Zucchini and Chicken Kabobs

My family is so busy. I'm not sure how we're ever going to sit down for dinner once the girls are in school and after-school activities. Thursday Bug and Dives ate at my parents. Friday Hottie had gone 4-wheeling and Bug went to the show (again with my parents). Today was still a tough day, because Hottie had gone 4-wheeling again and he didn't feel like a real dinner. But, after two days of the chicken being marinated, I thought I'd better cook it. The flavor wasn't over bearing at all and the girls really enjoyed it. They weren't overly fond of the zucchini, but I don't think that was because of the preparation. Zucchini is maybe not the veggie of choice for a 5 year old nor a 2 year old. Bug said she liked the chicken "a lot" and that was all thought Dives would eat.

So, here's how I prepared it.

Cut the zucchini in half long ways, and then in half again, (so that you have 4 spears). Then slice into chunks. Put the zucchini in a bowl and drizzle about 2 tablespoons (depending on the size of the zucchini) of Olive Oil over the zucchini. I seasoned it with steak seasoning and All Season. Then mixed it up with my hands- making sure the zucchini is all coated with the oil.

I alternated chicken chunks and zucchini on the kabobs. Then I grilled it for 4-5 minutes on each side (with the lid closed).

My review of them is this... SUPER easy, quick and yummy. For me my only challenge was grill issues. But Hottie got it working and all was well.

Total preparation time was about 15 minutes. I served it with mashed potatoes topped with grilled onion.

Amy's Teriyaki Sauce...

I love marinating meats in Teriyaki Sauce. I do love the Kikkoman's Teriyaki, but I like to doctor it up. So, here is my recipe...

1/3 c Kikkoman's Teriyaki Sauce

2 T Kikkoman's Soy Sauce

3 T Red Wine

2 T Brown Sugar

1 tsp crushed Garlic Cloves

This is enough to cover two chicken breasts, one pork loin or two petite steaks.

If you are going to use the chicken in a stir fry, you will want to cut the chicken breast or beef into bite size pieces before you marinate. Keep the sauce and boil it if you would like to use it over your stir fry and rice.

My family always loves this flavoring. Scott thinks it's a little sweet, but the girls eat it up.

Grandma's Picnic Cake

My family grew up eating this cake many times each summer. As soon as someone would suggest the canyon, my mom would whip up this cake. It is super easy and always a hit. Okay, not always. Hottie doesn't like coconut, so he doesn't like this cake. Dives ate her piece and the rest of Ash's piece. (Ash is my niece that is the same age as Bug). Bug couldn't eat her piece fast enough. Me, I always love this cake. I've only recently started forking the cake to get the frosting to seep into it. An excellent addition as far as I'm concerned. Another thing that I've changed from when my mom used to make it, is the frosting. I've doubled the recipe she used to use. I never felt like there was quite enough. The frosting is really my favorite part of the whole cake. Ash agrees with Hottie, she didn't eat the top.

Now for the recipe...

Pour 1 ½ c hot water over 1 c oats

½ c oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ c flour

Mix all ingredients and then add the oats. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes

Frosting:
¾ c brown sugar
½ c coconut
2 T milk
¾ cube margarine
Boil, remove from heat. Add ½ c nuts (optional)

Punch a bunch of holes in the cake with a fork. Pour frosting over cake.

It will look really runny at first. Then it will seep into the cake and it will cool.

Puffed Pancakes

I absolutely love these Puffed Pancakes. If I wasn't on crutches right now, I would have made these with apples. This breakfast is always a success with the family. Dives will always eat a whole piece, and by the time we sit down for breakfast, Bug has already finished hers. Nanny really likes these too. Not only are they a sure thing, they are super easy to make.


6 eggs
1 ½ c milk
1 c flour
3 T sugar
1 tsp vanilla
½ t salt
¼ t cinnamon
¼ lb of butter
2 apples, sliced and peeled (Optional)
2-3 T brown sugar

Melt butter in a 9x13 pan
(If making it with apples)- Add apples to melted butter. Return to oven until the butter sizzles

Mix remaining ingredients, except brown sugar, in a blender. Pour over melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes

Variations:
Serve with syrup, sour cream, lemon juice, or powdered sugar.

PS- If you want to make a square pan (which is what I usually do- a 9x13 is just so much food!) here is the recipe...
4 eggs
1 c milk
2/3 c flour
2T sugar
2/3 tsp vanilla
dash of cinnamon
2/3 of a cube of butter
1-2 T brown sugar

Dive's response was "yup, I like those." Bug prefers them with just powdered sugar. My mom puts sour cream, lemon juice and powdered sugar on hers. Me, give me syrup and powdered sugar.

Banana Bars

Can you guess we had several black bananas? This Banana Bar recipe is really good and adapted from the Lion House Lite Recipe book. The bars are the actual recipe but the frosting I made a few changes to. When making these, use a 9x9 pan. If you have a Pyrex 8x8 they turn out a little too thick and take longer to bake. I'm certain Hottie will prefer the bread to the bars. The bars are a touch more dense than the bread but the flavor is a little richer to go with the denseness.

2/3 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Sour Cream
2 T. Butter, softened
2 egg whites
3/4 C. mashed banana (about 2 normal sized)
1 C. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 375°F . Spray 9x9" pan. Beat sugar, sour cream, butter, and egg whites in large bowl 1 minute on low speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in bananas and vanilla on low speed 30 seconds. Beat in flour, salt, and baking soda 1 min. Spread in pan. Bake 20-25 minutes til light brown.

I like to frost them while they are still fairly warm. That way the frosting seeps in to the bars. (Adding to the density).

Frosting
1 1/4 C. powdered sugar
1 1/2 T. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 T. sour cream

Dives did not like this recipe either. She did like the frosting. Bug loved it and quickly devoured it. Nanny loved them and I really like them.

Banana Bread

This is not a recipe I make nearly often enough. It is super easy and both of the girls really like it. Okay, I take that back. Bug really likes the bread and Dives only liked the batter- she wouldn't try the bread. Don't worry, I recognize raw eggs are not good for them so she was limited to one taste.

1 ¾ c flour
2/3 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp soda
¼ tsp salt
2 large bananas, mashed
1/3 c butter
2 T milk
2 large eggs

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Add bananas, butter and milk, beat. Add eggs and beat.

Pour into a greased bread pan.

Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes

Of course this bread is best warm. If you aren't fortunate enough to get to eat it straight from the oven, you can pop it into the microwave for 10- 15 seconds. Be careful not to do it too long, or it will get tough.