Recipe Requests

I need help! My husband's family has started a new tradition where we get together on Fast Sunday each month to have a family party and celebrate all the birthdays in that month.  I'm in charge of March, and I want to do a fun St. Patrick's Day theme.  At first I thought we could do traditional Irish food, but I'm thinking with tons of picky kids that might not go over so well.  So instead I'm just going to do my best to make everything green.

Here are the ideas I have so far:
Chicken kabobs skewered with green pepper and onion
Pesto sauce and/or chimichurri sauce (both really green) for either a marinade or to serve alongside kabobs
Green salad
Broccoli pasta salad made with spinach tortellini instead of plain pasta
Rolls made with dough dyed green with food coloring
Lime jello
Grasshopper pie

I'm thinking it might be fun to make some sort of punch or slush with lime sherbet so it would be green.  Any ideas or recipes for that, or any other suggestions?

Call for Help

I'm in need of some creative assistance.  My sister-in-law had to have some serious surgery today, and I'm planning on bringing her dinner on Monday when she gets out of the hospital.  She has five darling but very picky kids and a food-loving husband.

I am just so sick of all the things I usually make when I bring dinners to people.  I need new ideas!  Since they live in Layton and I have a day job, I would prefer something that travels really well, holds heat well (if it's meant to be served hot, that is), and could be mostly assembled the night before or in the morning before work. Oh, and even though I like lots of out-there flavors and veggies, I think she and her kids only like pretty standard stuff.  In the past I've made things like chicken enchiladas, lasagna, chicken pot pie/casseroles, soup, chili, etc.  I just need help out of my rut!

Thanks!

Dill Pickles

Haven't tried these either, but give it a go!

8 lbs. 3-4 inch cucmbers (make sure they still have their bumps on the skin)
4 cups white vinegar
12 cups water
2/3 cup pickling salt (I used Kosher and hope it works ok)
16 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved
8 sprigs fresh dill weed
8 heads fresh dill weed

Wash cucmbers and place in sink with cold water and lots of ice. Soak for at least 2 hours replacing ice as needed. Sterilize 8 1-quart canning jars. In a large pot over med-high, combine vinegar, water and pickling salt. Bring brine to a rapid boil. In each jar place 2 garlic halves and 1 sprig of dill. Add cucumbers to fill the jar. Add 2 more garlic halves and 1 more sprig of dill. Fill jars with hot brine leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Seal and process 15 minutes. Store at least 8 weeks before eating.

Stewed Tomatoes for Canning

These looked so pretty after I canned them that I took pictures and posted them to my personal blog. Hillary requested the recipe, so I am posting it here before actually trying the goods. I will comment on how they taste when I open a jar. Also, I found the Plus...I did request canning recipes and haven't posted any myself...

4 qts. washed/cored/chopped tomatoes (here are some instructions for how to do this)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
4 tsp. celery salt
4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Bring all ingredients to boil in a saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes. Pack hot jars with hot tomato mixture leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles by tilting the jar and scarping the inside of the jar with a butter knife. Process 40-50 minutes in a steam canner.

Call for Canning Recipes and Tips

Alright all you domestic divas out there...it is the thick of canning season and we want all your best tips, secrets and recipes for canning. We would especially love any recipes for salsa, jams, stewed tomatoes, strawberry sauce and spaghetti sauce.

A Call for Grilling Recipes

If you are like me, you probably do a lot of grilling during the summer months (or, more accurately, have your husband do a lot of grilling - haha). So, I thought it would be fun to add your favorite recipes for the grill. I have a few I will be posting over the next couple of days, too. It can be for meats and marinades, grilled veggies, grilling tips (so you don't have to wait for your husband to fire up the grill), or even side dishes or desserts that are perfect for an outdoor barbecue! Can't wait to see all of your favorites for the grill! Isn't summer the best!?

Soups

I am so excited to see some new recipes on here! I've been thinking of trying something new and exciting on here - seasonal requests. I will post a call for recipes based on the season, holiday or event and anyone who wants to can post any recipes they have. Feel free to keep posting anything and everything you want to on a whim, this is just a way to get us all thinking and keep us from feeling like we need to post all of our recipes at once!

So, since it is officially freezing cold in good old Salt Lake City, Utah, this is a call for soups. If you have a favorite soup, post the recipe here for all to enjoy! I am seriously lacking in the soup recipe department, so I only have one recipe of note and I have already posted it, but I will search for some new ones and let you know if I find any good ones!

Happy souping!

Thanksgiving Update

Well, thanks to all of your comments and suggestions and some skillful recipe selection on my part from the food network website, the Thanksgiving feast I made for my family was amazing! :) I have never eaten a more moist and delicious turkey in my life! I am posting some of the recipes I found for your enjoyment - just in case you need some last minute ideas for your Thanksgiving!

A Call for Thanksgiving Recipes

Well, the month of good food and stuffing your face is upon us and so I bet we are all (or at least we will be) spending a little bit more time in the kitchen than usual. If you are like me, you haven't gotten to the "prepare the whole Thanksgiving meal" stage of your life because you still go to Thanksgiving with your extended family, but I bet you all have great Thanksgiving tradition recipes that you make for your family during the month of December and I am guessing that some of you do cook the whole feast! Even though we have 2 Thanksgiving dinners we attend and stuff ourselves at on Turkey day, I prepare a full Thanksgiving meal for my Dad and brothers the week of Thanksgiving. This year, I am feeling ambitious and think I want to try some new recipes for my Thanksgiving feast, so I am seeking your help!

SOOOO...This is a call for your favorite Thanksgiving recipes! Seth has always done the Turkey around here, but this year, I think I am doing it on my own, so Turkey tips, recipes, seasonings, etc. are WELCOME! Share as many recipes as you want or just add your favorite. I hope that everyone is excited to share and that this will be helpful for all! Happy Turkey month!

Hamburger?

I think we should add a "special request" tag for recipes you may be looking for. I am looking for good recipes using hamburger (other than hamburgers, of course). I cook a lot with chicken and I don't like pork, so I am trying to get creative! Crock Pot recipes using hamburger would be even better! THANKS!

Oh, and Erin - I want your Valentine menu recipes! Not that I am capable of cooking at that level, but I want to try.

Raspberry Chicken

This is a family favorite that isn't too hard to perfect...it is delicious but messy!

Ingredients:
Chicken: -6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I like to cut the breast into strips because they cook faster and it is easier to adjust for appetite size, or you can use chicken tenders)
-2 eggs whipped
-3 cups flour add: 2tsp rosemarry, 2tsp thyme, 2 tsp garlic salt, pepper to taste

Sauce: -1 package frozen raspberries -1 cup water -1 cup sugar

Extras:
Cooked Rice (Serve chicken on top of rice)
Softened cream cheese (I take refrigerated cube of cream cheese and cut into smaller cubes, place in small bowl and let sit at room temperature to soften.  People can take as much/little as they would like to spread on top of completed chicken for an extra yummy flavor!)

Directions:
Start the sauce boiling first so that it can thicken up while you cook the chicken.
Boil water, sugar, and frozen raspberries for sauce. (strain well with fine strainer to remove majority of seeds)

Dip chicken into whipped egg, then press into flour & seasoning mixture. Brown in pan with canola oil.

Pour 1/3 raspberry sauce over chicken after both sides are cooked.

Serve over white rice, top with remaining raspberry sauce (put into gravy bowl for easy pouring) and soft cream cheese.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6