{Semi} Homemade Cherry Turnovers

 

This is a recipe that popped into my head yesterday, and I couldn't wait to try it out. Do you like Pillsbury Toaster Strudel? Well these are BETTER! And you can make more of them for less moolah!

Make these for breakfast, brunch, dessert, a snack, when you're bored, when you can't sleep, when you want something sweet, when you want something fruity, when.... Well you get the picture. They are SO yum-o and I almost got a stomach ache from eating too many of them.

 

Here's how to do it:

Fall Makes Me Happy - and Hungry

Fall is officially here at our house. Last week, we cleaned, put out the Fall decorations, and made Fall-inspired meals.

 

 

I opened up the basement storage room to find the goody-filled tub labeled "Fall." I always like that feeling I get when I look at the decorations from years past, almost forgetting this piece and that. It's like opening up presents, when I think to myself, "I remember this! I love this!"

 

I removed most of the bird themed decor where I planned to change things up, and replaced them with the treasures in my tub.

 

A snapshot of some of my shelves

 

 

The top of the entertainment center



 

 

My favorite season brings apples on our tree, yummy comforting meals and a real sense of calmness. The colors on the leaves and the overcast weather make me want to be productive. I can't say enough about Fall. We're like "this" [fingers crossed]. :)

 

Here is a new recipe I tried last week. It was amazing. If you love vegetables, especially delicious Fall squash, this one is perfect for you. Just take my recipe and run with it. Add your favorite veggies, if you're feeling adventurous! I found the recipe from Kraft recipes, and changed it up how I wanted it.

 

CHICKEN & PARMESAN VEGGIES

 

 

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

1/4 cup Italian Dressing

1 zucchini, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions

1 cup mixed vegetables (I used a combo of green beans, corn, carrots and peas)

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (I actually used some of my husband's home-grown cherry tomatoes. He had placed them in a bag in the freezer, and I let them thaw a few minutes, halved them and removed the peels)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

HEAT large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cover with lid. Cook 5 to 7 min. on each side or until done (165ºF). Transfer to platter; cover to keep warm.

ADD dressing, zucchini and onions to skillet; cook on medium heat 4 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in mixed veggies and return chicken to skillet for 4 min. or until vegetables are heated through. Stir in tomatoes; cook 1 to 2 min. or until heated through.
TOP with cheese and serve.


...Then go make an apple pie to go along with it. I'm off to harvest apples from the front yard!

 

Simple 6 Ingredient Hashbrown Casserole

It's easy, it's fast and it's pretty much failproof. With just six (inexpensive) ingredients, you can make dinner in a flash!

Hashbrown Casserole



 
• 2 cups Frozen Hash Brown Potatoes
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 lb Ground Beef, Browned & Drained
• 1/2 cup Diced Onions
• 1 can Corn, Drained
• 1 cup Salsa

1. Spray a 9x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Mix the hash brown potatoes, 1/2 cup cheese, browned ground beef, onions, corn and salsa in a large bowl (or even in the sprayed baking dish).

3. Pour your mixture into the sprayed baking dish & cover with foil.

4. Bake @ 400 degrees F for 40 minutes.

5. Remove foil and sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.

6. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy! ♥ Sugar Mama

Defeat Dinner Doldrums the EASY Way

Are you experiencing the home cook's equivalent to writer's block? I have suffered from the same problem for far too long. Enter Kraft Foods and their large selection of simple, easy and tasty recipes, all waiting for you to try out.

Have you heard of Kraft's great website, www.KraftRecipes.com? I have utilized this site for so long, and felt like sharing it with you. If you haven't checked it out, you should. It's great! When I'm in need of some dinner inspiration, this is one of the first places I check.

Some of the greatest features of the site, other than it being free, are the following. I love the "Recipe Box," where you can store recipes from the site for later safe-keeping. The "Shopping List" gives you a line-by-line list of every item needed for a given recipe, and it lets you remove items you already have on hand (such as 1 Tbsp of flour), as well as add your own items.

You can rate the recipe after you try it out, too. Going back to see how many stars I gave, as well as the detailed notes I took from last time I made something, makes it so much easier for me to remember what I did and didn't like about the recipe. Then the coups de gras for any dinner-designing doldrums has to be the "Use What's on Hand" recipe finder. This thing is amazing! If I have a box of stuffing mix in the cupboard and want to use it up, I type it in the finder, and voila! Every recipe using stuffing mix appears!

Want to see some of the recipes I've made in the past week or two, as well as some of my favorites? Let's talk a walk...

This recipe is for Cheesy Chicken Empanadas. Simply put, these hit it out of the park at our house. The ready-made pie crust gives it such a great flavor and texture, and it was e.a.s.y.

This recipe is for French Onion-Pork Chop Skillet. While I've never been the biggest fan of pork, other than the classics of ham and bacon, It's really starting to grow on me. I made this in no time last night, and it was delicious!

This recipe is for Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. I've made this both on the grill and in the oven, creating little individual foil packets. It is a dish we have dined on about a dozen times, and it never seems to get old!

This recipe is for Irish Beef Stew. While my husband worked in the garden late Saturday afternoon, I was "slaving" over this simple stew. He cannot wait for me to make it again. Oh, how will I find the time? :)

This recipe is for Dijon Balsamic Herb Chicken. My family liked the dish. I gave it four stars, only because I thought the sauce was just a little overpowering. But if you're a total fan of balsamic vinegar, this could be something you fall in ♥ with.

This recipe is for COOL 'N EASY Strawberry Pie. To explain this deliciousness of this dish would take forever. I have a cousin who practically begs for it every time we're together for a visit. She's this close to getting down on her knees and tugging on my pant leg just to get me to make it. In a phrase, it's easy. Are you sensing a pattern, here?

This recipe is for Barbecued Chicken Packets. I mean, come on. Four ingredients, 20 min total cooking time. Could it get an easier? I gave this 5 stars for this an other reasons. To find out, you'll just have to try it. I dare ya.

So with seven yummy possibilities, what are you waiting for?!? I could go on forever, but that would take, well, forever! If you're fighting hunger with a side of brain-block, check out the Kraft Foods website. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do!

♥ Amanda

My FAVORITE Chicken Casserole Recipe --- It's so different!

I know this post has nothing to do with crocheting, reviews, or my shop in general, but I wanted to share with you my favorite recipe for a chicken casserole. It sounds so weird, but it tastes so good! I found it years ago on the Kraft Recipes website.

The first time I made it, I was reluctant after reading the name and ingredients that it would be anything but yucky. Boy, am I glad I tried it out anyway! It has been a favorite with my family for years, now! And it is SO EASY to make!

SWISS & CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Ingredients

*4c Chopped, Cooked Chicken

*2c Croutons

(I use these amazingly yummy $1 bag of cheese garlic-flavored croutons from Wal-Mart)

*1 1/2c Shredded Swiss Cheese

*2/3c Mayo

*1/2c Milk

*2-4 Stalks Celery, Thinly Sliced

*1/4c Chopped Onions

Steps

#1. Combine all ingredients.

#2. Spoon into 2qt casserole.

#3. Bake @ 350° for 40 minutes or until heated through.

How easy is that?!!? I hope you'll try it out. And I hope you'll like it as much as I do!

:)

Sugar Mama