Easter

Christ is Risen, HE is Risen INDEED!

I am so thankful this season(well really all the time!) for a Savior who died for my sins once and for all.  For the nails that pierced his hands and feet, and all the love that He has shown for me.  He has extended me grace and mercy when I do not deserve it.  Oh LORD thank you for all that you have done for me, and I pray that you will continue to allow me to live out your love in my life.  Let me lay down my life for my family and those around me.  Allow me to be your vessel, and LORD allow me to teach what a GREAT LOVE you have for us to my children.  So that they will one day come to know you and your love as well!

Easter is such a wonderful season of remembrance of all that Christ has done for us, and although we still do little things that point us to the world and not to Christ.  I have tried in everything that we did this season to some how bring it all back to Christ, and why we really celebrate Easter!

This year I decided to have the kids make their own Easter baskets out of paper plates.  I love to do crafts, and my kiddos like to do them to.  They can sometimes turn chaotic when you have 4 people 4 and under trying to do crafts together, but they always make for a lot of fun, and a lot of conversations. While we colored our Easter baskets I told them the Easter story, and why we celebrate this time of year. (If you want to make these for yourselves next year, I just googled it! They were super easy to make, and were a lot of fun!)

Take a look, they turned out so cute, and they are small which is perfect because we don't usually give them a whole lot(we all know small children don't really need any sugar, or they won't be sleeping for the next 6 weeks, in turn meaning we won't be sleeping for the next 6 weeks!)<---OK maybe that is a slight exaggeration.

 We also dyed Easter Eggs(which they were told will be saved for Easter Morning!).  They did really good, at not making messes...I was really, really impressed with this "craft" time!  The egg kit that we got had these awesome glasses and mustaches to add to the eggs once they were dry, meaning they got double the fun, dye and stickers!

AND of course, we made cookies, what is a holiday if you can't make sugar cookies?! Here are a few of them, the kids had fun with every aspect in this process as well, make the dough <--eat the dough!, roll it out, cut it out, bake them, make frosting, frost them, and last but not least cover them in sprinkles.  I mean come on, how could this not make for an entire day of adventure and fun!  I love getting to spend quality time with my kids, and each thing we did together, I quizzed them on the Easter story, and then told it to them again.  Such wonderful memories made with my children, and such wonderful memories they now have about the Easter story.  I swear my children listen, and learn better if they are doing something with their hands in the process. (even if it doesn't have too much to do with what we are talking about!)

All ready for Easter morning!

We celebrated Easter morning, with our Easter baskets, a new Easter book, and veggie tale movie!  We then made surprise rolls(linking it to the tomb being empty), and ate those for breakfast with our eggs.  We enjoyed a wonderful time at church with friends.

Momma's girl!

"big" kids

 My beautiful babies!

And we came home to a big lunch!  Finishing off with the Easter story read just one more time from our Jesus Storybook Bible!

What did you do this Easter?  How did you show your children the love and sacrifice of Christ during this wonderful season?  I always love to hear new ideas!

Friday-Breakfast Mush

I have made this before, you can look Here for the recipe.  I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does.  Please don't let the name fool you, it really is amazing.  It all comes together in one skillet, that means less dishes. Something I find truly amazing, because I'm the one who does the dishes around here!

Thursday-Onion/Egg Casserole

Thursday-was my attempt to recreate a dish that someone brought to a fellowship that was amazing.  Now it is still missing something-maybe I will be able to get the actual recipe from her some time, but for now here is mine.  By the way it is still amazingly good-my husband said "make sure you write this one down it is amazing!"

Onion/Egg Casserole:
8 eggs
1 c milk
1 loaf onion or everything bread
1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 lb shred cheese(I used colby jack)
1 tsp mustard powder
1tsp garlic powder

In a greased 13x9 pan, crumble up the bread and put in on the bottom, sprinkle half of the cheese over top of the bread.  Add cream cheese on  top dropping in tiny balls or crumbles.  In a bowl mix together the eggs, milk , garlic, and mustard powder.  Pour over top of the bread making sure to coat it all and get it in all of the corners. Top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 covered for 30min and 15 minutes uncovered.  

This was melt in your mouth good.
*This could also be made the night before, kept in the fridge all night, and then pop it into the oven the next morning!

Tuesday-Mini Quiches

Tuesday-I needed something quick and easy due to melting children recovering from the flu. What threw some stuff together from the fridge/freezer and called it good.  And you know what? It wasn't just good it was great!

Mini Quiches:
4 eggs
1/4 c milk
1/4 c frozen spinach(thawed)
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp onion
1/2 c cheese
1 pkg crescent rolls

*This makes 24 mini quiches!

First, I thawed the spinach-I simply put it in the microwave for 1 min and called it good. 
While that was thawing, I mixed my eggs, milk, garlic, onion, and 1/4 c of cheese together.  Then add in your spinach. Grease your mini muffin tin really well.  Now for the "crust" for each section of crescent roll(meaning the two triangles that kind of come partially together), press the seams together, making a rectangular piece.  Cut this in half and then in 3rds, giving you 6 pieces(for every 2 crescent rolls). Place these in the muffin tin.  Pour the egg mixture over top.  Add the rest of the cheese to the tops of them.

 Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Quick, easy, and yummy.  A bite sized lunch that was perfect for little fingers to eat.

*Note I would have loved to put bacon in these as well, just didn't have any on hand-but would definitely recommend adding some if you have some available, just for an extra little something!

Monday-Strawberry Scones

On Monday we had Strawberry Scones.  This is not your average scone, it was moist and oh so very yummy!  I couldn't get enough! To be honest my husband and I ate all 8 since the kiddos were still down with the stomach flu, and not up to eating much.  I think they each maybe ate one bite! They did say they were yummy, but all done, which means this recipe also wins kid points!

Strawberry Scones:
1 c strawberries hulled and diced
2 c flour
1/3 c sugar
1 TBSP baking powder(yes a TBSP!)
1/4 tsp nutmeg(heavenly!)
6 TBSP cold butter, cut into 1/4" pieces
1/2 c whole milk(yes whole milk-it tastes better that way!)
1 tsp vanilla

Cut up your strawberries really small and place on a paper towel to dry-you don't want them too wet!
In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and nutmeg.  Cut in the butter until butter is the size of peas.  You can do this by using to knifes or I use my kitchen aide on slow with the whisk attachment and it comes out fine, but you have to watch it to make sure it doesn't beat it all together, you don't want that. Add the strawberries and lightly mix with a fork-just enough to coat the strawberries. Mix the milk and vanilla together, put a well in the flour mixture, and pour the milk mixture into the well.  Gently stir until it forms a ball.  Knead this ball on a flour surface just a few times.  Place onto baking stone and gently press it into an 8" circle.  Using an oiled pizza cutter, slice it into 8 slices, and then gently move them away from each other so they are not touching.  Bake at 425 for 18 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes. If you want to go the extra mile then cool it on a rack, I usually just let mine set on the pan I don't like the extra dishes and it does keep them a bit more moist!

Sunday- Biscuit & Gravy, Bagels

We actually made two breakfast meals on Sunday(well technically 3 if you count actual breakfast as well!).  We love breakfast food around here-don't you?  To kick off Breakfast week today you get 2 recipes!

Biscuits and Gravy:
Butter Biscuits(usually I make them from scratch-didn't have time tonight,these came out of a can!)
1 lb Sausage
1/4 c flour
1 qt milk(I used whole, but use whatever you like or have on hand)
1 tsp pepper(I don't like pepper to spicy for me, so add more if you wish!)

Open up your can of biscuits and bake them according to package directions(really difficult right?!).  OR if you wish make your own, go for it.  I have a good recipe but of course can't seem to locate it currently(I guess that means I need to reorganize my cook book!)

Brown the Sausage in a skillet. Once it is completely browned sprinkle flour on top and mix well coating all the sausage.  Add the milk and pepper.  Stir occasionally until thick and bubbly! (this usually takes about 10min)

 Enjoy!

Homemade Bagels:
1 1/2 c lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast(or one sml pkg)
4 TBSP sugar
3 3/4 c flour
1/4 c onion, chopped fine
1 tsp minced garlic

1 egg white
poppy seeds
sesame seeds

In a bowl mix together 1/4 c of the water with the yeast, mix it a bit and let set until foamy-usually about 5-10 minutes.  Pour into mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, flour, and remaining water, mix well.  Add in 2 cups of the flour, onion, and garlic.  Mix until well blended. Continue to add the rest of the flour in slowly this should form a dough that is firm enough to knead.  Knead the dough on a well floured surface mix in any additional flour that is needed to keep it from sticking!  It should hold the imprint of your hand when you are done.
Place the dough in a well greased bowl, turning over once to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let set for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Punch dough down and knead for a few more times. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Take one of the balls, and push your floured thumb thru the center and then stretch the hole out a bit, making it about 1" in diameter.  (It should look like a doughnut) Place on a well floured surface and continue with the rest of the dough balls. Let these set. While the dough is setting bring a pot of water to boil.  Once it is boiling drop them in one at a time, starting with the first one you put a hole in.  Let it set in the boiling water for 30 seconds, flip it over with a slotted spoon and boil on the other side for 30 seconds. Place on a tea towel to absorb the extra water.  Continue to do this with the remaining dough.  Place on a well greased cookie sheet. (I did mine on a stone and they were a bit soft-we liked them this way, but if you prefer a firmer bagel then I suggest a cookie sheet would be better!)
In a bowl whisk the egg white until foamy.  Spread over top of the bagels, then sprinkle with poppy and sesame seeds.  Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes! Our baked for about 23 minutes!

Spread some yummy goodness on top or just eat them the way they are.  I used butter, and the hubby used a nice pile of cream cheese.  These bagels are dense, filling, and wonderful.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!! They are my attempt at a remake of Tim Hortons Everything Bagel-for those of you lucky enough to have one near you.  I will say-these are better LOL!(per the hubby, but maybe he is just being nice!)

Featured...

A recipe of mine was posted on a friends blog...Go check the recipe out, I'm telling you it is amazing!  It is for my Berry Streusel Muffin.

Thanks Cherise for sharing my recipe!

Here is a sneak peak at what they look like! Click on the link above to see the recipe!

Pancakes

Ingredients:
2 c Flour
1/4 c sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1.5 c milk
1 c sour cream
1/3 c butter, melted

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Combine all wet ingredients and add to the dry.  Mix well!  Add to griddle 1/4c at a time. Add whatever you want to the pancakes. Our family personal favorites: Blueberries, Banana/Nut, or Banana/Chocolate Chip.

When I do Blueberry pancakes, I love to also make the Berry Sauce out of blueberries.  The more fruit the better in my world! I think little man loves them!!

Waffles

Homemade Waffles

Ingredients:

1.5 C Flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 eggs, separated

1 c milk

1/4c melted butter

*Makes 4 waffles

Directions: Mix dry ingredients together.  Add wet ingredients. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.  Fold into batter. Pour into waffle iron. 

I love to add Berry Sauce and some powder sugar on top! All the better. Enjoy!

Berry Sauce

2 c water
1 c sugar
2 TBSP Corn starch
2-3 c berries

In a saucepan, mix together the first 3 ingredients.  Keep stiring so that you don't get any lumps.  Once the mixture gets thick add the berries, and keep on a low heat setting.  Stir frequently.  I always use frozen berries or fruit so I know it is done when they are all soft.  About 5-10min.

This goes great on every type of breakfast food imaginable.  I love to add it to my pancakes, waffles, crepes, french toast...like I said to everything.  I LOVE fruit and if it is in in this sauce my husband will also add it to whatever I have made.

Best Brownies Ever!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting 

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

Note: These don't even need the frosting they are so rich and fudgy by themselves, and trust me I usually love the extra chocolate.

Sorry for the lack of picture I love them so much I ate them a bit too quickly, maybe next time I make them I will remember to take a picture before I indulge!

French Bread

I have had the hardest time trying to get a good french bread recipe and to find one that bakes up nice.  I finally found one!  It is about time because I love french bread with my soups.  So here goes the recipe.  This takes about 3 hrs total, so although this is an amazing recipe and tastes great it is not so much one you can make last minute.

4 c Flour
2 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 c warm water
You can add salt if you like but I don't add salt to any of my food, just a personal preference.

Put water in mixing bowl with yeast.  Let it stand for about 5-10 minutes(the yeast will look foamy when it is done)  Add 3 3/4 c flour and mix for about 5 min.  Let it rest for 2 min, if you have a wonderful mixer like my Kitchen Aide, then switch to your dough hook and mix for 5 min. Take the remaining flour and sprinkle on a clean dry surface, hand knead the dough for about 5min.  Form into a nice ball, the dough should feel tight and slightly firm.  Put it in a bowl that has been greased(I always just use Pam), and turn dough once so it coats both sides. Cover and let rise for 1-1 1/2 hrs, or until doubled in size.  Punch dough done and reform into a ball, split it in half.  Stretch one half out like a rectangle and fold both of the sides into the middle, pinch the ends together tight. *Pinching the ends together will help it rise up more than out so it retains it's shape better  Repeat with the remaining dough.  Put both loafs on a baking stone and cover and let rise for about 30 min more.  Make four cuts across the top of each loaf.  Bake at 375 for 25min.

Note: To get a good crispy crust if you have an electric oven you can throw some water in the bottom of the oven and this will create steam giving it that nice hard outside.  I have a gas oven so when there is about 15min let I use a spray bottle and spray some around the sides of the over.

Chicken Broccoli Bake

Chicken Broccoli Bake- Serves 4

2 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
1 can cream of broccoli soup
1/3 c milk
2 c broccoli cooked
1 c cheese
2 TBSP butter, melted
1 c bread crumbs

Cook the broccoli and the chicken.  Mix the broccoli soup and the milk together.  Mix the bread crumbs and butter together.  Add chicken to bottom of the 9in pan, add broccoli, and soup mixture.  Top with cheese, on top of the cheese put the bread crumbs.  Bake at 350 for 30min. or until cheese is melted.

*If you are going to freeze this recipe, put in freezer before topping with bread crumbs

Baked Pasta

Baked Pasta- Serves 6

1 Package noodles of your choice(I like spirals)
1 lb ground beef, browned
1 tsp each basil, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder
1 can spagetti sauce(I like garlic and onion)
1 c shred cheese
1 c veggies(if you wish)

Cook the noodles acoording to package directions.  Brown the ground beef in a skillet.  I always add garlic and onion because I love the extra flavor.  I also add when it is almost completely browned some basil and oregano.  In a 13x9 pan add the noodles, the mix in the ground beef and spagetti sauce.  Top with the cheese of your choice.  *If you are going to add veggies, I use green beans a lot, mix that in before you put the cheese on top.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 min.
*If you are going to freeze it do so before you bake it

Chicken Ritz Casserole

Chicken Ritz Casserole- Serves 6 (this recipe is courtesy of my wonderful family in Hawaii)

3 chicken breasts cooked and cut up
2 TBSP olive oil
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c sour cream
2 rolls of Ritz crackers
3 TBSP butter melted
2 TBSP poppy seed

Cook the chicken in a skillet with some oil (I like to use olive oil and then put a bit of onion powder and garlic on it).  Chop up the chicken into bite sized pieces.  Pour half the chicken in the bottom of a 13x9 pan.  Mix together the chicken soup and the sour cream.  Pour half over the chicken, top with the rest of the chicken, and then the last of the soup mixture.  Crush up the Ritz crackers and add to the butter and poppy seeds.  Top the chicken with the Ritz mixture. *If you are going to freeze it now it would be the time to put it in the freezer.  If you are ready to eat it now, put it in the oven at 350 for 45min. 

Note: This is one of our family favorites, thanks Marsha for the amazing recipe!

Ham/Potato Bake

Ham Potato Bake- Serves 4 (or in my husbands case 1!)

2 c shred potatoes frozen
1 can cream chicken soup
1 c shred cheese
2 c broccoli
1 c chopped, cooked ham

Add the potatos to the bottom of the pan, stir in the cream of chicken soup and 1/2c of the shred cheese.  If using frozen broccoli cook, and then mix with the ham.  Add to the pan with potatos.  Stir together well.  Top with remaining cheese.  This fits in a 9in loaf pan. or 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 30min.

Veggie-Sausage Soup

Veggie-Sausage Soup-16 servings
2 med onions, chopped fine
1 green pepper and one red pepper, chopped
1 celery ribs, chopped
4 garlic cloves minced
1 TBSP olive oil
1 lb Smoked Kielbasa or Polish Sausage cut into 1/4 in pieces
2 med potatoes diced
1 can cream-style corn
1 can kernel corn
1 c mushroom sliced
1 can cream mushroom soup
1 can chicken broth
2 med carrots sliced
1 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce
1 TBSP Mustard
1 TBSP basil
1 TBSP parsley
2 c cheddar cheese
1 can evaporated milk

In a pan saute onions, peppers, celery in oil until tender.  Add garlic and cook for 1 min. longer
Transfer to slow cooker and add everything else but leave out the milk and cheese.  Cook 6-7 hrs on low until everything is tender.  Then add milk and cheese, stir well and cook for an additional 30 min. Until it is well blended.

This recipe is from my taste of home slow cooker book, and I have not yet tasted it but it got really good reviews and it smells amazing while cooking.  I cannot wait to try it!  So if you try it before I do, let me know how it tastes.

Chili

Chili- This recipe I got from my wonderful friend, but I make the mild version do to my aversion to spicy food

2 can tom sauce(big can not sure on oz sorry)
1 can busch's chili beans(mild in my case)
1 packet mild chili seasoning (you can go hot if you like)
1 lbs ground beef
1 clove minced garlic

Brown the ground beef in a pan, add garlic when it is about half done. Once fully cooked add chili seasoning.
In a pan add tom sauce and beans together. Stir in the meat mixture. Cook on low for about 20min, until it is heated all the way through. 
As you might notice this does not have a lot of beans, no tom. chunks, and is more soup like.  It is still thick but not like the usual you can stand your spoon in your chili thick.  I don't like it that thick. I am quite picky when it comes to food and this was the perfect chili recipe for me.  I will never leave this recipe it is absolutely perfect!  You can add whatever to it if you like tomato chuncks just substitute one of the cans of sauce for diced tomatoes.

Serve, I then top with a small amt of sour cream, cheese, and some crackers.  Nothing beats this on a cold winter day.  If your from Kansas you also have to serve it with Cinnamon Rolls, which I still don't get but whatever floats your boat!

Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup- Makes 10 servings

2 onions chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP butter
2 TBSP flour
2 c water, divided
4 c chicken broth
4 potatoes chopped small
1 large carrot grated
1.5 c mashed potato flakes (used butter ones added extra flavor)
.5 lb cooked and crumbled bacon
.5 tsp basil
.5 tsp thyme
2 c heavy whipping cream (you could use milk or half and half, it just won't be as creamy)
1 c shred cheese

Cook onions and butter together until tender, add garlic.  Stir in flour and then add 1 c water slowly.  Bring to a boil and cookd for 2 min longer until thick and bubbly. Should look like the picture below when it is done!

At the same time that is cooking I chop up my potatoes and grate my carrots!  I also start my bacon cooking so that everything is done at the same time, I don't like to sit around waiting on things!

Add all the ingred. to the slow cooker with the exception of the cream and cheese, set those aside for much later.  Stir everything together well.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hrs.  I found I needed to stir it a few times, because the potatoes like to stick to the bottom of the pan.  Once it is cooked all the way through (the potatoes should be soft), add the cream and cheese and stir well.  Let cook for a bit longer, just until the whole soup is settled (well the cream is warm and cheese melted)!

Pour yourself a bowl and Enjoy!

 

*This has been my husbands favorite soup so far, we didn't freeze but one bag because he wanted the rest in the fridge for him to eat for dinner for the next couple nights!

Broccoli Soup

Broccoli Soup- I think this makes like 4-6 servings
8 c frozen broccoli (cooked and drained, then stuck it in the blender because I don't like big chunks in my soup)
1 lg carrot grated
3 TBSP butter
2 cloves garlic minced
2 TBSP flour
32 oz heavy whipping cream (you can just use milk, but I like rich creamy soup)
2 c cheddar cheese
2 onions chopped (really fine)

Cook broccoli, drain and then chop up fine, if you don't like big chunks in your soup.  I also wanted to spread the flavor around.  In a seperate pan, melt butter.  Add Garlic, onion, and flour stir well, add cream(milk) quickly as you don't want the butter to brown.  Stir and cook until it starts to get thick and boil. Then cook for 2 min longer.  Turn off burner and add cheese, stir until cheese is fully melted. Stir everything together in a big pot and let simmer until it is heated all the way through (I believe it took like 15 min.) Then top with cheese when it's all done (did I mention I love cheese)!

Enjoy- The best broccoli soup I have ever had (better than Panera in my opinion)