At Home With Amanda August 27, 2008

My friend Jacklynn gave me two delicious crock pot recipes that I have made in the last few days.  I love being able to throw some ingredients in a crock pot and not have to think about dinner until it’s time to eat!  I have to warn you, these recipes aren’t very low in fat or calories, so if you’re trying to be healthy, you may want to stop reading now.  But if you want to indulge, these are definitely some good comfort foods!

Bistro Chicken and Cream Sauce

10 – 12 slices dried beef

6 chicken breasts

1 c. cooking wine

1 package dry Italian dressing mix

6 oz. cream cheese

2 cans cream of chicken

Layer dried beef on bottom of crock pot, lay chicken on top.  Mix 1/2 c. cooking wine with Italian dressing mix.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low 5 – 6 hours.

Remove chicken from crock pot.

Whisk together cream cheese, 1/2 c. cooking wine and cream of chicken soup.  Pour into crock pot, let simmer 20 minutes.  Add chicken to mixture.  Serve over egg noodles.

Triple Chocolate Mess

4 eggs

1 box devil’s food cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding mix

2 c. sour cream

3/4 c. vegetable oil

1 c. water

6 oz. chocolate chips

Mix first 6 ingredients together with mixer.  Add chocolate chips.

Pour into crock pot.

Cook on low 4 – 5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.  Serve with cool whip or ice cream.

At Home With Amanda July 22, 2008

I decided to bring back the “At Home With Amanda” posts from my previous blog.  Occasionally I will put on my Martha Stewart hat (ha ha!) and share tips for around the house (cooking, cleaning, organizing, etc.) that have worked well for me.  Almost all of my ideas are copied and I will try to give credit where credit is due.  

With three kids under the age of 6, I am all about finding shortcuts and inexpensive ways to make my house a home that is inviting, so most of these ideas will be simple and quick…nothing extravagant for me…we’ll leave that to Martha Stewart!  

Today I will share a dessert recipe that I love to bring to parties.  Everyone loves it and no one can ever guess what the ingredients are.  I got this recipe from Monica Hand several years ago and I have made it dozens of times…I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

TEXAS CRUNCH:

Saltine Crackers

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

1 cup light brown sugar

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 bags peanut butter chips

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• Spread foil on cookie sheet, cover with saltine crackers, side by side. 
• Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil.  Do not stir.  Let boil for 4 minutes.
• Pour mixture over crackers, bake for 6 minutes.
• Straighten crackers with a fork
• Pour chocolate and peanut butter chips on top of crackers.  
• Let sit for 15 minutes.  Swirl with a fork.  (If chips are not melted, you can put the cookie sheet back in the oven for a few minutes, but make sure the oven is just warm.)
• Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Peel foil from back and break into pieces.