Italian Chicken Kabobs ( a repost)

I created this deliciously simple recipe using many of my favorite ingredients that I always have on hand. It was wonderful, and was devoured within minutes of calling my men to the table!

You would have thought my Irishmen were full blooded Italians!

You will need:

Chicken strips- cut into bite size pieces
red bell pepper
green bell pepper
small zucchini
I pkg. Italian seasoning mix
Bottle of Italian dressing (I used East Main Market's Creamy Italian)
(Reserve some for basting)


Sprinkle Italian seasoning on chicken and place in glass dish. Cover with Italian dressing. Marinate for at least one hour.

Cut vegetables into bite size pieces. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, then cover in dressing, marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Alternate chicken, and vegetables on skewers and grill over med. heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pink. Brush with remaining dressing and let cook for a few more minutes.

Serve with Roasted Garlic Alfredo Rissoto (or your favorite Italian rice recipe).
Garlic bread and an Italian salad are the perfect side dishes to this super easy meal.

Are you ready for this? 3 ingredient Croissant Bread Pudding (a repost)

Here's a SIMPLE, yet MOTHER'S DAY Worthy recipe that even kids can make!

Yep! You heard me correctly. Only three ingredients- but tastes like you really fussed.

Mom made this the other day- just whipped it up and it was so good and so easy. Just had to share it.

She said the original recipe called for chocolate croissants, but she couldn't find them, so she went with the regular.

Of course, a traditional bread pudding from scratch can't be beat- but this is very good- especially considering it only requires 3 ingredients.

Perfect to serve as a special breakfast, or brunch or a dessert.

You will need:

4 ( 4 oz. ) Croissants
2 pkgs. ( 3oz. each) Cook and Serve Vanilla pudding and pie filling.
4 cups whole milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 qt. shallow baking dish. Whisk pudding mix and milk in bowl till thoroughly blended. Cut croissants into 1 " pieces. Arrange in baking dish. Pour pudding mixture over croissants. Push bread down into liquid to make sure it is covered. Bake for 50 minutes(till bubbly around edges or knife inserted in center comes out clean).

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.







Enjoy!

Oven Fried Chicken and Biscuits

This one comes from a good ole country cook who lives in Creal Springs, a tiny town here in southern Illinois. NORMA LINDSEY shared this delicious recipe in our COAL COUNTRY COOKIN' cookbook. She is the sister-in-law of one of my cousins and is known for her good southern-style cookin.

This is a simple recipe that is finger-licken good!

Try it and add it to your "comfort foods" file.

YOU WILL NEED:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 1/2- 3 lb. frying chicken, cut up
1 can biscuits
2 T. milk
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic salt (or garlic powder if you'd rather)

Melt butter in 9x13" baking pan. Combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a paper or plastic bag. Shake to blend. Add meat 2-3 pieces at a time. Shake to coat. Place meat, skin side down in butter. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn meat. Sprinkle with salt and bake 15 minutes more. Move meat to one end of pan. Dip biscuits one at a time in milk, then Parmesan/garlic salt mixture. Place at other end of pan. Bake 15-20 minutes longer.

Glazed Carrots

A delicious versatile side-dish that's perfect for a weeknight meal, or add it to your holiday dinner menu.

Only 4 ingredients- what could be more simple?

Another food I have a hard time eating in moderation. (So, sue me ;)

YOU WILL NEED:
1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Place the carrots into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two.
Return the pot to the stove; reduce the heat to medium-low. Melt the butter in the pot. Stir in the honey and brown sugar; add the carrots and stir until evenly coated; cook another 5 minutes.

This makes a lot of juice, you may want to reduce the sauce just a bit, unless you're like me and know a good sauce when you taste one and choose just to savor the flavor!

St. Patty's Day Celebration

EVERYONE is Irish on St. Patrick's Day.
We celebrate in style every year-- as we proudly honor my husband's Irish heritage.

I decorate the house











*My soldier son could not be with us, but he had sketched this pic of an Irish boy years ago--I displayed it prominently and pretended he was here with us.



*My brother wrote to the Mayor of Dublin, Ireland and he wrote back!



Irish Music plays in the background.

We serve Irish food (and some green food just for fun)








My Irish brood loves to tell a good story....









This year, I wrote out an Irish blessing to each family member on their own personal placecard. I read them aloud and it was actually very touching (I didn't expect to tear up as I read them).

You can google IRISH BLESSINGS as I did and read or write a blessing for those you love...and then enjoy green eggs and ham, green pancakes for breakfast...green milk with cereal, or an authentic Irish menu for supper.

Whatever you choose to do to celebrate the day...make it memorable--bless those who have been placed in your life. Let them know they are loved, and valued. Then, you won't need luck---you will be blessed beyond measure!

Enjoy the holiday!

Lemon Cookies (from a cake mix)

I made a couple of batches of these sweet/tart crisp cookies for a presentation I am doing today on GOODWILL HUNTING at our Local Library.

* For those of you that don't know it...I am QUEEN of shopping for bargains at local thrift shops (like the GOODWILL) and today I am teaming up with an EXTREME Coupon Guru and we are offering a free presentation, sharing our money-saving tips that will help folks stretch a dollar so thin they could see through it!

So, We decided to serve refreshments, to also show how you can make a nice treat and not have to spend a lot of time or money in the kitchen. Rachel is making cupcakes (from cake mixes she paid pennies for) and I am offering these wonderful cookies from a cheap cake mix as well!

EASY and delicious and rather light tasting.

You will need:

* 1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
* 2 eggs
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon lemon extract
* 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil, and lemon extract until well blended. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into a bowl of confectioners' sugar. Roll them around until they're lightly covered. Once sugared, put them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes in the preheated oven.


YUM!

Are you ready for some football?

Super bowl Sunday is right around the corner....if you check out my sidebar, I have MANY delicious recipes just waiting to be served up at your SUPER BOWL PARTY.
Simply scroll down on the right, and click on the photo of the recipe you'd like to try.

Appetizers, soups, sandwiches, side dishes and desserts that will SCORE with hungry football lovers, regardless which team their rootin' for.

So check it out and enjoy the game!