Chicken Cow Mein

I was surprised at how easy and delicious this recipe for chow mein is. The girls gobble it right up!

2 cups cubed chicken
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 cup chicken bouillon (1 cube in 1 cup boiling water), you can also use broth
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
1 can bean sprouts--drained & rinsed
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 Tbsp. molasses
1/4 cup water

Brown chicken in shortening or cooking oil. Add soy sauce, bouillon and a sprinkle of salt. Cover & cook until chicken is tender. Add onions, celery & bean sprouts. Cook 10 minutes. In a small pan over low to med-low heat, blend cornstarch, ginger, molasses & water. Stir until thickened.

Serve over chow mein noodles and a bed of rice.

Variation: You can substitute pork, veal, steak, turkey or shrimp. Be sure to adjust bouillon/broth accordingly.

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have to thank my girlfriend, Ericha, for this one. It is a big hit in our house in the cool months. Best of all, the leftovers freeze well!

1 lb. shredded cooked chicken
1-15 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1-10 oz. can enchilada sauce
1 med. onion, chopped
1-4 oz. can chopped green chili peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
1-14.5 oz can chicken broth
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 bay leaf
1-10 oz. package frozen corn
1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chilies & garlic into crock pot. Pour in water & broth, then season. Stir in corn & cilantro. Cover & cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

Top with tortilla strips.


Tortilla Strips

Preheat oven to 400°.
Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with vegetable oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.

Bake until crisp, about 10-15 minutes.
Sprinkle over soup.

14 tortillas should be adequate for total soup.

Butternut Squash Pureed Soup

A relatively easy and perfect soup for the fall. And it freezes well!

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 Butternut squash, pealed & cubed--1"
2 cups chicken broth
4-5 cups water

Sweat onions in olive oil & add a pinch of salt. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Puree & serve.

Homemade Blueberry Muffins

This recipe was so easy to make, and a hit with the lovelies. I prepared it this morning before they woke up so they'd have breakfast ready for them, but it is certainly easy enough to do with them.... next time!

1 3/4 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 c sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 cup blueberries, can be frozen

Preheat oven to 375°. Line 12 muffin cups with baking liners. In a large bowl, combine beat together egg, milk & vegetable oil. Mix in Bisquick, oats and sugar. When all of above ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add blueberries & stir. Scoop batter with an ice cream scoop into cups. Bake in oven for 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Pasta Fazul

In my opinion, this is the best recipe for Pasta Fazul.... thanks, Mom! Its a great use for leftover Bean Soup, and its easy and inexpensive. If you like pasta, there's no doubt you'll like this very thick soup!

1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small can tomato paste
1-2 cups leftover Bean Soup; you can also use 1 can of Bean Soup
salt & pepper to taste
Rotini pasta

Saute garlic in oil on the bottom of a kettle. When garlic is browned, add tomato paste & saute. Add 4 (tomato paste) cans of water. Salt & pepper to taste and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Boil water for pasta. When adding the pasta to the water, add leftover Bean Soup to tomato paste base. Add drained pasta to the soup, stir together and serve.

Serves 4

Tomato & Basil Pizza

Like most American families, mine loves pizza. And since Dayton is not known for fine pizza establishments, we have yet to settle on that must-have pizza. In effort to save money, we've resorted to homemade pizzas, and tonight, I found one my family gobbled up!

Tomato & Basil Pizza

1 Pillsbury pizza crust (refrigerator section)
1 c. pizza sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, cut in 1/4" slices
fresh basil leaves, washed & whole
red onion, diced or in chunks (optional)
1/2-3/4 block Mozzarella cheese cut in chunks

Spread dough onto baking sheet as directed on package. I chose to make a pie, so I had to do a little cut & paste. Spread sauce over dough and top with fresh basil leaves, tomato slices, onions, and Mozzarella slices. Bake @ 450° for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Serves 4


Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

1-15oz. can tomato sauce
Season as desired with oregano, basil, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, etc.

Cook in a small pan to allow flavors to blend.

I split this in half, using half for one pizza, then freezing the other half to use at a later date.

Chicken Parmesan

I made this one last night and it was a hit! I've never made it before, but it was easy and tasty.

4 chicken breast halves, boneless
2--14oz. cans Italian Stewed Tomatoes, smashed
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Oregano, crushed
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce, optional or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese, grated
spaghetti noodles, cooked

Place chicken in a baking dish. Cover and bake for 15 minutes in a 425° preheated oven; drain. Combine tomatoes, cornstarch, oregano & pepper sauce or crushed red pepper flakes; cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour thickened sauce over chicken; top with cheese. Bake 5 minutes uncovered.

Serve over a bed of spaghetti noodles.

Serves 4