homemade chicken noodle soup

I have never made soup before.  I am not a huge soup fan, so I never saw the need to make mine own.  Well, I finally decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did.  I was YUMMY!
This soup was easy and tasty.

Chicken and Noodle Soup5 cups of chicken broth (boxed or can is fine)
One 10.75 oz can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup onions, chopped fine
1/2 cup celery, chopped fine
1/2 cup carrots, chopped fine
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
One 15 oz can of whole kernel corn, drained
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup Egg noodles
2 cups cooked chicken chopped or 2 cans canned cooked chicken

Add everything but the noodles and cooked chicken to the crock pot on Low for 5-6 hours, the last hour turn on High, and add noodles and chicken. Remember, if you do this in the morning, and don’t have a timer on your crock pot, use a lamp timer, they work wonderful.

ranch chicken in the crock pot

This recipe ...

 

2 butterball turkey bacon strips, cooked and shredded
1 tsp minced garlic
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 10.75 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup (98% fat free)
1 cup fat-free sour cream
16 oz. chicken breasts, frozen or defrosted/raw
8 oz. pasta (I used rigatoni), cooked

Combine the first five ingredients. Place frozen or defrosted/raw chicken in slowcooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and pour sauce over the top (do NOT include water like the can mentions). Cook on high for 3.5 hours. Shred chicken with two forks. Cook pasta per package instructions on stove. Serve chicken over pasta.

...was good, but WAY too strong.  Me saying a ranch flavor is too stong is a first for me.  Next time I try this it will be with half (or less) of the ranch seasoning.  Other than that it was a good one.
P.S.  I used regular bacon.  If you're going to have bacon...have bacon! ;)

tomato and mozzarella pasta

Love mozzarella like me?  Then you'll love this recipe.  I am a huge fan of casseroles.  I love a yummy sloppy mess on my plate.  And if it's stringy from cheese all the better!  We loved trying this one.  It's a keeper.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2-14 oz. cans diced Italian plum tomatoes
1 tsp. dried oregano
S&P
1 lb. pasta (tubes)
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed
2/3 c. parmesan

Directions:
Heat oil in skillet. Add garlic and cook over medium high heat, 1 min. Add tomatoes and oregano and simmer rapidly, stirring occasionally until thickened, 15 min. Add S&P. Meanwhile, cook pasta. Toss pasta with sauce. Place half of pasta in an oiled 9×13” dish. Cover with half parmesan and half mozzarella. Top with remaining pasta, then parmesan and mozzarella. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes.

more s'mores please

Nothing quite as perfect for a summer treat to take to a get together are s'more themed goodies.  Thank goodness for all the talented people out there who are coming up with alternative was to have a "s'more"
Here are the best two I have found in my searches:

Yes please!!
I am not a s'more fan...meaning I hate the mess of eating them, but I love the taste of them.  These s'more treats are amazing.  Took them to a family BBQ for all the fellow dislikers of a s'more mess and we gobbled them up!

You simply make them like you were making rice crispy treats, but instead of rice crispies you use golden grahams.  (I have to admit I had to have a bowl of golden grahams before making these because it had been so long since I had had them!)
Mix in a cup or so of semi-sweet chocolate chips and let set.

And now for the BEST RECIPE EVER.... S'more cups
 
These little babies are SOOOOO dangerous and delicious and easy.  Click here for the recipe and directions.  You'll be glad you did.

picnic pasta salad

Another great recipe I've found on my search to expand my cooking skills...

I made a few changes to suit our taste buds.  I didn't add mushrooms and instead of cucumbers I added zucchini.  Made it delicious!  I will also in the future add more noodles to make the dressing less tart.

 

1 package (16 oz) bow-tie (farfalle) pasta

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 cup Italian dressing

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (3 oz)

5 plum (Roma) tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 large cucumber, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 medium red onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained

• 1 Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• 2 In large bowl, mix tomato sauce, dressing, basil and oregano. Add pasta and remaining ingredients; toss. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled but no longer than 48 hours.

parmesan chicken

GREAT recipe!
When you make something and your husband says something like, "your chicken tastes like restaurant chicken" you know it's a good recipe.

Mix together in a bowl:
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Cover a baking sheet with foil and Cook chicken 4-5 on high broiler on top rack.  Turn over and cook another 3-4 minutes.  Cover with mixture and cook another 2-3 minutes.

I have never cook with my broiler before and man is it easy.  Loved it.  Quick and delicious.  If you want a more true Parmesan flavor you can leave our the lemon.  It's great both ways. 

6 minute caramels

I found this recipe and HOLY COW is is delicious! 

1/4 C butter
1/2 C white sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C corn syrup
1/2 C sweetened condensed milk

Microwave and stir every 2 minutes.  Pour into a greased glass 9x13 pan.  Let set.  Cut and wrap in wax paper.  Store in an air tight container.

6 minutes! That's dangerous.
I do have to admit that the cutting and wrapping part of it is a little tedious, but still well worth it.
Just a word to the wise: do not double.  It doesn't set up as well.
(and corn syrup works better than karo)