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Appetizers (1) Bread (7) Breakfast (8) Dessert (22) Drinks (1) Main Dish (40) Side Dish (14) Vegetables (7)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cheesy Chicken Chowder and Rolls


Moses Lake got some snow! We've hardly had any snow this winter, so we were excited when we woke up to lots of snow. When I got a call saying that my Zumba class at Curves got cancelled because of the weather, I was excited because I've been wanting to have the Penas over, but work almost every night. So I thought it was a perfect excuse to make my favorite soup! We love them and can't wait for Brit to have her baby!!! She is due in about 5 days, so hopefully she has it soon!

Cheesy Chicken Chowder

3 cups chicken broth
2 cups diced, peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery (I don't put them in, cuz Blake doesn't like it)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk
2 cups grated cheese
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup

In large saucepan bring chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat and add potatoes, celery, carrots, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer until veggies are tender. While simmering, melt butter in a medium saucepan; add flour and mix well. Gradually stir in milk and cook until thickened over low heat. Stir in cheese and cook until melted. Add to broth along with chicken and cream of chicken soup. Stir together, then serve.

Dinner Rolls

1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened

With Bread Machine
Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.
When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.

Without Bread Machine
In large bowl add warm water and warm milk (I put milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds). Then I add in the sugar and stir until dissolved. Then add yeast and leave it to foam for about 15 minutes. Then I added in the butter, salt, and egg. (If the butter is hot, wait a minute before adding the egg, to make sure it doesn't cook the egg.) Make sure all ingredients so far are mixed well. Then start mixing in flour 1/2 cup at a time. (You might not use all the flour it asks for.) After all ingredients are mixed in let dough raise about an hour. Then punch down dough and form into rolls (any style works). Then once on the pan, let raise for about another hour.  Then bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown in a preheated 400 degree oven.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Pauladeen's Monster Cookies



Recipe
1/4 cup raisins, optional
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
1   stick butter, softened
1   12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3   eggs
2 teaspoon baking soda
4 1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.


I made these for Blake's team for their first day of the Winter quarter. I'm not gonna lie, they looked really good! It has been so fun watching basketball this year! Blake's team is really good, and Blake has been doing SO good. He continues to amaze me. I am his biggest fan (and Blake has a lot of big fans in Moses Lake)! A lot of them don't even know him, but will come up to me after games and tell me how good Blake does. I just agree... I am kind of proud of him, and am not afraid to let anyone know. I figure that because Blake is so humble, I can be a proud wife. I wish that everyone that loves watching him play just knew how Blake is off the court. They would love him SO much more than just watching him on the court. I am so glad that I get to be his wife. :) And our future son will be so lucky to have him as his dad!



Blake was the MVP of the after Christmas tournament at Big Bend. Their team won the tournament.

 

He hates when he's here (on the bench). I just have to laugh cuz he just glances at the coaches a couple times every minute waiting for them to tell him to go back in. :) I love how much he loves to play.



I have also loved Blake starting to play, because we've got to have some fun visitors come watch him play. Gary has been so supportive and come to lots of Blake's games; bringing people with him!

My dancers also got to perform at Blake's game. Aren't they adorable? :)