Pineapple Pepper Chicken (crockpot)

I didn't realize how far off the radar i've become!!! My sincerest apologies!

I've been cooking and eating and forgetting to do anything about it! Guess it's a big case of the lazies!!

So recently I made this fab dish. I originally found it on FabulesslyFrugal.com. I love reading about all her freezer cooking. I'll be using several of her dishes when we get closer to having this baby! The newest one I've tried was a HUGE hit. I didn't make it as a freezer meal, just made it on the night I had it set on my menu.

Pineapple Pepper Chicken (in the crockpot)
2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice-the juice leftover in the cans I used came up just short, you might want to buy 1 extra can of pineapples to make up the difference
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup ketchup
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 whole chicken-cut up or left whole, I left mine whole
1 can (8 oz.) pineapple chunks, undrained - *see above note*
1 medium green pepper (or red as the case may be-they are on a super sale at our store so I substituted those-use what you like)

Place thawed chicken and other ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. 30 minute before it is finished add pineapple and green pepper, cook an additional 30 minutes. Serve over rice (we had noodles with ours).

OR: Place chicken in a 13x 9 pan. Heat sauce on stove until it starts to thicken. Pour sauce over chicken. DO NOT over fill the pan. There will be extra sauce. Pour sauce in a container and freeze so you can make this dish again later! Place pan in oven at 350° and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven place peppers and pineapple on top and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

I recommend using the crockpot, but by all means if you don't have the time then use the oven. I like any excuse to NOT turn on my oven in the heat of an AZ summer. Plus in the crockpot you get to smell it's citrusy awesomeness all day long!! I HIGHLY recommend this dish. It was sssssooooooo good. And like me if you use a whole chicken, save the bones for making stock and add whatever juices you have leftover. I did and the stock it made was heaven for sure!!

Thanks Fabulessly Frugal for another FAB recipe!!

Chocolate and Cheese Tunnel Cake

I made this dessert for Father's Day. We are HUGE cheesecake lovers and I thought this was a nice twist on it. I copied straight from my email and now I don't remember where I saw the original recipe. The pictures came with the original recipe. Hope you enjoy!!

Chocolate and Cheese Tunnel Cake

Ingredients
1 cake mix, two-layer chocolate with pudding (I don't see why you couldn't use any flavor cake you'd like-I went with the chocolate this time but may try something else the next time around!)
1/3 c butter
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp butter, melted
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate
2 tsp corn syrup

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, substituting butter for oil; reserve 1 cup of batter.

2

Pour remaining batter into a 12 cup greased and floured fluted tube pan.

3

Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing well at medium speed on an electric mixer until well blended; blend in eggs, one at a time.

4

Pour over batter in the pan; spoon reserved batter over cream cheese mixture and bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes; remove to a wire rack.

5

Combine melted butter, chocolate and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until chocolate is melted.

6

Pour over cooled cake.

Corn dog muffins

This is lunch for today. I got this recipe from a Relief Society meeting. They showed a bunch of camping type recipes that kids could help with. These were really good and everyone seemed to like them!! So I figured I'd give them a shot today. The boys have a friend over and so I whipped these little gems up!

Corn Dog Mini Muffins

1 pkg golden corn muffin mix
1/3 C +1tbsp milk
cooked hot dogs

Mix corn dog mix as directed on package.
Once the hot dogs are cooked, cut into thirds (I ended up cutting my last one into quarters).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Using a mini muffin pan spray and then put a coating of flour in each of the holes.
Fill each hole about 1/3 full. Place a hot dog piece vertically in each muffin.
Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before removing from pan or they'll break apart.

Enjoy!!!!!

Funeral Potates

I had honestly never heard of funeral potatoes until we moved to Utah. Apparently this dish is something people take for the meal after a funeral (hince the name). If you've heard of it and you don't live in UT, well then you get out more than I do! :) But after living in Ut for 4 years I'd never even tried them, much less tried to make them. So I figured now was a good time to try it. I'm ssssooo glad that I did. This is a really good meal. Most traditional versions of this meal do not include the meat or the veggies. I wanted to add some substance to it and make it the main dish. The pepperoni for us was a big hit, but you could absolutely change it for whatever your family likes. Isn't that what this recipe thing is all about anyway? Make how you like it. We loved it and plan on making it again in the near future!!!


Funeral Potatoes

6 c. frozen grated potatoes (I used a mixture of fresh cut potatoes and frozen ones)
½ c. margarine
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 pkg turkey pepperoni
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 ½ c grated cheddar cheese
¼ c very finely chopped onion
2 c sour cream
¾ c corn flakes
¼ c melted butter

Mix ingredients in bowl and transfer to a casserole dish. I placed everything in the bowl except pepperoni and then placed half the mixture into dish, topped with pepperoni and then topped off with rest of mixture.
Mix cornflakes/crakers and melted butter, sprinkle over top.
Bake, covered with foil @ 350 for 45 min, uncovering last 15 min. (i cooked mine for 40 minutes covered and then 15 covered-ovens will vary, so just keep and eye on it)

absence

i wanted to apologize for my absence lately. morning sickness has taken a big hold on me and i'm not doing much cooking. because of this pregnancy i'm now completely lactose intolerant and it's horrible because one of my favorite foods is cheese. i'm looking forward to not being sick anymore!

so please bear with me as I hope to soon have some more recipes for ya!!!
thanks!!

BBQ Pork Ribs

This was going to be my Mother's Day meal, but after munching all day no one was hungry when it was time for dinner so we made this last night. It was really good!!! It takes some time so be prepared!!

BBQ Pork Ribs (could use beef ribs as well)
however many ribs needed to feed your family
lawry's bbq dry rub mix (or your favorite rub mix)
favorite bbq sauce (we used a mesquite flavor)

If ribs have been in the freezer thaw the day before in refrigerator completely. The morning you plan to cook these, lay out ribs on sheet pan lined with foil. Remove excess fat from meat. Use as much of the rub as you like and make sure the meat side is well coated with the rub. I did not use any oil to stick the rub to the meat but you certainly can. Let the ribs marinate all day.
Once ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put pan topped with foil in the oven for 1-1/2 hours or until done through. Once out of the oven slather with the bbq sauce and let sit for about 15 minutes.
Eat and enjoy!!!


These were really good!!! I hope you enjoy them as well!!

Breakfast Burritos for Freezing

Happy Mother's Day!! I hope each of the mom's out there had a great day!!!


Here's a recipe that might make your life a little easier!!!

Freezer Breakfast Burritos
1 pound breakfast sausage
8 eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
12 flour burrito sized tortillas

Brown the sausage slightly and add eggs. Scramble eggs and finish cooking sausage through. Once cooked it's time to assemble the burritos. Place about 1/4C of filling into middle of burrito. Top with cheese. Fold, making sure you bring in sides so none of the filling leaks out. Once folded wrap in aluminum foil. Once all are assembled, place in ziploc baggie labeled with warming directions.

Thaw completely. Preheat oven to 350 and reheat for about 45 min or microwave 1 minute per burrito.

These were really good!! They are perfect for dinner with a salad and chips or just as a snack. Make a ton of them and just keep them in the freezer for whenever you need a quick lunch or snack!!

Happy Eating! Enjoy!!