Food For Thought

Originally I was going to use my blog to post recipes as well as other things, but I have noticed that I haven't posted very many. I find that odd since I just LOVE food. (You may be able to tell...ha ha ha).
Most of my really good recipes come from other people who have made them and I have been able to sample. I just love those kind of recipes, because they are the "tried and true" ones. I decided that I am going to try and post a recipe that I have made once a week. Try them out if you like and if you have any good recipes, pass them on...I am always looking for something new to cook and make a family favorite.

Here is one that I got from my friend Regina (thanks Reg). It is one of Rylan's favorite dinner foods and he asks for it by name. Enjoy!


POPPY SEED CHICKEN

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
container of sour cream
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 pack of ritz crackers
1-2 TBS poppy seeds
1 stick butter (you can use less to make it healthier)
1 pkg frozen peas (optional)
casserole dish (sprayed with Pam)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Boil chicken breasts until fully done. Cut up into chunks. Mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup together into mixture. Stir in cooked chicken chunks. Stir in poppy seeds. I also stir in frozen peas.
Spread in greased casserole dish.
Crumble package of crackers into small pieces. Sprinkle over the top of chicken mixture in casserole dish. Melt half a stick of butter in the microwave. Pour over top of casserole.
Bake 30 minutes, until crackers are golden brown.


Serve and Enjoy!!! Bonn Appetite!

The Fruits of My Labors

We have this apricot tree on our back yard that I just love. I have watched over the years as it has grown and become one of the prettiest trees. I love the way that the branches twist and stretch. It truly is a work of art and it is beautiful. Every spring we watch as the blossoms start to appear. We literally look out the window of the house and can see the dainty white blossoms. It is so pretty! This year we had some crazy weather and it would get warm and then really cold, so we thought that there might not be any apricots this year. My dad (who also loves this tree) would go out at about 2:00 in the morning and light this little chimney to keep the tree warm. To our surprise the apricots were plentiful. We ended up having a lot of apricots.

We picked and picked. Rylan would go out and just find one he liked and would pluck it off the tree, just to eat it. He loved having it for a snack. After a while we could not pick them fast enough, and they started falling to the ground and rotting. I hate to see things go to waste, and so I decided I wanted to try a few new things out. Here is what I was able to do with all the apricots. The Fruits of my labors:
1. Fruit Leather

2. Dried Fruit (Didn't take a picture)
3. Apricot Jam
4. Apricot Popsicles

5. Baby food (I am freezing it)
The jam ended up being the best of the three and with a little help (thanks Jan) I was able to make and can apricot jam. We now have an ample supply of it. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun and now I know how to do it. I also have to thank my mother-in-law for the canner I got for my birthday! I am so excited to have yummy jam from a tree that has been a part of my life. (so funny that I am so attached to a tree huh?) We've all been able to enjoy!

Breakfast from a book

Rylan often request my dad (who loves to make breakfast) to make him certain things for breakfast. The night before, Rylan will go up to his grandpa (Opa) and say something like this..."Opa, tomorrow I would like eggs for breakfast" or "Opa, I would like Chocolate German Bear porridge (Chocolate Oatmeal) for breakfast" Last night, Rylan asked for Green Eggs for breakfast. Probably from the Dr. Seuss book. Naturally, my dad jumped at the opportunity to make something special for the grand kids. So this is what we had for breakfast this morning. It was really funny, and the kids loved it. I wonder what they will think up next????

Breakfast Bake

Crescent Roll Breakfast Bake

1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls

1 package bacon (cooked and crumbled)

21/2 c. cheddar cheese

4 eggs

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper or to taste

Press crescent rolls into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch buttered pan. Mi eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over crescent rolls. Sprinkle with bacon crumbles. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

**Variation can use 1 lb sausage, browned and drained well instead of bacon and use Mozzarella Cheese instead of Cheddar.

It's a very easy recipe. I didn't have any good breakfast casserole recipes until I found this one, but I really like it. Hope you all enjoy and if you have any good breakfast casserole recipes. Please pass them on.

Here you go Dorey, sorry it took so long and the party was awesome!

Brave or Desperate?

Today I went to lunch at New Dragon Diner (one of my favorite Chinese food places). The food there is great and very inexpensive. I took my kids and they love the food there too (especially the pot stickers which they call "hot stickers"). By the time we were finished eating the table we ate on was a mess. A lady walked by and said "You are either Brave or Desperate!" I laughed and said that I thought today I must be both! I was desperate for the yummy local food and Brave to take my children!