Monday Meal Ideas

Apparently I am on a soup kick lately. Sorry for those of who whose husbands like meat and potatoes all the time, I don't seem to be helping you out much. I will see what I can do for ya...but I am more of the "throw it all together" kind a gal!

My mother used to make this EVERY Christmas Eve. My kids beg for it to be made weekly!

Clam Chowder

1/2 diced onion

5 pieces of diced celery

5 pieces of cut bacon

2 cans chicken broth

4-6 cans of minced clams (with juice)

2 bags of cubed hashbrowns OR chop up own potatoes

1 quart half and half

salt and pepper

Start by sauteing 1/2 chopped onion, 5 chopped celery pieces, 5 cut up pieces of bacon, salt and pepper.

It will look like this to begin with but will thicken up as the potatoes cook.

While that is sauteing, in a large soup pot add potatoes, chicken broth and clams and bring to a boil. Once the sauteed items are finished add them to the pot. Allow all of this to cook on medium for 2 to 3 hours stirring occasionally. With about a half hour left pour in the half and half, turning down the temperature...you don't want it to boil. I usually pepper it again and serve with french bread.

After adding the half and half and letting it cook about 1/2 hour longer you will end up with nummy tasting Clam Chowder!

FYI~ I have switched to using just red potatoes and cutting up 10-15 of them in place of the hashbrowns. It seems to make a bit chunkier soup.

***This could also be used as a potato soup or even corn chowder leaving out the clams and adding corn. ***

Monday Meal Ideas~Taco Soup

Tonight I made Taco Soup at my mom's house. My mother was very surprised that I volunteered to make dinner...she isn't used to the new me yet either.

This soup is sooo good and even easier to make!!!!!

Taco Soup

1lb ground beef (or ground Turkey meat)

onion

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans pinto beans

2 cans black beans

2 cans diced tomatoes(any of these kinds make it even better...Mexican, Italian, basil, green chilies)

1 can corn

1 packet dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Salt and Pepper

First brown the meat and onion together. As you are doing that combine the rest of the ingredients(beans, tomatoes, corn, packet of dressing and salt/pepper)together in a large soup pan. Once the meat is browned add it into the pan with the rest of the ingredients. Allow the soup to come a boil and then turn down to LO or MEDIUM heat until ready to eat. The longer it sits on the stove the better. It allows the sauce to seep into the meat.

You then can add shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, more onions...

This is a great thing to serve to a large number of people or a last minute dinner. Really simple and I have NEVER had anyone NOT like it!

****You sure could add or subtract the types of beans you use! Also, the kinds of tomatoes. My mother has used stewed tomatoes instead of the diced tomatoes...but my kids don't like tomatoes so I trick them by using diced ones. They have never ever noticed. :)

For My Sister-In-Law!!

My sister-n-law, Kim, reminded me (kindly) that I have NOT kept up on my Monday Meal Ideas posts that I had promised.  She says she has been checking regularly looking for dinner ideas. Those of you who really know me are laughing hysterically at the fact that someone is coming to ME for recipe ideas!  

I do have some recipes ready for up coming Monday Meal Ideas.  But I didn't want Kim to have to wait that long so I want to add a link to this WONDERFUL new blog I have found.  It is called Sunday Baker and she has AMAZING recipes.  The one she currently has up is a recipe that my mommy used to make for a VERY SIMPLE finger food to take to parties: Ranch Oyster Crackers. I had made them once for BUNKO and they were a hit.  You find your hand going back and back into the bowl...DANGEROUS!! 

Give the Oyster Crackers a try I bet you will LOVE them!  But also, check out Tanya's blog Sunday Baker,I guarantee you will find some GREAT recipes to use...especially with New Year's coming up!

Hopefully, Kimme, this will tide you over until this Monday when I PROMISE I will post a new Monday Meal Ideas that you will LOVE!

Nummy Muffins

Tuesday I was surfing the Blogging world and came acrossed a WONDERFUL blog called Grace Violet. She is a very talented and creative lady! One of her posts was titled The Best Pumpkin Bread. Ever. I looked over the recipe and realized that even I could make this! I actually put Taylor in charge of mixing the recipe up. I had to step in though when we realized we were w/o Ground Cinnamon in the pantry and we had already started. Yeah, yeah...I know all you "Home Ec. Teachers" out there..."You should get out ALL your ingredients first before beginning" but we didn't, so Will saved the day by bringing some home.

As I checked in on Taylor's measuring and mixing I noticed she had a HUGE mound of baking soda in the bowl. After questioning it she said she put in 2 teaspoons just like it asks. Come to find out she had not realized that tsp and tbsp meant two different things. Great teachable moment! Even better was we caught it BEFORE it was detrimental to our taste buds!!!

As, I was teaching Tay about the difference between tsp and tbsp mind you I was using my calm teacher voice I had a MAJOR flashback to the first time a friend and I TRIED to make Banana Bread by ourselves. He was reading the directions aloud while I was doing the measuring and mixing. Well, he read "One cup oil" and I remember asking him to re-read it...Yep, he said, "ONE CUP OIL" So, I thought fine... I didn't question it again until the buzzer went off on the stove and we opened the oven door...to find two bread pans OOOOZZZZING with oil! I can still see them as plain as day. They were the most disgusting looking things you have ever seen in your life! Needless to say that should have been a sign of my future cooking abilities!!!! The worst part was we were more than capable of reading...we were in middle school!

Taylor and I decided to make muffins instead of loaves of bread. The title of the post was soooo very accurate! They are the best pumpkin muffins ever! I think they would be very good with raisins or dried cranberries added into the mix! I suggest giving the recipe a try. Plus, check out Grace Violet. I think you will enjoy her stuff.

For My Workin' Girls

I know some of you have had a LONG exhausting day and I wanted to help in someway relieve some of your stresses! So here are a few things for you to relax with tonight.

1. NOT COOKIN': Knowing many of you like I do, I know there won't be much home cookin' going on in your homes tonight. But here is a simple recipe that you could use for your 2nd night of school (or any other night for that matter)!

Easy Chicken Bake

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 40 min
Makes: 6 servings

Recipe
1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup Sour Cream
1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained
Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.
Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with the stuffing.
Bake 30 min or until chicken is cooked through


2. SIT DOWN! Most of you have been on your feet all day for the first time in months. Let your feet relax. You can also get a pop can and roll your feet over it to help massage your arches.

3. H2O: You have been talking ALL DAY LONG. Drink lots of water to replenish your body and help your vocal cords rest. Remember: for the most part your kids were pretty quiet today...tomorrow they begin to come out of their shells!

4. ENJOY: Do something you enjoy doing whether it be watching tv, reading a book, blogging, listening to music, etc. You have many more days (179 to be exact) to concentrate on school work.

5. BED: Get to bed at a decent hour. You just put out every ounce of energy you had for those kids today. Make sure you re-charge because they are comin' back in full force tomorrow!

6. WEEKEND: Only 3 days away and it's a THREE DAY WEEKEND...even better!

Remember...it starts all over tomorrow!