S Club Mama

I attended a pie-making class at our church recently and since then I'm a pie-baking expert. Ok, expert may be too strong of a word...but I love to do it! I've made an apricot pie (at the class...and I didn't really make the stuff just put it together but it was delicious), 2 apples, and a pumpkin. Today I made an Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie - I'm beginning to be daring. I've found this book at the library, "Pie" by Ken Haedrich. I'm hoping for (but not holding my breath for) this book for Christmas. I wanted to share with you the pie I made today. Basic Flaky Pie Pastry (single crust) 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1 T sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 c. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces 1/4 c. cold vegetable shortening, cut into pieces 1/4 c. cold water To make by hand: Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Toss well, by hand, to mix. Scatter the butter over the dry ingredients and toss to mix. Using a pastry blender (which...

I made this soup last night & it was delicious, if I do say so myself. My MIL had made some sort of potato soup a few weeks ago and I knew her ingredients, but wasn't so sure of how she put it together. And since we don't exactly have a phone-calling kind of relationship, I made it up myself. I also googled potato soup recipes, but most called for frozen hash browns. Anyway, here's my recipe. 2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup 1 can of milk (filled up one of the COC soup cans) 8 potatoes, cut & peeled (you could leave them unpeeled but ours were getting green so I just peeled them) 4 chicken breasts, thawed & sliced Put everything in the crockpot on low for 2 hours. Then I put mine on high for 2 hours (while the kids napped) just to make sure the potatoes would be done. Then on low again for 2 more hours. I'm sure on low for 6 hours would have done the trick but our potatoes and chicken were perfect. Shut the crock pot off about an hour before (...

I am SO bored of my menus.  Spaghetti Tater tot casserole Lasagna Baked chicken (spiced, marinated, or plain) Burgers (ok, I never tire of burgers but we can't eat them nightly) Enchiladas (healthy or otherwise) Hamburger Helper (yeah, we're that redneck) Fajitas/tacos (without toppings because I rarely remember to get them) Help! I know that some of you are excellent cooks.  Let's have a little contest .  Easiest, yummiest recipe! Two categories: Main entrees Side dishes Must use the following in entrees: ground beef OR skinless chicken breasts Must use the following in side dishes: corn, peas, green beans (canned) *we do use other vegetables, just these are the most often* broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, carrots, lettuce are others we enjoy *we also enjoy casserole dishes!* We have zero food allergies that we're aware of, but cannot afford expensive items (i.e. no garlic cloves - those suckers are more than $2.50 a piece!). Please nothing that makes me a slav...

I think I got this recipe from another blog but I don't remember whose it was...so just know that I'm not trying to steal a recipe, but sharing what's yummy and telling you it's not originally mine. Pumpkin Crisp 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin 1 c. evaporated milk 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 pkg butter recipe yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker are ones I've used) 1 c. chopped pecans (optional) 2 sticks butter, melted Stir together first 5 ingredients (it will be very runny). Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over mixture. Sprinkle on pecans (again, optional). Drizzle butter over everything. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden brown. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving. Good with whipped cream. Good warm or cold.

These cookies are pretty spectacular. And if I can find the right shapes, I'm going to make cookies for my husband's basketball team next week. I have a circle so the bball is taken care of but I'd also like a turkey (they're called the Jive Turkeys - I don't know). Anyway, I wanted to share the recipe in case you and stuck inside with your kiddos. I find baking is a great way to spend some quality time AND warm the house! Cut-Out Chocolate Cookies 1/2 c. butter, softened               1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 c. sugar                               1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 egg, beaten                            1/2 tsp. b...

I have yet to make this myself, I will be honest. However, my wonderful husband made a double batch last week so that we could have some and I could take some to a MOPS potluck/playdate. While at said playdate, I was told it was yummy so I wanted to share the recipe. Chicken Mac N Cheese 1 lb. pasta (we used spirally stuff)                1 qt. milk 1 1/2 T unsalted butter (we used salted) 1/3 c. parsley 1 c. bread crumbs (we used 2 pieces of white bread toasted) 1/3 c. flour 1/2 c. parmesan cheese 2 tsp minced garlic (garlic powder anyone?)  2 c. shredded cheese 1 lb. chicken breasts (about 4 cups) 2 tsp. dijon mustard (we used yellow) 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper Cook pasta al dente & drain (for those of you who have no idea what al dente means, it means almost cooked but not quite. The pasta will finish cooking in the oven). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 3 qt. baking dish....

Awhile back, I won a Wilton cupcake gift pack from the ladies over at Mayhem & Moxie. I was so excited to get this package in the mail! It included a dessert stand (which I haven't used yet *tear*), an icing knife, whisk, measuring spoons, sprinkles, cupcake holders, a measuring cup, and icing gels! I've wanted many of these things for awhile, but nothing more than the icing gels. I used so much red food coloring to get Moose's birthday cakes the right colors (Huskers & Wonder Pets - why is everything red?); these gels would have made that so much easier. So I was psyched when I finally got the idea (and time) to make cupcakes for the fun of it. I made cupcakes from scratch using the vanilla recipe from the Hello! Cupcake book (which I don't own but I got out of a magazine article highlighting the book a long time ago). The recipe called for 15-20 minutes; I left them in for 15; 11-12 would have been better. Then came the icing. I love to frost things but ...