SAMM--Corn Chowder

Today for my SAMM link up--I am doing one of our LONG TIME FAMILY FAVORITES--Corn Chowder.  This chowder has been in our family for generations!  And has been our traditional Christmas Eve dinner for as long as I can remember.  It is one of those SUPER AWESOME HOME COOKED MEALS that just remind you about everything that is good and homey. 

 It is really easy to make--but for some reason I don't make it often enough.  I think it is because it was always made at special occasions growing up--that I don't think of it as an everyday meal.  But it is SOOO good that it should be!  And you HAVE to serve it with some warm--just out of the oven--dinner rolls.  DIVINE!

So with no further ado--Here it is:

Corn Chowder
6-8 Slices of Bacon
1 can corn
1can cream corn
1 small onion chopped
1/4 flour
2 c chicken broth
1 c water
2 c potatoes cubed
2 c celery
1 dash tobasco sauce
2 c milk
Fry bacon and crumble into pieces.  Also fry the onions, celery.  Then add the flour and toss with bacon, celery and onions.  Put milk in a big pot and add everything else (besides the bacon mixture).  Bring to a boil gradually.  Stir in bacon mixture and cook until the potatoes are done.  Serve with rolls.

Doesn't it look dreamy?

And because I am SO IN LOVE WITH MY NEW BACKSPASH--I just couldn't resist this next picture:

And yes I am cheating and using Rhodes rolls tonight.  I know--it is neither thrifty nor domestic.  But it is easy--and sometimes that wins over all.

SAMM--Easy Fettuccine Alfredo

For my SAMM link up this week--I am doing one of my FAVORITE RECIPES of AL TIME.  I LOVE this recipe.  It is super easy--and super yummy!  This one was a staple in my college days (impressing all my dates with a gourmet dinner!)  And now I that I am older and wiser--I try not to make it TOO often--as I have come to realize the amount of calories in this recipe.  But it is still a special treat when I do make it.

So here goes nothing:

Easy Fettuccine Alfredo:

1/2 Package of Fettuccine noodles (or any noodles--Angel hair is my families favorite!)

Next you have all the good stuff:

1/3 c butter or margarine

3/4 c whipping cream

3/4 c Parmesan cheese (I use the cheap stuff and it works great)

Bring all these guys to a boil and then reduce and simmer until your noodles are done cooking.

It will look like this:

Mix the two together--or in my house we ladel it on top of our noodles (because we have those that prefer their noodles unadulterated).

As usual--I was SO EXCITED to eat it--that I forgot to take a picture of the finished product!

But we had a garden salad on spinach greens, some cooked vegetables, and of course--some garlic bread.

DELISH.

Hope you like it too.  Now go link up some recipes!

SAMM--Chicken Pockets

Wow--the weeks are flying by and it is again time to link up to my Sista's SAMM party.

Today's recipe is a fun one...CHICKEN POCKETS.

It could also be called LEFTOVER POCKETS--as the leftovers in my fridge usually dictate what goes into these babies.

The basic recipe is as follows:

some chicken (cooked and cut up into pieces)

1 pkg cream cheese

a handful of craisins

a handful of chopped nuts (I like pecans, almonds or walnuts)

2 tubes of biscuits

This time I had leftover breaded chicken strips--so in the bowl they go.

I also had some leftover brown rice:

My favorite part of the recipe:

Add the cream cheese and nuts and mix it all together till it looks like this:

Roll out the biscuits like this:

Place a dob of stuff on each one and either fold it on top of itself and seal the edges--or place another rolled biscuit on top and seal the edges.

Next--bake them according to the package directions on the biscuit packaging (until they start to turn golden brown).

Make a simple sauce:

1 can cream soup (again--I use cream of chicken--but for those who don't mind the fungus--you can use mushroom)

Salt and Pepper

Milk till you reach desired thickness

(SORRY--it got too hectic around dinner for me to take a picture of the finished product.) 

Just imagine it plated beautifully with the sauce drizzled perfectly over the pockets and served next to some elegant looking steamed vegetables...this is--of course--not how we served it--our version was plopped onto plates next to some canned corn or something like that.

ANYHOO--These are really yummy and easy AND a great way to disguise use up leftovers.

Some other fun Pocket variations are:

Broccoli and cheese

Pepperoni and cheese (like a pizza pocket)

Turkey and stuffing (leftover from Thanksgiving maybe?)

Pretty much any leftovers will do.  Shhh don't tell.

SAMM--Pork Chop Casserole

I am a day late writing this post as SAMM (Share a Meal MONDAY)--is on a Monday--and here it is already Tuesday.  Oh well--better late then never right?

So my meal for this week is another one from my Mother in Law--a lot of my favorite recipes come from her.  Luv that lady!

Pork Chop Casserole

4 pork chops (browned)

3/4 c rice

1 med onion chopped

1 10 oz can consomme

Pinch of thyme and marjoram

salt and pepper to taste

Brown the pork chops.  Pour the uncooked rice, onions and consomme with seasonings mixed in-- in a casserole dish.  Lay the chops on top.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour or until the rice is cooked.

This is what it will look like when it is all done and yummy--I stirred up the rice here to see if it was done--so it looks a little disheveled.

This is SUPER YUMMY--and really easy.  The hardest part is waiting for it to cook while your house is smelling heavenly!!

So I am linking it up HERE--and you should too--its not too late!

SAMM Link Up--Feel Good Chicken Casserole

Today I am really excited about linking up to my sisters new link up party--SAMM (Share A Meal Mondays)!

So here is my entry.  Nothing Fancy.  Nothing Special.  Just some Wholesome--Yummy COMFORT FOOD.

I got this recipe from my Mother in Law.  And it has become my favorite FEEL GOOD recipe.  It is the one I always take to someone after they have had a baby--or someone who is sick.  It is CHEAP, EASY, AND YUMMY!

So here it is:

Feel Good Chicken Casserole

4 cups cooked rice

1-2 cups cooked chicken cut into pieces

1 can cream soup (I use CHICKEN--but if you want to use CREAM OF FUNGUS--go ahead)

1 cup milk

1 cup grated cheese

1 small onion chopped (or if you are like me and HATE chopping raw onion--you can throw in a handful of onion flakes)

3 eggs beaten

1/4 c butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Turn rice into a bowl.  Add all the ingredients and mix together.  Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until set and browned on top. 

It really doesn't sound like much--but I hardly ever have ANY leftovers--and I always get asked for the recipe!  Giver a try and let me know what you think!