Feeding a crowd with Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

Maybe you are entertaining for New Years Day or planning on having some company to watch football one weekend.  No need to fret and stay busy in the kitchen while your guests are having fun.  Better yet you may want to make some make ahead meals for when school is in full swing.

This Southern Living Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole recipe can be made up to a month ahead and frozen.  You don't even need to remember to defrost it, only 60 minutes at room temperature before you bake it a little longer than the just made version.  You could even refrigerate  it  for a day or several hours if you wanted to make it ahead for a shorter time.  I added a layer of parchment paper below the tinfoil.

Horrible Picture does not do it justice!

Have some turkey left over from Christmas or frozen from Thanksgiving, now is the time to use it.  This was even quicker for me as I used left over turkey.   You could also buy a rotisserie chicken to save time on roasting the chicken.  I also toasted the almonds the day I made the casserole and left them out room temperature.

This recipe is made for a crowd so if you want make 2 (11- x 7-inch) baking dishes. Eat one that night and freeze the other for another night.  I guess you could also halve the recipe but I think you will like the leftovers.

Add a salad and a simple dessert (chocolate is my suggestion) and you have a complete meal.  No fuss dinner and everyone will enjoy the comfort taste of this recipe.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy 2012.

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole adapted from Southern Living

• 1 (2.25-oz.) package sliced almonds
• 2 (6.2-oz.) boxes fast-cooking long-grain and wild rice mix
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 5 cups chopped cooked chicken (or turkey)
• 2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of mushroom soup (healthy request)
• 2 (8-oz.) cans chopped water chestnuts, drained
• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream (light)
• 1 cup milk (skim)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups (16 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 cups soft, fresh breadcrumbs ( I used Panko)

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan 4 to 6 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
2. 2. Prepare rice mixes according to package directions.
3. 3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add celery and onions. Sauté 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken, next 6 ingredients, rice, and 3 cups cheese. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 15- x 10-inch baking dish or 2 (11- x 7-inch) baking dishes. Top with breadcrumbs.
4. 4. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese, and top with toasted almonds. Bake 5 minutes.
5. To Make Ahead: Prepare as directed in Steps 2 and 3. Cover with aluminum foil, and parchment and freeze up to 1 month. Remove from freezer, and let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Toast almonds as directed in Step 1. Bake casserole, covered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 55 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese and toasted almonds. Bake 5 more minutes.
6. Shrimp-and-Wild Rice Casserole: Substitute 2 lb. peeled and deveined, medium-size raw shrimp (4 1/50 count) for chicken; 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese and 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese for Cheddar cheese; and 1 cup dry white wine for milk.
7. Cajun Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole: Omit salt and pepper. Reduce chicken to 2 1/2 cups. Prepare as directed, sautéing 1 lb. andouille sausage, chopped, and 1 green bell pepper, diced, with celery in Step 3. Stir 1 (15-oz.) can black-eyed peas, drained, and 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning into rice mixture. Proceed as directed.

,

Natural House Cleaning Products-Review and Giveaway

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:7Powered by
I hope everyone is still relaxing for a hectic holiday season.  Although the last thing you want to think about is cleaning, I am sure your homes are in need after the many visitors and just family being home.  This is one product I am really need to rely on the company for true results.

The product I have been testing for the last two weeks is Natural House Cleaning Products.  I was given samples of three of their products, Flushy, Sinky and Trashy.  Trashy: Trash Can Deodorizer and Scrubber, Flushy:Toilet Bowl Cleaner + Septic Treatment, and Sinky: Disposal Scrubber and Drain Maintenance.

What makes these products different than other cleaning products I have seen is they have a probiotics in them.  Here is the blurb from their website " Natural house probiotic cultures are naturally occurring beneficial organisms have been selected from balanced natural ecosystems in nature. These probiotics have maintained life’s subtle balance on earth and they are now helping maintain that same balance in your own home. Natural House uses carefully selected non-pathogenic and non-toxic probiotic bacteria combined with natural, plant-based, biodegradable synergistic ingredients to plow through the toughest cleaning problems in your natural house."


These products have no "cleaning" smell and did the foaming action as described.  I used the trashy in my kitchen garbage once a week and am hopeful it did what is suggests.  I also found my son used the garbage can when he had the stomach bug 
do I definitely reached for Trashy!!


 I really don't have the scientific mechanisms to test the efficiency of these products but hopeful it does what it suggests.  To view their video on this product go here.


To learn more or purchase these products you can find them at their webpage or  http://www.naturalhouse.com/products/ -- Or they can purchase Natural House on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_hpc?_encoding=UTF8&node=3760901&field-brandtextbin=Natural%20House  --      

You can also find them on Facebook or Twitter to get other people's opinions and experiences.


One reader will get a month supply of these products.  Just leave a comment and your email.  Contest ends 
January 2nd 8pm EST.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Happy Holidays from my family to yours

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday season.  Not sure how much more I will be posting these next few days.  I want to thank all my readers for taking the time to visit Close to Home and hopefully finding useful tips and recipes.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday if you are staying close to home or visiting friends or relatives.

These are the stickers I made for holiday gifts from Customized Stickers.  Using picnik.com to add the details!

Last minute party or neighbor gifts

It's crunch time for Christmas.  Neighbors are starting to distribute their little tokens of friendship and the kids might have a few more days of school if you are lucky.  So what can you put together that is inexpensive but thoughtful.

Remember the cookies in the jar but you don't have the correct size jars on hand.  I am pretty sure you have festive gift bags or smaller containers on hand.

Simply place all the ingredients in a ziploc, a quart size is plenty for this recipe. 

   Then add it to your bag with the directions attached.  This is done quickly and the kids can even  participate.    It won't stay layered but they taste the same!!

Fudge cookie cutters.  I made these for place settings one Thanksgiving.  I wanted to share my Christmas version.. I made peppermint fudge and decorated with leftover royal icing.

Here my sister made these for a baby shower and just added sprinkles for decoration.

So easy and inexpensive.  I added a family sticker I created from a blog review.

More of a baker.  This is the first time I have tried paper baking trays.  I found them for 40% off at Michael's and could not resist, especially since they came with all the packaging.  They did have a little smell in the oven as they baked but they looked great.

SImply make your favorite quick bread recipe and divide it between three of these small papers.

After making these I saw many different sizes at Sur La Table sold individually.  They did not have prices on them so I could not compare.

Boxwood Christmas Tree

In a previous post I discussed bringing your outside in to decorate your home for the holidays.  My master gardner neighbor brought this gift to me a few years ago. 

Although I can not replicate it, I attempted and think it worked out pretty well.

I was actually thinking of making these for my children's teachers but after making 2 I got tired of them and thought I would destroy my boxwoods with too much trimming.

This craft requires a bit of boxwood.  My neighbor said that boxwoods actually need to be trimmed and she recommends just breaking of the parts of the bush that are hanging out of place.  No clippers needed.

Soak your oasis in water for a few minutes before beginning this project.

To start this craft you will need a small ceramic container...no holes.  A block of oasis, a small craft or kitchen knife and patience.

Make sure the oasis fits in the container and if too big try supporting it with extra oasis of rocks.  Then using the knife cut off the sides to resemble a Christmas tree.

Then starting from the bottom work your way up adding the sprigs of boxwood into the oasis.  following the shape of the oasis and using a shorter pieces as you go up.  

For the top find a  nice rounded sprig and stick it on top.  You may need a few pieces to get the affect you want.  Add a bow on top or my neighbor added ornaments glued onto plant picks.

Continue to water every couple of days.  This should last you several weeks and even if it dries out slightly it makes a wonderful table decoration.

 

Make sure you look around your neighbors for some boxwoods that need a trim!

Instant party--Rudolph's nose drink and Melting snowman cheeseball

Anyone can throw a party over the holidays, but why not add some themed elements to make it more festive.  For a recent event I hosted I had to add some flair to the ordinary items.

For beverages: I added little candy canes to the glasses.    These were fruit flavored so it would not take away for the flavor of this festive drink:  Rudolph's nose.

To make it easier on me,  I mixed enough mixer to make 8 glasses and just shook them in the cocktail shaker and then put it into a pitcher for the party.  This saves time for having to measure and mix each glass.  Serve in champagne flutes.

have extra  CC's open for additional drinks

To make one drink:

Ice

1 oz. vodka

1/2 oz. triple sec

1 oz. cranberry juice

1 oz. cherry juice (did not have)

1 or 2 raspberries

Brut champagne or spakling wine

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, 

and cherry juice.  Shake, then strain into a sparklin wine flute.  Drop the raspberries into the glass then top with champagne.

Melting Ranch Snowman Spread

I adapted this recipe from Taste of Home which was a full snowman, but did not need that much cheese.  I just make 1/2 the recipe.  If you are having a larger group make the entire recipe and divide the cheeseballs into 2 different sized balls.

Full recipe:  2 pkgs (8oz each) cream cheese softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 envelop ranch salad dressing mix

1 tbsp spicy brown mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

assorted decorations, olives, pretzel sticks, peppers, cracker, raisins, carrot.

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.  add the dressing mix, mustard, and garlic and mix well.  Shape into two balls or one ball for melting snowman.  Cover and refridgerate for at least 4 hrs.  ( I made a few days in advance)

For melting snowman add a little ball on top to resemble the head.

To make the hat, use cream cheese in between the crackers.

Games:

How about mixing things up by making your friends turn into reindeer.  Divide the groups evenly.  Each group gets a pair of Cheap tan pantyhose.  (I purchased size B and it may have been easier to get a queen size.

Have an assortment of deflated balloons-dollar store has bags with a variety of sizes and colors.

Have the group chose one player, but don't tell them what for.  This will be the "reindeer" model.

Set the timer for 3 to 5 mins and have the folks fill their stockings.  Then have the "models" put on their reindeer antlers.

The winner

Added a nose for effect

 

Italian Rainbow Cookies

The baking season has begun, at least at our house.  I have been eyeing this recipe since my November issue of TASTE OF HOME, arrived.   Although growing up in an italian household, we never had these at home.  I remember trying them once or twice with a bakery assortment.

They do require a lot of steps but it is fairly easy.  Just be sure your oven racks are even....mine were not in correctly and I did not realize it until after the layers were almost finished baking.  See pictures below..

Uneven Rack

s...oops

While searching online for the recipe to link to I found several different recipes, most with almond paste.  If you don't like Hazelnuts or macadamia nuts as described in this version, search for a flavor you will enjoy.

Hazelnut Paste

Also why can't you make these red white and blue for Fourth of July???

The recipe says it makes 12 dozen, enough to give out to several neighbors.
The recipe is pretty long so if you can't find one on the web you like, just add a comment with your email and I will send you a pdf!!

Making your three colors

I only used 2 pans, let the other color stay in fridge

Spreads more easily with off set spatula

White layer worked correctly

My 5 minutes of Fame & Kids Cold and Flu Kit Giveaway--

CLOSED  


True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:12Wow I had my second live television experience this am.  The first was in high school with our golf team, but I had a team behind me.  When I was asked to go on our local TV program to discuss Cold and Flu products for children I was definitely hesitant but some friends convinced me it was a win win situation.  Thanks to their support and a few glasses of wine we were enjoying I called back to take the spot.

So after chasing my kids out of the house early with a neighbor and having another neighbor come do my makeup (love my neighbors)  I made my 5 minutes of fame on live TV.  If you have 5  minutes feel free to watch this VIDEO.

More importantly I have an arrange of products to provide one lucky follower to help your family get through the cold and flu season.  It really has just begun.

One lucky winner will receive:

Babyganics  Hand santizing products
Pump sanitizer regular and purse size
large bag of individually wrapped wipes

Cold n Cough

Xlear Nasal Spray

and Mobi Ear and Forehead thermometer

A great value over $60 worth of supplies to keep your family healthy this season.

Giveaway is for US only and ENds Dec 20th at 7pm EST.

Leave a comment for each entry and your email too.

Follow via GFC--tell me what product you think will be most helpful
Follow via FB- 1 entry
Follow via Twitter-1 entry
Follow via email-1 entry
Tweet about the giveaway-include link back to tweet-1 entry per day
Post a link on FB about the giveaway--include link to tout--1 entry per day

Thanks for watching and now you really know what I look like!!

I was not given an compensation for this tv spot, or for this giveaway.

Drop in and Decorate Party with Girl Scouts

Have you ever heard of Drop in and Decorate, cookies for donation?  If you have not it is worth looking into if you are looking for a service project for a group or just and way to help the community with your girl friends.

Drop in and Decorate is a non profit organization that was started by Lydia Walshin to help people get together and help their own community.  The premise of the organization is to provide cookies to to an organization that meets the most basic human needs of food or shelter in your community.  They are very specific as to whom you can use their logo with so check their website to see if your organization qualifies.

I was in chosen to host my daughter's December Troop meeting.  I choose Drop in and Decorate as part of the activities.  Our chosen organization was the Ronald MacDonald House.

Drop in and Decorate sometimes offers party hosts some assistance with their  parties.  When I notified them they sent me a booklet with cookie ideas as well as a $25 Michael's gift card to help  purchase supplies.  Last year when I was looking into it they were sending some supplies. How wonder is this, I was given a donation to make a donation.  Pillsbury is a proud supporter of this organization.

Don't feel overwhelmed with the idea of making 40 to 50 cookies for a large group.  The great thing about sugar cookies is that they can be baked ahead of time and frozen.  Also try a local bakery or grocery store and see if they will donate some.

The troop had 10 girls and I knew it would be expensive to buy 10 cookie writers, so I purchased a few and decided to make royal icing.  This was my first time outside of making it with a gingerbread kit.  Wow, I now know why it is so expensive to buy those specialized cookies.  Making the stuff is daunting, but so is putting it in to squeeze bottles....  Check out Drop in and Decorate for ideas...found this after the fact.

Over all the girls had a fun time coming up with creations for the cookies.

Here are some of their creations:

Here they are all packaged and ready to go.  I used a box from a tower of treats we received one year.  I knew I was keeping those boxes for a good reason!!

Because the cookies need some time to set up we were not able to go directly to the Ronald MacDonald House that evening.  My husband took my daughter the next morning.  It was a great experience for both she and my boys to see this property and were given a complete tour of the facility.  It makes you feel blessed this time of year that we are not spending our holidays away from home and in a hospital room.  Bless these families and those around the country in other Ronald McDonald houses.

It may be too late to help communities this season but organizations need and are willing to take donations through out the year.  Mix it up and host a Valentine's Drop in and Decorate party or just a winter blah event after the holidays.  Have some wine and help decorate some cookies to cheer up someone in need.

 

123 Cookies--Revisited with a Twist

In efforts to get ahead of my holiday baking, I gathered all the ingredients to make my 123 Cookies.  Well for some reason I only had a large stash of White Chocolate chips.  Unusual as I do not often bake with them.  Anyway, I thougtht why not I will have white and black cookies how cute will they looked packaged!!  I also thought I could adorn them with red sprinkles.

Not really thinking it all out and realizing white and brown (peanut butter) makes a lighter brown I made tan cookies.  I still added the red sprinkles just to mix it up a little.

The real thing is the taste....

Same texture, just a more subtle flavoring.  Not sure now which one I prefer.
Thing they will still look adorable packaged next to each other.

Sometimes things are created by accident...


Here is the repost of the recipe.

1, 2  3 cookies.  This is a great one for egg and wheat allergy friends and family.  Have never tried but it would work with almond or soy butter too..  

1 cup of peanut butter-not crunchy

2 cups of chocolate chips

3 cups broken up Corn flakes

Simply melt the chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth.  Add the peanut butter and then stir in the cornflakes.

Scoop onto a cookie pan lined with wax paper and put in the fridge until firm

For a more festive presentation, scoop into mini cupcake holders.

These would look great wrapped up in a small candy dish as a hostess or teachers gift.

Happy Candy making