Grandpa's Chex Mix

Every holiday get together we count on Grandpa's chex mix...it wouldn't be Thanksgiving or Christmas without it. I can make it and I do when he isn't here to do it for us. but it is never the same. I think it's the love he puts into it.

Although this Thanksgiving is a little different- he forgot the peanuts...it makes a difference!

If you want the recipe look on the box of the Chex cereal, that's what he uses.


It's a process:

First you have to open all the boxes and measure it all out.

Then you have to season it all with the melted butter mix and stir, then put them in the microwave for a couple minutes. If you can't tell, he has 3 pans going...

Then more seasoning and stirring and microwaving.

Until...

you have a big bowl ready to dig into. (Plus a few gallon size bags in the pantry for when you run low!)

We love it!

Thanks Dad!

Thanksgiving Sides

These are two of our favorites...the first one needs to be started the day before serving

Cranberry Waldorf Salad

2 cups fresh cranberries
3 cups mini marshmallows
3/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute
2 cups diced tart apple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup seedless grapes
whipped topping

Grind cranberries in a blender. Combine with marshmallows and sugar. cover and chill overnight. Next morning add apples, nuts, grapes and a dash of salt. Fold in 2-3 cups whipped topping. Cool and serve.


Cream Corn

2 oz. cream cheese - softened
2 TBSP milk
1 can creamed corn
10 oz. frozen corn- thawed
1/2 cup shreded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup green onion- chopped

Melt cream cheese and milk together in a saucepan.
Add corns- cook 4 minutes til heated through. spoon into serving dish- sprinkle with cheese and onions.

Thanksgiving Desserts!!

I tried two new desserts this year! I haven't tried them yet so I don't know about the taste but they were EASY!!! And they look YUMMY!!

I love that they are individual, and that they are little. After a big dinner no one needs a huge piece of pie, don't get me wrong I love pie...but these are little- almost mini pies...

The recipes I used can be found here and here

Impossible Pecan Pie Cupcakes...

And Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes...

In the Oven baking...

Out and cooling...

I am going to be making a couple of pies too, I think a Chocolate Cream and maybe a Coconut Cream...and a cheesecake.

I am excited to try my new little treats, I'll let you know how they taste and if I'll be making them again.






Not sure we will be making these again...not a fav.

Creamy chicken, Potatoe, and veggie soup

This is cooking right now and I can't wait to try it! I'll you know it is! :)

Update: This was so delicious! By far my favorite pinterest recipe I've found!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are so good I just had to share the recipe.


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream Together:

1 1/2 cup shortening
4 1/2 cups suger

Stir in:

3 eggs
3 teas. Vanilla
Sift together and add
7 1/2 cups flour
3 teas. baking powder
3 teas. baking soda
1 1/2 teas. salt
3 teas. nutmeg
3 teas. cinnamon
Stir in:

1 Large (29 oz. ) can pumpkin
1 package chocolate chips (more or less to taste)

Bake on sprayed cookie sheets for 10 minutes @ 375. Let cool and frost with Cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. Makes at least 9 dozen cookies!

I don't like pumpkin all that much but I can not stop eating these cookies- they are that good. They only get made once a year but I love that once!

Cowboy Casserole

Ashley has been asking for this for a few weeks now, so last night, I made it. It was really good I served it with a chopped green salad and biscuits...YUM

Cowboy Casserole

1 lb. ground chicken breast ( you could use ground beef and it would be great)
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cups Cream of Something soup mix (recipe here)
(or you could use cream of mushroom soup and milk just leave out the water)
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can corn- or frozen (or any vegie you like)
2 cups shredded cheese
1 Bag tater tots

Brown the chicken with salt and pepper. Mix the soup mix and water, cook to thicken. Add sour cream, chicken, and 1 cup cheese. Place 1/2 tater tots in the bottom of 9x13 pan, sprayed with cooking spray. Pour mix over top and top with remaining tater tots and remaining cheese. Bake til bubbly and warm @ 350 about 20-30 minutes.

I need to remember to take pictures. But it was easy and very tasty. Perfect comfort food! Just a little leftover today for lunch.

Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Potato Soup

This is going to be today's dinner. Getting ready to put it in the slow cooker right after I post. It sounds so yummy to me, I am going to only make half of it since it is only Alan and I eating...but the recipe says it freezes well so if you want to make the whole thing- go for it!

Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Potato Soup
Original recipe Here

3 1/2 - 4 lbs. Potatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic- minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp Chicken Soup base
8 cups water
16 oz. Cream cheese

Place all except the Cream cheese in the slow cooker and stir. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. 30 minutes before serving cut up cream cheese into chunks and add to soup. Stir frequently to melt the cheese.

Optional toppings include...
Shredded cheese
Bacon
Green onions
Sour cream

I think I am going to serve it in a bread bowl tonight...but just a bowl would be amazing.

Will let you know how we liked it!



Review...the soup was tasty and we really enjoyed it. It was really thin so I would next time, mash the potatoes a little to thicken the soup or add some flour and butter. It would also be good with some added veggies...celery, carrots, onion. I will make it again, it was very easy and tasted good.

Creamy Ranch Pork Chops

I love this recipe!! There are so many that I can't wait to share, butI will add them as I make them :)

It snowed yesterday and all I want to eat now are comfort foods. Mashed potatoes sound so yummy. Then I thought of these pork chops to go with them. This has been cooking in our crockpot all afternoon and smells so good! And its super easy :) The blog I found it from also has Parmesan mashed potatoes with this recipe. I havent tried those yet, but they sound super yummy with these pork chops.

Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
Adapted from This recipe

Ingredients:
3-4 pork chops
1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
Cream of chicken soup (recipe Here)
3/4 milk

Directions:
1.Place pork chops in crockpot. (even frozen!)
2,Mix ranch packet, cream of chicken soup and milk together and pour over pork chops.
3.Cook on high for 4 hours.

4.Serve with potatoes, noodles or rice.

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

Earlier this year, I really wanted to find a great Cream of Chicken soup recipe. I use it in a lot of recipes and yes the cans are only 99.cents. but I wasn't happy with all the junk in it. So I searched for a recipe. After searching a few blogs, I found this recipe. Luckily, I loved it so much I didnt have to try any others :) I like that it's so easy and takes 5 minutes to make. I use her recipe exactly except omit poultry seasoning and paprika.

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

recipe from Here

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste (this will depend on how salty your broth is)
1/4 teaspoon parsley
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup flour

Directions:

1. Stir together chicken broth and seasonings with 1/2 cup of milk. Bring to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, stir the remainder of the milk and flour together in a separate bowl.
3. Add a bit of the hot seasoned broth to the flour/milk mixture and stir it in to warm it up (since your milk is likely cold!).
4. Slowly drizzle the flour/milk mixture into the hot broth, stirring as you pour.
5. Whisk briskly until the mixture thickens and boils.
6. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into an air tight container if you won’t be using it immediately.

Hey Family...

Hi everyone!

I was texting Rachel a couple weeks ago and we were talking about a family recipe blog. A blog where we could all go and we could all post our reviews of recipes we've found, tried, invented...Whatever. So here it is.

It can be a success or a failure depending on all of us. But you know how fun it would be to see what we are all doing and to post some of the favorites with pictures of us making it and enjoying it? Especially now that we all seem to live in different states. Sometimes we have to have white chocolate popcorn and Fritos for Christmas...the recipe would always be here. We could always find a piece of home here waiting for us. I think it will be GREAT!! Let's all Share!


Send me your emails and I will add you to the authors list so we all can contribute.