BBQ Chicken

1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 chicken breasts
Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. (when I made this I didn't measure anything. I used 1/2 bottle bbq sauce and then sprinkled just a little brown sugar on it. ) If it starts looking dry add some water. I shredded my chicken 30 mins before dinner and served it in rolls. It made excellent chicken sandwiches.

Edamame Quinoa Salad

Edamame Quinoa Salad

1 c. quinoa
2 c. water
1/2 c. rice wine vinegar
6 Tbsp. grapeseed oil*
2 Tbsp. flax oil*

*You can substitute 1/2 c. light olive oil here–extra virgin will have too strong of a flavor
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro
2 limes, juiced
1 T. honey
3/4 tsp. salt (plus more to taste, if desired)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs. frozen, shelled edamame (green soybeans)
4 green onions, thinly sliced
½ c. chopped peanuts (optional)

Cook quinoa in 2 cups water. While the quinoa is cooking, whisk together the vinegar, oil, lime juice, honey, salt, cilantro, and garlic. Allow it to stand while you prepare the rest of the salad.

For the edamame, you have a few options. You can steam it in a steamer or the microwave until the desired doneness is reached, you can rinse the beans under some hot water for about a minute or two, or you can briefly rinse the beans and then toss them with the hot quinoa when it is done cooking–it just depends on how done you prefer your edamame. Whichever option you choose, you’ll toss the beans with the green onions and the cooked quinoa. Toss with the dressing and then season to taste. Garnish with fresh peanuts and enjoy! Makes a lot–like 18-20 small servings.

Easy sweet and sour meatballs

Sweet and Sour Meatballs (or mini Sausages)

I got this recipe from one of my mission companions but have forgotten about it until I saw it on a blog so I made it last night for dinner and it was good. Also a very easy recipe for potlucks or other get togethers.

1 12 oz jar Chili Sauce (you can find this by the ketchup at the grocery store. I recommend using Hienz brand over the store brand)
1 16-18oz jar grape jelly*
2lb frozen meatballs or 2-3 packages cocktail sausages

*note that you could use the smaller jar of jelly instead, I think it’s more like 10oz. I like the sweetness of the 18oz jar, but you could make it less sweet with the small jar if you prefer.

Put the ingredients in a crockpot and cook for 2-5 hours on low. Serve with toothpicks for an appetizer or serve meatballs over rice for a quick dinner.

Lemon cream

My neighbor brought this to us when Trey was born. She served it with angel food cake and fresh strawberries. It is really quick and easy to make
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 pkg. lemon pudding (the cook kind)
Make pudding according to directions. When cooled whip heavy cream (no need to sweeten it). Fold the pudding in.

Mango Quinoa Salad

This is similar to the other recipe I use. Just adds mango and black beans and lime juice and does not contain the mustard... Anyways we like it!

2 cups cooked quinoa* at room temperature, or chilled
1 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium mango, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 handful chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup)
4 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
kosher salt
freshly cracked black pepper

*Quinoa can be cooked in water or broth. I suggest using vegetable or chicken broth for enhanced flavor, but plain water works great too.

Place cooked quinoa in a large bowl. Add mango, red pepper, green onion, black beans, and cilantro. In a small bowl combine vinegar, olive oil, and lime juice. Whisk until smooth and pour on top of salad. Toss to combine and add salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least one hour before serving.

Chocolate sheet cake

I made this for the Godfrey's Easter party. It was easy and good. I liked it even better the second day.

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 2 cups Flour
• 2 cups Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1 cup Boiling Water
• ½ cups Buttermilk (I use milk and vinegar and it works perfect)
  
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• _____
• FOR FROSTING:
• ½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
• 1-¾ stick Butter
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
• 6 Tablespoons Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 pound (minus 1/2 Cup) Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Note: I use an 18×13 sheet cake pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.
Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop pecans finely. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together. Add the pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.

Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

6 Tbl. honey

5 Tbl. lime juice {1 large lime}

1 Tbl. chili powder

1/2 teas. garlic powder

1 pound chicken cooked and shredded {3 small chicken breasts}

8-10 flour tortillas

1 pound monterey jack cheese,shredded

1 cup heavy cream {I use sour cream}

16 ounces green enchilada sauce

Mix first four ingredients and toss with shredded chicken. Let marinate for at least 1/2 hour { I toss mine together and put in ziplock bag in the morning and let it sit in fridge all day} Pour about 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 backing pan. Fill flour tortillas with chicken and shredded chesse, saving about 1 cup of chesse to sprinkle on top of enchiladas. Mix the remaing sauce with the sour dream and leftover marinade if there is some. Pour on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with chesse. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until brown and crispy on top.