Adventures in Cooking

I spent the first almost 20 years of my life not really knowing a thing about cooking. My mother is a fantastic cook but she was quite territorial over her kitchen and her recipes until I became quite older. My husband of 10 years likes to raz me about the first time that I "cooked" for him. We had been dating just a few months & were just hanging around the house both hungry but not really wanting to go anywhere. I decided to make some boxed mac & cheese. Let's just say that I let it boil maybe 5 minutes & the powder was clumpy & gross. I'm surprised he married me lol
Shortly after marrying at the age 26 I began experimenting more with learning to cook but it took me a few years before I really found my niche. Now at the ripe age of 36 I LOVE cooking & it purely excites me! My absolute favorite way to spend just about every Sunday is to cook large, homemade, pure goodness meals. It has become family time with my girls & I love that they love to help. I hope they will take this love of cooking to their adult lives.

Some of my recent adventures have been an amazing spaghetti sauce, my spicy chicken enchilada soup, my cheesy chicken & broccoli casserole & the most succulent whole baked chicken. Read on if you want to get hungry! By the way, you will notice I don't always put exact amounts & times...that's my style. I find cooking is more fun when you go by what looks right to you!

Pasta Sauce

*Brown Italian sausage with onions & green pepper
*Drain meat & veggies & return to sauce pot
*Add fresh finely chopped garlic, basil & oregano
*Add fresh tomatoes, 2 cans of tomato sauce, 2 cans of Italian seasoned tomatoes & one can of chunky stewed tomatoes
*Cook on low to medium meat for 2-3 hours stirring often
*Serve with pasta & topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese

This can also be made in the crock pot for even more goodness. I made this for a dinner party & it was compared Italian Bistro sauce. Leftover, if you have them, can be frozen for a rainy day.

Spicy Enchilada Soup

*Saute 1-2 cups of cut up chicken breasts with cilantro,peppers, lime & garlic
*Add 1 jar of Salsa, 1/2 cup water, packet of ranch seasoning mix, packet of taco seasoning, small bag of sweet corn, can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
*Cook on medium for an average of 1 hour
*Line bowls with tortilla strips, add soup & top with cheddar cheese & sour cream

Very spicy & yummy!

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

*Saute 1 cup chicken breast
*Cook one cup of wild rice
*In a casserole dish add 2 cans cream of broccoli soup & one can cream of chicken soup, chicken,rice,one bag frozen broccoli & 1 cup cheddar cheese
*Mix well & layer another 1/2 cup of cheddar on top
*Add a layer of cheddar jack cheez its over entire casserole
*Add melted butter on top
*Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Great side dish but hearty enough for a meal!

Succulent Whole Baked Chicken

*Wash whole chicken & rub down with olive oil, fresh garlic & your favorite chicken seasoning
*Cover & refrigerate for 2 hours
*Stuff chicken with onions & fresh garlic. Add to roasting pan with a small amount of chicken broth
*Bake at 500 for 15 minutes
*Reduce heat to 450 & bake for 15 minutes
*Reduce heat to 425 & bake for 45 minutes or until poultry temperature is at 180 degrees, basting often
*Cover with foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking

If you follow this recipe your chicken will be moist, tender & the most amazing you've ever had! It seems like a lot of steps but it cooks perfectly!

So there you have it! I hope you find something you would enjoy!