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So a restaurant recently closed in town and my favorite dish there was their chicken tortilla soup, other restaurants claimed to have GREAT chicken tortilla soup but nothing compared to Max and Erma’s I was so sad when they announced their closing.

My mom decided to give this soup a try and found a recipe by one of our favorite chefs… The Pioneer woman

Let me just say that this soup is WAY better than Max and Erma’s and that is saying a lot because I felt like Max and Erma’s was the BEST Chicken Tortilla soup ever!!!

Go here to get The Pioneer Woman’s recipe as this is the one we used. Typically when I find a recipe I tweak it to make it my own and I will always share my recipes here and let you know that I tweaked it… This recipe was followed to a T by my mommy. It is the BEST chicken tortilla soup and serves 8 so great for Family dinner night! Or you could make it for a church potluck!!!

Will you be trying this recipe…. Let us know below we would love to hear how you liked it!

Have a fantastic day!

By the way did you notice that we also use Pioneer Woman dishes that you can find at your local Walmart… we love the high quality of these dishes perfect for everyday dinners yet fancy enough for a dinner party, LOVE it!!!

Kits are coming to the shop and we are excited!!!!

These kits will only be sold as a kit and not available as alacarte

Once sold out they may or may not come back… grab your kit while it is available!!!

The release will be a surprise it may be the first of the month the end of the month or somewhere in between… keep a watch out on IG for all the details

The first exclusive kit to be released is

“A night under the big top”

Dumbo inspired kit featuring stickers, die cuts and an exclusive only to Creative Corner Scrabble Tile Collectible Charm

What you get

• Icon sheet
• Appt boxes
• Half boxes
• Full boxes
• Sampler sheet
• Mini sheet
• Die cut
• Scrabble tile charm

$15.00

Go to the Creative Corner to shop

Have a creative day!!!

so I have never been a fan of vegetable soup and when I say a fan of I mean I could not stand it, and beefy vegetable was worse… I always felt bad because it is probably my moms most favorite soup and since I did not like it she never fixes it(even though I tell her too almost begging her to I can always find something else to eat. She says it makes too much for just her so we just skip it every time.

Until the other night when I was helping mom put back her cookbooks(she is doing a bit of remodeling and so anyway I found a neat cookbook from the Amish country (one of our favorite places to go for day trips)

So inside the first page I looked at had this recipe that intrigued me “cheesy vegetable soup” and thus began our conversation about making it.

Yes we found the recipe in the Amish cookbook but we made it our own so we call ours “Better than Vegetable…Vegetable soup”

Here is what you need

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium potatoes(cubed)
2. 1 medium onion diced
3. 1 carrot grated
4. 1 cup celery diced
5. 1 medium sized broccoli crown
6. 1 can of green beans drained
7. 2 quarts of chicken stock
8. 2 cans of cream of chicken soup
9. 1 lb Velveeta cheese sliced into cubes for easier melting
10. green onions and shredded cheddar for garnish
11. serve with crackers or cornbread

 

Directions

1. wash, peel and cube potatoes
2. peel and dice onion
3. wash, peel and grate one carrot
4. wash, dice celery
5. wash and cut up broccoli(into florets)
6. drain the can of green beans
7. place all veggies into a large saucepan
8. add 2 quarts of chicken stock
9. add salt and pepper to taste
10. cook on medium heat bringing soup to a boil
11. cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender
12. add the 2 cans of chicken soup stir into soup
13. add the Velveeta cheese cubes stir into soup
14. cook over low heat until soup and cheese has melted into the soup
15. serve immediately with shredded cheese and green onions and saltine crackers or bread

enjoy

Do you think you will be trying this recipe? Let us know below in the comments we would love to hear what you think of the soup!

Hey this may be a way to get your kiddos to eat their veggies because lets face it everything tastes better with Velveeta cheese 🙂

Happy Evening

 

 

For 2

Yep you read that right this recipe will serve 2 people( with just a little left over– lunch the next day) a comfort filled meal(obviously you can double it, triple it or make other foods like broccoli, green beans, corn, salads, or how bout some French fries or chips😁)

I have seen similar recipes but this particular recipe came from me

If you like Philly cheesesteak, and if you like macaroni and cheese you are going to LOVE this dish!

Here is what you are going to need

Ingredients/Shopping list:

1. Box of Texas toast(you will only use 3 slices)(I used artisan bread and made my own)
2. 1/2 green pepper
3. 1/2 onion
4.  2 steaks–Philly cheesesteak steak I use steak-umms but there are different brands steak umms you will need 2 steaks
5. 1 cup of uncooked rotini
6. 1/2 cup provolone shredded
7. 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
8. 1 mini cube of Velveeta cheese
9. 1/2 stick butter
10. 1 tsp yellow mustard
11. 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
12. Salt and pepper to taste
13. 2 garlic cloves

Directions

1. Dice pepper and onions and mince garlic(you may also use dried garlic or garlic paste)
2. Bring 4 cups water to boil add generous amount of salt
3. Place rotini noodles in boiling water stir and cook on med/high heat until al dente
4. In a medium skillet sauté green pepper, onion until caramelized and tender
5. Remove veggies from skillet
6. In same skillet cook steak crumbling as you cook(cook thorough no pink)
7. Drain pasta and add veggies and steak toss to cover

Make cheese sauce

1. In a nonstick saucepan melt butter and mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic 1/2 cup milk, salt and pepper
2. Add all cheeses and stir constantly melting the cheese(the cheese is going to ball up, once you add milk it will begin to melt into liquid cheese sauce)
3. You will want to add milk by 1/2 increments until you achieve the perfect mac n cheese consistency(not too thick… not to thin)

Put it together and bake

1. Pour cheese over pasta and steak mixture… stir coating all pasta and steak
2. Place in a greased 9×13 pan
3. Cover with cheddar cheese
4. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes
5. Bake until cheese is melted, bubbly and golden brown(you may want to broil to get a golden brown crust)
6. Bake your Texas toast according to package directions
7. Serve immediately in a bowl and garnish with a few green onions

There is something about eating a cheesy dish in a bowl, it just adds that sense of comfort and it makes it yummy, also it is easier to eat(I think so anyway) If you would rather eat on a plate go ahead this is just a personal preference 🙂

Enjoy

Will you be trying this tecipe?

Let us know by commenting below

I have developed a love to be in the kitchen, I used to love to eat the food just fine but now I love to cook food and I love feeding people even more than that guess you could say food is my love language! Would you say I am a healthy cook well it depends on what you consider healthy, I come from a long line of good country cooks and I think that is my style with a modern flair 🙂

So In keeping with my giving theme I created a recipe that is perfect for your meal plan or to give away to neighbors, friends, family, church members, people at work well the list could go on and on so I will stop and move on.

Personal lasagnas mmmmm I think I could be Italian but then again…

This recipe was created by all by me from start to finish, I did not gather information or combine other recipes I wrote this recipe!

I was reading an article the other day about how we are cooking lasagna all wrong… It intrigued me so because it is one of my favorite dishes my mom makes so yes lets read this and see… because let me just tell you my mom does not do lasagna wrong… if so then I don’t want to be right!

The article asked if you put ricotta… parm… and egg mixture into the middle of the lasagna? Well yes absolutely… then we are doing it wrong…(wrong must be so good then)

Instead you should make a béchamel sauce… this got me thinking and so I developed the recipe

Ingredients

1. 18 lasagna noodles cut in half(either break in half prior to cooking or wait until after cooked and cut)
2. 1 large can of tomato puree
3. 1 small can of tomato sauce  8 oz
4. 1 lb of Italian sausage
5. 1/2 medium onion(yellow)
6. 2 cloves of garlic
7. 1 cup of ricotta cheese
8. 1 cup of parmesan
9. 1 cup of mozzarella shredded
10. fresh mozzarella sliced into 12 slices
11. 2 tablespoons cornstarch
12. salt and pepper to taste
13. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
14. 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
15. 2 tablespoons butter
16. 1 can evaporated milk

Directions

1. In a large saucepan bring 4 qts water to boil(salt the water) add lasagna noodles
2. cook noodles until al dente
3. In a skillet sauté onion, garlic, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper
4. Cook on medium heat until clear and tender
5. remove from skillet
6. Add Italian sausage and cook, crumble as you cook when cooked (no pink left) add the onion and garlic mixture
7. Add tomato sauce, and puree and simmer for 5 minutes set aside
8.  In a nonstick pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter on medium heat
9. Add salt pepper Italian seasoning and cornstarch stir constantly until becomes thickened about 1 minute
10. Add the can of evaporated milk and stir
11. Turn heat down you don’t want this to boil
12. Add 1 cup of ricotta
13. Add 1 cup mozzarella
14. Add 1 cup parmesan
15. Stir and cook for 1 minute on simmer(low heat) until melted
16. Spray mini loaf pan
17. Add a bit of tomato/sausage sauce in the bottom
18. Add 1 half of lasagna noodle
19. Add 1 spoonful of tomato sausage sauce
20. Add  1 spoonful of béchamel sauce (this is going to be cheesy and stringy — try to spread it out to cover the tomato sauce mixture
21. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese
22. Repeat layer until you fill up the mini loaf pan
23. Your last layer should be the tomato/sausage sauce
24. Put 2 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese on top
25. Bake in a pre-heated oven 350 degree 30 minutes (or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and heated through)
26. enjoy straight from pan or take out and serve on plate
27. makes great gifts or you can also freeze for a later meal

Enjoy

If you are trying this recipe let us know below I would love to hear what you thought of the recipe!

More of these to come soon!

 

Some of my dearest childhood memories revolve around taco bell🤣

Seriously though Slumber parties, Christmas party with friends, ask me where I wanted to eat and taco bell would be the answer every time😍

My grown up taste buds still like taco bell for a quick bite to eat every so often(not everyday like before)

But even though I still like taco bell I would much rather cook so here is my version of the Mexican pizza(one of my favorite taco bell dishes)

 

Ingredients

1. 2 chicken breast
2. 2 small cans enchilada sauce
3. 1 cup dry white rice(cooked)
4. 1 small can of green chilies
5. 1/2 medium onion finely diced
6. 1 can refried beans
7. salt and pepper to taste
8. 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
9. Picante sauce(mild, medium, hot)
10. Tostata shells(dont have these, I have a recipe to make from Tortillas)
11. Queso cheese(recipe found here)
12. Quacamole(recipe found here)
13. Sour cream
14. Shredded cheese(chihuahua/quesadilla cheese or cheddar)
15. Lettuce
16. Tomato
17. Green onion
18. Taco sauce/picante sauce

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan salt and pepper chicken cover with water and boil
2. Drain water, shred chicken
3. add 1 can of green chilies, 1/2 medium onion diced, taco seasoning… stir ingredients in shredded chicken
4. Add enchilada sauce entire can(you will want this to be juicy but not too wet)— may need more may need less
5. Add cooked rice
6. Cook until heated through
7. Get ready to build pizza
8. Spread a layer of refried beans on bottom shell
9. Place chicken rice mixture on top
10. Sprinkle cheese on top and top with shell
11. Put a generous layer of picante sauce and cover with cheese
12. Place into preheated 375 degree oven bake until bubbly and golden brown
13. Take off baking tray and place on dish cut into 4 equal pieces
14. Top with your favorite toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, onions, sour cream, guacamole and queso
15. Serve with queso and chips on the side

Serves 6

My queso recipe

I have never stuck with one recipe I usually just throw a bunch of stuff together but here is the recipe from this particular night

1. 2 cups chihuahua shredded quesadilla cheese (or your favorite melting cheese)
2. 1 medium jalapeño finely diced
3. 1/2 medium onion diced
4. 1 can of green chilies
5. 2 tablespoons cilantro
6. 1 cup of cheddar cheese
7. salt and pepper to taste
8. 1 tsp garlic
9. 2 cups of milk
10. 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. put cheese in a non stick sauce pan
2. add jalapeno, onion, garlic, salt and pepper, cilantro, green chilis
3.  add milk
4. stir constantly over medium heat until melted and bubbly
5. add butter stir
6. remove from heat
7. serve with tortilla chips or on top of pizza, taco salad, burritos, or however you wish 🙂

Enjoy

*** these recipes were completely written by Danielle***

Typically I take recipes I find and make them my own… however this recipe was completely written and created by me(this is my first recipe I created myself 🙂

There are more of these coming… I have a lasagna recipe I am working on right now

Are you going to try this recipe? Let us know below… we would love to see your meal, hear how you liked it!!!

This is something that I have struggled with since I opened my shop 10 years ago, my brand and marketing and in turn my packaging.

I am loving my new packaging and got to test it out last night on an order

Orders going out from now on should be packaged this way

What do you think?

Oh my goodness I totally went fan-girl crazy when this popped up on my IG

My goal with my shop packaging is

I want the recipient to feel as though they are unwrapping a gift😊 I love getting packages in the mail dont you?

I hope that my new packaging brings smiles to recipients faces and joy to their heart!!!

I appreciate all of my loyal customers and everyone who supports my small business❤

Have a blessed day!!!