The Best Steak Marinade

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

* This marinade was light and flavorful. We really enjoyed all the flavors. It smelled wonderful while it was on the grill. I served it with Baby Back flavored rice and sauteed veggies.

Recipe & photo from allrecipes.com

No Bake Cookies

1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

* We can't get enough of these simple yet amazingly delicious cookies. That never last long in our house but we love that we can whip them up last minute. We prefer to enjoy them cold out of the fridge but they are always good at room temperature as well. When my daughter will eat one and ask for another, you know it's a recipe worth keeping! I can't lie, some mornings it becomes breakfast. :-)

Recipe & photo from allrecipes.com

Nacho Hash

1 box Mexican Rice-A-Roni
1 lb. ground beef
2 cups water
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained
taco seasoning
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream
tortilla chips
sliced olives & salsa, optional toppings

1. Brown beef and drain grease.
2. Add Rice-A-Roni rice-vermicelli mix to beef and saute until vermicelli is lightly golden brown.
3. Add water, seasoning packet from Rice-A-Roni beans, corn, and 1/2-3/4 package of taco seasoning.
4. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover & simmer without stirring 20-30 minutes or until rice is done.
5. Stir in can of tomatoes and heat through.
6. Remove from heat & let stand 3-5 minutes.
7. Serve in bowls. Top with shredded cheddar cheese & sour cream. Eat with tortilla chips for scooping.

* This has been a family favorite since we first got married. There was a time my husband asked for it weekly. I love how easy it is and I always have these ingredients on hand. I love that it includes meat, plenty of veggies, and some grain and then is topped with dairy products which really makes it a well rounded meal in our home. We love the flavor and texture combination and how filling it is. Even my extremely picky 3 year old eats this dish! This makes quite a lot for our family but it reheats great and even has more flavor the next day. It is also good rolled up in tortillas.

Oven Broiled Corn On The Cob

1) Preheat broiler.
2) Place corn on the cob still in their husks on a baking sheet.
3) Place pan a few inches below broiler for 10 minutes.
4) Flip corn over and cook 10 minutes more. (The husks will become black.)
5) Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
6) Remove husks and enjoy!

* I will never make corn any other way! I have always boiled my corn in some sugar on the stove top except for rare occasions on the BBQ during the summer. Thanks to an awesome tip from my friend, we have fallen in love with this cooking method! The corn was so flavorful, moist, and so much easier to eat than boiling it in water. The kernels were not filled with water and the silk came off so much easier when peeling the husks away. You can not go wrong with this delicious and easy corn!

Recipe from Sarah Huffaker
Photo from HubPages

Crock Pot Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken

4 frozen chicken breasts
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce
1 can pineapple chunks, drain half the juice out
Crushed red pepper flakes

Spray the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray and add chicken breasts.
Stir soy sauce, Teriyaki sauce, and pineapple chunks (with half of the juice) together.
Pour over the chicken.
Sprinkle as many red pepper flakes on top as desired.
Cook on high for 4-6 hours.
Shred chicken with two forks in the crock pot and serve over rice.
You can also save some of the sauce if you like it a little bit more saucy and drizzle it over rice and chicken.

* This dish was good but not too flavorful. The chicken was incredibly moist and cooked super fast. It was also very filling! Two chicken breasts was more than enough for us with plenty of leftovers. I will make this again with a few changes. I think it needs something a little sweet in the sauce, possibly a little bit of brown sugar. Also, I would not add the pineapple chunks until right before serving it since they soaked up so much of the sauces and became slightly too salty. I love the idea of the recipe so I will try it again for sure.

Recipe & photo from Chef In Training

Five Cup Salad

1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
1 cup mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup sour cream

Mix together and chill for several hours.

* We loved this simple and super fast salad. It was the perfect addition to our Easter dinner.

* Recipe from The Essential Mormon Cookbook
* Photo from Mom to 3, Wife to 1

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded.
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 small can diced green chilies drained (You can use two cans if desired.)
1/2 to 1 cup half and half
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
flour tortillas
1/2 tsp ground cumin (optional)

In a medium sized bowl mix together shredded chicken, diced chilies, 2 cups of cheddar cheese and cumin; set aside. In another bowl mix 2 cans of soup, add half and half to get a somewhat runny consistency.(You don't want it to be completely runny because it will break down a little bit as it heats up.) Spoon your chicken/cheese mixture into the flour tortillas and roll. Put all rolled enchiladas into a 9x13 pan. (I like to put a bit of the sauce on the bottom first.) Pour sauce over enchiladas and the remaining cheddar cheese on top. Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.

* This was a quick and simple dish to put together but was lacking some flavor. It was so creamy but kind of bland for our taste but still good and we enjoyed it. We used some hot sauce and salsa on top to spice it up. (We like things packed full of flavor and spice in our house!) I will definitely use 2 cans of chilies next time I make these. We couldn't even notice them with one can.

* Photo and Recipe from Dinner For Dollars

Spicy Chicken Wings

Chicken wings (We used drumsticks instead of wings because they have more meat on them.)
Frank's Hot Sauce

1. Preheat oven to 375*.
2. Rinse and dry chicken.
3. Roll in Frank's Hot Sauce. Pour the remaining over the top of chicken.
4. Place on foil lined and greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Top with some fresh sauce.
7. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.

* These were so fast and easy that my husband actually made them! We love the taste of Frank's Hot Sauce and these drumsticks turned out great! They smelled amazing while they were baking and the flavor was delicious.

Photo from The Culinary Review

Honey Chicken Skewers

1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1. Place twenty 8-inch wooden skewers in water to soak. Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, combine ketchup, honey, and Worcestershire sauce; set aside.

2. Slice the chicken lengthwise into twenty 1/2-inch-thick strips {or use chicken tenderloins and avoided this step}. Thread each strip onto a wooden skewer. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Lightly oil the grill. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, basting with the ketchup mixture during the last 2 minutes of cooking.

* Only 3 ingredients to make a simple and tasty chicken dish?! Yes, please! The flavor of this chicken was very light and mild but good. We would have liked a bit of a stronger flavor but it was still yummy! I served the chicken with some extra basting sauce on the side to dip it in and that helped a lot. I used whole chicken breasts instead of doing pieces on skewers and it still worked out great..

Recipe & photo from Just Cook Already

Balsamic Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
3 cloves of minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste

Place chicken breasts in a zip-top plastic bag. Combine balsamic vinaigrette, garlic and crushed red pepper and pour over chicken. Seal bag and refrigerate for 1-4 hours (the longer, the better). Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chicken from bag and place in a baking dish. Pour remaining marinade over chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until juices run clear. Alternately, grill chicken over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side.

* Who doesn't love a super easy dinner dish? I prepared the marinade the night before so the chicken could soak up the flavors extra long. It was so fast to put together! The chicken had a wonderful flavor! I cooked it in the oven with the extra marinade and it came out so moist. Next time I am going to switch it up and grill it. I served it with mixed vegetables and buttermilk rolls.

Recipe & photo from Let's Dish

Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Fried Rice

1 to 1-1/2 lbs ground beef (I used 1 lb and it made 14 meatballs)
3/4 cup oats

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Mix ingredients and form into 12 2-inch balls. Place in casserole dish, cover with sauce (recipe follows) and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Sauce for meatballs

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp mustard

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Fried Rice

1/4 lb. bacon

1 cup diced onion

3/4 cup diced celery

1 bell pepper, diced (I used 1/2 each of a red and green pepper.)

3 Tbsp soy sauce

3 cups COLD, cooked rice (I cooked mine before I started everything else so it was warm and turned out fine when heated through with everything.)

Cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and sauté vegetables in bacon fat. Add rice and soy sauce until heated through. Crumble bacon on top and stir all together.

* We were a bit hesitant to try this in our house since we are not fans of meatballs but they were simply amazing! The meatballs and sauce had such a delicious flavor. The rice was so simple to make and it turned out incredible. Neither my husband or myself could get enough of this meal! This recipe is a keeper for sure!

* Photo and Recipe from See Jane Cook!

Mom's Award Winning Banana Bread

2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 cup (2 medium) bananas - mashed (I always use the mixer on them first to get them smooth and it is best if they are going bad)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk and 1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Blend well. Combine milk and lemon juice. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture alternately with milk. Stir in nuts. Spread into 2 greased loaf pans (8" or 9" square pan works too). Bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes (check at 50 minutes) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

* I have never found a better banana bread recipe before! My mom won numerous state and county fair awards for this delicious bread and it is a family & neighbor favorite.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Sugar Free Hot Cocoa (only 25 calories!) or you can use a regular hot cocoa mix
Skim Milk
Ice
Chocolate Protein Powder, optional

1. Place all ingredients in the blender.
* I usually put in a handful of ice cubes and cover the ice with skim milk. You can adjust this to your liking.
2. Blend for deliciousness.
3. Enjoy!

* This was yummy, refreshing, and light. I loved how simple and healthy it was and a great way for me to feel like I am having dessert and increasing my fluids at the same time. I love how it gets frothy on top. I made this for my daughter with a normal hot cocoa packet, 2% milk, and a little squirt of chocolate syrup for added chocolate flavor and she guzzled it down. This has quickly and easily become a favorite in our house!

* Photo and Recipe from Just Cook Already

Famous Rotel Cheese Dip

1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cut into 1" cubes.
10oz can diced Rotel tomatoes & green chilies

In a saucepan, combine ingredients; stir over low heat until cheese spread is melted.
Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables.

Microwave: Place ingredients in a covered casserole. Microwave on HIGH until
cheese spread is melted, about 5 minutes, stirring once.

* I have never been a big fan of queso and it's almost never made in our home but this is the one queso recipe that I will always eat if it's in front of me. The Superbowl was the perfect excuse to make this super easy and yummy dip!

Magic in the Middle Cookies

Chocolate Dough:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for dredging)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk

Peanut butter filling:
3/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth, your choice
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets.
2. To make the dough: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
3. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the sugars, butter, and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, whole egg, and egg yolk, beating to combine, then stir in the dry ingredients, blending well.
5. To make the filling: In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter and confectioners sugar until smooth.
6. With floured hands or a teaspoon scoop, roll the filling into 26 one-inch balls.
7. To shape the cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough (a lump about the size of a walnut), make an indentation in the center with your finger and place one of the peanut butter balls into the indentation.
8. Bring the cookie dough up and over the filling, pressing the edges together cover the center; roll the cookie in the palms of your hand to smooth it out. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
10. Roll each rounded cookie in granulated sugar, and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
11. Grease the bottom of a drinking glass, and use it to flatten each cookie to about 1/2-inch thick.
12. Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, or until they’re just set and you can smell chocolate. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.

* Who does not love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter?! These cookies were super yummy! Neither the chocolate nor the peanut butter flavors were overpowering. I love the surprise of the creamy peanut butter in the middle. They were quick and easy to make and fun for my toddler to help roll the balls into circles and roll them in the sugar. These cookies are winners!

* Photo and Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Burrito Casserole

UPDATE:  Lawry's took the Chimichurri seasoning off the market! :-(

1 lb. ground beef
1 15 oz can black beans
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 1/2 C water
1 1.4 oz package Lawry's Chimichurri Burrito Casserole seasoning
8 flour tortillas
1 1/2 C shredded Mexican Cheese blend

1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Season with salt and pepper.
2. When beef is browned, drain fat. Drain and rinse black beans and add them to browned beef.
3. In a small mixing bowl, mix together water, tomato sauce, and Lawry's seasoning packet.
4. Pour 1 cup of the red sauce into your beef and bean mixture. Stir to incorporate.
5. Fill each tortilla with some of the meat mixture.
6. Roll tortilla up. Lay it in 9x13 pan, greased with cooking spray. Repeat with other 7 tortillas.
7. Pour the rest of the red sauce over the top of the rolled burritos.
8. Cover with cheese.
9. Bake at 350* for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.
10. Serve with desired topping such as, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, salsa, avocado, fresh diced tomatoes, cilantro, and sour cream.

* I don't think a recipe could get any more simple than this one. It was quick to prepare and quick to cook. The end result was a delicious and tasty dish! We served it with salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lettuce. It was very filling and satisfying and will be repeated in our home again!

Recipe & photo from Jamie Cooks It Up!

Mom's Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt

Chill at least one hour. Roll out and cut. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400* for 6-8 minutes.

* This is the only sugar cookie recipe that we really love. It's the same one I grew up making time after time with my mom. They produce such a delicious sugar cookie and are perfect for decorating with my mom's famous homemade frosting. You can't get any better than these!