Homemade Play Doh Craft Recipe

Homemade Play Doh Craft Recipe

My kids love Play Doh, but at the rate at which they seem to dry it out, it gets ridiculous constantly purchasing it. This recipe makes more than your standard little cup of Play Doh, and you can customize it to the shade you want. This is a great recipe to have on hand when you want to do something and getting out of the house isn’t an option. It would also make a great gift for a little creative tyke.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tspn cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients
Add water and oil slowly, mixing all lumps out well
Microwave mixture for 1 minute then stir VERY well, repeat until there are no sticky spots
Cool
Knead well, store in zip lock bag, or air tight container

Lasts about 3 weeks.

Hint: Add a few drops of food coloring for different colors!

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can cream mushroom
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tspn ground black pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups medium egg noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions:
Stir soup, milk, black pepper, parmesan cheese, vegetables, chicken and noodles in a casserole dish
Bake at 400* for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir
Top with cheddar cheese, turn to oven for an additional 5 minutes

Honey Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Freezer Meal Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Freezer Meal Recipe

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp basil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together inside a ziplock bag and freeze
Don't forget to label with cooking directions!
To cook, thaw overnight, cook in crockpot for 5-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high

*Hint, make a few bags of this and have dinner for multiple days. This is great served with rice.

Seasoned Salt Spice Recipe

Seasoned Salt Spice Recipe

Why buy seasoned salt when it is so easy to make at home? This is a simple recipe that can be used for a variety of dishes.

Ingredients:
8 tablespoons salt
4 tablespoons freshly ground pepper
1 tspn cayenne pepper
1 tspn dried sage
1 tspn marjoram
1 tspn rosemary
1/2 tspn ground cloves
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1/2 tspn cinnamon
1/4 tspn ground mace

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse to blend well
Store in an air tight jar away from heat and light

Biscuit Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Biscuit Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Maybe I am just a big kid at heart, but this is one recipe that I love. For one, its much easier to use biscuits than mixing, and rolling out a dough, and for two, I can make it much more quickly. I tend to stick with just cheese and pepperoni as my toppings, but you can use anything you wish.

Ingredients:
1 can biscuits
1/2 jar pizza sauce
Pepperoni slices (or other toppings)
Shredded cheese

Directions:
Spray a round pie pan with nonstick cooking spray
Break each biscuit into 3 pieces and lay on pan
When all biscuits are broken and in the pan, squish the broken biscuits together to make a dough
Spread dough with pizza sauce, top with pepperoni, or other toppings, and cheese
Bake at 350* until biscuits are fluffy and cheese is melted

 

*For a larger pizza, use a large can of flaky biscuits and a 9x13 pan, adjusting the amount of sauce needed to cover the dough

Simple Buttercream Icing Recipe

Simple Buttercream Icing Recipe

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
4 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing bowl and beat on high speed until smooth

This is a great buttercream icing to make adorable monster cookies:

(Sandwich buttercream between two sugar cookies, roll edges in sprinkles and add eyes and noses (we used mini M&Ms for the eyes)

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

I’m a big fan of “skillet” dinners, but only if they taste good. Far too many skillet dishes are pre-packaged and just lack in taste. This recipe lacks nothing. The salsa gives it a nice taste that packaged skillet entrees cannot.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup water
6 flour tortillas, cut into small strips
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions:
Cook beef in a large skillet wit about 1/4 cup water, drain grease, and break up any large chunks of meat. Return to skillet
Stir in soup, salsa, water, and tortillas. Heat to a boil
Reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Stir
Top with cheese

*To make this creamier, add in 1/2 cup sour cream with the soup

Three Ingredient Raziti Recipe – Freezer Meal

Three Ingredient Raziti Recipe – Freezer Meal

I’ve noticed that a lot of people who make freezer meals tend to make them in bulk. If you are making fancy dishes then it can be quite time consuming, but adding this one to the mix can give you more meals for less time. Its quick, and only has 3 ingredients. This is one of those meals where you can easily make more than one at a time.

Ingredients:
Rotini noodles
Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded Cheese

Directions:
Line an 8x8 pan with foil
Add noodles and sauce and top with cheese
Freeze, then remove foil "block" and freeze inside large ziplock bag* (Gallon size)
To cook, bake covered with foil at 350* for 30 minutes
Uncover, bake additional 30 minutes

*When freezing, be sure to label with cooking directions!

The EASIEST Freezer Meal Recipe EVER (Chicken and Rice)

I came across this recipe on Facebook and it sounded way too easy not to make. I was hoping that my family would love it so I can easily make 3-4 at a time to keep in the freezer.

Chicken and Rice (EASY!!!!) Freezer Meal Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 box Wild Rice mix
1 can cream chicken
1 can cream mushroom
1 can (drained) mushrooms
1 soup can water
6 chicken tenders (uncooked)

Directions:
In a large bowl mix all ingredients except the chicken
Pour into an 8x8 pan
Place uncooked chicken on top
Cover and wrap in foil, label with cooking instructions, and freeze
To cook simply thaw, then bake at 350* for approximately 1 hour or until the chicken is done and the rice is tender

(Meal below is uncooked, prior to freezing)

Spinach Vegetable Dip Recipe

Spinach vegetable Dip Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package frozen spinach, chopped
5 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/8 tspn hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1/2 cup watercress
8 ounces plain yogurt
1 1/4 tspn no-salt garlic seasoning
1/8 tspn freshly ground black pepper
1 purple cabbage

Directions:
Cook spinach, drain and wring out all juice
Using a blender, or by hand, combine spinach, onion, watercress and parsely. Set aside
Place remaining ingredients except cabbage in blender and blend until smooth.
In a bowl, combine the vegetables and yogurt and mix to blend well.
Refrigerate at least two hours to allow flavors to blend
Hollow out the purple cabbage to use as a serving bowl.

*Serve with stiff crackers, bread crumbs, or fresh vegetables.

Grilled Banana split S’mores Camping Recipe

 

Grilled Banana split S'mores Camping Recipe

The first time I made this recipe I failed to see the “wrap in foil” part and my bananas were one huge mess. I certainly don’t recommend making the same mistake I did! This is a great Summer recipe, but can be made year round - just use the oven instead!

Ingredients:
6 bananas, in the skin
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
6 large graham crackers

Directions:
Set grill to medium heat, or use a campfire
Make a long slit in each banana from end to end, through the skin and down to, but not through, the skin on the other side. Gently open the banana. Divide chocolate chips and mini marshmallows among bananas, pressing with your fingers to fit as much as possible.
Wrap each banana in aluminum foil and place on center of grill or around perimeter of fire.
Cook 5 minutes, or until chips and marshmallows are melted and banana is warm.
Serve immediately with graham crackers for dipping

Pineapple Nut Delights Cookie Recipe

Pineapple Nut Delights Cookie Recipe

This is one of those cookie recipes that is so good, it is gone before the cookies go bad. They are a perfect combination of moist, sweet, and crunchy flavors.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tspn vanilla
4 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup canned pineapple crushed
1 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn salt

Directions:
Mix together
Drop onto baking pan and bake at 350* for 10 minutes
Roll in powdered sugar to finish

Orange Barbecue Cocktail Sausages Appetizer Recipe

Orange Barbecue Cocktail Sausages Appetizer Recipe

Ingredients:
1 pound Lil' Smokies
1 cup Barbecue Sauce
1/4 cup orange marmalade

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a skillet and cook until heated thoroughly

*Cranberry sauce can be used in place of orange marmalade
*Recipe and image obtained from some random recipe card

Smokin' Succulent Grilled Chicken Recipe

Smokin' Succulent Grilled Chicken Recipe

Welcome to the beginning of Summer.. Grilled food and great parties are to come!

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tspn chipotle chili powder
Chicken strips or breasts

Directions:
Blend first 5 ingredients
Set 1/2 of the mixture aside.
Grill or broil chicken, brushing with remaining mixture until thoroughly cooked.
Serve with any remaining mixture

Soft Baked Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Soft Baked Chocolate Cookies Recipe

These cookies bring back such good memories. Every time I see this recipe I instantly want to make them. For a person with a sweet tooth like mine, they are great. When cooked right, these cookies are pure perfection.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tspn vanilla
1 cup flour (self rising)
1/4 cup cocoa

Directions:
Cream butter
Add sugars and continue mixing
Add egg and vanilla, continue to mix well
Finally, add cocoa and flour
Mix well
Drop onto cookie sheet
Bake for 8 minutes at 350*

*The addition of chocolate chips makes these an ultimate chocolate chocolate chip cookie

Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

I joke around that my middle child must have been switched at birth because he doesn't like cake. My entire family loves cake, except him... His birthday is tomorrow. Maybe I can convince him with this recipe ;)

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter
1 (4oz) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs
1 tspn vanilla extract
3/4 tspn salt
1 bag miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting (Recipe below)

Directions:
Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet
Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes or until toasted
Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate in a large microwave safe glass bowl at HIGH for 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring evey 30 seconds
Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture
Pour batter into a greased 15x10 jelly roll pan
Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows, bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Drizzle warm cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkle evenly with toasted pecans.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 (16oz) package powdered sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract

Directions:
Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted.
Cook, stirring constantly 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat.
Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and medium-high speed with hand held electric mixer until smooth.

*Recipe and image compliments of Southern Living

Damper Recipe (Bread)

Damper Recipe

Ingredients:
4 cups self-rising flour
1 tspn sea salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together very well
Form into a round loaf and place on cooking sheet
Bake at 425* for 25 minutes
Then lower temp to 350* for 5-10 minutes

*This recipe can be used as a bread bowl, just scoop out the inside and set aside, then fill with your favorite dip and use the bread crumbs to dig in

Beef Pie Recipe - Freezer Meal

Beef Pie Recipe - Freezer Meal

Ingredients:
Beef stew meat
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Seasoning
2 pie crusts

Directions:
Cook stew meat, carrots, celery and onions in large pot with seasoning.
Pour cooked stew fixings into unbaked pie crust
Be sure to leave some of the juice in the pie
Cover with additional crust, wrap in foil and freeze*

To cook, place frozen pie in oven 375* approximately 30 minutes

*When freezing, be sure to label with cooking directions.

Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe using No-Boil Noodles

Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe using No-Boil Noodles

Italian food is one of our favorites. Italian food without all the prep is even better! This freezer meal can be served immediately, or frozen and served later making prep time nearly non-existent. I recommend making multiple pans of this to have on hand.

Ingredients:
No boil noodles
1/2 cup ricotta
1/2 cup cottage cheese
Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded cheese
Ground Meat
Onion

Directions:
Brown meat and sauté onion
Mix all ingredients except noodles
Layer like traditional lasagna, layering noodles and the mixture. Top with shredded cheese
Wrap in foil, freeze
Bake 20-40 covered at 350*
Uncover, bake some additional minutes to finish. Baking time varies on size of dish used

Hint: Use disposable 8x8 pans and make multiple batches at once to freeze more than one!

Chocolate Gravy Recipe

Chocolate Gravy Recipe

Chocolate Gravy is really as delicious as it sounds. It’s a Southern favorite, and found served with biscuits. Whip this easy recipe up the next time you serve biscuits for breakfast and impress your family.

Ingredients:
1 stick margarine
4 tablespoons flour (all purpose)
4 tablespoons cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
2 cup milk

Directions:
Melt butter in a sauce pan
Whisk in flour and cocoa
Then add sugar and milk and mix well
Cook over medium heat until thick

*This would also be great served as a dip for French Toast Sticks