Recipegirl

Ever heard of recipegirl.com? We have, and we love her website. One day Jessica must have been bored babysitting (the cutest little boy ever) and she sent me recipegirl.com and told me to take a look. Since then we have looked to this website whenever we are looking for something new to cook. 
This was the first recipe we tried of hers, and it was stellar. 

Easy Chicken Santa Fe (crock pot)

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 small bag frozen sweet corn (or 2 cans, rinsed & drained)
1 cup bottled chunky salsa
6 skinless chicken thighs (or 6 skinless chicken breasts- see tips below)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (low fat is fine), cut into chunks
1 cup shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker, mix beans, corn and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with chicken and pour remaining salsa over the chicken. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or until chicken is tender and cooked throughout.

2. Remove chicken to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces. Return chicken to slow cooker along with cream cheese. Stir and let cream cheese melt into the mixture to create a creamy sauce.

3. For serving: You can serve the chicken & sauce over rice with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top. Or you can serve these as tacos with cheese and a couple of taco fixings such as lettuce and tomato.

This recipe is super easy (crock pot is the way to go anyway) and super tasty. 

Ps. check out recipegirl.com if you haven't yet :)

♥ The Westward Wives

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Even though the name of this recipe is called strawberry pretzel salad, its not much of a salad. It is all dessert and all delicious. I was looking over the food & drink section of pinterest (something I do a lot) and I saw this recipe. My mom made this for my family years ago, it was great but we must have just forgotten about it and the recipe was lost along the way. So when I found it again I called her up and made her make it for our weekend trip to Kansas we took this past weekend. 
It was a hit with my family and hopefully it will be a hit with yours:

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 Tablespoons white sugar

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 oz) container of frozen whipped cream, thawed

2 (3 oz) packages of strawberry flavored jello
2 cups boiling water
2 (10 oz) packages of frozen strawberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Stir together crushed pretzels, melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar; mix well and press mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until set. Set aside to cool.
4. In a large mixing bowl cream together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture onto cooled crust.
5. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set briefly. When mixture is about the consistency of egg whites, pour and spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.

Happy Monday!

♥ The Westward Wives

Callie's Birthday morning

Last Friday was Callie's birthday (22!) and that morning Kaycee made us the best breakfast ever to start her birthday right. After three tests on her birthday, Callie and the Westward Wives (minus a sick Caitlin) all went out to dinner at Old Chicagos and then out to the bars! Happy late birthday Callie!!!!!!!

Nutella Pastries (serves 6)
Ingredients:
1 sheet frozen pastry, thawed
6 Tbsp Nutella 
1 egg, beaten
1 package of raspberry 

Direction:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Unfold pastry and cut into 6 rectangles
Place on greased baking sheet
Spread 1 Tbsp Nutella over half a rectangle
Add crushed up raspberry
Fold over and press edges with fork
Repeat. Brush with egg.
Prick tops with fork
Bake at 400 degree for 10-14 minutes
Sprinkle with Confectioners sugar
Serve warm

Literally the best breakfast ever!

♥ The Westward Wives

White Turkey Chili

As per request from Shauna: I present to you all White Turkey Chili (from our cousin Julie)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

2 yellow onions

4 cloves garlic

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces

1 lb ground turkey

(or you can just do 2 lb ground turkey)

1 can (7 oz) roasted green chiles

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

4 cups low-sodium chicken stock

1 can white kidney beans, drained

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream and/ors for serving.

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add the chicken thighs, ground turkey, chiles, cumin, oregano and cayenne.

Sauté until the chicken is mostly cooked through, about 8 minutes.

Add the stock and beans. Turn the heat down to low.

Simmer uncovered for at least 20 minutes, or longer.

Taste the chili and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

Serve with any combination of the garnishes.

♥ The Westward Wives

For Caitlin

As you all know, Caitlin has recently moved to Denver for her major. Metro has a really good hospitality program and Caitlin wants to be an event planner so it is perfect for her! While she was living with me I found out how actually picky she is. Her eating habit is like that of a 6 year olds. She loves chicken nuggets, pizza, and doritos. But I found one grown up recipe she loves, Lemon Chicken. I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com 

Lemon Chicken

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast or chicken tenders, cut into chunks

1/4 cup all-purpose unbleached flour

Coarse salt

2 tablespoons wok or vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan (preferred brand: House of Tsang)

1 tablespoon (a splash) white or rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup chicken broth or stock

8 ounces (1 cup) prepared lemon curd

1/4 cup hot water

1 lemon, zested

2 scallions, thinly sliced or 20 blades fresh chives, finely chopped

Coat the chunked chicken lightly in flour, seasoned with a little salt. .

Heat a large skillet or a wok-shaped nonstick pan over high heat Stir fry chicken until golden, 3 or 4 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and return pan to heat.  Reduce heat to medium.

Add a splash of vinegar to the pan and let it evaporate.

Add stock or broth to the pan and scrape up any drippings with a whisk.

Thin curd by stirring in a little hot water. Add curd to broth and whisk to combine.

Add chicken back to the pan and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken sauce  finish cooking chicken pieces through.

Remove the pan from heat, add the scallions or chives and zest,

and toss chicken pieces well to combine zest and scallions or chives evenly

Serve with rice So maybe if you have a picky eater, they will enjoy this as well! Good luck

♥ The Westward Wives

The wise older sister

My older sister Shauna is the unofficial sister for the Westward Wives, she listens to our drama, hears our late night adventures and gives us boy advice when we need it. Growing up Shauna and I did not get along very well, she was the mean older sister and I was vindictive younger sister, trying to get her in trouble as much as I could. That all changed when she moved away from college, we realized how much we were alike and how much we actually loved each other. She is my best friend, my confidant, and someone I look up to.

When we were little these were our favorites and we would beg our parents to make them regularly. 

Cheeseburger Eggrolls:
Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
1 package of sharp cheddar cheese
1 tub of cream cheese
Egg roll wrappers

Brown the hamburger meat
Lay out egg roll wrapper and put equal amounts of cheese, cream cheese and hamburger meat (cooked) in the middle of the wrapper
Roll up like an egg roll
Heat electric skillet with crisco in it
Put in egg roll until brown, fill and brown other side

HAHAHAHA classic 90's pictures

Love you Nana!

♥ The Westward Wives

Callie's Poor Man Meals

Since we are all in college, when we can find cheap meals that we love, its a bonus! Callie seems to know the best recipes that are very inexpensive to make so here they go:

Tuna Surprise
Ingredients:
1 box Kraft Mac n Cheese (original)
1 packet of tuna 
1 can of peas

Cook the macaroni and cheese according to the recipe on the box.
Add the packet of tuna
Drain can of peas and add half (or whole according to taste preference)
Mix and enjoy. Easy peasy

Fried Egg Sammie
Ingredients:
2 eggs
Butter
Mustard
Mayo
2 slices of bread
thinly sliced onion rings (around 4 slices)
Lettuce 
Salt and pepper

To fry the eggs:
In a frying pan on medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp butter
Crack both eggs in pan 
With a knife break up the yolk
Add salt and pepper, to taste 
They are done when the whites are set and the outer edges are just starting to curl up.

While frying the eggs, toast the bread
Mayo on one side, mustard on the other
Once the eggs are finish add them to the sandwich
Finish with adding the onions and lettuce

Cheesy "Bread"
Ingredients:
1 whole english muffin
Butter
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Italian Seasoning

Directions:
turn the oven on high broiler
Line cooking sheet with aluminum foil
Cut english muffin in half
Butter each side, then place on cookie sheet
Add enough mozzarella to cover entire muffin
then add paremsan
Sprinkle with italian season and place under broiler
Its cooked when the cheese is all melted

A cheap meal that can be purchased at the grocery store that was introduced to me by Callie would be pasta-roni, parmesan cheese flavor. They sell for usually 10 for $10. Super inexpensive, super tasty, super amounts of sodium (but we are in college so we don't care)

Thanks Callie for all these wonderful recipes!

♥ The Westward Wives

SNOW DAY

AN OFFICIAL SNOW DAY HAS BEEN CALLED FOR CSU!
(started at noon, after three of my classes) 
Snow day used to mean going out playing in the snow, sledding, snow ball fights, and getting home just in time for dinner. In college it means more time to do projects, papers, and catching up on studying. It also is a perfect time for Callie's homemade apple cider and grilled cheese for lunch!

Callie's Apple Cider:
1 jug of TreeTop Cider juice (in the juice aisle)
1 packet of spiced apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg

Boil all together and enjoy - keep the extra on low so you can drink throughout the day!

For grilled cheese, many of you know to make a grilled cheese but Jessica's secret way of making the best grilled cheese is instead of buttering each side of the bread, use mayo instead. Way delish!

Now we are watching The Holiday and sitting under heating blankets while trying to work on school and stay warm!

♥ The Westward Wives

Monday Mexican Night - Ole

Monday night here on Westward was Monday Mexican Night. Since we woke up Monday morning to get ready for school and were shocked with the site of 7 inches of snow, crockpot chicken was the way to go. 

First, for the chicken:

4 chicken breasts

1 big tub of FRESH salsa

1/2 bunch or 1 bunch of cilantro (taste preference, I prefer less, Callie prefers more)

1 1/2 cups water (or chicken broth) 

For the spanish rice (the weight watchers version):

• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 small onion, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 28oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 4 oz can mild green chilies
• 2 cups fat free chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp oregano

Instructions

1. Spray a large, non-stick skillet with non-fat cooking spray and set over medium/high heat. Add in rice and brown for about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add in onion and garlic. Cook onion rice mixture, stirring frequently, for about 4 minutes, or until onions are softened.
3. Add in broth and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in tomatoes, chiles, salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and coriander. Bring to a simmer.
5. Lower heat to medium, cover and cook 15-25 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package.
6. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 25 minute(s)

Servings: 6 (before cooking, I thought no way 6 servings but yes there were and we had left overs)

From: http://www.laaloosh.com/2013/01/03/light-spanish-rice-recipe/#ixzz2QkfLntoS

*The only thing I have to say about the rice was it had a good amount of spice. 

Throwback to last Cinco De Mayo (because Mexican Monday)

♥ The Westward Wives

Snow, snow, and more snow

It's snowing here in Fort Collins and I mean SNOWING. In the last three days there has probably been around one foot and a half of snow. Too much, considering its April 17th. But with snow brings a reason to break out the crock pot for family dinners!

Last night (Tuesday) Andrea made italian chicken in the crockpot and it hit the spot on a cold winter night! (Found the recipe on pinterset)
Recipe:
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 
16 Ounce Bottle of Italian Dressing 
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese 
Italian Seasoning 
4-6 Potatoes scrubbed cut in half or wedges 
1/2 bag of mini carrots

Stick in the crockpot in the morning, put on low for 10 hours.
We served the chicken over rice and had strawberries with it because they were about to go old (plus we got them on sale)

Hopefully you all are staying warm!

♥ The Westward Wives

First post

First, I would like to start this blog off saying that we, the Westward Wives, all attend Colorado State University. Actually, I take that back, one just transferred to Metro State. Almost everyone is a junior school wise and we are getting ready to set off into a new world, "the real world". This blog will mainly be for posting recipes (because we like to get together and have family dinner) and other fun things that may happen. Throughout the blog you will see photos of all six of us: Andrea, Caitlin, Callie, Jessica, Kaycee, and Sarah.
If you stumble upon this blog, we hope you enjoy!

♥ The Westward Wives