Mushroom and Onion Potato Wedges

I wanted to throw together a side dish to go along with the Coca-Cola Barbequed Chicken recipe tonight, but could not find anything in my cookbooks that I liked. Hubby just bought potatoes so...potato wedges it is. This is the most simple recipe in the world!

Mushroom and Onion Potato Wedges

Ingredients:

2-3 lb potatoes
Lipton Mushroom and Onion Soup Mix
Olive Oil

Directions:

Slice potatoes lengthwise into wedges (keep skins on). Pour Lipton Mushroom and Onion Soup Mix packet into a large ziploc bag. Add enough olive oil to moisten. Place wedges into bag and close. Shake well. Place wedges onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 425F for 15-20 minutes.

Coca-Cola Barbequed Chicken

I was in an outdoors-y type of mood tonight and decided to go barbeque indoors! I came across this recipe in my 3,4,5 ingredient cookbook and was tickled to have such simple ingredients on hand for it :) This meal tasted like barbeque with a hint of the cola. Mmm...so good!

Coca-Cola Barbequed Chicken

Ingredients:

4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup ketchup
1 (12 oz) can cola soda

Directions:

Place chicken in baking dishes. Combine cola and ketchup together and pour over the chicken. Bake at 425F for 25 minutes.

Breakfast Wake-Up

I was wanting to make a big breakfast for our last morning in the Schellsburg House. This house just makes you want to take advantage of that kitchen table :)  Kaplyn really wanted to try to make the breakfast herself so besides putting it in and taking it out of the oven, she did everything else. What a great little chef!!!

Breakfast Wake-Up

Ingredients:

12 eggs
2 (7 oz) cans chopped green chilies with juice
2 (16 oz) packages shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa, optional

Directions:

Drain green chilies and save juice. In seperate bowl, beat eggs with juice of green chilies and add a little salt and pepper. Spray 9 x 13 inch pan and spread half cheese on bottom of pan and layer chilies over this. Top with remaining cheese. Pour eggs over top and bake uncovered at 350F for 45 minutes. Serve with toast.

*At the little store we go to for groceries, we were unable to find a can of  green chilies. So, we used a can of diced tomatoes mixed with green chilies. It think it tasted better than just plain green chilies would have!

Pumpkin Cake

Although this was supposed to be a cupcake recipe, I made the cake version (forgot to pick up cupcake liners :(  Was a little early, but definitely gives your home the smell of fall!

Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:

1 (18 oz) package spice cake mix
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Directions:

Blend cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil and 1/3 cup water and beat for 2 minutes. Pour into cake pan (or 24 paper-lined muffin cups and fill 3/4 full. Bake at 350F (follow directions on back of spice cake mix box for minutes on a cake) If you do a cupcake it is 18-20 minutes or until toothpick is inserted in center comes out clean. Spread with commercial icing if you like.

Unbelievable Crab Dip

This was a side dish that I made for our seafood dinner at the Schellsburg House. Went great with the fish...lots of seafood taste to the dinner :)

Unbelievable Crab Dip

Ingredients:

1 (6 oz) can white crabmeat, drained, flaked
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
Chips or crackers

Directions:

In saucepan, combine crabmeat, cream cheese and butter. Heat and mix thoroughly. Transfer to chafing dish and serve with chips or crackers.

Chips and Fish

While on our mini-weekend trip to the Schellsburg house (yes, our second trip this summer) we decided to have a seafood night. Mmm....was it a good one! My husband is not a huge seafood person and he absolutely loved it...even ate seconds!! I am a sour citrus nut and this one had plenty between what was in the recipe and what was squeezed over it after :)

I went with 2 different seafood dishes along with a veggie and some dessert. This was our main dish:

Chips and Fish

Ingredients:

3 to 4 fish fillets, rinsed, dried
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and lime wedges
1 1/2 cups crushed corn chips

Directions:

Preheat over to 425F. Mix mayonnaise and lime juice. Spread on both sides of fish fillets. Place crushed corn chips on wax paper and dredge both sides of fish in chips. shake off excess chips. Place fillets on foil-covered baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until fish flakes. Serve with lime wedges.

Watermelon Basket with Fruit Salad

This was my first attempt at making something out of the actual rind of the watermelon...I was very pleased with myself!!

Watermelon Basket with Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

1 Oblong Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Blueberries

Directions:

Using an oblong watermelon, slice 1/4 inch off the bottom lengthwise to provide a stable base. Use a pencil to draw lines for handle placement and basket opening. Cut the handle first, then make zig-zag cuts with a paring knife, all the way through the rind (be careful not to cut through handle base on either side) Use an ice cream scoop to remove flesh from inside of basket and cut scoop quarters for the fruit salad. Place in basket. Use a melon baller to cut into cantaloupe. Toss in with watermelon pieces. Add blueberries and attach some on toothpicks to handle for a decoration.

Banana Split With a Twist

This is a very healthy dish! Yum, yum and yum!!!!! What else can I say? Oh, yeah...yum!

Banana Split With a Twist

Ingredients:

Bananas
Watermelon Balls
Whipped Cream
Chopped nuts (optional)
Granola (optional)

Directions:

Cut bananas in half lengthwise and place the halves on plates. Top with watermelon balls formed with an ice cream scoop. Add dollops of whipped cream, then sprinkle on chopped nuts or granola.

*Just for fun, I used red sugar sprinkles on top to make it more dessert like :)

Watermelon Marshmallow Puffs with Chocolate Dust

This was such a gorgeous dish and tasted amazing!!!

Watermelon Marshmallow Puffs with Chocolate Dust

Ingredients:

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
8 squares 4 inch wide x 4 inch x 1 inch thick squares of seedless watermelon
2 cups marshmallow fluff

Directions:

Pulse the chips in a food processor until ground to the texture of coarsely ground coffee. Arrange the watermelon squares on a serving platter. Spoon the marshmallow fluff into puffs onto each watermelon square. Sprinkle the ground chocolate over the marshmallow. Serve immediately. Serves: 8.

Watermelon Sailboats

This was a fun recipe to make with the kids (and tasty too!) Very healthy with just the right amount of amusement to entice the kiddies :)

Watermelon Sailboats

Ingredients:

1 watermelon, seedless
1 quart fresh blueberries, rinsed and picked over for stems and leaves
2 cups Grape Nuts or similar breakfast cereal

Directions:

Cut a 3 inch by 3 inch square log about 6-8 inches long from the center of the watermelon by cutting off the sides and ends of the watermelon to create such a shape (Use the unused watermelon for slice and snack or puree flesh for a drink)

Slice the log into 3/4 inch thick squares. Cut the squares diagonally to form right triangles.

Puree the blueberries. Spread the blueberry puree on a serving platter imitating a pond or lake. Sprinkle the cereal around the edge of the blueberry puree like sand or pebbles at the "water's" edge. Float the triangles of watermelon upright on a short side like sailboats on the water moving in the same direction. Add a toothpick with a blueberry for the flag on the sailboat. Serve immediately. Servings 4-6.

*I didn't have Grape Nuts around, but did have dry oatmeal. Sprinkle it around like sand. When you go to eat it, swipe the watermelon through the blueberry puree and then the oatmeal...delicious!!

Kid's Watermelon Grape Fizz

Just add a cute slice of melon and you have a fun drink for the kids :)

Ingredients:
1 cup seedless watermelon puree
1/4 cup grape juice
3/4 cup sparking water
1 serving crushed ice to taste

Directions: Mix together the watermelon puree and grape juice in an over sized tumbler. Add the sparkling water, then the ice, which causes a nice fizz. Serve immediately. Makes 1 drink.

*The watermelon taste was very strong so I doubled the grape juice ingredient to 1/2 cup for 1 cup watermelon puree. You could even add more depending on what you want to taste.

Watermelon Salsa

Today was "National Watermelon Day" and my family took advantage! With one watermelon for $3.99, we made 6 recipes!! This was the first one...how easy is this?!!!

Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients:

1 cup of watermelon puree
16 oz mild salsa

Directions:

Puree watermelon until you have 1 cup after puree. Mix with a 16 oz jar of mild salsa. Serve with chips.

Cinnamon Toast

I threw together these toast pieces in no time and the whole family loved them! Great for breakfast or snack :)

Cinnamon Toast

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar
1 heaping tablespoon cinnamon
Bread
Butter, softened

Directions:

Make cinnamon-sugar by mixing sugar with cinnamon. Place in large salt or sugar shaker. Place bread on baking sheet and toast top by broiling in oven until light brown. Remove baking sheet and spread soft butter on toasted side. Sprinkle with cinnamon mixture. Return to oven and broil until tops are bubbly. Watch closely because sugar burns easily.

Pesto Ravioli

My hubby gets credit for these yummy raviolis that he made this past Sunday :)

Pesto Ravioli

Ingredients:

1 pack frozen cheese ravioli
1 pack frozen meat ravioli
1 package of frozen broccoli, thawed & cooked
Pesto sauce, homemade or packet
2 cans of diced tomatoes
Oregano
Garlic
Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook ravioli per package directions. While pasta is cooking, put together your homemade or packet pesto sauce. Drain pasta and toss with pesto sauce, both cans of diced tomatoes, broccoli, oregano and garlic to taste. Serve with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday! Week of 8/1/11-8/7/77

I have been really busy trying to finish my kitchen revamp along with starting up cheerleading camp. Sorry if I have been a little behind!

Here is what we hope to have this week!

Monday: Hoagie Bun Pizzas (New Recipe)

Tuesday: Cinnamon Toast

Wednesday: Flounder Italiano

Thursday: Salami on Rye Sandwiches

Friday: Spinach Orange Salad

Saturday: Fend for Yourself

Sunday: Baked Pasta with Oregano Bread

Also hoping to get in a drink:

Emerald Punch

Be sure to check back for recipes and final photos :)