Shortcut Stroganoff

My mom found this recipe on the label of a Campbell's Soup can. The first time I made it was in 1999, and we still enjoy it.

1 tbls oil
1 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cubed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can beef broth
1 c water
2 tsp Worcestershire
3 c uncooked corkscrew pasta
1/2 c sour cream

cook beef in oil
add soup, broth, & water
add Worcestershire and pasta
heat to a boil
cook over medium 15 minutes or pasta is done
add sour cream
heat through

Easy Chicken and Rice

When Derek was in Vet school, we got to be really good friends with another newlywed couple. When Alex would be on externship, we'd have Susan over for dinner and when Derek was on externship, they'd have me over for dinner. She made this recipe once when I was over. Delicious!

6 oz box of Uncle Ben's white/wild rice mix (Long Grain-not fast)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 c water
2 large chicken breasts
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup mix
butter or margarine to drizzle

mix rice, cream soups, and water
spread in greased 9 X 13 pan
place breasts on top
sprinkle with Lipton soup
drizzle with melted butter
cover with foil
bake 1 hour


I served with fresh green beans sauteed in olive oil w/minced garlic sprinkled with a little garlic salt & refrigeratored buttermilk biscuits.

*Note: It was a bit salty, so next time I will use the "Healthy Request" soup which is reduced fat AND reduced sodium.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I've always failed at quick breads. This is the first recipe I've managed not to ruin. Really easy, really good. It will be a nice, quick breakfast for Peyton to "eat and run" while on her way to the bus stop for summer school.

1 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt
1/2 + 1/8 c sugar
1/4 c oil (I use canola)
1 large egg
2 large bananas, mashed
1/2 c chocolate chips (I use milk)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease (2) 6 X 3 X 2 loaf pans. In large mixer bowl, beat sugar, oil, and egg. Add bananas. Beat in dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips gently. Pour into loaf pans. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.

My 50 post giveaway! Woot! Woot!

I've posted 50 recipes! Can you believe it? It's been a lot of fun and has made my time in my kitchen enjoyable once again. I love hearing people say "Hey, I tried ______ . It was so easy and everyone loved it!", etc. In honor of making it this far, I'm going to jump on the "giveaway" bandwagon.

Here's what you get:

An egg slicer-slices hard boiled eggs beautifully. Also great for strawberries and mushrooms. I LOVE mine and think everyone should have one.

A cookie scoop-this is one of my favs in the kitchen. (I actually own two sizes; standard and monster style.) I used to rarely make cookies because I hated balling the dough. I'd be anal about making each the same size as to not have over done/under done due to size discrepancy. It took soooo long...until I found my scoops. They make cookie making super quick and easy (and they are all the same size). Now I make cookies a lot more.

Pampered Chef's Spring/Summer Cookbook 2010-these mini cookbooks have easy recipes that look really pretty. I usually don't make them for just my family, but always look so "fancy" when entertaining.

Regular AND mini muffin liners-I ALWAYS use liners for muffins, cupcakes, mini brownie bites (see previous recipe for brownie bites with amazing frosting), mini muffins...because it makes clean up of your tins so easy. I picked some really fun patterns.

I also may pick up a few items while I am out this week, but this is what I've collected so far.

*UPDATE: Here's 4 more items to add to your loot!



CORN BUTTERER-We eat corn on the cob like once a week in the summer. This is THE MOST amazing invention. We LOVE ours. You stick 1/2 a stick of butter (or margarine) in one end and the other end is rounded out with a little gully for your corn. Rub it up and down your cob for perfect butter distribution. So awesome. Whenever someone is having a Pampered Chef Party, I usually buy a few to through in with wedding/shower gifts. This one is not "Pampered Chef" but I can't see why it will be any different.

MINI GRATER-So, at least 1 of my recipes calls for fresh ginger (Restaurant Style Chinese Chicken). This grater is perfect for grating fresh ginger root. A little container snaps onto the bottom to collect your shavings. Use for fresh nutmeg, chocolate, etc.

GRIPPER PADS-I am really wimpy. I wouldn't be able to open a single jar if it wasn't for these sweet gripper pads. I keep one in my trunk for the gas can and one in my bathroom for beauty products.

FUN STRAWS-With summer year, you may be making my "Sunrise Smoothie" or "Chocolate Banana Shake". If you have kids, they'll dig the fun straw. Or, use for a summer party, or just enjoy them yourself.

Now, the giveaway will close this Friday at midnight and I will choose the winner probably on Saturday. I will mail out the winner's package on Monday.

Here's how to enter.

A) Become a follower AND

B) Leave a comment under this post regarding

1) your favorite way to "keep it simple" in your kitchen AND/OR

2) recipes that you've tried from my blog and you/your families reaction to them AND/OR

3) tell a friend about me and have them mention your name

Any questions, you can ask as a post and I'll get back to you. Good luck everyone.

Chicken Carbona

We LOVE this recipe. I got it from my sister years ago. I'm beginning to think it should be Chicken "Carbonara", but "Carbona" is what my sister wrote. By "doctoring up" jarred sauce, it is ready in no time. It tastes so "rich". Easily one of my all time fav pasta recipes.

1 Tbls oil
4 boneless chicken breasts cut into pieces (I usually do less meat, usually two breasts)
4 slices of bacon
1 c frozen or fresh peas (I use frozen)
1/3 c chicken broth
1 jar Alfedo sauce
pasta of your choice, cooked and drained (we usually use bow tie for this recipe)

brown chicken in oil, remove
cook bacon and peas together
add chicken broth and cook for 1 minute
add sauce & chicken
boil over high
reduce & simmer
add pasta & heat through

We always like to top with a little shredded cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, asiago...)

NOTE: Tonight, I also added some fresh mushrooms. I sauteed them with the peas & bacon. A delicious addition... We served it with a Caesar Salad Kit & Crescent Rolls

PS-Stay tuned, my next post will be a "giveaway" in honor of me posting my 50th recipe. Details on how to enter coming soon.

Pizzaburgers

These are delicious. I got this from my sister a few years back. An easy hot sandwich, a nice alternative to sloppy joes or burgers, AND you can freeze them and make them directly from the frozen state.

1 pound ground beef
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp basil
10 soft buns (we usually only get 6 buns, but I use fairly large buns....still, doesn't 10 sandwiches out of 1 pound beef sound a bit skimpy on the meat?)
1/2 tsp oregano
2 T grated parmesan cheese
sliced or shredded mozzarella

(I was thinking today that black olives and/or mushrooms would be good mixed in too! I'll have to try that sometime...if you decide to try it, please add as a comment so my followers know if it was hit or miss. Thanks!)

brown meat, drain
add everything else except mozzarella
put mixture on buns
top with mozzarella
wrap individually in foil

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or freeze

to make from freezer, heat to 350 degrees for 40 minutes

Salsa

My friend Kristen @ www.kristen-foodismyfriend.blogspot.com shared with me this awesome recipe for super easy salsa. Because everything is whipped into a blender/food processor/magic bullet, it is not "chunky" (which is why my kiddos LOVE it). Peyton would NEVER eat something with chunks of tomatoes in it. Most salsa recipes that I have come across require TONS of chopping of a million different veggies (multiple types/colors of peppers, tomatoes, onions, etc). But not this one...whip everything together, hit a button, and TA-DA! Hey, just trying to "keep it simple"!

2 (14 oz) cans of diced tomatoes (drained)
1 jalepino (seeded)
1 garlic clove
2 Tbls lemon juice
2 Tbls cilantro leaves
1 Tbls lime juice]
1 Tbls olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

put all ingredients in food processor, blender, magic bullet, etc. and voila!