Side Dish

This isn't a full dinner recipe, just a side dish. I figured most everyone knows how to throw a roast in a crock pot, but I didn't know if every one knew how to make those boring orange sticks taste delicious!

All you gotta do is bring some water to boil and then add as many carrots as you'd like. I end up adding the whole bag, because we end up eating them all! Let them cook until you can just barely stick your fork in them. You do not want them mushy, or maybe you do, I don't know. But once they have reached your desired level of mushiness, drain them and put them back in your pan. Add 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon brown sugar...okay, okay, who am I kidding I usually add close to 3 tablespoons! Stir until the brown sugar and butter are melted, serve and ENJOY!

Italian Chicken and Vegetable Pasta

This is a super cheap and easy meal. We figured it out the other night when we had this and, to feed the three of us,it is cost $3.70! Not to bad! I got my bag of veggies on sale for a dollar, my Italian dressing was free, my noodles were .50 cents and we used half of our fresh chicken so it was $2.20!


INGREDIENTS:

1- bag of fresh vegetables (I find mine by the bags of lettuce)
1- bag of angel hair pasta
3- chicken breasts
1 cup (divided)- Italian dressing (we use zesty)


Cut your chicken in to pieces and place in frying pan. Add 1/2 cup Italian dressing, stir, and cover. When chicken is thoroughly cooked, add veggies and another 1/2 cup dressing, recover. When I'm making it for our family, I end up using another 1/2 cup of dressing, we really like the flavor, but you can add as little or as much as you'd like. Once the veggies are covered, cook your pasta. Remember angel hair cooks super fast, so make sure your veggies are to your desired level of softness, before you boil them!
Guess what we had to go with this dish, yup that's right, some of those yummy bread sticks! See what I mean, they are a great side dish with almost every meal! Just scroll down and get that recipe too! And if you noticed in the picture, I, of course, topped mine with cheese! ENJOY!

Yummy Bread Sticks!

I can't tell you how many times we eat these a month! They go with spaghetti, fettuccine, pizza, soups, well you get the picture! You want to know why I make them so much, because they are EASY! and FAST! And I'm not joking! You have to try them out!

INGREDIENTS:

1 and 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tbs. sugar
3 cups flour
1 Tbs yeast
1/2 tsp. salt

Yes, that is it! 5 whopping ingredients!

Now all you gotta do is combing ingredients in order and knead for 3 minutes (if it gets too sticky add some more flour). Cover bowl with a hot wet dish towel and let rise for 20 minutes.
While they are rising, preheat your oven to 400 degrees and melt one cube of butter in a large cookie sheet. (make sure to watch the butter so it doesn't burn!) Roll out dough and cut with pizza cutter and lay it on the cookie sheet, then flip it over so both sides are buttered. Now, I'm kind of a cheese freak...I love it, so I sprinkle some grated cheese on half the bread stick and sprinkle the other half with garlic for my hubs! But any herb would be great or maybe some parmesan cheese! Bake for 12-15 minutes, then ENJOY!

Summer Jell-O Pudding Cake

If you want a cake that will be the hit of any BBQ or family gathering, this is the cake for you! Kyle asks me to make this cake at least 2 a month. It is so good, with so many varieties to try! I promise you, if you love pudding and a lite moist cake, you have found your match made in cake heaven!

INGREDIENTS:
1- box of cake mix (see below)
1- small box jell-o
1- 8 oz tub of whip cream
1/4 cup - powdered sugar
1-small box instant pudding
milk
water

Bake cake as directed. Cool at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile prepare small jello by using 3/4 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water. After cake has cooled, poke LOTS of holes all over the cake, I usually take a butter knife and stab and twist it. Then slowly pour the jello over the cake. Refrigerate. Then to prepare the topping mix whip cream and powdered sugar. Prepare small pudding using 1/2 cup LESS of the milk that is suggested on package. Mix whip cream mixture and pudding together. Spread on cake. Refrigerate 4 hours or until topping is set up. ENJOY!

Here are some great combinations to try!

CAKE ... JELLO ... PUDDING
Lemon ..........Lime .................. Lemon
Vanilla .........Cherry ............... Vanilla
White .......... Orange............... Vanilla
Banana .... Straw/Banana ........ Banana
Chocolate .... Cherry ...............Chocolate


We really enjoy the lemon cake combination, very refreshing!