September Meals?

Hello out there ... is anybody listening?! :)

It has been so long since we have been in touch with each other! Does anyone want to start exchanging meals again? I figured it might be a good time since we are about to start a new month. Or, if you are all burned out or too busy, I understand. Comment on this post and let us all know where you are at. I really miss you all!

Pot Roast and Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Hey girls! This month I decided to do a pot roast. Thaw it overnight and then stick it in the crock pot for 8hours or so. I put the onion soup mix over it and then a little water maybe 1/4cup. Then the potatoes you can just thaw and put in a dish and bake at 350 for like 30-45 minutes. They are really yummy without anything extra. When roast is done it should just shred very nicely. Enjoy!!!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Hello my friends. As many of you know, I grew up deep in the heart of Texas where authentic Mexican food is found everywhere. My family does not appreciate the authenticity of enchiladas so I have to make them "Gringo" style. Each of you will get a 9X13 pan of Enchiladas but they are made with Flour tortillas. I know in the past we have had problems with the foil pans, but I remember Marianne made enchiladas and they cooked up fine for me. So just thaw the casserole out and put it in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, just till the cheese is melted and it is heated all the way through. here is the recipe...

1 package of 8 regular size tortillas
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can green chilies
1 (small) bunch of green onions (half of a large bunch from Walmart :)
Chicken...(either half of a whole chicken or a couple of large chicken breasts....cooked)
Cheese
Black olives (optional...my family doesn't like them)

Mix soups, chilies, diced green onions. Spread a little of the mixture in the bottom of 9x13 inch pan. Then add diced chicken to the mixture. Spread generous amount of mixture on each tortilla roll them up and put them in the pan. I cut the curved ends off so they fit horizontally across the short side of the pan (confusing?) I can usually get eight in there if I squish them in. I usually have left over mixture that i spread on top of tortillas and then cover in cheese and olives if you want. Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes till heated throught. Yummy with a cold crisp salad, corn or even steamed brocolli.

See I told you there is nothing authentic about this recipe. I just try and keep my family happy. Usually most kids like this meal, even the real picky ones. I think I am the only one with picky eaters!!!

Beef Chalupas

Thaw and reaheat chalupa mix (you may have to add a little water when reheating). Beans are very tender so try not to "mush" it when stiring. Serve on a tortilla like a soft taco or burrito, garnishing with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa or whatever you prefer. I made this recipe very mild for the kids so you may want to add a little "kick" if you prefer spicy flavors.


CHALUPAS (Amy Jensen's recipe from May 2008 Enrichment)
4 pound roast (she used pork then but I used beef this time)
3 cups dry beans (I used Navy but you can use any kind)
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbs. chili powder
1 Tbs. cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 small can green chilies
1 Tbs. salt

Place all ingredients (including dry beans, no soaking required) in a crockpot. Cover with water and cook for 6 + hours on low. Shred meat and return to crock pot for a short while longer. Serves a small army!

Italian Sausage & Basil Pasta Bake

Cook pasta according to package directions. Thaw and heat sauce. Then mix together, put in a casserole dish and cover with mozzarella cheese. Place under broiler just long enough for cheese to brown. About 5 - 10 mins. (watch it carefully so it doesn't burn) Serve with garlic bread and veggies or salad. I hope your family loves it!!

Sauce:

2 T. Olive oil
1 lb. Italian Sausage
6 - 8 Basil Leaves (chopped to a fine shred)
1 26 oz. Jar Marinara Sauce (I used Classico or you can use homeade)
1/4 C. Water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
pinch of sugar

Brown sausage in olive oil. Mix in all remaining ingredients and let simmer for at least 15 mins.

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

Hopefully this is one that your kids will enjoy! My sister's family loves this recipe and I've made it once before. I just made my portion and it worked!!! I would recommend thawing overnight in the refrigerator or putting it out the morning of until it is thawed out.

2 1/2 c. elbow macaroni
1/3 c. margarine
1/2 c. onion
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/3 c. flour
3 c. milk
2 c. grated cheddar cheese

Cook macaroni for 10 minutes or until tender. Preheat oven to 375. In medium saucepan, melt margarine. Add onions, salt and pepper. Saute onions until tender. Blend in flour. Stir in milk slowly and bring mixture to a boil. Stir in cheese. Heat until cheese is melted. Add macaroni. Spoon into ungreased 2 qt. casserole dish or 9x13 pan. Top with bread crumbs. Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes.

I'll be giving you the sauce already made, so you'll have to thaw the sauce and mix it with the cooked macaroni, put it in a pan, sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, then bake as directed. Enjoy!

Mediterranean Chicken

This might be a little out of the comfort zone for some people (I'm thinking Jared!) but I think if people give it a try they will love it! It is basically a red pasta sauce with a bunch of veggies and chicken. You will notice in the recipe below that you usually add the artichoke hearts at the end but I just put them in now for convenience sake. Just transfer the contents of the bag to an 9x13 pan, bake at 350--30 minutes with foil then 30 minutes without foil. You will want to sprinkle it with Parm cheese before serving. Sorry in this heat that you will have to use your ovens for this one!

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN
Cut up chicken breasts
½ pound mushrooms, sliced
3 green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
8-ounce can tomato sauce
6-ounce can tomato paste
¾ cup apple juice
½ cup black olives, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon pepper
6-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Pasta of your choice

Cut chicken breasts into large pieces and place in a large baking dish. Combine the ingredients beginning with the mushrooms through the pepper for the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and arrange the artichoke hearts around the chicken and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve over pasta.

BBQ pork chops

I hope you don't mind me doing these again. I just really love BBQ pork chops! You will just need to thaw and grill! I am also giving you a box of Rice Pilaf that I think is good with chops.

All you do is:
Place desired amount of pork chops in bag. Pour in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of Sweet baby rays BBQ sauce. And freeze!

May Exchange

Amy sent an email about our May exchange, but I thought I'd put a post here incase anyone checks the blog first. Let us know when you are available to do the exchange. Maybe the first full week of May?

Yummy Dinner Collette!

Thanks for a great and easy dinner!

Baking change on Meatloaf

I would recommend thawing the meatloaf overnight and then baking it in a loaf pan of your own. I baked my meatloaf in the tin pan and after an hour it had barely cooked. So, if you put it in your own pan you shouldn't have a problem cooking it at 350 for 40 minutes, put on the topping and bake another 10 minutes. Enjoy! Sorry about this change, I'm really not a fan of those baking pans they don't seem to conduct heat very well.

Country Style Pork Chops

When I got these chops out of the package I realized they were quite thin so this will be a very fast and easy meal to cook. Thaw out the meat, get a skillet ready with a little butter or oil in the bottom over medium heat. Put the flour mixture in a pie pan or plate with edges. Take each pork chop out without drying it off and put it right into the flour mixture. I like to make sure it gets as much flour as possible. I pan fry these chops for about 5 minutes on each side over medium heat. I have never tried Pam, but it might be a healthier alternative. (but butter is so good!!!) I like to do butter and a little oil, that way the butter doesn't get to brown. Enjoy...

Suggestions on Tami's meal

First, I would like to thank Tami for the yummy dinner. I had put the rolls in a baking dish and baked them for 30 minutes at 350. I kept having to add time so I put the temperature at 400. I have a similar recipe and the chicken rolls bake at 400 for 20 minutes. When I went to pull out the rolls, they weren't cooked where they were touching so I put them on a cookie sheet and baked them some more. So, long story short...I would brake the rolls apart and bake them on a cookie sheet at 400 for 20-30 minutes. If someone tries this, post it and let us know how it turns out. Thanks Taimi!

Yummy Mealoaf

Shauna your meatloaf was a success! I will admit I have given up on loaf meatloaf and usually do little patties or something. It just has not been my biggest success in my house! But your meatloaf on the other hand was YUMMY! Thanks!

Yummy bow ties!

Amy, thanks for the yummy dinner! My kids loved the bow ties!!!

Chicken Pockets

Just place frozen pockets in a casserole dish sprayed with Pam and bake for about 25-35 minutes at 350° or until bubbly and lightly golden. This is the first time I've frozen this meal so if you end up needing to cook it a little longer, just let the rest of us know! Thanks!!

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Blueberry Pancakes

Once in a while, our family likes to have breakfast for dinner. So this month (as part of the "miscellaneous" category) I am doing blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs.

I will give you the dry ingredients for the pancakes and frozen blueberries. I will also give everyone a package of bacon and eggs to go with your pancakes. The only thing that can't be frozen, of course, are the eggs. So, I hope you will be able to use them soon.

PANCAKE DIRECTIONS:

Add the following to the dry mixture:

1 C. milk
2 Eggs
1 T. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Vanilla

Stir until well blended. Gently fold in blueberries (optional).

I hope your family enjoys this meal whether you have it for dinner... or breakfast!

Meat Loaf

Make sure to thaw the meat loaf overnight before baking. I hope you enjoy this, it's a family favorite! I serve with baked potatoes and a veggie.

1 c. bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/3 c. water
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/2 t. sage
1 T. parsley flakes
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 lb. ground beef
Mix all ingredients and press into 9x9 or loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes @ 350 degrees. Skim off any oil and put on sauce and bake another 10 minutes.

Topping:
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. catsup
1 T. mustard
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
pinch of nutmeg

Hawaiian Pork Chops...Again!

Hope you guys don't mind but I am going to make the pork chops I made for our very first swap. I am running out of good "freeze worthy" recipes so I hope people don't mind!

Bow Ties with Chicken and Peas

I will have the mixture for you to pour over the bow ties and the cheese to top it off. You will just need to cook the pasta.
Here is the recipe:
2 c. chicken
10-oz pkg. frozen peas,
10 1/2 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. low fat milk
1/2 tsp. dried rosemary or thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. grafted Parmesan cheese
1 pkg. dry Good Seasons Italian dressing
8 oz bow tie pasta.

In a saucepan over medium heat, add cooked chicken, peas, soup, milk, rosemary or thyme, pepper and dry Italian seasoning. Cook until bubbly adn hot. pour over drained pasta; add parmesan cheese, mix and serve.