Mini English Muffin Pizza

My kids love when we make these. It is fun for them to be able to help make their meals. 

Ingredients:

• English Muffins
• Butter
• Garlic Salt
• Pizza Sauce
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Pepperoni 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425⁰F.
2. Line a cookie sheet with foil. 
3. Cut the English Muffins in half and line them up on the cookie sheet. 
4. Spread butter on the English Muffins and sprinkle with garlic salt. 
5. Spread on some pizza sauce, sprinkle with a layer of cheese, and add pepperoni. 
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the English Muffins are crisp on the bottom. 
7. Serve and enjoy!

Variations: You could use any kind of toppings and make any of your favorite pizzas. Another favorite of mine would be a Chicken Alfredo Pizza.

Pickle Roll ups

Perfect pinwheel snack or hors d'oeuvre for a party. 

Everyone will love them!

Ingredients:

• Flour tortilla
• Cream Cheese
• Deli Meat (Ham, Corned Beef, Roast Beef)
• Pickle Planks

Directions:

1. Lay a tortilla on a cutting board. 
2. Warm the cream cheese slightly to make it easier to spread. Spread a layer on the tortilla and be careful not to rip the tortilla. 
3. Add a layer of deli meat. I used roast beef, most people like ham the most but the corned beef or roast beef gives it a good flavor. 
4. Dry the pickle planks on some paper towel. You don't want them dripping wet because it will make the tortilla soggy. 
5. Roll the tortilla tight along with the pickle planks. 
6. Slice and place on a platter to serve. Make more until your platter is full because they will all be gone. Enjoy!

Note: Do not make these the night before serving. They are better fresh!

Classic Chicken Dumpling Soup

This classic chicken dumpling soup is a perfect meal for a cold day!

Ingredients:

Chicken Soup Base

• Chicken (Thighs, legs, or whole small chicken)
• Water
• 1/2 Sweet Yellow Onion Chopped
• 2 Garlic Cloves Chopped
• 1 tsp Salt 
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 1 Carton of Chicken Broth

Dumplings:

• 6 Eggs
• 2.5 cups Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Pepper

Directions:

1. Rinse chicken and put it in a large stock pot. I used about 8 chicken legs. You can use whatever pieces of chicken you have.  
2. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and Thyme to the pot. Add water to the pot until the water is about and inch or two over the top of the chicken. Boil on the stove top until the chicken is cooked through. The meat will start to fall off the bones and there will be no pink in the meat. 
3. Once the chicken is cooked pull the chicken out of the pot. Clean the meat off the bones and put only the meat back into the pot. 
4. Add the chicken broth to the pot. Taste the soup base and add more salt and pepper until you have the flavor you want. 
5. Make the dumplings. Add your eggs to a stand mixer and whip them until the yokes are combined with the whites. Add the salt and pepper. Slowly mix and add the flour. This dough will be sticky but will not form a dough ball. The stiffer the dough the denser the dumplings will be.
6. Bring the soup base back to a low boil. 
7. Use one small spoon to scoop a small amount of the dumpling dough (about 1.5 tsp) and another spoon to scrap the dumpling off. The dough will not stick as much if you dip the spoon into the soup each time you make a dumpling. As the dumplings cook they will grow at least 4 times their size. Add the dumplings quickly so they all will get about the same amount of cooking time. 
8. Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally. Check the center of the dumplings to see if they are cooked through. They should not be dry in the middle. 
9. Put some soup in a bowl with a dab of butter and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a buttered dinner roll. Enjoy!

Note: You could add carrots and celery to the soup base to get some more flavor and vegetables. 

Pink Flamingo Drink

This drink is kind of like a Shirley Temple. 

Our kids love them and so do I!

Ingredients:

• Ice
• Lemon Lime Soda
• Grenadine
• Half and Half Cream

Directions: 

1. Get a glass with some ice in it. 
2. Pour in your soda.
3. Add a splash of Grenadine, to your taste. 
4. Add a splash of Half and Half. 
5. Stir it all together to make your creamy pink Flamingo Drink. 
6. Enjoy!

Variations: Make a large batch for a party. Add a little of your favorite alcohol to make it an adult beverage.