Onion Roasted Potatoes

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Ingredients:


2 lbs. red potatoes
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1\3 cup olive oil
1 cup Panko bread crumbs


Directions:


Dice your potatoes into desired size.

Place potatoes in a large ziploc bag.

Add soup mix, bread crumbs and olive oil to the potatoes in the bag. Swish everything around until the potatoes are evenly coated.

Let the potatoes marinade for about half an hour.

Pre-heat oven to 350

Grease a baking dish, and place the potatoes in the dish until they are spread out evenly.

Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

This is a great easy side dish, and they taste really good!

knorr spinach dip.

this is obviously not part of the cook's challenge... it has a brand name in the title :) my mom always makes this dip for holidays, parties, etc. it's so yummy + so easy. the recipe is on the back of the package, so i feel a little silly sharing it. but just in case you've never had it, i'll share anyway.

ingredients:
1 10 oz packaged frozen chopped spinach, thawed and sqeezed dry
1 16 oz container sour cream
1 cup mayo {miracle whip works too}
1 package knorr vegetable recipe mix {picture below}
1 can water chestnuts, drained & chopped
3 green onions, chopped

directions:combine all ingredients and chill for 2 hours. serve with veggies, crackers, bread, or whatever you like!

this is what the package looks like:

Cook Challange: Rediscover the Lost Art of Cooking.

Yes, I'll admit (without shame, mind you) I am an Oprah fan. I love her efforts to do good. One good effort she put forth this week was on childhood obesity and it featured cook Jamie Oliver and his new food revolution to help children eat healthier. I was inspired to say the least.

On that note . . .

Here's the new Cook Challenge.

Start your own food revolution in your own home, all you need to do is cook something from scratch. With fresh and raw ingredients - no packets, no cheating!

- If you know how to cook, pass on your skills and keep them alive for future generations. If your kids and families don't learn, their only option will be a diet of processed and fast food.

- If you don't know how to cook from scratch, start now, it could change your life and improve your health prospects. Find recipes that are quick, easy and economical. But you must find a recipe that is from scratch. (Start Googling!)

I challenge you to do it once a week for the next 3 weeks. Post about your adventure, what you made, what you learned. Let's rediscover the lost art of cooking, if not for us, for our children.

Starting now. Good luck!

P.S. Cooks - don't forget to label your challenge post like so: Cook Challenge: Rediscovering Cooking.

{for more on Jamie Oliver's food revolution, click here.}

Pretzel Jello Salad

Pretzel Crust:
2 cups crushed pretzels
1 square butter (melted)
1/2 cup sugar

Mix together, press on bottom of 9x13 pan, bake at 350* for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Cream layer:
8 oz cream cheese (soften lightly in microwave)
9 oz. cool whip

Beat together and put over cooled pretzel crust.

Jello layer:
6 oz Strawberry Jello
1 16 oz package of frozen sliced strawberries or 2 cups fresh sliced strawberries (we like the fresh)

Boil 2 cups of water, put Jello mix in, stir well for 2 minutes, add strawberries, add 1 cup cold water, let jello sit for 1 hour in refrigerator then put on cream cheese layer.

Conference Cake

It's good with drizzle

It's good without drizzle

This coffee cake has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. My family always makes it on General Conference Sunday for brunch alongside quiche and fresh fruit. Always.
When I was little the word "coffee" was a little too taboo so we renamed it Conference Cake. Traditionally we never served it with drizzle but when I married Nick he thought it needed something sweet on top. He does have a bit of a sweet tooth. I think it's good both ways, give it a try!

Conference Cake

1/4 Cup vegetable Oil
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sifted flour (I usually use 1 cup white and 1/2 cup whole wheat)
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Combine all the dry ingredients together and set aside. In a separate bowl combine all of the wet ingredients and then add to the dry, stir until combined. Pour the batter into a greased square baking pan, top with the cinnamon topping and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean.

Cinnamon Topping

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients with a fork, it will be crumbly. Sprinkle on top of the cake batter before baking.

If you are feeling your sweet tooth, here is the recipe for drizzle:

1 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Beat ingredients together until there are no more lumps. The frosting should be thin enough to pour, but not too thin. Add more powdered sugar or milk as necessary.