Tried & True & Proven Good

STROMBOLI- WOW!

2009-04-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

This could serve 4 but it was so great that Jared and I almost ate the whole thing ourselves...and the real catch is the next day it still sounded so good. It was cheap and easy. The Rhodes bread dough I used was the loaf...I let it sit out all day, then rolled it out. I wish I would've taken a picture because it's hard to know exactly what it's supposed to look like. But you can look at http://www.sisterscafe.blogspot.com/.

It's kinda like a calzone just a different shape. So easy and so good!!

Stromboli
stolen from the sister's cafe- submitted by Wendy

1 Rhodes bread dough
1/4 lb ham, sliced
1/4 lb hard salami
1/4 lb provolone
mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp dried basil, divided
1/2 tsp dried oregano, divided
melted butter or olive oil
cornmeal (which is really cheap in case anyone (like me) hadn't bought it before.)

Set out bread dough to thaw. Once thawed, spread the dough out on a cookie sheet or silpat (which works perfect). Layer the ham and then the salami along the middle of the dough going lengthwise. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp each of basil and oregano then layer on cheeses. (I used approximately 1 cup shredded mozzarella but it's entirely up to you how much you want!) Sprinkle with remaining basil and oregano. Wet edges of the dough and fold over the long edges and roll up the ends. Brush olive oil over dough and sprinkle lightly with corn meal. Carefully flip stromboli over and repeat on other side. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes. Serve with hot spaghetti sauce for dipping. Enjoy!

Jodi's Creamy Chicken over Rice

2009-04-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is my sister Jodi's recipe...it's easy and delicious. You cook it in your crockpot.

4 chicken breasts
1 pack of cream cheese
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 packet of either ranch or italian dressing

My crockpot cooks fast and I cut my chicken thin so it only takes like 2 hours. But I think on the recipe it says 4-6 hours.

Mix the ingredients then pour over chicken in the crockpot. I serve it over rice and it's wonderful. I use it way too often.

Cheesecake Recipe

2009-03-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Posted by Amanda

Now, I know Mom Carver has a great cheesecake recipe and I've never made it before but my sister just posted this recipe on her blog. I figure if my sister can make it then any of us can. It looks super yummy so I think I'm going to have to try it. I thought I'd share the link because, hey, who doesn't like cheesecake?

Check it out here.

Garlic Chicken w/ Bow Tie Pasta

2009-03-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

submitted by KMcF

I love this recipe first and foremost because the ingredients are fairly common, which means I had them on hand! Second because it was delicious! I have two picky eaters in this house and both of them told me to add it to the "Carver Family Cookbook". I don't know if they used my maiden name because it wasn't Fey worthy or what, but I still took it as a compliment! The only time I ever use pasta is for sphaghetti, so I was excited to incooperate another delicious dish.

P.S. Picture might not give it justice, I can't say I am the best at presentation, or taking pictures!

1 Tb olive Oil

1 lb. chicken breasts(boneless and skinless)

1 tsp. Salt

1 Tb olive oil

6-8 cloves garlic

1/2 lb mushrooms(I cut these out)

1/2 c green onions

3/4 c red or orange sweet peppers

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (undrained)

1/2 c chicken broth

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt

2 c dry bow tie pasta(cook as directed)

1/4 c fresh cilantro, chopped

parmesan cheese

1. Fry chicken in oil over medium heat untill done. Sprinkly with salt and remove from skillet, but keep warm

2. Cook garilic in oil till golden. Add mushrooms, green onions and peppers-- cook 2 mins. Add tomatoes, broth, red pepper, cornstarch and salt. Heat to boiling then reduce heat and simmer 5 mins. Remove from heat.

3. Combine chicken, hot mixture, pasta and cilantro. Sprinkle with parmesan to your liking

Creamy Ginger Dressing

2009-03-05T14:48:00.001-08:00

This is stolen from Caitlyn Dahl's blog...I decided I would post if for her. She said it's the dressing from Bennihana's and Tepanyaki.

"If you have tried it, you know how good it is" said Caitlyn It is a creamy ginger dressing. Here is the recipe:

1/2 c minced onion

1/2 c sesame seed oil

1/3 c rice vinegar

2 T water

2 T minced fresh ginger

2 T minced fresh celery

2 T Ketchup

4 t Soy Sauce

2 t sugar

2 t lemon juice

1/2 t minced garlic

1/2 t salt

1/2 t ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all ginger is pureed. Chill. Makes 1 3/4 cups. (I doubled this recipe)

Sloppy Joes

2009-03-03T14:08:00.001-08:00

I don't know if anyone else loves sloppy joes, but during the summer I sure do. I found this recipe delicious and easy...does anyone notice a pattern with my posts...yes delicious and easy!
So here it is:
submitted by Wendy but taken from allrecipes.com

PREP TIME
10 Min
COOK TIME
30 Min
READY IN
40 Min

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
2. Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Peanut Butter Balls

2009-03-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well, since Wendy posted my easiest, yummiest recipe ever (chicken curry) I had to come up with another one to share. I read about these peanut butter balls on a friends blog and when I was craving something sweet this afternoon I tried them... Umm, ya, they are yummy and oh so easy. So here you go...

Peanut butter balls:
1 c Honey
1 c peanut butter
3 c oats (old fashioned)
1/2 c ground flax seed
and combo of choc chips, dried fruit or nuts.
Mix and roll into balls. Put in the fridge and let them lose their stickiness.

I didn't have all the mix-ins but I can image that you could use about anything. I just drizzled some melted chocolate over the balls and waa-laa! Delicious.

Honey-Lime Chicken Enchilada

2009-02-26T09:20:00.000-08:00

This is another one I stole from sisters cafe (i sure hope they don't mind, I've been trying a lot of their recipes lately.) I thought it was a little too sweet so I would've used less honey - but Jared liked it sweet so it's up to you. It was easy and delicious- and good the next day. I used a lot of cheese too because I love cheese.

submitted by Wendy
6 Tb honey
4.5 Tb lime juice
1 Tb chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 lb cooked chicken shredded
flour tortillas
colby or monterey jack cheese, shredded
10 oz. can green enchilada sauce

Mix first 4 ingredients together and toss with shredded chicken. Let it "marinate" for at least a half hour. Pour some green enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 10x10 casserole dish or 9x13 pan. Fill flour tortillas with chicken and shredded cheese. Pour the rest of the can of green enchilada sauce over enchiladas then sprinkle with more cheese. (When using a 9x13 I like to use 1 1/2 10 oz. cans) Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. (Put it under the broiler at the end to make the cheese brown and crispy on the top.)

Lemon Streusel Muffins

2009-02-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

I'm going to steal another recipe from sisters cafe- it was of course as everything I do is- easy and used normal ingredients.

submitted by Wendy
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tb grated lemon peel
2 tsp fresh lemon juice

For the streusel:
3 Tb flour
3 Tb sugar
1 Tb cold butter

For the glaze:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 Tb fresh lemon juice
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, butter, lemon peel and lemon juice. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix, just until moistened. Let batter rest for 5 minutes. Grease or paper line muffin cups and fill the cups 3/4 full.In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar and butter. Using your hands or a pastry blender, mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the streusel over the batter.Bake muffins at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes and remove onto a wire rack.Mix together the powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over warm muffins.
*this makes 12 muffins. Don't be afraid to double it though - it works great.

Easy Schmeezy Chicken Curry!

2009-02-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my sister in law Mandy one of my favorite quick and easy meals to make is Chicken Curry! All you need is:
1/2 cup butter, I usually subtract a little butter and replace it with peanut butter
1/2 cup mustard
1 cup honey
2 Tablespoons curry powder(preference McCormick)
4 to 5 chicken breasts

Boil chicken breast. Combine all ingredients in a pot and let simmer. Put chicken breasts in the sauce, after cooked, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake

2009-02-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

Submitted by Wendy
I got this recipe from one of my favorite sites - sisterscafe.blogspot.com
I made it the other day and Jared said at least 6 times this is the best chocolate cake. It was easy and delicious...so so moist. I keep it in the fridge and it's been 3 days and I'm still loving it. There is a picture on the website.

Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake
1 devils food cake mix
1 -4 serving instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer 1 minute.Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.Bake 45-50 minutes at 350. Cool 20 minutes. Invert onto serving platter.
Frosting:
8 Tbsp butter (not margarine)
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup evaporated milk (I used 2%-it worked great)
4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and milk. Bring mixture just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar with electric mixer until thickened and smooth. Pour warm frosting over warm cake. This recipe makes a lot of frosting.