Stir-Fried Beef and Peppers

I found this recipe when I was first married and still love to make it. It is healthy and delicious!

1 pound lean beef, cut in paper-think strips (I buy the pre-cut beef for stir fry at Safeway in the meat section)

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

4 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 pound mushrooms sliced

1 medium onion sliced

2 green peppers cut in strips

1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine meat strips with soy sauce, lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar, and ginger. Let stand while preparing veggies.

Heat oil in a large frying pan or Dutchoven.

Stir fry mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and salt until veggies are tender-crisp (i like mine a little softer)

Remove veggies from pan and reserve oil

Stir fry meat in the hot oil until done

Add veggies and stir until hot

Serve with cooked rice

*We don't eat it with rice to lower the carbs.

*I use about 1.5 lbs meat and I double the meat mixture ingredients because we like our's a little more saucey.

Jenny's Cheese Ball

My sister Jen has a cheese ball that is to die for! She makes it for pretty much every family Christmas party and I had my first attempt at making it last week. It turned out pretty well, but somehow I think Jen's just has the perfect touch!

2 pkgs cream cheese (8oz each)-softened

2-4 green onions chopped
1 cup finely shredded mild cheddar

1 cup coconut

1 cup craisins

1-2 cups walnuts

coarsely chip 3/4 cup and put rest on outside of ball

mix all ingredients (except for the leftover walnuts) in a mixer until well mixed

form into a ball with your hands

put the rest of the chopped walnuts on the outside of the ball

wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refridgerate until firm - place on plate

Pour 1 jar of Mango Chutney over top of ball right before you serve it

serve with ritz crackers

*Mango Chutney can be found at Safeway by the salad dressing.

Chili's Salsa

Chips and salsa is pretty much my weakness! Chili's restaurant chips and salsa is pretty much my fave. Here is the recipe to make Chili's salsa...yum!

1 (15 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes

1/2 medium onion

1-3 tablespoons canned diced jalapenos

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cumin

Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend till consistency you like.

I like my salsa very spicy, so I use 2 tablespoons of the jalepenos and 1/2 teaspoon of the cumin. If you want it more mild, go on the easy side of those ingredients.

Chicken Parmesan

This is the best chicken parmesan recipe I have ever had. I got the recipe from my trusty cookbook from Aunt Cheri. Make it tonight....it's yummy!

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts( I only make 4)
2 cups cornflakes crumbs
2 cups parmesan cheese
1/4 cup parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cube butter
2 eggs beaten

Mix cornflake crumbs and all seasonings together
Dip chicken in beaten eggs then roll in cornflake crumbs and parmesan cheese mixture
Place in a 9x13 pan greased with some butter
Melt 1 cube of butter in a bowl in the microwave and pour butter over chicken and sprinkle any remaining cornflake mixture over chicken
Cover and bake 375 degrees for 1 hour - uncover and bake till coating is crispy, 20-30 minutes

I make spagetti to serve along with this. I use the Prego Marinara sauce in a jar and put in on the spagetti and some on the chicken parmesan....tastes very similar to Olive Garden's chicken parmesan this way. Enjoy!

Sugar Cookies

I found a great recipe for Sugar Cookies. These are just like the delicious soft, fluffy ones you can buy in the store with the pink frosting. I am not kidding, they are so delish!

Cream: 1 cup butter

Work in: 1 cup sugar

Add: 2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk in a bowl: 3 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

Add alternatley with the dry mixture in thirds to the butter/sugar mix: 1/2 cup sour cream

Chill: 2-3 hours

Roll out and cut into shapes

Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes

Frosting: My Grandma Dever is known for her great sugar cookie frosting. Of course it's one of those recipes where there really isn't a set recipe...she just kind of makes it by heart. Well, I finally got the basic recipe from her and her extra tips to make it extra special.

4 tablespoons butter

2 1/3 cup powdered sugar (more or less to taste)

milk (1 tbsp for thicker frosting, add more milk to thin it out if you want to make it like Grandma's)

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Beat butter with electric mixer until fluffy. Then add about half the powdered sugar. Beat in 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla. Slowly add in the rest of the powdered sugar. Add more milk if needed. Add food coloring. One recipe makes about enough to frost half a cake so you may need to double it.

*To make the frosting more like a thin glaze like Grandma's, use more milk and frost the cookies while they are still hot. It keeps the frosting thin. I kind of like mine a little thicker so I waited until they were cooled to frost. Try both and see how you like it best!

**Don't forget to let the kids help! :-)

Crock Pot Chicken

Here is another great recipe from the Schmitz clan...Carrie's in-laws. Glenna has passed on some great recipes to Carrie and she has passed them on to me. Sorry no pics for this one, but trust me it is good...really good!

4 large chicken breasts
2 tbsp melted butter
salt and pepper
2 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 block of cream cheese
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp minced onions

Brush chicken with butter, salt, and pepper. Place in crock pot. Sprinkle with dressing mix. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6 hours. About 45 minutes before serving, brown onions and mix with cream cheese, soup, and water in saucepan. Cook until smooth (will still be kind of chunky), then pour over chicken and cook for 30 minutes more. Serve with egg noodles or rice ( i like egg noodles)