Free-Wheeling Friday--Upcoming Giveaways

Well, I have been cleared to do 3 giveaways.  I now have to get on the ball and get them posted.  You'll recognize the company,  but I won't say anything now.  I should have at least one up and running by next weekend.  Maybe all 3!  Wouldn't that be nice?  I have another lead or two on giveaways, and I am getting bolder.  I am at a point right now where I feel I can ask companies to do giveaways.  We'll see what happens there.

So have a good evening!

Fortified Friday--My Own Recipe For Chicken Noodle Soup

If you know anything about me, you would learn that I am one of those people who loves recipes.  I love to find new recipes and try them.  I don't always follow them to a tee, but I get pretty close.  I do not like to do cooking experiments.  I do much better when I have a guide.

Over the past year or two, Martin has been the one to challenge me in this area.  He only uses recipes for difficult things.  For regular meals, he does it all  in his head.  He also doesn't do a lot of varied things, but you know that what he makes will be good.

Yesterday, I got home in enough time to cook dinner.  I had planned on making the chicken with gourmet sauce recipe (I'm too lazy to post the link, but those are the only ingredients).  When I asked my mom and Martin, they said they wanted chicken noodle soup.  I inwardly groaned.  I did not want to have to make this, and I knew it would be a lot of work.  But they had worked hard and still had more work to do.  So I agreed.

I am going to explain the process--there is not a real recipe, but I will try to organize it all at the end.

I cut up the chicken breasts--I used 3.  It was hard to cut it up since it was raw.  I cut it up in the smallest pieces I could.  I threw it in a pan with some oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, semi-fresh chives, and semi-fresh parsley.  I cut up two carrots into fairly small pieces and threw that in the pot as well.  I decided that some frozen corn and peas would be pretty good as well.  I also had some frozen chopped onions--I love those!

Once this was all cooked--the chicken was completely cooked--I added 2 cans of chicken broth.  My mom was sure we had more chicken broth--no, we didn't.  So I also added a can of Healthy Choice Chicken and Rice.  I then added about half a bag of pasta--so 8 ounces, I guess.  We add to add some more water as those cooked.

I cooked all this on the stove for about 30 minutes.  I think it would be really good in the crockpot.  I think you could add any vegetables you wanted to.  Add any spices you want.  You could use rice, pasta, quinoa--use what you have.

My mom said the soup was so good that I had to share it on my blog.  So I am doing that.  Sorry I don't have any pictures, but it was good!

So here is my recipe for chicken noodle soup:

3 chicken breasts, cut up small
salt/pepper
garlic powder/salt
chives and parsley (I use freeze-dried versions of these you can find with the fresh herbs.)

Put all of that in a pan on the stove with some olive oil.  Cook it until the chicken is no longer pink.  Add cut-up carrots, frozen corn, frozen peas, cut-up onions--any veggies you fancy.  Soften the vegetables for a couple minutes.  Add about 3-5 cans of chicken broth.  Add about 8 ounces of pasta, rice, or whatever you fancy.  Let it boil on the stove for at least 30 minutes, or  cook it in a crockpot.  Make sure to watch the liquid levels.  Serve with Bisquick biscuits.   Serves about 6, I would say.

Fortified Friday #5--Good Recipes!!

Last week's meals were great!  We have bought the Make It Fast, Cook It Slow in spite of any negative amazon reviews I read.  Don't believe everything you hear.  The only recipe we haven's tried yet is the Peking Pork.  The Bean Stew was fantastic--we added some ground beef to it,  and the flavor was superb!  And those rice krispies treats--they were so easy and even become somewhat caramelized.  I highly recommend the book.

This week, we had to recycle the Peking Pork Chop recipe because some family members are coming on Sunday for dinner, and this means we cook a roast.  Just so you know, my mom is actually the one who has been cooking the recipes.  I want to give her credit.  She appreciates my planning the meals out.  I love cooking,  but when one leaves at 6 in the morning and sometimes doesn't get back till nearly 5, it makes  things tough.  So we share the cooking.  It is imperative that I plan out easy meals.

So I will only be listing 3 meals and 1 dessert.  I did make an apple crisp one evening from the Fix-It and Enjoy-It! 5-Ingredient Recipes: Quick and Easy--for Stove-top and Oven!  I got this from the library, and I plan to use it  for meals soon.  We were very pleased with the apple crisp recipe.

The three recipes come from a magazine that I waited for a long time to place a subscription.  I am a Rachael Ray fan--always have been since I first heard of her and watched her 30-minute meals show.  I wanted her magazine, but I waited till I get could get it cheaply.  And I think  I got a year's subscription for about 5 dollars or so.  Not bad.  So from "Every Day With Rachael Ray" October 2010 issue:

Meal 1:  p. 130--Dripping Roast Beef Sandwiches with Melted Provolone, veggies, chips/fries

Meal 2:  p. 36 Fiery Penne, garlic bread, salad

Meal 3:  p. 81 Turkey Strudel, veggies

Dessert:  p. 29 Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Snack:  p. 54 Halloween Chex Mix  (I have to make this for my daughter!)

All right, there you are.  Pretty easy.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I love cooking Rachael Ray!

Fortified Friday #3--Online Recipes This Week

Last week's recipes were great.  I have decided to get rid of The Depression Cookbook.  It it  just taking up space,  and I  decided that someone else can enjoy it.  It is just not my kind of cookbook.  So disregard the recipe from that book for last week.

Review of last week's recipes:

Sorry, I never got around to making the Apple Crisp from a couple weeks ago, and I'm  not  going to.  I just don't have the time.

Meal 1:  Eat Well, Save Big Cookbook (All*You) p. 51  "Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Curry"


Oh, this was so good!  If you like curry, I highly recommend this.  Not too much, not  too little.  And very easy to make.

Meal 2:  Eat Well, Save Big Cookbook (All*You) p.  90 "Maple-Glazed Ham Steak" with vegetables and some kind of bread


This couldn't have been easier to make, and I really enjoyed the flavor.  We used the ham steak from Costco, and it was so nice to have a different kind of flavor.

Meal 3:  Eat Well, Save Big Cookbook (All*You) p. 129 "Tuna Noodle Casserole"


This would not have had much flavor  if we didn't add more spices to it.  But it is good and easy to make.  Lots of leftovers!

Meal 4:  Eat Well, Save Big Cookbook (All*You) p.  99 "Monte Cristo Sandwiches"


Making it tomorrow!




Okay to online menus.  I'm going to try some different sites.


Meal 1:  Shortcut Chicken Parmesan
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/shortcut-chicken-parmesan-76150.aspx


Meal 2:  Libby's Taco Salad
http://www.getbacktothetable.com/node/53

Meal 3:  Autumn Pancakes with Spiced Apples, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon
https://www.birdseyefoods.com/inspiration/recipes/recipe.aspx?t=l&imcmd=3&textkey=3d3edc51658b&brand=birdseye&category=entrees&ban=1

Meal 4:  Spicy Chili Bean Burgers, fries, salad
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/spicy-chili-bean-burgers/70459729-a777-4839-8338-bb230b53ad7f

I will use some  box  I have  out  in the pantry for desserts.

So there we go!

Fortified Friday #1

Okay, this could be taken more than one way, and I might do it several ways.  I can publish things to help  build you up spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc.  So tonight I plan to publish the meals I will be fixing this week.  I have listed at the bottom of this post the two books I am using--Family Feasts for $75 a Week and The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook.  I will not be listing the actual recipes, but I will give you page numbers and tell you the name of the recipes.  These are highly recommended by me!  They are outstanding.  I checked them out at our library and knew I had to have them.  I will also not be giving the days.  I usually plan out recipes just by Meal 1, Meal 2, etc.

Meal 1:  Slow Cooker Meatballs with Spaghetti ($5 Dinner Mom p. 65), mixed veggies, garlic bread

Meal 2:  Chicken Pot Pie with Cheesy Biscuit Topping ($75 Feast  p. 100-101), veggies

Meal 3:  Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken ($5 Dinner Mom p. 127), butternut squash, sautéed red potatoes

Meal 4:  Jazzy Ramen Stir-Fry ($75 Feast p. 131)

Dessert:  Apple Crisp with Crunchy Oat and Brown Sugar Topping ($75 Feast  p. 246)

I am sure I will add things here and there, but this will get me started.  And it will certainly fortify my family.  If you get these books, check these recipes out.  I have not ever tried any of them, but these books do not disappoint.

Now to fortify you spiritually.  Don't forget to pray for our country.  Every time I turn on the news, I am reminded that this earth is not my ultimate destination.  But also know that no leader is in power without God's having placed him/her there.  Remember Pilate and Nero.  If we think we have it bad, just remember that we American haven't known true persecution.  Go to Yemen, and you will see Christians getting persecuted!