Tangy cherry chicken

6 chicken breasts or thighs
2 Tbsp. diced onion
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb cherries - pitted (Bing is preferred for the pretty red color)
4 basil leaves (or 1 tsp. dried basil)
½ cup orange juice
1 chicken bouillon cube

Cook the chicken using your method of choice (grill, fry) until done. While the chicken is cooking, place cherries, basil, orange juice and bouillon cube in a blender or food processor. Add the onions to a frying pan with olive oil and cook until translucent. Add the onions to the cherry mixture, and puree only until it is slightly chunky. After plating the chicken, spoon the cherry sauce over the chicken.

This is different but good!

Strawberry Sensation

This is so good and it is a crowd pleaser for sure! Plus it is soooo easy!

Get 2 lbs. strawberries
1  14 oz. can sw. cond. milk
1/4 c lemon juice
2  8 oz. tubs cool whip
8 oreo cookies
1 T. melted butter

- Line a 9x5 loaf pan with foil. Smooth it out as much as you can with some foil hanging over the edges a little. Mash 1 pkg. of the strawberries in a large bowl. Add the milk, juice, and 1/2 - 3/4 of a tub of cool whip. Mix well and pour into the pan.

- Coarsely chop the oreos and mix with the melted butter. Spoon over the top of the strawberry mixture and gently press it in.  Lift up the ends of the foil that is hanging over so the mixture doesn't spill over. Freeze for at least 10 hours. The recipe says 6 hrs. but that has not been enough time for me.

- Invert onto a plate about an hour before serving, remove foil. Frost with abt. 3/4 of a tub of cool whip, top with sliced strawberries, slice and serve!

- Serves about 12

Fresh Strawberry Pie

This is yummy and summery!

Bake a pie shell. If you don't want to make your own crust then I suggest using a Marie Calendars frozen shell. They are the best!

Cook 1 pkg. of Junket Danish Dessert (strawberry flavor), and cool.

Combine and spread on cooled crust:
3 oz. softened cream cheese
1 T. milk
1 T. sugar
1/4 t. almond extract

3-4 cups cut up strawberries, sweetened with sugar

 Gently mix the cooled danish dessert in with strawberries. Place in the pie shell and chill until serve. Top with real whipped cream!

Creamy Dreamy Lemonade Cupcakes

I saw this recipe and thought it would be fun to make for our family BBQ with Mom, Dad, Missy & Camryn, & the Pratt fam.  They were a hit! A perfect light summer treat.

Cupcakes

1 1/4	cups water
1/2	cup presweetened lemonade flavor drink mix
1	box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1/2	cup butter, softened
3	eggs

 

Frosting

1	package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2	cup butter, softened
3	cups powdered sugar
1/2	cup presweetened lemonade flavor drink mix
3	tablespoons milk
2	or 3 drops yellow food color, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
2. Pour water into large bowl. Add 1/2 cup lemonade drink mix; mix well. Add remaining cake ingredients; beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl as necessary until mixture is smooth. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat all frosting ingredients except food color with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. If necessary, add a little more milk until mixture is spreadable. For a yellow frosting, beat in a few drops yellow food color. Refrigerate until ready to frost cupcakes.
5. Frost cooled cupcakes. Refrigerator until ready to serve. Store in refrigerator.

Panda Express Orange Chicken

This one's for April.

Many years ago, I was at the mall with April, we were in the food court, and she was lining up at Panda Express, and she says "Have you ever had the Orange Chicken from here?" That was the first time I ever had orange chicken, and I've loved it ever since! I found a recipe that tastes just like it! It was pretty easy too!

Panda Express Orange Flavored Chicken Recipe
Ingredients :
• 1 lb. chicken breast meat
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 cups vegetable oil to be used for frying
• 1 cup cornstarch
Orange Sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 2 tablespoons chopped scallion
Instructions :
1. Cut chicken breast into 1/2-inch cubes, set aside.
2. To make marinade – combine egg white, salt and sugar in a bowl and stir vigorously until ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Add chicken cubes to marinade and stir to coat well.
3. To make orange sauce – combine water, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, 4 teaspoons cornstarch and sesame oil; stir and set aside. Place a pot over high heat. When pot is hot, add the 2tablespoons vegetable oil and heat. Add orange peel and scallion and stir for about 20 seconds, taking care not to burn the orange peel.
4. Pour combined sauce ingredients into the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened, about 12-15 minutes.
5. Preheat 4 cups oil to 350-375°F. Meanwhile, put marinated chicken in the plastic baggie containing the cornstarch. Shake chicken well for about 20 seconds or until chicken is covered with cornstarch. Shake off all excess cornstarch and fry chicken in hot oil until golden brown, approximately 2 1/2 minutes. Remove chicken from oil with a slotted spoon, drain well and set aside. Add fried chicken to pot with heated orange sauce, stir for about 30 seconds, and then serve immediately.
6. Serve with steamed rice.

Baked Oatmeal

This is cool because you can get it going in the oven first thing in the morning, go get the kids ready, then eat just before you leave. My kids ate seconds and thirds.

Baked Oatmeal
3 cups oatmeal
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil [you could use applesauce]
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar [brown or white]
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. vanilla .]
1/2 tsp. salt Mix all the dry ingredients. Add the wet. Mix it up and pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes

Sometimes we bake blackberries, apples, or blueberries in it. You can pour milk or yogurt over it. Top with fruit if it's plain.

White Cheese Chicken Lasagna

I made this for another Mom in our ward who is having a baby (we have tons). She is a vegetarian, so I ommitted the chicken and instead of using chicken broth, I used more milk, and then added artichoke hearts in one of the layers.
I made it normal for our family and it was delicious! Mike actually said "I think this might be my new favorite"


Ingredients
9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup butter
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken meat
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping


Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
2.Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the butter until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in the flour and salt, and simmer until bubbly. Mix in the broth and milk, and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Season with the basil, oregano, and ground black pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.
3.Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer with 1/3 of the noodles, the ricotta, and the chicken. Arrange 1/3 of the noodles over the chicken, and layer with 1/3 of the sauce mixture, spinach, and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Arrange remaining noodles over cheese, and spread remaining sauce evenly over noodles. Sprinkle with parsley and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
4.Bake 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven.