Easy Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Do you ever have one of those nights where you don't feel like cooking, you don't want to spend the money on ordering out, and you still want to eat something delicious? This is what I call my "I don't want to cook" night. Our family loves these Chicken Salad Sandwiches. At the store, pick up a bag of rolls, a Rotisserie Chicken, and a packet of Italian Seasoning. Make sure you have Mayonnaise at home and Celery is optional. (I think it smells like B.O. Yuck) 

Take the Chicken off the bones and shred. Sprinkle in a packet of Italian Seasoning and scoop in a spoonful or two of Mayo. If desired, chop up Celery and/or grapes. 

Mix, and serve on Rolls, Pita Bread, or Crescent Rolls. 

 

Serve with a Bowl of Fresh Fruit, and you have Dinner!

2 Week Menu #2

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this out. We've already eaten what's on the list and I need to sit down and make #3 already.

1. Mother's Day: Chicken Enchiladas Dessert: Cheesecake
2. Quinn's Birthday: BBQ (Hot Dogs and Hamburgers)
3. Last Day of School: Ice Cream Dinner 
4. New Recipe: Malibu Chicken (Chicken, Swiss, Ham, Pineapple)
5. Spicy Artichoke Pasta (carried over from the last menu)
6. Funeral Potatoes
7. Rice, Chicken, Broccoli Meal
8. Berry Stuffed French Toast
9. Chinese Chicken Salad on Corn Tortillas
10. Makaila's Night: Macaroni and Cheese
11. Waffles
12. Pizza from Costco
13. Crap Happens (I did Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots with Italian Seasoning in the Pressure cooker. It's done in 30 minutes.)
14. Crap Happens (I did Chicken Stroganoff in the pressure cooker)

We had a lot of Crap that happened these 2 weeks (in regards to dinner), so I am giving you more of the actual instead of what had been planned. These 2 weeks were packed full of graduations and programs and yard work and special events.

When my kids have their nights, they get to pick a meal, within reason, and then they get to stay up an extra hour with Mom and Dad and have alone time while the other kids go to bed. We do it on their numerical day they were born, and repeat every month on that same day. We change the days if we need to, but this is something that is very important to the kids.

Also, my sister linked me a website that is a reverse menu plan. You check off the items in your house and it gives you a list of recipes you can make. The website is My Fridge Food.

My Mom's Rolls and Bread Recipe

When I think about Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners, I think about these rolls. We grew up on this recipe, so naturally I am pretty fond of them. All of the in-laws that have married in love them too. My husband rates these rolls a "10" and he is always honest in his ratings. (I love asking him what he rates the new meals I try). They hit the spot every time I make them. I make a huge batch and they are all gone in a day. 

I use this same recipe to make bread and I've also made these smaller for a Meatball Slider meal and they worked perfectly. My family likes these rolls very tall for our Christmas dinners. They are perfect for any size you make them. I will share with you 4 different quantities you can make them. I adjust the recipe based on how many people I am feeding.

My Mom's Rolls and Bread Recipe

Half Recipe 

(Makes about a 9x13 pan of regular sized Rolls or about 1 or 2 small loaves or Bread) 

4 Cups Flour

1/4 Cup Powdered Milk

1/2 Tablespoon Yeast

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Tablespoon Salt

1 1/2 Cups Warm Water

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil (or other) 

I haven't tried full wheat, but it tastes great with 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat. 

See below for instructions to make by hand. 

For a breadmaker, put in dry ingredients first, and then wet last. Set on the dough setting and then when it is finished, make into rolls or bread. Let them rise for an hour and then bake them at 350 for 22 minutes for Rolls, or 30 minutes for Bread. I spread a light layer of butter once it comes out of the oven. 

I don't know the official way to shape rolls. You could roll them out in a circle, cut like a pizza and roll them up into a crescent roll shape. What I've always done is to grease my hands first. Then I take a portion of the dough by pinching it off from the bowl. I use my thumb to push the dough through my other hand. When I get the size I am working with, I pinch it off, and that's it. 

They will rise for an hour and double in size before you bake them. 

My Full Sized Recipe

Makes about 2 pans of Rolls or about 3 loaves of bread

8 cups flour

1/2 Cup Powdered Milk

1 Tablespoon Yeast

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 Tablespoon Salt

3 Cups Warm Water

1/4 cup Oil

Prepare the same as above. 

1 1/2 Sized Recipe

6 Cups Flour

6 Tablespoons Powdered Milk

6 Tablespoons Sugar

1/2 Tablespoon + 1 1/2 teaspoon Yeast

1/2 Tablespoon + 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt

3 Tablespoons Oil

2 1/4 Cup Warm Water

My Mom's Actual Recipe

2 packages Yeast (2 Tablespoons)

1 Cup Warm Water

Dissolve yeast in warm water

5 Cups Hot Water

1 Cup Sugar, Honey, or Brown Sugar

6 teaspoons Salt
1/2 cup Oil or Shortening
10 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
6 Cups White Wheat Flour

Combine the Hot Water, sugar, salt and oil and cool. Once cooled, add the yeast mixture and combine. Then add the flour. Knead for 10 minutes by hand. Let rise for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled. Divide into 5 loaves, and rise again for another hour or until it has doubled. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. *I do my loaves closer to 30 minutes. 

Easy Homemade Potato Soup

Easy Homemade Potato Soup 

 This soup has become our family's favorite over the years. I have tried quite a few Potato Soups out there, but this one remains my favorite. Years ago, Abby was having a lot of health problems. She had to go on a diet that eliminated all the extra preservatives and I had a hard time coming up with things to make when I was still new in the kitchen and didn't have a lot of confidence. I found a recipe on Allrecipes and tweeked it for her diet and our preferences. We love it and it is very easy to make. My oldest daughter started making it on her own when she was about 10 years old. 

Easy Homemade Potato Soup

Large Can of Chicken Broth (49.5oz)

About 4 pounds of Potatoes

6 Tablespoons Real, Unsalted Butter

6 Tablespoons Flour

2 Cups Milk

Salt and Pepper

Cheddar Cheese and Bacon crumbles (Optional)

Since my family is large, we use the large cans. When they are unavailable, we will use the large carton and an additional small can. Pour the Chicken Broth into a Large pot and cook over medium heat.  

Start pealing the potatoes and dicing them into small chunks. You can add them in as you go so that you have different stages of cooked potatoes at the end. You want some to fall apart, and some to hold their shape. I don't measure the amount of potatoes. You want the potatoes to reach about an inch or so from the top of the Chicken Broth, and be loosely packed. 

 The pot is filling, but you need some more potatoes in there.

This is about right with the amount of potatoes in there. The great thing about this recipe is you can add more broth and more potatoes if you have extra company and it still turns out great. It looks like the potatoes are closer to the top, but I have to stir it for the potatoes to show up on camera.

 Continue to simmer the potatoes over medium heat until the broth starts to look creamy. 

In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour and stir for a few minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and mix well. Continue to cook and stir occasionally so it does't burn. When the white sauce reaches a boil, it will thicken up. At this point it is ready to go into the pot of potatoes. Mix well and cook for for a little longer. I often dish up the kids bowls so it will start cooling, while it cooks out a little more for the adults. If there are too many potato chunks, I will mash them a little with the whisk and cook for 10 more minutes. 

Dinner is served! 

You don't have to add any salt or pepper. I like a little bit added and so does my husband, but since it tastes great and we have 2 kids with Kidney Problems, less sodium is a good thing. 

Serve with Homemade Rolls to really hit the spot!

Serve with Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Bacon if desired!

Easy Homemade Potato Soup

Large Can of Chicken Broth (49.5oz)

About 4 pounds of Potatoes

6 Tablespoons Real, Unsalted Butter

6 Tablespoons Flour

2 Cups Milk

Salt and Pepper

Cheddar Cheese and Bacon crumbles (Optional)

Pour the Chicken Broth into a Large pot and cook over medium heat. Start pealing the potatoes and dicing them into small chunks. You can add them in as you go so that you have different stages of cooked potatoes at the end. You want some to fall apart, and some to hold their shape. I don't measure the amount of potatoes. You want the potatoes to reach about an inch or so from the top of the Chicken Broth, and be loosely packed. 

Continue to simmer the potatoes over medium heat until the broth starts to look creamy. 

In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour and stir for a few minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and mix well. Continue to cook and stir occasionally so it does't burn. When the white sauce reaches a boil, it will thicken up. At this point it is ready to go into the pot of potatoes. Mix well and cook for for a little longer. I often dish up the kids bowls so it will start cooling, while it cooks out a little more for the adults. If there are too many potato chunks, I will mash them a little with the whisk and cook for 10 more minutes. Season with Salt and Pepper and top with Cheddar Cheese and Bacon if desired. 

Our Summer Bucket List

1. Ice Cream Dinner $
 We do this once a year on the last day of school. The kids stay up late watching movies and the parents play games.
2. Make Cookies with the kids individually $
3. Swim at a local Swimming Park $$ (or free with our summer reading program)
4. Hot Rocks
 Put the rocks on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven till hot, then melt crayons on top to make designs.
5. Play at a new Park
6. Water Balloon Fight with neighbors $
7. Yellowstone $$$
8. Play Board Games (teach the kids a new game)
9. Lunch at the Park
10. Friend Play Dates
11. Tie Dye Shirts $$
12. Go camping $$
13. Go on a Hike as a family $
14. Pajama and Movie Day
15. Make Homemade Frostys $
16. Have Lunch with Dad at his Work
17. Dance Party with Glow Sticks
18. Library Summer Reading Program
19. Sand Pudding $ ("sand" is golden oreo cookies crushed with a few regular oreos)
20. Make Edible Bubbles or Large Bubbles $
21. Play in the sprinklers
22. Ride our Bikes at the Elementary School
23. Make Popsicles $
24. Have a Bounce House Day
25. Recyclable Craft Day
26. No Chore Day (Kids have to earn this)
27. Boise Water Park $$$ (although the Denver one is our favorite!)
28. Living Room Tents and Forts
29. Backyard Camping
30. Airplane Day- Make paper airplanes, watch Dad fly his remote control airplane, watch the planes land at the Airport.
31. Roast Marshmallows and Hotdogs $
32. Roller Skating Night $$
33. Bowling $$  (We use: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/ but you still have to pay for shoes)
34. Family Tennis with our Neighbors
35. Service Day
36. Explore a new Area
37. Slip n' Slide Day
38. Lemonade Stand/Bake Sale- Donate to Charity
39. Local Swimming at a Cove
40. Dinosaur Park in Ogden $$ (look for Groupon Deals)
41. Movies at the Cheap Theater $
42. Sleep on the Trampoline (kids)
43. Star Gazing with the Telescope
44. Visit Lake Tahoe $$$
45. Donnor Party Museum  $
46. Water Balloon Dodge Ball with friends $
47. Drive in Movie or a Backyard Movie Night $
48. Look at Model Homes (our family loves this!)
49. Family Neighborhood BBQ Party (potluck)
50. End of Summer Party (Last year we had a Snowcone Machine, Cotton Candy Machine, and Popcorn. The mom's hung out while the kids played)