Raspberry/Peach Jam

This has been the jam project for the year, ha! Anna got this jam at her ward's 'Favorite Things' enrichment activity from Trina Bair and talked about it for weeks. I made her promise that she would get the recipe for me when the peaches were ripe. I love both peaches and raspberries so this sounded like my jam. I realize that it might not be cost effective if you don't have cheap produce but if you do, it's worth the small amount of work! This is my first attempt at cooked jam, I usually just stick to freezer. This jam is easy, fast and most importantly....good! (Thanks Anna for getting the recipe and Trina for sharing it!)

Raspberry/Peach Jam

7 cups mashed peaches (I mashed them pretty fine and then they cooked down too)

2-10oz packages raspberries (so about 20 oz-almost 3 cups) I used 3 full cups of fresh berries.

10 cups sugar

2-6oz raspberry Jello pkgs (the bigger ones or 4 small boxes)

Mix peaches, raspberries, and sugar. Boil for 20 minutes. (I skimmed all the frothy stuff off before I added the Jello. Apparently Shaila and I are the only ones that have the frothy stuff, Marion said she didn't :). She thinks we boiled it at too high of heat. )

Take off heat and slowly add Jello, stir until completely dissolved.Pour into Jars. It almost always sets up using hot jar lids, but if they don’t seal waterbath them for about 10 minutes.

The Best Chicken Pot Pie

1 small pkg peas/carrots or whatever you like
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup onion or minced onion
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
1 1/3 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken (I boil mine)

Rinse veggies. Melt butter, add flour and onion. Add milk and chicken broth. Stir till boiling. Add chicken and veggies simmer until veggies are done.
Bake @ 425 for 45 minutes. I cover it in foil and poke holes and take the foil off the last 15 minutes or so.
I use crust on bottom and on top.
I dont make pie crusts so I buy them but here is the "no fail" crust recipe that comes with this pie:

4 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup cold water
1 egg
1 tbsp vinegar

Add 1st 3 ingredients and mix. Then add shortening. Mix other ingredients in a bowl then add to the flour mixture. After its well mixed roll into crusts!

Crockpot Chicken

4-6 chicken breasts (I only do 4 because we love the sauce and there are only 4 of us)
1 pkg of dry Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream or 8oz pkg cream cheese (I love the cream cheese in it)

Mix the dry soup mix with the cream of mushroom soups. I spray my crockpot with PAM and then add the chicken breasts. Pour soup mixture on top and stir around. Turn crockpot on low. When chicken is done or almost done add the cream cheese or sour cream (about the last hr it cooks). I leave my cream cheese out all day so its soft.

Serve on top of noodles or rice. We love rice!

The Marlboro Man Sandwich

Check out this website: thepioneerwoman.com. She has great recipes and a fun sense of humor.
I don't know about the rest of the family but I really enjoyed this sandwich. Heart attack in the making!

The Marlboro Man Sandwich

1-3 lbs. cube steak
1 large onion
4 hoagie rolls
Butter...lots!
Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1/2 c. Worcestershire Sauce
Tabasco Sauce (to taste)

Slice onions. Cook them in 1/2 stick butter until soft and light brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Slice cube steak in 1/2 inch thick strips, slicing against the grain. Season with Lawry's.

In the same skillet, heat 2 T. butter over high heat until melted and beginning to brown. Add the seasoned cube steak in a single layer. Cook one side until brown, turn and continue cooking until browned on both sides.

Add the Worcestershire Sauce and 5-6 shakes of Tabasco (depending on how hot you like it). Add another 2 T. butter...yes, more butter!) Add the cooked onions. Stir to combine.

Halve and butter :) the rolls and brown on a separate skillet or you can broil them.

To assemble; lay the bottom half of the roll on a plate. Place meat mixture, followed by a spoonful of juice from the pan. Top with other half of roll, cut in half, and enjoy!

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake

This is a close version to the Texas Sheet cake in the cookbook, only it uses buttermilk. It is SO SO good!! And one of those recipes that is even better the next day. It's from this website.

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake

Combine in a mixing bowl:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt:
2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa. Stir together.
Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup buttermilk.
Add:
2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make icing:
Chop 1/2 cup pecans finely.
Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add:
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb minus 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Stir together.
Add pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.