Green Beans and New Potatoes

This is a recipe I grew up with and it is pure comfort food. My family grew the garden with the new potatoes and  green beans and grandma canned it all. We would sit at many a ball game and snap green beans together because we knew what goodness it would bring!  I could seriously eat this for dessert every night.  I can still remember as a kid seeing the canned new potatoes downstairs in the basement at my grandma's and thinking how disgusting they looked, but I always put that image aside and devoured each can! My grandma taught me how to can years ago and there is a lot that goes into it, but oh how it is worth it! I prefer to freeze most things, it is much easier and quicker, but when it comes to this dish I preserve it by canning it! This version below is adapted to the crockpot.
Green Beans and New Potatoes in the Crockpot
Adjust the amounts to the size of crowd you are feeding
2pounds fresh green beans, snapped

1pound bacon, partially cooked...or 1 ham bone with some meat on it

1 onion, chopped, optional

1-2pounds red new potatoes, rinsed and cut in half

1tsp garlic powder
1tsp salt
Place the green beans, bacon or ham bone, and onion in the crockpot. Add water only to cover the beans and cook on low for 3 hours. Remove ham from bone(if using) and discard the bone. Add potatoes to crockpot and the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for one hour, or until the potatoes are tender. Make sure they are cut in half.

I linked this recipe over at Mandy's Recipe box!



There is nothing quite like a field of Kansas Sunflowers!

My dad, grandma, me, and my sweet Brookie
Can you believe my grandma is 91! She sure doesn't look it!



Chicken Cordon Bleu

I made this recipe for my husband for our first Valentine's dinner 13 years ago.  I remember being in the kitchen most of the day preparing everything so it was just right when he came  home from work.  I was so nervous and wanted everything to be just perfect for him.  This chicken recipe was nice because after it is assembled it cooks in the crockpot and you can prepare other dishes.  I remember it smelled wonderful and it tasted even better.  It is one of those dishes that is simple, yet it tastes elegant.  Our first Valentine's dinner turned out perfect and he seemed very impressed.  But, about 5 years later when I made this dish again and I reminded him how it was our first Valentines dinner, he didn't seem to remember....oh well.....that is a man for ya!  I have learned over the years not to take it personal when stuff like that happens! Men and women just don't see things the same....period!
Chicken Cordon Bleu-crockpot
4-6chicken breasts(pounded)
thin slices of ham, one per chicken
slices of swiss cheese, one per chicken
1/4C flour, with salt, pepper, cayenne mixed in
mushrooms, sliced
1/2C chicken broth
1/4C parmesan cheese
2cans cream of mushroom soup
After the chicken is pounded, put a slice of ham and cheese on each chicken breast and roll up.  Secure with a toothpick and roll in the flour mixture.  Put mushrooms and broth in bottom of the crockpot.  Then place the chicken on top and pour the soups over the chicken and top with parmesan cheese.  Cook in crockpot on low for 6-7 hours or on high 3-4hours.  Serve with rice and place the chicken rolls on top and cover with the soup mixture sauce.

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.

Ham Casserole

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter! What an amazing day we had...went to Sunday school and church and pondered on how our Lord died for us and what an amazing love He has for each of us.  It sure is wonderful to know that when I mess up that God still loves me and one day I will be in Heaven where there is no more pain and no more sadness! I can't wait!  This life down here is hard! Although I have been very blessed with a beautiful family and life.

These are my two awnry, but wonderful, kiddos

Brooke(5), Braedon(11), me and my hubby

Does anyone have a TON of Easter ham leftover??? I DO! And I planned it that way so I could put it in the freezer and make casseroles.  I found a ham recipe on the blog, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms and it reminds me of my hamburger potato casserole here on my blog, but it uses ham.  I also have a recipe called Pasta Ham Dish on this blog that you could use up that leftover ham with!  Does anyone have any yummy ham recipes they like?
Ham Casserole
2pds sliced, cut up ham
1onion, chopped
1C peeled,chopped carrots
3C sliced potatoes
1can cream of mushroom soup
2 1/4tsp flour
1C milk
salt and pepper
Brown ham and onion in a greased pan.  Add flour, soup and milk and heat until it boils. Arrange carrots, potatoes, ham ,onion in bottom of greased 13x9dish.  Pour sauce over top and cover and bake at 350 for 1hour. Uncover and bake 15minutes more.

Ham and Cheese potato bake

I had made a ham for Christmas and put the leftovers in the freezer for casseroles. This is one that is easy and good comfort food. It is from Pillsbury.
Ham and Cheese Potato Bake
1 1/2C milk
1/4C butter
1/4C flour
salt and pepper
6-8C frozen hashbrowns, thaw and pat dry
1 1/2C chopped ham
1C sour cream
1 1/2C shredded cheese
Preheat oven to 400. Grease 13x9 dish(or 2 8x8). In saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1minute. Whisk in the milk, salt, pepper. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, ham, sour cream, cooked sauce and 1 C of the cheese. Spoon into the greased pan and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake for 15-25min or until bubbly. I like to also add cornflakes tossed with a bit of melted butter to the top and bake 5-10min longer. Use your light sour cream and 2% cheese and lowfat milk to make the recipe healthier.