Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 Chicken breasts diced (1/4-1/2 inch in size)
3 tbsp chicken better than bouillon
4 c water
4 dried or fresh bay leaves
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 15 oz can black beans
1 15 oz can kidney beans
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
¼ c diced onions
8 oz diced green chili's
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp oregano
¾ tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1-2 c corn

Toppings
Cheese
sour cream
Fried tortilla strips or tortilla chips

Put all of the ingredients but the corn into a large crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add corn 15 minutes prior to serving. Serve and top with favorite toppings.

Chicken Marsala

8 oz baby Portabello mushrooms quartered
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4-5 Chicken breasts quartered
1 C Marsala cooking wine
2 tbsp chicken better than bouillon
3 c water
4 tbsp butter
3/8 c corn starch
2/3 c water

Combine mushrooms, chicken, water, wine, butter, and bouillon. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top and cook on low in the crock pot for about 6-8 hours or on high for 2-4. Pull out the chicken and cover with foil. In a small bowl mix cornstarch and water. Whisk into the sauce to thicken. Serve over chicken. (You can cut this in half but we liked it served over the chicken and mash potatoes)

Sweet Lemon Water

1 C sugar
1 tsp lemon extract ( do not use lemon juice it will not work)
1 tsp citric acid
Ice water
1 lemon sliced

Combine sugar, lemon extract, citric acid and enough ice water to fill up a pitcher ( one you would use for punch). You can add a slice of lemon on the ridge of the cup or use it on top in the lemon water. You can also add a few drops of food coloring to it to make it fun.

Honey Wheat Waffles

3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs lightly beaten
¼ tsp salt
½ c apple sauce
1 c whole wheat
1 ¼ c all purpose flour
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cook in waffle maker to the specifications for your waffle iron.

Snickerdoodle Muffins

½ c apple sauce
1 c milk
1 egg lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
½ c sugar
1 c all purpose flour
1 ¼ c whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Topping
½ tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp melted butter
3/8 c brown sugar
Mix all the ingredients for the muffins in a medium bowl. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Coat the tops with melted butter. In a small bowl mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of muffins and serve warm or cold.

Orange muffins

2 eggs lightly beaten
1 c sugar
1 2/3 c milk
2 tsp dried or fresh orange peel
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ c apple sauce
½ tsp salt
2 tsp orange juice concentrate
2 c ground rolled oats ( use a blender or food processor to make a powder.)
1 ½ c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix. Place in muffin pans and bake at 350-375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Honey whole wheat bread

3 tbsp yeast
1 c warm water
1/4 c sugar
3/4 c honey
1/2 c apple sauce
4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
6-7 c whole wheat flour
6-7 c all purpose flour

Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a large bowl and let it develop for up to 5 minutes. Add honey, apple sauce, salt, vanilla, and flour. Stir until well mixed. Let sit for 1/2 hour to rise. You may need more flour to kneed it if it is sticky. Kneed the dough for 3-5 minutes. Separate into bread pans and let rise just over the top of the pan about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. This makes 4 loaves.