Chinese Chicken Salad

This one is a huge family fav! This is a recipe that my mom made when she visited us in Tucson. I am sure she got it at Relief Society. I think Aaron was about 8 or 9 yrs old....cause I know he wanted to taste it right away and my mom told him he had to wait because it has to sit in the frig for 8 hrs. He was so dissapointed. When making it, it smells SO delish that you just want to gobble it right up. I kinda like it with the noodles crunchy...but then again, there is something to be said for it to sit and "marinate" in the dressing! I kinda tweeked the original recipe. I added mandarin oranges and pinneapple.

CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD

2 pkgs fresh coleslaw

3 pkgs. chicken flavored Ramen (not cooked!!! seriously...you laugh, but I had a sister-in-law who actually cooked them when making it and then asked why it didn't turn out!!!)

1 pkg chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1 bunch green onions, chopped ...only the greens!

1 29 oz can mandarine oranges, drained

1 21 oz can pinneapple tidbits, drained

Mix these altogether. (crunch up ramen into bits)

DRESSING

1 cup oil

3 oz red vinegar

3 packets of flavoring from Ramen

3 T. sugar

1/2 tsp. pepper (I add a sprinkle more)

Pour dressing over salad. Mix and refrigerate 8 hrs or overnight.

My mama says that it can last in the frig for a week!!! We never tried that because

it was always gone in a heartbeat! Enjoy!!

French Bread

I got this recipe for French Bread from the Martha Stewart show about 15 years ago. She actually had on the show a French Chef who ran a cooking school in France. This was her recipe. I tried it and fell in love with it. I have been using this simple recipe since then. (I have tried to find the segment of the show...but couldn't) It only makes one loaf....but that one loaf is amazing!!! (I tried doubling the recipe, but it doesn't quite turn out the same.)Here is the recipe:

FRENCH BREAD

1 1/3 cups warm water

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. yeast (yes it is only 1 tsp. NOT Tablsp.)

Mix togetherand let set till bubbly....about 5 min. I always let it sit on top of a warm oven...just to help it out a little! This is called "proofing" the yeast.

Then add...

2 T. olive oil or canola oil (I always use Olive oil)

1 tsp. salt

4 cups of flour (I only put in 3 cups....then add the fourth as I knead the dough in the bowl)

Knead in bowl for 5 minutes.

Cover and let rise till double...about 1 1/2 hours

Punch down dough and turn onto a floured surface. Knead for about 6-8 minutes.

Put in bread pan sprayed with Pam. Let rise until desired height...about an hour?




Ready to put in preheated oven @ 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Do not over cook!





Take out of pan and let cool. Enjoy!!

As you can see...it is light in color. It is a crusty bread and melts in your mouth! Enjoy!

Caramels (only the bestest EVAH!!)

This recipe is actually one I got from Mary Bradford in Tucson. They are the most delicious and soft caramels I ever tasted. Mary actually did a demonstration in Relief Society one night. And I have been making them for Christmas each year! And this is the first "candy" recipe here on my new blog!! So, enjoy!!

CARAMELS

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups white Karo syrup

1/2 lb. butter

2 cups heavy cream

Mix sugar, butter, syrup and 1 cup of the cream together in saucepan.

Cook 10-15 minutes (I always do 15) Add 1/2 cup cream. Cook 10-15

minutes. Add the rest of the cream (1/2 cup) and cook to a hard boil.

Stirring constantly and scraping bottom. I test the caramels a little at

time. Just drop a bit into a bowl of ice water. When it sets up and is at

your desired consistency...pour into a buttered 9x13 pan. Let cool to

room temp. Cut into desired size and wrap in wax paper. This makes

a big batch! Enjoy!

Sunday Dinner with the Bell's and Dabczynskies

Tonight Ames and Emily came to dinner and also Em's parents, Andy and Diane.

They brought ham, so I made my favorite...Scalloped Potatoes!!

This recipe is from a very dear friend, Ruth Bird. She used to manage the Lion House (if I remember correctly?) and this was a recipe she got from there. So, here is one of my favoritest dinner recipes. Sometimes I put in cubed ham to make a one dish meal.

POTATOES O'MALLEY

8 potatoes ...peeled and cubed (I cook them in the microwave before assembling!)

1 pint sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 bunch green onions ...chopped and only use the green

1/2 cube margarine (but I always use buttter)

1 cup grated cheese

pepper and salt to taste

parsley as desired

combine all ingredients except potatoes. Put potatoes in a 9x11 pan that has been sprayed with Pam. put mixture on top and mix together. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. I usally make this the night before and it turns out so amazingly!!!Enjoy!

The start of something fabulous!

So, over the last little while, I decided to start this blog filled with the recipes I have collected my whole life. I did this mainly because, over the last little while, I have had some of my children asking for certain recipes ...so I figured that if I put them on here they would be easily accessable. (I have been told I am hard to get a hold of. I don't know how this could be...because I totally return my missed calls! I don't get it) That said, I thought I would start this blog off with a new recipe...yep! that's right...a new one. Why a new one, you ask? Well, A) It is "the most amazing thing!!" 2.) It will be sure to become a family favorite and D.) Why not??

so here goes...my first recipe on this amazingly, fabulous blog!!

CRANBERRY SALSA

1 pkg fresh cranberries

1 medium sized jalapeno pepper (seeds out)

1 green onion

3/4 cup sugar

1-2 T. fresh cilantro

1/4 tsp. or less cumin

Blend all together in blender. Refrigerate overnight.

serve with wheat thins

and it's THAT easy and WAY, WAY delicious!!!

I just got this recipe from a friend at work...so thank you Connie Farr!! Enjoy!!