Happy Anniversary!

Thirteen years ago today, Cory and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. I am so in love with this good man of mine. Together we have been through sicknesses, pregnancies, loss of loved ones, as well as laughter and fun memories. With Jason being only 1, we couldn't go and escape the world this year, so I tried to recreate the breakfast we had at the B&B we stayed at. Here is a recipe that is amazingly yummy! (The B&B we stayed at closed it's doors, so I couldn't get their exact recipe, but maybe that was a good thing, because this recipe for Baked Blueberry French Toast is even better!!) Cory said it was the best breakfast he has ever had!! See the recipe above and enjoy!

Easy Herb Chicken

I love this easy, fall-off-the-bone-tender-goodness crockpot recipe.

Easy Herb Chicken

1 whole chicken (giblets removed)
poultry seasoning
salt

1. Rinse the chicken.

2. "Blacken" the chicken with poultry seasoning and sprinkle salt on the chicken.

3. Put the chicken in the crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Stuffed Manicotti

I can never get a picture of this one-- we eat it too quickly!

This is Aunt Liz's recipe (see p.108 of the the family cookbook) and I've been making it since I was a newlywed. It's so good and so easy. I haven't been able to tolerate toast or crackers for the past 3 months (morning sickness, bleh)-- but I could eat this!

Stuffed Manicotti

8 uncooked Manicotti noodles
1/2 lb mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup cottage cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 jar Prego spaghetti sauce
2 Tbsp Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated (and some extra to sprinkle on top)

Combine mozzarella, cottage cheese, beaten eggs, 2 Tbsp parmesan or romano cheese, soft butter, salt and pepper. Stuff uncooked noodles with the sauce and place in a 9 x 13 baking pan.

Heat spaghetti sauce to boiling and pour over the noodles. Sprinkle generously with extra parmesan or romano cheese.

Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Noodles will be a little firm, but not mushy.

(Adding hamburger or sausage is optional)

Jen's Soft Italian Bread Dough

Matthew won't eat Mac and Cheese. He won't eat Spaghetti-O's. He doesn't even like pizza. BUT, he will eat pizza if I make the dough using this recipe. I call it "Jen's Bread Pizza." (You can also use it to make breadsticks.) Jen found this recipe on "Taste of Home." See bottom for credits.

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Jen's Soft Italian Bread Dough

1 cup water (70 to 80 degrees)

3 Tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 cups bread flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Topping (if making Breadsticks)

1 Tablespoon butter, melted

1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

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Directions:

1. Put water, butter, salt, flour, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and yeast in the bread machine pan.

2. Select the dough setting (after a few minutes, check your dough. Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons of water or flour if needed to get the right consistency).

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For Pizza:

Once the dough cycle is complete, roll the dough onto a cookie sheet (cut in half if desired) and add pizza sauce and toppings. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

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For Breadsticks:

1. Roll on a floured surface. Cut in half. Then cut each portion into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a 4 to 6 inch rope. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 20 minutes).

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Immediately brush with butter and sprinkle on the parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

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"Soft Italian Breadsticks." Christy Eichelberger. Taste of Home. http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Soft-Italian-Breadsticks.

Give-a-Way!!!!

First Prize is a $20 gift card to Target and a 2010 Calendar by Carlene Duda called Beyond Oatmeal. Each month has a new recipe for a breakfast or a dessert, including Smooth Cream Cheese Pancakes, Lemon Almond Pull-aparts, and Blueberry Peach Cake. What better way to start those New Year's Resolutions than with a calendar with beautiful pictures of food!!

Second Prize is a 2010 Michael VaughAn Calendar of Black and White pictures of Temples, which include the Oquirrh Mountain, Nauvoo, Provo, Mt. Timpanogos, Salt Lake, Bountiful, Rexburg, Manti, Draper, St. George, Jordan River and Logan Temples.

I know that this isn't a food related prize, but I saw it and loved it and thought that it might make your day too!

To enter, add a comment to this entry of the blog and a winner will be chosen on Friday morning (January 8th 2010). Your entry can be a note about a recipe that you tried on the blog and liked. It can be an entry on what your favorite entry was on this blog. It can even be your favorite food related Holiday Tradition (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween, etc.) You can do as many entries per day that you want.

Thank you so much for checking in with our blog! We truly treasure our friends and love to sit and chat while cooking and eating great food!

John's "Man" Cookies

 

Step back chocolate chip! Sugar cookie -- tremble in fear! Brownies? You're going down!  John's "Man" Cookies are in the house! :-)

John loves oatmeal raisin cookies, but doesn't see them very often around our house, 'cause Katie and I aren't big fans. Well, one day he had enough. He took over the kitchen and made some big beefy oatmeal fellas -- not only with raisins, but chocolate chips *and* pecans too! These are rugged, chunky...and delicious!

John's Man Cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1  1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°. Mix all ingredients except oats, flour, and raisins. Stir in oats, flour and raisins. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until light brown, about 10 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Christmas Scrooge

I have no excuses for not doing any posts in December other than I tried unsuccessfully to pause time for a day so I can play catch up and do the things that I want to get done. I do have some recipes that I want to post after Christmas is done, including Mom's chocolate truffle balls, but I just have to get through the next few days. To make up for the Scrooge-like attitude with no posts, I will be doing a give away. Stay tuned for the prizes!
I did want to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas and through all the hustle and bustle of the season, I hope you can still feel the Christmas Spirit!
Love to you all!
~Deb