Broccoli Cheese Soup

This is my mom's soup and it is really delicious and not hard at all. For a single batch that makes 5 1-cup servings:

2 tbsp finely chopped onion
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups milk
1 cup velveeta cheese
2 chicken bullion cubes
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups water
1 10 oz pkg frozen chopped broccoli

In a large pan, cook onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Add milk. (this will make a white sauce just with onions. Make sure to stir constantly as it will burn on the bottom of the pan easily). Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese cut in cubes and stir until melted. Remove from heat.

In another pan, dissolve bullion cubes in water. Add the bay leaf, bring to a boil. Add broccoli and cook according to the package directions, do not drain. Add broccoli mixture to cheese mixture. Stir until well blended. Remove bay leaf. To make larger batches, just double ingredients.

Pumpkin Cake with Caramel Sauce

SO good! SO easy!

1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
3 eggs
16 oz can pumpkin
1 spice cake mix

Mix together & bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes

Caramel sauce:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
Boil together, drizzle over baked cake when it has cooled a little. Serve with whip cream or vanilla ice cream.

Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Dip

• 4 boneless chicken breasts (I buy the TYSON already cooked, already cut chicken. Although it's already cut, I cut the pieces a little bit smaller for the dip.)
• 16 ounces cream cheese (light is fine, but not fat free)
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle blue cheese dressing
• 1/2-3/4 cup hot sauce
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

1. Place the cooked chicken in a large baking dish. (For a party, I usually use the disposable aluminum pans)
2. Pour your desired amount of hot sauce over the chicken, and season with salt and pepper if desired.
3. Set this dish in the refrigerator to let the chicken absorb the flavor.
4. Preheat your oven to 350.
5. Next, over medium heat in a large pan, melt the cream cheese. (If you are pressed for time, cream cheese can be melted in the microwave.)
6. Pour in the blue cheese dressing and stir until they are completely combined.
7. Pour this mixture over the chicken.
8. Bake for 10 minutes and remove, but don't turn the oven off.
9. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the top and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and starting to brown just a little.

This is a great, easy dip for tailgates and parties! Tastes like buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese dressing. Serve with thick chips and/or celery.

Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken

Hey - I'm new to Kristin's simple dinners and my opening dinner looks not so simple, but it's really not that hard and we LOVE it over here in Colorado! Give it a try!

marinade
1 C. water
1/3 c. teriyaki sauce
2 T. lime juice
2 t. minced garlic
1 t. liquid smoke
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. tequila (if you're fresh out of tequila, orange juice is a perfect substitution)
4 chicken breasts

Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken and cover & chill for 2-3 hours. When ready to prepare meal, grill marinated chicken until done. Set in glass baking dish.

Mexi-ranch dressing
1/4 c. mayo
1/4 c. sour cream
1 T. milk
2 t. minced tomato
1 1/2 t. vinegar
1 t. minced jalapeno
1 t. minced onion
1/4 t. dried parsley
1/4 t. Tabasco pepper sauce
1/8 t. salt
1/8 t. dillweed
1/8 t. paprika
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1/8 t. cumin
1/8 t. chili powder
dash garlic powder
dash ground black pepper

mix all ingredients until smooth. Spread layer of dressing on each piece of grilled chicken followed by a 1/4 c. monterrey jack/cheddar blend cheese. Broil until cheese melts. Serve on a plate of crumbled corn chips along with refried beans and spanish rice. I swear it tastes just like Applebees. (We are extra sauce fans so I always double the sauce.) Forgive me for the lengthy recipe!

Playoff Meatballs (The guys will love you for these at a football party!)

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey (I use lean turkey)
2 eggs
¾ cup instant oatmeal
3 tbls. dried minced onion
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup ketchup
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
2 tbls. regular oil
1 (12 oz. bottle) BBQ sauce

Mix ground beef (or turkey), eggs, oatmeal, onion, cheese, ketchup, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Form into tiny meatballs (about one inch wide). Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in skillet. Add meatballs and cook, turning frequently until browned (about ten minutes). Transfer meatballs to baking dish and cover with BBQ sauce. Bake for thirty minutes. Serve with toothpicks.

Texas Caviar (Don’t be scared by the name. It’s yummy salsa!)

1 pepper (chopped, any color…I like yellow best)
2 stalks celery (chopped)
2 small jalapenos (chopped)
1 cup red onions (chopped)
½ cup cider vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 can pinto beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can black beans
1 can white shoe peg corn
½ cup oil
1 tsp. salt and pepper
Pinch of parsley and garlic salt
Bring oil, vinegar, and sugar to a boil. Add salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic salt. When cooled, pour over veggie-bean mixture. Let marinate refrigerated for two hours. Serve with tortilla chips. (Tostidos scoops work the best!)