Creamy Italian Dressing

This is the best dressing that I have ever made. It was supposed to be a knock-off of Olive Garden's but it is too creamy and doesn't even taste like theirs at all. Much better! Landyn loved it and he has just started to eat salad, but only based on what dressing it has.

Creamy Italian Dressing

1/2 c. mayo
1/3 c. white vinegar (I would use less; next time I will)
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 T. corn syrup
2 T. Parmesean cheese
2 T. Romano cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic salt (or 1 clove garlic, minced)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 t. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients. If too tart, add a little sugar (I added about 1 T.)
Chill salad bowl 30 min. before putting lettuce in it. Add other salad ingredients and then top with dressing. I used an entire head of romaine lettuce and 1/4 bag of spring mix and there was too much dressing, so watch and mix carefully or add more lettuce.

2 new awesome recipes!

Here are 2 new wonderful recipes I made this week (love being on vacation!)

MIGHT MEATY NACHOS

1 box of Velveeta
1 can of Rotel
1 lb. sausage, browned and drained
1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained
1 small jar of salsa (i just poured in some)
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Melt Velveeta in large pot. Add rotel, meat, salsa and soup. Mix together until heated through. Enjoy!! (If you live in Jonesboro and eat at a certain restaurant that's been known to make you FAT-you might recognize this "queso" as their "mama's"! Tastes just like theirs, but it does taste better if you cook it and then reheat it the next day; the flavors melt.

CREAMY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

1 tbsp butter or margarine
1 can of Rotel
1 8oz. container of cream cheese (I used whipped but you can use block)*
1 8 oz. container of sour cream*
2 cups of cooked, chopped chicken breast
8 (8") flour tortillas
2 cups of shredded Colby and Monterrey Jack cheese
1 pint of whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9 x 13 pan. Melt butter in large skillet. Add Rotel an saute 1 min. Stir in cream cheese*, sour cream*, and chicken. Cook,stirring until all melted. Spoon chicken mixture down center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in dish. Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with whipping cream. Cover with foil and bake for 30 min. Remove foil and bake additional 15 min. until baked golden brown.

* I only used half of the cream cheese and half of the sour cream containers.

These were both delicious

Summer Cooking

Nothing better than whipping up a batch of my family's SECRET BBQ sauce!


And then using it on hamburgers and sausage! These are the leftovers-we ate like kings!


And, what could be better than "wedgies" (as Landyn calls them!)

(Not sure why all of the text is on the right when I clicked for center?)

No cooking

Sorry, no new recipes. Since the boys have been gone, we've either eaten out or just grabbed something. I can't stand how quiet my house is!!!! I'm ready for them to come back! but they are having a blast.

Father's Day-Farmer's market dinner

Tonight's menu:

BBQ Grilled Chicken
BBQ Grilled Sausage
Squash & Tater Veggies*
Grilled corn on cob*
Fresh green beans with new potatoes*
Fruit Salad*

*Squash & Tater Veggies
Slice squash and new potatoes. Layer in dish. Sprinkle with olive oil, to with pats of butter, sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, ground sea salt. Bake in oven at 350 for about 30 min. or put on grill for about 20 min.

*Grilled corn on cob
Shuck corn and remove silks. Spread butter on top, sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Wrap with foil. Grill on top rack for 30 min.

*Fresh Green Beans
Cut up 4 slices of bacon-fry. Add washed green beans with ends cut off (about 1-1/2 inch pieces). Add 2 cups of water, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of pepper, 1 tsp of sugar. Bring to boil, cover with lid. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 90 min or until done. I added small new potatoes with the green beans.

*Fruit salad
I cut up: cantaloupe, pineapple, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and 1 orange. Drizzle with a little honey mixed with lime juice. Delicious!!!

This is our Father's Day Dinner in honor of Jason

Baked Potato Dip

Haven't tried this one yet, but just got back from Kroger with all of the ingredients; making it tomorrow for my fellow teachers:

8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
1 pkg. shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. real bacon pieces
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing
chopped chives, optional
1 loaf Hawaiian bread

Mix first 5 ingredients together. Scoop out center of bread. Pour in dip mix. Cover with foil. Bake for 2 hours. Eat with wheat thins or another cracker or even bread pieces.

UPDATE: 6-18-09 I made this today at school for all of my fellow teachers to be my gunea pigs-it is really!!!! good. We ate it with triscuits and wheat thins. I'm thinking chips would be too salty for it-its already pretty salty. You've got to try it!!

"Grilled" Chicken Tenders

1 package of chicken tenders
1 c. zesty Italian dressing ( I used Kraft Tuscan House Italian)
2 t. lime juice
3 t. honey

Put chicken in large ziploc bag. Mix other ingredients. Shake well. Pour over chicken. Marinate for about 30 min. Dump whole mixture into pan. Cook until liquid reduces (about 30-40 min). Turn chicken after about 15 min. Watch carefully and don't overcook or it will be dried out.

This tastes wonderful!! And it is really flavorful.