At Home My Way

(Doug baked these before I got up this particular morning since I didn't have to work (ahhh!) so I didn't get a chance to snap a picture after he baked them.)     My guy had treat day at the office a few weeks ago.  Since he's a little on the picky side (that's an understatement LOL), he always tries to bring something that he likes (as opposed to the easier dips, cookies, and finger foods that most people enjoy but he doesn't touch) and always insists on something that he can make himself.  I have volunteered to make my famous Cinnamon Rolls , his favorite Cinnamon Sugar Quick Bread or some other dish he likes but in addition to wanting to make it himself, he usually wants to bring something savory.  Doug says that they usually have all sorts of sweets so he wants something not so sweet. I had been telling Doug about these sandwiches lately.  They were all the rage on Facebook and Pinterest throughout the holidays.  There are...

I've been trying to cut down on the items that I buy that come in plastic containers.  I read about BPA's possible links to cancer in an email article that I received from Rodale News HERE .  I always lean to making my own instead of buying prepackaged, so this was just another reason for me to get down to basics. One of the items that you can only buy in plastic unless you make your own is yogurt.  It's so EASY to make!  I've done it before but most recipes make a lot more yogurt than I can eat.  I also wanted to make some so that I could play around with getting it to taste like I'm used to.  (I'm used to prepackaged, sweetened, fruit on the bottom.  My favorite is Dannon Fruit-on-the-Bottom, but it is so hard to find!) Yes, I did have to start with a plastic cup of premade, plain yogurt, but after this first batch, I can use my own yogurt as the "starter" so this will be the last plastic cup of premade yogurt that I have to buy f...

Do you need a super easy, "dump and go" crockpot meal that is super delicious and tastes like you are eating out?  I have a good one for you today! RECIPES AT THE TOP - CHIT CHAT AT THE BOTTOM Here's how I now make Crockpot Parmesan Chicken AT HOME MY WAY. (I have re-posted about about this recipe HERE .  Same recipe.  It is just that good!) Dump & Go Crockpot Parmesan Chicken *only FIVE ingredients plus the pasta* (Print the Recipe / View on one page:      HERE)  6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts/tenders (frozen or thawed) 1 1/2 cups (app.) of seasoned canned bread crumbs  1/4 cup of  parmesan  cheese (I use the green can.) 1 or 2 jars (24 oz each) of prepared spaghetti sauce (Prego, Ragu, etc.) (Classico is my favorite lately.) Mozzarella  (shredded) (Serve with cooked pasta.  We use penne.) Instructions : Place chicken pieces in the crockpot (as much as your family needs).  (I use frozen because my crockpot cooks ...

One of the sides I can always depend on having on hand and always count on my family gobbling up is Seasoned Green Beans.  There is nothing hard about this dish.  It's easy, contains ingredients I normally keep in my pantry, and even makes a great, frugal covered dish to share at potlucks.  My girls always request these beans for holiday dinners.  We serve them for winter holidays, summer picnics, and just everyday supper.  I can make a bunch or just a few.  Yesterday I brought some with lots of broth in a canning jar for lunch.  With a leftover hot roll, they were a super satisfying and great meal. I had always "opened a can of green beans" for my family but they were nothing over the top.  Then, I started working at our local elementary school.  There I tasted super delicious and cramming your mouth full green beans.  These things are that good.  I asked the cook how she did it and she shared her little secret.  ...

Our weather is ridiculously cold!  We had snow falling, snow blowing, wind howling, Little House on the Prairie cold last night.  Our wood stove was cranking but still having trouble due to some sort of extraordinary Arctic blast.  This morning, on the way to work it was -9 on my car temperature gauge.  The radio said that our wind chills are -36.  Brrrr is right! I haven't always been a huge hot chocolate drinker.  I tend to drink coffee for the most part.  But, last night, after a delicious supper of pot roast and potatoes, seasoned green beans, little dumplings in roast gravy, and School House Rolls , I wanted a little something sweet.  Yes, I had already had honey on a School House Roll, but that wasn't cutting it.  I decided to make myself a cup of hot chocolate.  I may be barking up the wrong tree but every weekend another person I know gets diagnosed with the Big C and I just couldn't bring myself to open a packet of hot...

I got a new French-Bread pan for Christmas and used it Sunday to make two loaves of beautiful French Bread.  I also made a big pot of homemade Spaghetti Sauce.  What a feast!  (Like we need to be feasting AT ALL with all of the Christmas goodies we've been stuffing ourselves with lately LOL?) I made this  dough the old fashioned way.  I usually make dough in my bread machine but decided to stick to the basics and kneaded it myself.  It was a little sticky to knead but I made it work and the bread itself was divine! My new bread pan worked out great!  I have tried using foil logs, spraying them with cooking spray and baking loaves of French bread on a cookie sheet wedged between the foil logs, but that never worked out just perfectly.  This will work much better! I also love the little holes in the pan which crisps the bottom of the loaves. We loved the thick slices, still slightly warm from the oven, bu...

For just about as long as we have been married, we have spent Christmas Eve with my husband's mom.  Sometimes she has lots of Christmas Eve guests and sometimes she has just a few.  This year she had a bumper crop.  The living room was full of laughing cousins, lots of stories, and even more good food. My mother-in-law always makes wonderful little BBQ hotdogs on Christmas Eve.  My sister-in-law and I LOVE them!  I haven't posted that recipe but they are just a jar of grape jelly plus a jar of mustard and regular hotdogs cut into fourths.  She cooks them slowly in a little crock for hours until they are thick and yummy. We are big on hot dogs apparently because the other favorite dish are regular old pigs in a blanket cut small and made with canned biscuits and hot dogs.  Those are always the first things to go. This year, my daughter, Rachel, made a Dried Beef Cheese Ball.  We love all kinds of cheese balls but this is a parti...