SIXTEEN!

My favorite fifteen year old, is SIXTEEN today! Not sure where the years have gone, but I do know we have so many wonderful memories when we look back over time. Born a whopping 9lbs 3 oz, he burst into this world and stole all our hearts. He is the best little brother his big brothers could ask for and he has loved them from day one. As the youngest of the family, Doug and I have the good fortune to still have him at home while his brothers are away at school. We enjoy and love him so very much!

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY J

love, MOM

Big Chocolate Chip Cookie cake recipe found here.

Chicken Rice a Roni Casserole

Plain Chicken is a great blog for tons of quick and tasty meals. I stumbled upon this one this weekend and knew I had to give it a try.  My old standby Chicken and Rice  recipe is loved by all my guys and requested often, so I wondered if I should even bother with trying a new one, but my enjoyment for trying new recipes got the best of me so here we go...

1 box chicken flavor Rice-A-Roni, I found a lower sodium choice
1 can cream of chicken soup, low fat/reduced sodium
1 cup sour cream, I used light
3-4 cups cooked, chopped chicken, I used Rotisserie Chicken
1 (6 oz) can French fried onions, I only used about 3/4 of the can

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Prepare Rice-A-Roni according to package directions.

Add soup, sour cream and chicken. Stir to combine.

Spread rice mixture in a lightly sprayed 9x13 pan.

Top rice with fried onions.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.


Super quick to put together, the most time consuming part was removing the chicken from the bones. Doug, J and I all enjoyed it. The recipe makes quite a bit, so it is definitely good for families.

Give it a try!

Source: Plain Chicken Blog

Hash Brown Potato Casserole

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup, reduced sodium
8-10 oz of 2% Velveeta cheese, cubed,
1 cup sour cream, light
1 pkg hash brown potatoes, we like the southern style cubes

Topping:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups cornflakes, crushed
In a small bowl, mix the two together. 

Saute onions in butter in a large skillet over medium heat until onions are soft.

Add cream of chicken soup, combine well.

Add Velveeta cheese and stir until melted.

Remove from heat and add sour cream, stirring well to combine.

Add hash browns and stir to incorporate sauce through the potatoes.

Transfer potato mixture to a well greased 9 X 13 inch casserole dish.

Top with cornflake/butter topping.

Bake at 350* for 50-60 minutes.

This dish is so good served with lots of main courses. It's great for brunch with an egg casserole, with turkey or ham for Christmas dinner or one of our favorite ways...a juicy cheeseburger with all the fixins! Where's my fork?

it's an "oldie but a goodie"


p.s. we might get another snow day this week! yippee! Jonah has requested 
 Snow Day Doughnuts
 if we do,  you should make them for your kiddos too...snow or no-snow!!