Some of our favorite recipes. Fun to share with the world. We have no secrets here!

Indgredients

• 1 Package Tatertots
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 or 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 Onion

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 or 375 (check package of tater tots for correct temp.)
• Brown ground beef with onion on stove
• Mix in cream of mushroom soup (I bought two cans - not sure if you will need both, as its 1 1/2 lb.s of beef)
• Pour into 9x13 dish
• Top with tater tots
• Bake in oven for 35 - 40 minutes
• Put cheese on top for last 5 minutes (there are American or Cheddar singles in the fridge - you pick

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 8oz. pkg. reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1 pkg. mushrooms (your choice - I prefer button or baby bellas)
• 1 medium onion
• 2 pkgs. reduced-fat Pillsbury crescent rolls

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 (basically following directions on back of crescent roll package). Brown chicken, onion and mushrooms together over medium heat. Remove from heat when cooked through and stir in 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese until melted. Open crescent rolls, and pinch seams of two triangles per piece together. You will get 4 squares out of each can of dough - recipe will make approx. 8 squares will some filling left over. Put chicken mixture on one side of square and fold over to seal dough. If you prefer, you can use some egg white to seal the top of the square and sprinkle breadcrumbs over it as well. Bake in over for 11 - 13 minutes, or until lightly browned.

This chicken recipe has quickly become one of our favorites. It's pretty easy to make on top of it which then makes it a staple menu item.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• ½ cup flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. dry sherry
• 2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. capers

Directions

In large skillet, heat olive oil. Saute shallots and garlic until tender; set aside. Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness. In small bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper; dredge chicken in mixture. In large skillet over medium heat, melt butter; lightly brown chicken (2 to 3 minutes per side). Increase heat to high. Stir in sauted shallots and garlic, sherry, lemon juice and capers. Continue cooking until sauce thickens. Serves 4.

Poppy Seed Bread (or cake, as it's too good to be bread...)
Bread:

• 3 c. flour
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 1 1/2 t. baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. milk
• 1 1/3 c. oil
• 2 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 1/2 T. poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 t. vanilla
• 1 1/2 t. almond flavoring
• 1 1/2 t. butter flavoring

Topping:

• 1/4 c. orange juice
• 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 t. vanilla
• 1/2 t. almond flavoring
• 1/2 t. butter flavoring

Directions:
Mix together ingredients. Place in (2) 9 x 5 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake 60 - 70 minutes @ 350 degrees. Remove immediately. Cool 10 minutes and then spoon topping over loaves.

Always enjoy packing my own lunch, but need some things to try. Here are some of the things I'm thinking of along with some of the standands. This site had some really good ideas for different things to pack for lunch. Among the ones I was thinking of:

• Spread a tortilla with cream cheese, sprinkle with chopped raw vegetables, and roll up. Cut into 1-inch (2 cm) slices and pack in a plastic container. Or do the same thing with peanut butter and banana or jam.
• Everyone loves pasta salad. Pack the dressing in a separate container to add at lunchtime.
• Make a mini-submarine sandwich out of a hot dog bun, some sliced meats and cheeses and shredded lettuce (hot peppers? olives?). If you really want to go all the way, pack a small container of salad dressing to pour over the fillings at lunchtime.
• Spread a tortilla with refried beans, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Fold in the sides, roll up, and wrap in plastic. Send along a container of shredded lettuce, and some salsa. Or make a chicken taco instead. Spread some salsa on the tortilla, top with shredded, cooked chicken, and shredded lettuce. Fold up and wrap.

Based on these ideas and some of my normal lunch eating habits I'm going to try and come up with a basic supplies list. The things we would need to make any of this on a regular basis.