Chicken Marsala

CHICKEN MARSALA

In a small bowl, mix together:
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tsp marjoram leaves
1 teaspoon minced onions
1/2 teaspoon course ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup flour
Reserve 1 tablespoon of flour mixture.

Coat with remaining flour mixture:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a large skillet over med-high heat
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Add chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.Remove from heat.

In hot skillet, add and cook for 5 minutes or until tender
8 ounce sliced mushrooms

Mix in and heat to a boil
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup Marsala wine
1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon basil dry leaves
Cook for 2 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.

Spoon sauce over chicken, sprinkle over top
3/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
and serve warm.

BBQ Pulled Pork

Another delicious seasoning packet that I highly recommend. And its made with the slow cooker! You can cook it either on LOW for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 hours. I suggest doing the LOW for 8 hours--it gets more of the "pulled pork" taste and look, and the juices are more like a sauce. The HIGH setting keeps it pretty chunky and not so stringy, and the juice isn't thickened.

BBQ PULLED PORK

I forgot to put it in in the morning, so this is the chunkier pork. HIGH for 4 Hours.

Get a 3lb pork shoulder roast, mix the seasoning with ketchup, brown sugar and apple cider and throw it in the crock pot and your done! Couldn't be any easier than THAT!

Perfect served on buns with a side of tater tots and corn on the cob!

I know this has been a really boring week--but life got crazy, and I haven't had much more time than that. Sometimes its good to have these meals on hand for just like times like this. I promise it'll get better! Promise! I have some great meals coming--and you don't wanna to miss out!

This is what I have been doing....by the way...Its part of the Corps of Engineers Spouses events during this big HOORAH--GO ENGINEERS (aka ENFORCE) week. I got to ride in a 113 vehicle (personnel transporter)

In case of a roll-over.....just roll with it! (says our driver)

I just thought this was a really funny picture, and I wanted to share it with all my wonderful readers. Things like this make me love being part of the Military family even more. =)

Zesty Italian Corn-on-the-Cob

Continuing on with the "packaged seasoning" week....

This is the perfect side dish for the summer BBQ!

ZESTY ITALIAN CORN-ON-THE-COB

Melt a whole stick of UNsalted butter, pour the package in and stir. Then pour over the bowl of corn and you're done!

This is a perfect way to spice up the corn and change the boring routine!

Apple & Sage Pork Chops

Its been all about easy and cheap this month. We bought a new car, so I'm trying to prove to my husband that good food can be cheap too! So I've been showing some of my favorite seasoning-in-a-pack, few ingredients meals, slow cooker dishes and so on. And so it will continue for a bit more!

McCormick
APPLE & SAGE PORK CHOPS

Just add the Pork chops, apple juice, apples and onions and you've got it made. This was so incredibly easy, I was amazed. Sure, I had all these seasonings in my pantry, but I didn't need to measure and waste all that time trying to do so. AWESOMENESS. Time is valuable!

Serve with mashed potatoes and a side of veggies

I love all the pretty colors of the spices!

This is defiantly a must-try. So-try it! Did I mention it was only $0.87? Even better!

Finger-licking GOOD!

German-Style Pork Roast

I love going down the isle at the commissary that's for "foreign" food. Nothing can beat the real thing, but this German "seasoning" pack was pretty darn good. We love German food in this house, so I try to do it pretty often.

GERMAN-STYLE PORK ROAST

Pretty simple. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a dutch oven, brown the pork around all the sides in some oil. Remove the meat, then add water and seasoning packet. Bring it to a boil, then add the meat back into it, cover and put in the oven for an hour. And woooola!

Mine isn't as PRETTY as the package, but the taste is to die for!!

I like these knodels. I make them more often than not--and the kids LOVE them. So easy to make!

Soak the packages in salted water for 15 min, then boil for 15. Remove, and run them under cold water. Remove them from their pouches and serve. All done!

What a delicious meal!

Ultimate Block Part 2011

WOW, this is totally new to me! Thank Maranda (Jolts & Jollies) for leading me to this PARTY!

Well folks...I'll start at the beginning....

In August 1982.... ok, just kidding. Thats a little to far, don't ya think?

My name is Carolyn, and I married a Military man almost 8 years ago. We married and now have 2 beautiful red-headed children (Girl 6 and Boy 4). We currently live in Missouri, but that changes often. We have lived in 7 different states and 12 different places (I think...its hard to keep track...).

Kayla -- 6 (almost 7) years old

Jacob -- 5 years old

I haven't always loved to cook, it wasn't until my husband was deployed that its was just me and the kids (babies at the time) and I wanted to find something to put my creative juices into. So that was the beginning!

Now, I have been cooking for YEARS, and following blogs for YEARS, but not until recently I got inspired to start my own blog. My challenge is to find new ways to cook, with [sometimes very limited commissary] ingredients and still be healthy for the family. My kids aren't picky eaters since I exposed them to so many different foods.

I like cooking more than baking. Why? Because no one in this house will help me finish eating the things I bake, and now my butt is growing. =)

I love to review products, and try to do a few giveaways. Depends on the mood! I would love for you to follow--you never know what you might learn or want to try!

I'm also a big follower of God. So please so nasty comments or profanity. It would be greatly appreciated.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH BARS

I hosted a Pampered Chef party, so I made a bunch for goodies to snack on from their selection of recipes. I came across this one in their "Season's Best" book, and was amazingly surprised to how good it was!

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH BARS

1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, crushed
3 cups mini pretzel twists, coarsely crushed, divided
3 cups crisp rice cereal
3/4 cup butter, divided
1 bag mini marshmallows
1/2 light corn syrup
1 bag peanut butter morsels
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

In a large bowl, mix together the crushed peanuts, 2 2/3 cup mini pretzels (reserve 1/3 cup for top) and rice cerel.

Place 6 tablespoons of butter in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on HIGH for 60-90 minutes, or until melted. Add marshmallows and microwave on HIGH for 60-90 seconds. Stir until marshmallows and completely melted. Immediately add marshmallow mix in mixing bowl with nuts, pretzels and cereal.

Spread evenly and firmly press mixture onto a jelly roll pan that has been greased.

Combine 2 tablespoons of the butter and half of the corn syrup in microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on HIGH for 60-90 seconds or until melted. Stir in peanut-butter morsels, and mix until melted. Mixture will be stiff. Spread over crust.

For ganache, place remaining butter and corn syrup in bowl, microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds, until melted. Stir in chocolate morsels' mix until smooth. Spread ganache evenly over peanut butter mixture.

Sprinkle with peanuts and reserved pretzels.

Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes or until set.

Cut into squares or desired shapes.