Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some recipes for you.

Recipes:

• Baked Rice Pudding

• Banana Cake

• Basic Pancakes

• Breakfast Casserole

• Chicken Salad

• Cream of Chicken Soup

• Mexican Enchiladas

• Sirloin Steak Stew – Crock Pot

• Make-Ahead French Toast

• Creamy Cupcakes

1 package cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 package chocolate cake mix

Preheat oven to 350F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake papers. Prepare chocolate cake mix according to package instructions and set aside. In a separate bowl mix together sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in egg and mix well. Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Fill cupcake cases 1/2 full of chocolate cake batter. Then add 1 full teaspoon of cream cheese mixture to center. Top with more chocolate cake batter. Cupcake cups should be 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched in center. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan to cool completely.

1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup
12 Slices of white bread (crusts trimmed)
1 1/2 cup whole milk
6 Large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine corn syrup, butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and simmer gently until the sugar melts. Pour this mixture into the bottom of a greased 9×12 inch casserole dish. Place the bread slices over the sugar mixture. In a separate bowl beat together eggs, milk, vanilla and salt. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover the dish and let stand overnight in refrigerator. The following morning, preheat over to 350F. Uncover the casserole dish and bake for approximately 45 minutes.

* This is a basic french toast recipe that’s very versatile. Try adding slivered almonds into the egg mixture. You can also add sliced strawberries, blueberries or even chocolate chips!

2 pounds sirloin tips (cut into 1-inch cubes)
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
1 can beef broth
1 1/2 cup canned or frozen corn kernels
3 medium carrots (sliced)
1 medium onion (sliced)
2 garlic cloves (crushed)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and place in bottom of crock-pot. Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours or until beef is tender.

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (softened)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup green onions (thinly sliced)
6 flour tortillas
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa of choice

Place cream cheese in bowl and beat with electric mixer until smooth. Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and onions. Mix well. Spread each tortilla with a portion of the cream cheese mixture down center of tortilla. Roll up and place, seam side down, in a baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas until cream cheese mixture and tortillas are used up. Pour salsa over tortillas. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over salsa and tortillas. Bake at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until everything is heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.

* Serve with your favorite Mexican toppings and a side salad.

4 chicken thigh fillets (cut into small chunks)
4 cups chicken broth (homemade, stock cubes, or canned broth)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
1 clove garlic (crushed)
2 medium carrots (roughly chopped)
2 stalks celery (finely chopped)
1 small can corn
1 cup pasta shells (or any small pasta you have)
1 cup cream

Heat oil in large pan. Add onion and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes on low heat (until onions are soft). Add chicken, carrot, corn and stock and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes. Add pasta and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in cream and heat through without boiling.

2 cups flour
2 cups milk
2 eggs (beaten)
1/3 cup butter (melted)
2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Makes approximately 8 pancakes

In a large bowl combine flour, milk, beaten eggs, 1/3 cup melted butter, sugar, baking powder and salt until just blended. Preheat lightly greased griddle or frying pan. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into pan per pancake. Cook until pancakes begin to bubble. Flip once and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Serve with maple syrup, jam or fruit.

* This is a basic, easy pancake recipe you can easily vary. Try adding fresh cut fruit or chocolate chips to the batter for variation.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas mashed
2/3 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate bowl mix butter and sugar until well combined. Add eggs and mashed bananas to butter mixture. Add to flour mixture along with the yogurt and mix together well (until smooth). Spoon batter into lightly greased baking pan and top with walnuts (if using). Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until baked through.

1/2 cup cooked rice
3 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
3 1/2 cups milk
Ground nutmeg

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except nutmeg. Pour mixture into a lightly buttered shallow baking dish and sprinkle with nutmeg. Place baking dish in a pan of hot water in oven and Place baking dish in a pan of hot water in oven and bake at 300° for about 1 1/2 hours, or until set.

2 boneless/skinless chicken breast halves (cooked and cut into pieces)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup frozen peas (cooked)
1/2 cup carrot (finely grated)
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Bake the chicken breast for approximately 20 minutes (until no longer pink and cooked through). Chop into small pieces. Boil frozen peas according to package instructions, drain and cool. Place chicken, peas and all ingredients in large bowl and combine fully. Serve on bagels, pita, or any favorite bread.