Broccoli Salad

half a pound of bacon
2 Cups of small broccoli florets
1 Cup of Mayonnaise
1 Table spoon apple cider vinegar
1/3 Cup chopped onions
1/4 Cup sugar
3/4 Cup raisins
1/2 Cup sunflower seeds
Cook the bacon and then crumble it up.

In a large bowl mix the Mayo, cider, onions, sugar, raisins and sunflower seeds until well mixed and then add the broccoli and bacon.

If you want it even more colorful, you can blanch the broccoli for about 3 min before you add it to the mixture.

Strawberry Poke Cake

This one is super easy! Oh, it makes my mouth water just looking at the recipe.

Make a yellow cake
After it's cooled off a bit, start poking holes in it with the end of a spoon or something similar.
Grab a large bag of thawed, but once frozen strawberries and start mashing them.
Add about a 1/2 cup of sugar and mix it all up.
Let that sit off to the side. Taste it to make sure its sweet enough for your liking.
Then make some vanilla pudding. The kind that's in the small box.
And stick it in the fridge till you need it in a few minutes.
Here's the fun part.....Dump the strawberries onto the cake.Next add the pudding and try to spread it around on the top of the strawberries. (Yea, its gonna look messy)
Then top the whole thing off with a container of whip cream!

Chicken Marbella

First of all..... this is by far the most requested recipe I've ever made. I've heard from "someone" that it looks complicated, but its sooooo easy I promise! And well worth the effort!

2 1/2 pounds of bone in, chicken (my favorite is breast)
1 Head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed
1/4 Cup dried oregano
course salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 Cup of red wine vinegar
1/2 Cup olive oil
1/2 cup of capers with the juice
6 bay leaves
1 Cup of Brown sugar
1/4 C. parsley
Mix it all in a big bowl and let it marinate over night in the refrigerator ( you don't have to let it sit, but it more flavor full if you do)
.Pre heat the oven to 350Arrange the chicken and marinade in a baking dish
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes
Don't forget to bast it every once in a while

Sweet N' Sour Chicken

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
3 Cups assorted cut-up vegetables (bell pepper, carrots, celery etc.)
1 Can (8oz. ) pineapple chunks in juice, drained
1/2 Cup sweet and sour sauce
Cooked rice
Heat the skillet over high heat.
Add oil
Add chicken and stir fry about 3 minutes or until no longer pink in the center.
Add vegetables and stir fry about 2 min. or until crisp-ish tender. Stir in pineapple and sweet and sour sauce; cook and stir 1 min. Serve over rice and sprinkle some chow mein noodles on top for a little extra crunch!

Spoon Tacos

I love this recipe for spoon tacos. I got it from my friend who cooks for large crowds often. The sauce freezes well so if you're not going to use it all, freeze it for another time.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Corn Bread Confetti Salad

I just made this salad for our ward pot luck last Saturday and was asked 3 times for the recipe. It's different but yummy!


8 x 8 pan of cornbread (homemade or mix)
2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
3 small tomatoes, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Dressing:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

Prepare corn bread, bake. Cool completely; crumble. In a large bowl, combine the corn, beancs, tomatoes, peppers, onions, bacon, cheese and crumbled cornbread. in a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients until well blended. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss. Yield: 20 - 22 servings.

Strawberry Lemonade Salad

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 C. cold water,
1 C. boiling water
1 1/3 C. frozen lemonade concentrate
2 (10 oz. pkg.) frozen strawberries partially thawed
2 C. whipping cream
Soften gelatin in cold water, then dissolve in the boiling water. Stir in lemonade concentrate and strawberries with juice. Chill until partially set, add whip cream and fold into gelatin mixture. Put in 9x13 pan and chill several hours until firm. Garnish with fresh strawberries and serve!