Family recipes

These are two chicken casseroles that I have made regularly over the years. Katie asked for the recipe, and then Emily, so here they are for everyone. Enjoy!

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

4 chicken breast halves
3 packages (10 ounces each) frozen broccoli cooked according to package directions, or 2 pounds fresh broccoli, well trimmed and cooked until tender crisp
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 milk
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 cup buttered crumbs or parmesan cheese


Simmer chicken breasts in water just to cover for about 30 minutes, or until tender. Remove chicken from broth and cool enough to handle. Then slice into large pieces.
In a 9x9x2 inch pan, arrange broccoli. Layer chicken over broccoli. Make a sauce by combining soup, milk, sour cream and cheese. Add more milk if necessary.
Pour sauce over chick and broccoli to cover chicken pieces completely. Cover with buttered crumbs or Parmesan cheese. Cover pan with aluminum foil and back at 350 degrees for about one hour. Remove foil the last 30 minutes of baking to brown crumbs slightly. Makes 5 to 6 servings.


Idon Openshaw's Chicken Enchiladas

4 dozen corn tortillas - spray with Pam, fry quickly on both sides
4 chicken breasts, cooked and cut in bite size pieces
1/2 c onion, chopped
2 C shredded Mexican cheese
Mix 2 cans cream of mushroom or chicken soup, 2 cups sour cream, 2 cans green chilies
Spread 1/4" layer on bottom of 9x13 pan
Layer until finished:
1. cooked chicken
2. tortillas
3. soup mix
4. onions
5. cheese
Bake at 300 degrees until warm; no bubbling

Country roads don't take me home no more

Our little corner of Leesburg is getting urbanized. We had a country road that we would use to get over to the grocery store about five minutes away. It passes by a charming state park with ruins of an old stone barn from the 1800's, past a llama farm, and an inn from centuries past called Cattail Ordinary. It has been a dirt road ever since we moved here in 1997, and we loved it. But...sigh...while we were gone in August, some big bad company paved it, and even painted lines down the middle of the road! How rude!
And talk about big bad machines...they are cutting down trees again: this time right on the corner of River Creek Parkway and Route 7. An overpass is in the process of being built plus a Wegmans on the continuing portion of River Creek Parkway. It's nice to have shopping nearby, but enough!!! We have enough! We like trees better!! Can anyone hear me?!!?

3 minute update

Emily, Maddie, Daniel and Ryan went back home last Saturday. The plan was that they would come back for October conference but they are coming back next week. Jorge Luis is going to Utah for a mission reunion, so he'll bring his family down here on the 23rd. He is actually going to stay here for a couple of days! Em and kiddles will stay for a couple of weeks. Fun times ahead!
The Loudoun Symphony season starts this week. I have been working for days to get venues for all of our concerts. Because there is no performing arts center here in Loudoun County, we are reliant upon performing in high schools. Of course, their departments get first crack at the dates. We are left with the leftovers. So far, I have managed to get dates for our October and December concerts, but March and May concerts are without venues, and I'm running out of high schools to call.
Marie and I are playing in the newly-founded Mormon Orchestra of Washington DC. Our first concert is this Saturday.
http://www.lds.org/placestovisit/location/events/0,11506,1836-1-1-3,00.html
Wanna come?
Laura is fully immersed in high school. She spent last Saturday with the other students from the music program soliciting donations for their trips. Her choir is going to Disneyworld in November and the band is going to AUSTRALIA! Hmm... when I was in high school, the big trip was to Ephraim, Utah. Anyone know where that is? Didn't think so.