Spring for me is a big season of family and friends. We all come out of hibernation and are able to get together outside. I love sitting on my back porch and hearing the sounds of kids playing or neighbors taking their evening walks. It builds a strong sense of community. Spring is also the season of new beginnings and some of you might need a hobby to keep you entertained! That’s why I asked some teacher around LHS to send me some of their favorite family recipes! Get out your pots and pans because we’re about to cook up some delicious dishes!

Mom Sig’s Cheese Dip (Mrs. Paskey)

Every get together needs a good snack and this dip is the perfect thing! Mrs. Paskey told me “It is at every one of our family gatherings – it isn’t a Sigurslid family gathering without cheese dip!” So be sure to add this to your list of recipes to bring to your next get together! It’s great for going out all the while it still feels like home. Not to mention that it’s ridiculously easy to make. (Maybe just don’t divulge in it if you’re lactose intolerant…)

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese (in a tub)
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1.5 tsp garlic Salt

Steps:

1. Soften the cheddar cheese and cream cheese to room temperature
2. Blend all ingredients together and chill
3. Serve with crackers or pretzels

Grandma Larson’s Chicken and Noodles (Mrs. Barlow)

If you’ve taken one of Mrs. Barlow’s classes, you know that she talks about her family quite often. So obviously I had to ask her for a recipe. Mrs. Barlow said that her Grandma Larson has been making this all her life. “I think she came up with it back in the 1960s when microwaves were a new invention,” she said. Mrs. Barlow also shared with me a memory of her grandma making this dish.  “A big memory I have of this recipe was back in 2010 I was really sick and living by myself while in college. My lovely Grandma drove an hour to see me and made this for me so I had food to eat while sick. I was feeling kind of lonely because it was my first time living solo and I was really sick and didn’t have anyone to take care of me (not to be too dramatic) so the fact she came down for a weekend and made this really stuck with me.”

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 8 oz. of egg noodles
• 4  tbsp of butter
• 4 tbsp finely chopped onion
• 4 tbsp of flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 2 cups of chopped, cooked chicken

Steps:

1. Bring water to a boil and cook 8 oz. of egg noodles. While noodles are cooking, complete the steps below
2.  In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt 4 tbsp of butter with 4 tbsp of finely chopped onion
3. When melted add 4 tbsp of flour and nuke (microwave) for 15 seconds. 
4. Then add 2 cups chicken broth and zap (microwave again) until moderatetly thick. Time will vary depnedning on microwave
5. Stir to keep everything well mixed
6. Add 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese, 1 tsp garlic salt, and 2 cups of chopped, cooked chicken
7. Mix in noodles and enjoy! 
8. (Optional. Grandma Larson sometimes likes to add more chicken and mushrooms to dress it up a bit)

Mrs. Anderson’s Chicken Devon (Mr. Anderson)

Easy and tasty meals are THE BEST. What makes them better though? Being homemade and linked to memories of family. Mr. Anderson said that his mom’s meal is “definitely a family favorite.” He also said that his mom makes it every time his sister comes back from Washinton! What meals from your family are staples?

Ingredients:

• 1, 10oz bag of microwavable broccoli
•  1 ½ lb cooked chicken breast (cut up and no skin)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• ½ cup mayonaise 
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• ¼ tsp curry powder
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup bread crumbs or croutons
• ½ tbsp melted butter

Steps:

1. Cook broccoli
2. Arrange in 8×8 pan
3. Put in cut up chicken
4. In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise, soup, lemon juice, and curry powder
5. Stir until smooth and pour over chicken
6. Spinkle cheese on top
7. Mix bread crumbs with melted butter
8. Bake for 30 min at 350°

Mrs. Jelinek’s Apple Crisp

Mrs, Jelinek is no stranger to cozy and comfortable. While you may not understand Romeo and Juliet or don’t want to read Frankenstein over the summer (ooh self burn), you can’t deny that everything about her feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer on a rainy day. So it’s absolutely no surprise that she offered up one of the coziest and most welcoming recipes there is. When I asked her about this dish, she said “Even though I’ve had the ingredients memorized for years, I pull this out when I make apple crisp because I like to be reminded of elementary school and my grandma.” I think we all love a generational meal that reminds us of home. 

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 4 cups sliced apples
• 1 cup flour
• 1 ½ cups raw oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 stick of butter
• Raisins if desired

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Place apples in greased, shallow baking dish
3. In a seperate bowl, combine the dry ingredients
4. Melt butter, then add to dry mixture
5. Mix well
6. Spinkle crumb mixture on top of apples
7. Place in oven and bake for 30 min
8. Enjoy!