Rock & Rye Cake

Rock & Rye is a Faygo flavor of pop found primarily in MI although I'm almost positive that Ohio and Indiana or Illinois has it as well.  Faygo pop is a Michigan made product.  I have to say, Rock & Rye is one of my favorite pops because even throughout my travels I've never found a flavor to come close to what Rock & Rye tastes like!  If I had to describe the flavor, I would have to say it tastes like Cream Soda and Red Pop mixed together.  Sooo good! 

So, due to the success of the Orange Crush cake I made a while ago, I decided, why not try it with Rock & Rye!  I was so happy I did because it's even better than Orange Crush!  If you have Rock & Rye available, give this one a try soon!

Ingredients:

- 14 oz. Rock & Rye Faygo Soda
- 1 Yellow boxed cake mix
- 1 container Whipped Cream

Directions:

1.  Pour your boxed cake mix into a bowl.

2.  Measure out your pop and pour it into your cake mix.  Whisk well for 30 seconds.  Spray your baking pan, pour your mix into the pan and bake per the box's directions.

3.  Remove the cake and allow it to cool completely before spreading whipped cream on top as a frosting.

Here's the final product....

This cake lasted even less than the Orange Crush cake and my family flipped out over the flavor!  It's so creamy and delicious!  Try it out if you can today!  Enjoy!

No Brainer!! Slow Cooker BBQ Lil' Smokies

I came about making this because I've been working a lot and wanted something easy I could toss together for my husband and daughters.  Also, it's been getting pretty hot here in MI and who wants to slave over a hot stove after a long hot day at work?  Not this girl! 

Ingredients:

- 4 pkgs.  Lil Smokies saugages
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 bottles of BBQ sauce
- 1 cup Water

Directions:

1.  Toss your smokies and onion into the slow cooker.  Add your BBQ sauce and your cup of water.  Stir around and place your slow cooker on low.  Cook for 5-8 hours.

Here's the final product....

I served ours with mashed potatoes and a side salad.  It involved no thinking, it tasted delicious, and it lasted for two days of leftovers (bonus!).  This is also a perfect dish to take to a pot luck!  Enjoy!

Fried Roma Tomatoes

I had a few Roma tomatoes in my fridge that I knew needed used up quick!  Why let them go to waste!  I didn't have anything to make a salad and I didn't want to toss them into a salsa or make a sandwich with them.  I figured, if you can fry green tomatoes, why not fry red tomatoes?  So...I did!  And WOW! 

Ingredients:

- 2 Roma Tomatoes, sliced thickly
- Flour for breading
- Garlic Salt to taste ( I use the kind with dried parsley added to it)
- Pepper to taste
- Olive Oil for frying

Directions:

1.  Slice your tomatoes and set them aside.

2.  Get your Flour and season it to your taste with the garlic salt and pepper.  Dredge the tomatoes in the flour, coating them well. 

3.  Get your oil hot and place your tomatoes into the pan.  Fry the tomatoes one side at a time until golden brown.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.  Sprinkle with a bit of salt.

Here's the final product....

So tender and juicy!  I'm not a fan of fried green tomatoes, but I'm am a definite fan of these!  Try them soon! 

Old Bay Chicken

For dinner the other night, I had planned on marinating my chicken in a store bought marinade that had been sitting in my cupboard for a while.  Little did I know that the bottle of marinade had been sitting my cupboard for A LOT longer than just "a while".  After successfully depositing the expired (by 2 years!) bottle into the trash can, I tried this marinade I seen on my tin of Old Bay seasoning and was very happy with the flavors!  Also, it was quick and easy to toss together with ingredients I had on hand, although I did add and change just a few things ;-)

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
- 4 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
- 2 Teaspoons dried Parsley
- 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (not pictured b/c I decided to add 'em on the spot!)
- 6 chicken breasts

Directions:

1.  In a bowl, add in all of your ingredients except for the chicken breasts and whisk together.  

2.  Place your cleaned chicken breasts into a zip lock bag and pour your marinade over the chicken.  Seal the bag and roll the marinade around, covering all the chicken.  Set in a bowl and place into the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.

3.  After marinating, remove the chicken breasts and place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake your chicken for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, set your oven on Broil for another 5 minutes to make the chicken a bit darker and crispy.

Here's the final product....

I served ours with a boxed mac and cheese and fried Roma tomatoes.  Very juicy and I love the lime in this marinate is the star!

Beef 'n Noodles

This version of beef and noodles is so simple I was able to make it on a busy weeknight after a LONG day at work!  Everyone enjoyed it and we even had some leftovers!  Try this one soon!

Ingredients:

- 2 lbs Beef Cubes ( I used some steak I bought on sale and cut them into bite sized pieces)
- 1 large can of Cream of Mushroom soup
- 2 pkgs Onion Soup Mix
- 2 small cans of mushrooms, drained
- 1 onion, diced.
- 1 tablespoon of Parsley
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 cup of Water
- Egg Noodles/Mashed Potatoes/or Rice

Directions:

1.  Chop up your steak(and dice your onion) into bite sized pieces and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2.  In a 13X9inch pan, combine your mushroom soup, onion soup mix, mushrooms, seasonings, and water.  Mix well and toss in your beef.  Stir to coat beef well.  Bake in the oven for 1 hour.

3.  Bring it out of the oven and serve over starch of your choice.

Here's the final product.....

I served mine over the traditional egg noodles and some green beans on the side.  Perfection!  Enjoy!

Chicken Cacciatore

This chicken cacciatore is perfect for a lot of reasons.  Yes, it's delicious, it's full of veggies, and it's hearty.  However, one of MY favorite things about it is that it's simple.  Because this chicken cacciatore is made in the slow cooker!  I prepared this before leaving for work one morning and then once I got home, it was waiting for our family to devour! 

Ingredients:

- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts ( I used frozen)
- 3 Bell Peppers, sliced (You can use whatever colors you like!)
- 2 Onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon Parsley
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 can of Pasta sauce
- 1 (14oz) can of Diced Tomatoes
- 1/2 can of water
- 1 bag of Egg Noodles (to serve with.  You an also sub rice or mashed potatoes if you wish!)

Directions:

1.  Pour your pasta sauce and tomatoes into the slow cooker and stir in your seasonings.

2.  Add in your chicken breasts and nestle them into the sauce.

3.  Toss your veggies into the slow cooker and add your water.  Stir a bit to move things around.  Set on low for about 8 hours.

Here's the final product....

Again, I decided to serve the chicken cacciatore over egg noodles because that's what sounded delicious to me.  This was a nice hearty meal on a busy weeknight.  Make this one soon!  Enjoy! 

Orange Crush Cake

I seen this recipe on someones Facebook feed and knew that I HAD to try it!  I am so happy I did!  This cake was so simple to make and the cake didn't even make it to the next day!  Give this simple dessert a try soon and just like I was, you will be very pleased!

Ingredients:

- 1 Yellow Cake Mix
- 12oz of Crush Soda
- 1 container of Whipped Topping

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven per boxed mix directions and pour your mix into a bowl.

2.  Measure out your 12 oz of pop and pour into your mix.  Whisk together for about 30 seconds. (DO NOT add any eggs or oil!  Just the pop and the dry mix!)

3. Spray a 13X9inch pan with cooking spray.  Pour your mixture into the pan.  Bake per box directions.

4.  Once your cake is cooked through, allow your cake to cool completely.  Once cooled, spread your whipped topping over the cake (or have your child do it.  Free labor!)

Here's the final product....

Everyone's STILL asking when I'll make it again, lol.  It's so simple, but it's absolutely perfect for a light dessert!