White Sauce Pizza

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This was just a last-minute, throw-it-together type of pizza that happened to rock our world during dinner time last night!  We had everything on-hand and with a quick google of "white pizza sauce" we had an amazing (and amazingly beautiful!) pizza on our hands.  And in our tums.  The white sauce made all the difference for me, but John still wanted regular pizza sauce on his half.

{What you need}

2 boxes Jiffy Pizza Crust mix 

(has anyone else discovered this gem yet????? I'm in LOVE.)

1 cup hot tap water

{white sauce}

2 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons flour

1 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

2 Tablespoons dried basil

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (I get a big bag at Costco and use it all the time)

{from here}

{toppings}

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken breast, seasoned with salt and steak seasoning

1 cup pre-cooked bacon, diced

1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed enough to sprinkle on pizza

1/3 cup canned mushrooms

1 clove canned artichoke hearts

1-2 cups parmesan cheese

for the sauce:  Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat.  Add flour and stir until thoroughly mixed.  Gradually whisk in milk and blend, then add the rest of the sauce ingredients.  Will thicken upon standing.

Prepare the pizza crust according directions on the box.  Spread white sauce as liberally as you like over the crust.  Put desired toppings all over the sauced crust, just as you like it.  Sprinkle the cheese on top of all the toppings and bake according to crust box directions.

Oatmeal Cake

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I've posted this recipe before, but I made it again this past weekend and remembered how absolutely incredible it is.  So I decided to re-post it for you all so you don't miss out on it.  This might be my all-time favorite recipe ever. I got it from a dear mission friend, Johna Jarnagin. She got me through some hard times on the mission by feeding my face with delicious food. This was my favorite of all the delicious food that she fed my face with.

{What you need}

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup margarine

1 1/3 cups boiling water

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

Mix oatmeal, margarine, and boiling water. Mix sugars and eggs into mixture. Sift flour and spices. Put in a 9x13" pan. Bake for 30 min at 350.

{topping}

1 cup brown sugar

1 cube margarine

1/2 cup canned milk

--boil these ingredients together--

add:

1 cup chopped nuts {I left these out}

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

--pour hot mixture over baked cake--

Be warned that although this has oatmeal in it, it is not the most figure-friendly cake on the block. But it is sooo moist and rich. It really will change your life. Eat with a huge glass of cold milk.

Taco Soup

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Such an easy recipe.  We had pretty much everything on hand already, and it all came together quite nicely for an impromptu dinner party.  It was a major hit, everyone went back for at least seconds!

{What you need}

2 pounds ground beef, browned with the fat drained

3 cans stewed tomatoes

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans garbanzo beans

1 can pinto beans

2 cans corn, drained

1 can green chilies

1 packet taco seasoning

1 packet ranch dressing mix

1 Tablespoon onion powder

1 cup water

{toppings}

sour cream

shredded cheese

tortilla chips

guacamole

Combine all ingredients {including the juices of the canned beans--don't drain them} and heat on medium-high until heated through.  Add more water if you want it "soupier."  We served it with this cornbread, this honey butter, this fruit dip, and an assortment of fruits for dipping.  It was such a great meal!

Brie Cranberry Chicken Pizza

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I thought this looked like a fun twist on your average pizza, and the cranberry sauce in it made it sound holiday-y to me.  It's super easy if you use prepared pizza crust, but we prefer to buy pizza dough and make it fresh.  This would be great for a Christmas Break lunch for the hub, now that he's done with finals!!

{What you need}

1, 12 inch prepared pizza crust {or dough to make your own}

1 1/2 cup cranberry sauce

2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, chopped into small pieces

1 Tbls vegetable oil

6 ounces brie, chopped

8 ounces mozzarella, shredded {or you can use fresh and chop it like the brie}

Preheat the oven to 350.  In a large skillet, heat oil and add the chicken.  Saute until the chicken is browned and almost cooked through.  Spread the cranberry sauce over the pizza crust.  Top with the chicken and brie and cover with the mozzarella.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Serve with caesar salad and apple bear to make it a festive holiday meal!

{Compliments of Gillie at allrecipes.com}

Dijon Chicken

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This has been sitting in my allrecipes.com recipe box for probably over a year now and I finally got around to trying it tonight.  It was incredible, much to my surprise!  It has a nice little zip to it from the mustard and has a great flavor combo with the parmesan cheese in the bread crumbs.  And I loved how incredibly easy this dish was, too, and I already had all the ingredients on hand.  Great for a busy night and will please the whole fam!

{What you need}

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup evaporated milk

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra to sprinkle on top

4, 4 oz boneless chicken breasts

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 casserole dish.  In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and milk.  In a separate shallow dish, mix together cheese and bread crumbs.  Take each chicken breast and coat it in the mustard mixture, then coating it in the bread crumb mixture.  Place in prepared dish.  Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top now, if desired.  Bake at 475 for 15-20 minutes

Pumpkin Crumble Dessert

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My Aunt Lyssa brought these delectables to Baby James' blessing last week and I can't TELL you how incredibly they are!!  If you like pumpkin desserts, this will sink you.  If you don't, you'll still lurve it.  Perfect for the fall/winter weather, and could be a great alternative to traditional pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving!!  This seriously might be my new favorite dessert... And they are soooo easy!!!!

{What you need}

1, 15 oz can pumpkin puree

1, 12 oz can evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup white sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1, 18.25 oz package yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts {optional}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 baking pan.  In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, and spice.  Pour into greased pan.  Sprinkle the dry cake mix on top and drizzle melted butter on top.  Add walnuts on top, if desired.  Bake for one hour at 350 or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Serves great hot or cold!

recipe compliments of allrecipes.com

Cheesy Bacon Pull-Apart Bread

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AKA "Crack Bread."  Nuff said. 

(!!!Another winner from Pinterest!!!!)

{What you need}

1 uncut loaf sourdough bread, preferably round

about 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3 oz. bag Oscar Meyer real bacon bits

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 Tablespoon ranch dressing mix

Cut the loaf of bread like a grid, without cutting through the bottom crust.  Sprinkle/pack the cheese down in the wedges and cuts of the loaf.  Do the same with the bacon bits.  Mix the ranch dressing mix in the melted butter and pour all over bread, making sure to get in the wedges and cuts as well.  Cover in tinfoil and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Remove the tin foil and bake for about 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.  Stuff your face relentlessly.  But try not to eat the whole loaf by yourself......