Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

1 and 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mashed banana (3 bananas)
1 egg
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup chocolate chips

combine wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until bounces back to the touch at center.  This makes for an exciting breakfast for the kids.  Serve bacon on the side to add some salt to the sweet! :)

french dip sandwiches

place roast beef (of your choice) in crockpot.  Salt and pepper the meat. Add 1/2 cup water, 1 pkg onion soup mix, 1 pkg AuJus powder, 1 can beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours.  Strain the juice and save for dipping.  Shred your beef and serve on deli rolls with one slice of melted provolone cheese.  Don't forget to dip!

Cucumber salad

7 cups unpeeled pickling cucumbers sliced thin
1 cup sliced red onion
1 cup sliced green pepper
1 cup sliced red sweet pepper
1 T salt
about 2 cups of sugar (depending on how sweet you'd like it)
1 cup white vinegar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed

Mix cucumbers, onions, peppers and salt and set aside.  Put vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and let cool for 1 hour.  Pour mixture over cucumbers and put in jars and store in refrigerator.  Will keep for up to 2 months...but it won't last that long, trust me!

Yummiest Chicken soup!

Shredded chicken (1-2lbs)  *my preferred method is ALWAYS frozen chicken breast tenderloins baked in a cooking bag...dump them in frozen, add 1/2 cup water, stick in a dish and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours on 300
*empty one LARGE can of chicken stock...you will also add the water from your bag that you cooked ur chicken in, into crockpot
**Add 1 tsp salt, 1tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp onion salt, 1 onion cubed, 1 tsp celery salt.
*Add 3 chicken bullion cubes to the chicken stock (this allows you to add some water if you decide you need more juice in your soup
*Add 6-8 diced red potatoes (I leave the peel on)
*5-6 sliced carrots
*1 large can of green beans
*Add chicken to your soup and allow to cook in the crock pot to help infuse flavors and soften vegetables.
-finally cook one package of noodles of your choice.  I like the yolk free egg noodles. Stir up your soup and enjoy!  Serve with home made parker house rolls to really wow your crowd! (I better make sure that recipe is posted!)

spinach artichoke dip

1/3 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese (softened-if heated in microwave, 2 mins on 50% power)
1/4 cup mayo
2 cans artichoke hearts (un-marinated and drained)
1 can of spinach (brought to a boil then drained)
approximately 1 tsp garlic salt
approximately 1/2 T chili powder
* season to your taste preference
-top with mozzarella cheese and stick in the oven on 350 for about 20 minutes
serve with chips, crackers or especially homemade french bread!

Sloppy Joes

1-2 lbs beef
1/2 chopped onion
1 can tmto sauce
1can tmto soup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp chili powder

*brown the hamburger meet in the skillet or microwave.  Place in crockpot and add all other ingredients.  cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve on buns...Yummy! (and way better than the canned stuff)

Fried Rice

3 T oil in frying pan
add:
 about 6 cups of cooked rice
1/2 bag frozen mixed veggies
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tsp minced garlic
*Serve with chicken or add other meat of choice.  See Entree category for Teriyaki chicken

Teriyaki chicken

1/2 bag of frozen chicken breast tenderloins in the crock pot
sauce: 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
3 T brown sugar
2 tsp minced garlic
Top frozen chicken with sauce and cook on low for about 5 hours
*This will be rather 'salty' tasting so make sure to serve over rice (see side dishes for fried rice recipe)

Chicken pot pie

layer cooked chicken(cubed or shreeded) and 1/2 bag family size frozen mixed veggies in casserole dish (i save other half of veggies for fried rice later in the week!)

cook 1/2 cup diced onion in melted 1/2 cup butter

when onions are soft add:

1 can chicken broth

2/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp celery seed

1 can cr. of potato soup

-pour mixture over chicken and veggies, top with a double pie crust (you can use store bought if you prefer but my kids weren't having that....or me if truth be told) Cut slits in the crust bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until it starts to bubble.  Serve with rolls.  Simple and delish!

Cheater Chicken Cordon Bleu

Layer bottom of casserole dish with chicken nuggets, patties, popcorn chicken, or any variety of the sort.  Top with diced ham. (I prefer ham 'steaks' for the thicker quality)  Top with swiss cheese or a swiss and provolone combo then top with one can of cream of chicken soup stirred into one cup of milk.  Bake at 350 for 30 mins.

*I'm thinking that next time I'd use shredded chicken and top the casserole with crushed crackers or bread crumbs.  But over all this was ridiculously simple and hit the spot!  and for the picky kids you could always just throw in a pan of plain nuggets next to your dish.  It was good!!  Cheesy and comforting.