Paula Deen House Seasoning

I saw this seasoning a couple years ago on the food network channel when Paula was cooking....I have been making it ever since. The combo is perfect to mix up in an empty container(I use empty spice containers) and have handy to season anything from steak to chicken to fish and I even season my ground beef with it when I am cooking several pounds of beef at once.  Anything you want to season, this is the perfect blend.  So many times people only season with salt and pepper, but by adding garlic powder too, it takes the taste to another level.  Even if you don't care for garlic, this blend is settle enough that you won't taste it so much as just know your food has a good flavor....if you do like garlic, then just add more garlic to the mixture.  And yes, this WILL make you sneeze when you mix it up!!
Paula Deen's House Seasoning
1C salt
1/4C black pepper
1/4C garlic powder
Mix together and store up to six months.

Cranberry Jello Dish

The Sunday school teacher asked my 5yr old daughter a couple weeks ago, who St. Patrick was and she told the teacher, "that is Spongebob's friend!" How cute! I'm so glad the teacher came over to tell me that story after church, I think I will write that one down in her baby book! Yesterday she told me that she was learning about dinosaurs in preschool and that there are tons of bones in the dirt from them and she told me that there aren't any around our town anymore, they are totally INSTINCT! She is quite the crack up! She just got done telling me that she was naming her stuffed animals(AGAIN!) and she named one  cat Amber and she said it just didn't go over so well with that cat, so she just HAD to change it for the cat because the cat was throwing a fit, so she named it something different and the cat started licking her and that meant the cat was then happy with its new name! Darn stuffed animals, they sound like a bunch of work to me! What an imagination that daughter of mine has! HMMM....I wonder where she gets it? If I wasn't crazy before kids, I am now! I have always told my husband that I am so glad he has never installed spy cameras around the house, or he'd think his wife has gone crazy! The things he would see me doing during the day to entertain a child! I didn't even know I had that craziness in me...it just kinda comes out when we are using our "imaginations!"  Oh, it has been so fun staying home with our children...the things I would have missed if I wouldn't have been here all day with them! And to think it is coming to an end next fall when my youngest goes to Kindergarten! UGH! Who am I going to play "crazy" with and use my "imagination" with? Then when I do those things during the day, I won't have an excuse that my 5yr old made me do it! Then I will have to go to the funny farm! Oh well, I will probably end up there anyways from heartache after dropping my baby off at kindergarten on her first day!
Anyways, enough on that subject, I'm gonna start getting sad if I keep thinking about that!
This recipe is really light and refreshing and you can use different flavors of jello, like I used cherry today, because I had no other flavors. Cranberries are very good for you too!
Cranberry Jello Dish
1large(6oz)box raspberry jello, or cherry, strawberry,etc
1 small can crushed pineapple,drained ( I used a large can)
1 8oz tub of cool whip
1C chopped walnuts, optional
1large can whole-berry cranberries
Make the jello using 2C boiling water and then add your 2C cold water.  Use pineapple juice that you drained in place of the water if you want.  Let the jello set until slightly set, not solid.  Stir together can of cranberries, cool whip, drained pineapple and nuts in a large bowl and add the jello and mix it all together. Refrigerate atleast a couple hours.


How long does crushed pineapple take to drain? that stuff just keeps draining!



This isn't the prettiest dish to take a picture of, but here it is...with a couple bites missing!



Crab Dip

Spring is in the air, oh yea! I love having my windows open and letting the old winter air out and the new Spring air in! I only wish there was a way to filter out the allergies from coming inside too! I plan on washing comforters and blankets this week and hanging them outside to dry...do you enjoy the simple, unexplainable, wonderful smell of line dried sheets? Oh, I love it...it smells so good! It's in the same category of smells like the awesome smell of bon fires or fireplaces burning! There's nothing like it! Some of you are probably thinking I'm pretty strange right about now, but I love those smells!

Well, I've got to find some good game day recipes...it is March Madness you know! And you do know that the KU Jayhawks are the number one pick right?! I am from Kansas, so you know that is who I am going for! Friday...game on!  I found a wonderful recipe that I have not yet tried, but thought it would be perfect to try for game day...I found it over on the blog Diary of a Recipe Addict and it is called Crab Dip. It sounds wonderful and simple! I'm going to give it a try for game night! GO KU!!!!!

Crab Dip  (KU Colors!)
1/4-1/2C sliced black olives
1C diced celery
11/2C shredded cheddar cheese
1tsp dill weed
1pd imitation crab meat, diced
3/4 C mayo(real)
1/2C sliced green onions
Combine all ingredients, serve immediatley, or refrigerate until serving.  Eat cold on club crackers or ritz or wheat thins!

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

This is a fun and easy crockpot recipe that you can add ingredients to make it more of a meal, like black beans, rice, corn, green chilies....just whatever your family likes..throw it in! But, this is the core recipe that you start with.  It is good topped with crushed up tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Have fun with it!
Crockpot Salsa Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts(add more if your family is bigger)
You can even throw them in frozen!
1C salsa
1/2-1pkg taco seasoning
1can cream of mushroom soup
1/2C sour cream light
Add chicken to crockpot and sprinkle with amount desired of taco seasoning. Pour salsa(or even a can of diced tomatoes)over the chicken.  Cook on low 6-8hours or high 4-5....just depends how hot your crockpot cooks. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Serve over rice.    Feel free to add the rice to the crockpot and many other ingredients...I like adding in corn and chili beans  (makes it healthier), then I top it with shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips.

This is in the crockpot and the chicken is on the bottom

Creamed Corn

This is an easy crockpot dish that could be taken to potlucks or parties. A nice twist from regular corn.  You could even spice it up and make it mexican and add a can of green chilies, or add stuff to it like spanish rice and hamburger and black beans,etc etc Play around with it and make it a main dish!
I got this from a Taste of Home cookbook.
Creamed Corn
2pkgs(or around 26oz)frozen corn
1(8oz)pkg cream cheese, softened and cubed
1/4C butter, cubed
1T sugar( I don't add this)
1/2t salt
Coat crockpot with cooking spray and combine all the ingredients. Cover and cook on low 3-4hours or until cream cheese is melted and corn is tender. Stir before serving.

Ranch Salmon Packets

This is a fun recipe for grilling season, although you can also do the same thing and put it in the oven.  It is also healthy, if you use Light Ranch! I don't like the fat-free ranch, but I really can't tell much difference in taste with the regular vs. light ranch.  The cooking time will vary for this depending upon the size of your salmon and how hot your grill is, but you just want to make sure you check the salmon before getting it off of the grill and make sure it flakes with a fork in the middle. Be very careful when opening the foil packet, the steam will bite you! My kids really enjoy this and eat the veggies with no problem since they have ranch on them! If the salmon does happen to have a slight fishy taste, the ranch helps to cover it up...but, if it is fresh salmon, just don't buy it if it smells fishy. Here in Kansas, it is not real possible to get fresh fish! But, I have found a brand at Sam's that is frozen and is really good. These foil packets are fun because each person gets their own and you can custom make their packet depending on what seasonings and veggies they like.  It is great for camping too!
Ranch Salmon Packets
Salmon fillets
Ranch dressing
fresh, or frozen veggies(I usually use frozen california blend)
seasoning
Take a square piece of foil, per salmon, and spray well with pam. Place the salmon on the greased foil and sprinkle with seasoning, I use salt and pepper.  Place a handfull of veggies on top of the salmon and squirt ranch dressing on top of the veggies and then sprinkle with seasoning again.  You could even place cheese on top of this. Then wrap up the foil and leave room at the top, like a dome, so it can steam.  Grill on med-high for 11-13minutes, depending on size of salmon. I always carefully open the packet and see if the salmon flakes in the middle before I bring it inside. If it isn't done yet, then close the foil up again and grill longer. 

Mushrooms!

Does anyone have a liking to sauted mushrooms? I love the things, can't get enough of them. They make me smile. They make my eyes roll back.  I would have never ate them as a kid, but somehow during adulthood I have found a liking for them.  My kids think I'm "totally gross" when they see what I am eating...oh well, more for mom!  If I go to the grocery store a couple days after the sale add comes out, which is Friday(and before the weekend), then mushrooms, apples, bagged salads,etc are all marked down. I always get mushrooms for 69cents!  I also get the bagged caesar salads for 0.99!!
This is a great recipe to have with grilled steaks! Enjoy!
Sauted Mushrooms
Melt 2T butter in a skillet and add 8oz pkg mushrooms; cook and stir until soft and release liquid, around 5 minutes. Stir in 2cloves minced garlic and cook for one minute. Pour 2T(I thought 1T was plenty) and cook the mushrooms until the liquid has evaporated, about 4minutes.