No Fuss Cinnamon Rolls

I really like cinnamon rolls but the task of making the dough just always seems so daunting! So, I tried and experiment! I got a loaf of Rhodes Dough and let it thaw. Then, I rolled it out until it was about 1/4 inch thick. I spread butter on the dough and then sprinkeld it with a combination of brown sugar and cinnamon. Rolled the dough up and cut it evenly with floss in to 9 rolls. I put them on a cookie sheet (something I will change next time) and placed them in the oven while it was warming to help them to rise a bit. I baked them for about 7 minutes (you have to watch them so they don't brown to much). When they were done, I poured a simple butter cream frosting over the top. They turned out great!! My family loved them, even my picky eater ate 2! I will for sure be doing this again soon!

Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting from Sarah R.

1/2 c to 1 cup butter, softened

4 c powdered sugar

1/3 c whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream the butter until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients until smooth and creamy.

* For the cinnamon rolls, I halfed this recipe and made it a little more runny so it was easy to pour over the rolls.

~Sarah T.

Freezer Jam

If you have access to fresh strawberries (we have an awesome self-pick strawberry field right out our front door!) then make some freezer jam!

Just get some Sure-Jell and follow the directions for freezer jam and there you have it! Tasty strawberry freezer jam! You can freeze it up to 1 year. I am saving mine and giving it out at Christmas!

~Sarah T.

Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken

I love these 2 books! And from one of these 2 books I got this recipe! Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken. It is really good and I would say, pretty healthy!

Here is how you make it!

2 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 c broth

1 c salsa

1 can (15 oz) corn, drained

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained

1 package taco seasoning

1/2 sour cream

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Place chicken in greased 3 1/2 to 5 qt. slow cooker. Pour broth, salsa, corn, beans and taco seasoning over chicken. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Mix in sour cream and cheese into sauce in slow cooker, then pour over chicken.

We put our over brown rice and it is very good!

Here is a few tips for using your slow cooker- 1st, always spray your slow cooker with Pam or some kind of non-stick spray. It really helps when it's time to clean up! 2nd, always make sure you use the size of slow cooker that the recipe calls for. 3rd, never open the lid while the food is cooking! It adds up to 20 mintues of cooking each time you open it!

~Sarah T.

Lemon Cake

My mom used to make this cake all the time when I was growing up. It is super easy and a good recipe when you have eggs in your fridge you need to use!!

2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
Dash of salt
Cream these ingredients together.
Add 6 eggs one at a time. Mix well.
Add:
2 cups flour
2 tsp lemon extract
Mix well and pour into a well greased Bundt pan. Bake at 350° oven and bake for 50-60 minutes.

You can make a lemon glaze with powdered sugar and lemon extract. I actually like it just as it is! I have used almond extract, instead of the lemon extract before and it was also good. This is just an easy and delicious cake! Give it a try!

~Sarah T.

2 New Recipes

Sorry, no pictures today! It's hard to remember to take pictures of you food because I just want eat it up! But, here is the 1st recipe. I got it from my friend, Carla. I made it last week and it is sooo good!

Pasta Salad

3 TBSP white vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp. dried basil
2 TBSP chopped green onions
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix all these ingredients together in a blender. Then pour over:

8 oz cooked and cooled spiral tri-color pasta
1 small green pepper cut in thin strips
1 small red pepper cut in thin strips
1 tomato cut into wedges
1/2 c sliced black olives
6 oz crumbled feta cheese

This is so good and a great side dish for a BBQ!

Now, here is the next recipe. I made this for dinner tonight! I found this a long time ago in a magazine and I sorry that I don't remember which one! It was one that they sell in the check-out isle in the grocery store. It is good, fast, and easy!

Pizza Crescent Braids

Take 1 container of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Press into a large rectangle in the center of a cookie sheet. Put your toppings down the middle. We like spaghetti sauce, pepperonis, black olives, cooked ham and mozzarella cheese. Then, make cuts along the sides of the dough and fold over, kinda like a braid, over the toppings. Place in a 350 degree oven and bake until browned about 13 to 15 minutes.

So, there you go! Hope you enjoy these as much as we do, well did!

~Sarah T.

Easy Shredded Beef for Tacos

I have seen this done with chicken for tacos, I thought I would give it a try with beef!

1 beef roast
1 16 oz jar of salsa
1 taco seasoning packet

Spray Crock-Pot with cooking spray. Place roast in Crock-Pot. Blend salsa in blender until smooth. Pour over roast and add taco seasoning packet. Cook in crock pot until done and easy to shred (8 hours on low, 4 on high). If the roast is to dry, add a little chicken broth to moisten. Serve with corn and/or flour tortillas and all you favorite tacos toppings!

~Sarah T.