Hey all!!!  I decided to post my menu for the month of July here to remind myself, and maybe it will give others some ideas as well.

1.  corndogs and french fries (we were supposed to have something else, but changed it last minute)

2. beef  fajitas

3. chicken enchiladas

4. hamburgers and hotdogs, potato salad, bakes beans, red, white, and blue cupcakes

5. stuffed pasta shells, green beans

6. south of the border chicken soup

7. porcupine meatballs, mashed potatoes, buttered peas

8. ham, broccoli cheese and rice casserole, glazed carrots

9.  bbq chicken, baked potatoes

10.  leftovers

11. pizza

12. pork loin, vegetables, noodles, hot rolls

13. crockpot lasagna and green beans

14.  chilli and cornbread

15.  orange chicken, garlic mashed potates, buttered peas

16.  cheeseburger macaroni

17.  leftovers

18.  chilli dogs

19.  pizza

20.  fried chicken,mashed potatoes and green beans

21spaghetti

22.  sweet and sour meatballs, mashed potatoes and buttered corn

23.  crockpot chicken and ricce, steamed brocoli

24.  leftovers

25.  biscuits and gravy (daddy cooks)

26.  lemon chicken, roasted veggies, steamed broccoli

27.  bbq beef sandwiches, french fries

28.  tasty pork dish, ginger chicken, fried rice

29. pizza

30. chicken enchiladsa

31 leftovers

We had a great cookout last year for lunch, thinking everyone we invited (family friends) would want to go their separate ways in the evening to be with family and shoot off fire works.  Well, we had so much fun, and lots of hamburger and hot dogs, buns and the fixin's left over and after everyone hung out most of the day, talked, laughed, and played games, we decided to do it all over again for dinner! LOL  It was alot of fun, and just upon finishing up dinner and cleaning up afterwards, we heard some fireworks outside.  So we all ran outside and neighbors a few blocks over were shooting off some wonderful fireworks.  We stood outside watching neighbors from all around shooting off fireworks as well as hubby and Kara's hubby shooting off fireworks in our back yard.  It was so much fun.

But it is a different year, and it seems our list of friends from last year all have family get togethers to attend this year.  Some have said they might be able to make it, but in reality, we won't know until the last minute.  So, I am pretty confident it is just going to be hubby, son, and I this year.  We are planning on cooking out most of the day (I will make baked beans and potato salad as well), and enjoying the fireworks in our neighborhood again. 

We are really looking forward to hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, since this will be the 2nd time we have used the grill this summer.  We are also hoping for some good weather, so we can set up Noah'd little pool and he can have some fun in it!!!  He is so adorable slidding down the mini slide in it and plopping into the pool!!

Anyway, I was just wondering what everyone else's plans were for this July 4th holiday.  Whatever you have planned, I hope you have fun, and are safe!

This recipe makes 3 dozen brownies.  YUMMY!

1 pkg (9x13 pan size) fudge brownie mix

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

2 T instant vanilla pudding mix

2-3 T milk

1 can (16 oz) chocolate fudge frosting

Prepare brownie mix according to the package directions.  Spread the batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick insertedd 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, and pudding mix until blended.  Add enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost brownies.  Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.  Spread with fudge frosting.  Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

I found this recipe a few weeks ago in a magazine.

Old Glory Dessert

(serves 10-12)

1 tube (18 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

2 pkgs (one 8 oz, and one 3 oz) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

4 1/2 tsps lemon juice

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

2 cups quartered fresh strawberries

Press cookie dough into a greased 15x10 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown.  Cool; on a wire rack.  In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice until smooth.  Set aside 1/4 cup.  Spread remanining cream cheese mixture over completely cooled crust.  Decorate with berries to resemble a flag.  Cut a small hole in a corner of a pastry or plastic bag.  Insert star tip #16.  Beginning in one corner, pipe stars in the spaces between the blueberries.

So, I have a friend who I talk to almost every single day (unless it is a family weekend type thing), and she didn't work today, so she asked if she could "make an appointment with my washer and dryer".  LOL  I am thinking, well what am I getting out of this, but didn't dare ask, because she would have come up with something smart like, "You get the blessed gift of having my presence in your home while the laundry is washing and drying." LOL  Yeah, she is funny like that. 

So, I thought she was on her way over, when her daughter calls and says, mommy wanted me to call you and tell you we are still coming over there, but she has to deal with something first.  GEESH!  She had already drug her feet all day long (it was 2 oclock by now. LOL).  I said put her on the phone and she continued to tell me DFS (Division of Family Services), and the cops were there.  WHOA! ( Back sotry here.......to fill you all in:   It seems that her ex's new wife is NOT happy that she has to deal with the ex wife (my girlfriend), or the 5 children that CAME WITH THE PACKAGE when you married their father!!!  She has been the evil stepmother in all senses of the name.  She has no children of her own and is pushing the children farther away from their father, because of her actions.  The children were supposed to have this whole week with their father (from last Friday till Sunday I believe), and yet, they were home last night.  My GF had to drive 45 minutes to pick them up at the polive station because the step mom was being mean to them and they were begging to come home.)

Evidentially the new wife, or one of her stooges, called DFS making a report saying the children were not under supervision.  One thing that was said was the youngest boy (1st grader) ran out in front of a car.  But when they asked his brother about it, he said yeah, but that happened at grandma's when we were in dad's care and he wasn't there.  (They weren't even with their mother that weekend!!!LOL)  Anyway.....the cop was real nice because he is a friend of hers.  And I am sure the whole report will come out fine, because it is a lie (she has her kids with her all the time, unless they are with grandparents or staying all night with a friend.  She is definately not the kind who "farms" her kids out to everyone!).  It just makes me so mad that people would make up stories like this to hurt someone, waste the county money on the investigation, etc.

She was upset about it today, and told the ex about it and even he thinks it is rediculous.  But he said he asked his current wife and she swears she didn't do it.  But no one else had the information that she did.  I talked to one of the daughter's today, and she said I heard her say to me and my sister she was going to call DFS and turn my mom in because she is never at home taking care of us!  Evidentially she speaks badly about their mother all the time in their presence and their father doesn't have enough back bone to say anything about it and make her stop.

I feel so sorry for the children involved in this.  They love their dad and want to spend time with him, but they aren't able to spend the rest of this week with him because of his new wife.  And the kids love their mom and hearing their stepmom say such lies about their mother isn't exactly creating a bond between the kids and her.

Please keep this family in your prayers.  It just breaks my heart that the kids are stuck in the middle like this and that the kids and their mother would be hurt and embarassed about someone making a false report like this.  I personally think if someone makes a report, and it comes out to be false, they should be prosecuted!  It is getting rediculous what people will do for revenge now a days. 

Thanks for listening to my rant, and if you find the time and the urge in your heart, please pray for this family and the 5 children involved.

I don't know about the rest of you, but if I don't have a daily, or weekly routine, nothing gets done around here, and hubby gets cranky, and I get stressed, and well.......if I don't want all members to go insane, this is what I do!! LOL  I started off my taking some paper, and writing at the top of each one the name of that room (living room, dining room, etc. etc.), and then on each paper writing a detailed list of what needs to be done in each room. (dusting, windexing, vacuuming, shaking the rugs, mopping, etc.)  Then I divided those rooms into 5 days (I still cook on weekends, but I don't do laundry, or cleaning).  So, this is my mini list of what rooms to do on which days of the week.

Monday:  Clean living room and dining room (these rooms adjoin in my house and get cluttered up over the weekend) and one load of laundry (weekend clothing)

Tuesday: Master bedroom and mini bath, laundry (sheets and towels)

Wednesday: Kitchen, Laundry room/pantry

Thursday: Large downstairs bathroom, office/Noah's bedroom

Friday: Upstairs bathroom, upstairs bedrooms (2)

Saturday:  Review menu planner, review calendar of upcoming events

Sunday: grocery shopping (because we go to church 25 miles away, and there is also a Super Walmart in that town, we do grocery shopping after church), clean out the refrigerator and empty all trash cans (this is because trash can is early  Monday mornings), and collect all dirty clothes (to wash tomorrow)

This is how I keep our house running like a well oiled machine.  LOL  Yeah right.  Some days are better than others, and some weeks are better than others.  But since I have this schedule, if something comes up and I have to skip that day, then I do the bare minimum to get by on that room, knowing that every week I deep clean the room.  If I miss it one week, I make sure I get it the next week.  Things are going to happen......the child is going to have a whiney, clingy day where you need to hold him all day long or else he will scream like a banchee  (yeah, this has happened before), or you have many errands to run that day that take longer than expected, especially if it is a doctor's office and you have to sit there for 2 hours waiting for your doctor, or I have a friend come by (and I put cleaning aside to visit), etc.  So this is a schedule that for me, is a little flexible.

Hope this helps someone out there.  If not, oh well.  I wanted my routine in my files anyway. LOL

Hey all.  I have been lazy about posting my weekly menus lately.  Life has been so busy, but it is starting to calm down now a bit, so I am back at posting every Monday (hopefully).  If anyone is interested in any of these recipes, please PM me, because I haven't yet figured out how to link the recipe here.

Monday:  Sausage Pizza (we didn't end up having pizza on Friday, and since there is leftover cooked sausage from breakfast yesterday, this should be an easy meal tonight.  Plus there will be leftovers for lunches for me and for hubby at work for a day ro two.)

Tuesday:  Lemon Chicken, Roasted vegetables, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday: Beef Fajitas (might even try this in the crockpot this time)

Thursday: Chicken Enchiladas

Friday: We are cooking out on the grill!!!!  Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Baked beans, Potato Salad, and Red, White and Blue cake

Saturday: Pork Loin, and Vegetables (crockpot meal), Hot Rolls (maybe some noodles too)

Sunday:  South of the Border Chicken Soup ( crockpot meal)

I don't normally post lunches and breakfasts because we just grab whats around.  LOL  I always make sure there is oatmeal and cereal and I bake muffins and such for breakfasts.  For lunches during the week, we often just grab a sandwich, or a salad, or eat leftovers.

As with most people I have read from here at HSB, we are striving to be debt free.  First was to pay any outstanding debts (we have no credit cards, but we had a few small bills with the hospital and doctor's office from when Matthew was hospitalized with the flu last fall), and paid them off in one quick swoop!  Yipee!!!  We have no car payments (last car was paid off 2 falls ago), no credit cards, no school loans, etc.  So we are pretty lucky about that.

All we had left in debt was our house mortgage, and since we have only lived here 3 years, that isn't going anywhere soon!  We recently got a letter saying our house payment was going down a bit because of interest rates though!  YIPEEE!  So our house payment is now under $350.00.  We continue to pay extra on our household mortgage by rounding it up to $400.00 and putting the extra towards the principal.  So far, so good.

But, about a week or so ago, my two brothers and I received a letter from Medicaid saying they were suing the estate of my parents (who died in 2006 and 2007) for the amount of $45,000!!!  When mom died (she was the last one to die), the house and vehicle was still in her name.  We all encouraged mom and dad to sign them over to my oldest brother while dad was still alive, but his pride got to him, and he refused.  So....mom and dad were on Medicare but Medicare found out about the house and the vehicle and have been fighting with us for some time to come after both.  We sold the house and the vehicle though, and the money has mostly been dispersed!!!  So now, each child has to come up with the money, or they can take my oldest brother David, (whose daughter just got married, as you can see in previous posts) to court since he is the executor of the estate. 

To make a long story short, my brother David bought me and Chris out on the house, giving us half our money last year, and half was to be dispursed this year.  He gave hubby and I our portions in full, so now we have to pay some of it back since Medicaid is coming after us.  He only gave my brother Chris half of his, but when it all boils down to it, Chris still owes David $2500.00 and we owe alot more.  Try $10,000!!!  Yeah!!! 

We have spent some of the money on fixing up the house a little, fixing my car (bent tire rod, new tires), new tools for Matthew at work, a new laptop computer (a luxury honestly), and well....a bunch of little stuff that adds up!  I wish we had put that in savings and NOT SPENT A DIME!!!  GEESH!!  A lesson learned on this one.

David is so sweet about it.  He is the best brother anyone could ever have, and he knows we are responsible and will pay him back, because he is going to end up covering our portion for us in full!!  YIKES!!!  We have $6000.00 in savings right now.  We will give David $5000.00 this weekend, keeping $1000 in saving for absolute emergencies.  So we will start making payments to him monthly for the rest.

My father was a Insurance Salesman (Medicare and Senior), and he owned his own business.  When he died he hadn't been able to work it for over 2 years, so there isn't alot of business still coming in.  However, the commissions on customers who renew their policies with dad still come in to the Estate (my oldest brother), so they are split 3 ways and dispursed almost every month.  Some months there isn't much, and other months several hundred.  It evens out to be about $500.00 a month.  So we are thinking about just giving those straight back to David and getting this debt paid off immediately.

It is nice that this debt is not from a company or collection agency, and of course David would never charge us interest, but I do so hate owing people money and especially family!!!  We are responsible for this debt and we will pay it, even if it means an extra job for me, cutting way back on expenses, etc.

So, today I am sitting down with a pad and pen, praying over the situation and asking God what we should do.  Matthew is working today, so I will fill him in on what is going on and we will both look over the finances and pary about the situation together.  I know God will guide us in this and will help us with the best path to take in getting this debt paid in full.

If you find it in your heart, please pray for us and for us to get a clear message from God on what we need to do next on this situation.

Thank you all!!!

I love planning little get togethers, parties, BBQs, etc. for friends and family!!!!  My friend Jen (also know to Noah as Aunt Jen-Jen and our number one favorite  babysitter), turns 35 on July 5th of this year.  I was laying in bed the other night, unable to sleep, and thought of a brilliant idea!!!  Throw her a SUPRISE birthday party!!!

I spoke to my best friend the following day (Marcia, also known on HSB as momma25js) and told her about my idea and she loved it.  She told me she would love to help out, and I needed it.  So we quickly made up a list of friends (along with Jen's mom and aunt who live in town as well), and started calling people that day.  Since it is such short notice, we decided we needed to invite people personally instead of sending a card!!!  Most everyone (10 of us) are able to come!!!

We decided on a brown and pink colors.  Marcia will make strawberry cupcakes with chocolate icing and a sliced strawberry on each.  I will make a brownie pizza, topped with Jen's favorite white chocolate pudding, bananas, strawberries, and drizzled with semisweet chocolate.  YUMMY!!  I will also make some kind of strawberry punch!  I will be going to Wal-Mart this weekend and hope to find some party plates to match our theme, some pink baloons and streamers as well.

I live near 2 funeral homes (within 1 block of each), so I have asked all the guests to arrive a few minutes early, and park in the funeral home parking lot so Jen will not see the cars when she pulls up to our house.  I will have everyone hide, and then when she sees all the decorations I will open the french doors to the room where evevryone is hiding and then will pop out and say suprise.

I am excited about it.  Jen is such a sweet friend.  She would do anything, fo anyone.  She refuses to take money for babysitting Noah on occassion (and one time for a whole weekend while we went away for our anniversary), so I repay her by taking her out to dinner and a movie for a girly night every once in a while.

I hope to take some good pics and post them online afterwards.

We try to set every Friday night as pizza night, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.  This week, we have planned way ahead of time, to make homemade pizza and rent a movie or two.  I am super excited, because we haven't rented a movie in almost 2 months!!  (Hubby and I decided to punish ourselves by not renting movies for a few months because we could never remember to take them back on time, and had to pay late fees.  Ok, the truth is, I whined and pouted about it at first, and decided later it was a good idea, and by the end of one month, we both decided to take another month off from renting.  I thought I would have gone through withdrawals, but I didn't! LOL)

Noah loves to help make homemade pizza with me, and we always end up with a mess of flour, and tomato sauce all over us by the time we are done.  LOL  Noah loves to help "pat" the dough to stretch it out to fit the pan, but his expertise is to help sprinkle the cheese on, and place the round pepperoni pieces on top!  LOL  I will have to take some pictures of us doing this, because it certainly is a wonderful memory!

It is amazing how Noah loves spicy sausage and pepperoni since he is only 2.  He can eat spicier food than his dad can.  This is one thing that he takes after me!!  I love spicy stuff, and when I fix chicken enchiladas, he eats them, but Matthew wont because of the salsa and spice! LOL

Anyone seen any good wholesome clean movies lately they would lik to suggest????

I love candles and the warm yummy scents they bring into my house.  I love spice, fruit, and food flavors, but hubby and I found out a long time ago the flowery scents (especially lavender), gives me a headache that turns into a migraine, and makes him choke.

I have been on a cleaning spree of sorts the past two days.  I think it may have something to do with the meds I am on to loose weight.  (Evidentially I am on a low dose of speed! LOL  Yeah, you heard me.  It suppressed your appetite and gives you lots of energy, and it has me bouncing off the walls.  I can't seem to sit still, so I might as well do something useful, like cleaning huh??) 

I love to light candles, so at the end of the day, the house looks good and smells good with hubby walks in the door.  (And he definately noticed this evening!!!!  Since there is flooding around here, and problems with elctricity going out when it rains.....we have had the lights flickering on and off occasionally, so I lit some wonderful smelling candles!)

They have been burning most of the day, and then CRACK!  I was sitting here watching TV and behind me on a book shelf was a candle in a glass jar.  It cracked all the way across the bottom of the jar and up on side as well.  It scared me at first until I fiugured out what it was.  The  nice mulberry scented, maroon colored wax poored all over the shelf.  ( I am going to let it dry overnight, put some ice on it tomorrow and see if it won't pop right off there for me)

The bad thing is.....I let my candles burn all day long and the jars get extremely hot.  So when picking them up to blow them out, I have to either use pot holders, or get burned.  I am also notorious for accidentially leaving candles burning when I go to bed.  This is a definate no no, and I understand that, but well......I am over 30, and I forget ok?? LOL

The blessing is simply, that I was sitting close enough to hear it, and blow out the flame immediately.  If I had gone to bed and this had happened, no telling what would have happened.  The wax was spilling out everywhere, and the flame was still going strong.

This was a wake up call for me.  I didn't think much of putting a candle in a glass jar out, thinking there was no harm or fear of fire because it was contained in the glass.  Plus the air conditioner vent it near, so if the air kicked in, and I was not here, it might have fueled the fire and made it even worse.  Ok, ok,......here it comes everyone.  I was WRONG!!!  God was watching over us tonight!!!

Is this going to keep me from burning candles?? NO WAY!  But I will be more careful from now on, remembering to blow them out before bedtime, and to not leave them burning when we leave the house, even for a "quick errand".  (have you ever noticed the quick errands are the ones that take you 3 times as long???)

This weekend was the BIG DAY!!!  If you have read my blog for anytime at all lately, you know this is a BIG DEAL in the family.  My beautiful neice, Megan just turned 21 in April, graduated from RN school in May, bought a house with her fiance' (papers possibly to be signed after the honeymoon), moved into her house a week before the wedding, and now......................my girl is married!!!

I talk about her as if she is mine don't I?? LOL  Well I was the first one in the family to see her (after her own mom and dad of course. LOL)  I will never forget that tiny wiggling pink baby laying in the warming bed at the hospital, picking her nose (and I still have pictures of that too, lest Megan should ever forget about it. LOL) 

When I awoke Saturday (about 2 hours earlier than I normally do on a sleep in Saturday), the first words from Matthew's lips were, "Your Meggie gets married today!"  I smiled because I was so proud of her and so happy for her, but I also had a tear in my eye because she has grown up!!  My brother, David and his wife, my SIL, Tammy have done a wonderful job with her!!!  She is a wonderful young lady!!! So, without further ado........................my neices wedding:

I love this photo.  Meg was on the stair case waiting for "her turn".  Megan and Joseph opted for a traditional wedding.  The bride and groom did not see each other till she walked down the isle.  She was peeking around the corner to see the flower girls (yes two of them...they are twins), and my son, the ring bearer go down the isle. LOL  Isn't my older brother handsome?? Meg picked out the silver tie and vest to match his silver hair. LOL 

The next picture is of Megan and Joseph lighting their unity candle. 

Megan and her father have the first dance  (I love this smile on my brother's face....he is so proud)

Megan and Joesph's first dance as man and wife:

A few wedding portrait shots:

(Something about the dress:  My mother died a year ago this March.  After she died, Megan, myself, and her parents were looking through things in the house, and we found my mothers wedding dress.  Mom married about 40 some years before.  The dress was in poor shape and being stored in a black trash bag in a box on a shelf in a wet basement.  It was discolored and the underneath was falling apart.  We decided then after talking about it, that no one would ever wear it again because of the shape it was in, but we couldn't bear to throw it away.  In tears, I cut up mom's dress while megan and her mother stood watching.  We decided to cut the gorgeous roses away from the rest of the dress and save them.  Each one of us had decided to do something different with them.  I will put mine in a treasure memory box to be hung on the wall.  Megan decided she needed hers first to pin on the inside of her wedding dress.  She said this way, it was like Rere (which all the grandkids called her instead of grandma) was THERE with her on her wedding day.  It was a beautiful thought, and she followed through.  She even made the videographer video her lifting her dress up to show the rose, and telling the story.  When I checked on her before the wedding, she was resting with her bridesmaids in between photos and she showed me, and I cried!  The bridesmaids all smiled and gave me a hug.  After meeting me, then they understood how meaningful that rose tacked to her underneath of her wedding dress really was.  They all had a tear in their eyes and even Megan was fighting back tears.  Shortly before we left the reception, I grabbed Megan and told her.........the wedding was perfect.......nothing could have been better.  The reception was gorgeous and it couldn't have went smoother!!  And then I told her.....Rere and Pa are looking down upon you now.  I just know they are!!  And they are smiling!!  She said I know.....I have felt their presence with us all day today!!!  

And daddy's suprise for his little girl....a Hummer Limo!!!  The reception was several miles away, so the wedding party got to ride in this to the reception.  Of course, it was stocked with champagne, wine glasses, chocolates, and roses inside!!! 

I hope to post more pictures soon.  I took these off the photographers website because we have been unable to get the pictures off our camera just yet.

We didn't get alot of photos with Noah is his little mini tuxedo, because every time they tried to take a formal shot he would cry.  I think he was definately overwelmed by the whole day.  I am hoping the photographer and videographer got some good shots though.  Also, since they don't rent tuxes that small, we had to buy it.  So I am super excited about calling Ranee who took most of the photos above (along with her daughter Taylor), to take some formal shots of Noah in the mini tux in the next couple of weeks when she can get us in.  She has an awesome studio and I can't wait to see what she will do with the little man in a tux.  I have a picture wall of Noah in our house and I have a gorgeous frame just waiting for a FORMAL shot of the little guy.  I hope to post pics of him in it soon!  Hope you enjoyed the photos.  I cried at the wedding.  I cried even more at the reception.  I even cried looking at the few photos Ranee has posted on her website.  I can't believe it, but I am even crying now as I relive the day in photos!!!  It was gorgeous!

I recently read on another's blog that she hates to cook.  She described why too.  She said she didn't want to spend 6 hours in the kitchen planning a meal that would be eaten up by the family in 10!  LOL  I am sure, at one time or another, all of us have felt like this.  LOL  But I couldn't let it be.  I had to send her a comment and tell her how much I love cooking, but for good reason.  I have researched recipes from cookbooks, my family, church family, internet, etc. and found the ones my family loves that take 15 minutes to prep and the rest of the time is spent either in the crock pot, or in the oven. 

I love to cook for my family because it gives me a sense of accomplishment.  And I adore all the raves about my cooking whether it be from hubby (This is really good hunny), my 2 year old (MMMMMM), or other family members (I need this recipe Amy!!), and especially from church family members when we have a supper night at someone's house, or a church supper (who brought this?  Hello? Does anyone know who brought the sweet and sour meatballs??? Yeah, I think I saw Amy come in with those.  Which Amy??? Matthew's Amy. LOL)  So I told her I would share some with her, but then I had another thought.  Why not ask some of you out there in blog world to share some of your family favorites that don't take alot of time to cook!!!  Please feel free to print out the recipes shared here and enjoy at your own home.  And please help me in collecting some easy prep dinners for my friend as well!!!

Here are some of our favorites:

1.  BBQ Beef Sandwiches

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (I have fixed this with turkey or pork burger as well)

1 onion, chopped

Brown hamburger and onion and drain. Then add:

1 can of condensed tomato soup (no milkor water added please)

3/4 cup of your favorite honey BBQ sauce

1 T Worchestershire sauce

1-2 T brown sugar

31/4 cup water

Simmer until thickened (30-40 minutes), and stir often.  Serve on hoagie buns!  This is delicious!  Sometimes I am not patient, and I don't add the water or simmer it.  LOL  (Serves 4)

2.  Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 lb hamburger

1 egg, beaten,

1 cup cracker crumbs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4-1/2 cup milk

Make into meatballs and place in a Dutch Oven with a lid. 

Sauce:

3/4 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup sugar

2T Worchestershire sauce

Mix sauce in a bowl, and pour over uncooked meatballs.  Bake in an oven with lid for 45-1 hour on 350 degrees.  This is also a great dish to cook in the crockpot.  The meatballs cook completely in the juice.  Please taste the sauce before pouring over the meatballs.  I always tweek mine to my own taste since I don't mind them being a little more sour than sweet.  The are my hubby's favorite. (Serves 4)

3.  Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

1 T butter

1 1/2 cucps shredded cooked chicken (use some leftovers if you have them)

1 cup picante sauce (I use milk, but it you like it spicy, kick it up!)

3/4 tsp cumin

1 medium onion, chopped

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Medium sized flour tortillas (makes 6 regular sized, and 4 jumbo enchiladas)

Saute onion in butter until tender.  Add chicken, 1/4 cup picante sauce, cream cheese, and cumin.  Heat through to melt cream cheese and remove from heat.  Stir in 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese.  Soften tortillas in the microwave.  Spoon chicken mixture into the center of the tortilla.  Roll up and place seam side down in a baking dish.  Spoon remaining picante sauce over the top and then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over top.  Bake, overcovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  This takes a few minutes to prep, but it is so easy and so yummy, that it is definately worth it.  (Serves 4)

4.  Lemon Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

3 T flour

2 T each: butter and olive oil

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup lemon juice

salt and pepper, to taste

Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness.  Dresge lightly in flour, reserving excess.  Melt butter and oil over medium-high heat until it sizzles.  Cook chicken 4-5 minutes, turning once until done and juices run clear.  Remove chicken.  Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes.  Whick in broth and lemon juice; heat to boiling to let sauce thicken.  Return chicken to pan and heat through.  Season with salt and pepper and serve.    (I personally serve the lemon sauce on the side because Matthew doesn't like the lemon in it. LOL  And I warn anyone getting ready to try this sauce that it is lemon, and not gravy. LOL  I love this sauce over pasta and on steamed broccoli too!!!)  (Serves 4)

5.  South of the Border Chicken Soup (on the stove top or in the crockpot)

This is a good soup for all year round honestly.  In winter, it is warming and comforting, but in summer you can use you fresh produce!!

1 tsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups cooked shredded chicken

1 tsp cumin

2 cans (14 1/2  each) diced tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes!!)

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn (or fresh)

1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed tomato soup (no added water)

2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth (or homemade)

Saute garlic and onion in oil.  Stire in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.  Serve if desired with a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.  (serves 4)

6.  Orange Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 T butter

2 tsps cornstarch

2/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup Heinz 57 sauce

1/4 cup orange marmalade

salt and pepper, to taste

Lightly flatten chicken and saute in hot butter until no longer pink.  Season with salt and pepper.  In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in orange juice and then add 57 sauce, and orange marmalade.  Add mixture to chicken adn heat until thickened, stirring constantly.  Serve!  (Serves 4)

7.  Chicken Taco Bake

2 cups coarsely crushed corn chips

16 oz can refried beans

2 cups (8oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 cup salsa

\1 tsp taco seasoning

1 medium tomato, chopped

Place cornships in a greased 2 1/2 quart baking dish.  Heat refried  beans and stir in 1 cup of cheese and the salsa.  Spread this over the cornchips.  Toss chicken with taco seasoning and sprinkle over the beans.  Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Sprinkle with tomato and serve.  (Serves 4)

8.  Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice

1 1/2 cup long -cooking rice, uncooked

1 lbs boness, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

8 oz pkg cream of broccoli soup mix

2-3 cups chicken broth

Place rice into a greased slow cookier and top with chicken, set aside.  Combine soup mix and chicken broth and pour this over the chicken.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.  Adding more broth if necessary.

9.  Amy's Chicken Salad  (make this your own by replacing my name if you want)

3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/2 cup chopped red apple with peeling

1/2 cup cashew halves

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper, to taste

Pleace apple, mayonnaise, onion powder, and sugar in a bowl and toss gently to coat.  Add chicken and toss to coat.  Refrigerate several hours.  Just before serving, add cashew and chopped cucumber.  (This is my absolute favorite chicken salad ever!!!  It used to be served at a local tea room called "The Farmer's Wife".  Thank goodness I got the recipe for this and several other favorites before they closed!)  (Serves 4)

10.  Flavorful Chicken Roll-Ups 

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 pkg (10 oz) sliced mozerella cheese

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 tsp dried organo

Flatten chicken to 1/3 inch thickness. Place one cheese slice on each piece of chicken; rollup tightly.  Secure each with a toothpick.  Place flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in separate shallow dishes.  Coat chicken with flour, then dip in egg, and then coat in breadcrumbs.  Pleace seam side down in an ungreased baking dish.  Combine orgegano and melted butter and drizzle over the chicken.  Bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Discard toothpicks before serving.  (Serves 6)

Now, please add some of your favorites in your comment!!!!  Thanks!

2 pkgs (8 oz each( cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)

1 can (21 oz) blueberry pie filling, divided

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Add eggs, beating just until combined.  Pour into crust.  Drop 1/2 cup of pie filling by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cream cheese mixture; cut  through with a knife to swirl the pie filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set.  Cool on a wire rack.  Chill for 2 hours.  Top with remaining pie filling.  Yield: 8 servings

3/4 cup plus 2tsps lemon yogurt, divided

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup plus 2 T confectioner's sugar, divided

3 eggs

1 t grated lemon peel

2 cups self-rising flour

In a blender, combine 3/4 cup yogurt and apricots; cover and process until smooth.  In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar.  Beat in the eggs, lemon peel and yogurt mixture; mix well.  Add flour just until combined.  Spoon into a greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.  Combine the remaining yogurt and confecctioner's sugar; drizzle over the loag.  Yield: 1 loaf

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 medium tart apple, peeled and chopped

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and siga.  Add egg.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon; gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating just until combined.  Stir in apples and walnuts. 

Por into a greased 8 inch square baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  Yield : 16 servings.

10 -12 cups popped popcorn

1 cup pecan halves

 1 cup slivered almonds

1 1/3 cup sugar

1 cup butter (no substitiutes)

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cream of tarter

1/2 tsp baking soda

In a large bowl, combine popcorn and nuts; set aside.  In a large saucepan, bring sugar, butter and corn syrup to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occassionally.  Remove from the heat; add vanilla, cream of tartar adn baking soda.  Drizzle over popcorn mixture; stir to coat.  Immediately spread onto two greased baking sheets; let dry for about 1 hour.  Store in an airtight container.  Yields: about 10-12 servings

1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple

2 pkgs. (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Drain pineapple, reserving 1/3 cup juice. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar and reserved juice.  Stir in pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans.  Serve immediately.  Yield: 8 servings

This recipe came from an old (and I do mean old) Taste of Home magazine.

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crums

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 T sugar

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

1 can (14 oz) sweetnened condensed milk

3/4 cup lemonade concentrate

1 carton (8oz) whipped topping, thawed

In a bowk, combine the crumbs, butter and sugar.  Stir in the nuts.  Set aside 1/4 cup for topping: press the remaining mixture onto the bottom of eight dessert dishes.  In another bowl, combine the milk and melonade concentrate; fold in the whipped topping.  Spoon into prepared dishes.  Sprinkle with reserved crumbs.  Chill until serving.  Yield: 8 servings.

This list is just basically to remind myself what needs to be done tomorrow to catch up.

1.  Clean up dining room, and living room

2. Sweep all carpeted rooms

3.  Dust all rooms

4.  Unload dishwasher and load it again

5.  Put all clean clothes away

6.  Put surplus of toliet paper away

7.  Put dinner in the crockpot or oven (can't remember what we are eating right now. LOL)

8.  Strip sheets, wash and put back on beds

9.  Clean up the bathroom

10.  Take a break!!!!  LOL