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Organizing Your Recipe Binder

February 25, 2009 9 Comments

This month I’ve been gearing up for the recipe organizing round-up, and I’ve put together a lot of tips on organizing recipes. But since my round-up post will be centered on my recipe binder alone, (and for the sake of keeping the posts below novel length), I decided to just focus this week’s tips post on recipe binders.

-Rather than printing recipes immediately or keeping them on your desktop forever, pick a day each month or every couple of months to have a recipe printing session.

-Only print the recipes that you’ll definitely make. This saves paper and prevents you from cluttering your recipe binder with unnecessary stuff.

– To avoid cluttering your computer, delete the bookmarks after you’ve printed the recipe.

-Copy and paste all the recipes you have bookmarked to a word document. This saves you from printing unneccessary stuff from each webpage. And you can edit the whole document so that everything is in the same format and font/style. (plus you only have to click print once.)

-Use tabs/subject dividers to divide your binder into sections. Or if you have a lot of recipes, divide them into separate binders.

-File the recipes that you print behind appropriate sections in the binder so that they stay organized.

-If you make a recipe and don’t like it, remove it from your binder.

-Go through your binder periodically and remove recipes that you never make.

-When you try a new recipe, make notes of any changes you make to the recipe and/or any changes you want to make next time. (different ingredients, change of cooking time, change of recipe size)

By being extremely selective about the recipes you choose to print & getting rid of bad or unused recipes, you can ensure that you have a clutter-free binder filled with ONLY the most delicious recipes!

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This post is featured on Rocks in My Dryer and Tammy’s Recipes.

-Jerri

Filed Under: organizing, recipes

Recipe of the Week: Chicken & Rice Bake

February 23, 2009 17 Comments

This week’s featured recipe is one of the first things that I ever made for my husband when we were dating. He loved it, and it’s become a dish that he requests quite often. And even though I’m branching out and trying to make different things, I still love this. In my mind it’s one of those “old faithful” recipes. If I’m running short on time, or ingredients, or if I can’t decide what to put on the week’s menu, I can always turn to the Chicken & Rice Bake!

Recipe for Chicken & Rice Bake
Ingredients:
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 cups water (or 2 2/3 cup for extra-creamy rice)
1 1/2 cups uncooked regular long-grain white rice
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tsp pepper (or more if desired)
salt to season (optional)
Shredded cheddar cheese (as much as desired)

Directions:
Coat a 2 qt shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Mix soup, water,and rice together. Mix in some cheese (optional). Season with pepper and a little salt (if desired). Place uncooked chicken breasts on top of mixture. Season chicken with additonal pepper. Top chicken and rice with cheese. Cover with tin foil. Bake at 375°F. 45 min. or until done.

Tips & Suggestions:

– This is a great recipe to cut in half or double, depending on how many people you’ll be serving. You can also make the rice without the chicken on top; it’s a great side item!

-I often make this with 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (rather than using the chicken). You could also use 2 cans of cream of chicken, if mushroom’s not your thing! Or try other flavors of soup that are to your liking.

– Change the size and taste of the recipe by adding a single canned or frozen vegetable (green beans, peas, broccoli, or carrots), or add some mixed vegetables.

-Or try substituting another type of cheese for the cheddar.

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Please visit the following sites for more great recipes & other ideas:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Making A Happy Home Monday is hosted by As For Me and My House….
Kitchen Tip Tuesdays is hosted by Tammy’s Recipes
Make Something Monday is hosted by Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Forever Wherever.
I Am Blissfully Domestic is hosted by Blissfully Domestic.


-Jerri


Filed Under: casseroles and quick meals, Recipe of the Week

Menu Plan Monday for February 23

February 22, 2009 2 Comments

Last week’s menu totally went out the window, as I was not only sick and not feeling like cooking, but because my sickness kept me from going to the store to get all the supplies I needed. So we ate what we could round up fairly quickly or else ordered out for a few days last week. For that reason, some of the dishes from last week are being moved to this week. (They’re not repeats.)

Also, I’ve had comments and questions about whether I post the recipes from my menu. So I wanted to address that here. I do provide links to the recipes if one exists, and if I use a convenience food, I try to point that out. In recent months, I’ve begun photographing the things that I cook, and I intend to post a lot of these in due time.

So if an item is listed on the menu, chances are the recipe will be posted in the near future. In fact, I encourage everyone to leave comments about the items that interest them most, because this will effect the order in which I post the recipes in the future.

Also, feel free to ask any questions that you may have. I read all the comments that I get, and I visit everyone who comments. I also try to give as many answers as possible in my comments section.

Now onto this week’s menu:

Breakfasts – Cereal, French Toast Sticks, Bacon & Egg Sandwiches
Lunches – Beef Stew, Salad, Mini Pizzas, Turkey Sandwiches, Leftovers

Dinners:
Monday – Shake & Bake Chicken
Tuesday – Tacos
Wednesday – Smokey Mountain Chicken w/ Cheesy Potato Foil Packs
Thursday – Chicken w/ alfredo pasta side, garlic bread, & salad
Friday – Chicken Poulet

Saturday – Chicken Poulet

Sunday – Leftover Buffet

Visit Org Junkie for more menus, recipes, and fun.


-Jerri

Filed Under: menu plan Monday

300th Post and a Giveaway!

February 18, 2009 73 Comments

Welcome to my 300th post! Yay! Hard to believe it’s been that many already, but that’s what my blogger dashboard says, so I’ll believe it!

I’ve been working for the last couple of weeks on arranging a giveaway, and I thought it would be just perfect to have the giveaway in celebration of the 300th post.

The giveaway is being sponsored by little T studio. The winner will receive little T studio’s love in bloom all 4 seasons greeting card set. It’s a total of 8 pdf templates and is valued at $8.00.

Here’s a picture of the prize:

This Giveaway is Now Closed. Thank you for participating!


-Jerri

Filed Under: announcements, Giveaways, Sponsors

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

February 16, 2009 19 Comments


I’ve had a huge headache all day, so I’m running a little behind with my recipe post, and since I’m still not feeling very well, I’m keeping it short tonight. But I do want to remind everyone to stop by for my 300th post and giveaway.

Now for this week’s recipe I picked something a little less fattening than last week. I imagine everyone could use a little broccoli in her life after a weekend of chocolate eating, so I’m posting this chicken broccoli alfredo recipe. It’s great for an easy, quick, and healthy meal.

Recipe for Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Ingredients
6 ounces of uncooked fettuccine (I used a cup of rotini instead, or you can try a cup of spaghetti noodles)
1 cup broccoli flowerets
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1/4 teaspoon pepper to season

Directions: Prepare pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli for last 4 minutes of cooking time and drain. Add soup, milk, cheese, chicken, an pepper. Heat mixture throughout, stirring occasionally

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Please visit the following sites for more great recipes & other ideas:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Making A Happy Home Monday is hosted by As For Me and My House….
Kitchen Tip Tuesdays is hosted by Tammy’s Recipes
Make Something Monday is hosted by Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Forever Wherever.
I Am Blissfully Domestic is hosted by Blissfully Domestic.


-Jerri


Filed Under: casseroles and quick meals, Recipe of the Week

Menu Plan Monday for February 16

February 16, 2009 5 Comments

After a long day, I finally go around to planning my menu. Usually I like to think ahead about a few things that I want to make, and then after I get everything at the store, I finish making the plan, but I didn’t get to go to the store yet, so I’m having to use my imagination a little. So this plan is sort of tentative.

By the way, I hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day. Ours was pretty good. We went to Cracker Barrel to eat. (I know it’s not that romantic, but I love that place!) Then Sunday afternoon we worked at the the annual chocolate festival. It’s a very fun event. Representatives from some of the local restaurants come down, set up booths, and hand out coupons/menus and serve samples of their best desserts. They also have musical entertainment and door prizes, as well as prizes for the competing restuarants. Visitors pay $10 at the door to get in to this all you can eat dessert extravaganza, and all the money goes to the The ARC. My mom sets up the O’Charley’s booth every year, and for the second year in a row my husband and I have helped her set up and serve. (Last year I wrote a post about the chocolate cake and The ARC. Here’s a link if you want to read it: Why Eat Cake When You Can Eat Chocolate Chocolate Cake?)

I wish you could have seen our table! We served chocolate cake, key lime pie, and Magic Fluff (a secret recipe known only to a privileged few and served exclusively at this festival). And the decorations were very pretty. But since SOMEONE (me) forgot to bring her camera, I have no pictures! (urgh) So just imagine, a lovely light green table cloth with a big light green flower arrangement in the middle, some glittery red hearts, red heart garland, a spread of Valentine napkins, and three tiered-trays (two clear glass, and one ruby red) of yummy sweets! It was very nice!

Now onto this week’s menu:

Breakfasts: Biscuits, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Bagel-Fuls.

Lunches: Grilled Chicken Salad, Baked Potato, Spinach Dip w/ chips, Spaghetti Os, Leftovers from dinner

Dinners:
Monday – Pepper Fried Chicken w/ leftover sour cream gravy, alfredo pasta sides, peas
Tuesday – Shake & Bake Chicken w/ peas & corn
Wednesday – Red Beans & Rice, corn, & crescent rolls
Thursday – Tacos
Friday – Chicken Stir-Fry with Asian Fried Rice (homestyle bake)
Saturday – Beef Stew
Sunday – Chicken Poulet

To post your weekly menu, head over to Org Junkie.

Reminder: Don’t forget to come back later in the week for my 300th post & giveaway!

-Jerri

Filed Under: menu plan Monday

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with See’s Candies

February 13, 2009 6 Comments

Still shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts? Consider buying a delicious box of chocolates from See’s Famous Old-Time Candies for that special someone.

I recently tried an assortment of milk chocolates from See’s Candies, and I was very impressed.

See’s Candies was founded in 1921 and is wildly popular in the West. The company is known for its friendly, old-fashioned service and its tradition of using only the finest ingredients to make their delicious chocolates.

Being a Southern girl, I had never had the opportunity to try See’s Candies until recently. When my package arrived in the mail I was thrilled, and I was even more excited when I looked at the contents.
As you know, when you open a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to find. I carefully chose my first piece and was very pleased. It was a Milk Chocolate Butter, a milk chocolate coated confection filled with a sweet, smooth chocolate buttercream. I could have eaten an entire box of these!

Next I tried a Milk Pattie, which was filled with yummy vanilla caramel. (The caramel ones are always my favorite!) And I was more than pleasantly surprised to find another caramel treat, a Milk Butterchew, filled with vanilla, brown sugar caramel. I can’t even describe how good these were! From here, I went on to try the Milk Peanut (yum!), and a Milk Molasses chip.
Then, in order to prevent myself from eating the entire box, I had to offer some to my husband. Hubby heard me rave about this array of yummy sweets, and I suspect he was a little skeptical, thinking they can’t be THAT good. Judging by his reaction, I think his skepticism instantly disappeared. “MMM!” he said biting into his candy. “That IS good. And I don’t usually eat chocolates. Wow!”
I absolutely concur with his quick assessment. And I must confess, while I eat my fair share of cookies and cakes, I don’t usually eat a lot of candy. Most of the time if someone gives me a box of candy, I pick through it and find about two or three pieces that I like and the rest is given away to a friend or thrown away.

 

This was definitely an exceptional box of candy! For the first time I was actually eager to try each and every piece. After trying just a piece or two, I was convinced that each treat would be delicious, including flavors that don’t generally appeal to me, or to put it another away, flavors that I didn’t even know I liked. The candies were perfectly fresh, sweet, and smoothly textured. They weren’t overly rich and heavy like so many other chocolates I’ve tried. And the taste was simply unbeatable!

 

What makes this company even better in my book is that you can go to their website and purchase your own custom mix. You can choose up to ten of your favorites from their list of 102 candies to be included in your custom mix and even adjust the proportions. This is a great option whether you are buying for yourself or a friend.
In the future when I choose to order chocolates I’ll definitely shop See’s Candies. And I strongly recommend them to everyone.

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Filed Under: cookies and candy, fashion, product review, Valentine's Day

Sweet Thursday: Happy Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2009 9 Comments

Today we have a great collection of Valentine Sweets from our fellow blogger friends. These will definitely make your mouth water!

Thanks again to everyone who submitted or gave permission to use their stuff!

As for next month’s round-up, I have had the most difficult time deciding on a theme and corresponding date. Finally I decided on two themes: St. Patrick’s Day & Mardi Gras. And the due date to send in your goodies will be March 11. This date will be a little early for St. Patrick’s Day and a little late for Mardi Gras, but hopefully they can meet in the middle, and we get at least a handful of delicious treats.

To be featured in next month’s Sweet Thursday round-up, contact me at simplysweethome@hotmail.com. For rules and guidelines, click here.

Sweetheart Jamwiches from Sherry at Lamp Unto My Feet.

Chocolate Covered Heart Shaped Vanilla Cookies from Nina at Nina’s Culinary Creations

Valentine Cupcakes from Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline

Licorice Love from Meaghan at the decorated cookie
Red’s Ultimate M&M Cookies from Monica at Lick The Bowl Good
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake from Kristin at Alpine Klein Bunch – One Day at a Time


-Jerri


Filed Under: cookies and candy, desserts, Sweet Thursday

New Sponsor: little T studio

February 9, 2009 4 Comments

I am proud to announce that we have a new sponsor! It is the little T studio. You can find some of the little T studio’s products featured in my sidebar, and I hope that you will all visit the shop.

Tonya of the little T studio is based in Arizona. Her shop features high quality, print-ready PDF templates and digital art. All of the templates are original, one of a kind, and hand drawn by Tonya!

Tonya accepts special orders and offers her customers Dollar Deals on newly listed collage sheets, as well as free self-mailers with your order. Her images are perfect for scrapbooking, jewelry making, stickers, stationary, and more!

Please stop by the little T studio, via the links below or the widget in my sidebar!

http://www.littletstudio.com/

http://www.littletstudio.etsy.com/

-Jerri

PS – I’m also hosting a giveaway sponsored by Tonya in the near future. Come back soon for details!

Filed Under: announcements, Giveaways, Sponsors

Recipe of the Week: Chocolate Cookies

February 9, 2009 23 Comments

Dieters, look away! (Just kidding!) Since Valentine’s Day is this week, I just had to post something sweet and chocolately. Over the weekend I tried out this new recipe for Chocolate Cookies, which definitely fits the bill! Bet you can’t eat just a dozen!

Recipe for Chocolate Cookies:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk

Directions: Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt alternately with milk, beating until well blended. Cover and chill for an hour or until dough is firm. Shape into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes

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Please visit the following sites for more great recipes & other ideas:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Making A Happy Home Monday is hosted by As For Me and My House….
Kitchen Tip Tuesdays is hosted by Tammy’s Recipes
Make Something Monday is hosted by Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Forever Wherever.
Life as a Mom is hosting a cookie exchange on April 16.


-Jerri


Filed Under: cookies and candy, Recipe of the Week, Valentine's Day
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