Ham Fried Rice

This is one of my favorite ways to use left-over ham. I just use whatever recipe I find. Usually just veggies, ham, scrambled eggs, rice and soy sauce. It's so simple and everyone likes it. (Everyone except for Ana and I thought you'd all like to see what Ana eats every other day. I try to vary it between Ramen noodles and grilled cheese:) And we had prepackaged pot stickers from Costco. They were so-so. I don't think I'll ever get them again.

Chile Relleno Casserole

4 eggs
2 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 c. shredded jack cheese
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 (7 oz.) cans whole green chilies





Lightly grease 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Beat eggs, milk and spices in medium bowl to blend. Arrange chilies from 1 can in prepared dish covering bottom completely. Sprinkle with 1/3 of cheese. Repeat layers twice. Pour egg mixture over all. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until casserole is slightly puffed in the center and golden brown about 45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes and serve. NOTE: Can be prepared 24 hours ahead. 8 servings.

Adapted from http://www.cooks.com/

I didn't use as much cheese as it called for, maybe 3 cups total, and it still turned out great. This would make a good breakfast casserole. It's a little spicy but if you love chiles like I do then you'll like this easier version of Chile Relleno.

For dessert I made Flan! The last time I made flan it did not work. It was a flan-tastic disaster (I'm so funny!) This time I bought the instant kind from the Mexican section and it turned out PERFECT!

What's For Dinner?

I'm asked that question almost daily. Doesn't every mom get asked that? And if most mom's are like me, it's 5:00 pm and I don't have an answer for that question. Some days I'm very organized and I have something ready way before dinner and all I have to do is throw it in the oven and we're good to go or better yet, I have something in the slow cooker.

I was talking to some women at church this last week (I don't actually go to class anymore I just roam the halls chasing Van, 2 months to nursery and counting!!!!) We were talking about not knowing what to make for dinner. I had jokingly suggested that we should have someone designated to call us and tell us what we should be making. That would be much easier than trying to be creative and please everyone all the time. So I decided that I'm going to start posting what we had for dinner. I may even take pictures. If it looks good to you then you can have an idea for your dinner! And maybe you can give me some suggestions too. Of course I'll also include recipes. Oh, and I'll definately fill you all in on the goodies I make. (That's the easy food for me to decide:)

Love to all and happy cooking!!!

*These are the cookies I made last night. They are super soft and yummy!

Soft Baked Butterscotch-Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (can use all-purpose instead)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
8 tablespoons organic trans-fat free shortening (I use Spectrum Organic)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3.4 ounce box of instant butterscotch pudding
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350

In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, mix together butter, shortening and sugars until well combined. Mix in the butterscotch pudding mix. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until completely combined after each. Mix in vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in butterscotch and chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, drop the dough onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake until the edges are golden, but the center still looks slightly underdone - about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and place the baking sheet on a wire rack to cool for 2 minutes before removing the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.

From http://www.desertculinary.blogspot.com/