Fiesta Rice

I was in charge of a huge dinner at church one year and this is one of the recipes I handed out to have volunteers make. Every one of the volunteers raved over how easy it was. Every one of the attendees loved it, too. Every one of the dishes turned out. (lucky for me!)

Fiesta Rice
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tbls butter
2 cups uncooked rice
1 can sliced olives
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Saute the onion in the butter. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the next 8 ingredients and mix well. Spoon into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Pour water over the rice mixture, cover and bake 350 degrees for 90 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and return to the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

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Thirteen Things I Have Sold/Listed on Ebay this Week

These 13s are totally revolving around my hectic getting-ready-to-move life. I wish I could calm down a bit. I wish I didn't have so much stuff to get rid of. I wish I had never accumulated all of this stuff in the first place!!!

13 Things Ebay Has Helped Me Get Rid of:

1. Tupperware
2. Children's Books
3. Depression Glass
4. Vintage Linens
5. Electronic Learning Games
6. Antique Books
7. Cookbooks
8. Wii Controllers
9. Gamecube Controllers
10. PC Games
11. Shower Curtains
12. Cassette Player
13. Drapes

Now the good part is I have actually made some decent money selling this stuff. With Ebay, our garage sale last weekend and selling things in the local paper, I am almost to the point where I need to be. However, I am still trying to list 10 to 15 things on Ebay each day. Wish me luck!

Visit Thursday-13.com for lists much more interesting than mine!

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Cake Mix Cookies plus Variations

I want you to know that I have never read any of those cake mix cookbooks. I don't usually use mixes enough to want to turn one into 100 different desserts. That being said, I have had a run of inspiration tonight. I started out to make cake mix cookies and decided that seeings I had just made chocolate zucchini bread for snacks yesterday, the gang didn't need another chocolate food.

Here is the basic recipe:
Cake Mix Cookies
Chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup raisins
Mix eggs, oil and cake mix in a bowl. Add chips and raisins. Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees for 11 minutes. Cool a few minutes and then put on a wire cooling rack.

Okay, so I went downstairs to my pantry room and looked to see what varieties of cake mixes I had. My choice was german chocolate, devils food, carrot, and yellow. I started thinking about what yellow or carrot would taste like in the above recipe. I ended up choosing the carrot cake mix. I substituted white chips for the chocolate. Presto! a new delicious cookie.
Then I took a few minutes and wrote down the following varieties for future use:
1. Yellow cake mix: add chopped pecans and butterscotch chips instead of raisins and chocolate
2. German Chocolate cake mix: add coconut and toffee chips as well as chocolate chips
3. Strawberry or Lemon mix: add white chocolate and coconut or walnuts
4. Devils food mix : add peanut butter chips and chopped peanuts
5. Add peanuts to the first recipe and make it like a Cadbury nut & fruit bar
6. And like I said, carrot: white chocolate and raisins

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Chili Cheese Bake

It has come to my attention that I have not posted a picture to go with my foods in a long time. Sorry. That doesn't necessarily mean I will be able to do so soon, but I just wanted you to know I realize my lack.

This is a yummy, frugal meatless main dish.
Chili Cheese Bake:
3 cups cooked rice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small can chopped green chilies
1-2 tsp chili powder (depending on your fondness for spicy foods)
1/2 tsp salt
1 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
In a greased 2 quart casserole dish, combine all ingredients except cheese. Top with 1 1/2 cups cheese. Bake, covered (remember to grease your foil to prevent cheese from sticking!) 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese, then baked uncovered for 10 more minutes.
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Sunday recipe: Swiss Mushroom Chicken

This is an easy, yet slightly fancy main dish.

Swiss Mushroom Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup crushed ritz crackers
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbls olive oil
4 slices ham
4 slices Swiss cheese

Flatten chicken to 1/4 inch thick. Place egg in a shallow bowl. Put cracker crumbs in another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in egg and then in crumbs; set aside. Saute mushrooms in 1 Tbls olive oil until tender; remove and set aside. In the same skillet, cook chicken in the remaining olive oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Top each chicken breast half with a ham slice, mushrooms and cheese slice. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

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Saturday Stories: Easters Of My Childhood

If I hadn't been on a blogging break, I'd have written this two weeks ago. Oh well. The point of these Saturday Stories is to record family and personal stories.
The first time I remember ever going to church was on an Easter. I was probably about 6 or 7. My mom took me. I was bored and got a lot of "those looks" from my mom for fidgeting. It wasn't until I was 8 that we started attending church regularly.
Easter mostly meant candy. The Easter bunny brought me a basket. My dad's mom brought me a basket. Sometimes my mom's parents brought me another basket. It was a veritable candy marathon. (It is really no wonder that I ended up a sugar addict, is it!) I had to work to get the basket from the Bunny. He always hid it somewhere clever. I remember finding it in the dryer, in the oven, in the dishwasher, in the fireplace, you name it, it was probably a hiding place. Once I found it, the eating began. I don't remember having any breakfast on Easter other than chocolate bunnies and black jelly beans. The rule was that I had to give the bunny's ears to my mom. The bunny brought only high quality candy. Russell Stover was his favorite brand. Sometimes I received candy from Oliver's, a candy store in my grandparents' town. OOOh!, that was good stuff - especially their sponge candy.
We didn't really do egg hunts. I was an only child, so what fun would it have been? I got a new dress every year and sometimes a hat. Some years my mom made my dress and other times it was store bought. I received a new dress every year until I left for college. That was a fun tradition.
I need to ask my parents what they remember about Easters growing up. I don't remember ever asking them about that holiday. Tweet

Thursday Thirteen: Happy Anniversary to Me

This week is my 21st wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that that many years have gone by since The Good Guy and I said, "I do," but the calendars don't lie. In honor of our awe-spicious family holiday, I am sharing a list of "guys' rules" that I have been married long enough to think is hilarious. (and thank you to the persons who shared it with me - you know who you are :-)

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. All men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really

You will notice that all of these rules are numbered "1" on purpose.

More can be found here.

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Banana Bread

Does everyone make banana bread? If not, then what do they do with black bananas? Are there people in the world who actually throw them out? Although I can't stand to eat them, I almost always have bananas in the house for The Good Guy and the Kiddos. I have always tried to not let my personal food tastes influence my children (although I failed miserably when it came to liver and brussel sprouts), so I make banana bread, banana muffins, banana cake and even banana milkshakes. I just wash my hands right after handling them...I hate the smell as well as the taste. Anyway, here is a really good recipe for banana bread. It's a variation of the one my mother-in-law makes.

Banana Bread:
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3-4 bananas mashed
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk with 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar in it
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Add milk. Combine dry ingredients and add. (Note: if you don't want to go to the trouble of getting out the mixer, soften the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds and mix it all by hand) Bake in greased bread pan 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes. Leave in pan for 5 minutes. Cool on rack for 15 minutes before cutting.

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13 Things to Pack When Traveling with Kids

I am in a flurry trying to get everything packed and ready for our spring trip tomorrow. As I think about a 10 hour trip with the kids, it was obvious what my Thursday Thirteen should be:

13 Things to Take in the Car with Kids:
1. Food - preferrably not messy, sticky, crumbly stuff
2. Drinks - water is our drink of choice (it doesn't stain and it isn't sticky)
3. Diapers, wipes and a changing pad - you never know where you are going to have to change a little one...the pad keeps that surface safe.
4. A Small Plastic Garbage Can - we learned the hard way that you may encounter unexpected car sickness or stomach flu. Have a place for a throwing up child!
5. Jackets - Even if it's a hot day, it will get cooler and they can use it as a pillow or blanket
6. Movies - before we bought our Suburban with the built in DVD player, we brought a laptop to play movies. The battery in a laptop is usually good for at least 2 hours of peace. It is worth it!!!
7. Hand Held Games - If not a Gameboy, then little travel games. We have mini versions of memory, yatzee, boggle, battle ship, etc. The kids play with each other or sometimes by themselves and then trade.
8. A Roll of Quarters - Not only are these good for rewards, you can make a travel scavenger hunt. For instance, the first child to spot a cow gets a quarter.
9. Paper Towels - these are more absorbant than napkins and can be used to wipe up spills, as napkins or as "plates" to hold snacks.
10. First Aid kit - bandaids, antiseptic wipes, prescription meds, tums, and tylenol. I always try to take children's advil/tylenol, plus headache medicine for the adults :-)
11. Coloring books and crayons - for those who need a break from noisy activities or need to be separated from their siblings for whatever reason
12. Small pillow for the one in a car seat - Ever since a child in our community died while taking a nap in a car seat, I have been a stickler for keeping heads upright. I have an older sib tuck the pillow under the little one's chin so that her head doesn't flop down.
13. I used to fantasize about having a sound-proof glass shield between the front seats and the back. I have even thought about packing earplugs, but really, what you need most when traveling with kids is your sense of humor, a smackeral of patience and to remember that you are building memories, not perfection.
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Spring Break

My blogging will be hit or miss for the next few weeks. This week, we are still scrambling to get our last few big house repairs done. We discovered that one of the boys left a hose attached to a spigot through the winter, so there is a leak/repair that needs to be addressed. All of the big painting is done and the HUGE garage sale pile is forming in the spare room. I am leaving on Friday for Arizona, but I am taking my laptop...maybe I will be able to blog at Mom's house. Once I return on the 18th, we will step into higher gear and start loading the garage with packed boxes. The house won't actually go up for sale until the 27th. Wish us luck!! Tweet

Snazzy Pilaf

A regular pilaf has rice and orzo with a bit of onion. It's basically a homemade rice-a-roni. Here is a twist on that theme. I am giving full credit to my mom, as she is the author of so many of my cooking successes.

1/2 cup orzo
1 3/4 cups rice
2 Tbls olive oil
4-5 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion, finely minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2/3 cup peanuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped (use scissors)
small can chopped green chilies
salt & pepper
Brown orzo and rice in olive oil. Add onion and garlic and saute until done. Add peanuts, chilies, Craisins and chicken broth. Bring to boil, then turn down heat and cover. Simmer 15 minutes or until rice is done and most liquid is absorbed. (You may need to add more broth) Salt & pepper to taste. Tweet

Salisbury Steak

This is an easy recipe that doesn't cost much to make:
Salisbury Steak
1 can Golden Mushroom Soup (Beefy Mushroom also works)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 egg, slightly beaten
Mix thoroughly 1/4 cup soup and remaining ingredients. Shape into 6 patties. In skillet, brown patties, pour off fat. Blend in remaining soup and 1/3 cup water. Cover simmer 20 minutes or until done. Stir sauce often to prevent scorching.

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Herbed Cornish Hens

These are so tasty and easy to fix. Here is my favorite way to prepare them.

Herbed Cornish Hens:
6 Cornish hens
1 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme, divided
1 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
1 1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Place hens on a wire rack in a large roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, butter, paprika and 1 tsp each of thyme, seasoned salt and garlic powder. pour half over the hens; set the remaining mixture aside for basting. Combine the salt, pepper and remaining thyme, seasoned salt and garlic powder and sprinkle evenly over the hens. Bake, uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Baste with the reserved lemon juice mixture. Bake 30 minutes more, basting occasionally, or until the meat is tender and juices run clear.

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Thirteen Projects That Have To Get Done This Week

We are in a whirlwind of activity around my house. I plan to have it up for sale by April 20, but from the 10-18, I am going to my parents' house for Spring Break. My folks are here this week and along with The Good Guy, who will be leaving on April 7th, we are getting the following done:
1. Weather-strip the front and side doors (done)
2. Fix a cabinet in the basement bathroom (done)
3. Regrout the Master Shower (done)
4. Fill in all nail holes and touch up paint upstairs and down (half done)
5. Repair holes in The Musician's room and then repaint (half done)
6. Replace some moulding in the boys' bathrooms (half done)
7. Replace carpet in The Comedian's room
8. Fix the lazy Susan in the kitchen (done)
9. Fix sprinkler valve in irrigation system
10. Repaint deck
11. Repaint front door
12. Wash all windows and sills (done)
13. Replace light fixture in the Musician's room

I have decided that 1. Boys are extremely hard on homes. 2. I have too much stuff. 3. I never want a house with 7 bedrooms and over 4,000 square feet again. 4. I shouldn't have more than a few pictures on the walls and then I should rotate them with my "stored" pictures. 5. I am SO glad my family is so supportive, helpful and clever.

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