I started to learn to cook back when my wife was 19 and I was 20- newlyweds! In Western Michigan, there is a large population of Dutch descended folks. I don't know why, but I heard once we use more cream of mushroom, or cream of chicken soup per population than just about anywhere! I was green, a newby to cooking..I had a couple of cookbooks, and a desire to become a better cook. Most of my recipes came off the box or the can! One of my first memories of a cooking success came from Campbell's Cream O Chicken soup! I spread the thick goop over some skin on chicken breasts and baked them.. I used Minute rice back then, as I didn't know any better.. It was a meal my wife and I enjoyed, both simple and good!
Last night, with our pantry getting low, I seasoned some boneless chicken breasts, dumped and spread a can of Cream of Chicken soup on them, and baked for an hour. I made white rice to go with it, which came out just right! the gravy is made with the chicken, which with added seasoning, was very tasty..
Sometimes it's good to revisit simple, it helps you remember good times when you were light on cash, but heavy on appreciating..
56 comments:
Sometimes the most simple meals are the best Buff! :)
This reminds me of when I started cooking for Ben... :)
I did sorta the same thing. I take cream of mushroom and mix with milk, add a package of Lipton Onion Soup mix, mix all together, pour it over the skinless, boneless chicken breast, and man oh man. My kids LOVE it!
NOM...comfort food. Just made a big batch of turkey and dumplings with the turkey carcass I froze from Christmas dinner. You and the Mendon Foodie have really got me cooking again!
We eat mostly meals like this and they seem to make everyone happy ... and full!
Ake- The rice with the gravy was the hit of the meal..
BlondeD- We all started somewhere!
Bina- Sounds good! About the same principle..
Hope- Mendon as in Michigan? I'll check it out!
Dana- Good on a cold winter's night...
I used the same ingredients as Bina, but dumped it over a chuck roast, sealed it in tin foil and baked it two or three hours. Sometimes I added carrots and/or potatoes. We always called it "Michigan Supper" and the kids asked for it often. So did my Dad.
Barb- Pretty much how I make a pot roast- My spice drawers weighs in excess of 20lbs. each- I mix my own powders!
I totally think I can handle this. Furthermore, I'm def going seduce my boyfriend with this recipe asap!
My friend made the most divine pork chops by simmering them in Cream of Mushroom soup and then making mashed potatoes for the gravy. Sigh. I still remember it.
I still do that kind of thing quite frequently and it's good every single time. No wonder you revisited it!
Jules- You can do this one blindfolded- it's that easy!
Kate- It works with nearly every meat or poultry!
BlueV- I'm restocking my pantry this week end..Baking bread right now!
And I bet back then you never thought you'd turn into such a chef.
What rice do you use now-Basmati?
Uber- I use them all, but brown rice, and white medium grained is usually the choice. I use wild rice a fair amount- but it really isn't rice, it's a wild grass!
Why you romantic devil you
That was totally me in 1995 when I went from being single to married with two children. I did the exact same thing back then.
The memories that brings back....I wonder if I have any campbell's mushroom soup:)
I didn't know how to cook when I was first married and a couple of disasters was just the motivation I needed. I was 19 too. I used the make the same recipe. Instant Rice was all I knew about. Uncle Bens, Cream of whatever soups, and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese kept us alive for the first couple months. :-)
Throw in some Velveeta cheese, and you've got a gourmet dish!
Griller-Life beats the romance in you straight out of your vocabulary!
Chris- It's good to remember the hand me down kitchen table, the dishes bought on sale, and the first foods you learned to prepare..
Highlander- We thought if we ate a lot of Mac-N-Cheese, we'd have our own house in nothing flat! Probably save 20 bucks...:0
Jeanne- The fake cheese everyone uses and no one admits to!
Sometimes just revisiting an old idea is just what the doctor ordered.
sometimes simple is best...we recently revisited chili i made for my wife when we were in college...and had no money. nice to remember. have a great weekend!
Feed me, Buffy!!!!
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you always have good retro comfort food. happy new year buff!
I saw a recipe when I was in college for mayo on chicken, so I tried it. Not bad for a poor student, but not a choice I would use now. I made risotto for hubby on our first night in his condo, a pan of mess is what it was. I did not use stock, only water, and had a big pan of blob. We laugh about it now as he eats the good and made right version now :)
Furniture found by the dumpster...will anyone admit to that one :) or we used it for fire wood in the winter, and we all know Texas has no winter compared to yours!
I used to make this all the time in college. So, you've always been interested in cooking?! How nice for your wife!
I found your blog through a comment you made on Sidewalk shoes. Your a scream.
As an Ohioan, I understand cooking with Campbell's Soups. I learned several soup recipes in Home Ec that have come in handy over the years.
I've book marked your blog and can't wait to explore it.
Pam
Not only was it tasty, it probably brought back happy memories. That's the cool thing about food. I smell something and it takes me back to my grandma's kitchen with the meatballs and potatoes and lettuce salad. I bet she loved it too.
Funny, I think simple for you is elaborate for me.
Growing up when we had little money we had fried eggs over white rice. I still LOVE it to this day but rarely have it.
Food memeories like that one can be cause for a romantic interlude. Bet great times were conversation during this lovely dinner.
I never buy Campbell's any more, but your post made me remember how easy and delicious chicken can be, covered in one of its cream soups.
otin- It's a combo of tastes good, and memories..
Brian- I remember when I didn't follow the stock market- I was happier!
Uber- Would that I could..
Deb- I have a Heritage cook book somewhere in my collection, that has dishes prepared around the Revolutionary period!
ChefE- I lost my job a week before our wedding, and my wife didn't have one yet.. Talk about winging it!
Pam- My learning to cook was in self defense! She never cooked before..
Gypsy- Welcome to the blog! Midwest folks have a lot of recipes in common!
Tam- I also made bread, so the house smelled wonderful!
Ily- I ate a lot of eggs growing up, too!
Donna- You are right- we talked of when this simple meal was a big step forward!
Judy- Welcome! I don't think I've used soup from a can as soup in a long time! Usually an ingredient..
I love this post. It really goes to show you that food is a language, and a universal langauge at that. It's like music. Depending on the kind, it can bring us back to different times in our life. I love that you went back to basics :) 19 and 20! You and your wifey are an inspiration!
Rachel- I was so much happier when the future was bright- and didn't think it could be anything but better..
I still make some of these simple receipes - they are good, especially on a cold winter night.
K- Good is good... I get tired of reading blogs that include ingredients I can't get, or never heard of..
My mother was a terrible cook. I bought my first cookbook, a Reader's Digest one that was only about 3 years old then, at a tag sale when I was 15 for a quarter. It's still with me, and it's a great go-to for simple meals. Those are the best in cold, snowy weather; the food and memories make you feel all warm and fuzzy, don't they? (PS: I'm not really a warm and fuzzy kind of girl BTW.)
I think any kind of creamy soup makes anything taste better! Well, except for cereal, cake, ice cream and pancakes. I'm not the worst cook ever... At least I hope I'm not!
Marjie- I bet you are the kindest woman ever- even if you don't choose to show it! I got your number, and aren't fooling me!
Momster- I know you can cook- because you care about the ones around you!
Buff, I am a great believer in keeping it simple. Sometimes when I'm in a rush, I will pull a few simple ingredients together and come up with something delicious.
P.S. It's good to know you can still remember meals from back when you were first married! *giggles*
Awe you know how much I love3 hearing about your wife and children...it gives me hope ...
KB- Good to hear from you! Younger back then- and hungrier..I wonder why?....:)
Darngirl- Where is life, there will always be hope..
Absolutely nice post my friend . My kids love to cook too, gerardo like make spaguetti and Esperanza some salads. I like people love to cook.
I begun to cook about when I had 11 years, my Mom teach cook and she was sick by months so I begun to cook .....and I love it!
My soul is warm when I come here, good friends, good people, thanks gloria
Gloria- You are gracious and always welcome!
Thanks a lot! My soul needed this! x
I think the closest thing I came to this is boiling pasta and warming the whole jar of pasta sauce in the hot water - I have only had velveeta twice in my life once as a kid and hated it and then again as an adult to see if my mind had changed - guess what? I dont eat velveeta.
Gloria- Just the truth!
DogB- I use Velveeta occasionally, to smooth out a cheese sauce..straight up, we call it "Nerd" cheese!
sounds so comforting!
So simple, yet sooo good!!
Hey, Happy New Year to you and yours!!
(i started a diet right after New Year's and your blog is not the place for me...lol....it's like an alchoholic going into a bar!!!)
But I'll come back occassionally to visit and say hey!!!
Peace
One can be as fancy and 'Eclectic' (I hate that word) as one wants.
It's ALL Good!
Minute rice..
Velveeta..
Canned soup..
My favorite ingredient to cook with beef is Campbells Golden Mushroom soup!
To me, the perfect lunch is a grilled cheese made with Velveeta, and bowl of Campbells Tomato soup!
Or tuna mixed with Miracle Whip!
Or a fried bologna sandwich!
Or Chef Boyardee Ravioli out of the can!
Or....Whatever trips your trigger!
You Buff...You give us 'other' choices, and thats why you ROCK!!!
odat- Good to hear from you!
G-man- I wouldn't eat gourmet every day, even if I could!
Kris- It was warm and filling..
Hi everybody and specially buffalo, how are you?? Im a little down, so I come to see yo, well, other day, and thanks God for this, I will try to post today a new recipe, cook is very good for the soul!!!and for me work!
gloria
Gloria- Snuck in on me! Hope to cheer you with this comment... Your house and family are beautiful- and you are a kind woman, who deserves the cooking compliments you get!
This is such a sweet post. Loved learning about you. I'm your new follower and excited to come back and read more posts!
Truly a romantic meal and don't those taste the best?
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