Author Archives: dixieskitchen

Chicken Ranch Quesadillas

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chickenranchquesadillas

Chicken Ranch Quesadillas

This is a quick and easy meal to get on the table asap.  Yummm.  Really, really good.

  • 1/2 cup sour cream ranch dip
  • 8 8-inch flour tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 10-oz. can chicken, drained and flaked
  • 1/3 cup bacon bits
  • Salsa, optional

Spread 2 tablespoons dip on each of 4 tortillas.  Top each with 1/4 each of the cheeses, chicken and bacon bits.  Top with remaining tortillas.  Place one tortilla stack in non-stick skillet.  Cook over medium-high heat until lightly golden, pressing down gently with spatula.  Turn carefully, cook until cheese is melted.  Let stand for 2 minutes; slice into wedges.  Repeat with remaining tortilla stacks.  Serve with salsa, if desired.

Serves 4.

“Brokenness can lead to wholeness.”

Dixie’s Boiled Dinner

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Dixie’s Boiled Dinner

This is my take on “New England Boiled Dinner”.  Three ingredients, put it all in a pot, cover with water and boil until done.  Serve with butter, salt and pepper to put on potatoes and cabbage.

  • Kielbasa, cut into large pieces
  • Cabbage, cut into large chunks
  • Red potatoes, peeled

Fix enough for however many you are serving.  Delicious for leftovers also.

“The Lamb who died is the Lord who lives!”

Scrumptious Chicken Sandwich

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Scrumptious Chicken Sandwich

This sandwich is yummy!  It reminds me of a sandwich at my favorite chicken restaurant.

  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice, optional
  • Oil for frying
  • 4 to 6 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
  • Mayonnaise, dill pickle slices, optional

Whisk egg and milk together in a large bowl.  Add chicken; turn to coat and refrigerate for one hour.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar and spices.  Working in batches, drain chicken, reserving egg mixture, and lightly dredge in flour mixture.  Dip back into egg mixture, then into flour mixture again.  In a cast-iron skillet, heat one inch of oil to 375 degrees.  Carefully add chicken to hot oil.  Fry for 8 to 10 minutes, until done on both sides and juices run clear.  Drain chicken on a wire rack.  Assemble sandwiches on toasted buns; garnish as desired.  Makes 4 to 6 sandwiches.

“Even when everything seems meaningless, God still has a purpose for your life.”

Classic Macaroni Salad

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Classic Macaroni Salad

I love macaroni salad and this is the “best”.  I like my salad a little sweet so I add the sweet pickle juice, but certainly leave out if you don’t like it that way.  By adding the sweet pickle juice, it makes it creamier.  Delicious!!

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 5 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup diced sweet pickle
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sweet pickle juice, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, optional

In a large pot of boiling water, cook macaroni over high heat for 7 to 9 minutes, or just until tender.  Drain, rinse, and let cool.

Place macaroni in a large bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix well,  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Serves 8.

“When life’s struggles make you weary, find strength in the Lord.”

Old Settler’s Baked Beans

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Old Settler’s Baked Beans

I wanted another side for the 4th of July picnic and I needed to fix it quickly.  I put all the ingredients in a cast iron skillet and brought it up to a boil to give it a head start and then I stuck it in the oven.  It took about half the time.  Really, really good.  You can use any beans that you have on hand.

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 pound bacon, cut up (I used bacon bits)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 can red kidney beans
  • 1 can butter beans
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard (no dry)
  • 2 tablespoons molasses

Brown beef, bacon and onion.  Mix all ingredients and put in casserole dish.  Heat uncovered one hour or more, as desired, at 350 degrees.  Can be made ahead of time.

“When life knocks you down, you’re in the perfect position to pray!”

Cookie of All Cookies

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tasteofhomecookie

Cookie of All Cookies

This is the cookie that won Taste of Home’s National Cookie Contest.  Out of more than 34,000 recipes that were tested, tasted and retested, this was the Grand Prize winner.

I have to say it is the best cookie I have ever eaten!  The mix of chocolate chips, toffee bits and pecans makes it taste like a turtle sundae.

  • 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup English toffee bits
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Stir in the remaining ingredients. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.  Yield:  3 1/2 dozen.

Congratulations to Marcia Severson of Kittson County, Minnesota

“God helps those who depend on Him”

Taco Spaghetti

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Taco Spaghetti

Cheesy comfort food.  Very easy to make and very quick.  30 minutes and one pot and you have dinner on the table.  Serve either Creamsicle Fluff or Strawberry Fluff after your meal.  Refreshing and will cool your mouth off.

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 (1.5-oz.) pkg. mild taco seasoning
  • 1 (10-oz.) can Ro-Tel Mild Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 8 oz. spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced, optional
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional

Brown ground beef in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat, crumbling the beef as it cooks;  stir in taco seasoning.

Stir in Ro-Tel, tomato paste, spaghetti and 3 cups water.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and top with cheeses.  Cover until melted.

Serve immediately, garnished with tomato and cilantro, if desired.

Serves 4.

“God desires willing hearts ready to be used.”

Creamsicle Fluff or Strawberry Fluff

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Creamsicle Fluff

This is so dreamy!  It will get devoured immediately.  So much so, I made strawberry fluff.  Yummy!!

  • 1 small box orange Jell-O
  • 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 (8-oz.) tub Cool Whip
  • 1 (14-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows

In a large bowl combine orange Jell-O and boiling water.  Mix well to dissolve and then add cold water and stir.  Chill for 15-20 minutes.  Whisk in vanilla pudding and mix until smooth and chill for another 10 minutes until it becomes thickened.  Fold in Cool Whip, oranges and marshmallow.  Chill until set, about an hour.

strawberryfluff2

Strawberry Fluff

  • 1 small box strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 small box instant cheesecake pudding
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 (8-oz.) tub Cool Whip
  • 1 can fruit cocktail, drained
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows

Same instructions as above.

“God has already proven His love for you.”

Purple Passion Punch

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Purple Passion Punch

We taste tested purple punch recipes last week for my son’s upcoming wedding.  This is the one that won out.

  • 4 cups (1-qt.) grape juice, chilled (Welch’s has the best color)
  • 1 (46-oz.) can pineapple juice, chilled
  • 4 cups (1-qt.) ginger ale, chilled

Combine juices.  Just before serving, add ginger ale.

Yields 14-16 servings.

(Mix up a recipe and make ice cubes or an ice ring to put in the punch bowl.  That way your punch won’t get diluted with water.)

“Now is the time to invest in eternity.”

 

 

Potato Casserole

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Potato Casserole

Sorry about no picture.  This got eaten before I could get a picture.  I had five hungry guys waiting to dig into this.  Even though this is made with hash brown potatoes, it isn’t like the normal hash brown casserole.  It is more like mashed potato casserole with a crunchy topping.  You can mix this up ahead of time and pop it in the frig until time to put it in the oven.  I guarantee it will be gobbled up.

  • 2 lbs. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
  • 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
  • 1 (8-oz.) container onion dip
  • 1 can cream of celery or chicken soup
  • 10 oz. grated Cheddar cheese
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • 2 cups crushed corn flakes
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted

Mix first 7 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well.  Pour into greased 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Mix butter and corn flakes in bowl.  Press onto top of potato mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Cover top with foil if they start to get too brown on top.

Makes 10 servings.

“True humility credits God for every success.”