Homemade Tomato Sauce

September 2, 2016 by Margaret Leave a Comment

Homemade Tomato Sauce really is easier than it sounds. Like anything else it takes a little time, but really your stove and freezer will do the hard work.

I don’t like to eat tomatoes and neither does my husband so I’m really not sure why we planted tomatoes. We must be crazy! So I ended up with all these tomatoes no one was eating – now what? Tomato sauce! – we love to eat that. I cook with Tomato Sauce all the time, yah whoo! lets save some money.

Now our recipes will have Homemade Tomato Sauce.

Porcupine Balls

Tacos

Spaghetti

Sloppy Joes

Chili

Pizza

– and so many others.

Now really it’s so easy.

Rinse tomatoes
With a sharp knife make a little X on each tomato
Boil tomatoes for 1 minute
Place tomatoes in ice water (I fill up my sink)
Peal tomatoes (the skins will slide right off)
Add a 15oz. can of Tomato Sauce to a large pot
Cut tomatoes in half and squeeze out all excess water and seeds
Place tomatoes in the large pot
Add seasoning now or wait and add later to your recipe
Simmer 2 hours (stir occasionally)
Optional: Place in blender for desired texture.
Freeze

See I told you it was easy. Enjoy!

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Watermelon Cupcakes

January 11, 2016 by Margaret 5 Comments

I have Spring Fever!

January’s dreary cold days are hard for me. There isn’t much to look forward too and I even have a birthday coming up. The hard part about January birthdays is – What do you want for your birthday? I never know, because we just had Christmas. Could you please ask me in July, because by then I have a whole long list for you. Another icky part of January birthdays is it snows and usually on my birthday. Now this would be great if I was in to skiing – but I’m not. The older I get the less I like the snow. Unless its for Christmas, but please melt right after. I know, I know I can’t have it both ways. Okay enough whining. This is my solution to this years dreary days of January. I’m having Springy, yummy, watermelon cupcakes.

These watermelon cupcakes are not watermelon flavored they just look like watermelons. I didn’t go too crazy. I made the cupcakes with Betty Crocker’s Strawberry Cake mix and topped them with my favorite buttercream frosting.

Watermelon Cupcakes

Strawberry Cake Mix

Mini Chocolate Chips

Green Buttercream Frosting

Green Cupcake Liners

Muffin Pan

Mix Strawberry Cake Mix together following directions on the box. Place Green Cupcake Liners in Muffin Pan. Fill each about 2/3 full. Sprinkle a few Mini Chocolate Chips into cake batter.

Bake following box instructions.

Stay warm everyone and enjoy a little summery treat!

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Chicken Stuffing Casserole

December 18, 2015 by Margaret Leave a Comment

It’s so much fun working with my Mom and sister. We stay pretty busy and always have 3 or 4 projects going at a time plus busy family schedules. So its really important to us to have easy yummy meals to make for our families.

We love good food!

Now that Fall is in full swing and our weather is nice and cool I love warming the kitchen by cooking. Fall is always so busy with school, work and lessons I love a fast and easy casserole that I can quickly through in the oven.

I hope you enjoy!

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Ingredients

Box of your favorite Stuffing Mix

2-3 Cooked Chicken Breasts (cubed)

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 cup Milk

1 cup Cheddar or Colby Jack Cheese

1 cup Steamed Broccoli

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook your Chicken breasts and cut them into bite size pieces then set aside. Cook your Stuffing Mix according to directions and set aside. In your favorite casserole dish or 9″x13″ baking pan mix until smooth 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup and Milk. Then add a Chicken layer, then Broccoli and Cheese. Top with Stuffing.

Bake at 400 Degrees for 30 min.

Its really that easy!

I hope your family loves it as much as mine does.

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Crockpot London Broil

November 5, 2015 by Margaret 6 Comments

Crockpot London Broil is wonderful for those busy work days. I don’t use my crock pot nearly enough. I love to cook in the Fall but I have my fair share days when I reach for frozen Chicken Nuggets and Mac n’Cheese. I really need to be more organized. New Goal – make for Crock Pot Recipes.

Hooray! for easy Crock Pot recipes.

They really are life savers. The house smells so good and dinner is ready. Stress is almost instantly deflated – It’s fabulous.

I have one problem – I forget.

Anyone else have this problem?

One thing that has helped me – here’s where the being organized part of life would really help – bring the Crock Pot out the night before. That way you see it in the morning and will remember (hopefully) to start dinner on time.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot London Broil

Ingredients:

1 – 2 pounds London broil

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 – 10.5 oz. can Cream of Mushroom soup

1/2 cup Water

1/2 teaspoon Basil

1/2 teaspoon Oregano

Directions:

Place London Broil in Crock Pot. Add Garlic Powder, Soup, Water, Basil, and Oregano.

Cook on low for 6 – 7 hours.

I wasn’t sure how my kids would like it – I don’t cook with Cream of Mushroom soup very often – guess what they loved it.

Serve with:

Oven Fried Potatoes

Iowa Salad

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Sweet and Sour Chicken

August 10, 2015 by Margaret Leave a Comment

I found this recipe on my search for camping recipes. We tossed it as a camping recipe – too many ingredients to take camping. But it’s a keeper at home. My kids seriously polished their plates and asked for more.

Big Points for Mom!

I love to see them eat good food even if it’s not the healthiest.

I’m still on the look out for a Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe for camping, but if I never find one I’m good with just eating this at home. So if any of our readers has a great Sweet and Sour Chicken dutch oven recipe please share.

Now back to our new recipe. I cheated a little on this recipe – it’s not all from scratch. I know… shocker. I’m also busy mom and dinner sneaks up on me all the time so I used bottled Sweet and Sour Sauce. Forgive me – someday I’ll try making my own – but until then this works great for busy days.

You will need (measurements on printable recipe):

chicken
cornstarch
eggs
salt
pepper
garlic powder
canola oil
gallon size re-closable
sweet and sour sauce

It’s so easy you toss everything in a bag, shake, fry and bake.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Easy dinner the whole family will love.

Author: Margaret

Recipe type: Main Dish

Ingredients

1 pound chicken (cut into nugget size)
1 cup corn starch
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 - 3 eggs, whisked
½ cup canola oil
1 bottle sweet and sour sauce

Instructions

Place cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder and chicken in reclosable bag.
Shake until chicken is coated.
Heat half of oil in a frying pan.
Dip chicken pieces in whisked egg and place in frying pan.
Fry both sides of chicken.
Fry chicken in 2 - 3 batches.
Place chicken on baking pan. Lightly sprayed with cooking spray or line with foil.
Pour half sweet and sour sauce over chicken.
Bake for 15 -20 minutes.
Turn chicken and pour remaining sweet and sour sauce of chicken.
Bake for 15 minutes
Enjoy!

Other Chicken Recipes you might love.

Honey Barbeque Chicken

Baked Chicken Fingers

Cashew Chicken

I hope you enjoy!

Margaret

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