Sopapilla Cheesecake

I received this recipe from a friend of my mother-in-law's...and it is absolutetly scrumptious! I made it for our Branch Christmas Party and before I got a picture of it...it was GONE!!! and about 4-5 women wanting the recipe. Yep! Its a favorite! So here is the recipe!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 cans crescent rolls
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pkg. cream cheese (or use 2 for a thicker filling)
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick butter
cinnamon & nutmeg

Spread one can of crescent rolls across the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, vanilla and a couple dashes of nutmeg and cinnamon. Then spread mixture over top of crescent rolls in bottom of pan. Top mixture with second can of rolls. Melt butter & pour on top of rolls. Mix 1/2 cup sugar (I use brown, but you can use either) and cinnamon (atleast 1 tsp...I like about 1 tablespoon) and sprinkle on top of butter. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes! Let it cool slightly and serve!

*Even tastes yummy fully cooled!

Italian Chicken

1 cube butter or margarine
2 pkg dry Italian dressing mix
chicken breasts (boneless)
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
2 cans cream of chicken soup

Put in crock pot, butter or margarine, Italian dressing mix, and chicken breasts. Cook several hours (I cooked it on low for 6 hours). One hour before serving, take chicken out and break in pieces the size you want. Add cream cheese and cream of chicken soup. Return chicken to crock pot. (I cooked in for one more hour on high.) Serve over rice, pasta, or potatoes.

We had steamed asparagus with our chicken. I think that peas or broccoli would also go great with it. You definitely want to add a vegetable for nutritional balance. Sorry I forgot to take a picture but it was easy to make and yummy to eat!

Wanna Make Some Whoopie?

When we were in Pennsylvania last weekend we went to an apple orchard and pumpkin farm. They had lots of yummy food and one new dessert we tried was pumpkin whoopie pies. They were so good that I came home and found a recipe for them. The recipe is from Rachael Ray and they are delicious. They taste just like a pumpkin roll but much easier to make. So-get busy making whoopie (pies)!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Silvana Nardone and Christina Stanley-Salerno

From Every Day with Rachael RayOctober 2007

MAKES TWELVE

Prep Time: 35 min

Bake Time: 10 min

1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, 1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt
1 2/3 cups flour
4 ounces cream cheese, chilled
1 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.

3. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

4. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.

5. Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake.

Pumpkin Carving Family Home Evening

Hopefully everyone did their family home evening this week. Here is a great lesson you can do with your family while carving your jack o lantern. I got the lesson from http://inspirationorganization.blogspot.com/ and the recipe from http://www.allrecipes.com/.

Pumpkin Carving Family Home Evening
Lesson: Because I am His child, I will serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.

Scripture:(D&C 4:2). “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.”

This pumpkin is going to help us remember how we can better serve God.

I can open my mind so I can learn about Heavenly Father and his plan for me to return to him.(Cut the top of the pumpkin)

I can repent when I make a wrong choice.(Clean out the inside)

I can keep my eyes open for opportunities to serve others.(Cut the eyes out in shape of heart)

I can be a good friend to everyone and not turn up my nose to anyone.(Cut a nose)

I can open my ears so I can listen and learn.(Cut the ears)

I can open my mouth so I can share the gospel with the world.(Cut the mouth)

I can follow the Saviors example and let my light shine in all that I say and do.(Place a candle inside and light it)

Activity: It is no trick to treat others with kindness: Have small paper pumpkins cut. Family members can write acts of kindness they will do on each pumpkin.

After cleaning out the pumpkin I quickly took the seeds and made these for our treat:

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds with Sugar and Spice

Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Ready In: 50 Minutes Yields: 4 servings
"This is a delicious unique variation of toasted pumpkin seeds. The seeds are actually candied and then tossed with pumpkin pie spice, sugar and salt. Easy to prepare and hard to mess up. Once you start eating them, you won't be able to stop!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds,
rinsed and dried
6 tablespoons white sugar,
divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie
spice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dry and toasted. Larger seeds may take longer.
2.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of white sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle the remaining sugar over them. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts, about 45 seconds. Pour seeds into the bowl with the spiced sugar and stir until coated. Allow to cool before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Albino Chili

This an easy and very yummy chili.

2- 3 large cut up cooked chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1 can great white northern beans
1 can corn
1 can green chillies

Heat it all up and top with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
It is soo yummy!!!

Chicken Parm

Dave Kemp's Chicken Parmesan

1 C crushed croutons
2/3 C grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 C sniped or dried parsley
4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

Mix croutons, cheese and parsley. Dip chicken in 1/2 C melted butter and roll in mixture. Place pieces in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining butter and crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hr.

Yummy Chicken

This is a quick and easy crock pot meal!

In the crock pot I put 4-6 frozen chicken breasts.
2 cans cream of chicken soup.
(you can substitute one can for a can of cream of mushroom)
1 package of dried onion soup
1 package of dried italion dressing
cook 3-4 hours on high, the last hour of cooking add
1 package of cream cheese

Serve over Rice with a veggie and rolls!!! Yummy!!

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup

• 2 cans cream of chicken soup


• 1 can enchilada sauce


• 2 cups milk


• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese


• 9 oz frozen cooked chicken strips, thawed, chopped (2 cups)


• 3/4 cup crushed tortilla chips

• In 3 Qt saucepan, mix all ingredients except tort chips. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through and cheese is melted. Top individual servings with tortilla chips.

Potato Sausage Soup

This is really yummy soup and would be good with rolls or Harvest Bread (I posted that one already). It is similar to the Olive Garden's famous Toscana soup.

Ingredients:

3 links sweet Italian sausage
2 medium baking potatoes, washed and diced
2-3 slices bacon, cooked & diced
3/4 cup onions, diced
1 lg clove garlic, minced
2 Tbl Chicken Bullion
4 cups water
1/2 cup whipping cream

Preparation:
Remove sausage from casings; brown in skillet, breaking up, until cooked through. I have found that using a potato masher periodically throughout the cooking process really helps break up the meat.
Meanwhile, place cooked bacon and onions in large saucepan and cook over medium heat until onions are tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
Add chicken base, water and potatoes, simmer 15 minutes.
Add sausage and cream. Simmer 4 minutes and serve. Serves 5.

Harvest Bread

I got this recipe from Dallas's mom a few years ago. The story goes that after she had Dallas, her neighbor brought dinner which included this fabulous bread. I really like it and make it fairly often.

• 2 Cups Flour
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 Cup milk (again I use powdered milk)
• 2 Eggs
• 3 Tbsp Applesauce

• Mix all ingredients together. Bake in bread pan for 55 min at 350. (Check w/ toothpick in center to be sure all cooked, since ovens vary.)My favorite way to eat this is to let it cool a bit but eat it while it is still warm. Then you take a thick slice and put a healthy layer of butter on it and enjoy. (Well healthy in the sense of lots and yum yum, not in the healthy as in 'good for you' sense.)

Fajitas (chicken)

I made this last night. I usually do the homemade seasoning because it doesn't take long at all and the flavoring is great. Also, I've never used the lime wedges or guacamole but feel free to experiment. Enjoy!

From Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

Prep: 30 minutes Chill: 30 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees F Makes: 4 to 6 servings

12 ounces beef flank steak or bite-size strips of chicken or turkey
1 tablespoon purchased or Homemade Fajita Seasoning
4 to 6 8-inch flour tortillas
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup thin strips of red or green sweet pepper (1 medium)
1/2 cup thinly sliced onion, separated into rings (1 medium)
3/4 cup chopped tomato (1 medium)
1 tablespoon lime juice
Guacamole (optional)
Bottled salsa (optional)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Lime wedges

1. If desired, partially freeze beef for easier slicing. If using steak, trim fat from meat and thinly slice steak across the grain into bite-size strips. Place meat strips in a deep bowl. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the fajita seasoning. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

2. Wrap tortillas tightly in foil. Heat in a 350 oven about 10 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add sweet pepper, onion, and remaining 1 teaspoon seasoning. Cook and stir about 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove onion mixture from skillet.

3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the meat to the skillet. Cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes until desired doneness for steak or until chicken or turkey strips are no longer pink. Drain well. Return onion mixture to skillet. Stir in tomato. Cook and stir 1 minute or until heated through. Remove skillet from heat; stir in lime juice.

4. To serve, fill warm tortillas with meat mixture. If desired, top meat mixture with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. Roll up tortillas. Serve with lime wedges.

Homemade Fajita Seasoning: In a small bowl combine 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper;1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; and 1/8 teaspoon onion powder.

Taco Soup

Way Easy! Way Yummy!

1lb hamburger (browned and seasoned to taste)
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can corn
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can olives (sliced)
Garlic, Onion, Salt, Pepper and Taco Seasoning to Taste!

Put everything in crockpot for slow heating or heat in stockpot for quicker heating including juices from cans. Once heated...EAT! This is great with fritos chips or fresh baked bread!

Pop Up Pancakes

I'll be the first to post!

I found a recipe for pop up pancakes (also known as German Pancakes) on this blog http://www.makeandtakes.com/. I made them for my kids and they devoured them in a matter of minutes and begged to make them again soon. Since then we've made them for breakfast, lunch, and dessert. They taste a little like crepes and french toast combined. The batter pops up in the oven. You can see in the first photo how they look when they come out of the oven. You can top them with anything you want. Our favorites are syrup with powdered sugar and fruit with whipped cream or powdered sugar. You could also top them with chocolate or honey or anything else that sounds good to you. You can make them in any kind of pan, but muffins are fun. We love them and they are super easy to make. The recipe I saw was good but I added a little vanilla and sugar and now the recipe tastes great!

Pop Up Pancakes
1 cup milk

1 cup flour

6 eggs

1/4 cup melted butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

dash salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Grease 24 muffin cups

Mix all ingredients in a blender then pour into muffin cups

Bake 15 minutes

Enjoy! You can see more at http://www.memoriesbymindy.com/

Mindy Zeigler