Creamy Vanilla Frosting

My friend made cupcakes one night for our baseball team. This was the best tasting icing. It was not overly sweet & so creamy. Everyone loved it. Pair it with the cake/ cupcake recipe (click here for recipe).

Ingredients
3 c powdered sugar
1/2 c butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
About 2 tbsp milk

Directions
Mix powdered sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. This will frost a 13x9 inch cake or fills and frosts two 8 or 9 inch cake layers or frosts 24 cupcakes. My friend said she adds a little more milk to make it creamier.

Recipe courtesy: Lisa D of Georgia

Yellow Cake

My friend made this yellow cake into cupcakes for a baseball team. The cake was so good & the icing made them perfect (click here for icing recipe).

Ingredients
3/4 c unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
4 large eggs
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
1 c milk

Directions
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl on high for 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. On low speed, beat in flour in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, just until blended, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Pour into 13" x 9" greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Recipe courtesy: Lisa D of Georgia

Amish Chicken and Noodles

I totally forgot to take a picture of this dinner. But I can tell you that it was delicious and totally one of those yummy winter comfort foods. The family loved it as well.

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 stick butter, melted
32 oz chicken broth
24 oz frozen egg noodles (I used Reames)

Directions
Place chicken in crock pot. Mix cream of chicken soup, melted butter and chicken broth. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Put chicken back in crockpot and add noodles. Cook on low for an additional 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Recipe adapted from Pinterest

Baked Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease a casserole dish. In a small pan, saute garlic with olive oil until tender. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Place chicken breasts in the casserole dish. Cover with the garlic/brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until juices run clear.


Recipe adapted from Pinterest

French Dip Sandwiches

These sandwiches were absolutely delicious. The entire family loved them. I was hoping for enough leftovers to serve the next day, but there was very little. Next time, I will make them with a bigger roast.

Ingredients
2-3 lb beef roast
4 c beef broth
1 package dry onion soup mix
Provolone cheese slices
Sub or hoagie rolls

Directions
Place beef roast in crockpot. I buy whatever roast is on sale. Mix beef broth and dry onion soup mix. Pour over roast. Cook on low 7-8 hours. Shred roast with fork and return beef to crockpot for a few minutes. Slice hoagie/sub rolls. Add shredded beef. Top with provolone cheese slice(s). Broil open sandwiches in oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. Serve with a side of au-jus, if desired.


Recipe adapted from Pinterest

Baked Apples with Oatmeal Streusel Topping

Ingredients

3 to 4 apples, sliced in half & scoop out the seeds and stem.

A little over half stick melted butter or margarine

1/2 c oats

1/2 c flour

1/2 c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch of ginger

pinch of salt

Directions

Mix all ingredients, except apples. Fill and top apple halves with mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until tops are golden brown and apples swell, about 30 minutes.

 

Recipe courtesy: Rebecca L of Ohio

Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

1 c buttermilk

1 c mayonnaise

1/2 tbsp onion powder

1/2 tbsp parsley flakes

3/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp celery salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Directions

Whisk together in large bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

 

Recipe courtesy: Rebecca L of Ohio 

Apple Cinnamon Crockpot Oatmeal

I know that cooking oatmeal is not time consuming or even difficult to do on the stove; however, I still like to put everything in, turn it on, and walk away.  This version especially intrigued me, because it gave me freezer instructions, as well. I adapted it for my family's tastes. The whole family is loving this on these single digit cold mornings.

 

Ingredients
1 c old fashioned oats
1 c steel cut oats (you can use all old fashioned oats, too. We just like the texture of these.)
1/4 c flax seed (shhhhh..don't tell the kids I added something to make it healthier.  You can leave this out, as well.)
4 c milk
4 tbl brown sugar
2 tbl vanilla
2 tbl cinnamon
2 chopped apples (I have also used pears, bananas, and blueberries so far...apples have been the favorite.)

Directions
Prepare the crock pot by spraying generously with cooking spray.  Combine all ingredients and stir well. Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours or on low for 4-6. Check occasionally for desired texture and consistency.  Do you like it creamy or more on the dry side?

Now for the part, I was most anxious about...to freeze it for quick school morning breakfasts.

 

 

To serve from frozen, take out of the freezer, unwrap, and place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes.  We like ours with more milk on top. Try it out and let us know how you liked it.

Adapted from crockpot365

Sweet Potato Wedges

These sweet potato wedges have become one of our favorite side dishes. We love sweet potatoes and never thought a little red pepper and Parmesan cheese would make them so tasty. Yum!

Ingredients
1 1/2 - 2 lbs sweet potatoes
Olive oil
Sea salt
Ground red pepper
Parmesan cheese

Directions
Cut sweet potatoes lengthwise into 3/4 inch wide sticks, then cut crosswise in half. Place sweet potato wedges into a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil. Mix until potatoes are well covered with oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and ground red pepper (lightly unless you like really spicy). Mix well. Place wedges in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 minutes then turn potatoes over and bake for additional 15 minutes or until crisp. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.


Recipe adapted from Kraft foods

Cream Cheese Chicken

Meals that prep easily for the freezer and then can go into the crock pot the day you are serving are GENIUS! This is one of those.  We like it served over rice.

Ingredients
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 package Italian dressing mix

Directions
Mix all ingredients together except for the chicken.  Place chicken in freezer bags or foil pans.  Pour sauce over chicken and freeze.

To serve, place in crock pot and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours, or until chicken is cooked through.