Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 cup cooked brown rice
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can Mexican diced tomatoes
1 can black-eyed peas
4 cups chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded

Cook chicken and shred.  Add all ingredients into large pot and simmer on medium heat about 20 minutes.  Serve with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, green onion, and/or avocado.

So yummy!  This is coming from a girl who doesn't eat this kind of soup because of nausea when I was pregnant with my daughter.  Thanks to this recipe I think I have finally overcome the nausea problem.  It really is delish!

Homemade BBQ Sauce

1 cup ketchup
6 T brown sugar
4 T vinegar
1-2 T mustard
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
dash of garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together in small bowl.  Baste on chicken or other meat the last few minutes of grilling.

This is the rough recipe for our BBQ sauce.  I usually just start with this and then taste and add whatever I think it needs.

Creamy Salsa Chicken Wraps

2-4 chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 package taco seasoning

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.

Just before serving shred chicken and mix back into crock pot.  Then add:
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup grated cheese

Mix and serve warm on flour tortillas.

This is a recipe I got from a good neighbor.  It is so delicious and easy because it is in the crock pot.  Just be careful because last time I forgot to only add 1 cup of chicken broth and instead dumped the whole can in.  It made it really runny and not as flavorful so make sure you follow the recipe!

Homemade Wheat Bread

4 cups wheat flour

2 heaping T gluten powder

1 T dough enhancer

1/2 cup sugar

2 T instant yeast

1 T salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 3/4 cup hot water

Combine upper ingredients and mix for 3 minutes.

Add 3 cups flour (white or wheat)

Mix for 8 minutes.

Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Divide into 3 loaves.  Put into oven, let rise for 1 1/4 hours (watch so they don't fall).  Turn on oven to 350 for 25 minutes.

Seriously the best homemade bread I have ever tasted.  It is what inspired me to buy a wheat grinder and start making my own!

Clam Chowder

1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
2 cups potatoes, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup butter/margarine
3/4 cup flour
1 qt half and half
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 T red wine vinegar
2 6 oz cans clams

Place chopped vegetables in med. saucepan with juice from clams. Add enough water to just cover. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender.  Meanwhile in large pot, melt butter over med to low heat.  Whisk in flour a little at a time.  Add half and half and salt.  Let it heat and thicken.  Once sauce thickens, dump the vegetables (water and all) into the sauce and stir.  Add clams and vinegar.  Let it heat all together until mixture thickens to desired consistency.

Peanut Brittle

1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
3 T butter
1 lb unsalted Spanish peanuts

Heat oven to 200 F. Grease cookie sheet with butter; keep warm in oven. In small bowl, mix baking soda, 1 tsp water and the vanilla; set aside.  In 3-quart saucepan, mix sugar, 1 cup water and the corn syrup.  Cook over medium heat about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to 240 F on candy thermometer.  Stir in butter and peanuts.  Cook over medium heat about 13 minutes stirring constantly, to 300 F.  Immediately remove from heat.  Quickly stir in baking soda mixture until light and foamy.  Pour onto cookie sheet and quickly spread about 1/4 inch think with buttered spatula.  Cool completely and then break into pieces.

Strawberry Shortcake

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla, divided
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup mini or regular chocolate chips
16 oz sour cream
2 eggs
2 cups cool whip
Strawberries, rinsed and halved

Heat oven to 350. Grease 9-inch springform pan(I just used a normal dark pan). Beat 1/2 cup sugar and butter in large bowl.  Add 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla; beat until creamy.  Gradually add flour and baking powder, beating until smooth; stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Press mixture onto bottom of pan.  Stir together sour cream, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, and remaining 1 tsp vanilla in medium bowl.  Stir in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Pour over mixture in pan.  Bake 50-55 minutes until almost set in center and edges are slightly brown.  Cool completely on wire rack; spread cool whip over top.  Cover and refrigerate.  Top with sliced strawberries when serving.