You might have noticed...

Or not, that we haven't been posting in a while. This is not due to the kids not cooking. Just due to me not getting the camera out ;)

Toby has made cheeseburgers on the grill twice this week... he is 6. Iona has made cookies this week. Gabriel hasn't done much of anything, but he doesn't like to cook as much ;)

Hopefully we will be back into the swing of picture taking SOON! Cuzz it's fun, and the kids love cooking :)

Darly is at it again!

Darly has been cooking again! This time it is Pizzagna! Mom originally got the recipe from 30 Minute Meals (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pizzagna-recipe/index.html). But she changed it up a bit to make it easier and something our family would eat.

Here’s our version!

1 pound of pasta – mom never measures and we just use egg noodles, but anything that is kinda wide and curly will work.
2 14 ounce jars of pizza sauce
Your favorite pizza toppings cut into bite size bits
16 ounces of large curd cottage cheese
Shredded mozzarella cheese

First you need a big pot of water. Mom had to help me carry it to the stove cuz it was so heavy! Then add some salt to the water. Ask your mom how much cuz my mom just puts in about 3 palms of her hand and that’s what she told me to do!

Then you wait for the water to boil…and wait and wait. This is a good time to get your pizza toppings cut into bite sized bits if you need to.

Finally you get to pour in the noodles.

Let them cook according to how long it takes to cook noodles where you live. Mom says in Colorado it takes about 10 minutes. Something to do with how high up we are.

Once your noodles are cooked, you can taste them to be sure they are done, drain them. Again my mom did this cuz the pot was too heavy for me.

Now while the noodles are draining you put in the pizza sauce, a trick that mom taught me to get a lot more of the sauce out of the jar is to put in a bit of water, put the lid back on and then shake it up!

let that heat up a bit and then put in your favorite toppings…

and then the cottage cheese...

Mix that up real good and let it get warmed up.

Now put the noodles back in and combine.Dish yourself up a plate and put some shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Enjoy! 

Fiesta - A party in your skillet!

Here is Gabe, doing dinner tonight. We made Fiesta which is a skillet meal from my childhood. Gabe still doesn't like to talk on camera... so enjoy the music while you watch ;) Recipe below.



1pound Ground Beef

1/4 cup Taco Seasoning

2/3 cup water

1 can corn

1 can rotel

2 cups of white rice (not minute rice)

4 cups of water (and two beef bouillon cubes)

Salt and Pepper

When Gabriel points at his wrist... set timer for 15 minutes and simmer. At the end of the 15 minutes add 1 can kidney beans (you didn't see us do this. I forgot to pick back up the camera! LOL). Then simmer another 5-10 minutes until beans are warm and rice is completely cooked.

Microwave the tortilla 15 seconds...

Olives, Cheese and Sour Cream for topping. Tortillas for forks ;) we heated them up 15 seconds in the microwave.

Making Lasagna at age 4?!

Yup, the proof is here... 4 year old Nathan and 9 year old Iona make their own pans of Lasagna for dinner tonight. I cooked the meat ahead of time, because putting a 4 year old around fire is a bad idea... for anyone ;)

Someone asked why I always have towels all over the surfaces... tip, it's easier to clean up afterwards ;) I just pick them up and shake them over the sink and wash them... my counters stay mostly clean.  Now my floors... specially after this one... that is another story. I wish I had a dog. ;)

Lasagna:

Box of uncooked noodles

1 container of ricotta, 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of parsley and 2-3 tablespoons of Parmesan in one bowl

1 whole jar of prepared spaghetti or marinara sauce (make sure it's a big jar)

1lb of sausage (cooked with some garlic and onion... shhhh! Don't tell the boys! ;))

Mozzarella

More Parmesan for the top

And anything else you like in your lasagna ;)

If you bake right away... Bake on 350 for 45-60 minutes COVERED in foil then bake additional 20-30 minutes with no foil. If you make it in the morning and let it sit in frig, you might only need 30-45 minutes covered and 20 uncovered. The covering allows the steam to cook your noodles ;) You can cook the noodles before... but they are a little harder for little ones to work with :)

No Fuss Chicken Cordon Bleu

So easy my 6 year old did it! But boy did he make a mess! But he had fun and proclaimed, "This is the best thing I ever made!"

He wanted to do a music montage like Gabe, so I said, "Sure why not!"

So enjoy... Toby, making No Fuss Chicken Cordon Bleu.... the recipe just after the video. (And the song is from The Almost not The Dimestore Prophets... he couldn't decide and I forgot to change the credits...)

Ingredients:

6-8 fresh chicken breasts (or equal amount of boneless thighs) cut in half lengthwise

2 cup sliced carrots

2 cans Cream of Chicken

1 cup Sour Cream

2 tsp lemon juice

2 tsps Paprika

1 1/4 cup of Swiss cheese

1/3 cup of Ham slices cut into strips

1 Egg

1 cup of bread crumbs

Directions: Put sliced carrots in bottom of 9x13 pan (or two 8 inch rounds). Combine Cream of Chicken soup, sour cream, paprika and lemon juice in bowl. Mix well and pour over the carrots. Slice Chicken breasts into tender strips. Crack an egg on a plate and beat well. Place bread crumbs on additional plate and coat fresh chicken with egg and coat with bread crumbs. Arrange coated chicken breasts over the top of sauce in the pan. Place ham strips over the top of the chicken. Top with swiss cheese.

Baking: Preheat oven on 375 and bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until cheese is bubblely and chicken juices run clear. Serve over egg noodles.

April Fools Sushi!

I made these MOCK Sushi rolls for my church singing group... but we got snowed out :( So I didn't get to share them and fool my friends. But we ate them. And they were yummy!

What you will need:

Marshmallows

Krispy Rice Cereal

Butter

(Some vanilla if you wish)

Gummy worms (we used bears--they were on sale)

Fruit Roll ups

Parchment Paper

Cooking Hiatus!

Sorry about the cooking Hiatus!

We have been cooking... but nothing too exciting ;) Tomorrow though.. be sure to tune in... we are doing a sushi post... and sushi like you have NEVER seen it! ;)