Elle's Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

This is another oldie but goodie recipe. Mark prefers actual 'cookies' but, when you are in a rush, these are so easy and good. The picture to the right is in a 9x9 pan but, I actually prefer it in a bit larger pan so the squares aren't so deep as this is a dense bar (thinner is better but adjust your baking time accordingly).

Ingredients

  • 1 C butter
  • 1 C brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 C flour
  • 1 C walnuts, chopped
  • 1 C chocolate chips
Steps
  1. Combine all.

Tiktok Easy Manicotti Recipe

This recipe is all over tiktok and for good reason. It is super easy and good - my two favorite things! My picture doesn't do it justice but, we had already eaten almost half of the 9 x 12 pan by the time I remembered to take a picture - it was so good! Perfect for a hearty meal as the weather is getting cooler.


Ingredients
  • Manicotti
  • String Cheese
  • Marinara Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef, cooked
  • garlic powder
  • italian seasoning
  • s&p
  • 1 C water
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Shredded parmesan cheese
  • Parsley
Steps
  1. Put one piece of string cheese inside each piece of manicotti in a 9 x 12 pan
  2. Add marinara sauce over top
  3. Add cooked ground beef over top
  4. Sprinkle seasonings over top
  5. Add 1 C water and cover with foil
  6. Bake 350F for 30 minutes
  7. Remove from oven and add shredded cheeses over top
  8. Return to oven and bake 20 minutes uncovered

Super EASY Crockpot Yogurt

This is my favorite method of making yogurt so far (I may be getting an Instant Pot so we will see if that changes). I put the times I used below to help you figure out what times will work for you. Not only does this save money but it is so healthy and good for you!


Ingredients
  • ½ Gallon of milk (grass fed and whole fat)
  • ½ C yogurt with cultures
Steps

  1. 3:30 pm - Put milk in crockpot on low for 2.5 hours
  2. 6:00 pm - Unplug and leave it for 3 more hours to 115F. Pull yogurt to get it to room temperature
  3. 9:00 pm - At end of 3 hours milk will be cooled enough to add the room temperature greek yogurt. With a fork, stir in yogurt and mix with milk. Put lid on crockpot and cover the crockpot with a towel to keep it warm
  4. 10 am - Leave it for 12 to 18 hours - more will be thicker but also more sour
  5. Put into a container and keep in the fridge
  6. Drain off the whey (see notes) to make it thicker and into a greek yogurt
Notes

 

Easy Stovetop Yogurt

Yogurt is so easy to make. You bring milk to the right temperature, let cool, add the starter yogurt and keep warm while it ferments. Put in the fridge and enjoy! Yup, that is all there is to it. 

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon milk
  • ¼ C yogurt (with bacteria2 Tbsp L Reuterin powder
Steps
  1. Bring milk to medium and boil, stir occasionally to prevent burning. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes
  2. Pull yogurt to bring to room temperature
  3. Let cool 30 to 45 minutes to 115F
  4. Skim off fat layer from milk
  5. Add in L Reuterin powder or any other probiotics you want to the yogurt
  6. Add yogurt to milk
  7. Put container in a warm area (108 to 112F)

Elle's Hummus

 I have a mini food processor and that makes this so quick and easy. It is so much healthier than store bought hummus (which usually has canola oil) and is delicious. I love that you can adjust the flavors to whatever you like. I love the tahini from Trader Joe's.



Ingredients
  • 400g / 14 oz canned chickpeas (1 can) , drained (reserve liquid and a few chickpeas for garnish) (Dried Chickpeas - Note 1)
  • ¼ cup liquid from the canned chickpeas
  • 1 medium garlic clove , minced
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup tahini, hulled (sesame paste), mixed well before using (Note 2)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp cumin, optional
    Salt and pepper
  • subheading: GARNISH:
  • Pinch of paprika, more olive oil and reserved chickpeas
Steps
  1. Extra smooth optional steps: If you want ultra smooth hummus, do one of the extra Smooth Hummus steps below (I rare bother!).
  2. Reserve for garnish: Reserve 10 or so chickpeas for garnish.
  3. Blitz! Place remaining chickpeas, garlic, lemon, tahini and olive oil in a food processor or blender. Blitz until it becomes a paste.
  4. Season - Add salt and pepper - if using canned chickpeas, add salt gradually because the saltiness varies from brand to brand.
  5. Thin sauce - Add reserved liquid from can. Blitz for a couple of minutes until smooth - but note you will have tiny little grains in it, it won't be 100% smooth unless you do one of the extra steps below.
  6. Adjust - Adjust lemon and salt to taste, adjust thickness with more liquid. It should be a soft dropping consistency, like ketchup.

Elle's Easy Black Bean Salad

This easy salad is so fresh with so many wonderful crisp flavors. If serving to a crowd, you can add rice to extend the number of servings. 



Ingredients
  • 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 C corn (if frozen, cook in microwave)
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1 avocado peeled and chopped
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  • ¼ C fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
  •  
  • DRESSING
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 4 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
Steps
  1. Gently mix all salad ingredients in a large bowl
  2. Mix all dressing ingredients
  3. Toss dressing over salad

Elle's Chicken Pot Pie

If you buy the pastry, this is such a quick easy recipe. It is has fabulous flavors and is nice and hearty for winter.



Ingredients
    Cubed cooked chicken or Tyson Grilled & Ready Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast (frozen)
    Tyson Grilled & Ready Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast (frozen)
    • ½ tsp Garlic powder
    • ½ tsp Onion powder
    • ½ tsp Montreal chicken
    • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
    • Butter & olive oil
    • Mixed Frozen Vegetables
    • 2 cans Campbells Chicken Soup
    • Pillsbury Pie Crusts
    Steps
    1. Heat oven to 375F
    2. In a fry pan, heat chicken, butter & olive oil and seasonings
    3. Pull pie crust to warm to room temperature while chicken is cooking
    4. Combine in frozen veggies & chicken soup
    5. Put pie crust in a deep pie pan
    6. Add filling
    7. Put pie crust on top
    8. Stab a couple fork stabs in the middle of the crust

    What Is Your Purpose Part II

     

    Be still and know that I am God
    Psalm 46:10

    And give thanks for everything to
    God the Father in the name of
    our Lord Jesus Christ. 
    Ephesians 5:20 
     
    Be thankful in all circumstances, 
    for this is God’s will for you who 
    belong to Christ Jesus. 
    1 Thessalonians 5:18 

    And let the peace that comes from 
    Christ rule in your hearts. 
    For as members of one body 
    you are called to live in peace. 
    And always be thankful. 
    Colossians 3:15 
     
    Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, 
    let us be thankful and please God 
    by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 
    Hebrews 12:28 

    Devote yourselves to prayer
     with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 
    Colossians 4:2 

    Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!  
    Philippians 3:1 

     Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice!  
    Philippians 4:4 

    Jesus replied, “The most important commandment
     is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the 
    one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord 
    your God with all your heart, 
    all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
    The second is equally important:
     ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
    No other commandment is greater than these.” 
    Mark 12:29-31 

    In the same way, 
    you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. 
    Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, 
    your godly lives will speak to them without any words. 
    They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.
    1 Peter 3:1-2 

     Then Peter came to him and asked, 
    “Lord, how often should I forgive someone
    who sins against me? Seven times?” 
    “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, 
    “but seventy times seven!
    Matthew 18:21-22 

     So be careful how you live. 
    Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
    Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
    Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand 
    what the Lord wants you to do.
    Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
    Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 
    singing psalms and hymns and 
    spiritual songs among yourselves, 
    and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 
    And give thanks for everything to 
    God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
    Ephesians 5: 15-20 

    For the Lord’s sake, 
    submit to all human authority
    whether the king as head of state,
    or the officials he has appointed. 
    For the king has sent them to punish those 
    who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 
    It is God’s will that your honorable lives 
    should silence those ignorant people 
    who make foolish accusations against you. 
    For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, 
    so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
    Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.
     Fear God, and respect the king. 
    1 Peter 2:13-17 

    Remain in me, and I will remain in you. 
    For a branch cannot produce fruit 
    if it is severed from the vine, 
    and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 
    “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. 
    Those who remain in me, and I in them, 
    will produce much fruit. 
    For apart from me you can do nothing. 
    But for this purpose I have raised you up, 
    to show you my power, 
    so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 
    John 16:4-5 

    Work hard to prove 
    that you really are among those 
    God has called and chosen. 
    Do these things, and you will never fall away. 
    Then God will give you a grand entrance
     into the eternal Kingdom of our 
    Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
    2 Peter 1:10-11 
     
    Dear friends,
     you always followed my instructions 
    when I was with you. 
    And now that I am away,
     it is even more important. 
    Work hard to show the results of your salvation, 
    obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 
    Philippians 2:12 

    Run the race with endurance 
    Hebrews 12:2 

    And I am sure of this, 
    that he who began a good work in you 
    will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 
    Philippians 1:6  

    And whatever you do, 
    whether in word or deed, 
    do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
    giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
    Colossians 3:17 

    Whatever you do,
     work at it with all your heart, 
    as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 
    Colossians 3:23 
     
    “I will instruct you 
    and teach you in the way you should go;
     I will counsel you with my eye upon you” 
    Psalm. 32:8

     “Who is the man who fears the Lord? 
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose” 
    Psalm. 25:12

    So whether you eat or drink 
    or whatever you do, 
    do it all for the glory of God. 
    1 Corinthians 10:31 

     Each of you should use whatever gift 
    you have received to serve others, 
    as faithful stewards of God’s grace 
    in its various forms.
    If anyone speaks, they should do so
    as one who speaks the very words of God. 
    If anyone serves, they should do so with
     the strength God provides,
    so that in all things 
    God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 
    To him be the glory and the power 
    for ever and ever. Amen. 
    1 Peter 4:10-11 

    Work willingly at whatever you do, 
    as though you were working for the Lord 
    rather than for people. 
    Colossians 3:23 

     There are different kinds of gifts. 
    But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. 
    There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. 
    But the work is for the same Lord. 
    There are different ways of doing His work. 
    But it is the same God who 
    uses all these ways in all people.
    The Holy Spirit works in each person 
    in one way or another for the good of all. 
    1 Corinthians 12:4-8 

    In all your ways acknowledge him 
    and he will direct your paths” 
    Proverbs. 3:56