Pork Chops

I'm not sure what to calls these, except good.  I'm not really a pork chop person, but we devoured these at my house.  It was really good served over rice.  Broccoli and sweet peas would be an excellent addition to this meal.  Don't be afraid of the long list of ingredients because most are seasonings that we all have in our cupboards.  This recipe called for soy sauce, but we are soy free here and unable to use it.  If you are making this and can use soy sauce it calls for 3/8 C.  You could then subtract the vinegar, 2 bullion cubes, molasses, ginger, 1/2 C + 1 Tbsp water....

1 1/2 lbs pork chops
1 Tbsp oil
2 tsp oil
3/4 C + 3 Tbsp water
3 beef bullion cubes
1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
3/4 tsp dark molasses
1/8 tsp ginger
pinch of pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt
4 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp flour

Heat 1 Tbsp oil in pan and brown pork chops on both sides.
Combine 2 tsp oil, water, bullion, vinegar, molasses, ginger, pepper, garlic, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes and pour over pork chops.
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, flipping pork chops half way through.  Watch the liquid level and add 1-2 Tbsp water if needed.
In pan, stir in flour dissolved in water.
Cook until thickened and serve over rice, if desired.

Lasagna Soup

We have all been very sick at my house and soup has been calling my name.  I wanted something a bit different and decided on this recipe.  We loved it!  Jamie told me to make sure and keep this one on the regular dinner list.

1 lb Italian sausage
2 C chopped onion
1 C diced carrot
2 C mushrooms (optional, didn't have any so didn't add it)
2 Tbsp minced garlic
4 C water
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 (10 3/4 oz) can tomato sauce
1 C small pasta shells
2 C freshly chopped spinach
1 - 2 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 C shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish

Brown sausage in large saucepan over med-high heat.
Add onions and carrots and saute until onions are transparent.
Stir in mushrooms and garlic and saute for an additional 3 min.
Add water, bouillon, tomatoes, and tomato sauce and bring to boil.  Simmer until carrots are tender.
Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.
Place 1/4 C cheese in bottom of each bowl and top with soup.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Spinach, Cream Cheese, and Turkey Enchiladas

I finally found a healthier, yummier, soy free version of enchiladas!  I'm not a beef person right now, so the fact that they have turkey instead makes them even better.  My kids were whining about the spinach, until they tried them and then they were singing my praises.

1 - 1.5 lbs ground turkey
1 chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 C chunky salsa
1 (8 oz) can diced tomatoes
12 flour tortillas
1 C Mexican blend cheese
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

Cook ground turkey, onion, and garlic over medium heat until turkey is no longer pink.
Add spinach and 1 C of salsa to turkey meat.  Cook for 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and add cream cheese.  Mix until melted.
Place 1/3 C meat mix in the middle of a flour tortilla, roll and place in greased 13x9 inch pan.
Bake for 20 minutes in a 350* oven.  Remove from oven and top with 1 C salsa mixed with diced tomatoes.  Sprinkle with cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes.

Microwave Caramel Popcorn

The kids and I were craving caramel popcorn, but I had no time to make it before we headed out for our camping trip.  Once we got there though, it was on.  We are in love with this simple and cheap popcorn.  I was hesitant because I didn't want my caramel popcorn to have a marshmallow taste, but it doesn't add that taste at all.

1 bag of microwave popcorn
1/4 C butter
1/2 C brown sugar
3/4 C miniature marshmallows

Pop the popcorn and put in a bowl.
Place butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows in microwave proof bowl, microwave for 2 minutes.
Stir well and pour over popcorn
*We didn't have mini marshmallows in the trailer, so we used 5-6 regular sized marshmallows.  Just make sure and really watch them because they tend to expand and hop out of your bowl.  I had to stir the sauce every 30 seconds or so just to try to keep them contained.

Southwest Bake

3/4 C brown or long grain white rice, uncooked
1 1/2 C water
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 can diced green chilies
1 (11 oz) can mexicorn or corn, drained
1 C salsa
1 C sour cream
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 C chopped onion
1 can black olives, sliced and drained
1 C shredded cheddar or mexican blend cheese

Cook rice with water.
Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients (to last cheese) and add rice once it is cooked.
Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 40 minutes.  Sprinkle cheese over top and bake 10 minutes longer.
This can be served in bowls as a casserole, in tortillas, or even with a side of chips.

Taco Bell Quesadillas

I love Taco Bell Quesadillas. I know, they are so unhealthy for you, but they are so yummy.  I found this recipe that is pretty similar, not quite, but it did the trick to save me from my craving.  Do not be afraid of the jalapenos.  After tasting them, I could have easily gotten my kids to eat them because they were so mild.

1/4 C canola mayonnaise
2 tsp minced jalapenos
2 tsp jalapeno juice (from minced jalapenos)
3/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 dash salt
shredded cheddar cheese
shredded monterey jack cheese
tortillas
cooked chicken tenderloins

Combine ingredients down to the salt and stir until smooth.
Taking one tortilla at a time, lay tortilla into hot skillet and sprinkle with 1/4 C of each shredded cheese on 1/2 of the tortilla.
Arrange about 1/4 C chicken slices over tortilla on the same half covered with cheese.
On the emtpy half, spread about 1 Tbsp of sauce.
Fold over, and press gently with spatula.
Cook until cheese is melted and each side of tortilla is golden.

What ingredients should you look for when going soy free?

I just realized that I had wanted to write a list of ingredients that you should be avoiding if you are allergic to soy, but have yet to do so.  Here is a list that I've been compiling of ingredients that mean "contains soy":

• hydrolized soy protein
• miso
• shoyo sauce
• soy flour
• soy grits
• soy nuts
• soy milk
• soy sprouts
• soy protein concentrate
• soy protein isolate
• soy sauce
• tempeh
• textured vegetable protein (TVP)
• tofu
• soy lecithin
• soy meal
• edamame
• tamari
• vegetable oil
• vegetable shortening
• hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
• brominated vegetable oil 

I have found that the brominated vegetable oil can be found in your citrus flavored carbonated drinks (Orange Shasta, Mountain Dew, Fresca, Fanta), so be very careful when grabbing that drink!

Soy lecithin of course is found in chocolate (I'll give you a moment to cry over that one).  I have only been able to find Nestle Chocolatier Bittersweet Bar, 4 Ounces and they sell dark chocolate ones as well that are our favorite.

Kara's Broccoli Salad

This is the salad that I am always begging Kara to bring and if I'm craving it and she isn't coming over, I am begging her to send me the recipe... again.  We brought it to the BBQ we went to this weekend and everyone was in love with this salad, even the broccoli haters fell in love.  So give this a try, even if you are one of the broccoli haters and you may find yourself falling in love with this despised vegetable.

A few heads of broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces
Celery, chopped (we always forget this ingredient)
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 C honey roasted peanuts
1 C mayonnaise
1/2 C sugar
2 Tbsp white vinegar or rice vinegar
1/2 Tbsp curry

Mix bacon, peanuts, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and curry until smooth.  Add to broccoli and celery.  Mix thoroughly.

Brett's Garlic Cheese Bread

I have been in love with this bread since the day my brother made it.  I have tried other recipes and they just weren't the same.  Love this yummy bread with homemade spaghetti!

Loaf of French bread, sliced lengthwise
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C mayonnaise
1 C colby jack cheese, shredded
1 C mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350*
Mix ingredients thoroughly and spread on slices of french bread.  Sprinkle with garlic seasoning.  Place on baking sheet and bake 8 minutes.  Then place under broiler for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Grape Salad

This has got to be one of the easiest and yummiest sweet salads I have made.  I took it to the lacrosse party and had everyone asking for the recipe.  This is the perfect summer salad.
FYI: I used light cream cheese and light sour cream


2 lbs red grapes
2 lbs green grapes
8 oz softened cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 c crushed pecans
1/2- 1 c brown sugar (I only used 1/2 c and it was still very sweet)

Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla.  Add in grapes.

Toast pecans and brown sugar in hot oven for 7 min, stirring every few minutes.  Sprinkle over grape mixture.

Chicken and Artichoke Casserole Bake

We loved this dinner.  I just have to thank my neighbor for giving me that huge jar of artichoke hearts!  I was disappointed that it wasn't the artichoke dip, but the things I have made with this jar of artichoke hearts makes it all better... Not to mention the artichoke dip that I baked up the other day!
We served this on a bed of fried spinach and it was like heaven on a fork.  Yum!

14 oz artichoke hearts, well drained and chopped
1/2 cup motzerella cheese
1/4 parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise (western family canola oil mayo = soy free)
1/4 cup sour cream
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 375*.
Salt and pepper chicken breasts and place in an 11 x 7 greased baking dish.
In a bowl, combine cheeses, mayonnaise, sour cream, and garlic;  mix well.
Spread mixture over chicken breasts.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

Cheese and Garlic Drop Biscuits

A favorite at our house.  Very easy recipe for those nights you are rushed to get dinner on the table.

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
1 Tbsp sugar
1/8-1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/8 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 425*
Combine flour, salt, baking powder, cream of tarter, sugar and garlic into mixing bowl.
Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork.
Mix milk and cheese into mixture.
Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Mix butter and garlic powder and brush on warm biscuits.

Mac and Cheese

This recipe is the same recipe my Mom served to my brothers and I, and that my Grandma served to my Mom and her brothers.  Okay, well not exactly the same, because we like ours with a bit more sauce, which means you need more cheese.  This is comfort food for me and now for my family.
We served this at one of our BBQ's and the guests weren't too sure because it is not just your basic mac n cheese, but I had people asking for the recipe after they dared to try this simple dish.












4 cups dried macaroni noodles
2 cans tomato soup
1/2 can milk
4 cups chedder cheese

Cook macaroni according to directions on package.
In 2 qrt casserole dish, mix together soup, milk, and cheese.
Drain noodles and add them to cheese mixture.
Cook in microwave on high for 4 minutes, stir, and continue to cook for an additional 4 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

I've been craving spinach artichoke dip for weeks now and finally made it this weekend.  How could I not when my neighbor dropped off a humongous bottle of artichoke hearts.  I must use them for something yummy and this fit the bill.  I'm afraid it ruined our appetites for dinner (but it got me out of making said dinner), but it was so good right out of the oven.  Hey, we'll just say it was a healthy dinner, I mean heck, it had spinach, diary, artichoke hearts, all of these things are healthy. 

2 cups parmesean cheese
10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed
14 oz chopped artichoke hearts
2/3 cup sour cream
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonaise (Western Family canola oil mayo = soy free)
2 tsp minced garlic

Preheat oven to 375*.
Mix ingredients in 9 x 13 size pan and bake for 20 - 30 minutes.
Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, or bread.

Garlic Chicken Pizza

One of my favorite pizzas and I'm so glad I can finally make it at home.  This was delicious and is definitely on my top pizzas list.

4 oz light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup light sour cream (Daisy = all natural and no soy!)
2 cloves garlic, mashed or 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
1/2 cup red onion, cut in slices
1/2 tomato, diced
1/2 cup mushroom, sliced
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
1 pizza crust (see my homemade pizza crust recipe)
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Slightly precook pizza crust (if it is fresh) in 425* oven for 7 minutes.

Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic until smooth.
Spread on pizza crust.
Top with onion, tomato, mushrooms, cheeses and chicken.
Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Sweet Golden Cornbread

The yummiest cornbread I have ever had.  I love this stuff smothered in butter and honey... and now I think I need to bake me up a batch for dinner tonight... sure hope there is some left after I've taken a little taste...
 
1 c flour
1 c yellow cornmeal
1 c milk
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c brown sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1/3 c melter butter or oil

Allow cornmeal to soak in milk for 10 minutes.  Add additional ingredients and mix until well combined.
If you are going to cook this separately from your meal, you will want to cook this in a 400* oven for 20-25 min. or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.

Cowboy Cornbread Skillet Casserole

Big name for a big, delicious casserole.  We have fallen in love with this casserole.  It is so easy, versatile, and quick to make (and cheap! and who can deny cheap?).  So here you have it, let me know what you think.

1 lb ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 chopped bell pepper
1 can beans (baked, black, chili, or pinto)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can corn
2 tsp flour
1 1/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp beef bouillon or 1 bouillon cube
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp cumin
8.5 oz pkg cornbread mix or see my cornbread recipe

Brown ground beef and onion over medium high heat, until onion is translucent in a large oven proof skillet.
Add remaining ingredients and cook until heated through.
While this is cooking prepare cornbread mix according to directions, with the addition of an egg and 1/3 C milk.
Spoon cornbread over meat mixture and spread evenly.
Place skillet in oven and bake at 350* for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cornbread layer comes out clean.
*a few notes: I don't always have a bell pepper, so don't always use it.  The corn and tomatoes are optional.

Puff Pancakes

Today I was thinking I would add my kids' favorite breakfast item. It is referred to by many names: puff pancakes, dutch babies, german pancakes. No matter the name, they are pretty good and very simple to make.  My kids love watching it puff up and then deflate as it cooks.

1 1/2 C flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 C milk
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar or honey
6 eggs
6 Tbsp butter

Turn on oven to 425*.
Place butter in 9 x 13 pan and place in oven and allow to melt.
While melting the butter, mix the remaining ingredients.
Pour over the melted butter and cook for 25 minutes.
*We like to sprinkle powdered sugar over it and then drizzle syrup over top.

Costa Vida/ Cafe Rio Sweet Pork copycat

I love both Costa Vida and Cafe Rio Sweet Pork burritos. Could eat them everyday, but unfortunately, because of Trae's allergies to their tortillas I don't get the opportunity to go there often. Here is a recipe I found to get that yummy stuff at home.

4-6 lbs pork roast (butt/shoulder works well)
19 oz. can red enchilada sauce
1 can or 20 oz Dr Pepper (NOT diet, I usually double this: see below)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 1/2 C brown sugar
1 can diced green chilies

You can cook this 2 different ways; crockpot or oven.
Crockpot: Place roast, dr pepper, salt, garlic salt in crockpot and cook on High for 4-6 hours. Take out of crockpot and shred. I usually will dump out the juices in the crockpot before putting the shredded meat back in. Pour Dr pepper, brown sugar, green chilies, and enchilada sauce on top and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
Oven: Season meat as desired and wrap in foil. Cook in 275* oven for 5 hours. Pull meat out and allow to cool slightly. While it cools mix remaining ingredients together. Shred meat and pour sauce on top and mix.

**Okay, so I've been trying something new with this recipe.  I've been cooking the meat in my crockpot as usual, but now I've started boiling the sauce ingredients on the stove until thickened.  Then I pour this over the shredded meat in the crockpot.  So yummy and the sauce actually sticks to the meat.  A must try!

Serve on salad or in tortillas with beans and your favorite toppings.

Thai-Style Ground Beef

I found this recipe, tried it and liked it. I think I was hesitant to try it because of the strange ingredients, but I was limited on time and refusing to head out to the grocery store where I knew I would buy more than I needed. So here it is, let me know what you think.

1 lb ground beef
onion, diced
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp curry or red curry paste
1 can tomato sauce
1 can coconut milk
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp grated lime rind (I don't always have a lime on hand & will use 1/2-1 tsp lime juice)
1 1/2 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce or asian fish sauce

Brown ground beef and onion over med-high heat.
Stir in remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
We serve this over hot, cooked white rice. (2 C rice/ 4 C water)

Corn Flake Cookies

We love cookies at our house, especially chocolate chip, but because of Trae's allergies we end up paying $7.98 for chocolate that Trae is able to eat for each batch of cookies. Not very economical and they are now sadly reserved for special treats. I'm always in search of a yummy cookie that doesn't call for chocolate chips. I think we have found a winner with these cornflake cookies. They are now one of my favorite cookies. Beware of eating too many due to a tummy ache and calories. ;)

1 C butter
1 C vegetable or canola oil  (we use canola)
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C crushed cornflakes
1 C chopped nuts (optional)
1 C quick-cooking oats
3 1/2 C flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter, sugar, egg, and then add in oil.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Form dough into walnut sized balls and flatten with fork.
Bake in 325* oven for 10-12 minutes.

Ham and Potato Soup

Because we are starting to get into the cooler weather, I thought I would post my family's most favorite potato soup recipe. We have even had success with converting soup haters into soup lovers with this recipe. Love, love, love it. We had it just last week. I will note that I usually double this soup for us and only end up with a smaller size tupperware bowl full left.

3 1/2 C peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 C diced celery
1/3 C chopped onion
3/4 C cooked ham
3 1/4 C water
2 Tbsp chicken bouillon granules (can replace with 4 cubes)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
5 Tbsp butter
5 Tbsp flour
2 C milk

Combine all items to the pepper in a stockpot, bring to boil, and then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
In separate sauce pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk and continue stirring until thick, about 5 minutes.
Stir the milk mixture into soup and cook until heated through and desired thickness.
Can sprinkle cheese on top as you are serving it up.

Scones / Navajo Tacos

Thanks to the reminder from our friends of the existence of Navajo Tacos, I went in search of a great scone recipe. I think I have found it with this one. For those that are not dealing with soy allergies, an easier solution would be to flatten refrigerated biscuits and fry. And don't forget to sweeten the extra scones with either honey butter or a butter, cinnamon and sugar mixture!

Scones:
2 1/2 C warm water
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
8 tsp oil
6 C flour

Combine first 3 ingredients and let rest 5 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients, but add flour a little at a time until dough is no longer sticky ( I usually use the whole 6 cups)
Allow to rise 1 hour. (I find throwing it into a 100* oven works really well for this... remember to turn off oven once it has reached this temperature)
Break off pieces of dough that are about the size of an egg and "flatten out" with hands to around 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.
Deep fry until golden brown on both sides.

At this point you have some options, meaning, what to top them with...
2 cans chili (homemade is once again our friend here)
lettuce
onion
cheese
beans (black, chili, or pinto)
diced tomato
cheese
sour cream
guacamole
salsa

**A quick solution I usually use is to brown a lb ground beef and diced onions, then add a can of diced tomatoes (mexican flavored), spices, and black beans into a pan and top our tacos with this.

40 Minute Rolls/ Hamburger Buns

These are the easiest rolls ever and the fact that you only have to let them rest for 5 minutes makes them quick!  Make sure and pay special attention to the amount of yeast because that is no typo.

2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 C warm water, plus
2 Tbsp warm water
1/3 C oil
1/4 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp salt
3-3 1/2 C flour

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
Add oil and sugar and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
Add egg, salt, and flour to form a soft dough.
Kneed on a floured surface for 3-5 minutes until dough is smooth.
Divide into 12 pieces and roll into balls.
Place on greased pan, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
Bake at 425* for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Loosemeat Sandwiches

So one of my mother's favorite meals is sloppy joes, my least favorite meal is sloppy joes. Guess who won that war? Okay, so it might have been close to a tie, but maybe I pulled a little ahead after she "forced" me to eat it and I threw it all back up across her kitchen table. Yep, what memories. haha! My poor mother.
My children and husband love the sloppy joe, but I think I have only brought myself to make them once. We have finally come to an agreement and I am willing to make them this tasty little sandwich.



1 lb ground beef or ground sirloin
2 tsp salt
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar
water

Salt bottom of skillet. Brown ground beef and start crumbling it with the back of a wooden spoon. You want the meat to end up being cooked into small crumbles.
Add chopped onion while browning meat.
When meat is browned, add mustard, vinegar, and sugar.
Add enough water to barely cover meat in pan.
Simmer until water is cooked out (about 15-20 minutes)
Serve on rolls/buns (Look for my 40 minute roll recipe!) with mustard and pickles.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I have been on the search for the peanut butter cookie recipe that I used for the Judy Family Party last month and I'm not sure that I found it, but maybe someone could make them for me and let me know?  ;)  My Aunt Susan begged me to get her the recipe and she is one person that I would do anything for.  So if she wants a recipe, she gets a recipe.  Now, hopefully, this is the right one.  I'm 99.9% sure that it is.  Enjoy! 

1 C butter
1 C peanut butter
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Cream together the butter, sugars, and peanut butter.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Mix dry ingredients and add slowly (or if you are like me... stop the mixer, add dry ingredients and mix slowly so the flour doesn't coat your kitchen.) 
Roll into balls and then roll into sugar.
Place on cookie sheet (do not mash with fork) and bake in 350* oven for 11-13 minutes.

*Now to get the full effect of the cookies I made for the party, you should place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center of each cookie immediately after taking out of the oven.  YUM!

Melt In Your Mouth Pumpkin Bread

I'm just about to throw in two pans of this bread and realized I haven't added this recipe here yet.  This bread is delicious and it doesn't get much easier than this!  The recipe doesn't call for the brown sugar, but because I love brown sugar and butterscotch I add it.  If you don't want to use brown sugar just add an extra 1/4C of white sugar.  Mason is currently licking his reward for helping me mix it all up.

2/3 C oil
2 eggs
1 C pumpkin
1C flour
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 (3.5 oz) box of pudding (I suggest coconut, butterscotch, vanilla, or cheese cake)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix oil, eggs, and pumpkin together and then add the rest of the ingredients.
Bake in 9x5x3 greased loaf pan in 325* oven for 1 hour.

No-Bake Granola Bars

These bars are so versatile, easy-peasy, and so darn yummy!  We used cocoa crispies for the cereal (what I had on hand) and sunbutter in place of peanut butter.  You could replace some or all of the corn syrup with honey.  I've also thought you could add in/ replace some of the dry ingredients with flax seed, wheat germ, almonds, pecans, crushed corn flakes, craisins, coconut, sunflower seeds... the variations are endless, but they are amazing just as is.

2 1/2 C crispy rice cereal
2 C oats
1/2 C raisins
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C corn syrup
1/2 C peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

In large bowl, combine cereal, oats, raisins and set aside.
In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and corn syrup.  Bring to boil while stirring constantly.
Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
Pour over cereal mixture and mix well.
Press into 13x9
Allow to cool and cut into bars.

Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!

I love pancakes on a lazy Sunday morning.  The brand we've always bought has now stopped selling the soy free pancake mixes, and have now had to find a recipe so my family could still enjoy this favorite breakfast item at home. 
I'll share that recipe in a moment, but I wanted to tell you about a mix we stumbled upon yesterday.  A man was in Harmons giving away samples of pancakes.  He happens to be the owner of this little pancake mix business and was trying to get it off the ground.  They were delicious!  So, if you hate making homemade pancakes and want to stick with the semi-homemade kind and you live in Utah, check out his product at Harmons.  Also, he has a gluten free pancake mix. The pancake mix is Tree Street Grains.  It lists a website, but looks like he doesn't have it up and running yet.

2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
4 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat eggs until frothy.
Add buttermilk, butter, and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients and mix just until blended (a few lumps are okay)
Heat lightly greased griddle to 350*

Pour 1/3 cup of batter onto griddle for each pancake.
Cook until tops of batter are covered in tiny bubbles, then flip, and cook until undersides are a golden brown.

Pizza Crust

My family loves this crust and what is better than homemade?  Maybe, only the fact that this pizza has no rising time, so can be thrown together in a flash. 

1 package yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 cup very warm water
1 tsp sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
several good shakes of Italian seasoning and garlic powder

Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water.  Stir until dissolved.
Add remaining ingredients and let rest for 5 minutes.
Roll dough out on preferred baking pan and shape it.

Bake at 425* for 8 minutes.  Add toppings and bake an additional 8 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Pepper-Jack & Spinach Pizza

Okay, to be honest, when my husband told me this is what we were making for dinner, and it had NO sauce, I was extremely skeptical.  So skeptical that I almost told him a straight out no and didn't make it, but I would have seriously missed out on an awesome pizza.  It is so good.  Don't be worried about the pepper-jack cheese because it gets toned down by the other ingredients and is not hot at all.

10 slices bacon (sliced in 1/4 inch strips)
2 (10 oz) packages of frozen spinach (drained well) or 3 lbs fresh spinach with stems removed
2 1/2 cups shredded pepper-jack cheese
1/4 tsp ground pepper
2 prepared pizza crusts (see my pizza crust recipe)
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425*
Cook bacon in large frying pan until crisp and drain on paper towels.
**If you are using fresh spinach, throw it into the pan of bacon grease and saute until wilted.
Brush pizza crusts with olive oil.
Layer the spinach, pepper, cheese, and bacon on pizza crusts.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake the pizza until the cheese has melted, about 10 minutes.

*We served with Hidden Valley Ranch Dip mix made with canola oil mayo and milk = soy free!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Duo

I saw these yummy looking cookies on a site called http://picky-palate.com   She has some fun recipes on her site.  I decided to throw them together and boy are they good and really simple to make!  I mean really, how can you resist peanut butter and chocolate?  They are truly a match made in heaven.

Peanut Butter Cookie
1 cup peanut butter (Skippy Natural Peanut Butter = soy free)
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Mix until well combined and set aside.

Chocolate Cookie
1 cup or 2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips, optional (chop up Nestle Chocolatier Dark Chocolate Bars = soy free)

Preheat oven to 350*
Cream butter and sugars until well combined.
Slowly beat in eggs and vanilla.
Place flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in bowl and mix with fork.
Add to wet ingredients, as well if chocolate chips if you are using, and mix until just combined.

Take a tbsp of peanut butter dough and a tbsp of chocolate dough and gently press together to form a "not so perfect" ball and place on baking sheet. (Or if you are a cheater such as myself, take your cookie scoop, scoop a gob of peanut butter and a scoop of chocolate, making sure the dough fills the scoop, and release it onto a cookie sheet)
Bake for 9-11 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the baking sheet.
Now, enjoy the yumminess!

Easy Peasy Pie Crust

Yummy.  Flaky.  Slightly sweet.  Easy. 

1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup oil  (we use canola because it is soy free)
2 Tbsp milk

Mix dry ingredients together with a fork in a pie pan. 
Make a well in center and add oil and milk.
Mix with fork until it makes a ball.
Flatten and press into pan until it reaches the desired shape. (flute edges if you are crafty enough to do this)

Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Meat Loaf Pie

A few months ago we had a bad experience with meatloaf.  Let's just say I don't want to even see meatloaf on my plate for another few years! But this pie sounded so delicious we had to give it a try.  I'm so glad we did.  Don't be stressed about the pie shell.  I'll post my pie crust recipe and let me tell you it is as simple as you can get!  Which is good because I can't roll out a pretty shaped pie shell to save my life.

1 lb ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 egg
1 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce  (Lea & Perrins is soy free)
1 can whole kernel corn
1 unbaked pie crust (see my pie crust recipe)
2 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350*
Brown ground beef and onion and season with garlic and season salt.  Drain and allow to cool slightly.
Mix in egg, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce.  Spread in bottom of pie crust.
Next layer the corn, mashed potatoes, and top with cheddar cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

I have so many soy free recipes that I would love to share, but I don't want to inundate my blog with them, so now I've decided to start a soy free recipe blog and can now post recipes as my heart desires. 
We found out my oldest was severely allergic to soy a few years back.  We had him tested on a whim and boy did that whim pan out. 
So now, we live soy free (okay, okay, maybe not if you count in those late night Pillsbury cinnamon buns, but we'll just pretend that I don't eat those because of course, I never leave any evidence behind.  Therefore, it can never be proven.... Other than I suppose, I just gave myself away.... You never read any of this....)