An Easy Dinner with a Little Pizazz

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup is a common pair. Here is a way to Jazz them both up for a yummy meal.

Grilled Roast Beef Sandwiches
INGREDIENTS FOR 4 SERVINGS:
1 Medium Onion, Sliced
1 Medium Green Pepper, Sliced
½ Lb. Fresh Mushrooms, Sliced
2 to 3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
2 Tbs. Canola Oil
¼ tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper 8 Slices Sourdough Bread
8 Slices Colby-Monterey Jack
8 Slices Swiss Cheese
8 Slices Deli Roast Beef
½ C. Butter, Softened
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large skillet, sauté the onion, green pepper, mushrooms and garlic in oil until tender; sprinkle with salt and pepper. On four slices of bread, layer two slices of cheese (1 of each kind of cheese), two slices of beef and a fourth of the vegetable mixture. Top with the remaining cheese and bread. Butter outside of bread; sprinkle with garlic salt if desired. On a hot griddle or large skillet, toast sandwiches for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Tomato Tortellini Soup
INGREDIENTS FOR 10 SERVINGS:
1 Pkg. (9 oz.) Refrigerated Cheese Tortellini
2 Cans (10-3/4 oz. each) Reduced-Sodium Condensed Tomato Soup, Undiluted
2 C. Vegetable Broth

2 C. Milk
2 C. Half-and-Half Cream

½ C. Chopped Oil-Packed Sun-Dried Tomatoes
1 tsp. Onion Powder

1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Dried Basil

½ tsp. Salt
½ C. Fresh Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Additional Shredded Parmesan Cheese, Optional
INSTRUCTIONS:

Cook tortellini according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the soup, broth, milk, cream, tomatoes and seasonings. Heat through, stirring frequently. Drain tortellini; carefully add to soup. Stir in cheese. Sprinkle each serving with additional cheese if desired

Creamy Rice and Mediterranean Chicken

So this recipe was inspired by the Chicken Mediterranean Pizza from Papa Murphy's. I just love it. I thought that I could create something with similar ingredients and this is what I came up with.
INGREDIENTS FOR 4 SERVINGS:
3 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Onion, Finely Chopped
1 C. Arborio Rice
1 C. White Cooking Wine
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
4 Chicken Breasts Cut into Strips
3 Cloves Garlic, Sliced
¼ tsp. Thyme
½ tsp. Basil
1 Pint Sun Dried Tomatoes
2 C. Fresh Baby Spinach
Feta Cheese
INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add the rice and wine and cook, stirring until the wine is absorbed. Add 2 cups water and ¼ tsp. each salt and pepper. Simmer, covered, over low heat until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile in a large pan, add 2 tsp olive oil, chicken, and garlic. Cook until chicken is no longer pink. Season with thyme and basil; Add the sun dried tomatoes with their oil. Add the spinach and cook just until wilted. Serve over the rice and top with Feta Cheese.

As I am sitting here thinking about my children. I just had a few quotes that have come to mind that I thought that I would share.

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!!!
I just love this quote. It has really helped me try to focus on the important things of life. Kids can be so great and so hard. Great Joy and Great Pain are both part of parenting.

HOLD ON THY WAY----GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION..
This was really inspiring. There I times that I feel that I am failing miserably at trying to do my best at raising these sweet little kids. I love the giving up is not an option. It really isn't. When we have made our mistakes as parents, we really just have to move ahead and try to do better.

Amazing Caesar Salad

Here are a few new salad recipes. I am always looking for new ones to try. I got this one from our stake releif society dinner and I found the cole slaw one online. Yummy

Amazing Caesar Salad
INGREDIENTS:
Romaine Lettuce
Baby Spinach
Red Onion, Thinly Sliced and Quartered
Cherry Tomatoes, Sliced in Half
Parmesan Cheese, Shredded
Craisins
Croutons
Black pepper
Marie's Caesar Dressing
Marie’s Poppyseed Dressing
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Before serving add the dressings. Use a little less poppy seed dressing than Caesar (maybe 1/3 to 2/3).
COMMENTS: Really, you can add just about anything in whatever proportions you like. There is no right or wrong way to make it. Some other add-ins are: cubed cooked chicken, dried apricots-cut up, brown rice-cooked, sunflower, pumpkin seeds or whatever kind you like.

Thai Cole Slaw

INGREDIENTS:
½ Head Napa Cabbage, Thinly Sliced
2 Jumbo Carrots, Julienne
½ Zucchini, Julienne
2 Green Onions, Sliced
3 Tbs. Shaved Coconut
3 Tbs. Unsalted Peanuts
2 Tbs. Toasted Candied Almonds
DRESSING:
8 oz. Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
8 oz. Orange Juice
½ Oz. Honey
½ Tbs. Fresh Ginger, Chopped Fine
½ Tbs. Light Brown Sugar
1 Tsp. Cilantro, Chopped Fine
1 Tbs. Sesame Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Chill until ready to use. For dressing: place ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk together, slowly aging the sesame oil while whisking. Pour desired amount, about ¼ cup, over chilled salad. Toss and serve.