Blended Berry Syrup

I'm slowly getting back into making breakfast again. This syrup was a really big hit! There are no exact measurements. Just use what you have on hand. I like the big bag of frozen blueberries from Sam's Club. I always seem to have some on hand.

In a medium sauce pan dump:

5 cups frozen blueberries
1 pint strawberries, tops cut off
1 cup sugar
pinch salt

Let this sit on medium heat while stirring occassionally. After about 10 minutes it will start bubbling. Let it bubble for about 10 more minutes. Then dump it all into a blender. This will be enough syrup for our family for the week. Keep in the refridgerator.

Sunday Roast

I LOVE this easy meal! We had potatoes, carrots and roast all the time growing up. Except Mom didn't use the baby carrots. That's a convenience I've picked up. It was a given on Sundays that Mom would have homemade rolls and even cake or cookies to go with it! For some reason my logo wouldn't paste onto this pic. Oh, well.

I'm sure you could use a different kind of roast. I prefer the chuck. Chuck roasts tend to be more fatty, but they give the best flavor and they always turn out super moist. I've tried rump roasts and they are always hit and miss. They tend to be more dry. Maybe that's why they are cheaper. I got this chuck roast at Sam's Club and it was a hit!

In a crock pot dump in this order:

2 cups baby carrots
5 small potatoes, cut up
3 cups beef broth, mixed with lipton onion soup
4 lb chuck roast, salted and peppered

Cook on low 8 hours

Let roast rest on warm for an hour and then scoop up vegies with a slotted spoon. Serve with hot rolls or biscuits.

Cheesy Penne

In a large pot boil one box of penne pasta.

In a smaller sauce pan melt slowly while stirring often:

2 cream cheese

1, 1/2 cup real grated parmesan cheese

1 cup butter

1 cup milk (you can add more if you don't want it so thick)

Drain pasta and add to your cream cheese mixture!

Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken

I like the texture of chicken that has been cooked on the bone. I think it tends to be a bit more moist. Here I have cooked 2 chickens. Each was 5, 1/2 lbs. I managed to get them both into my 7 quart crock pot. I let the meat fall off the bones and cool. Then I put 2 cups of chicken per ziploc baggie and throw them in the freezer. I include the dark meat, too. You can't tell when you use it in chicken crouissant sandwitches, enchiladas, or soups!

Have all your ingredients out and handy so it is a clean and quick process!

Clean and pat dry your chicken. I am assuming you are cooking just one.

Mix:

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp garlic salt

Rub your chicken with:

4 TBL room temp butter

Take 6 cloves of garlic and slide them between the skin and the breast meat. You may need to use a knife to get the slit started.

Cover the chicken in the salt rub you made earlier.

Place in crockpot. No added water! Cook on low for 10 hours.

If you cook 2 chickens then make up two separate rubs and use 12 cloves of garlic. Also cook it for about 11-12 hours. (I had to reset my timer for a couple hours and just kept an eye on the clock)

Banana Bread and Muffins

This banana bread is a staple at our house. I also like to freeze it! The muffins can be put in a gallon size ziploc to freeze as well! I like the bread best on the second day, after it has been in the plastic bag for several hours. The top gets a chewey carmel texture. Yum!

This recipe can be doubled and even trippled.

In a large mixing bowl smash:

3 bananas

Add and mix:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 T oil

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

Now add and mix well:

2, 1/2 cup flour (I use 1/2 cup wheat and 2 cups white)

3, 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Now you can add 1 cup chocolate chips.

At this point you can make 2 loaves of bread or 2 batches of muffins. Use muffin sleeves for fast clean up.

For bread - grease bottom and 1 inch up the sides of the pans. Bake for 55 minutes at 350. Let sit and cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pan.

For muffins bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Chicken 'N Dumplings

I have only about 3 months until my little bundle gets here. I want to post a few recipes in the mean time. Then I will take another break. Hopefully by Christmas I will feel up to holiday baking and kitchen fun again!

The chicken I used in this recipe was from the crock pot garlic chicken. I'll post that soon.


Bring to a boil:

6 cups chicken broth

Add to the chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes:

1 heaping cup chopped carrots
2 celery sticks

While the vegetables are simmering prepare the dumplings.

Dumplings:

Mix in medium bowl:

1, 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt

cut into the flour and mix well:

3 T shortening

Using a fork slowly add:

3/4 cup milk

Now add 3 cups diced, cooked chicken to the simmering carrots and celery. Then add the dumpling mixture one tablespoon at a time. The dumpling mixture will completely cover the soup pot. Keep the stove top on low and put the lid on the soup. Let it cook on low for 30-45 minutes.

The dumplings will cook together, but when you serve it up the serving spoon will break them up.

Yummy!!

Special Bundle

Christmas time is my busiest month in the kitchen. But this year I have something extra special in the oven...and it won't be ready until the first part of July. Until then I have NO desire to be in the kitchen.