Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Dumplings

This is one of my favorite meals ever!! Its a family recipe and I decided its time to share this amazing meal with others!! :) About half of my family love the dumplings (me included) and the other half aren't fans of them so making the dumplings are entirely optional.

Soup:
2 Chicken Breasts, sliced into bite size pieces
3 Large cans Chicken Broth OR 10 cups Water and 10 tsp Chicken Bouillon
1 Sweet Onion, chopped
6 Stalks Celery, chopped
6 Carrots, chopped

Put all ingredients into pot, cook until Chicken is done. I cook it for about 2 hours on med-low heat.

Noodles:
3 Eggs ( I use 4 eggs because we like more noodles)
1 tsp Salt
2-2 1/2 Cups flour (2 1/2-3 cups if you used 4 eggs)

Mix together and roll out until dough is about 1/8" thick. Use pizza cutter and cut dough into noodles. Add to Chicken Soup. Cook for at least 45 minutes. Covered. (I like thicker noodles so i cut mine a little thicker. You can cut them as thin/thick as you like.)

Dumplings: (optional)

1 cup Milk

13 Tablespoons Butter (2/3 Cup)

1 cup Flour

3 Eggs

1 Tablespoon Salt

1/2 Bunch FRESH Parsley

Bring milk to boil. Add butter and salt, stirring constantly. When melted turn down heat to LOW add flour and mix immediately. When stiff add one egg at a time and mix well between eggs. Add Parsley. Mix well for a few minutes. Remove from heat. NEXT: Remove the noodles and most of the chicken and veggies so there is mainly broth in the pot. (the dumplings are very sensitive and i have found they cook better when just in broth) Bring Broth to BOIL and place dumplings in by the spoonful, one by one. COVER (VERY important... DO NOT lift the lid) and turn heat down to med-low and cook for 25 minutes. When done remove them from the broth and set aside in separate bowl. Add noodles, chicken and veggies back to pot. Serve soup and top with dumplings, if desired. Serve with Salad and Enjoy!

Hearty Italian Soup

This is a super yummy soup perfect for those cold fall/winter days and nights!

Ingredients

• 1 pkg Sausage
• 1 medium Sweet Onion
• 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Oil
• 10 cups Water
• 10 tsp Chicken Bouillon
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 can Connellini Beans, rinsed
• 2 cans Stewed Tomatoes, undrained
• 2 1/2 cups Tortellini
• 2 cups baby Spinach leaves
• Mozzarella Cheese, To Taste

Directions

• In Large pot bring to boil water, boullion and Italian Seasoning.
• Cook Sausage, Onion and Garlic in Oil in a large saucepan for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently
• Add cooked Sausage mixture to soup. 
• Next add Beans, Tomatoes and Tortellini, cook for 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• Remove from heat. Stir in Spinach; Cover. Let stand 5 minutes
• Top with Mozzarella Cheese and Serve with French Bread!
• ENJOY!! :)

The Glitter Pumpkin

I found this Idea on Pinterest and I just had to try it with my daughter!! It was SO much fun and she had a blast decorating her pretty little pumpkin!!

This is a very simple craft for kids! All you will need for this project is a Pumpkin, Glitter (your choice of color) and Mod Podge. First you are going to cover the entire pumpkin (except the bottom and stem) with mod podge, a pretty good amount. Next have your kid go to town with the glitter!! SO much fun and it turns out great!!! Try doing this with your kids this year! I promise they will love it!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Fall Everyone!!! October is finally here and i am going to start the month off right by making these delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!! I got this recipe from my sister-in-law for my bridal shower and i am SO glad she shared it with me!!! These are seriously the most delicious cookies ever... I just had to share this with all over you :)

 **WARNING** these are dangerously addictive! 

Ingredients

- 1 cup Shortening

- 2 cups White Sugar

- 2 Eggs

- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

- 1 (15 oz) can Pumpkin Puree

- 4 cups Flour

- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda

- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder

- 1 teaspoon Salt

- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

- 1 pinch Ground Nutmeg

- 1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

- 1 cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheet.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in Eggs one at a time. Stir in the Vanilla and Pumpkin until well blended. Combine in separate bowl Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon and Nutmeg; Stir into the Pumpkin mixture. Mix until blended well. Then add the Chocolate Chips. Stir in the Walnuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 12-15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

4. Enjoy 

Tips:: I use Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips so there is more chocolate throughout each cookie

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches

Want to make simple delicious cookies that your kids can help decorate?! Then stop your search here cause you have found it!! This is the most simple cookie ever. Just make Chocolate Chip Cookies (your favorite recipe) or buy already made cookie dough. Cook the cookies. When they are cooled flip the cookie upside down, add frosting (store bought or home made), top with another cookie and there you have it! My daughter and i decorated the tops of them to make it more fun for her!! SUPER easy and yes.. they are delicious!!

Salsa Chicken Burritos

These are SO yummy and incredibly simple for those days you don't want to be in the chicken forever making dinner!! So here it is guys!

Salsa Chicken Burritos

(makes 5-6 burritos)

- 2 Chicken Breasts

- 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

- 1 cup Mild Salsa

- 1 small can Diced Green Chilies

- 1 box Mexican style Rice-A-Roni

- Shredded Lettuce

- Tomato

- Shredded Cheese

- Sour Cream

- Guacamole

- Tortillas

Place raw chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, salsa and diced green chilies in Crock-Pot on LOW for 3 hours. Start making Mexican Rice (according to directions) about 30 minutes before Chicken mixture is done. When Chicken mixture is done, mix and shred chicken with 2 forks. Next make your burrito by placing all the ingredients inside the tortilla. Hope you all ENJOY! (optional: top with more cheese, sour cream, salsa and guacamole)

Chicken Fajitas

These are super yummy and VERY easy! Enjoy!! :)

Chicken Fajitas

- 3 Chicken Breasts

- 1 pkg Spanish Rice-a-Roni

- 1 Sweet Onion

- 1 Red Bell Pepper

- 1 Green Bell Pepper

- Corn Tortillas (6 inch)

- 1 can Diced Green Chiles (4oz)

- 1/4 cup Salsa

- 2 tablespoons Oil

- 1 teaspoon Garlic

- Seasoning Salt & Pepper

- Sour Cream

- Cheese

- Hot Sauce (if desired)

First you want to cook your Spanish Rice according to directions on box.

(Note: we did not have Spanish rice when i made these. So..No pictures with rice. These Fajitas are good without the rice but even better with the rice, so i definitely recommend adding the rice!)

While rice is cooking add Oil to frying pan. Add Red & Green Bell pepper & Onion. Cook on medium heat until all veggies are cooked!

Once Veggies are cooked add chopped chicken & chopped garlic. Season with Pepper & Seasoning Salt

When Chicken & Garlic are cooked add canned diced Green Chiles, mix and cook for 3 minutes

Add Salsa, mix and cook for 3 minutes

 It should look like this:

 Now you want to warm up tortillas in microwave for about 1 minute

 Next you will want to place chicken mixture and rice on tortilla and top with Cheese and Sour Cream.

ENJOY!

Corned Beef with Cabbage

Never judge food by the look of it, smell of it.. or even its name!! The first time i have ever tried corned beef and cabbage was at my in-laws house a few years ago. I honestly never wanted to try this meal because of how it looks.. lets face it, it looks disgusting! Just because it looks like something only a dog would eat doesn't mean it isn't delicious! I think of the phrase "Never judge a book by its cover" whenever i eat this yummy meal (twice a year)! There are many people who never try new foods because of how it looks or even how it smells, but that my friends is a huge mistake! The smellier the cheese, the better it tastes! :) SO i encourage you all to try this delicious meal this year for St. Patrick's Day! 

(This is a very basic way of cooking this dish)

Corned Beef and Cabbage

- 1 pkg Corned Beef with season pkg inside

- 8 Red Potatoes

- 2 cups Mini Carrots

- 1 head of Cabbage 

(we use 2 heads because the cabbage is our favorite)

- Water

First you want to placed WASHED and SLICED potatoes in crockpot

Then you place WASHED mini carrots on top potatoes

Next place Corned Beef on top. NOW this is a personal preference but you are not suppose to wash the meat before placing it in the crockpot because it adds so much flavor. I did wash mine this year and i noticed the meat wasn't as tender and not as flavorful so i will not rinse mine the next time i cook it but just so you know, you shouldn't wash the meat, even though you will want to. This is a very slimy, fatty meat.

Now you want to fill up the crockpot with water until the meat is covered. Once crockpot is filled with water you want to top with the special seasoning packet that came with the meat. NOTE: I got a huge beef roast this year so i wasn't able to cover the meat completely.

Cover and Cook on LOW for 8 hours

Now you will want to add the WASHED and SLICED Cabbage to the crockpot and continue to cook, covered, on LOW for another 3-4 hours. (total cook time: 11-12 hours on LOW)

Serve and Enjoy!

Now im sure you noticed the brussel sprouts on the side. That is also another food i never tried until a few years ago again at my in-laws house. I was shocked at the taste. They aren't my favorite vegetable for sure but i will definitely eat them because they are actually pretty good. They taste similar to broccoli, if you add butter and a little bit of salt! :)

When i made this i thought, "well i don't think Adilyn (my daughter) will like it, so i wont make it" BUT I was wrong. My daughter is a very, i mean VERY, picky eater! And she liked everything but the cabbage and potatoes! Here is a picture of her plate and i kid you not she ate ALL of it! Who knows, maybe your kids will like it as much as my daughter did!

I Hope you all have the guts to try this dish out! I was pleasantly surprised and i am sure you will be too!

Homemade Egg Salad Sandwich!

My Family and I LOVE eggs! We have them almost every weekend and sometimes throughout the week! As i have said before we are trying to eat a little bit better so why not eat eggs that are a great source of protein and good for you!? Answer: I have no idea! SO i have been playing around with egg salad recipes trying to find what combinations i like the most and so far this has been the best! 

Egg Salad Sandwich

- 6 Hard Boiled Eggs

- 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise

- 1 Tablespoon regular Mustard

- 1 Tablespoon Sweet Pickle Relish

- 1 Tablespoon grated Sweet Onion

- Dash of Pepper

- Lettuce

- Whole Wheat Bread

First you gotta cook your eggs!

Then you need to peel your Eggs and Slice into tiny pieces, set aside.

Grate Sweet Onion, set aside.

Place Eggs, Mayo, Mustard, Relish, Onion & Pepper into bowl

Mix! :)

Place mixed egg salad and lettuce on top of whole wheat bread and Enjoy!

Cool Whip Fruit Salad

I know how hard it is to eat healthy, trust me! I am the biggest chocoholic there is! But because my husband and I are trying to eat healthy and have a overall healthier lifestyle i have been TRYING to be good and make healthier food! I am one of those people who loves munching on snacks while watching a movie or our favorite TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or just the late night munchies! SO i decided to make a sweet but healthy snack to replace my normal ice cream or candy! Plus its hard to find healthy food a kid enjoys, at least for me. My daughter is so picky! Getting her to eat or try new things is almost impossible so when my picky eater will eat this, you know its good! I Hope you all enjoy this as much as we do! 

Cool Whip Fruit Salad

~1 pkg Strawberries, washed & sliced

~1 Apple, washed & sliced

~2 Bananas, sliced

~2 cans Mandarin Oranges, drained

~2 cups Red Grapes, washed

Place everything in a bowl

and mix in Cool Whip

Place in a bowl and ENJOY!