Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Walla-Walla Chili Dip


This is such an easy recipe~ but it has a great YUM factor!
I haven't made this for a while, so we had all forgotten how much we like it!
I got this recipe from Amy a few years ago. While we were in Arizona, I could never find the chili there, so she would always send me back with a few cans whenever we visited Utah.

Walla Walla Onion Chili Dip

1-15 oz. can Nalley's Walla-Walla Onion Chili w/ Beans
1-8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese

Combine ingredients over medium heat until cheese is melted.
Serve warm with tortilla chips.
(It's also good cold)

I'm linking up here today:

GBPRecipeRoundUp

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Chicken Taco Pasta Salad

I think it's high time for a recipe!
This is hands-down my most requested recipe.
This recipe is also from my friend, Sharla. She got it from her mother-in-law.
My kids complain that I never make this for our family. I always make it for something else & they get to enjoy the leftovers! :)


Chicken Taco Pasta Salad
by Charlene Butler

1-12 oz pkg. tri-colored Rotini pasta
3-4 chicken breasts
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 can kidney beans-drained
1 can garbanzo beans-drained
1 pkg. frozen petite corn
2 cans sliced olives, drained
1 onion, finely diced
1 green pepper-chopped
tomatoes-chopped
grated cheese
taco chips


Dressing: (Best if made the night before)
2 cups mayonnaise, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 pkg. Hidden Valley Fiesta
Dip Mix (if you can't find this, use regular Ranch dressing mix and
1/2 a package taco seasoning mix).
Mix together and refrigerate until ready to use.
(I prefer the taco seasoning mix/ranch dressing mix combination)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool. Cut
chicken into bite size pieces. Brown in small amount of oil. When
chicken is cooked, add taco seasoning mix and 1/4 cup water. Simmer
about 5 minutes. Drain and cool. Cook corn in small amount of
water. Do not overcook, it should still be slightly crisp. Drain and cool.

In large mixing bowl, combine pasta, chicken, beans, onion, green pepper,
corn, olives and tomatoes.

Mix with dressing.
Place salad in bowl. Arrange chips around edge of
salad. Garnish with grated cheese, chopped tomatoes and olives.

Served Additional chips and grated cheese on the side.

(Tripled serves 50+ as a side)

My notes:
*I just boil the chicken…then simmer in the taco seasoning. Or, you can throw the chicken, taco seasoning and water in the crock pot and cook it that way too.
*I always serve the grated cheese on the side as it has a tendency to get soggy in the salad.
*Sometimes I leave out the tomatoes, or the peppers...you can adjust to your families tastes.
*Please, please, please use frozen petite corn. And don't overcook it!


Sunday, May 8, 2011

Breakfast and Blogging

What do blogging and breakfast have in common?

Well...this:


This was my first time attending a blogger "event".
I almost chickened out at the last minute...
But I'm so glad I went! It was marvelous.  ;)
I learned a few new things & got to meet some wonderful ladies.
It was a great morning~ thanks gals!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Shane!

Shane is officially a 10 year old!

 He wanted me to do a treasure hunt (like we do for Christmas) for his presents.
We settled for the "Hot & Cold" game.


 Shane loves to fish!
So I made this cake for him.
It turned out pretty cute.
And he liked it~ that's all that matters.


Happy Birthday, kiddo!
(He's holding his chest because it is hurting! He got an air-soft gun for his birthday, and trying to learn how to use it, he strained his chest muscles. He hurt for a couple of days!)



Baseball!
It's been a rough start to the Baseball season this year.
It's kinda tough to play ball in the Snow!


 Shane's been really sick for a couple of weeks~ but he only missed one game so far.
These pictures were taken after we did team pictures. When we got home, he wanted a few more.


This is his first time playing in an actual Little League.
He had to try out and everything!
He's in the Minor league.
He's a pretty good little ball player~ and I'm glad he'll be perfecting his skills and really learning how to play.
It's been fun so far.
He has an awesome coach, who really teaches the boys a lot but is not real intense and uptight.
He's not a screamer/yeller coach. And I like that!

Shane usually plays 1st or 3rd, and they've been talking to him about pitching too.



School Field Trip
It was cold and miserable!
But the kids had fun!!!
I'll post more about that later.