Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

This week it has just been the children and I at home

so when I made out our menu,

I tried to use a lot of what we already had on hand.

Last week, my husband bought quite a bit of chicken breast

so a few evenings ago I decided to use some of it for one of our meals.

I'm not sure if any of y'all remember a previous post, from a while ago,

stating how I really like to use the dry italian dressing mixes.

(Click here to see that post)

Well, I heated up my iron skillet and added three frozen chicken breasts.

I cooked them for a couple of minutes until they started thawing.

Then I added a little bit of water and continued to cook them this way

for about 10 minutes (adding a little more water, often, as it would absorb).

Then I added a packet of the italian mix

and continued cooking it (adding water as needed)

for about 20 more minutes or so ...

As the chicken thawed/cooked, I cut it in strips while in the pan.

We had it with our Homemade Ranch Mashed Potatoes.

The children and I enjoyed it so much

that we've had it three times this week!

That many times... it must be good!

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

When we took our bi-weekly trip to the commisary the other day

I picked up another turkey so I could use the meat for many meals.

This time, Keeper2Be had the job of gutting the big bird...

After it was cooked and cooled,

she picked off all of the meat so we could separate it and store it...

She enjoys picking the meat off of the turkey

and examining its bones and structure.

And that's okay with me!

She can pick my turkeys apart anytime she likes.

She did a great job and it was great practice for her as a future cook!

~ Mama Keeper

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

Keeper2Be had a 'craving' for something particular for breakfast this morning.

My own mother used to make these for me while I was at home.

Darling hubby loves to eat them, too.

What is it?

It's a fried egg sandwich.

And oh-so-simple to make.

Just break your egg onto a heated skillet, coated in an olive oil non-stick spray.

Then cook till done.

In our family, they like the yolk to be runny, so to do that just don't break it.

To cook the yolk firm, break it while it's in the pan.

I add a little pepper, a little onion powder, and sometimes a little cayenne pepper.

Serve on toast (or an english muffin) with light mayo and cheese.

Of course, you could always add what your family likes, too.

For instance, bacon or sausage, spinach or tomato, etc...

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

This past Friday was our weekly Friday Pizza Night at our home.

Keeper2Be and I had a 'mini-keeper' helping us in the kitchen...

Here is the Mini-Keeper rolling out the pizza dough...

She was so excited that she was doing a good job!

She also helped in kneading the dough...

Here, Mama Keeper was putting the dough on the pan...

Keeper2Be also had help from Mini-Keeper saucing the dough...

It was a sweet time of fellowship and 'training'. *Ü*

P.S. We also had another 'helper' but we put that on our homeschool blog.

         Click here to see who it was.

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

It seemed that Green Bean Casserole only happened once a year in our family.

That time was at Thanksgiving. Last year, we all enjoyed it so much, there were no leftovers.

I started thinking... "Why is it I don't make this throughout the year anyhow?"

So I decided, why not?!

A couple of months later, I had Green Bean Casserole on the menu

and for some reason didn't have the meat portion that was supposed to go with it.

So I improvised... "Hmm... We all like that Chicken & Rice Bake. Why not do something like that?"

So I remember searching the freezer to see what I could quick thaw.

Result... Ground turkey (we don't use actual hamburger here).

So I made up my Green Bean Casserole, threw in my cooked ground turkey,

and in my freezer I had some cooked, long grain rice... so I threw it in!

I added a little more milk, tossed it in the oven and viola... supper!

We all devoured it! Even our 'picky' son. *Ü*

It has since then become a 'regular' in our family.

We had it tonight and I thought I would share.

I made two 13x9 baking dishes of the casserole and there is 3/4 of one left.

Great for leftovers or frozen till later!

Try it! If you like Green Bean Casserole, you'll enjoy it.

~ Posted by Mama Keeper

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

Today I boiled up a few chicken thighs that I had

so I could use them for chicken n' dumplings this evening.

Chicken n' Dumplings is one of those meals that reminds me of childhood.

I remember when my Mom used to make them. Mmmm...

While I love my Mama's Chicken n' Dumplings,

I have since experimented with them.

One thing that I love to do (hubby and children, too) is

add a 1/2 package of italian dressing mix to the chicken while its cooking

and mix the other half of the package into the dumpling dough.

It gives it a flavor that sends everyone in this family heading back for seconds.

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

Today Keeper2Be had her close friend over.

They spent part of their time making cupcakes together.

As they were waiting for the cupcakes to cool, they mixed up different colors of frosting...

And, of course, had a wonderful time decorating them...

All of the children, including the mini-keepers, enjoyed sampling the yummy treats...

Keeper2Be and her friend enjoyed a day of fun and fellowship...

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

Every Friday we try to have our sourdough pizza night.

Some nights we have guests and others we do not.

Either way, we love sourdough pizza, particularly on Fridays.

Hubby says (smiling, but serious),  "Nobody messes with my pizza night."

This past Friday we followed tradition, even though it was hectic (we're building a porch).

Keeper2Be was eager to take a few photos...

Here I was beginning to roll out the dough.

Stretching the dough.

We only made cheese pizza for the lil' ones, a spicy pepperoni pizza,

a light sauce/light cheese pizza for Keeper2Be, and an 'extra' pepperoni

for any workers that may have shown up to help with the porch building.

Here are the finished pizzas (already partially eaten)...

The recipe we use for our sourdough starter can be seen by clicking below...

Sourdough Starter Recipe

Different toppings we have tried are:

Pepperoni

Stuffed Crust

Bacon and Bell Peppers

Ham and Pineapple

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Spicy Pizza with Pepperoni

Taco Pizza

Meat Lovers

Veggie Pizza

We always enjoy eating the leftovers throughout the weekend. Mmmmm....

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

My husband grew up eating these No Bake Cookies.

He always loved when his mother made them and between him and his four siblings,

they never lasted long.

The same is true in our household.

I made them this weekend, to everyone's delight.

They may or may not look very delicious to you, but they are yummy.

Because of the way they look (and because, as children, it always sent hubby

and his brothers to the restroom) they nicknamed these 'poo poo cookies'.

Not my favorite name but that is what they called them.

And, yes, the name has carried over (a little) to our own children.

Either way, they get eaten fast!

Posted in Cookin in the Kitchen

This morning, Keeper2Be and I worked together making soft pretzels.

This was our first time, so we were kind of excited

and curious how they would turn out.

Keeper2Be started out by mixing up the ingredients so it could rise 10 minutes.

Then it was time to start shaping them.

Here am I showing Keeper2Be...

Maybe not the prettiest pretzel but, nevertheless, a pretzel...

Here is Keeper2Be shaping more pretzels...

After shaping them, we dipped them in boiling soda water...

Here she is dipping one...

We soon discovered that they easily lose their shape being dipped,

so here she is shaping it after putting it on the stone...

She also couldn't refrain from being a bit silly...

Here were some of the finished pretzels that we brushed with butter

and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

Keeper2Be shaped one as a heart. What a sweetie!

They were pretty good and had that soft pretzel flavor.

We saved the extras for easy microwaving on other mornings.