Fast Chicken (For the grill)

I recently tried this recipe for the first time and was impressed! Everyday ingredients put together with the result being a really easy, simple and yet absolutely delicious way to do chicken on the grill. Left over chicken works well for chicken Caesar wraps or BBQ chicken pizza.
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup cooking oil
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3 lb chicken breasts (or pieces)

Mix soy sauce, oil, ketchup and garlic powder in small bowl. Dip chicken pieces in sauce. Place on greased grill over medium heat until chicken is cooked on both sides (about 12-15 minutes per side). Brush with sauce a time or two while grilling.
Thanks to Claudette for sharing the recipe!

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

A few years ago we were invited out for lunch after church and were served these meatballs. A little different from the norm, but oh so yummy. Quite a bit of sugar in the sauce, but tasty none the less.
Meatballs:

- 1 1/4 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup water or milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3-4 cloves of garlic

Mix beef, crumbs, water, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Makes approximately 24 meatballs. Brown in frying pan or hot oven. Transfer to casserole.

Sauce:

- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp ketchup

Combine brown sugar and flour in saucepan. Blend thoroughly. Add vinegar, water, soy sauce and ketchup. Stir over medium-high heat until boiling. Pour over meatballs. Cover and heat in 350 oven for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serves 4.

Rice Casserole

I love this rice! Very flavorful and a cinch to whip up.
- 2 cups of rice
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup cooking oil*
- 1/4 cup soya sauce
- 1 pkg onion soup mix
- 2 chicken bouillon cubs or chicken soup brine
- 1 can mushrooms
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced green pepper**
- 1 cup celery ***
- salt****
- pepper

Put all ingredients together and mix. Put in large casserole and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. Stir once and a while.

* I found this to be quite a lot of oil, so I halved the amount
** I didn't have green pepper on hand, so I used red
*** No celery on hand either, but would be an delicious addition
**** I didn't add any extra salt, as the soya sauce, onion soup mix and chicken bouillon add a lot of salt already.
***** Rather large recipe...I halved it for my family of four.

Baked Ham and Cheese Omelette Roll

Looking for something different to use up some ham, I came across this recipe. A quicker way to make omelettes for a family. Instead of standing at the stove making multiple omelettes, it's baked in the oven. Super simple, super delicious. Even my four year old gobbled this up.

• 6 eggs


• 1 cup milk


• 1/2 cup flour


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1/4 tsp pepper


• 1 cup cooked ham or 9 slices of deli ham


• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Beat eggs and milk until fluffy. Add flour, salt and pepper and beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until eggs are just about set (keep an eye on them at the six minute mark - depending on your oven they could set fast!) Sprinkle with chopped ham or lay slices of deli ham over top. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for about 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Starting at the short side, roll up omelette while still in the pan. Place seam side down on serving dish. Cut into slices.

* I halved this recipe and baked it in a 9x9 pan, which suits my family of four perfectly.

** I added fresh chives from my flower bed, which added a nice flavor. Bacon, mushrooms, peppers, sausage, etc...would be also be a great addition.

Slow-Cooked Bean Medley

We enjoyed this bean medley this weekend at one of our Easter gatherings. So delicious! Another great recipe from my Mom-in-law. :)

• 1 1/2 cups ketchup


• 2 celery ribs


• 1 medium onion, chopped


• 1 medium green pepper, chopped


• 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped


• 1/2 cup brown sugar


• 1/2 cup water


• 1/2 cup Italian dressing


• 2 bay leaves


• 1 tbsp cider vinegar


• 1 tbsp prepared mustard


• 1/8 tsp pepper


• 16 oz can kidney beans


• 16 oz can black-eyed peas


• 16 oz can great Northern beans


• 16 oz can whole kernel corn


• 16 oz can Lima beans


• 16 oz can black beans

In a 5 quart slow cooker combine the first 12 ingredients, Rinse and drain canned beans and corn. Stir into the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or until onions and peppers are tender. Discard bay leaves. Serves 12.

Any can of beans may be substituted with beans of choice.

Colored Eggs

I like to color eggs with Dillon every Easter (and Reid too once he's old enough). He loves it and its very simple to do.

• 1 cup hot water


• 1 tbsp vinegar


• food coloring

Combine ingredients, doing as many colors as you like. The more food coloring you put in and the longer the eggs are left in, the darker the color. Dry on wire rack with paper towel underneath so dye does not stain.

Options: 1.) Draw a design with a wax crayon before dyeing. 2.) To do different colors, wax between dippings. The wax can be removed in oven till wax melts. Wipe off.

Cake Decorator Icing

Feeling in the mood for something "spring-ish" I made these cupcakes for a bridal shower tonight. I tried a new icing recipe and must admit it's pretty tasty. It's not over the top sweet like some icings can be. The vanilla and almond flavoring are a delicious combination.

• 1 cup shortening


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 1/2 tsp clear vanilla*


• 1/4 tsp almond extract


• 1/2 cup water


• 8 cups sifted icing sugar

Mix shortening, water, vanilla, salt and almond extract with a mixer for 5 minutes. (It's very important to mix this long, before adding 1/2 the icing, then mix again for at least another 5 minutes because it takes out that "lardy" type taste that comes with using shortening). Add the rest of the icing sugar and beat just enough to mix in. Add additional water if needed, for desired consistency.

* I used a non-clear vanilla, which I think worked ok, seeing as I was coloring the icing anyway.

** Large recipe, so half may be sufficient, depending on what you're icing.