Caesar Salad Chicken Wraps

I am not sure where this recipe came from originally, BUT my friend Tiff H made them for me for lunch one day and I was hooked. Thank you Tiff H.
UNCOOKED Tortilla's (don't substitute - you won't regret it)
1 can chicken
romaine lettuce
quartered cherry tomatoes
Caesar salad dressing
crushed tortilla chips
salt and pepper

Cook your tortilla's according to the package. The rest is pretty self-explanatory . . . open chicken, drain, and season with salt and pepper.
Stack your wrap with all ingredients above and top with your favorite Caesar dressing. So good.

Enjoy!

Spicy Beef

This is my dad's recipe, who served a LDS mission in Thailand. He lived there for 2 years and he is a wonderful Thai chef, if I do say so myself. As little kiddo's my brother, sisters, and I grew up eating the spiciest foods. My baby sister had a higher tolerance for spicy food at 18 months than most adults do. :) Anyways . . . I LOVE Thai food. I am learning more about Thai cooking and loving it to death - it does take a while to master. So with that being said . . .

If you don't like this . . .you might not want to try this recipe.
It called Fish Sauce and my husband HATES it. For those of you who don't know, since moving to our new home in August, he is still commuting to his old job 3 days at a time, an hour and a half away. It really sucks. The only benefit is that I can make this while he is gone. Hee Hee. That is why my menu varies so much. Half the week it is my kids and I, so I can have this and pancakes for dinner and get away with it. The other half of the week he is home and we make more comfort foods.
Anyways . . . here is the recipe:Spicy Beef* (All you need is this:)1 lb ground beef
1 medium sized diced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
3 T fish sauce
2 1/2 T lemon juice
2 T basil
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if desired - my dad adds like 2 T)

Brown hamburger with oninons. Add fish sauce, lemon juice, garlic, basil, and flakes. Stir, cover, and simmer for 7-10 minutes.

Serve over rice and with fresh grilled pineapple.*You have to add more basil, fish sauce, or lemon juice depending on personal preference. If it's too salty, reduce fish sauce. If it's too lemony, reduce juice, etc.
*I LOVE THIS MEAL!!!!!
* You will love it too if you try it and it tastes right. :) Good luck. I can't wait to hear how it goes - let me know. All of the family and friends I have made it for (or my Daddy) have loved it!

Garlic Bread to Boot

This is my favorite way to make garlic bread . . .

1 loaf french bread
1/2 stick butter
2 T minced garlic
Parmesan cheese

Cut bread down the middle in half lengthwise. Make sure your butter is soft and spreadable and then stir in your garlic right with the butter. Spread LIBERALLY over all the bread. I use a basting brush I believe. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Broil in oven until golden brown or until you start to smell the cheese. :) Don't burn it like I did, which is why there is no picture.

*My husbands favorite side for anything pasta is just plain sandwich bread broiled in the oven topped with a generous amount of cheddar cheese. Really yummy and the kiddos love it just as much as dad.

Lasagna

So, I am no Ina Garden, or whatever her name is, so you won't find any Italian Sausage or Ricotta Cheese here. My lasagna is all about simplicity and affordable. It's dang good too. This recipe is for you my Show Low friends. 6-9 lasagna noodles
1 jar your favorite Spaghetti Sauce
1 lb ground beef
1 diced onion
1 T Italian Seasoning
1 big carton of cottage cheese
2 C grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 T parsley
salt and pepper

Cook lasagna noodles. Meanwhile brown hamburger and onions. Season beef with salt and pepper and your favorite Italian Seasoning, which mainly consists of oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram. Slowly stir in spaghetti sauce, remove from heat, and set aside.

Your noodles should be done cooking by now, so remove them and place on tin foil to dry. You don't want to put them in still dripping or your lasagna will be dripping. :)

In medium size bowl mix cottage cheese, 1 C mozzarella (half of it), parmesan, egg, and parsley.

Preheat oven to 375. Time to start the layers :) Start with a spoonful (probably about a half cup) of meat mixture on bottom - to prevent sticking. Then a layer of noodles, then cheese. And repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese, cover with tin foil, and bake for 1 hour. Take the tin foil off the last 10 minutes and let the cheese get all toasty :)

Enjoy! Serve with yummy garlic bread and your favorite salad.

Corn Bread

3/4 C corn meal
1 1/4 C flour
1/3 C sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 C milk
1 egg
1/4 C vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400. Blend all dry ingredients. Stir in remaining wet ingredients until combined and creamy. Pour batter into greased 9x9 pan and bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Serve with White Chili (recipe below)

White Chili With Chicken

3 T olive oil
1 large diced onion
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 cloves minced garlic
2 cans white kidney/navy beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 C frozen corn
1 can diced green chilies
2 C chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
2 T softened butter
1 1/2 T flour
Pepper
3-4 T half-and-half (optional)
Grated cheddar or monterey jack

Warm oil in large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute, stirring constantly until cooked through. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, and garlic and saute another minute. Stir in chicken, beans, corn, chilies, broth, and salt. Bring to gentle simmer and simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine butter and flour until creamy. Add flour mixture to chili and stir until thickens, about a minute. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
If broth to thick, add more chicken broth, if too thin add half and half to thicken.
Serve chili topped with grated cheese.

(I forgot to add the cheese, which would have made this soooo much yummier - really good soup)

(Courtesy of Family Fun)

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough
1 package dry yeast (or 1 T)
1 tsp sugar/honey ??? (any preferences out there)
1 C warm water
2 1/2 C flour
2 T olive oil
1 tsp salt

In mixing bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and water. Softly stir and let stand until creamy. (About 10 minutes) Stir in flour, salt, oil, and honey if you choose to use it. Beat until smooth and dough cleans away sides of bowl. May need to add more. Let rise for 5 minutes!!! That's it!!!
Preheat oven to 450, with pizza stone in it, if you use one. Put dough onto lightly floured surface and roll into round.
You can let it rise some more if you want or you can transfer it right to a lightly greased pizza pan or pizza stone. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or golden brown.

Our all time favorite is pepperoni, but bbq chicken is awesome as well. Let me know your pizza ideas!

If anyone has a pizza dough recipe that they absolutely LLOOVVEE. Please leave comments telling me all about it. I have yet to find the "perfect" crust, if it even exists.