Creamy Hash Brown Bake

We took this to a dinner party last night and it was great! I can't wait to make it again

1 can cream mushroom soup

1 can cheddar cheese soup

8 oz sour cream

1/2 cup softened butter

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 teas. salt

1 package (about 2 Lb)frozen Hash Brown potatoes

3/4 cup crushed Ruffles Chips

* In a large bowl combine the soups, sour cream, butter, onion, and salt. Add potatoes mix well. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Sprinkle with the chips. Bake uncovered at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until potatoes are tender. YUM YUM!!

great casserole

I realized something amazing yesterday! Dave and I were talking about how it ALWAYS rains on the day of the Base Beach Bash. Then I realized yesterday was the 3rd beach bash since we have been here... and we only have 1 left!!! Then I realized we only have one Valentine's Day, and April Fools Day, and one more Easter to spend here in Misawa... Isn't that exciting?! Well, it is for us. Like for the first time we are seeing a peak of a light at the end of the tunnel. Not that living in Japan hasn't become a lot easier since I quit my job.. but still, four years in a foreign country is tough. Especially since we are like on this one little island you know, considering the bases in Europe you can go lots of places just by jumping on a train. Like if we were in Germany we could go visit lots of different countries.
Dave has a really long weekend. He had Friday off for a PACAF family day, and he gets Monday off too. Yesterday was really crappy- super rainy and foggy and windy. But today is nicer, a little chilly but sunny. I am not sure what we are going to do this afternoon. Maybe go to the beach to look for sand dollars. Dave isn't here right now, he went up to the airport to say good-bye to some of his buddies. SO I picked up the house a bit and thought I would get online to blog and post a recipe for this dish I made last night. It was SO good. Dave couldn't stop talking about it last night. It was simple to make and it was fast. The recipe is called Spicy Chicken Casserole with Corn Bread, but it wasn't spicy at all. You could make it spicy I suppose if you used hotter salsa or maybe a spicy taco seasoning. But we liked it just the way it was...
SPICY(BUT NOT REALLY) CHICKEN CASSEROLE WITH CORN BREAD
YOU WILL NEED:

• 2 TBLS OLIVE OIL
• 4 BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS CUT IN BITE SIZE PIECES
• 1 TACO SEASONING PACKET
• 1 CAN BLACK BEANS, DRAINED AND RINSED
• 1 CAN DICED TOMATOES, DRAINED
• 1 CAN MEXI-CORN, DRAINED
• 1 CAN (4 OZ) DICED MILD CHILIES, DRAINED
• 1/2 CUP MILD SALSA
• 1 BOX ( OR PACKET) (ABOUT 8 1/2 OZ) CORN BREAD MIX ( I USED JIFFY)
• 1/2 CUP SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED BELL PEPPER

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. SPRAY 2 QT DISH.
2. HEAT OIL IN LARGE SKILLET AND COOK CHICKEN TILL IT ISNT PINK
3. ADD THE TACO SEASONING. THEN ADD BEANS, SALSA, TOMATOES, CORN, CHILIES. STIR TO BLEND WELL.
4. PUT MIX IN THE CASSEROLE DISH
5. PREPARE CORN BREAD MIX AS DIRECTED ON BOX... THEN ADD THE SHREDDED CHEESE AND PEPPER.
6. SPREAD BATTER OVER THE CHICKEN MIX.
7. BAKE 30 MINUTES OR TILL CORN BREAD IS GOLDEN BROWN.

IT REALLY WAS EASY. AND IT WAS SO TASTY!

Entry for January 02, 2007

Hope everyone had a really great New Years. We did. The Maraschino Cherry Cake I made was really great. On New Years Day the meal turned out really well. That French Onion Soup was really delicious. Everything was wonderful.
Dave had Tuesday off so we took care of stuff around the house. I cleaned up the Christmas Decorations and Dave packed his suitcases. He had to take his suitcases in with him to work this morning so they could be packed in the plane. He is really excited about spending Friday in HAWAII! I am pretty jealous.
I have a bunch of things to do before Melissa visits and hopefully I will have enough time. eek!

New Years!!!

I cannot believe there are only 11 hours left in 2006!! The Year has flown by. We aren't doing much of anything today. We rented the Godfather Movies and are going to watch them. Since we don't have a Dick Clark countdown it wont be a big tada at midnight. But I am making a nice dinner. Cheesy Chili Chicken Breasts, and I made Maraschino Party cake for dessert!! We have a bottle of champagne and are looking forward to ringing in the New Year.

Tomorrow is more of the same. Nice meal but other wise low key. We are going to take the tree down and start cleaning up some of the decorations. Dave has to pack Monday and Tuesday also. SO nothing too fun but I am making a fun meal. I am making this really great French Onion Soup and a small roast to go with it, and we will have party cake leftover. Dave is really excited about having homemade cake. I am too.

Well, Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Years. Love you all!

Hey its Monday already!!

Well,  it is the beginning of another week.  I didn't post our menu last week because I just threw a bunch of stuff together.  It just seems I am not in the mood to try new recipes lately.  So we are going to enjoy our favorites.  This is what I have planned...

Monday- Leftovers like always

Tuesday-Ham and Cheese Omelet Bake( nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner)

Wednesday- Chili

Thursday- Chicken Fried Rice

Friday- Pizza Skillet hot Dsh

Saturday- Dinner out

Sunday- Spinach and Beef Enchiladas

I am going to clean the house up a little this afternoon.  I have a few loads of laundry to do.  I am really enjoying the change in weather here.  It has been snowing and the few inches we got Saturday night are still on the ground.   It is really pretty outside.  We took Wendy for walk last night, it was really fun to bundle up and watch her enjoy the snow. 

I started a new book called Mr. Ives Christmas.  I am not very far into it yet though. 

Well, I have stuff to do.  Take care!

Entry for December 02, 2006

We its nearly my bedtime but I thought I would post a picture of our tree.  We went and picked one out this afternoon.  The Boy Scouts had some sort of confusion so we had to wait nearly 2 hours for them so show up.  It wasn't terrible though.   When we got home we started decorating it.  It was a lot of fun.  We decided to decorate it different this year.  We used multicolored lights.  The last two years our tree looked the exact same way.  This year it is totally different and we are both really excited about it.  After we were done decorating it we noticed it had started snowing again.  Yippee it feels like winter!!

I made beans tonight for dinner.  They were really yummy.  I made a bunch of casseroles this week.  It just felt nice to make easy hot meals that leave us with plenty of leftovers for Dave's lunches.  I also finished my Christmas shopping this week, and I mailed out my cards. OH, I almost forgot... I read 6 books in November.  They were all really good.  I might write about them later but  I don't have enough time tonight.  But I started reading Janette Oke books.  I read the first two... Love Comes Softly and Love's Enduring Promise.  They are really nice wholesome books about a family living on the prairie.  I think you would like them a lot Elizabeth.  They are really nice.  I am excited to read another one soon. 

Well, I hope everyone has a really wonderful weekend.  Take care.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  I can hardly believe it is already Thanksgiving.  I am really excited.  I have my bird in the oven and I everything is running smoothly.  WE are really looking forward to dinner.  this is what we are having:



Turkey  *  Stuffing * Mashed Potatoes * Gravy *  The Damn Red Stuff  * Sweet Potato Casserole * Corn * Rolls * Relish Tray * And a desert of some sort( Ruth is bringing a dessert) * 



We are really geeked.  Hope you all have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!  We are going to the Friday Sales I'll let you know how it goes.  We have our eye on a laptop the BX is going to have really cheap.

Spinach and Beef Enchiladas

I made this dish last week.  Dave and I both really loved it.  Give it a try.

SPINACH AND BEEF ENCHILADAS

You will need:  * 1 lb. lean ground beef * 2 garlic cloves minced * 1 1/2 cups frozen cut leaf spinach ( from a 1 lb bag) * 4 oz. cream cheese * 1/2 teas. ground cumin * 1 can(4.5 oz) chopped green chiles * 2 cups shredded Mont jack cheese *  1 package flour tortillas for burritos, 8 inch( 8 tortillas)  *  1 can (8oz) tomato sauce * 1 cup thick n chunky salsa * 2 tbls chopped fresh cilantro if desired ( I used dried)*

Step 1- heat oven to 350. spray a 13x9 glass baking dish with Pam. In 12 inch skillet cook beef and garlic over med high heat about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.

Step 2- add spinach and cook till thawed stirring frequently.  Reduce heat to medium; stir in cream cheese, cumin, chilis and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.  stir till combined.  spoon 1/3 cup of the beef mix into each tortilla.  Roll up; place seam side down in the dish.

Step 3- in med bowl combine the tomato sauce and salsa.  Spoon over the tortillas.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese. 

Step 4- Bake 20-25 minutes or till thoroughly heated.  sprinkle with cilantro.  EAT.  Enjoy!!

This is what we are having this week.......

Monday- Beef and creamy potato casserole

Tuesday- Sweet and Sour Pork with rice

Wednesday- Chicken Fried Rice

Thursday- Beef and Tortellini soup

Friday- Maple Sage Pork Roast

Saturday- Stuffed Shells

Sunday- Ham Steaks

This weeks dinners are very exciting

I am really excited about this week.  I am trying a whole bunch of new recipes.  FUN.  I might not end up cooking a lot though because Dave has wed, Thurs, Friday off and we have stuff planned.  Hoping to take a couple of day trips to explore around a bit so might not end up cooking those days.  We will see! 

Monday- Leftovers (like always)

Tuesday- Turkey Noodle Casserole with steamed broccoli. * This is a new recipe*

Wednesday- Spinach and Beef enchiladas * this is new recipe*

Thursday- Honey Nut Chick sticks roasted red potatoes Lima beans * the chicken is new recipe*

Friday- Beef and Creamy Potato casserole, salad and a side veggie. * this is new recipe*

Saturday- Bean Night

Sunday- Beef and Tortellini soup, bread sticks, salad

I think some of those recipes were from last week.  Sometimes I am busy and don't end up cooking but we always have leftovers in the fridge.  Last week was super hectic since the base was having a exercise.  YUCK.  Tomorrow I am going to the spouse coffee, then I will probably come home and try to finish Widow of the South.  I am crossing my fingers I can get it finished and start the next book... Tales From the Bed. 

Happy Fourth of JULY!!!

We just ate lunch.  We had Chicago style hot dogs, homemade beans, and watermelon.  The weather is sort of crappy today. Not raining finally!  But it is chilly.  We are going to figure out what we are gonna do now.  Just wanted to post pics of lunch.  For dinner we will have BBQ London broil, a salad, and roasted new potatoes.  Yum Yum. 

We hope you all have a great and safe fourth!!!!  Be safe NO drinking and driving!!!

Went to the Beach Today! & Omelet Bake

I just got back from the base beach.  It is a nice day.  FINALLY!  Yesterday I went to the BX and bought a beach chair.  I thought since I'll be here all summer long I should start going to the beach to read.  SO I went today.  Dave came with me but only stayed for an hour, he went golfing with a guy from his work.  I spent two hours reading.  Melissa and I are currently reading a book called, Dying for Chocolate.  I got a lot of reading done and it felt so good being out of the house and outside in nice weather.  I also took my new O magazine and started reading that.   I could have stayed all day but I didn't want Wendy to be in the kennel for that long.  I thought I would post this picture of Dave trying out my new chair. 

Oh!!  Last night I made breakfast for dinner.  I tried this recipe I have for a Ham and Cheese Omelet Bake.  Boy was it good!!! Here is the recipe.  Definitely try it.  It called for grands flaky biscuits but  since they are round there were little gaps and the egg got underneath.  I think next time I will try it using the sheets of the crescent rolls instead.   You'll see what I mean if you try it.

Ham 'n Cheese Omelet Bake

1 box( 10 oz) Green Giant frozen broccoli & cheese flavored sauce

1 can pillsbury grands flaky layers refrigerated original biscuits 8 ct 

10 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk

1 teas dry ground mustard

salt and pepper

2 cups diced cooked ham

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 jar (4.5oz) green giant sliced mushrooms, drained

1) Heat oven to 350. Cut slit in the broccoli packet and heat in microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes( follow the directions on the box).  set aside to cool a bit.

2) Meanwhile, spray bottom only of a 13x9 in pan. Separate the biscuits.  slice the biscuits in half making 16 round biscuits.  Lay them in the pan evenly and try to spread them to fill in the holes.

3) In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, mustard and salt and pepper until well blended. Stir in ham, onion, cheeses, mushrooms, and broc and cheese packet.  Pour the mixture over the biscuits spread around making sure all the biscuits are covered.

4) Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  Cut into squares.  ENJOY!!!! 

We had this reheated for breakfast this morning it is just as good as it was last night.  Yummy!!