Lifehouse - "whatever it Takes" [lyrics]

Blackberry Pie In a Jar

I found this on Blackbrry Cottage and thought it was such a cute idea.  I hope it is ok to share.

I put a package of Shortbread with Pecans cookies in the food processor until they were coarsely ground. I then added a touch of cinnamon, and a bit of butter to hold the crumbs together. Using the larger wide mouth canning jars, I pressed the cookie crumbs into the bottoms and baked them for about 10 minutes.

While they were still warm, I added a layer of Blackberry Jam to the

cookie crust base.

Next I topped them with another layer of the cookie crumbs, and a layer of peach preserves. On top of the peach preserves, I added a round piece of pastry dough with a small cut out to release steam. I used refrigerated pie crust dough.

Then back in the oven for about 20 minutes until they were bubbling and the top crust was brown.

Lettuce Wraps

Grill 2 or 3 Chicken Breasts

(The recipe said to cook them in a pan on the stove. Chicken RARELY tastes good like this. If you grill your chicken until it is cooked but NOT overcooked it is so much better on the grill. Be careful though.....you can also get DRY chicken from overcooking it on the grill.)

Chop the chicken until it looks like chicken in a lettuce wrap! Don't chop it too much or it will turn to MUSH!

Stir Fry Sauce

1/4 c. water

1 tsp. cornstarch

1/3 c. soy sauce

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp. sesame seeds

1/2 to 1 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 tsp. chili oil (I got this at Fresh & Easy because it was so much cheaper there)

1/2 tsp. minced ginger

Put all ingredients in a pan except for water and cornstarch. While heating mix together water and cornstarch and then add while stirring.

In a skillet saute: 3 green onions, 2/3 cup shredded carrots (I bought them already shredded), and 1 can water chestnuts (chop) for about 5 minutes. Then add the chopped chicken and stir fry sauce and 1/4 c. sliced almonds.

Serve on head lettuce or butter lettuce.

Dipping Sauce

1/4 c. water

3/4 tsp. cornstarch

1/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. vinegar

1/4 c. soy sauce

1 tsp. minced ginger

1 tsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. sesame seed

1/4 tsp. minced garlic

1 dash red pepper flakes

1 dash parsley

Prepare this exactly the same way as the Stir Fry Sauce.

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tsp.  ground cinnamon
1 (12ounce) can or bottle of Mountain Dew

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9x13 baking dish.  Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside.  Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles.  Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.
Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon.  Pour over the apple dumplings.  Pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
Yummy over vanilla ice cream!

Crock Pot Southwestern Chicken

1 small bag frozen corn
1 can black beans
2 large frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 ~ 16 oz jar of medium (not mild) Pace Picante Sauce
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
Shredded Cheese
Tortilla chips
Sour Cream
Diced avocados

Pour frozen corn in bottom of crock pot. Place frozen chicken breasts on top of corn and cover with rinsed and drained black beans and jar of salsa.  Cook on high for 6-8 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips and any other toppings you would like.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

1 ~ can Minestrone Soup
1 ~ can Tomato Soup
1 ~ can Water
1 ~ lb Stew Meat or any roast cut up
2 ~ cups baby carrots
1 large onion (quartered)
4-6 potatos, peeled and cut into chunks

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 5-6 hours.  Salt and pepper to taste. 

Easy and yummy!

Fettucini

2 ~ lbs. Chicken
3 ~ TBS Butter
Peppers (green or red)
1/2 ~ cup white grape juice (this can be skipped if needed)
1/2 ~ cup Chicken Broth
2 ~ cups Cream
1 ~ cup Mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 ~ tsp salt
3/4 ~ cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 ~ cup fresh minced Basil
12 oz. Fettucini

Saute peppers and mushrooms in sauce pan until tender, add broth and boil 5 minutes, add cream and cook 4  minutes more.  Take from burner then add cheese and basil.  Pour over cooked pasta.

The Best Dinner Rolls

In a cereal bowl put 1 cup water and 1 TBS sugar (should be warm but not hot temp.)  Add 5 tsp. Fast Acting Yeast.  Let sit for 10 minutes.

In a microwave bowl add:

3 ~ cups Milk
1/2 ~ cup Butter
1/4 ~ cup Shortening

Melt in microwave

Then add:

3/4 ~ cup Sugar
1 ~ cup Potato Flakes
1 ~ TBS salt
4 ~ eggs that have been whipped

Add yeast

Add 7-8 cups of flour

Let rise for about an hour
Punch down
Divide dough in two
Roll out one portion in a rectangle, spread butter over dough, fold in thirds. Cut into 1"strips and fold into pretzels like shapes.
Repeat with other portion
Let rise for about an hour
Bake @ 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes
Take a stick of butter and roll over tops of rolls

Breakfast Special

10 ~ Eggs
1/2 Cup Flour
1 ~ tsp. Baking Powder
2 ~ Cups Cottage Cheese
1/4 Cup melted Butter
16 ~ ounces Shredded Cheese

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Pour into a 9x13 greased pan.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

*You can add any other ingredients you like i.e. green chilies, ham, sausage, green peppers, tomatoes etc.

Crock Pot Chicken

4-6 ~ Chicken Breasts (can be frozen)

1 ~ 8oz. Cream Cheese

1 ~ Large or 2 small cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 ~ Stick of butter

2 ~ Packages of Seven Seas Dry dressing mix

Rice

Put all in a crock pot on medium for 6-8 hours

Serve over rice.