We call it... THE Pasta.

--THE Pasta--

1 lb penne
1-2 heads fresh broccoli (or one small package frozen broccoli, or however much will fit into your steamer)
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins, cubed
1 whole bell pepper in the color of your choice (we like red, cuz it's pretty), diced/roughly chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
8 oz (1 package) cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 c chicken broth/stock (we use double concentrated boullion, for added flavor, and cuz it's cheaper. Dissolve double the amount called for 1 cup, in hot water)
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Boil enough water to cook the pasta, and cook according to directions on the box.
Steam the broccoli until it is bright, bright green and just barely fork tender. Take it off the heat and put both the pasta and broccoli in a large serving bowl together, to keep each other warm.
(Those two things should be going while the chicken is cooking, so that (ideally) everything finishes at the same time. I still haven't completely mastered it, but I'm getting better)

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pat the chicken dry, and season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, being careful not to let it brown.

When it's cooked about 2/3 of the way through, add the cream cheese, sour cream, broth/boullion, and peppers. Continue to cook everything until the cream cheese and sour cream are dissolved/completely melted and incorporated, and the chicken is done, about 5 more minutes. Pour over the pasta and broccoli and toss to combine. Serve immediately with bread and butter and side salad. Makes great leftovers, haven't tried to freeze it yet.

Help!

Alright, I know that recipes are being posted this week and some of these found great! I have some I can share if we want more, but first, I could really use some advice. My name is Julia, I grew up in Paula's stake and I'm so so glad she stared this blog(great idea Paula!!). I have 2 kids, a nearly 3 year old daughter and an 8 month old daughter. My 3 year old is smart and has always learned things quick. She talked early, walked early and just is so crazy independent she learns things fast.

Or I should say, she learns most things fast. The one thing she won't let go of, her diapers! And oh boy is it driving me crazy. I had high hopes that she'd follow suite with everything else and learn quick but no matter what I try she just won't do it. I bought her her big girl potty, let her pick her own panties, offered candy rewards, toys. I tried cold showers when she had an accident and even took the advice of one friend and made her feed the candy she would have gotten to the toilet when she had an accident. Still nothing. I know that she doesn't understand, but I'm not sure what to try next to get her to understand.

It's been a few months now since the last time I tried and now I feel like I'm just waiting around until she 'makes the next move' I guess you could say. Is there something I'm missing? Is there more I could do to help her understand? She tells me she wants to go potty. She seems very interested. She hates having her diaper changed and hates needing a diaper change. I'm willing to try anything so if anyone has some advice, that'd be great!

My favorite recipes

When it comes to cooking, I am all about as easy & fast as possible. I love quick breads, I've canned my own pinto beans so that when I get a craving for chili, I can have it as quickly as it takes to heat everything through, and I love to use an easy recipe that I can change out ingredients to mix up the meal. One of my favorites that I'm sure will become a kid favorite is Spiral Pepperoni Pizza Bake. It is tasty, filling, and makes great leftovers.

1 package (16 ounces) spiral pasta
2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cans (15 ounces each) pizza sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onion, salt and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the pizza sauce, garlic salt and Italian seasoning; remove from the heat and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk and Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; toss with egg mixture. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Top with beef mixture, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Yield: 12 servings.

Another favorite meal that we eat frequently, basically whenever I don't feel like cooking, is Chicken Tacos. These tacos are so simple, but they are our favorite meal because they are exactly like the ones we can get while in Mexico.

Corn tortillas
Cooked, shredded chicken (I use my home canned chicken breasts, but you could use store-bought canned chicken, or just cook your own & then cut it in small pieces)
Finely chopped sweet onion
Finely chopped cilantro
Green salsa

Chop your onion & cilantro & combine them in a small bowl. Heat up your tortillas inside a hand towel for about 20 seconds in the microwave. Top a tortilla with chicken, onion, cilantro & a bit of salsa & gobble it down. You can also add beans (black, pinto, white, whatever you happen to have, or use whatever salsa you want, these are pretty versatile).

"Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."

Hey all- My name is Ronnie. Paula and I have been friends since our daughters were babies. I have a 3yr old daughter and a almost one year old little guy. I haven't been able to post yet- but one of my favorite things to do is cook- so I can't help but comment!

We LOVE rice at my house. I know that if I want a sure-fire recipe that they will gobble down it's got to be something with rice! I figured I'd share two of our favs- Stroganoff- from my mission in Brazil that my daughter loves (it may be becuase of the shoestring potatoes!)- and Fried Rice. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

****Brazilian Stroganoff ****

1lb chicken/steak

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic

½ small can of tomato paste

1 Tblsp ketchup

1 Tblsp mustard

1 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce

1 can “Nestle Media Crema (Table Cream- you can find it in the Mexican section- about $1.00 each)

Salt/Pepper

Butter

Shoestring potatoes (You can get these by the chips or make your own- last time I fried up grated potatoes and it was great!!)

Season the meat with salt and pepper. Cook the onion and garlic in butter and then add the meat. Cook well. Add the ½ can of tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, salt & pepper and Worcestershire sauce to the meat. Let mixture boil over low heat. Take pan off heat, and add the table cream.

Serve with shoestring potatoes over rice.

****Stir-Fried Rice****

Rice

Oil

Green onions (chopped)

Meat (chicken, pork, ham) cubed or thinly sliced

Frozen Peas

Egg (optional) beaten

Soy Sauce

Cook desired amount of rice until tender.

Meanwhile heat a small amount of oil in pan. Add meat and cook until lightly browned. Add cooked rice, peas and oil; cook over med. high heat (stirring frequently). Add egg slowly while stirring. Add soy sauce to taste. Cook until rice is has browned and peas are cooked.

Swedish Meatballs :-)

My oldest has her days. Some, she eats 3 meals, maybe a snack, and she’s a happy camper. Other days…well, nothing I offer is what she wants. But when she hears I’m making “Meatballs and noodles”…she is ready to go to town when dinner is ready. And her sister is just as big of a fan. Good thing it’s also one of Daddy’s favorite dishes as well J

Swedish Meatballs

-          1 pkg. ground turkey

(but not Extra Lean…unless you enjoy the taste of cardboard)

-          Italian Breadcrumbs

-          Salt, pepper, dried onions, and nutmeg

-          Egg noodles

-          1 can cream of chicken soup

-          1 cup of sour cream

Using a fork (or clean hands)and a big bowl, combine the ground turkey with dashes of salt, pepper, and dried onion, with a pinch of nutmeg. (All to your tastes) Add approx. 1 cup of breadcrumbs and mix together all ingredients until proper consistency to make meatballs. (add more crumbs if needed) Form small meatballs and cook over medium heat in a skillet until browned.

Cook Egg Noodles as directed.

When meatballs are done cooking, add cream of chicken soup and sour cream and cook until heated, stirring with the meatballs. Serve over noodles.

Topic: Nov. 7 week

So... not as much response for last week as I would've hope. Thanks Amy for your post. I'm sure other newer moms wonder that too. 

(And the reason I didn't post? I don't think anyone could help me with my current dilemma...judging by the age of the kids of those of you who actually have participated so far. And it's also on the up and up due to some new ideas of my own. J)

OK MOMS... Everyone has an answer to this:

What dinner/meal do you make that is a sure fire

 winner 

in your home every time?

(Please share the recipes J)

I will also post this on Facebook… feel free to do the same.