Pizza and Marinara Sauce

I found this recipe for homemade pizza from a New York girl at this site http://www.injennieskitchen.com/2010/01/pizza-for-project-365.html
I have not had better homemade pizza and credit it to Jennie and her expertise in New York pies. I don't know if it is the dough recipe, or the high cooking temperatures that makes this pizza so good. Or maybe it is the homemade pizza sauce. Trust me, it is so yummy! Notice how the cheese has started to brown on top. It even looks like a professional pizza. And don't mind the slice with green olives. I happen to be the only one that likes them and had to have them on my slice. Enjoy!

The Best Homemade Oreos

If I had to deem a cookie as being my husband's favorite, I'm almost positive it would be this one. I happen to be more than ok with this because they are really easy to make, and because they involve a hefty amount of cream cheese frosting. I could eat that stuff by the spoonful. 

The Best Homemade Oreos

Cookies:

1 package Devil's Food Cake Mix

1/2 c. shortening

2 eggs

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Roll dough into small balls. (I roll mine out to slightly smaller than a golf ball.) Place balls on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Let cookies sit on cookie sheet until set and then remove to cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Spoon cream cheese frosting between two cookies and sandwich together.

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter, softened

1, 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

3 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

*Makes about 12 oreos, give or take a few depending on desired size.

Thai chicken peanut noodles

I found this great recipe at the following site. I frequent the sisters cafe site quite often and have found some yummy recipes there. It is such an easy and delicious go-to meal because I had almost everything on hand. I did not have a red pepper, so I opted for grated carrots instead and it was just as good. It is nice to have another option for a quick chicken and noodle dinner that everyone in the family will enjoy.



http://www.thesisterscafe.com/2008/05/thai-chicken-peanut-noodles-2

Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie

This pie is so good. So good that my brothers asked that I leave the leftovers for them after stuffing our bellies full on Thanksgiving day.

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Once again, I found this recipe on our cousins' blog. They've got some killer recipes over there--go check it out!

Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie

2 ready-made crusts, Oreo or Chocolate Graham*

1 small instant vanilla pudding mix

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. cold water

3 c. whipping cream, divided

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp. butter

2 tsp. vanilla, divided

1/3 c. powdered sugar

Chocolate curls

Bananas

Ganache: In a saucepan, heat 1 c. whipping cream with 1 tbsp. butter. Heat until it's hot but not boiling. Add 1 c. semi-sweet chips and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir till smooth. Divide into two crusts and chill for 30 minutes.

Pudding mixture: Mix together pudding mix, water, and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Put into fridge to set up (5-10 min). Whip 1 c. whipping cream until soft peaks form. Gently stir into pudding mixture.

Arrange thin slices of banana on the ganache and top with pudding mixture.

Beat remaining 1 c. whipped cream, 1/3 c. powdered sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla until stiff. Spread on top and save some to spoon mounds around the edge. Top with chocolate curls and enjoy!

*For a homemade crust:

Place 30 oreos in a ziplock bag. Crush oreos, cream included, with a rolling pin until fine. Place 7 T softened butter in ziplock and combine. Empty oreo pieces into pie tin and press in tin until crust is formed.

Erin's Enchiladas

So right after I had my twins, my friend Erin brought over these yummy enchiladas and they quickly became one of my favorites. Now we know that there are many enchilada recipe variations out there, but being a girl from Texas I love an authentic enchilada recipe. This recipe proved to be just that. First, the recipe calls for corn tortillas and everyone knows that you are supposed to use corn tortillas when making an enchilada. Second, the sauce is homemade. None of this enchilada sauce from a can. Finally they taste amazing and you will just have to try them to be 100% convinced.

On a side note, when making these for my children I definitely cut back on the chili powder. Like I only use half of the allotted amount. They are still fabulous! If your kids can take the heat, then definitely leave it in!

On another side note, my family probably hates me for this but we have broccoli a lot. I know you are probably all thinking that broccoli and enchiladas do not go together, but in my family it does. Anything to get them to eat some greens.

Chicken Enchiladas

Sauce

2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp chili powder (I use 1 Tbsp when making it for my kids)
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 14 oz chicken broth
1 8 oz tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
Heat oil and stir in flour and chili powder. Cook for one minute. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Chicken and Cheese mixture
2 chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
1/2 c cheddar cheese
1/2 c Monterrey jack cheese
1/4 c sour cream
1/4 c cilantro chopped
1/2 c sauce (made above)
1/2 c thinly sliced green onion
4 oz can diced green chilies

Combine and fill in the corn tortillas

I like to heat my corn tortillas on the stove for a few seconds each. This makes them pliable so the don't break when filling with chicken and cheese mixture. Make sure you spray your 9x13 pan with cooking spray or put a little sauce down in pan so your tortillas don't stick. After you have filled all of your tortillas, pour remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 min. Just until cheese melts and tortillas begin to crisp up a bit.

Creamy Potato Soup

Are you sick of all the soup recipes yet?

My husband dropped a subtle hint a few weeks back letting me know that it was soup season. I'm almost positive I had already started making soups at that point in time. However, sitting here now I realize that the soups I had been making were a bit more 'healthy' than the one seen below, and probably a bit too 'healthy' for his liking. I believe the soup below was the soup my husband was hinting at a few weeks ago. According to him this soup is not just good, it's really good. Like, don't even think about touching any leftovers because it already has his name written all over it, good.

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Creamy Potato Soup

(Recipe found here on our cousins' family cooking blog.)

2-3 c. diced or cubed potatoes

1 c. shredded carrots

1 c. chopped onion

½ c. chopped celery

12 oz chicken broth

Put vegetables and chicken broth in pan and add water just to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are soft. Make white sauce and add to cooked vegetables. Keep hot but do not boil.

For the white sauce:

¾ c. butter

¾ c. flour

1 quart half-n-half

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

Melt butter and add flour, salt and sugar. Be careful not to burn as it browns quickly. Slowly stir in half-n-half and cook stirring constantly until thick. 

Thanksgiving Day Menu

I realize everyone probably already has their menu set for tomorrow, but if you're in a bind and looking for something good you're in luck. Our brothers are coming into town to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and I think we're all pretty excited about it.

Our menu plan is as follows:

The Best Cheeseball
Almond and Pomegranate Salad
Tara's Melt in Your Mouth Dinner Rolls
Turkey by mom (We let her do her thing--no recipe for this one.)
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes Loaded with the Good Stuff (Marshmallows)
Roasted Carrots, by Pastor Ryan
Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie meets Banoffee Pie
Cherry Pie
Pumpkin Pie provided by Sister Kirkland (thank you Costco)
And a surprise chocolate pie I was just made aware of.

**Click on any highlighted item for the direct recipe. All other recipes will be posted shortly after Thanksgiving Day.


Happy Turkey Day to you!