Cream Cheese Chicken for the Crock-Pot

3 Chicken Breasts cut up
1 package of Italian salad dressing mix or Tuscan Garlic Seasoning
4 T butter
1 small onion
1 garlic clove
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup chicken broth

1. Place cut up chicken breasts in crock pot and sprinkle the package of seasoning.
2. Slice 2T butter and put into crock pot.  Cook on low for about 4-6 hours (longer doesn't hurt it). (I cooked mine on high for about 3 hours.)
3. An hour before serving saute onion and garlic with remaining 2T of butter. Combine sauteed mixture, cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and chicken broth. Cook until smooth.
4. Add mixture to crock pot and cook on low for another hour.

Gingerbread House Icing

I ended up adding more sugar to stiffen it up some. I used my blender to make it so it may have gotten a little too hot and thus the need for extra sugar. It worked wonderfully though!

Ingredients

• 1 pound sifted confectioners' sugar or more as needed
• 1/2 cup pasteurized egg whites (3 large egg whites)
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Beef Enchilada Dip

We found this great beef enchilada dip recipe and it's a family favorite for sure. Because I didn't have any Jack or regular cheddar cheese I just used mozzarella and mild cheddar cheeses.

2 lbs ground beef - cooked
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 teaspoons garlic - minced
2 cups enchilada sauce
2 cups cheese - your choice!

Some of mine liked sour cream with it and others didn't.

I add the onion and garlic to the hamburger when I'm cooking it. When cooked, add enchilada sauce. Top with cheese and let it sit until cheese melts. Serve.

Steak Marinade

I made a few changes to this steak marinade because I didn't have everything or because I didn't want it to be too spicy. Here's how I used it:

1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice (bottled)
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
 1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon minced garlic

My blender died so I just stirred it all together, put the meat in and called it good. Half the kids liked it half didn't. 

Guacamole

This guacamole recipe is good just how it's listed. I however do not dump out any of the lime juice.

3 avacados, halved, seeded and peeled.
1 lime, juiced (I use lime juice from a bottle)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tomatoes, diced and seeded
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced (I used preminced garlic that I keep in my fridge)

Chocolate Cake (Magelby's)

Magelby’s Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour

3 cups sugar

3 cubes butter

6 Tb cocoa

1 ½ cups milk

¾ cups sour cream

1 ½ ts baking soda

3 eggs

4 ts vanilla

¾ ts salt

1.       Mix flour and sugar

2.       Melt butter, cocoa, and water in pan, pour over the flour and sugar

3.       Mix sour cream with baking soda in small bowl – wait a minute or two, then add to flour mixture along with the eggs, vanilla and salt

4.       Pour into a 9x13 pan and 8x8 pan. Cook at 325 degrees for 45 minutes

Chocolate buttercream frosting

1 cup butter

3-4 cups powdered sugar

½ cup cocoa powder

1-2 Tb milk or half and half

1 ts vanilla extract

1.       In large mixing bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add three cups powdered sugar, cocoa powder, 1 T milk, and vanilla extract.

2.       Beat until combined and fluffy

3.       Adjust with more sugar or milk, depending on what consistency you’re looking for.

Taco Seasoning

This homemade taco seasoning mix is almost perfect. Because my small kids & husband don't like spicy food I've altered the spiciness.

1 teaspoon of each of the following
     - chili powder
     -garlic powder
     -ground cumin
     -dried oregano leaves
     -sugar

2 teaspoons of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Mix all together before adding to cooked meat.
It says it makes 3 tablespoons of seasoning mix which is equivalent to 1/4 ounce package you can buy in the store.

Caramel Popcorn

I found this Caramel Popcorn recipe and because I was out of brown sugar I changed only that part. For the 2 cups of brown sugar I added 2 cups of regular granulated sugar and 4 T of molasses. It's really good - like make at least two batches good!

1 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
4T molasses
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 quarts of popped popcorn

Melt butter, stir in all ingredients minus the vanilla, baking soda and popcorn.
Once boiling, boil for four minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour over popcorn while stirring to evenly coat.
Cook at 250 degrees for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Peppermint Patties

I found these peppermint patties online and made only a couple of changes.

I don't use the chocolate chips, I use chocolate bricks. Make sure you add the oil to the chocolate, it makes it taste better!

When cutting them I cut in squares so I don't have to roll it out multiple times!

For drying I use my dehydrator on high for about twenty minutes - sometimes longer - it depends on the consistency of the patties. I then put them in the fridge to cool completely. Once cooled, I dip them, dry them and eat!

Homemade Wendy's Chili

John wanted Wendy's Chili one night so I looked up a recipe. I only use recipes that have five stars - otherwise it's risky business! I found this recipe for Wendy's Chili and gave it a whirl.

I have changed the recipe to better suit five kids.

2 lbs ground beef (I use 1 when running low)
one 29 oz can of tomato sauce (I use our homemade canned when I have it available)
one 29 oz can of pinto beans (with liquid)
one 29 oz can of kidney beans (with liquid)
one handful of dried onions
a couple stalks of celery
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt

I have added more beans for a thicker soup - without their liquid. I've also omitted the celery when we don't have it.

After cooking the hamburger, I add everything together, warm it up and serve it. It takes me maybe fifteen minutes and it's good. It's great for leftovers too!