is no cooking involved so you won't heat up your kitchen to make it.
Eclair Dessert
3packages of graham crackers
1tub cool whip light
2(3oz)pkgs instant vanilla pudding(I like using one vanilla and one french vanilla)
3C milk
hershey chocolate bars, or 1can chocolate frosting(or make your own)

Take a 13x9 dish and layer one package of graham crackers on the bottom.  Mix puddings with the milk and then add the cool whip and mix well. Pour half of this mixture over the layer of graham crackers. Then add another layer of crackers. Then pour the rest of the mixture on top of that and then one more layer of graham crackers. Now, if you are going to use hershey bars, you want the last layer to be the pudding. But, you would just grate the chocolate all over the top of the pudding, freezing the chocolate bars ahead of time helps to do this.  If you are not using chocolate bars and are using the chocolate frosting, then end with a graham cracker layer and carefully spread the frosting all over the top.  I heat the can of frosting in the microwave for about 15 seconds first and stir it, or I make homemade frosting.  Refrigerate for atleast an hour, but several hours makes the graham crackers much softer and yummier!