Cherry Cheese Danish

This is a quick and easy recipe that is amazing! You can find the recipe link HERE. This is another recipe from the Kraft Food and Family magazine that doesn't disappoint.

To get the lines to be relatively even, make the icing and place it in a small sandwich bag. Snip the corner and drizzle it on. You can use a fork as the recipe states, but I just haven't had much luck with that method. Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken and Noodles

This is a quick and easy recipe using leftover chicken that is always a hit! I found the recipe in Southern Living magazine. You can find the recipe link HERE. The only thing I change is that I add the entire envelope of Italian dressing mix. Sometimes I add bacon or ham to add more flavor.

Laundry Detergent

Making laundry detergent is quick, easy, and best of all - inexpensive! After reading different recipes, I decided powdered detergent is the best option for my family. The website that will walk you through all the different types of detergent you can make is here.

The basic recipe starts with one bar of soap, finely grated. The first time I used Fels-Naptha, which I really liked. It was a little harder to grate, but dissolved nicely, which is important. I generally only use cold water for washing. The bar of soap cost me $1.19, and I found it in the laundry detergent aisle. I would recommend using a smaller grater than mine though. The finer you can get the soap, the better.

You need one cup of washing soda, which cost $2.19 for the whole box.

Then add one cup of Borax, which is the easiest ingredient to find. One box cost me $3.36.

Then you mix everything up and use 2 T. per load. I found an old coffee measuring scoop that was exactly 2 T. This is the batch that I made using Ivory soap. It works, but I like the Fels-Naptha better. However, my husband is convinced our son got a rash from it, so I'm going to try different soaps. (My friend tried the Castile soap and said it works great).

Make sure to store it tightly sealed. This container held three batches. I haven't figured out how many loads you can do or the price per load, but I'm sure it is pennies.

Overall, this is one of the best things I've tried! I don't imagine I'll go back to regular detergent anytime soon.

Citrus-Soy Chicken Stir-Fry

This is a recipe from Rachael Ray for a stir-fry that can be made with chicken, pork or shrimp. The recipe can be found HERE. It calls for tamari, but I used soy sauce, and it worked fine. I also used only one pound of chicken and about half a pound of noodles, and it was enough for four servings... If you do use more ingredients, you might have to double the sauce, but that's just my opinion. Also, the recipe does not mention this, but I strained the sauce before pouring over everything.

Three of us liked this, but it is hard to get everyone to eat the same veggies... next time I might try it with broccoli.

Creamsicle Cake

I am not a fan of the creamsicle... however, this is one of my husband's favorite desserts and I am requested to bring it to other people's houses often.

Creamsicle Cake

1 white cake mix

1 pkg. orange Jello

1 c. boiling water

1/2 c. cold water

1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 c. milk

1 tsp. orange extract

1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip

Mix cake according to package directions and bake in a 9x13 pan. After removing cake from oven, make holes 1" apart using a fork. Mix Jello with boiling water until dissolved. Add cold water and pour evenly over cake. Let cool. Mix Cool Whip, vanilla pudding, milk and orange extract together. Beat thoroughly and spread over cake. Refrigerate.

Kids particularly like poking the cake. I also let them decorate it this time.

Baked Oatmeal

It seems like I make this recipe at least once or twice a week. I bake it the night before and have a great breakfast to look forward to. I like to heat mine up in the microwave and add milk. My husband likes to eat it cold right from the pan.



Baked Oatmeal

Mix together in a large bowl:
3 c. oatmeal (quick cooking is fine)
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 to 1 c. brown sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
1 t. cinnamon

Add to this:
1/2 c. oil, 2 eggs, and 1 1/2 c. milk

Mix together and then add fruit of your choice (chopped apples, blueberries, raisins, half can of pumpkin, etc.)

Bake in a lightly greased 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 pan for about 30 - 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

Ginger Ale Pot Roast

Ginger Ale Pot Roast

3 lb. sirloin tip roast (or whatever cut of meat you like)
4 carrots, sliced (or a few cups of baby carrots)
1/2 c. flour
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 pkg. brown gravy mix
2 c. ginger ale
1/4 c. water


Fill the bottom of your slow cooker with carrots.

Coat the meat with half of the flour and place on top of the carrots. No need to be exact here. I let my kids do it.

Mix the onion soup, gravy mix, remaining flour, ginger ale and water together. Pour on top of the meat. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Remove the meat, let it rest a few minutes, and then slice it. I recommend using sirloin tip if you can... It won't fall apart like other cuts of meat do. The gravy appears by itself and you cannot really taste the ginger ale... so don't be afraid to try it! As usual, one of my kids actually enjoyed this and loved the carrots.