Best Baby Back Ribs Ever

Bar-B-Que Ribs

1. Wash the ribs off
2. Put oil on your hands and rub over the ribs
3. Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic and a little red pepper.
4. wrap tight in foil and bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours (if you are doing one rack)
5. Take out and open the top of the foil
6. The meaty part of the rib should be on top. Pour evenly your barbecue sauce of choice all over the top. We used a vidalia onion sauce and it was wonderful!!!
7. Cook for another 45 minutes or so (be sure not to burn your sauce)

This is how my mother-in-law told me to do it and I can tell you they are the best ribs ever!!!

For more great tips go HERE!

Works for me Wednesday

When Chris started back to school for his Masters degree I discovered pretty quickly if I wanted something grilled I would have to do it myself. He was swamped with work, school and homework. I received a few quick lessons and off I went. Now I love to grill and don't tell Chris but I think I do better than him lol.

My favorite marinade is McCormick's Tomato, Garlic & Basil Marinade. I put it on for about 30 minutes usually but sometimes I will do it the night before. I put my grill on medium, unless I am in a hurry or waiting on something else to cook that will take a while. I put the chicken on the grill and give it just a few minutes on one side and then flip. After the initial flip I don't pay attention to the time. Chris says five minutes one side and then flip and repeat. I however don't wear a watch and I don't pay attention to time lol. I think I do it more often than that. Probably every 3 minutes or so. I do that until they "look" done. I will then get a knife and cut into the largest one to see if it is done. I think your average piece of chicken takes 20 minutes. If it has the bone in it will take longer. Pork chops don't usually take as long and hamburgers depending on thickness can run from 20 - 30 minutes.

Monday night we decided to take our pieces of chicken and make chicken sandwiches. Way better than even Chick-fil-a!

Oh another little tip for ya. I got it from Rachael Ray. I have tried numerous ways to make the perfect hamburger. I heard if you put a hole in the middle it would cook more evenly. That didn't really work for me. I bought a hamburger patty maker thing - you know the press that you can use to make perfectly shaped burgers. Then Rachael Ray said to make the center thinner and the outside thicker. As it cooks it would puff up in the middle and it would cook perfectly. Guess what, it works!!! I was so excited to find the way to make a perfect hamburger. So now I use my press thingy to make sure they are big enough and then I thicken up the edges! Much better than my charcoal looking burgers lol.

Works for me Wednesday

I love me some mashed potatoes! I have been making them for years. I feel like I make pretty good potatoes but over the years I have found different ways to tweak it to make it even better. Watching Rachel Ray one day I saw that she saved some starch water from her pasta and added it back into whatever she was preparing. I thought hmmm, I wonder if you could do that with potatoes? So here is what I do with my mashed potatoes:

• Peal and dice potatoes (however many you think you need)
• Cover with water and add salt
• Bring to boil (cook until potatoes are very soft and crumbly)
• Pour out some of the water and then pour a little into the bowl you will be mashing them in. Drain the rest off.
• Add the potatoes to the bowl and then add butter. How much depends on how many potatoes you use. I typically do about 3 - 4 pounds of potatoes so I use 3/4 a stick of butter.
• Occasionally, I will add a scoop of sour cream.
• Add pepper and if it needs more salt.
• Mash it all together and voila! (I use one of those hand held mashers or you can use your blender.)

I have tried several different ways of making them and this is the best (to me). It really doesn't take that long to do either. The longest part is the pealing. If you use low fat options for butter and sour cream if you add it it really isn't a terrible dish fat wise either.

If you have a great idea go HERE to share it or you can find other wonderful tips there as well!

I survived!

We made it through our first little sleep over! Allie and Anna had a blast. They played outside for a while. Had a bath together, where more water found its way to the floor than down the drain. They played inside for a while and then watched a movie in the bed to start chilling out. They finally crashed at about 10:45. Around 4 am I woke up and felt like something was wrong so I got up and checked on the girls. Allie was laying on the very edge of the bed and would have fallen off if I had been just a few seconds later. I got her settled back in and crashed myself. I woke up again at 6:30 am to Anna saying "No, hang on, hang on". It was a late night and a early morning and I was utterly exhausted. Even though the girls went to bed earlier than I thought they would I didn't go to sleep for a while later because I worried about them lol. Anyway, we got up and watched a movie and played until we had to get ready for church. They looked so cute and I didn't even get a picture of them. I had the hardest time doing Allie's hair. Her hair is pretty much the complete opposite of Anna's.

We got to church and I had to jump right into teacher mode and start preparing to bake our cupcakes. They turned out great. I didn't get a picture of them either but here is what we did:

Cupcakes in an Ice Cream Cone

We mixed up the batter as directed on the box of cake mix.
Wrapped tin foil around the base of ice cream cones
Poured batter into the cones (the box said half and that is what we did but we should have done more like 3/4's they didn't rise high enough.)
Baked for roughly 30 minutes
I had major time restraints so I put them in the freezer to cool
After they were relatively cool I had the kids put icing on them

The icing was really another neat part.
I bought the vanilla icing at the store
I bought the cheap cool aid packets (the kind that doesn't have the sugar in it)
I used grape and orange (we are going to do this again for our fall carnival on Halloween!)
You mix them in a bowl and you have purple or orange icing or whatever color you decide to use. Red would be pretty neat for Christmas!
It did change the flavor of the icing and some of the kids liked one flavor more than the other but they all looked pretty cool!

Menu Monday

I have been trying to be more of a stickler for sticking to a list over the past little while. It has been very helpful and the past 2 weeks I have even managed to shop for about $50. Which is no small feet! This week (I just got back from the store) I got everything I needed for about $49.00. That includes toilet paper and lunch stuff too. (I did have a few of the things I needed in the pantry though). So here is my menu for this week!

Monday (look below for recipe)
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Tuesday
Speghetti
(our family friend Mr. Jason will be coming over for dinner and he really enjoys this along with my sweet tea!)

Wednesday
Chili

Thursday (look below for recipe)
Skillet Chicken and Mac Parmesian

Friday
Chicken and Dumplins
(Posted by Rocks in my Dryer!)

Saturday
Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Sunday
Left overs or whatever we can find!





Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Stir the soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper and vegetables in an 11 x 8-inch (2-quart) shallow baking dish.
Top with the chicken. Season the chicken as desired. Cover.
Bake at 375°F. for 50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Top with cheese. Let casserole stand for 10 minutes. Stir rice before serving.

Skillet Chicken and Macaroni Parmesian

Ingredients:
1 jar (1 pound 10 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Heat the sauce, 3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, chicken and macaroni in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

If you don't have cubed cooked chicken on hand, you can: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes in 2 batches and cook until it's well browned, stirring often. Pour off any fat. Add the sauce, macaroni and cheese to the skillet as directed above in Step 1.

If you are looking for more menu ideas head over to: Laura's Place

Just wanted to share:

Tuesday night I tried a new dish called ~ Capellini Caprese

The recipe is super easy and my hubby LOVED it!

• You warm 1/2 cup of Italian dressing on the stove for a few minutes.
• Add a diced onion to the dressing for 2 minutes. Be sure they are diced pretty small.
• Also add 2 cloves of minced garlic. (when you add the onions)
• Add diced tomatoes or you can use grape tomatoes. Allow to cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until it is warmed through.
• At the same time you are doing this start a half pound of pasta to cook. (I did a little more and it was fine)
• Drain after it is done and then mix with the onion and tomatoes.

It is quick and super easy! Oh yeah and you can sprinkle some cheese over the top.

Works for me Wednesday!

I am getting excited about the holidays already. We are working on our Christmas program at church so I am already listening to Christmas music. I have a friend that loves Christmas as much as I do so we have been discussing making candy and pies etc together while our little ones entertain each other. In honor of all that I am going to share a pie that I love to make, it is a perfect holiday pie but it is good really any time.

1 - 8 oz package cream cheese, room temp
1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - 21 oz can cherry pie filling (chilled) or you can use any tip of fruit pie filling or go without.
1 - 6 oz ounce graham cracker crust

Let cream cheese stand at room temperature until softened. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Beat in sweetened condensed milk. Add lemon juice and vanilla and stir until well mixed. Pour into crust. Chill several hours and then top with pie filling. When you put the pie in the fridge put the pie filling in as well.

Needs to chill roughly 3 hours! I have done it in as little as 2 hours but it is better with 3 hours. Not that anyone complained lol.

For more great tips go to Rocks in my Dryer!

Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad Wrap

4 cups torn romaine lettuce
6 oz grilled chicken breast strips *
1 large tomato, chopped
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cup Mexican style shredded cheese **
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/4 cup salsa
8 flour tortillas

Toss romaine, chicken breast, tomatoes and corn in large bowl; sprinkle with cheese

Combine dressing and salsa. Pour over romaine mixture; toss to coat. Spoon evenly into tortillas; roll up

* I am using some chicken breast on the bone that I have in the crock pot at the moment.
** I only have chedder so that is what I will use. Hopefully it won't change the taste to much lol.

Poker Night!

So I need the bloggy worlds help! We are hosting a poker night at our house for the first time ever. I am trying to plan my menu and I am unsure of what to make. Chris said they like to snack all night so I am trying to come up with foods that they can nibble on here and there. Here is what I am thinking so far and I would love some feed back with great new ideas. Let me clarify I would love great and EASY new ideas lol.

• Spinach Dip
• Throw up dip lol Sorry don't know the correct name - Velveeta cheese, beef and salsa
• I am torn between going down to the Mellow Mushroom and getting pizza or
• Homemade Chicken Salad or I guess I could do both (thoughts?)
• Diced up tomatoes and cucumbers, carrots and other fresh veggies (maybe, I have to run this by Chris. I don't know if they want healthy or junky lol)
• For dessert I am going to make Dirt Dessert in a beach sand pall

2 (8 oz.) cream cheese

2 (3 oz.) instant vanilla pudding

3 c. milk

2(16 oz.) Cool Whip

2 tsp. vanilla

1 lg. pkg. Oreo cookies

Gummy worms (optional)
Cream sugar and cream cheese. Beat milk, pudding and vanilla until thick, then add to cream cheese mixture. Fold in Cool Whip. Grind Oreo cookies in blender.
Layer Oreo mixture and creamy mixture, hiding gummy worms in flower pot, ending with cookie mixture on top. Chill overnight. Put flowers into "dirt" and surprise your guests when you serve your centerpiece for dessert! Makes enough for 2 pots.

Or I could scratch the pizza and chicken salad and have Chris grill Hamburgers and hot dogs and have potato salad, chips and maybe some baked beans. Hmmm, I am liking the sound of that. Actually what I may do is have him grill the burgers and dogs and I will make chicken salad. Then the guys can have some of each or have a variety to pick from. What are your thoughts? Do you have any other ideas? Please share them if you do!!!

We have a winner!!!

DANA AKA SUNSHINE!!! You are the winner of my recipes! I wish I had more to give out. I appreciate all of the entries and interest! If you drop by from time to time you will probably see some of the recipes. That is a suttle hint to come back whenever you have a moment lol. Again thank you so much for coming by and I hope to get to know you better.

Dog Days of Summer

*Edited to Add: This drawing will be closed Friday at noon (Eastern Standard time). Please have your entry in before the deadline and the drawing will be held shortly there after! Good luck!!!

Rocks in my Dryer has been hosting a bloggy giveaway and I have decided to participate!!! I am going to give away a photo album full of recipes!!! Everything from appetizers to desserts and don't forget yummy drinks and Christmas candy too. If you would like to enter just leave a comment and your email address!!! I will do a random drawing on July 27th!!! I will even give you a sample recipe:

Easy Chocolate Eclaires!!!

1 box graham crackers

2 small boxes instant french vanilla pudding

3 cups of milk

1 - 16oz cool whip

1 - tub of chocolate icing

1) Mix pudding with milk; Fold in cool whip.

2) Layer bottom of large pan or deep square bowl with crackers

3) Layer pudding mixture, then another layer of crackers and pudding (approximately 3 layers of each. Finish off with crackers on top.)

4) Spread cake icing on top of crackers. (You can add icing on each layer of crackers if you prefer more chocolate. You can also use a different flavor of icing if you would like!)

5) Refrigerate over night so crackers will soften.

Thanks for entering and good luck!!!