A Recipe Review - Baked Chicken with Stuffing

Hearty, classic meal. This is the time of year I love to search for new recipes that use stuffing. We love stuffing around here, but I don't want to take away the anticipation of our traditional turkey and stuffing Thanksgiving meal, so I try to find meat other than turkey to combine with stuffing. The day I found this recipe, I was tired from not feeling well all day, and was looking for something quick and easy for the family. This recipe had everything I was looking for, simple ingredients, ease of preparation, and a wonderful flavor. If your family likes mushrooms, you may want to try substituting the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup for a little different taste.
All in all, this recipe tasted great. I paired it with buttered rolls, instant mashed potatoes, and a can of green beans for a complete meal.
If you are in a hurry, and looking for a hearty meal for your family, I'm sure you will like this one.

Baked Chicken with Stuffing-
Rating - 4 Smiles
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1939,150190-238202,00.html

A Recipe Review - Mexican Lasagna

I was scouring the internet for new Mexican recipes to try, and I just couldn't find exactly what I had in mind. So, I decided to experiment, and the result was a dish that kept them coming back for more!
I starting searching for a bean burrito casserole, (I ate one of these casseroles at a church potluck 20 years ago, and have been searching for the recipe ever since) but I just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. So, I decided to combine a couple of different recipes, and add a few of my own ingredients, and try something different.
My family loves pinto beans, and they were delicious in this recipe. You could substitute the pinto beans with refried beans, and I'm sure it would taste just as good. All of the recipes I came across called for the addition of brown rice, but it was late and we were hungry, so we didn't have time to wait an hour for it to cook. Luckily, I had a package of Uncle Ben's 90 second microwavable Spanish rice in the cabinet, so I used it instead. It added so much flavor, that I will probably continue to use it every time I make this recipe.
I don;t know what else to say about this recipe. It was hands down the best recipe I have ever created on my own. In fact, both of my kids, including my incredibly picky 3 year old son, loved it. They were all fighting over the leftovers, which by the way, the casserole tastes even better reheated. So, if you are looking for a crowd pleaser, that will have them fighting for the leftovers, give this a try. If you decide to try it, and you make some changes, please post a comment, and let me know how it turned out. :)

Mexican Lasagna-

Rating - 4 Smiles
http://www.ddhfavors.com/store/FCrecipe.asp?iCID=5&r=1&Category_Name=Meats

A recipe Review - Fresh Basil Pesto

Ok, so I had all this fresh basil from my garden and had no idea what to do with it, when a friend suggested I make a pesto sauce. At that point, I had never even tried pesto sauce, as for some reason many green foods just didn't appeal to me (I was 24 before I would even touch guacamole! I love it by the way), so the thought of making a pesto sauce never entered my mind. But, not wanting my basil to go to waste, I thought what the heck, and hit the internet in search of a recipe.

As I was making this recipe, my daughter passed by me in the kitchen, and made her usual yuck face that she makes every time I try something new that she thinks looks less than appealing. I have to admit, deep down inside, I was making the same face as I saw this green goop forming in my chopper. But I also have to admit that nothing smells better than fresh basil and garlic being chopped together.

So, I finished chopping the green goop, and placed it in the refrigerator to chill while I made the rest of our meal; spaghetti and meatballs, and garlic bread. My husband was the only one brave enough to try it, and he said he liked it. But, if you know my husband, you know that if he really likes something, he goes back for more. He not only didn't go back for more of the pesto, he didn't even finish what was on his plate. So, I think he was trying not to hurt my feelings.
All in all, the recipe wasn't bad, but it really wasn't that good either. I don't know if something was missing, or if that is how pesto is supposed to taste. Either way, it's not something I care to make again anytime soon.

Fresh Basil Pesto -
Rating - 2 Smiles
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001329fresh_basil_pesto.php

A Recipe Review - Mississippi Mud Cake

I must be in another one of my chocolate moods, or maybe the nice cool air has awoken my need to bake, either way, this recipe is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth craving.
When I was growing up, my grandmother made a Mississippi Mud cake that was to die for. It was smooth and delicious, and incredibly RICH! It was wonderful! Well, she passed away on New Year's Eve of 2000, and sadly, I never wrote down any of her delicious recipes. So, I hit the internet in search of this recipe from my childhood, and I was happy to find it right off the bat.
If this recipe isn't the same one she used, I can't tell. It is rich, chocolaty, and just to die for! Let me warn you though, you need to really love chocolate (I mean really love it) if you are going to make this recipe! It is RICH! A small piece of this cake is all you need at one time to get your chocolate fix.
If you store it in the refrigerator, it enhances the flavors, and makes the cake even better.
I thought I would share this recipe with you, since the holidays are fast approaching. It is the perfect holiday treat, and will put smiles on the faces of all who try it. Enjoy!!
Mississippi Mud Cake-
Rating - 4 Smiles
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/166/Mississippi_Mud_Cake12401.shtml

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

Well, here it is the 13th day of September, and I am finally finding a few spare minutes to sit down and write. I have been super busy with my business, www.ddhfavors.com (YEA!) and now I am watching my brother's 2 sons, who are 2 and 3, during the week while he works. Oh, and in case you didn't read my plea for potty training help from last month, I also have my own 3 year old son. So, I have two 3 years olds, and a 2 year old running around here every day. Did I mention that they are ALL BOYS?!?!?! God bless my 10 year old daughter, she is a big help, in fact, she is keeping them occupied right now.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know I'm still here. I've had a few people contact me to make sure I was alright (thank you), so I figured I should post an update. I plan on writing a few posts this weekend; there is a lot of stuff going on in the world that I would like to comment on. Did you all hear that our government granted Mexican trucks cart blanch to the entire nation? In case you missed it, here is an article: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20625369/. It's a good read.
Well, my peace and quiet is over as I am surrounded by toddlers. I promise to post more recipe reviews in the next few days; I have a lot to share. :)
~Dana~

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

You Are Strawberries with Cream

Fresh and uncomplicated, you are always enjoyed but often overlooked. You're confident in who you are. You don't need a facade to feel better about yourself.

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

A Recipe Review - Perfect Mashed Potatoes

My family loves mashed potatoes, and while we usually opt for instant potatoes for a quick fix, I love to make real mashed potatoes every once in a while. The problem was, I didn't like the way my mashed potatoes tasted, until I found this recipe.
I always thought a potato is a potato is a potato, but that isn't true. Each type of potato has a distinct flavor, and each type of potato has very distinct purpose. The trick to truly divine mashed potatoes, is the use of Yukon gold potatoes, as this recipe shows you. I always used regular russet potatoes, and I just did not care for the taste. No matter what I added, cream cheese, sour cream, cream, etc., they just didn't taste right. So, I scoured the internet for the perfect potato recipe, and after much searching, I found this recipe. It intrigued me because it was more than just s recipe. It provided a thorough explanation of the different types of potatoes, and it made perfect sense.
If you love mashed potatoes, but have been unable to find a technique for creamy, buttery potatoes, then this is the recipe for you. Enjoy!
Perfect Mashed Potatoes -
Rating - 4 Smiles
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001509perfect_mashed_potatoes.php

If you have a mashed potato recipe that you would like to share, please post a comment here, and include the recipe. I would love to try it out, and let you know what we think, :)

When did our children become public domain?

OK, I just had to weigh in on the controversial decision Elizabeth and John Edwards made regarding their children. In case you missed it, the article can be found here http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/us/politics/26kids.html?pagewanted=2

In an effort to stay close to their children while on the road, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards made the decision to take their children with them on the campaign trail. This means that rather than attending school with their friends, they will be schooled while on the road by their mother, and a tutor. They will spend their days viewing life through a bus window, and their nights in a Comfort Inn. Sounds like a terrible life for a child doesn't it? If you think so, you are not alone; you will find many a blogger who feels that the Edwards' decision was made simply for political gain. Many believe they are using their children as pawns; blazing a whole new trail in the political frontier; a trail that leads to poor parenting. But I do not agree; in fact, I find the mere implication that Mrs. Edwards is in any way a bad mother for making this decision deplorable at best.

In case you have not heard, Mrs. Edwards is living with stage 4 cancer. While the cancer is not curable, it is treatable, and they are doing their best to do just that. But the truth of the matter is, there is no way of knowing exactly how long she has left on this earth, and I can not fault her one bit for wanting to spend every opportunity she can with her children. In fact, none of us knows for certain how long we will have to spend with our families, so making the decision to spend as much time as possible with them should be applauded, not condemned.

As I was reading more about the Edwards family, I was saddened to learn that they lost their 16 year old son, Wade, in 1996. He was killed in an automobile accident, when a gust of wind swept his jeep off the highway. Thankfully, I have never lost a child. I pray I never have to suffer this unimaginable pain, but I'm positive that losing a child would force any parent to take a step back and examine the quality of the time they spent with their departed child. If they felt that they did not spend enough time with their child, they will probably examine the time they spend with their other children and make any changes necessary to enhance the relationships. This makes perfect sense to me. I already know that I do not spend enough quality time with my children, and I have made an effort to change that this year.

So why I ask you has the decision the Edwards' made started such a war among mommies? The answer is simple; our children are no longer our children, they are public domain. Have you ever had to slap the hands of your child while in public? Notice the disapproving looks you receive from other mommies? I suppose the better alternative would be to allow your child to pull the middle can out of the large display at the end of the aisle, and knock the entire thing down. Sure, they made a huge mess, but you didn't slap your child's hand and that is after all what is most important.

What about the emergency room. Ever had to take your child in for stitches after a simple bike accident? What about a bone break after falling out of their tree house? If you have, then you know all too well about the endless list of questions that you will be asked; and the insinuations that you abused your child. This is completely and utterly ridiculous! Now, if this is the third time in a year that your child has been seen for injuries like this, then I can see a point in looking into the matter. But if your child has never darkened the door of an ER for injuries like this, then let's save the persecution for when it is truly needed.

So when did our children become public domain? When did a decision to home school your children become up for public debate? When did any decision we make about our children become everyone else's business? Last I checked, I gave birth to my children. I feed them, clothe them, and make sure all of their needs are met. When they are sick, I don't see the public at large rushing in to take care of them, and pay for their health care. When I'm short on cash, and my daughter needs lunch money, I don't see donations piling up. But let me slap my 3-year old son's hand at the grocery store after telling him to stop pulling stuff off the shelves over and over again, and see what happens. Suddenly, every mommy within a 5 aisle radius is pulling her soap box out from the bottom of her cart to criticize me. You know what, he is mine, not yours. End of discussion.

I think that if we would be more concerned with what is going on in our own backyards, and less concerned with what our neighbors are doing, this world would be a better place. If parents felt safe enough to discipline their own children, without the fear of having SRS knock on their door because a neighbor felt they were being too harsh with their child, then maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't have the gang violence problem, drug problem, and any of the other problems that are plaguing our youth. Our kids would be happy, and healthy, because their parents would no longer be busy worrying about what other parents were doing with their children. So, they would have the time to worry about what them, and what they are doing.
I commend Elizabeth Edwards for her decision to care about the well being of her own children, and do what is best for them. Maybe if more parents would take a stand like this, the future would look a little brighter.
Just my two cents, for what's it worth.
~Dana~

HELP!! My 3-Year Old is Turning Me Into a Zombie!!!

My son is almost 4 (will be the beginning of December) and he is literally turning me into a zombie! From the time he started walking, he has walked himself to our room, and crawled into bed with us at sometime in the middle of the night. At first it was cute, but now it is driving me mad! I purposely keep myself up until after midnight in the hopes that he will fall asleep in his own bed, and when he does, I sneak upstairs, trying not to wake him. But like clockwork, at 3am there he is.
We have a king sized bed, but when your son sleeps sideways, it doesn't really matter how big your bed is. To make matters worse, he's been going through this I want mommy to do everything phase for about the last 2 years, so he sleeps as far away from his dad as possible. That leaves me with a tiny sliver of the edge of the bed to try and sleep on. So, I spend what's left of the early morning hours hanging on to my sliver for dear life. Let me tell you, it's tough to get any sleep, knowing that you can fall off the bed at any moment.
And as if this wasn't bad enough, this morning I woke up laying in pee soaked sheets. This was very ironic since we were up until well after midnight listening to my son scream at the top of his lungs because he wanted his cup. My husband and I have stopped letting him take a cup to bed with him, as we are trying to potty train him (that's not going well either), but apparently he found a drink somewhere.
So, I am desperate here. Am I the only one out there who has gone through this? Can someone please give me some good advice on how to get him to sleep in his own bed? And while your at it, how the heck do I potty train him? You can see my previous post on this issue; he is so stubborn!!
Many many thanks in advance! :)
~Dana~

A Recipe Review - Bean Potato Enchiladas

OK, I can already hear most of you; "mashed potatoes in Mexican food, huh", but this recipe is actually quite tasty.
I made a few adjustments when I made the recipe, and I think there are more adjustments to be made the next time. I used instant mashed potatoes instead of making the mashed potatoes from scratch. I really didn't care for the texture of the mashed potatoes, so I think next time, I will make them from scratch, but not mash and whip them as the recipe calls for. When I make taco meat, I add little cubed pieces of potato, so I think I will try that.
I also suggest that if you try this recipe, you use two cans of enchilada sauce instead of one. I always use extra enchilada sauce when I make enchiladas of any kind because my husband likes his enchiladas saucy. But it also keeps the shells from drying out while baking.
All in all this was a pretty good recipe. If you are a vegetarian, then this would be perfect for you. I think next time, I will add some ground beef, and maybe cut down on the amount of taco seasoning I use. But it is definitely a keeper. :)
Bean Potato Enchiladas-
Rating - 3 Smiles
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bean-Potato-Enchiladas/Detail.aspx