Jelly Belly $10,000 Cupcake Challenge

I just entered the Jelly Belly $10,000 cupcake challenge, and you should too!  The rules are that you have to use Jelly Belly flavored jelly beans to create and decorate a cupcake, then submit a picture and type up the directions for how you created the cupcake.  You can see my entry here:  A Fish Eat Fish World.

Or you can enter the contest for yourself here: Jelly Belly Cupcake Challenge.

Good Luck!

Squirrel it Away

When I lived in Utah, our Relief Society started a program called, "Squirrel it Away".  Our awesome relief society president even rented a squirrel costume and came and spoke to us about food storage.  It was hilarious.  Since I am such a spaz at knowing what to store and how to store it, I have found comfort in following this program, so I thought I would share it here for any other food storage spaz's to use!

This is a suggested schedule for accumulating basic food storage.  Purchase the items listed per member of your family.  Example 3 cans of corn x 4 family members = 12 cans of corn.  If your family does not eat a certain product, substitute for something similar that you like to eat.

January:
Week 1: 1 box instant mashed potatoes, 1 cake mix w/ frosting
Week 2: 1 box oatmeal, 1 jar mustard
Week 3: 1 bottle honey, 1 bottle syrup
Week 4: 4 cans tuna fish, or chicken, 1 jar miracle whip or mayonnaise

February:
Week 1: 1 jar favorite jam and 1 brownie mix
Week 2: 2 cans favorite canned meat, 1 bottle ketchup
Week 3: 1 large can chicken in broth, 2 cans pork and beans
Week 4: 2 cans beef stew or chili, 2 cans kidney beans

March:
Week 1: 3 jars applesauce, 3 cans peaches
Week 2: 1 bottle vegetable oil, 1 can shortening
Week 3: 3 cans favorite fruit

April:
Week 1: 1 large package of favorite drink mix
Week 2: 1 large box instant milk
Week 3: 1 large box Tang or orange drink mix
Week 4: 1 bottle of vitamins

May:
Week 1: 1 bottle peroxide, 1 bottle isopropyl alcohol
Week 2: tube of first aid cream, bag of cotton balls
Week 3: roll of first aid tape, rolled ace bandage
Week 4: dish soap

June:
Week 1: laundry soap
Week 2: 2 bars bath soap
Week 3: bleach & stain remover
Week 4: tube of toothpaste, mouthwash

July:
Week 1: shampoo, conditioner, other hair products
Week 2: feminine hygiene items, diapers
Week 3: napkins, paper cups, plastic utensils
Week 4: paper plates, trash bags

August:
Week 1: toothbrush, band-aids
Week 2: toilet paper, baby wipes
Week 3: batteries, flashlights
Week 4: waterproof matches, candles

September:
Week 1: 5 lbs sugar and 1 box powdered sugar
Week 2: 5 lbs flour and 1 jar yeast
Week 3: 2 lbs brown sugar and 2 lbs salt
Week 4: baking powder, baking soda, and 1 box foil

October:
Week 1: 3 cans of corn, 3 boxes of jello
Week 2: 3 cans peas, 3 boxes of pudding
Week 3: 3 cans string beans, jar of pickles
Week 4: 3 cans tomatoes, 3 spaghetti seasoning packets

November:
Week 1: 4 cans cream of chicken soup, 1 jar salad dressing
Week 2: 4 cans chicken noodle soup, 1 jar chicken stock
Week 3: 4 cans cream of mushroom soup, 4 cans of refried beans

December:
Week 1: 3 cans of favorite soup, 1 box saran wrap
Week 2: 2 lbs macaroni, 2 lbs spaghetti
Week 3: 2 lbs rice, 2 cans of yam or pumpkin
Week 4: 1 jar peanut butter, 1 box Ziplock bags

Other items you may need:
medications
journal
first aid manual
cleaning supplies
light bulbs
disposable razors

Chicken and Mushrooms with Gravy

This is seriously one of my favorite things to do to a chicken.  I love the combination of the pancake mix coating and the sweetness of the apple juice in the gravy.  Just the smell of it cooking makes me salivate!

Chicken and Mushrooms with Gravy
Source: Rigby 8th Ward HFPE Meeting
4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Can Mushrooms, or 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Cup Apple Juice
1/2 Cup Water
1 Cube Butter
Dry Pancake Mix (1/2 cup-1 cup)

1.  Coat chicken with pancake mix and brown in a frying pan with butter.
2.  Place chicken in a 9x13 baking dish when browned.  Use remaining butter to saute mushrooms.  Addd in soups, apple juice, and water.  Heat untill well blended.  Pour over chicken.  Cover with foil
3.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until tender.
4.  Serve extra gravy with mashed potatoes.

Pizza Pasta Bake

Pizza Penne Bake

(from www.onedishdinners.com)

Ingredients

1 lb. pasta noodles, such as penne, ziti, mostachioli or other “medium” shaped noodle
3/4 cup pizza sauce
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
About 30 pepperonis, cut in half
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
About 1 cup pizza blend shredded cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cook the pasta as directed on the package in an ovenproof saucepan or Dutch oven.  Save 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain.
• To the same saucepan or Dutch oven, add the reserved cooking liquid and the pizza sauce and whisk together.  Then stir in the chopped peppers and halved pepperonis.  Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the drained pasta noodles.  Toss together.
• Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the pasta and then sprinkle the pizza blend shredded cheese over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until cheese begins to melt.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve Pizza Penne Bake and kill that pizza craving!

My Favorite Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Source: (My good friend PPS)

4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup sugar mixed with 1 Tbsp cornstarch

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup chicken stock or water

1 tsp garlic salt

1 Tbsp ketchup

1 Tbsp soy sauce

Salt and pepper

Directions:

1.  Thaw chicken and dip in flour.  Brown in oil. 

2.  Mix remaining ingredients together in a mixing bowl and pour over browned chicken in frying pan.  Heat through for about 5 minutes until mixture is thick and bubbly.

3.  Serve with rice and mixed vegetables.

Kielbasa Wraps

 Sometimes, I get really sick of chicken and ground beef dinners.  It seems like they are the only two meat products that can be used in dinner preparation and there are only so many different things you can do to a chicken!  Every now and then we like to mix it up, espeicially when the name of the meal sounds cool, as in "Kielbasa Wraps", come on, I know you want to say it out loud, try it it' fun!

That said, it is also a cheap and tasty meal.

Kielbasa Wraps

(Kielbasa is the big sausage looking thingy that you get from the meat section, Hillshire Farms makes some good ones.)

1 pkg. Kielbasa (any flavor)

1 cup ketchup

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

Tortillas

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

White Rice prepared (enough for 4 servings)

Directions: 

1.  Cut the kielbasa into bite size pieces and brown in a frying pan.
2.  While the kielbasa is browning mix ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.  Add to the frying pan with the kielbasa and heat until thick and bubbling.
3.  Prepare rice according to package directions and mix with kielbasa sauce mixture.
4.  Heat tortillas for 20 seconds in the microwave, fill with kielbasa mixture, and top with cheese.

Bet You Wish You Had One of These...

Okay, so I know it's totally dirty, but that just shows you that it is well used.  Every morning when I cook my breakfast, I sigh and hug my toaster, I just love it.  This was a Christmas present from my dear husband two years ago.  Not only is it a toaster, but it also cooks an egg and a piece of ham (or bacon, or any meat product) while simultaneously toasting bread.  So in under five minutes you have all the makings for a ham, egg, and cheese sandwhich (or mcmuffin if you use english muffins)!  It has provided countless filling and low carb breakfasts (thank you bran bread) that taste delicious.

I know, this is kind of a weird post, but I couldn't help but profess my toaster love.

(in case you are interested, we got it at Shopko)