Back with Sherbet!

It has been EXTREMELY hot here this summer. So hot, that you don't even like thinking about turning your oven on. In fact, I've had a hard time getting Steve to even grill anything. It's CRAZY!

One thing we made a bunch of this summer is homemade ice cream. I have my tried and true favorite...you know, one that you make so many times that you don't even have to look at a recipe. The kind of recipe that Steve knows exactly what ingredients to get at the grocery store without even asking. It's that kind of recipe. We've made it for a couple of different parties we've had at our house and I anticipate it will join the menu of an upcoming fish fry.

I don't mess with those kind of recipes. Although, I do get bored. So when I saw this on PW's site, I was excited to give it a try. I love cherries and thought a cherry sherbet would go nicely at this Sunday school party along side all the rest of the homemade ice cream from others.

My kids all tried it. And gotta say...they would probably opt for the good old vanilla. In fact, when I say tried it, it was just a spoonful from a couple of them. Natalie, Steve, and I thought it was really good. And if you like cherries, you'll love this recipe. I'm betting you could use just about any fruit too. Hopefully the long, hot, days of summer are about over. But until then, don't cook. Eat ice cream! (or sherbet)

Enchilada Twist

PW's Simple, Perfect Enchiladas are always a huge hit. I've made them for family gatherings, church potlucks, when we have guests over, and have stocked our freezer full for a yummy meal on those busy nights when we need something quick.

I was intrigued by the variation on the recipe which uses sour cream and cheese as the filling instead of the usual ground beef. So therefore, in addition to the old standby, I made these tonight. I must admit, the kiddos stuck with the original, but Steve and I really liked the meatless variety. Basically, the method is very much the same...the filling is the only difference.

Worth a try! And definitely a great addition to the original. A perfect combination to serve your guests and also a great way to offer a vegetarian option.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Earlier this winter, a good friend of mine at work told me about THIS recipe and said it was just "out of this world" good. No, this is not from The Pioneer Woman, but from what I know of her, she would LOVE it. The first time I tried it at home and I absolutely loved it. Very rich flavors and the gnocchi add such a nice bite (literally). I had never bought gnocchi before--but they are similar to a potato dumpling. I purchased them from Dillon's in the dry food aisle that has the italian pasta and sauces. Although I loved it at first bite, my critics weren't so sure. Especially of these "round things" floating around in their soup bowls.

A couple of months later, we had a family reunion at our house and I decided to make two different soups and have sandwiches. I pulled out the Chicken Gnocchi soup recipe and everyone loved it. Even my kids were a bit more enthused.

That brings us to last night. Again...a couple more months down the road. It was a high of 32 degrees on this March day with cold, drizzling rain. And I had gnocchi and chicken on hand. So, here we are...and I can safely give this dish a 5 star rating after the seconds each child and Steve had last night. Does this go to show the more you introduce something to your children, they will soon begin to like it??? Hmmm...

This is from the Copykat recipe site, which is a fun website to visit and check to see if some of your favorite dishes/recipes are listed that you may find in restaurants. This particular recipe is a knock-off from the Olive Garden.