Meal Planning with Connie

  Hot and Cheesy Chicken Ranch Dip I created this for the "Lost Crew," from ingredients I had on hand. They all gave it a big thumbs up!  I think adding a few chopped green onions to this would taste good and add a pretty color, but I didn't put them, as I wasn't sure the teens would care for them. Hot and Cheesy Chicken Ranch Dip 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup mayonnaise 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 packet ranch dressing mix 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder Dash or two of hot sauce 1 large can chicken, drained Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, dressing mix, garlic powder, onion powder and hot sauce. Add chicken, stirring gently. Spoon into baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 15 - 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

Barbecued Chicken Salad I love the Barbecued Chicken Salad at Harvey’s, an area chain of casual dining restaurants.  My friends, Julie and Mitzi, and I all order this almost every time we go to Harvey's. My homemade version tastes very, very similar. I bake my tortilla strips. Harvey's fries theirs. That's about the only difference. Once you "crunch them down" into your salad as you're eating it, there's really no difference in taste at all. I have been making this salad for years, ever since one of their chefs demonstrated it on a local news channel's cooking segment. Maybe that's why mine tastes so similar! Barbecued Chicken Salad This is more of a list than a recipe! Purchase the amounts of the following ingredients needed for your family: shredded or chopped lettuce (Harvey's uses shredded, so I do, too!) ranch dressing (I usually make it for the dry packet.) canned black beans, drained and rinsed canned shoe peg corn, drained...

Although very convenient, commercially prepared condensed soups are expensive and may contain additives and ingredients you'd prefer to skip. You can use these condensed soup substitutes in dishes instead of commercially prepared condensed soups. These homemade substitutes are very easy and quick to make! They taste much better, too. I have almost stopped purchasing the canned versions. Using heart-healthy butter spreads, low-fat or fat-free milk, and low-sodium broth allows you to make these recipes more healthful. You can customize with these simple recipes by adding other seasonings such as garlic powder, celery salt, onion powder, etc. Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup Substitute Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute Condensed Cream of Mushroom Substitute Condensed Cream of Celery Soup Substitute 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup milk ½ cup finely chopped celery salt and pepper, to taste Melt butter in a saucepan over med...

Although very convenient, commercially prepared condensed soups are expensive and may contain additives and ingredients you'd prefer to skip. You can use these condensed soup substitutes in dishes instead of commercially prepared condensed soups. These homemade substitutes are very easy and quick to make! They taste much better, too. I have almost stopped purchasing the canned versions. Using heart-healthy butter spreads, low-fat or fat-free milk, and low-sodium broth allows you to make these recipes more healthful. You can customize with these simple recipes by adding other seasonings such as garlic powder, celery salt, onion powder, etc. Condensed Cream of Celery Soup Condensed Cream of Chicken Substitute Condensed Cream of Mushroom Substitute Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup Substitute 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese salt, to taste Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; add flour and whisk until s...

Although very convenient, commercially prepared condensed soups are expensive and may contain additives and ingredients you'd prefer to skip. You can use these condensed soup substitutes in dishes instead of commercially prepared condensed soups. These homemade substitutes are very easy and quick to make! They taste much better, too. I have almost stopped purchasing the canned versions. Using heart-healthy butter spreads, low-fat or fat-free milk, and low-sodium broth allows you to make these recipes more healthful. You can customize with these simple recipes by adding other seasonings such as garlic powder, celery salt, onion powder, etc. Condensed Cream of Celery Soup Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup Substitute Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitute  Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute I freeze leftover chicken broth from where I've boiled chicken, or from where I've used part of a can, in 1/2 cup portions, just to use in this recipe. Simply pour 1/2 ...

Although very convenient, commercially prepared condensed soups are expensive and may contain additives and ingredients you'd prefer to skip. You can use these condensed soup substitutes in dishes instead of commercially prepared condensed soups. These homemade substitutes are very easy and quick to make! They taste much better, too. I have almost stopped purchasing the canned versions. Using heart-healthy butter spreads, low-fat or fat-free milk, and low-sodium broth allows you to make these recipes more healthful. You can customize with these simple recipes by adding other seasonings such as garlic powder, celery salt, onion powder, etc. Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup Substitute Condensed Cream of Celery Soup Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitute 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup milk ½ cup chopped sautéed or canned mushrooms salt and pepper, to taste Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-lo...

Favorite Recipes Friday In the comment section below this post,  leave one of your favorite recipes,  a link to a favorite recipe on your blog,  or a link to a favorite recipe found anywhere on the web.  If you don't have a Google account, just post as anonymous.  You can leave you name inside the actual comment, if you like! Thanks for participating! Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful  Easter Weekend! This recipe was printed on the back of Royal Service, a Christian Women's magazine, back in the late 80's or early 90's. I still have this back cover, and it is what I use when baking this cake! I've made it many times over the years, and it is always a hit!  I am thinking it was the first pound cake I ever tried to make! This would be a yummy dessert for Easter! Mama’s Old-Fashioned Coconut Pound Cake 2½  sticks butter 3 cups sugar 6 eggs 3 cups plain flour 8 ounces sour cream ¼ teaspoon soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanil...