Grandma Lewis's Chicken Noodle Soup

My roomates Grandma gave her the perfect Christmas present and we finally put it to good use. Grandma Lewis used a picture book and has turned it in a book of all her favorite recipes. The book started out with just a few in each categorie and each month Madi get 3 or so new recipes in the mail to add to her book.

Since it rained off and all today Madi decided we should make chicken noodle soup. This is a meal I have actually never made so I was excited to learn a new recipe. Especially since this is a recipe Madi grew up loving. The best part about this soup is that it involves making home made noodles. I had always thought making noodles from scrath was a difficult process but I was WRONG. They were super easy and AMAZING! I am looking forward to making noodles from scrath more often.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Noodles

To 4 cups of borth mix one egg to 2 tablespoon milk and 1/2 tsp garlic salt and 3/4 to 1 cup Flour.

Mix all those ingredients together.
Cover an area with flour and roll out dough



Once the dough is fairly thin cut into strips



-Madi used this handy noddle cutting tool...SO COOL-



This noodle recipe can be doubled or tripled depending on the amount of broth.

Broth

4 cups of water
3 celerie sticks
2 cups of carrots
Chicken boloun to taste



Chicken

We used a rotisour chicken to save time.  However, If you have the time I am all for boiling chicken and then shredding it (thats how my mommy taught me)

Cook the broth until the veggies are soft. Add the noodles and allow to cook through (8-10 minutes) the thicker they are cut the longer they take. Then add the chicken and allow to get hot. BAM CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP!!!



Madi and I had fun making our soup....We put on my fun aprons (didn't get a picture sorry) jammed out in the kitchen and had a good time! I love to cook....But I love it more when someone else is doing it with me.

The next treats I am looking forward to making from Grandma Lewis's cook book is Pumpkin Brownies. So many ways you can put my two favorite flavors together!

Cheese & Pumpkins?

Fall is finally hear and I could not be more excited about it. Our summer seemed to go on forever and was way to hot for my liking. So to say the least I was jumping for joy this week when the skys were gray and I could wear my sweaters and scarves. I know I will regret this part of my blog by January but for now I am loving this weather. Fall is here in full force and so is my urge to cook all day every day. I don't know if its all falls fault that I want to cook all day or the fact that is it midterm time and when ever I get stressed I like to cook instead of study...OPPPS!

So for this cozy football filled Sunday... I made quick and easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bites & Potato, Broccoli, and Cheese Soup. Yesterday I bought a new cook book called 50 Simple Soups for the Slow Cooker.... Because all recipes in the book call for a crockpot I treated myself to a new Fancy Crockpot.The crockpot I have been using for the last couple years is the one I am sure my parent got as a wedding gift in the 80's. So it was time for an upgrade.

Potato, Broccoli, and Cheese Soup

Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 large potato, quartered
- 6 cups water
- 1 medium head broccoli, quartered
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- salt to taste
- Sour Cream

Step 1- In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat and saute the onion until lightly brown,
Step 2- Transfer the onion to crockpot and add the potato and water. Cover and cook on LOW for about 6 hours, or until the potato is quite tender. Add the broccoli during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Step 3 - Using a handheld immersion blender, puree the ingredients to the desired texture. String in the cheese and add the salt to taste.
Step 4 - Ladle the soup into the bowls and garnish each with cream.

With just what the recipe calls for it wasn't as flavorful as i would have hoped for so I added more cheese and some garlic salt and it helped it out. As for next time I would probably add less water to begin with to make it thicker!



-Things got a little messy when I was trying to mix it all up and smash the potato's down-

I served the soup with some garlic bread. This is the perfect meal for cuddleing up on the couch and watching football or whatever your favorite sunday show may be!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bites

Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 eggs
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup canned pure pumpkin
- 1 tsp vanilla

Preheat over to 350 degrees

Step 1- In a medium bowl, using a whisk, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, caiiamon and all spice
Step 2- In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, egg and egg white, pumpkin and vanilla.
Step 3- Slowly fold in dry ingredients
Step 4- Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Step 5- Drop spoonfuls of dough on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. (I used an Ice-Cream Scoop instead of a spoon)



Step 6- Bake for 12-14 minutes

These bites are AMAZING. I love Pumpkin flavored things so I was pretty sure I was going to like them..but I LOVE them. They are so fluffy. They may be my new favrotie thing I have ever baked. My Merlot cupcakes have been in the lead until today. You can't go wrong with pumpkin and chocolate.





As for the random name of my blog today you can thank my roommate Madi Lewis....I was lacking a little creativity and this is what she said randomly and we both started laughing and so I decided to just go with it!

Dinner in Ten

Paige and I made the most amazing dinner in under 10 minutes. Who said eating healthy is hard was WRONG! This is a quick easy...and absolutly amazing dinner. On those days where life gets the best of you and you want nothing more than to turn to that extra large cheesy pizza (which I am guilty of) I suggest you make the smarter decision and make this recipe instead.

Less than 10 ingredients for a dinner ready in 10 minutes 

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia 

Ingredients

3 Tilapia Filets
1/4 cup parmesan
3 tablespoons butter
2 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1- salt and pepper both sides of Tilapia
2- In a bowl combine cheese, butter, lemon juice, salt and peper to tatse, you may need to microwave the butter to soften it
3- Put Tilapia on cookie sheet sprayer with pam, cover the top with the cheese mixture and broil until its golden brown 5-7 minutes

Got this from Sparkrecipe.com



I served it over 90 second Uncle Sam long grain roasted garlic rice. (EASY WAY OUT) If you have time and want to make better rice I say go for it. However, this tasted amazing!

Peach and Blueberry Cobbler

Ingredients

Nonstick Cooking Spray
4 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup splenda (plus 2 tablespoons)
3/4 cup Bisquick (plus 1 tablespoon) I did whole wheat
1/4 teaspoon cinaon
1/3 cup skim milk

Directions

1-Preheat over to 425 degrees. Spray a glass baking dish abd spray with cooking spray and set aside
2- In a bowl, mix together the peaches, blueberries, and the 1/4 cup splenda, and the 1 tablespoon baking mix. Pour the fuit mixture into the prepared baking dish.

3- In another bowl, combine the reamaining 2 tablespoons Splenda, the reamining 3/4 cup Bisquick, cinnamon, and milk. Stir another the mixture forms a soft dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough evenly over the fruit mixture. Sprinkle sugar over dough if you please.

4- Bake the cobbler until the fruit is tender and the biscuit topping is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.




I served with light vanilla ice cream.




This is a recipe worth making again. Healthy, quick, easy....Down right amazing!!

Football Feast

What do you like better Christmas or Wedding Season? Wedding Season!!!  What do you like better Wedding Season or Football Season? Football Season!!! I am so glad that Football Season is finally here. Great way to start the season with a big W and a full belly!



Since I dont have a private jet or a tree that grows money and couldnt fly to Georgia to watch the game I decided to have a little get together at my house and make some amazing football insiped food.


We had enough food to feed an ARMY!!

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwhiches
Delicious Chicken Dip
Home Made Salsa
Veggie Trays
Margarita Cupcakes

I chose to do BBQ pulled chicken sandwhiches over pulled pork because I had mass amounts of chicken from costco so I figured I would save some money and use what I have...However, I believe you can use the same sauce over pork if you like it better.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients 
1 large onion
6 chicken breasts
2 cups ketchup
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
pinch or two of black pepper & salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon galic powder
1 teaspoon of hot sauce of choice ( I used Sriracha)

Directions
1- Cut the onion in half and slice into think rings. Line the bottom of the crock pot with the onions.
2- Trim the chicken breats and place on top of the bed of onions
3- Mix all ingredients together and por over chicken. Covering completely.
4- Cook for 6 hours on low setting.
5- Take chicken out one at a time and shred them with two forks and place back in crock pot.
6- Serve on buns with toppings of your choice and ENJOY!

This recipe came from food.com I changed a few things up to make it my own.

Delicious Chicken Dip

I got this recipe from a girl I work with. The first time i had this dip I was SOLD! Once you try it you will never go back to regular nacho cheese dip ever again. This dip can be made quickly in the oven or if you have time to spare it works well in the crock pot too.

Ingredients
1 package of cream cheese softened (I used low fat: Neufchatel Cheese)
1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing ( I used blue cheese dressing)
1/2 cup any flavor of Franks Redhot Sauce (I used original)
1/2 Crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddard cheese
2 cans of White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in water, drained.

Slow Cooker Method
Combine ingredients and place into small crock pot. Cover and heat on high for 1 1/2 hours of low on 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Oven Directions
1- Heat oven to 350 degrees
2- Place cream cheese into deep baking dish and stir until smooth
3- Mix in all other ingredients
4- Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through
5- Serve with your favorite chips. I chose to use Fritos

Thanks Tiffany for this amazing recipe!

In order to get the most amazing recipe for home made salsa you must track down Lauren Jones!!



Last but not least...

Margarita Cupcakes

Ingredients
3/4 cup crushed pretzeld
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons grated lime peel
1 1/4 cups margarita mix (I used the kind with alcohol already in it)
1 BOX white cupcake mix (Make cake mix as directed on box except use 3/4 cup nonalcoholic margarita mix, 1/4 cup water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil)



Or make from scratch
2 3/4 cups flour
3 teasponns baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening or butter
1 2/3 cups sugar
5 egg whites
2 1/2 teasponns vanilla



Frosting
1 1/2 cups thawed whipped topping
2 containers 6oz each Key Lime pie low-fat yogurt
grated lime peel


-Playing with my camera to make the frosting look blue!!

Directions
1-Heat oven to 350 degrees
2- In small bowl mix crushed pretzels, the butter and sugar. Spoon about 1 tablespoon pretzel mizture into each muffin cup.
3- Make cupcakes
4- In bowl fold whipped topping, lime yogurt, and lime peel
5- Frost and top with crushed pretzels.

Due to having people over and the game being on I failed at photos of the dip and my chicken sandwiches. I am very sorry!! I hope to start blogging more about foods other than cupcakes. If you have a favorite food and you want me to try and make it please comment below. I am always looking for a challenge. 

Enjoy Football Season with these yummy foods!

This blog is dedicated to Casey Lish!!!

Don't Mess With Texas

I am back. I am sorry it has been so long since I last blogged. I had such high intentions of having a blog a week for the summer...that didnt happen. I have been sick for what feels like the whole summer. School starts Monday and I have not done half of the fun things I wanted to or baked nearly all the things I want to.



Texas Brownies are by far my favorite brownies. My mom made these for me growing up. They are a fluffy brownies with a light yummy frosting. My work is throwing yet again another amazing potluck and I always volunteer to be the one who makes the sweets. I figured peopel were getting a bit sick of cupcakes so I decided to make  Brownies....Who doesn't love brownies especially ones with frosting. The only things they would make these brownies better would be to add a little ice cream.

I am always a bit scared when making my moms recipes for the first time. I get nervous that they wont taste as good as when she makes them... Lucky for everyone at work. These turned out just like when my mom makes them.

Ingredients 

Brownies

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup strong brewed coffee (water if you don't like coffee)
1/4 cup dark, unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Frosting

1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp. dark cocoa
1/4 cup milk
3 1/2 cups powedered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation

Step 1:
In a large bowl bix together flour and sugar
Step 2:
In saucepan, combine butter, coffee, and cocoa. Stir & heat to boiling
Step 3:
Pour boiling mixtureover the flour and sugar in the bowl. Add the buttermile, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla.
Step 4:
Mix well
Step 5:
Pour into a 17 1/2 by 11 inch jelly pan
Step 6:
Bake @ 400 for 20 minutes
Step 7:
While brownies bake, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Heat to boil.
Step 8:
Mix in the powedered sugar and vanilla until frosting is smooth.
Step 9: 
Pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven
Step 10:
ENJOY!!!

I hope that you enjoy these Big Texas Brownies as much as I do. I promise I will be better about blogging more than once every other month!

Just what the Doctor didn't order

Disclaimer: Sorry I have been slacking and not posting blogs as fast as I would like to!

For those of you who I talk to a lot you are aware of my missing/raspy voice.  For those of you who I don't see or talk to all that often you got off lucky and didn't have to hear my voice that sounded like a Bad cell phone reception. So when I finally couldn't handle being sick any longer i caved and went to the doctors. I am the kind of person who holds out as long as possible. So I told you all that to get to this point...The doctor told me I had a sever case of laryngitis and suggested I rest as much as possible and take my medication, but I don't really rest well...So instead I made 48 cupcakes. 

Paige (the ultimate baking partner) and I decided on a cookies and cream and chocolate peanut-butter cupcakes. BOTH SO AMAZING!!

The Chocolate Peanut-butter cupcake is from "Taseofhome Cupcakes for every season" and The cookies and cream one is from the most amazing cupcake book I just got "The big book of cupcakes". It has so many recipes and I can not wait to bake my way though it. 

Peanut-butter chocolate cupcakes.

Batter:

I took the easy way since I was sick and just used a box of chocolate cake mix. However if you are feeling crazy and have a chocolate cake recipe from scratch use it.

Filling:

1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese

1/4 cup creamy peanut-butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon milk

Frosting:

1/3 cup butter softened

2 cups powdered sugar

6 tablespoons baking cocoa

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

-(add some peanut-butter to frosting if you love peanut-butter as much as I do)

Instructions:

1) In a small bowl mix all of the filling ingredients together and set aside.

2) In a large bowl mix the ingredients together for the cake mix

3) Fill cupcake pan with liners. Fill liners halfway with cake mix and then drop a tablespoon of peanut-butter mixture in the middle. 

4) Bake @ 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool and remove to a wire racks. 

5) In a large bowl combine frosting ingredients until smooth. Frost and store in the refrigerator.

ENJOY

Cookies 'n cream 

Batter: Again I used a box of chocolate cake mix.

Filling & Frosting:  

Fluffy white frosting

1 small jar of marshmallow cream

Garnish:

10 Oreos- coarsely crushed 

Instructions

1) Make a bake and cool cupcakes

2) With end of round handle a wooden spoon, make a deep 3/4 inch-wide indentation in center of top of each cupcake, not quite to bottom.

3) In medium bowl mix together frosting and marshmallow cream. Spoon into small resealable food storage bag. Seal bag cut a tip off the corner of bag. Insert tip of bag into each cupcake and squeeze a bag to fill.

4) Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting. Garnish with oreos. 

I hope you enjoy these cupcakes. I am going to make an effort to start doing more dinner ideas instead of just cupcakes. 

I have recently made red velvet cupcakes and key-lime cupcakes. If you are interested in one of these recipes please let me know.

Dinner for Dad

What better excuse to go all out and cook than Fathers Day! I decided that I would have my Father over and make him a yummy meal to say Thank You for all you have for me over the years. I put together some of my Dads favorite flavors and made a killer meal out of it. My mom was putting together some recipes the other day and she sent me them before sending them out to the family and one really caught my eye. "Sticky Chicken" yumm-o!! My step mom made an amazing salad (i don't have the recipe for it yet but i will put it up when i do) it had toasted ramen noodles in it which sounds a tad odd but it was actually pretty delightful. Then to top it off i did what I do best I baked 'Rocky Road Brownies" and topped them off with a scoop of ice cream.This was a meal fit for an amazing Father!

Sticky Chicken

-Chicken ( I did 3 HUGE chicken breast and cut it into strips)

-1/2 jar of apricot preserves

- 1 bottle Russian Dressing (Found by the salad dressings)

- 1 packet of onion soup

Directions:

-Marinate chicken for 24 hours.

-Preheat oven for 350 degrees and cook for 1 hour

ENJOY!!

Really Rocky Road Brownies

-8 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate

- 1 1/2 cups butter

- 6 eggs

- 3 cups sugar

- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 tablespoon vanilla

- 1 cup chopped walnuts

Topping:

- 2cups miniature marshmallows

- 1 square unsweetened chocolate (melted0

Directions:

- In the microwave, melt chocolate and butter (set aside)

- Beat eggs for about 2 minutes

- Gradually add sugar; beat until thick

- Stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla.

- Fold in flour and nuts

-Pour into greased and flour pan

- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes

- Sprinkle brownies with marshmallows

- Broil until marshmallows become golden brown

- Drizzle with melted chocolate

I love you Dad!!