August 2015 Recipes

I shared yesterday our menu for the month.  Remember that it is our no spend month so these meals are cheap and easy.  Some of them are free for us because they are things that are made out of what we always have on hand in our food storage.

Tuna Melts:  These are super easy and cheap and surprisingly one of Louis' favorites.

Bread
Canned Tuna
BBQ sauce
Sliced cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  On a baking sheet place however many pieces of bread you're using.  Drain tuna and mix with BBQ sauce.  You can also use mayonnaise, but we prefer BBQ sauce.  Spread mixture over bread and top with cheese.  Place in oven for 8-10 minutes.

Parmesan Fries:  This was the first time we made these are they're soooo good!  And potatoes are cheap!  We're having a lot of potatoes this month.

3-4 large potatoes, sliced into wedges
4 Tbsp olive oil (we ran out of olive oil so we used canola oil, turned out fine)
2 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 C shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375.  Lightly grease a large baking sheet and set aside.  Place potato wedges in a large Ziploc bag.  Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.  Pour salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning into bag, close, and shake bag to spread the seasonings around.  Place potato wedges on prepared baking sheet in a single layer with skin side down.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Best Ever Bread sticks:  I can't even count how many times I've made these, they're delicious!

1 1/2 C warm water
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp softened butter
4-5 C flour

Topping:
3 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder

Place warm water, sugar, and yeast into the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment and let stand for 10 minutes.  It will be thick and frothy.  Mix briefly, then add salt, butter, and gradually add 2 C flour mixing on low.  Slowly add the remaining 2 C of flour, more if necessary until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.  Mix on low for 5 minutes to knead the dough.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise about 1 hour.
Lightly sprinkle work surface and your hands with flour and scoop the dough onto the counter.  Roll out dough and cut dough into 12 pieces.  Roll each piece into a bread stick shape and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Cover again and allow to rise for 20-30 minutes in a warm place.
Preheat oven to 400.  I usually do this while the bread sticks are rising and place the baking sheet on the stove to help them raise faster.  When ready place bread sticks in oven for 7 minutes.  While it's cooking prepare topping.  Melt butter and mix in the salt and garlic powder.  Remove bread sticks from oven and brush with butter mixture.  Return to oven for another 7 minutes and when finished brush with butter mixture again.

Meatballs

32 oz bag frozen fully cooked meatballs
18 oz jar grape jelly
18 oz bottle BBQ sauce

Combine jelly and BBQ sauce in crock pot, add meatballs and give a good stir to coat with sauce.  Cook on high for 3 hours.  I usually make rice to go along with this.


Chicken Taco Soup:  The only annoying thing about this recipe is you have to open so many cans.

4 chicken breasts (can be frozen)
1 can black beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained (I use kidney beans sometimes)
1 can diced tomatoes drained
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can chicken broth
1 packet taco seasoning

Spray crock pot with cooking spray.  Place chicken in crock pot and dump the rest of the ingredients on top, give it a stir.  Cook on low heat 7-8 hours or high high for 4-5 hours.  Serve with shredded cheese and chips.  I also like to add in cooked rice after it's cooked to thicken it up a bit.

Wingers Sticky Fingers:  This is amazing and delicious and best of all easy and quick!

1 pkg frozen breaded chicken strips (I get the Kroger brand)
6 Tbsp Frank's hot sauce
4 Tbsp water
1/2 C brown sugar

Prepare chicken strips as directed on the back of the package.  While it's baking prepare the sauce.  Heat hot sauce, water, and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Dip each piece of chicken into the sauce and place on a platter.  Serve with ranch dressing and mashed potatoes.

Bread Stick Bun Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches:  Olive Garden copy cat recipe.  Some of you may remember seeing a picture of this not too long ago.

Bread stick recipe from above
Frozen breaded chicken strips
Spaghetti sauce
Sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese

Use the bread stick recipe from above, but only cut dough into 6 pieces to make larger bread sticks.  Bake chicken as directed, then assemble your sandwich!  To assemble, cut open bread sticks.  Place one of two pieces of chicken on each bread stick bun.  Top with some spaghetti sauce and finish with a slice of cheese.

Pizza Dough:  I don't know exactly what kind of pizza I'm going to make, so I'm just sharing my pizza dough recipe.  It's super simple and quick.

2 1/2 tsp yeast
1 C warm water
2 1/2 C flour
2 tsp honey
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil

Spread:
2 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp Italian seasoning

In a large bowl, combine water and yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved.  Add in flour, honey, salt, and olive oil.  Use a wooden spoon to combine.  Once the ingredients are well combined with the spoon, use your hands to knead the dough for a few minutes (I've also done this in my kitchen aid mixer and it worked great and was even easier!  Even with out the mixer though it's so easy!)  Form the dough into a ball, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 450 and spray 16 inch pizza pan with cooking spray.  Roll the dough out on the pan and roll the edges to form a crust.  Mix the spread together and brush over dough.  Place in oven for 8 minutes.  Remove from oven and add sauce, cheese, and toppings.  Return to oven for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta:  This is a one pot meal and something I usually have all of the ingredients for so it's one of our free meals!

1 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 C chicken broth
1 C milk, or more, as needed
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 C Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp parsley

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.  Stir in chicken broth, milk, butter, and fettuccine; season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, about 18-20 minutes.  Stir in Parmesan.  If the mixture is too thick, add more milk.

Spanish Spaghetti:  One of my Mom's classic meals

1 lb ground beef
Italian seasoning
3 C spaghetti, uncooked, broken into thirds
2 cans tomato soup
shredded cheese

Cook and drain ground beef, stir in Italian seasoning.  Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain and return to pot.  Preheat oven to 350.  Stir in ground beef and tomato soup with spaghetti.  Pour mixture into a 9X13 baking pan and top with shredded cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes.

BBQ Chicken 

4-6 chicken breasts (can be frozen)
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 C vinegar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic powder

Mix BBQ sauce with all ingredients under it.  Place chicken in crock pot and pour sauce over it.  cook on low for 4-6 hours.  You can eat it as is, but I always shred the chicken and serve on rolls, or with rice, or with mashed potatoes.

BBQ Chicken Pizza:  You may notice that I have this pizza just a few days after the BBQ chicken.  It's because I plan on using the leftover chicken for this!  But here's how to do it when you don't have leftover BBQ chicken.  Also I use the pizza dough recipe from above.  Just do this after the first 8 minutes of baking!

2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
6 Tbsp BBQ sauce (I never measure, just dump some on your chicken)
shredded cheese
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 Tbsp ranch dressing

While pizza dough is baking mix together mayonnaise and ranch dressing, and mix together the chicken and BBQ sauce.  Spread mayonnaise mixture over the dough then sprinkle BBQ chicken over sauce.  Top with cheese!  Return pizza to oven to finish cooking 12-15 minutes.

Kneaders French Toast

2 loaves of bread (here's the recipe I use)
9 eggs
3/4 C milk
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
sliced strawberries
cool whip

Caramel syrup
1 C brown sugar
1 C heavy cream
1 C light Karo syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Slice the bread into large slices.  Preheat a large griddle to 325.  In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar.  Pour mixture into a shallow dish.  Using a large fork, dip each side of the bread into the mixture, then cook on griddle until both sides of the bread are browned.  For the syrup, combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir and heat until the sugar is dissolved.  Serve french toast with caramel syrup, sliced strawberries, cool whip.

Macaroni and Cheese:  I've only made this once, but it was good

1 1/2 C whole milk
1 to 1 3/4 C water
8 ounces small elbow macaroni
1/2 tsp salt
pepper, to taste
1 C shredded cheddar cheese

In a medium pot over medium high heat, combine milk, 1 C water, macaroni, salt, and pepper.  Bring to a low simmer, stirring frequently to prevent macaroni from clumping and the milk from boiling over.  Once the mixture simmers, reduce heat to low (it should still be simmering) and stir continuously until the pasta is done.  The macaroni will absorb the liquid while cooking, stir in more water as needed.  When pasta is and sauce is creamy, remove from from stove and stir in cheese until smooth and melted.

And there you have it guys!  I didn't include every single recipe, but here is most of them!

July Dinner Menu

I decided this month to create a dinner menu for the entire month!  My reasons were to hopefully cut down on the grocery bill and just to simplify things a bit for me.  I've decided to share it with everyone, including the recipes!  This is going to take a while to type up, it's the first of July today, but we'll see when I actually post it, it may be in a few days when I finish :)

Here is a look at my completed dinner menu!

click to enlarge!

As you can see I have leftovers at least once a week.  I don't include side dishes in my menu, I usually just do some frozen veggies or some fruit.  No need to really include it in the menu because they only take a few minutes to prepare.  I've also decided to do breakfast for dinner once a month.  Something that Avery really enjoys!  Waffles and syrup!

I hope everyone can find some new recipes they like!

Now for the recipes.  I'll start on day one.  This one is in the crock pot right now, and smells so good!  I love my crock pot!

Chicken Tacos  recipe source

5-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (they can be frozen)

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 (16oz) jar of salsa

Directions:  

Place chicken in crock pot, cover with salsa and top with taco seasoning.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low 6-8 hours.  When finished remove from crock pot and shred.  Return to crock pot and stir.  Serve with hard or soft taco with whatever topping you'd like!
*Freezer friendly

I actually have this left over from my mom and dad's farewell, but here is my BBQ chicken recipe.

Shredded BBQ Chicken
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast (they can be frozen)
1 bottle BBQ sauce-I always throw in a bit more on top after it's done cooking
1/4 C vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less to your preference)
1/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Mix BBQ sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and garlic powder.  Place chicken in crock pot.  Pour sauce over it and cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Done.  You can eat it as is or shred chicken and serve over rice, with mashed potatoes, or on buns.
*Freezer friendly

This is a meal my mom made and I have always loved it.  There's no real recipe, but here's how you make it.
Parmesan Chicken Patties
Breaded Chicken Patties
Spaghetti Sauce
Sliced Cheese

I usually buy the Tyson's breaded chicken patties.  Place them on baking sheet, put a spoonful of your favorite spaghetti sauce on each one, top with a slice of cheese (I prefer mozzarella).  Bake as directed on chicken patty package.  I always serve this with mashed potatoes because it's oh so good to cut off a piece and dip it in the mashed potatoes before you eat it!

BBQ Chicken Pizza
1 can refrigerated pizza dough
6 Tbsp BBQ sauce
Shredded cheese
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 cooked and diced chicken breasts
2 Tbsp ranch dressing

Directions:  
Preheat oven as directed on pizza dough and bake as directed.  Meanwhile mix mayo and ranch dressing together; spread over crust.  Mix chicken and BBQ sauce together and sprinkle top.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.  Place back in the oven until cheese is melty, about 5 minutes.

These are so dang good!
Chicken Roll-Ups
2 -3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 package ranch dressing mix
2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls (those ones that are scary to open)
1/4 C melted butter
bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Boil chicken breasts and shred.  In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing mix.  I also add in garlic sometimes because I like it.  Unroll crescent rolls and place a large spoonful of mixture on the wide part of each roll.  Roll up and place on a cookie sheet.  Brush each roll with melted butter, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. (you don't have to do this last part, but it makes them more tasty and fancy)  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Lasagna  (this recipe is from Louis' mom)
Enough lasagna noodles for how many pans you want (12 noodles to each 9X12 pan)
1 lb ground beef
2 cans spaghetti sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
16 oz cottage cheese per pan
1 egg
1/4 C oil

Directions:  
Brown ground beef and drain.  Mix in with spaghetti sauce.  Put a full ladle of sauce int he bottom of the pan.  Layer with 3 noodles lengthwise and one horizontal  (you usually have to bread the horizontal one to fit).  Ladle sauce to cover noodles.  Mix the cottage cheese with beaten egg and the oil.  Spoon on half of the cottage cheese mixture.  Sprinkle cheese on top.  Repeat the process again.  Finish off with noodles and then cover with sauce and sprinkle with cheese.  Cover with tin foil.  Preheat oven to 425 and bake for 15 minutes.  Lower temperature to 350 for 30 minutes.  Take off foil and cook another 15 minutes.
*Freezer friendly

I saw a friend pin this a few weeks ago and it sounded yummy!  I couldn't find the actual recipe though.
Grilled Cheese with Avocado  recipe source
Whole wheat bread
Avocado
Mozzarella cheese
Goat cheese (if you like that kind of thing)

Directions:
Butter both pieces of bread, load it up, grill it up.  Devour

Probably our favorite recipe ever.  It was from my mom, but I'd say I've made it my own by shredding the chicken and eating it as a dip.
Chicken Dip
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast (frozen)
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 jar of salsa
1 package cream cheese

Place chicken in crock pot.  Top with corn, black beans, and salsa.  Cook on high 4-5 hours.  Remove chicken from crock pot and shred.  Return to crock pot and stir together.  Throw cream cheese on top and let sit in crock pot for half an hour.  Stir together.  You can have this with chips, as nachos, in a tortilla with cheese. . .
*Freezer friendly

Pesto Chicken  (My friend Tina gave me this recipe)
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Pesto sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:  
Put a layer of pesto  in a glass baking dish where you will lay each chicken breast, then put the chicken breasts on top.  Add more pesto to the top (a nice thick layer), sprinkle with cheese.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

Baked Tacos  recipe source
2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 package taco seasoning
1 can low sodium tomato sauce
1 can refried beans
2 C shredded cheese
18-20 hard taco shells

Directions:  
Preheat oven to 400.  In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat.  Drain off excess liquid.  Return to pan, add chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.  Mix well and cook for a few minutes.  Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place, standing up, into a 9X13 inch baking dish.  Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat mixture in each shell.  Bake 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  Remove from oven and top with whatever you want, ranch, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc.

Chicken and Veggies
10 medium red potatoes
1 lb baby carrots
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:  
Cut potatoes into chunks.  Place cut potatoes and carrots in crock pot.  Place chicken breasts on top of veggies.  Combine the soups and garlic powder and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Spanish Spaghetti  (A Keeffer family classic!)
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
3 cups spaghetti
3 cans tomato soup
shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:  
Break spaghetti into thirds and place in large boiling pot of water.  Cook as directed.  Meanwhile brown ground beef and onion.  Drain excess grease.  Drain spaghetti and add in ground beef and tomato soup.  Pour into a 9X13 inch baking dish top with cheese.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

This recipe is easy because it's all cans!  Just open drain and dump!
Chicken Taco Soup  (recipe source)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (sometimes I use kidney beans instead)
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can chicken breast, drained (I never buy canned chicken, substitute 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breast, it needs to be defrosted)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can green enchilada sauce
1 can chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.  Dump all the ingredients into slow cooker and stir together.  Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours.  If you didn't use canned chicken this is when you need to shred the chicken.  Serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips.  I also almost always add brown rice to this recipe for some more fiber.
*Freezer friendly

Easy Stromboli
1/2 lb ground beef
1 can refrigerated pizza crust (or make your own)
1/2 C spaghetti sauce
1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Directions:
Heat oven to 400.  Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.  Brown ground beef in medium skillet over medium high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.  Drain and set aside.  Unroll dough on cooking sheet.  Starting at center, press out dough to form 12X8 inch rectangle.  Spread sauce over dough to within 2 inches of long sides and 1/2 in of short sides.  Place cooked ground beef lengthwise down center, forming 3 inch wide strip and to within 1/2 inch  of short sides.  Top with cheese and Italian seasoning.  Fold long sides of dough over filling; press edges to seal.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Tuna Melts
Bread
Canned Tuna
Mayonnaise
BBQ sauce
Shredded cheese

Directions:
 Preheat oven to 350.  Open Tuna and drain.  Mix BBQ sauce or mayonnaise (whichever you prefer) with tuna.  Distribute evenly onto bread.  Top with whatever cheese you prefer.  Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Crock Pot Orange Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped into small chunks
1/3 C flour
Olive oil
1/2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp ketchup
6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or put it in microwave for 45 seconds)
4 Tbsp brown sugar

Directions:  
In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.  Pour the flour in a small bowl.  Cover the chicken breast breast chunks in flour and shake off the excess.  Pour small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour-covered chicken.  The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked since it's going in the crock pot.  After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into a smaller crock pot.  Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and give the pot a stir.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.  Serve over rice and even add veggies if you want a healthier meal.

Taco Salad
1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
Salsa
Corn
Chopped Avocado
Lettuce
Olives (if you like those gross things)
Shredded cheese
Tortilla chips

Directions:  
Brown ground beef, drain and add taco seasoning as directed.  Serve with whatever seasonings you'd like, salsa, corn, avocado, lettuce, olives, shredded cheese, etc.  Eat with tortilla chips.

This recipe is from my mom and I've never made it before.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
2 boneless skinless chicken breast
Mayonnaise
Green onions
Craisins
Sliced Almonds

Directions:  
Okay I'm making this up as I go, because like I said, I've never made it before.  My mom just explained how to make it.  Boil chicken and shred.  Mix in Mayonnaise until it looks good. . .Add in chopped green onions, craisins, and almonds.  Eat on yummy rolls.
*Freezer friendly

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving (which also happened to be Avery's second birthday) was spent with the Brandleys.  My parents were in Vegas visiting my brother Matt so we didn't see them at all this year.  I really enjoyed our day with the Brandleys.
On Thanksgiving morning as I thought about what I am thankful for this year, my thoughts revolved around my Brandley family.  Every single one of them!  I have been truly blessed in the in-law department.
They have always been so welcoming and unconditionally loved me for all that I am.
They are great examples of service.  They are always willing to serve anyone in need.  I know that they would do anything for me and my family.
They always make everyone feel included and welcome.
They love my children so much!  That is what has really made my love for the Brandley's grow.  Seeing them with my kids and the love they have for them.
They are truly amazing people.
Joel, Annette, Josh, Megan, Bubba, (yep, Bubba) Jake, Celestial, Maya, Mr. T, Baby in the belly, (!) Alisha, Pug, Isaac, Phill, Megan, Kami, Sterling, Tifannee, and Kaileb, I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!

Avery loves you too!

Sibling Supper-Fancy Pants Dinner

Now that I've left you all in suspense I'll tell you why Louis was sporting a mustache this weekend.  Every six months Louis and his siblings try to get together for a sibling supper.  I've written about one of them, you can read that post here.  Louis came up with the whole theme for this party.  He even made the invitations.  Aren't they great!

Not the best picture, but deal with it.  If you can't quite read it then I'll tell you that we invited everyone over for a fancy pants black tie sibling supper.  For those who see Louis often you know that he usually has a beard.  Partly because he doesn't like shaving, it tends to irritate his skin, and partly because he just doesn't have time!  His brother Josh has even been calling him Brigham (as in Brigham Young) for a while now.  Obviously he couldn't sport his untamed beard to this fancy party so he shaved for it.  I did not know what he was going to do and then he came downstairs with a mustache.  I may not have been the nicest wife, I gave him a funny look and probably said, "Are you serious?  How long are you keeping that?"  Haha I'm just really not a mustache person and he knows that.  I will say it was fitting for the occasion though.  That's it.  We've spent the last couple of weeks planning for it, and I think everything went pretty smoothly!

Getting things ready

We started out the night chatting while waiting for everyone to arrive.  I took pictures of everyone as they arrived.  First to arrive (besides Kamila because she was there helping set up, she ROCKS!) was

Joshua and Megan

Then came Jakob and Celestial

Then the kids Tifannee, Kamila, and Kaileb

(Sterling was acting in a movie {I'm not joking} and couldn't come) 

(and Phillip of course is on his mission and couldn't make it)

Last to come was Alisha and Jonathon

and here's us!

After everyone arrived Louis invited everyone outside for a little game of croquet, very fancy huh.  He changed it up a little though and played golf rules.  Each wicket (yeah that's what they're called I guess) was a "hole" and we played in two person teams.  I stayed inside to set up for the next activity.  Kamila and Kaileb won and received 3 tickets each.  We gave tickets out for each activity and at the end of the night there were three prizes.

 Kaileb starting out

 Louis taking a whack at it!

Jake and Celestial 

Alisha 

 The winners!

After the game they called me out to get an in-law picture, so here's Megan, Jon, Celestial, and me.

Then everyone came in for appetizers and a blind taste testing.  For appetizers we had baked pita chips and spinach and artichoke dip mmmm!  For the taste testing we had three cups numbered 1-3 filled with Sprite, 7UP and Lemon-Lime soda.  Everyone had to taste them and guess which cup had which soda in it.  Josh won, he got them all right, so he won three tickets.  After the taste testing we had salad provided by Megan.

We then started on dinner.  Chicken Cordon Bleu, (made by Kamila and Louis) mashed potatoes, green beans provided by Celestial, and rolls provided by Alisha.  During dinner we had another little activity.  

Louis announcing the next activity

Louis had gone online and got a bunch of movie quotes.  Each person was given four quotes that they had to use at some point during dinner we were also all given 4 tickets.  If we said our quote and no one caught it then we got to keep our ticket.  If some one noticed your quote, but no one knew which movie it was from them the ticket went back to Louis.  If some one guessed the correct movie then the ticket was given to them.  If you didn't say your quote then the ticket went back to Louis.  There were some funny ones, and there were some that everyone got, and there were some that no one caught!  Even when the person said it 3 or 4 times through out the dinner!

After dinner was finished we took a little break before dessert and played a trivia game.  I had looked online and got a bunch of questions, it was really fun looking them up and I learned a lot of useless stuff!  After the trivia questions were done we served dessert.  Cream Puffs and ice cream (Ice cream provided by Jake).  We thought about making the cream puffs ourselves so over conference weekend we made them to see if we'd be able to.  When I say we it was actually Louis haha I had left in between sessions to get some errands done and so he started it and ended up just doing to whole thing.  They turned out GREAT, but the custard took forever to cook.  So in the end we just bought them.  Here's a picture though of how Louis' homemade ones looked!

Looks yummy doesn't it!  After dessert we just talked and everyone went home around 8:30.  All in all I think it went well and everyone had fun.  Really I should never stress too much about planning a Brandley event, they always make it fun and enjoyable.  Here are a few other pictures of the night.

The table

The place setting.  It's a tux, the fork is the tie
and the collar is actually the name card

The party favors

Oh and the winners of the night were Josh in first place, Alisha in second place, and Kami in third place.

After everyone had left I asked Louis to take some pictures of me.  So here I am at about 16 weeks.

My smile is a little weird, but this one is okay.  Louis realized though that the heart in the back made me look like I had a huge ear!  So we tried again.

He took the picture at 2 instead of 3!

He didn't even count so I wasn't ready at all!

Then finally a good one!  I think I'll stick with using the self timer for my pictures, but thanks Louis!  Love you!

Crock Pot Recipes

I've had a few people in the last little while ask about recipes, some just to everyone on Facebook and some to me personally. I love my crock pot. Throw some stuff in there and walk away for a few hours, come back to tasty deliciousness? Mmmhmm. So I figured I'd just share some of my favorite crock pot recipes on here!

Spanish Rice
2 lb. ground beef
2 C. long-grain rice
16 oz. jar salsa
2 C. water
1 tsp. chili powder
1 16 oz. can corn, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
1 C. cheddar cheese, grated

Brown ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Drain fat. Mix ground beef with remaining ingredients, except cheese, in slow-cooker. Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours or low 6-8 hours or until rice is tender. Stir in cheese during last hour of cooking time. This is great eaten plain, in a tortilla, or with chips.

Orange Chicken*
4 Boneless chicken breast, chopped into small chunks
1/3 C. flour
Olive oil
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. ketchup
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or throw in the microwave for 45 seconds)
4 Tbsp. brown sugar

In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup. Pour the flour in a small bowl. Cover the chicken breast chunks in flour and shake off excess. Pour a small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour-covered. After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into the crock pot. Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and stir. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Serve over rice.
*found on sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com

Sloppy Joes
3 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 C. chopped onion
2 sections minced garlic
1/2 C. green bell pepper
1/2 C. red bell pepper
1 C. ketchup or BBQ sauce
2 Tbsp. vinegar
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Brown and drain ground beef. Mix ground beef with the rest of the ingredients in a crock pot. Cook for 6-8 hours of low or 2-4 hours on high.

Italian Chicken
1 package Italian dressing mix (dry)
1/2 C. water
2-3 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8 oz/ packet cream cheese
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Put water, Italian dressing and chicken breast in crock pot and cook for 1 hour on high. mix soup and cream cheese together and add to crock pot with the basil, salt, and pepper. You can add more water and another can of soup to make it go further and have more sauce. Cook on high for 3-4 more hours or low for 6 hours. Serve over rice or shred chicken and add to some pasta.

Crock Pot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese
4-5 boneless chicken breasts
1 (15 1/2oz.) can black beans
1 (15 oz.) can corn
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese

take frozen chicken and put into crock pot. Add black beans (drained), salsa, and corn (drained). Cook on crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked. Add 1 package of cream cheese (just throw it on top) and let sit for about 1/2 hour. We usually eat this as a dip, just shred chicken before you add the cream cheese.

Hope you enjoy!

Cinnamon Butter

I made something delicious today, and I have to share.  It would be selfish if I didn't.  It is Texas Roadhouse's Cinnamon Butter.  It took about 2 minutes to make.  Here's what to do:
2 sticks of butter (room temperature), 1 C of powdered sugar, 1 C honey, and 2 tsp cinnamon.  Mix it all together until it looks right.  It's ready to eat right away.  It would be a super easy gift!  It only makes one jar though.  I hope you try it, and enjoy it!