Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

Today has been a good day.  Munchkins are better after battling a stomach virus and went back to school today.  Right now I have chicken and dumpling casserole in the oven and garlic bread is waiting to go in.    Lots to do this week:  I have surgery this week, so I have to make sure clothes are all caught up and easy stuff for dinners in the fridge for the end of the week.  Below is the recipe of the chicken and dumpling casserole.  I have made this before and it was so good, it now has a home in my dinner rotations.  Enjoy!

Chicken & Dumpling Casserole

3-4 cups of cooked chicken (I use a rotisserie chicken)
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 can Campbell's cream of chicken soup

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Melt 1/2 stick of butter in the microwave and pour that into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Shred the chicken and spread it on top of the butter.

Whisk together the milk and the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly pour over the chicken.  Don't stir.

Whisk together chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. Very carefully pour over the flour and milk mixture.  Don't stir.

Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes, or until top is light golden brown.

 

 

 

Crocheted Cross Pattern

I found the cutest crocheted cross pattern that literally takes no time at all to make...maybe 2 minutes....I make a tail for them out of chain stitching so they can be used as a bookmark. (The crocheted cross is not my pattern. I found it on Crochet Poet. If you google it, you will be in crochet heaven!)

I'm going to make up a bunch of these and hand these out with gospel tracts. I'm going to spray them with starch and iron them so they will be stiff. I used to give out candy with the tracts, but I felt like something handmade might be a little harder to toss.

Here is the pattern and link:

www.orble.com/free-chained-cross-crochet-pattern

Crocheted Cross

Materials:
Small amount gold worsted weight yarn
Size H crochet hook

Size: 2" tall

Ch 4, join w sl st in 1st ch to form ring, (ch 6, sl st in ring) 2 times, ch 10, sl st in ring, ch 6, sl st in ring, fasten off.


I hope you have fun making these! I know I did!

Homemade V8

I love V8. But I don’t love the price. I am such a cheapskate. I found the recipe somewhere, I can’t remember. I’ve had it for quite a while. If you love V8, you will LOVE this recipe. Plus, it’s cheap…..:)

Homemade V8

6 oz tomato paste

32 oz water

1/4 tsp celery seed

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp parsley

Blend, then chill.

I hope you enjoy it

Chili Seasoning

I am so glad it is getting cooler. I love to fix chili and soups when it's cold outside. I found the best chili seasoning recipe on Allrecipes. I did omit the flour. Here it is:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, stir together flour, chili powder, red pepper, onion, garlic, sugar, cumin, parsley, salt, basil and pepper. Store in an airtight container.
I have to say, the chili turned out great. I think this recipe is a keeper.

Cinnamon Blueberry Bread

I made a loaf of cinnamon blueberry bread today to go in the freezer for a breakfast choice in the mornings when I work outside the home. I adapted it from a cinnamon raisin bread recipe. I had some dried blueberries, so I used them in place of the raisins.

Cinnamon Blueberry Bread

Ingredients

1 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine
3 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3/4 cup blueberries

I added all the ingredients in the order suggested by my bread machine. I let my bread machine do the kneading for me. When the dough cycle was over, I placed the dough in a greased, glass loaf pan. Let it rise for about 30 – 45 minutes. Then bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on 350 degrees.

This is my second time making this bread. The first time I made it, I took it to my grandmother’s for her to enjoy. It was yummy! I hope you enjoy it, too!

I'm starting to really think about Christmas. Both sides of my family really only concentrate on the children and draw names for the adults, but I’m such a Christmas freak, I alway get everyone something. My view is it doesn’t have to have a lot of money in it. I want them to know that I was thinking of them. I love my family and friends, and I love giving them little bits of whimsy.

I usually decide on one kind of present for the women and one for the men and mass produce them. This year, I’m making curly scarves for the women in my family. It resembles this, but it’s only two rows instead of four:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80443AD.html

They are soooo fast and easy. This is not my pattern. I know I got it off the web, but I cannot seem to find a link to the pattern.

Curly Scarf

Chain 200

2 HDC in 2nd chain from hook, repeat in each st until the end, ch 2 and turn

and repeat. When reach the end, finish off…

They start to curl a little on the first row of HDCs, but on the second row, they REALLY start to curl.

They work up so fast! I’ve really enjoyed making them!

As for what the men in my family are getting, I’m still trying to decide. I got them all backscratchers one year. That went over well. Trying to think of something similar……

I saw the cutest idea somewhere (my memory is soooo bad)……..I think it would make a great present for a man. You get a large bucket, paint it, then attach a pillow or cushioning to the top. That way when they go fishing, they have a cooler and a seat! I thought it was cute!

I've already bought gifts for all the children. Next year, I'm thinking about making homemade, personalized pea shooters made out of bamboo, and maybe crocheting an ammo bag for them. Another idea is to make rock candy kits with colored sugar, mason jars, and chopsticks. We'll see....

Tea Time Craft Idea

I found the cutest little poems online that I thought would be adorable to print it out onto colorful paper, attach a teabag, and send out in cards and such. Here are the poems:

A little cup of friendship
With a bag of tea
When you drink this
Think of love from me.
source unknown

or

A cup of tea to say thank you
For all the things you've done,
And wishes that the day will bring
You happiness and fun..

or

If I could take your Troubles,
I would toss them in the Sea.
But since I can't, I'm sending you,
My favorite cup of tea.

I know I would love to find a card with a tea bag and poem inside sent to me! Brighten someone's day with a little bit of whimsy! :)

Tammy