Chicken and Noodles or Turkey and Dumplings

Many of you have asked for my recipe for Chicken and Noodles and Turkey and Dumplings. These recipes are basically interchangeable and super easy! We love this kind of comfort food in the fall and winter, so I'm always looking for new and different ways to do them. A big thanks goes out to my friend, Traci, for showing me how to make the easiest Chicken and Noodles ever! :)

Chicken and Noodles

1 package Reames frozen noodles or flat dumplings
1 quart chicken broth
1 1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken or turkey
1 - 2 cups added water

Directions

Bring broth to boiling. Add noodles to broth and cook according to package directions stirring frequently. Add water or extra broth as needed to keep noodles from sticking. When noodles are almost done cooking, add chicken or turkey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Yes, it is that easy! You could also do the same recipe with leftover roast and beef broth. It is one of our favorites! Hope you enjoy it.

Sutton's Monkey Party

I can hardly believe my baby is turning 2 tomorrow! How can that be? I can still remember waiting for her to arrive, scared to death to give birth. It is true what they say about forgetting all of the pain before having a baby. I haven't forgotten the pain, just the intensity of it. I would do it all again in a heartbeat! Anyway...on to the details of her monkey party!

Many of you that know me, know that when I decide on a "theme" for a party, I get a tad bit obsessed with it. When I decided it would be a monkey party, I started surfing online for ideas. I found quite a few and came up with a few things on my own.

First I decided on these cute plates and napkins from Celebrate Express. The pattern is  Mod Monkey. I figure this might be my last year to decide on a party theme, so I decided on a monkey party since she was one for Halloween and her attachment item is her monkey pillow pet.

Then I found these adorable monkey cupcakes online and gave them my own little touch. I thought they needed to be girly monkeys, so I found some left over pink flower sprinkles and used them.

To go along with the monkey theme, I decided to make Paula Dean's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding, Monkey Munch, aka Puppy Chow, and Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread.  The Monkey Munch is in the cupcake wrappers.

 The pink cupcakes were just because there was pink in the Mod Monkey plates and napkins and they are girly. :)

Last but not least, the kiddos had to have treat bags, right? I made these cute little bags with puffy stickers from Michael's. Inside, each had a little coloring book and crayon set, a monkey finger puppet from Grandpa's store, Solo Peru, and a bag of Curious George fruit snacks courtesy of Hy-Vee.

Don't you almost feel like you were at the party with us? It was a fun time for all (I think). :) We also had a ballon bouquet of pink, green, brown and a Curious George balloon. So cute! I think it hit all of the highlights from the party. Please use this as inspiration if you ever want to have a monkey party for your little monkey!

Chicken Tortilla Soup - Another version

 And so begins the cold weather...probably for good this time! There's nothing like a nice warm comforting bowl of soup when it's cold outside! This crock pot favorite is sure to please the whole family. Yummy! Enjoy!

Tortilla Soup

2 (4-ounce) skinned and boned chicken breast halves, cubed
2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can tomato puree
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
4 (5 1/2-inch) corn tortillas
Garnish: chopped fresh cilantro

Combine first 13 ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook at HIGH 6 hours. Discard bay leaf.

Cut tortillas into 1/4-inch-wide strips; place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375° for 5 minutes. Stir and bake 5 more minutes or until crisp. Serve with soup; garnish, if desired.

Yield: 10 cups

CALORIES 112 FAT 0.8g SODIUM 513mg CHOLESTEROL 13mg