Apple Pie

Ingredients:

Filling:

2-3 peeled and chopped apples

4 tbsp apple jelly

4 tbsp cornstarch

cinnamon to taste

Topping:

1 maple and brown sugar oatmeal packet

½ cup sugar

½ cup flour

1 stick butter

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Pour filling into 9 inch deep dish pie crust. Top with topping. Bake for 30-45 minutes.

*This recipe also works well with strawberries, peaches, etc...

Verse Of The Day: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor." ~ Romans 12:10

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package KRAFT Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, divided
• 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups  Salsa

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix chicken, soup, 1/2 cup of the sour cream, 1 cup of the cheese and 3 Tbsp. of the cilantro until well blended.
2. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam sides down, in greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with the salsa and remaining cheese.
3. Bake 25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. cilantro; top with the remaining 1/2 cup sour cream. 

Verse Of The Day: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:7

Creamy Pork Tenderloin

Austin and I just got back from a trip to the east coast to visit family and friends. We had a good time seeing everyone but are definitely glad to be home. Austin is just coming off of a sinus infection and a stomach virus and I have a cold so we are laying low this week trying to catch up on rest. I am posting the recipe that I am making for dinner tonight. It is very easy and a great recipe when you don't have a lot of time or energy to cook. It also usually makes enough for us to eat on twice.

Creamy Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pork tenderloin (i usually buy the onion and garlic pre-seasoned kind but you could also buy a plain one and season it yourself)
• half bag of frozen mixed veggies
• 1 can each of cream of mushroom, cream of celery, and cream of potato
• 1 cup rice

Directions:
Put pork, veggies, and soups in crock pot. Cook for 6-8 hours. Shred pork with a fork. Serve over rice.

Verse Of The Day: "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." ~Jeremiah 31:25

Ham And Pineapple Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped fine
• chopped jalapeno
• garlic
• ginger
• 2 green onions, sliced, plus more for garnish
• 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 4 ounces finely chopped ham steak
• 1 cup crushed pineapple
• 1 cup rice
• sesame oil
• soy sauce

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the onion, garlic, ginger, and green onions. Saute until tender and golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in the red bell pepper, jalapeno and the ham steak and saute until the pepper starts to soften. Add the rice and pineapple and mix with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps. Stir-fry until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the sesame oil, and the soy sauce to taste.

Verse Of The Day: "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." ~Isaiah 40:31

My Herb Garden

Every year since we've lived in this house we have had an outdoor garden. The first two years I did a mix of vegetables, fruit, and herbs. This year I have decided to do my herbs indoors to save space in the outdoor garden for more vegetables as well as to make the herbs more accessible for every day use. I bought an over the sink shelf so my herbs can sit by the kitchen window and get plenty of sunlight. I planted basil, cilantro, parsley, and thyme. So far all my plants look great! (I will post more about the outdoor garden in a month or so when it warms up enough for us to plant.) One of the recipes I look most forward to making once my herbs come in is my fresh basil pesto. Here is the recipe:

Basil Pesto

Ingredients:

• 3 cups chopped fresh basil leaves
• 2/3 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• olive oil

 Directions:
Put basil, pine nuts, cheese, and garlic in a food processor or blender. Puree, adding a little oil at a time until you get to the desired consistancy.

This sauce makes a wonderful pesto chicken pizza. Just spread the pesto on a pizza crust and add chopped chicken, marinated artichoke hearts, chopped red onion, and diced tomatoes.

Verse Of The Day: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• ½ cup half and half
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli

Directions

1. Melt butter or margarine over medium heat in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook and stir onions in butter or margarine until tender.
2. Boil broccoli until tender. Drain.
3. Add milk and cream cheese to onions; stirring until cream cheese melts. Stir in shredded cheese and broccoli. Stir until cheese melts, and soup is heated through. 

Verse Of The Day: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

4 Years

Today I celebrate 4 years of marriage to my wonderful husband. In honor of that, I am posting one of our favorite special occasion recipes. (goes great with a glass of white wine)

Crab and Jumbo Shells

Ingredients:

• 1 box jumbo shells pasta
• 1 container ricotta cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup basil
• 2 cans crab meat, drained
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 5 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 4 cups milk

Directions:

Boil water. Add a pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook 8-10 minutes. Drain pasta. In a large bowl mix together ricotta, 3/4 cup parmesan, egg, basil, crab, salt, and pepper. Preheat oven to 350. Stuff shells and place in buttered baking dish. Cover with sauce and sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. (sauce recipe follows). Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Sauce:

In a medium saucepan melt butter. Add flour and whisk until smooth (about 2 min). Gradually add in milk, whisking until sauce is think, smooth, and creamy (about 10 min). Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Verse Of The Day:

 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Chocolate Rice Pudding

I made this for Josh and I for Valentines Day and it was fantastic (especially with a little whipped cream on top)

Ingredients

• 5 cups milk 
• 2/3 cup arborio rice (the kind you use to make risotto)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine the milk, rice, vanilla, and sugar. Bring the milk to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the cocoa powder.  Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and refrigerate for 2 1/2 to 3 hours and up to 1 day ahead.

Verse Of The Day: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 1:6

Crab Cakes

Ingredients:

2 cans crab, drained

¼ red onion, finely chopped

3 green onions, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

¼ bell pepper, finely chopped

handful cracker crumbs

1 egg

½ cup miracle whip

1 tsp mustard

Worcestershire sauce

Thyme

Oregano

Garlic salt

Pepper

Paprika

Onion salt

*Sorry the spices don't have measurements beside them, I rarely ever measure out spices. Just consider it a few shakes of each.

Mix all ingredients together and form patties. Lightly brush with flour, mixed with salt and pepper. Brown in oil for 3 minutes on either side.

Verse Of The Day: "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power." ~Isaiah 40:29