Just a mom...with a small cooking obsession. Nothing big! ha Join me throughout my journey of teetering with the thought of starting up a small catering business! My goal with this blog is to help other moms who have an ounce of time make awesome meals, throw the best parties with out of this world appetizers, and keep her sanity all at the same time. Welcome to my world!!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Before you snarl your nose up at the thought of chicken in your spaghetti...this recipe does NOT involve marinara sauce in any form or fashion. It involves a cheese sauce and is a very quick throw together dinner that taste like to took forever!



Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

You will need:
  • Package of chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into smaller cubes
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1 pkg spaghetti
  • 1 can mild Rotel tomatoes
  • 1/2 block Velvetta, cubed into pieces
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 2 TBS cooking oil

Directions:
  1. Put on a pot of water to boil your spaghetti noodles like you normally would; when they are finished drain them and return to their pot. (Make sure to use a pot large enough to add a sauce to.)
  2. In a separate pot, add your cooking oil and heat. Add cut up chicken pieces. Cook until cooked completely through; stir as needed.
  3. Once chicken is cooked, add cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes, cubed Velvetta, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup.
  4. Leave over medium heat, stirring frequently, until all the cheeses are melted and all ingredients are combined and creamy.
  5. Pour sauce into spaghetti and use tongs to mix together very well.
  6. Serve immediately OR put in a 9x13 baking dish sprinkle with Panko bread crumbs and bake until it boils to use as a freezer meal or to take to a potluck.
Enjoy!
     
 


Thursday, February 2, 2012

Mini Fruit Pizzas

We all know how yummy fruit pizza is and I love making the full sheeted one baked from scratch...BUT here is the semi homemade recipe that is quick to throw together!


Mini Fruit Pizzas

What you need:
  • 2 dozen bakery fresh sugar cookies. ( the ones at Kroger and Walmart work great!)
  • 1 block cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 TBS vanilla
  • 1 cup Cool Whip
  • fruit- I love to use blueberries, raspberries, strawberries-sliced, mandarin oranges, pineapple, etc you can use bananas but remember bananas and apples brown easy
Directions:
  • In a medium bowl, use your mixer to beat together cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Once completely mixed and smooth fold in cool whip.
  • Spread mixture onto cookies evenly.
  • Top with fruit
  • Remember since it has Cool Whip in them extras need to be refrigerated.
These are so refreshing! They are extremely good and they will be gone...that's a guarantee!

Better Than Sex Cake...

YUP! Figured that would get your attention. This is NOT just a cake this is a cake full of chocolate, carmel, did I mention chocolate....gooey wonderfulness. No description could do this cake justice. Put it on your grocery list NOW! I promise you no matter where you take this cake people will ask for the recipe.

Better Than Sex Cake

What you need:
  • 1 chocolate cake, made by the directions on the back of the box and baked in a 9x13 pan.
  • 1 jar caramel ice cream topping
  • 1 jar hot fudge ice cream topping
  • 1 can sweetened and condensed milk
  • 1 large tub of Cool Whip
Directions:
  • When cake comes out of the over let cool about 10 minutes and then poke holes evenly over the cake with the bottom of a wooden spoon.
  • Pour the sweetened and condensed milk evenly over the cake. It will seep into the holes.
  • Do the same with the whole jar of caramel and the whole jar of hot fudge. It is a little easier to pour the caramel and hot fudge evenly if you heat them for a about 30 seconds to a minute first.
  • Refrigerate OVER NIGHT! This makes it so so much better I promise and gives it time for everything to soak in.
  • Right before serving cover evenly with the Cool Whip. This serves as the icing.
I promise this is a cake that if you love chocolate you will never forget!

Ladies Queso...

Since we have done a macho form of queso for the men let's do a more lady like version!
This is so good and so so simple!

Ladies Queso

You will need:
  • 1 block Velvetta, cubed
  • splash of milk
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 box spinach, thawed and completely drained of ALL juice!
  • You can also add in a can of shredded chicken
Directions:
  • Turn crockpot on high, put in Velvetta cubes and milk.
  • Let cook about an hour, making sure to stir it often so it doesn't burn or stick
  • Once half melted, add in can of tomatoes and spinach (chicken as well if you decided you wanted chicken)
  • Let cook on high for about another hour then turn down to low. Just make sure to keep stirring it!
I have also added in mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.

YUM!

Cheeseburger Dip!

Yum...does it get any better than a cheeseburger that comes in the form of a dip?!? You can even have the option of dressing it just like your regular cheeseburger.

Cheeseburger Dip

You will need:
  • 1 block cream cheese, softened
  • 1 lb hamburger, browned, crumbled and drained
  • 1/2 c. sour cream
  • 2 diced pickles
  • 1/2 c. mayo
  • 3 TBS ketchup
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1 TBS Worcestershire
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 TBS garlic powder
  • OPTIONAL FOR THE TOP: shredded lettuce, chopped onion and chopped tomatoes
You can also add in bacon or bacon bits for a bacon cheeseburger

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, hamburger, diced pickles, Worcestershire, ketchup, mustard, mayo, sour cream, and garlic powder.
  • Pour into an 8x8 or 2 qt baking dish, top with shredded cheese.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly.
  • Right before serving top with bacon, tomatoes, onion, and/or lettuce if you like your burger dressed!
YUM! You may never eat a burger on a bun again!!

For the Macho Man in your life...

A few MAN Dips for your favorite MACHO MAN....

Men love food...and they love football...so here are a few filling dips that even they can make!



Macho Man Dip

You will need:
  • 1 lb hamburger, browned, drained, and crumbled
  • 1 lb sausage, browned, drained, and crumbled
  • 1 block of Velveeta, cut into cubes
  • 1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
  • Splash of milk
Directions:
  • In a crockpot, put in the Velveeta blocks, splash of milk, and can of tomatoes and green chilies. Turn on high for about an hour. Make sure to stir often.
  • Once cheese is at least half way melted add in meat.
  • Keep an eye on it and keep stirring, if more milk is needed to make it creamy add it in...slowly! Remember you can always put more in but you can't take it back out!
  • Once completely melted, turn down to low or warm
Serve with Tortilla chips.




Derek's favorite dip in the whole wide world he calls Skyline Dip...you may have had this or a version of this before but I will admit it is only 3 ingredients and super good!


Skyline Chili Dip

You will need:
  • 1 block cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (found by the hot dog chili in a store) Skyline Chili
  • 1 bag shredded sharp cheddar cheese
**You can also add kidney beans and onions to this.

Directions:
  • In an 8x8 dish spread the cream cheese onto the bottom.
  • Spread on the can of chili
  • Top with bag of shredded cheese
  • Put in microwave for 5 minutes
Serve with tortilla chips!
I have also put this over fries before to make chili cheese fries.


Many Layer Taco Dip

Who doesn't love super easy and super yummy Taco Dip! Makes an awesome addition to any Super Bowl party or party throughout the year!

Many Layer Taco Dip

You will Need:
  • 1/2 lb. hamburger, cooked with taco seasoning, drained, and crumbled small
  • 2 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced (optional)
  • 1 container of sour cream
  • 1 can refried beans
  • 1 block cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups shredded mexican cheese
  • 1 cup lettuce
  • 1 small jar chunky salsa
Optional add ins layers: green onions, green chilies, black olives, guacamole

Directions:
  • On a platter OR dinner plate spread out the cream cheese evenly.
  • Top with a layer of refried beans
  • Layer hamburger
  • Layer of sour cream
  • Layer of salsa
  • Layer of cheese
  • Layer of lettuce
  • Layer of onions
  • Layer of tomatoes
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve!
  • Serve with tortilla chips