Creative Adventures with Food

Quick & Easy Stroganoff

2014-05-31T06:57:00.001-07:00

This recipe was created from one I made once and decided to make my own. It's very easy and a quick probably 20-30 minute meal, perfect for busy nights!

Quick & Easy Stroganoff

1 lb. lean ground beef or I use ground Turkey
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 to 1 1/2 cups sour cream (you decide how much you want in it)
1 cup shredded cheese of your choice flavor
1 can mushrooms
2 Cups Elbow macaroni
Brown meat in skillet. Meanwhile bring water to boil and cook macaroni until tender, drain and place back in pot. Add cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, mushrooms, meat, and cheese mix well. Serve with a green salad on the side.

Festive Fridays (Standing in for Heart Warming Wednesdays)

2012-11-16T19:56:00.000-08:00

I know I've missed a few weeks of doing Heart Warming Wednesdays, we've been quite busy with school work and I've been doing some crafting, so I haven't had a lot of time to post on here. But I decided that today I needed to update the blog on what I've been doing.

I've been making pillar candle holders and ornaments for Christmas. I opened an Etsy store which I'm sure you would love browsing through! To visit my Etsy store go here. (Etsy is a website similar to Ebay but all the items are either handmade or vintage or supplies for making crafts.)

These I'm selling for $8.00 a set of 3.

These are all handpainted.
Then I decided I wanted to make some ornaments for our trees this year and got a bit carried away and now I'm getting orders to make these! The ornaments are all $2.50 each or $7.00 for a set of 6.

These are salt dough ornaments with a bit of cinnamon added which makes the house smell wonderful while they're baking. The smell isn't very strong so it doesn't overpower things.

This last one I made especially for my husband (but it's also listed on my Etsy store) because he's an Ohio State fan.
So that's my Festive Fridays. I'm going to try and add a Festive Friday each week through Christmas! Enjoy!

Heart Warming Wednesday

2012-10-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello again. It's Wednesday and that means that it's time again for the 2nd Heart Warming Wednesday Post! Today I'm doing a tablescape for you. I love setting a beautiful table! If you have a fall tablescape or a fall posting you would like to link up be sure to join in on Heart Warming Wednesday and make sure you link back to my blog.

This is my fall table! And some of my dining room decorated for fall. I did pull some decor from elsewhere to really vamp up my look! I love decorating and have had so much fun doing that this fall! You may pin these photos to Pinterest but please make sure it links back to my blog. Thanks!

Some upclose shots of the place setting.

Another of the place settings. The dishes were given to me in 2005 in N.C. from a church friend, when I had moved into my first place of my own. I didn't have any of my own dishes and things since everything I owned for a home was in Ohio. She graciously gave me this set of dishes and few pans which really helped me!

Some more shots of the table. This is the first time I've lit the taper candles.

Here's one of the center piece! I bought the wire pumpkin from Partylite in 2009. I love it!

The glasses with the leaves on them I purchased at our local Dollar Tree. I couldn't pass them up!

That's my Heart Warming Wednesday Photo shoot for you. I hope you enjoyed it, and please leave me a comment I love getting them.
I'm linking up to Strut Your Stuff Saturdays at Six Sisters Stuff (http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/), How Sweet the Sound Pink Saturdays: (http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/10/autumn-flowers-foliage-pink-saturday-october-20-2012.html) And The Rosegarden in Malevik (http://maleviksrosentradgard.blogspot.ca/2012/10/saturday-show-off_19.html?showComment=1350744877085#c8767881482373838757)

Heart Warming Wednesdays

2012-10-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

I'm starting something new here on the blog and that's Heart Warming Wednesdays. Every Wednesday I plan to have something that's cozy on the blog whether that be a heartwarming meal or tablescape. Please plan to join me! I'm going to try and add the linky capability to the blog soon so if you have something heart warming on a Wednesday you would like to share you can! Please spread the word!

There's nothing like a heartwarming soup on a chilly fall night! I had been thinking about broccoli cheese soup all day, thinking it sounded wonderful! However, I know that my husband has to have some meat with his meals and can't just eat plain soup with just cheese and broccoli. So I created this soup as I went along.

Ab's Cheesy Broccoli, Chicken Soup

2 Cans Cheddar Cheese Soup
2 Cans Milk + some (to your liking)
2-3 Chicken Breasts (I used several Chicken tenders probably 8 or 9)
1 bag Frozen Broccoli
Shredded Cheese (I used Colby Jack)
Poultry Seasoning
Seasoning Salt
Pepper
Instant Mashed Potato Flakes
1.) Fry chicken in skillet till browned, then cut into cubes and set aside.
2.) Mix together cheese soup and 2 cans of milk with a whisk. Pour into large dutch oven pot and add more milk to get the correct consistency and amount that you want, then add the bag of frozen broccoli.
3.) Heat till warm and add chicken and shredded cheese and seasonings and then heat till through adding Potato flakes during this last step.
4.) Serve hot with crackers, and Garlic Cheese Biscuits! YUMMY!

Just something quick and Easy.

Ab's Quick Stromboli!

2012-09-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

With School now in full swing and college as well, I love simple easy recipes to make for dinner that can also double for lunch the next day! So here is my Recipe for Easy Stromboli:

Ab's Quick Stromboli

1-2 rolls of Pillsbury (C) Crusty French Loaf dough (depending on how many Stromboli you want to make.Add 1 roll per Stromboli.)

1 can of spaghetti sauce of your choice of flavor ( I like four cheese)

3/4 to 1 lb. of each of the following: Virginia Ham, Hard Salami, Pepperoni, Baby Swiss cheese, Provolone (you can choose the meats that you wish if there are some of these you don't like.)

Unroll the french bread till it's flat on the cookie sheet and spread some of the Spaghetti Sauce onto it. (you will not use the whole can of sauce)

Then start layering the meat and cheese in whatever order you choose, I started with the ham:

Then I topped the ham with Baby swiss:

Then I added Pepperoni

Then Salami

Then Provolone Cheese

Then you roll it up sort of Jelly roll fashion but just enough so that the edges can seal, sealing all that yummyness inside! :)

Bake them at 350*F until the bread is golden brown 25-30 mins(might actually be a little longer, I didn't time them) . Remove from oven and let cool. Serve warm with ranch dressing and leftover sauce. You can also add a salad and dessert if you wish!

Pinterest Cooking

2012-09-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I have decided that with pinning all these recipes to pinterest that I need to blog how they turn out so I'm starting that adventure tonight. Hopefully all of you will join my page and enjoy the recipes with me.

I'm starting with a fall favorite of many: PUMPKIN MUFFINS

I pinned this awhile back and decided that now was the time to try it. I've changed it up a little bit so here's the recipe: (I got the orginal recipe from http://sweet-verbena.blogspot.com/2011/08/pumpkin-muffins.html and just tweaked the recipe by using a spice cake mix instead of a yellow Duncan Hines mix)

1 Betty Crocker Spice cake mix
1 15 oz. can great value pumpkin puree
Mix together with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Batter will be quite thick. Then spoon into your muffin tins of choice, mine in this case were fall shaped, with leaves and pumpkins. Bake at 350*F for 20-25 minutes. Glaze or frost with your preference of frosting or glaze.

I think they turned out wonderful and moist!

Simple Chicken Casserole

2012-02-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

Simple Chicken Casserole (my own recipe)
5-8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenders
Chicken Boulion Cubes or powder 3-4 cubes or 1 TBsp. Powder
Salt 1 tsp.
Pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Box Chicken flavored Stuffing (prepared according to box instructions)
Mixed frozen vegetables can use California Blend as well.
Boil chicken in water flavored with seasonings till no longer pink. Preheat oven to 350*F. When chicken is done transfer to greased casserole dish and top with Cream of Chicken Soup mixed with enough water to make it a pourable consistency. Then top with Vegetables and top those with Cream of Mushroom Soup. Top the Casserole with Chicken Stuffing and sprinkle with Cheese. Bake in Oven for 15-20 mins or until heated through and cheese is melted. Makes for a delicious casserole!

2012-02-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

I call this a hamburger Cassarole:
1 LB. hamburg
1 package elbow macaroni
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
Shredded Cheese
Italian Seasoning, and Crushed Red Pepper

Brown the hamburg in a skillet, in a separate pot bring water to a rolling boil and add macaroni cook until just tender, drain. Pour Macaroni into a casserole dish and mix in spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and hamburg, top the dish with more cheese and seasonings. Bake in a preheated 350* oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is heated through. Serve with garlic bread, and a salad.

2012-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

I made this cheesecake for Christmas with the in-laws and it was very delicious!

It's called Chocolate-dipped Strawberry cheesecake:

1-3/4 C. Chocolate graham cracker crumbs (about 9 whole crackers) (I had to use teddy grahams)

1/4 C. Butter, melted

1 pound fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed

2 Envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/2 C. Cold water

2 Packages (8oz. each) fat-free cream cheese, cubed

1 C. ( 8oz) fat-free cottage cheese

Sugar substitute equivalent to 3/4 C. sugar (I just used the sugar)

1 carton ( 8oz.) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed, divided

12 Med. Fresh strawberries

4 OZ. semisweet chocolate, chopped

In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350* for 10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.
Hull strawberries if necessary; puree in a food processor. Remove and set aside. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Transfer to the food processor; add the cream cheese, cottage cheese and sugar substitute. Cover and process until smooth.
Add strawberry puree; cover and process until blended. Transfer to a large bowl; fold in 2 C. whipped topping. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until set.
For garnish, wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. Cut tops off berries. In a microwave, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Dip each berry tip until half of the berry is coated, allowing excess to drip off. Place with tips pointing up on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around edge of springform pan to loosen; remove sides of pan. Garnish with chocolate-dipped strawberries and remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers. (There were no leftovers :) )

Yields: 12 servings

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2012-01-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Homemade Herbed Noodles
3-4 Chicken Breasts (or 6 Chicken Tenders boneless, skinless)
Add 6-7 Cups of Water (enough to cover the chicken and enough that when it boils down you'll have enough for broth)
Add 3-4 Bulion Cubes
Seasonings (to taste):
Chicken Seasoning Salt (or just plain Seasoning Salt)
Poultry Seasoning
Cayenne Pepper
Minced Onion or Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Add these to the broth while the chicken is cooking, cook chicken until no longer pink and is easily shredded then either shred it or cube the chicken and put it back into the pot and add:
Veggies:
1 package of frozen mixed veggies
Directions: Add to broth and let them cook till crisp tender
Noodles/Dumplings
1 1/3 C. Flour
3 Eggs
1 TBsp. Milk
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Dill weed
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. Pepper
Directions:
Mix together and then pull off small pieces and drop into the soup mixture and boil until the noodles are done clear through. Top each bowl with shredded cheddar cheese if desired. YUMMY!

Perfect Easy New Year's Eve Dinner!

2011-12-31T15:47:00.000-08:00

Our New Year's Eve we spent the evening relaxing together at home since my hubby had put his back out and was in a lot of pain we opted to stay home from a watch night service (wish we could be there!). I made Deer Sausage Gravy and Biscuits for our dinner! Here's the recipe and pictures:

Sausage Gravy:
1 lb. Venison Sausage
2 (or so) Tbsp. butter
1/4 C. Flour
4 C. Milk
Brown Venison Sausage in a skillet once browned add butter once it's melted mix in flour till pieces are coated. Then slowly add the milk. Simmer until thickened. Salt and Pepper to taste.
I used the Biscuits from a can you can get at Walmart (would've been better homemade).

Chicken Alfredo with Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

2011-12-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

I was asked for the recipe for my Chicken Alfredo and it's so simple! I love this dish as does my family!

Chicken Alfredo

4 Chicken Breasts (boneless skinless is best), cooked and diced

Whole Wheat Spaghetti Noodles Cooked (I like to cook them in the chicken broth gives them a good flavor)

1-2 C. Mozzerella Cheese (or whatever shredded cheese you have on hand)

Sauce:

1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Stick of Butter

2 T. Cream Cheese

3/4 C. grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Garlic Powder to taste

Melt Butter in sauce pan when it's completely melted add Cream Cheese when it's softened add Whipping Cream simmer for 15-20 minutes then add the garlic powder, salt and pepper and Parmesan Cheese

Mix into the chicken and noodles and then mix in the Mozzerella cheese. Serve with Garlic Bread and a Salad!

Sorry I don't have a photo for this one but trust me it's delicious!

Eggnog Cream Pie

2011-12-23T18:30:00.000-08:00

This was the Pie I made for our Anniversary/Christmas dinner! It's absolutely delicious (if you like eggnog that is!) And it's very easy to make!

Eggnog Cream Pie

Yields 1 Pie plus enough for 4 small dishes for a dessert

Ingredients:

2 boxes Instant Vanilla Puddings

2 C. Eggnog

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

2 C. Heavy Whipping Cream, Whipped

1 Graham Cracker Crust

Sprinkles, Strawberry or Raspberry Preserves(melted), optional

Mix together Vanilla Pudding, Eggnog and nutmeg until thickened and leave to soft set (not in the refrigerator) while you whip the Whipping Cream till it has stiff peaks. Then fold the Whipping Cream into the Eggnog Pudding mixture and pour into the Graham Cracker Crust.

To use the remainder: Crumble Graham Crackers into a small ramekin and top with a couple large spoonfuls of filling and sprinkle with nutmeg and sprinkles if desired. Serve cold.

ENJOY!

My hubby and I and my parents sure enjoyed this pie, however it is rich! I tweaked the original recipe and made it my own so you can feel free to tweak it yourself and make it your own.

Welcome to Creative Adventures with Food!

2011-12-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to start a blog for quite awhile that will have recipes and pictures of things I enjoy cooking. I love to cook and love to experiment with things in the kitchen and see what I can come up with especially when the food supply is running low! I will be posting pictures of creations I've made even by recipes but that I've tweaked just a little!
Guess this vacation time has given me a little time to catch up with my blogging attempts! I look forward to posting many delicious recipes and cooking ideas on here so stay informed!