Company Chicken

8-10 boneless, skinless chicken tenders

4-5 slices provolone cheese, cut in half

1 can cream of chicken soup (can substitute Cr. of mushroom)

1/4 C water

1 box Stovetop Stuffing

1/3 C butter, melted

Lightly spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Place chicken in pan. Place cheese on top of chicken. In small mixing bowl, mix soup and water. Spread soup mixture over each chicken piece. In microwave-safe 2 Qt dish, melt butter. Add stovetop and mix until evenly coated with butter. Spread stovetop over chicken. Cover pan with foil. Bake @ 350 for 60 minutes. So Yummy!!!

*You can use 4-5 chicken breasts instead of the tenders. But I think the tenders fit easier into the pan and they don't dry out as much. I just watch for the frozen bag of tenders to go on sale so I have them on hand for this particular recipe. Oh - and I have used the store-brand stuffing mix. They taste just as good and easier on the budget.

I love how I can get the protein, dairy and grain in one dish. For a simple meal, I add a side of veggies and some applesauce. So the tenders may seem small, but their tummies are full. Hope you give this one a try!

Po' Man's Steak

My kids love this meal and it is so simple and easy and fast to make.


Serves 4

1 lb ground beef
2 packets Brown Gravy Mix
2 C Water
4 servings mashed potatoes
salt and pepper, to taste


Form ground beef into 4 patties. Cook patties in large skillet. Drain fat. In a small bowl whisk together gravy mix and water. Pour gravy over patties in the skillet. Turn heat to low and let simmer until gravy starts to bubble. Serve each patty with gravy over mashed potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Tips/Hints:
If the frozen or pre-made patties are on sale, I buy those specifically for this recipe. Also, you can simply just crumble the ground beef while cooking.

Glazed Tortillas

Flour Tortillas
Cooking oil
Glazed Icing (click here)

Cut flour tortillas into wedges. Heat oil in frying pan on MED heat. Oil ready when drop of water sizzles. Place tortilla wedges into hot oil, just a few seconds each side; till golden brown. Drain on paper towel. While still warm drizzle glazed icing over tops. Let cool.

IF you have any leftovers, store in airtight container.

Glazed Icing

1 C powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

stir together well until smooth.

Muffin Cake

Something my kids love is when I take a basic muffin mix and bake it in a cake pan and then top it with glaze. It's a twist on "cake" and even simpler. My daughter's favorite is the Raspberry, while my oldest loves the Blueberry. He says with the glaze on top, it tastes just like a blueberry cake donut. After tasting it, I'd have to say I agree. I did a raspberry muffin mix in a heart-shaped pan for valentine's breakfast for the kids. They loved it and it was cute.



1 muffin mix
eggs, oil, water according to package directions

GLAZE:
1 C powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Mix muffin mix according to package directions. Pour into floured and greased round or square pan. Bake @ 350, adding about 7-10 minutes baking time verses when baking in muffin tins. Done when inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool slightly. Mix glaze; drizzle over cake. Let glaze set slightly before cutting. Best when still warm!

Double muffin mix to fill 9x13 pan.

Crock Pot Potato Dinner

The theme for our recipe group this month was "Potato Dishes". I scoured over recipes. I felt overwhelemd. It all just seemed too hard. So... I made this one up. My kids LOVED it!

2 lb bag frozen "country style" or "O'Brien" potatoes

16 oz Velveeta Cheese, cubed

1 polska kielbasa sausage, cut up*

8 oz sour cream

1/2 stick (1/4 C) butter

salt & pepper, to taste

Add all ingredients to the crock pot. Stir to mix. Cook on LOW 4-6 hours. Stir well before serving. Add salt & pepper as needed.

*You can also substitute Polish Sausage or Bratwurst. Also try adding 1 can drained corn kernels.

Valentine Torte Cake

I was in the mood for some loves - but of course just being me & the kids we decided food was the way to go! We had Chicken & Noodles for dinner with cornbread, baked in a heart-shaped pan. And then we made this for Dessert. It was a great treat to end our weekly family night with.

1 chocolate cake mix
eggs, oil, and water according to package directions
2 - 8oz pkgs cream cheese, softened and divided
2 C milk , divided
1 small box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tub Cool Whip, thawed
Chocolate shavings or Hershey syrup for garnishing, optional


Mix cake batter according to package directions. Grease and flour pans. Pour cake batter into 2 same-shape pans. Bake according to box. Let cool completely

In small mixing bowl beat 1 pkg cream cheese till fluffy. Add 1 C milk a little at a time and continue beating. Add in chocolate pudding mix, and beat till smooth. Add a little more milk if too thick. Refrigerate at least 5 minutes. Repeat same process for vanilla pudding mix. Start by spreading chocolate cream on first layer of cake. Since it is cold, you'll need to work it gently with the back of a spoon. This will help it spread more evenly. Add second cake layer and fill in gaps with pudding.

Top second layer of cake with vanilla cream.

Finally, spread layer of cool whip. Garnish with chocolate shavings or drizzle with Hershey's Syrup, if desired. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

We decided to create a "broken heart" and share with our neighbors! It was fun to take it over to them. (Plus - I snagged the cool whip from her freezer, so it was only fair!)