Resurrection Rolls

Looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend? I found this online last Easter and thought I'd give it a try. The kids had a lot of fun doing it. You can tell the Easter story while you make these...it is a great tool for keeping the kids thinking about the true meaning of Easter and have fun while doing it. It's not all about bunnies and such...it is about SO MUCH MORE!!

You will need:
1 package crescent rolls
melted butter
large marshmallows
cinnamon
sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Give each child a triangle from the cresent rolls.
The cresent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Give each child a marshmallow.
This represents Jesus and His purity.

Have child dip the marshmallow in melted butter.
This represents the oils of embalming.

Dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar.
This represents the spices used to annoint the body of Jesus.

Wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the cresent roll
(not like you would normally roll a crescent rolls but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside)
This represents the wrapping of Jesus’ body after death.

NOTE: I would recommend covering your cookie sheet with waxed paper, parchment paper or foil because even though they were wrapped up pretty well, the marshmallow still did leak out and got the cookie sheet pretty messy. So if you want to opt for a quick clean up...try lining your cookie sheets with something!

Place in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
The oven represents the tomb.

When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there,

HE IS RISEN!

The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up,
but like the tomb - IT IS EMPTY!


You can read about the true meaning of Easter and some of the events that lead up to it in The Bible, Matthew 26 - 28. Also in Mark 15 & 16, Luke 23 & 24 and John 19 & 20.

Recipes

I've added a few new recipes over at my recipe blog. Some of them are repeats from this site. Be sure to check them out if you're looking to try something new.

Pumpkin Seeds

Maybe you're looking for a pumpkin seed recipe?? I just re-posted my pumpkin seed recipe over here on my recipe blog!

I also re-posted a couple of my favorite pumpkin recipes...Pumpkin Roll and Iced Pumpkin Cookies! YUM!

New Recipes on the Recipe Blog

Be sure to check out my recipe blog for some new recipes (or re-posted from this blog to the recipe blog):

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Strips Italiano w/ Noodles
Snickerdoodles
Oatmeal Cookies
Oven "Fried" Fish Fillets
Lime Chicken

Go here!

New Recipes...

Be sure to check out my recipe blog for some new recipes:

Apple Pie Kits
Apple Slices
Peanut Butter Apple Dip
Green Tomato Jam
Chicken, Potato and Green Bean Dinner

Go here!

With Canned Pumpkin Being So Scarce...

Give this a try!

Laura, over at Sharpen Your Scissors, did a post on how to roast your own pie pumpkin to make your own pumpkin puree. Go here to check it out!

Check out my recipe blog...

I posted a couple of new recipes this week on my recipe blog...be sure to check them out!! Go here!

Recipe: Mexican Shepherd's Pie

Find the recipe for Mexican Shepherd's Pie over here on my recipe blog!

Recipe: Easy Pasta Salad

This is an easy pasta salad that you can throw together quickly with very little effort and as many or as few ingredients as you choose.

You will need:
1 box of rotini pasta noodles
1 16 oz. bottle of Italian salad dressing

Add veggies of your choice--I have been using the grape tomatoes and zucchini from my garden...and also some red onion. BUT you could add cucumbers, olives, green pepper...or whatever you like! There are so many options!!

I sometimes also add small cubes of cheese...whether it be cutting up string cheese or some chunk cheese that I have on hand.

Recipe: Salsa

For those of you that were at my coupon class tonight...click here to find my salsa recipe!! I was able to find it quickly so I thought I'd post quick since several of you asked about it.

The only difference in the salsa that I made tonight was that I used fresh tomatoes rather than canned. I'm not sure how many tomatoes I used (sorry!)...probably about 4-5 large tomatoes or so.

ENJOY!! :)

Recipe: Orange Jello Tapioca Salad

Don't let "tapioca" in the title scare you off! This is the best stuff!! :) I got this recipe when we lived in Chicagoland...it seemed pretty popular out there. Maybe it was a Dutch thing?? ;)

Orange Jello Tapioca Salad

You will need:
6 c. water
4 boxes of cook & serve tapioca pudding
1 large box of orange jello
12 oz. Cool Whip
1 large can of mandarin oranges, drained

Mix the water & pudding in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the jello.

Let it cool for 30-45 minutes, stir every 10 minutes. When cool, stir in mandarin oranges and Cool Whip; pour into bowl and refrigerate.

*This looks really pretty in a glass dish if you were going somewhere that you wanted it to look nice.

Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Divan

I LOVE this dish. It is actually probably one of my favorites, but not one of my family's favorites. I think I am the only one that likes broccoli. They usually pick it out and enjoy the rest of it though.

You will need:
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen broccoli, cooked and drained
1 1/2 c. cooked & cubed chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
dry bread crumbs

In an 8x8 dish, mix together chicken and broccoli and spread out evenly.

In a small bowl, combine soup and milk. Pour over the chicken and broccoli.

Sprinkle cheese on top; then sprinkle with dry bread crumbs.

Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot & bubbly.

Zucchini...What do you do with it?

I will be able to pick some zucchini from my garden soon...super excited about that!! :) We like to eat the zucchini raw and I have a couple of recipes that I like to use it in; but I've been on the hunt for some new recipes that include zucchini.

Last year I posted these:
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini Brownies

Here are some zucchini recipe links that I have found...check them out here, here, here, here and here (search zucchini).

Do you have a favorite recipe that includes zucchini?

Recipe: Pizza Biscuits

I made these tonight for supper. The kids LOVED them and begged me to make them again! Trust me...that doesn't happen very often!

I adapted this recipe from one I found in a book based on what I had.

I used:
1 tube (8 ct.) Homestyle Buttermilk Grands Biscuits
4 "pieces" of mozzarella string cheese, cut each piece into fourths for a total of 16
Pepperoni slices
1 egg, beaten
Italian seasoning
Parmesan Cheese, grated
Pizza Sauce and/or Ranch Dressing

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Tear each of the biscuits in half and shape/flatten into 3" circles. Put about 3 pepperoni slices and 1 piece of cheese in the middle of each circle. Wrap the biscuit dough around the pepperoni and cheese and seal. Place seam side down on the cookie sheet. Continue doing this with your remaining biscuits. Each of the biscuits should be touching when you place them on the pan.

Brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg and then sprinkle with desired amounts of Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 18-20 minutes.

Serve with ranch dressing (our personal favorite!) or warmed pizza sauce.

ENJOY!! :)

*This was just enough for the kids and myself. So if you have more than one adult and kids eating, I would suggest doubling the recipe so that you have enough.

Recipe: Taco Dip

You will need:
1 c. sour cream (light works great!)
2- 8 oz. bars of cream cheese (the 1/3 less fat stuff works too!), softened
1 can of bean dip (...OR 1 can of fat free refried beans)
8 oz. bag of cheddar or mexican blend shredded cheese
8 oz. taco sauce
shredded lettuce
chopped tomato
tortilla chips

Mix sour cream, cream cheese and bean dip/refried beans together with mixer. Spread into the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Then layer with cheese, taco sauce, lettuce and tomato. Serve with tortilla chips. ENJOY!!

Note: I wait to add the lettuce until just before I am ready to serve so that it is crisp. You can also add black olives and onions into the layers, if you choose!

Recipe: Chicken Salad

I love Chicken Salad! I make it several different ways but I'm going to share one of my favorites.

CHICKEN SALAD
2 1/2 c. cooked & cubed chicken
1 c. thinly sliced celery
1 c. red grapes, cut in half (you can use green too...I prefer red)
1/2 c. chopped onions (I've used sweet or red onion)
1/2 c. light mayo
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. cider vinegar
1 1/2 t. yellow mustard
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. sugar
1/8 t. pepper

Combine chicken, celery, grapes and onions together in a bowl. Combine remaining ingredients for sauce and pour over chicken mixture. Refrigerate for an hour or so and serve.

This is super yummy on croissants; but also good on a whole grain bread.

ENJOY!!

What is your favorite way to make chicken salad?

Recipe: Chicken Stuffed Shells

My sister & I made these at our last freezer cooking day and I think it's become a favorite recipe for both of us and our families! They are delicious!! :)

You will need:
1 box Jumbo Shells
1 box Stove Top Stuffing (we used Chicken flavor)
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 c. cooked, chopped chicken
1 c. mayonnaise (light works fine)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 soup can of water
1 c. Parmesan cheese

Cook shells according to package directions. Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions.

Add celery, chicken and mayo to prepared stuffing; mix well. Fill cooked shells with about 2 T. of stuffing mixture. Put shells into a 9x13 dish or 2- 8x8's.

Pour soup & water into a bowl and mix with a whisk. Pour soup over stuffed shells. Top with Parmesan Cheese. Cover with foil and freeze.

To serve: Thaw completely. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

I found this recipe at Freezer Friendz.

Recipe: Guacamole

I had not made guacamole in a long, long time. I used to make it so often that we got sick of it so I had to take a break from it. I decided to give it another whirl last week with avocados being on sale at Aldi last week for $.49. I also changed up the recipe I had used before and we really liked it.

You will need:
3 avocados, remove the seeds and scrape out the inside
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/4 c. lime juice
1 t. salt
1 t. fresh, minced garlic
about 1/4 c. red onion, chopped
cilantro--don't really know how much I used...maybe like 6 sprigs (is that a real word??), chopped

I put the avocado and lime juice in my blender to get the avocado nice & creamy. I also mixed in the other ingredients (EXCEPT for the tomatoes), to get everything finely chopped and mixed well. Scrape into a bowl and stir in chopped tomato. Chill. Serve with tortilla chips (pita chips are yummy too!).

*If you do not have a blender, you can just mash the avocado with a fork, it just won't be as creamy.

I am no expert (I could be doing it all wrong??), but these are the things I've learned about avocados:
When buying avocados for guacamole, you want to make sure that they are ripe and not really hard. I usually make sure that when I squeeze them that I am able to press in a little bit. You want to be able to scoop out the insides easily...and if it's not soft, then it will not make very good guacamole.

To scoop out the insides of the guacamole, I usually cut the avocado in half from top to bottom, flip out the seed and then take a spoon around the edges of the skin (peel?) to scoop out the inside. If you do not have a ripe avocado, this will not be an easy process.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a yummy appetizer that works well for parties and other gatherings.

You will need:
8 oz. cream cheese or neufchatel cheese, softened
1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded (or use a large can of chicken, drained)
8 oz. shredded cheese (I've used cheddar or a colby jack mix)
3/4 c. Red Hot Wings Sauce, Buffalo flavored (lessen this if you're not into spicy food)
1/3-1/2 c. ranch dressing
Tortilla Chips, for serving
Celery, for serving

I start out by melting the cream cheese. You can do this on a stove top or in the microwave. Then I slowly start adding in the other items (except chips & celery) until it is all well blended and melted together.

Serve hot with with chips & celery.

ENJOY!! :)

Recipe: Banana Bread

So what do you do with your rotting...I mean, very ripe bananas??

My kids' favorite...Banana Bread!



When I worked at the bank several years ago, my co-workers and I used to order from LTD all of the time (does this still exist??). One of my purchases was a Mrs. Field's Cookie Book, 100 Recipes from the Kitchen of Mrs. Fields. What a great purchase that was!! :) I love it and it has gotten MUCH use! Her banana bread recipe is our favorite from the book.

You will need:
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3/4 c. butter, softened (I use margarine)
1 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
3 c. ripe bananas, mashed (I do not mash...I just throw them in whole and they get mashed w/ my mixer...it is about 7 medium sized bananas)
1 t. vanilla
1 c. walnuts (optional) OR a fun addition is miniature chocolate chips!!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray.

I sprinkle the bottoms of the pans with cinnamon & sugar...this is my own addition...and sometimes the top after the batter is poured in.

Combine flour, soda and salt. Mix together with whisk; set aside.
I always skip this step in baking anything...who wants to dirty another bowl...not me!!

In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with electric mixer. Add eggs, bananas (mashed or not) and vanilla; beat at medium speed until thick.

Add in flour mixture (or just add in flour, soda and salt if you did not combine earlier) and nuts; blend at low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes. Toothpick should come out clean.

Cool and remove from pan.

ENJOY!! :)

Find another fun recipe with bananas here.