Most Amazing Carrot Cake

I just realized that I haven't put any dessert recipes up! Ahh what's wrong with me? I loveeee desserts!
I go through weird cravings... and when I crave something I go crazy until I get it... I can't imagine what I'll be like when I'm pregnant! Haha.
I have always wanted to find the most amazing carrot cake, my mom made a really good one growing up and when I asked her for the recipe all she said was " find a basic recipe and then add all the stuff you want in it" so i followed her instructions and it came out amazing... some people like raisins i personally don't... my favorite things in carrot cake are walnuts and pineapple! I hope you like it!

Ingredients:
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. grated carrots
1 c. crushed pineapple ( drained)
3/4 c. walnuts

Instructions:
1. Grease and flour 9 inch cake pan
2. Heat oven 350 degrees
3. In a medium sized bowl mix together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.
4. In a mixing bowl mix together sugar, oil and eggs with an electric mixer.
5. Pour flour mixture into sugar mixture and mix together
6. Add carrots, pineapple and walnuts
7. Place batter in cake pan
8. Bake for 25-30 mins. checking center for doneness.
9. Cool.

Frosting:
1 pkg 8oz cream cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

1. With electric mixer mix together cream cheese and butter until fluffly
2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mix well.
3. After carrot cake cools frost cake!

Beli's Famous Chicken Strips

Austin and I loveeeee chicken strips, there's nothing like watching a basketball/football game while eating delicious chicken strips. I never though the chicken strips were as amazing as Austin said (since he claims all my food is amazing haha) until Austin's cousin Luke visited us and fell in love with them... ever since then chicken strips are a frequent request for get togethers!

Ingredients:
2-3 lbs of raw chicken ( i prefer for them to be slightly frozen because they are easier to cut that way)
1/2 c. milk
1/4 ranch dressing
2 c. McCormick Golden Dipt Cajun Seafood fry mix ( the reason I use seafood fry mix is because first it has a really yummy taste and second it makes the strips more crunchy)
Oil
ranch dressing for dipping

Instructions:
1. Cut chicken into 1/2 thick strips
2. In a large skillet heat oil so it is at least 1/4 in deep
3. In a bowl mix together milk and 1/4 ranch dressing
4. In a flat plate sprinkle a layer of cajun fry mix
5. Dip chicken in milk/ranch mix and then transfer over to cajun mix, make sure it is covered on both sides, flipping it over multiple times. Do that with all the chicken
6. Put in hot oil and cook a few minutes on both sides, Repeat with all the chicken. Place as many strips in the skillet as it will allow, you must be able to flip them over with ease.

7. You will be able to know when its cooked by cutting into the chicken and making sure there's no pink left in center.
8. Remove from skillet unto paper towels to soak up excess oil.
9. Serve with ranch dressing or other dips!
10. Enjoy!

Chicken Tetrazzini

To be honest I had never heard of this recipe but while looking for something new I came across it and it caught my eye. It does have mushrooms which i love... but I am sorry if you don't! It doesn't quite taste as good without them! I recommend you try it!

Ingredients:
1 package (7oz) spaghetti ( or angel hair) broken into thirds.
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp water
2 c. cubed cooked chicken ( or turkey)
1 jar (4.5 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained.
( or you can use fresh mushrooms, about 1 1/2 cups)
grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook and drain pasta as instructed on package
3. Meanwhile, in 2 quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
4. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth.
5. Remove from hear and stir in broth and whipping cream. ( I also added a bit of garlic powder)
6. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, boil and stir for 1 minute.
7. Stir in pasta, water, chicken and mushrooms into sauce.
8. Pour mixture into an un-greased casserole.
9. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
10. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until bubbly in the center
11. Enjoy!

New Recipes Coming Soon!

Hey everyone... I am sorry I haven't posted recipes lately! 

I have a ton of recipes to post so be patient and look for them in the next few days!

Thanks for the support!

sneak preview:

*Beli's famous chicken strips*

*Country fried steak*

*Chicken Tetrazzini*
*Chicken Parmesan with Pasta*

*Pork, Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole" 

Home Made Mac & Cheese

Austin absolutely loves this recipe... he constantly asks me to make it and I love it too because it is so creamy and once you make it once you'll find that it's really easy to make and you'll never go back to the box kind!

Ingredients:
butter
1 1/2 C. elbow macaroni
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 C. milk
1 egg
1/8 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper
8 oz package of extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz monterrey jack cheese, grated
paprika

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a larget stock pot bring enough water to a boil to cook macaroni to al dente.
3. Drain and add a little bit of butter to macaroni to keep from sticking together.
4. In a small bowl mix together evaporated milk, milk and egg. Add garlic powder 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper and set aside.
5. In another bowl combine grated cheeses.
6. In a glass 8x8 baking dish layer the macaroni with the cheese mixture about 3 times with the last layer being the cheeses.
7. Pour the milk mixture evenly over the macaroni and sprinkle with paprika.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
9. Let the macaroni and cheese stand for 10 minutes before serving.
10. Enjoy!

New England Clam Chowdah....

Yesterday was a chilly, rainy day in Arizona... loved it haha it has been a while since I had experienced one of those and of course it made me crave a yummy warm chowdah. I have never made it so I did a bit of research and then ended up making up my own recipe (typical me) and it actually turned out really yummy.... so here it is.



Ingredients:
1/2 package of bacon cut into small bites
1 C. chopped onions
4-5 red potatoes cubed
1 tbsp flour
1 1/2 C. clam juice ( from canned clams)
1 C. half & half
3 small cans of minced clams
salt & pepper to taste


Instructions:
1. In a stock pot cook bacon until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot leaving the bacon grease.
2. In the same pot saute onion and potatoes.
3. Sprinkle potato mixture with the flour, make sure potatoes are lightly covered.
4. Open canned clams and pour juice into a glass measuring cup ( about 1 1/2 cups)
5. Pour clam juice into stock pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 12-15 mins.
6. Add half & half and stir well.
7. Pour clams into pot and let simmer for 5 mins.
8. Serve and Enjoy!