Saltine Toffee

Sorry I haven't posted anything new in a while. Its been crazy around here. Before I get to today's recipe, I just want to share a little something with you.

I pride myself in my cooking and baking. And I do feel that I am quite successful in it. I receive a lot of compliments on things I make and that makes me feel good about my abilities.

However, even people who love to cook and bake and are good at it can also fail miserably.

Last Thursday I was going to make Cherry Bars (recipe to come later) to take to a Baby Shower. Well, our plans changed last minute and I didn't have time to make them. So Friday I got home from work early and had *just* enough time to make them and get them cooled enough to add the frosting. Well, I was in too much of a hurry and decided to soften the butter in the microwave. Big mistake. Next thing I knew I had melted butter all over the turntable of my microwave. I had enough butter left in the fridge to be able to make the bars still. I had the butter and sugar sitting in the mixing bowl when I decided to grab the Almond Extract out of the cupboard. Come to realize that I have NO almond extract. And of course at the time, I did not think about the fact that I had a bottle of Amaretto in the closet that I could have used as a substitute. I have no clue when I actually ran out of the extract or why I never replaced it. Usually I keep a good stock of baking supplies.

By this point I was running out of options of things to make since I was really limited on time. Plus, my son was down for his nap so I couldn't run to the store. Anything I was going to make, I had to have all the ingredients in my house.

I remembered a recipe I found a couple years ago that I had wanted to try and just had never got around to. I dug it out and had just enough of the 3 main ingredients to make it. I had half of the chocolate chips it called for, but I figured that would be ok.

I hate taking new recipes I haven't tried before to social events....just in case it doesn't turn out or doesn't taste good. But several people complimented me on these bars and also asked for the recipe. My husband liked them as well.

So, I thought I would share this recipe. It is great to have just in case you ever find yourself in a situation like I was in and need something easy and fast.


1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Butter
1 sleeve Saltine Crackers
1 c. Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay a sheet of aluminum foil on a jelly roll pan (MUST have sides, do NOT use a flat cookie sheet with no sides for this). Lay Saltine Crackers in rows, with crackers touching each other to fill pan. Heat together Brown Sugar and Butter. Boil for 3-4 minutes. Pour over saltines. Bake at 375 for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle Chocolate Chips on top. After about 5 minutes or so, gently spread chocolate chips evenly over toffee. Let cool. Break Apart. Enjoy!

Creamy Cooker Chicken

Happy Easter! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and hopefully spending time with family and friends.

Unfortunately, my husband is stuck working ALL day again this Easter. So it is just me and our son (well, and the dog too of course). But that's ok. We went to church, played outside and went for a couple walks.

Obviously I didn't need to cook a big fancy meal. But I did want to make something special for this evening when my husband does return home so we can sit down for a family meal.

This recipe is very delicious. And with only 4 ingredients and a crockpot, it is very simple as well.

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 c. sour cream
10.75 oz can cream of mushroom soup
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Combine first 3 ingredients in the crockpot. Add chicken and stir to coat all the chicken in sauce. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Note: We usually pull the chicken apart with a fork so it is more of a thick gravy for our rice or noodles. You can also leave the chicken pieces whole.

For a flavor twist, try adding a little shredded cheese on top of each portion on the plate just before serving

Cheeseburger Pasta

This recipe my friend, Jean, found and we decided to try together several years ago. It is quick, easy, and delicious. The ingredients are things our family always has on hand so it is easy to put together quick when we don't feel like spending a lot of time cooking or our plans change last minute.

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 can condensed Cheddar Cheese soup
1 can condensed tomato soup
1-1/2 cups Water
2 c. uncooked medium shell pasta

Cook beef in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. Add remaining ingredients. Heat to a boil. Cook over medium heat for 10 mins, or until pasta is tender - stirring often. Let set 2-5 minutes before serving.

For a little flavor twist, try adding crumbled bacon.

Gourmet Grilled Ham & Cheese

Who doesn't love a good grilled ham and cheese? Want to make one that will 'wow' you? There really is only one simple trick. Once you try it, you will never go back to eating an ordinary ham and cheese. So what is that trick? Spread a little mayonnaise on the inside of the bread before adding your ham and cheese! I know it may sound a little odd, but you really don't taste it. However, it makes the cheese incredibly creamy and smooth.

My ideal Gourmet Grilled Cheese?

2 slices Garlic Parmesan Italian Bread
Mayonnaise
Cheese
Ham
Turkey
Bacon
Tomato

Try it! You may just like it! I always love when I can add one little twist to a simple food like Grilled Cheese and create something wonderful.

Spinach Pizza Roll-ups

Tonights recipe comes from my friend Meghan. These are quick, easy, cheap, and can very easily be made completely organic. Even my husband (who claims he does not like spinach) and toddler both enjoy these.

1 tube refrigerated pizza dough
1 c. Pizza Sauce
1 c. shredded Cheese
Fresh Baby Spinach

Roll out the pizza dough. Spread sauce on dough. Top with fresh spinach (as much or as little as you would like). Sprinkle with 2/3 of the cheese. Starting at one end, roll up as tightly as you can. Once rolled, cut into 8 pinwheels. Lay flat on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Top each with a sprinkle of the remaining cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes.