Chicken Strips

You will need:

• Three eggs
• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs
• salt
• pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the eggs together.
3. In a larger mixing bowl, pour in the bread crumbs. Set both bowls aside.
4. Rinse the chicken breasts and set them on a cutting board.
5. Cut the chicken breasts into 2 inch thick strips.
6. Place hem all in the bowl with the whisked eggs and make sure they all get fully coated.
7. Then place them one-at-a-time into the bread and then onto an ungreased baking pan.
8. Place baking pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
9. Remove the pan from the oven, flip all the chicken strips, sprinkle them with a little salt and pepper, then put the pan back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
10. Remove the chicken from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes and serve.

            ~ This is extremely easy to make if you are having people over. It only takes about 40 minutes to do the entire thing and I love making these along with some mashed potatoes and gravy. Plus you don't have to fry them, so they are totally grease free!
~

Meatloaf

You will need:

• 1 1/2 pound of ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of dried bread crumbs
• salt 
• pepper
• 2 tbs brown sugar
• 2 tbs prepared mustard
• 1/3 cup of ketchup

Directions:  

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine he meat, egg, onion, milk and bread.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Place in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
5. In a small separate bowl combine brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup. Combine them well and spread on the top of the meatloaf.
6. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

            ~ Ahhhh meatloaf, my favorite meat dish. This always goes perfect with some mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, corn, salad, and biscuits. This is a major favorite of mine :)   ~

My Favorite Scrambled Eggs

You will need:

• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (any)
• 2 strips of bacon
• 1 garlic clove
• Pepper

Directions:

1. Place the bacon in a small frying pan and put it over medium heat.
2. In a medium mixing bow, mix together your eggs, cheese, and a pinch of pepper. Set aside.
3. Flip the bacon.
4. Dice the garlic and add to the mixing bowl.
5. Once the bacon is done, make sure to dry off the grease with a paper towel.
6. Dice the bacon and add it to the egg mixture and whisk it all together until everything is fully mixed.
7. Butter your medium- large frying pan and put a small slice of butter in to grease the surface.
8. Pour your egg mixture in and scramble them until they are fully cooked.

            ~ I make this every Sunday for my mom and my uncle. It is easy and quick to make and goes well with toast and jam and a cup of milk or orange juice. It is one of my favorite breakfasts to make. Enjoy! ~

Ginger Bread Men

 You will need:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of softened butter
• 3/4 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
3. Add the molasses, egg ,and vanilla... mix in well.
4. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients until they are all fully combined.
5. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for four hours OR overnight.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured working surface.
8. Cut out gingerbread men with 5 inch cookie cutters.
9. Place them on ungreased baking sheets 1 inch apart.
10. Bake them for 8 to 10 minutes.
11. Let them cool on wire racks.
12. Once they are all cool you may decorate them to your liking.

            ~ I have never made gingerbread men before. My grandma made them once for Christmas and they were so cute and amazingly tasty. I plan on trying to make a batch or two this year. These yummy cookies are perfect for the holidays and they are very very yummy. I can never get enough :)    ~

Chocolate- Chip Pumpkin Squares

You will need:

• All- purpose flour
• 1 tbs of Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 3/4 tsp of salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups of white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of pure (unsweetened) pumpkin puree
• One 12 ounce bag of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F
2. Line the bottom and the sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan with tin foil leaving an overhang on the sides.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together: flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth. Then beat in egg and vanilla until fully combined.
5. Beat in the pumpkin puree into the mixture (may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low and add in the dry ingredients until combined.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
7. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
8. Bake until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. 
9. Check to see if it is done by inserting a toothpick in the center and if a few moist crumbs are attached then it is done.
10. Remove the pan from the oven.
11. Remove the cake from the pan by using the tin foil as an aid.
12. Remove foil.
13. Cut into 24 squares.

           ~ I really really love this treat. I made it last year for Thanks Giving and Christmas and everyone loved them. They have the perfect taste of pumpkin spice, chocolate, and they warm the coldest heart. It takes about 30 minutes to make. It is delicious and when you bake it in the oven, your house will smell amazing... trust me. ~  

Spinach Souffle

You will need:

• 1 bag (16 oz) frozen chopped spinach
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup flour (all-purpose)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoon very finely chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, fresh is best
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

1.   Thaw spinach in a colander; squeeze well to get as much moisture as possible out.

2.   Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 1-quart souffle or casserole dish.

3.   Heat butter in a saucepan over medium low heat. When butter has melted, add flour; stir until smooth and bubbling. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

4.   Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.

5.   When mixture is thick and boiling, remove from heat. Stir in the finely chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the nutmeg.

6.   In a metal or glass mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks have formed.

 7.  In a separate bowl, beat yolks until frothy and lemon colored.

8.   Stir egg yolks into the sauce mixture; stir in the spinach.

9.   Stir about 1/4 of the beaten egg whites into the spinach mixture, then gently fold in the remaining egg white mixture.

10.   Pour into the prepared souffle dish; set dish in a large pan then add water to a depth of about 1 inch.

11.   Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The top will be lightly browned. Serve immediately.

            I make this every Thanksgiving. Last couple of years I have had to make three batched of this for two different parties! People that tell me they don't think it would be good try a bite then next thing you know they are coming back for seconds. :)
            

Sunshine Cake

You will need:

• 1 package of yellow moist cake mix
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 can of mandarin oranges
• 16 ounces of frozen whipped topping, frozen
• 1 package of vanilla pudding mix
• 1 can of crushed pineapple with juice

Directions:

Beat the eggs, and add them to the boxed cake mix. Add the oil and the mandarin oranges to the batter; remember to add the juice as well as the fruit. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake the cake for 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cool on wire rack.

While cake is baking, prepare the frosting by mixing together the whipped dessert topping, the package of instant pudding, and the crushed pineapple with its juices. Set frosting in refrigerator to set. Frost when cake has thoroughly cooled.

            I really enjoy a slice of sunshine cake. It is easy and quick to make and great for birthday parties. MY friends mother gave me this recipe. I have never made it yet by myself but I will soon.