Our First Attempt in 2010

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Janice

Appetizer:  Hidden Valley Ranch Cheese Puffs
Source: 

Prep Time:  10 minutes
Cook Time:  3 minutes
Serves:  10
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup mayonaise
1 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch Milk Mix
10 (1 inch) slices French bread

Mix first three ingredients.  Spread on bread slices.  Broil until golden brown (about 3 minutes).

Comments:  This recipe was so easy as far as appetizers go.  In fact I thought it was too easy, but that was good for me not being a cook.  I had my reservations at first about its taste, but it turned out pretty good.  I think I spread the mixture too thick on the bread as it was too cheesy.  Next time I make it, it will be just a thin layer.  This also kept the bread from getting crisp.  Also I think just a little less mayonaise, about 1/4 cup less would help the taste also.  But, overall it was very good.

Comments on Hidden Valley Ranch Cheese Puffs from Tammy: Ok, first of all, the name is kind of weird.  It doesn't really fit the dish.  It is really a cheese bread.  I liked this recipe.  It was easy and tasty.  Mom put a lot of the cheese mix on top of the bread, it looked delicious, but was too much.  However, I think that if you just put a small amount on top and let it broil until bubbly and brown it would be perfect.  We look forward to retrying these recipes in the future and making the adjustments.  Fun to see Mom cooking and trying new things.  So fun!


Comments on Hidden Valley Ranch Cheese Puffs from Lissa: This was a super easy appetizer that was very tasty.  I think it just depends on what type of bread you are using as to how much cheese to put on.  The cheese mix is very flavorful so a little amount goes a long way.  I have so much fun learning with mom and sis and I look forward to the weeks when we are cooking.  We just laugh all night - and we have vowed to "walk off the calories" every Friday following these adventures =)





Melissa

Entree: Chicken al la Donna

Source: Friend's family recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

6 boneless skinless chicken breast

8 oz Velvetta cheese

2 small cans unsweetened condensed milk

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 bag of penne noodles

First pour in crock pot Velvetta cheese, condensed milk and cream of chicken soup. Turn crock pot on high. Meanwhile, boil noodles until somewhat tender and cook chicken. Then add chicken and noodles to crock pot, stir up and cook on high for 1 hour.

Comments: This was one of my all time favorite recipes that my friend's mom (Donna) used to cook for us kids...I would always beg for it when I was over for dinner.  Unfortunately, I got a hold of the recipe and totally messed it up!  I used what I had in my kitchen which was sweetened condensed milk and that was a huge mistake.  I had no idea that it would totally change the result but I guess we all make mistakes and I will definitely not make that one again :)  Anyways, if I had used the regular condensed milk I really think it would have been perfect...the consistency was great and it had just enough cheese.

Comments on Chicken a la Donna from Mom:  We laughed a lot that night.  My seven year old granddaughter is out official taste tester and she couldn't eat very much.  However, she already had seen Lissa's and her mom's reaction to her dish.  The sweetened condensed mild made it very sweet.  I was brave and ate about a third of my dish.  I really didn't think it was that BAD.  But Lissa learned her lesson and now knows what to do.  I have to admit these nights are so much fun. I don't know why we didn't do them before, but better late than never.

Comments on Chicken a la Donna from Tammy: Ok, I have to admit that maybe this mistake was my fault.  First, When I envisioned our cooking nights I pictured just this very thing.  A big mistake that made the food almost inedible that we would all laugh about.  Second, the alarm went off in my head when she had me add sweetened condensed milk.   With chicken and pasta?  Hmmmm, that didn't sound right.  But, nevertheless I wanted to trust the process.  When we scooped it up to serve, it looked so delicious, but I wish you could have seen Lissa's face when she tried that first bite.  I had to laugh.  Lissa didn't mention to you that she threw her pasta away and made what she called, "the no fail Pasta Roni."  So funny! Thank goodness she had something else in the cupboard.  Love ya Sis!

Tammy
Dessert: Apple Enchiladas
Source: Adapted from website
Prep:10 Minutes
Cook: 20 Minutes


Ingredients
1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
6 small, soft taco sized, flour tortillas
ground cinnamon - I did not measure cinnamon, just went for it
1/3 cup margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water


Spoon pie filling evenly onto all tortillas
(my daughter helped me with this step. Very fun for the kids ), then sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down on lightly greased baking pan
( I used a 13" x 9" pan)  Bring margarine, sugars and water to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring continually for 3 minutes. Pour sauce over tortillas, evenly; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. We cut the tortillas in half and served with vanilla ice cream. Can serve 6-12, depending on portion size of dessert.


Comments : Let me just say that having this cooking night with Mom and Lis has been something we have talked about for so long. I am so proud that we are finally doing it. It only seems fitting that we document our experiences not only with cooking, but with each other. We are bonding over recipes :) Who is tasting these recipes you might ask? Well my 7 year old daughter claims to be the official taste tester. She is definitely our biggest critic. Then it is judged by whoever is there that night. This particular evening was my Dad which is perfect because he is will eat anything :)


The above recipe was super yummy and really easy. The only cooking really involved is the sauce and it was well worth it. I would definitely make this again. I stuck to the recipe exactly. The only think that I forgot was to put the extra cinnamon on top before I baked it, but that was no biggie, I just sprinkled it on when I took it from the oven. Delish! This could probably be done with any canned pie filling. Would love to try blueberry.


Comment on Apple Enchiladas from Lissa: I loved this desert! Thought it was really unique and I loved the sauce.  A small scoop of ice cream on top was a perfect addition.  However, I would suggest serving only 1/2 of one enchillada because a whole one was too much.  Which is great because this desert could serve 12!


Comment on Apple Enchiladas from Mom: This was a very tasty dessert.  I discovered that I could only eat a half enchillada.  This dessert was very light and not heavy which was a good following for the rest of our meal.