Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I stole this recipe from Courtney Carter Wilcox. We had it for the first time last week and it was a hit! Thanks Courtney! This is so easy and if you are a Buffalo Wing Sauce fan like I am, you're going to LOVE this!

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small bottle of Buffalo wing sauce(I used Frank's Red Hot. You can adjust this amount depending on how spicy and saucy you like it)
1/2 packet of ranch dressing mix
2 tbsp. butter (optional)

Put all of the ingredients in the crock-pot and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork and serve it on buns or hoagie rolls. I topped ours with pepper jack cheese, purple onions, lettuce and pickles and made frozen waffle fries to go along with it.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe was given to me by a friend and it is DELICIOUS and so easy. I love good soup and this one does not disappoint. I changed the original recipe slightly to make it a little easier. It's really one of the best homemade soups I have ever had.

INGREDIENTS:
2 chicken breasts
1 1/2 to 2 c chicken stock
celery chopped
carrots chopped
onion chopped
about 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
1 can of rotel

Garnish:
Cheese
Sour Cream
Fried Four Tortilla Strips

I don't have exact measurements for this soup, but you can't mess it up. Just adjust the seasonings to your taste. Put the whole raw chicken breasts, chicken stock, celery, onion, carrots, taco seasoning, and rotel in the crock-pot and cook on low all day. Shred the chicken an hour before serving. Top with cheese, sour cream, and homemade fried flour tortilla strips.

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

Very easy and my hubby and kids really love it! It's hard to please this whole family. :) I actually just throw everything in the crock-pot and let it cook.

Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1/8 cup margarine
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Directions
1.Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
2.Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.

"Main Street America" Stuffed Burgers

From Teri Aufdembrink Bailey, who always seems to be cooking up something yummy in her house. I can't wait to try this one!

This recipe does not include amounts for ingredients. There is no perfect or exact measurement -- depends on how many you’re cooking for and how much you like to stuff your burgers! Just add ingredients until you think the proportions are right!
Ground Hamburger
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Onions
Chopped Garlic
Chopped Pickles (whichever kind you like)
Chopped Cooked Bacon or Bacon Pieces
Seasoned Salt
“Grub Rub” or your favorite meat tenderizer or rub
Take your ingredients and mix them together by hand in a large bowl. Make large patties. Cook to desired doneness on the grill or in a skillet. Top with whatever else you’d like, and enjoy!

Luby's Macaroni and Cheese

For all you Luby's Mac 'n Cheese lovers out there.

Ingredients:
2 cups dry elbow macaroni
4 tbsp nonfat dry milk
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 1/4 cups boiling water
3 cups shredded American cheese
1/4 tsp kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350. Cook macaroni 1 to 2 minutes longer than directions so pasta is soft by not mushy. Drain. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry milk, flour, and butter. Whisking constantly, gradually add in boiling water. Add 1 cup of cheese and continue whisking until smooth and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in macaroni, 1 more cup of cheese and salt. Transfer to a lightly greased 11x7" casserole dish and cover with foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until sauce in center of casserole is thick and creamy. Remove foil and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over top. Return to oven until cheese melts.

Luby's Cookbook

Sicilian Spaghetti Sauce

I get really tired of jarred spaghetti sauce and this is a really good alternative. It's sweet and spicy and I could really just eat if with a spoon. I typically double it so that I can just use the entire pound of beef and sausage and it makes a TON, so I separate it and freeze it. I usually have enough for 3 or 4 dinners. Don't try to cut down on the cooking time because it does make a difference. It has a long list of ingredients but they are almost all dried spices or canned items so it is VERY easy to make.

Ingredients
1/2 pound mild Italian sausage
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can Italian-style tomato paste
3 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
Hot cooked linguine
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Breadsticks (optional)
Preparation
Remove casings from sausage, and discard. Cook sausage and ground beef in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat 6 minutes, stirring until meat crumbles. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 4 minutes or until beef and sausage are no longer pink. Drain and set aside. Wipe skillet clean.

Combine sauce and next 7 ingredients in skillet or Dutch oven; cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Add sausage mixture and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour and 30 minutes or until mixture thickens. Serve over linguine; sprinkle with cheese. Serve with breadsticks, if desired.




Southern Living, MARCH 2003

Brown Gravy Pork Chops

This recipe is from Courtney Carter Wilcox's collection. Thanks for letting me steal it from you!
I made this for dinner two weeks ago and we all loved it. I made it with white rice and green beans. It's a crock-pot meal so it's VERY easy. Enjoy!

Bone-in or Boneless Pork Chops
3-4 brown gravy packets
sliced onion rings
garlic powder

Make gravy packets as directed. I used three packets for four pork chops, and it was plenty of liquid. Brown pork chops in skillet (but really they will turn white instead of brown). Put pork chops in crock pot and sprinkle with garlic powder and cover with sliced onions. Pour brown gravy over the pork chops. Put the lid on and cook on LOW for about 8 hours. These were so good and tender! No knife needed!

Chicken Quesadillas and Guacamole

I don't know if this is technically a "recipe" but we make this a lot at our house and I think it's really good and easy so I thought I would share.


Ingredients for the Quesadillas:
Monterrey Jack Cheese
Mexican Blend Cheese
Chicken Breasts
HEB pre-made pico de gallo
Guerrero Tortillas or HEB tortillas in the bread section

Season 2 chicken breasts on both sides with garlic salt, paprika, and chile powder. Cook them in a skillet on the stove and then chop them. I usually buy the Guerrero Tortillas because they stay good longer. They are uncooked and are really good. Cook them on both sides in a skillet. Place one tortilla in the skillet and cover evenly with one of the cheeses. Then sprinkle in pico and chopped chicken and cover with the other cheese. Top with another tortilla. I usually cover the skillet with a lid to get the cheeses really melty. Cook for maybe 5 min. on medium and then flip it over and repeat. I use a pizza cutter to cut it into 4 triangles. Serve with sour cream, pico, and guacamole (recipe to follow). I also sometimes add Cotija cheese which makes these really amazing. It's the cheese that Pappasitos uses on everything that sort of looks like Parmesan. You have to grate it yourself though, which is why I only buy it sometimes. :)

Ingredients for Guacamole:
Avocados
chopped purple onion
lime
chopped cilantro
salt
finely chopped serrano or jalapeno peppers (optional)

I don't have measurements for this. Just eye everything and taste it. It's really yummy.

Corn Dip

Yay! A recipe from a blog reader!


Corn Dip (It is really good despite how it sounds)

1C Sour Cream
1C Real Mayo
2 Cans Mexi-corn (drained)
1C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
4 chopped green onions
1 Can green chiles
Salt & Pepper to taste
Diced & seeded jalpenos (if you want)

Chill and serve with fritos...or whichever chips you prefer.

I love this dip!

Hello??

I'm dying to post some recipes from people other than me!

Charred Chile Relleno with Green Rice

This is sooooo good! I have made this with fresh corn from the cob and with frozen corn. The frozen corn is just as good and a lot less trouble. I have also made it with and without chopped chicken breast. It is again equally as good without the chicken but my hubby refuses to eat a meal that does not include meat. The rice is good but is a lot of work and the meal is just as good with plain white rice boiled in broth. Don't let the long list of ingredients and instructions scare you because preparing the chiles is really easy.

4 cups chicken or vegetable stock, divided
1 bay leaf 2 cups white rice
4 large poblano peppers
6 ears corn on the cob or 3 cups frozen corn kernels
3 tablespoons corn, peanut or vegetable oil, divided
1 red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained well
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, eyeball it in your palm
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 pound spinach leaves, deveined and coarsely chopped
4 scallions, coarsely chopped
2 limes, zested, juiced
1 cup shredded Chihuahua cheese, Asadero or Monterey Jack

1. Preheat broiler or grill pan to high.
2. Heat about 3 1/2 cups stock in a sauce pot with a bay leaf to boiling. Add rice, cover pot reduce heat to low and simmer 18 minutes until tender.
3. Place poblanos under broiler or on hot grill and char evenly all over, 15 minutes.
While peppers and rice are working, scrape the corn off the cobs or defrost frozen corn and dry by spreading out on clean kitchen towel. Heat 2 tablespoons light oil in a skillet over high heat. When the oil smokes or ripples add corn, onion, jalapenos and toss until the vegetables char at edges and onions are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high and add in garlic, fire roasted tomatoes and season with cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook another minute or 2 then turn pan off.
4. Place the cilantro, spinach, scallions, lime zest, half a cup of stock and a tablespoon of oil in food processor and process into coarse green paste. Stir into your rice pot in the last 3 to 4 minutes of its cooking time.
5. Sprinkle the lime juice over the corn mixture.
6. Split the charred peppers open but not in half with small sharp knife then scoop out the seeds with a small spoon. Place peppers in a shallow baking dish and stuff each split pepper with lots of the corn mix, top each pepper with 1/4 cup cheese and place back under broiler to melt and char the cheese. Yields 4 Servings

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray, 2007

Taco Casserole

I'm pretty sure this is the easiest non-crock pot meal I've ever made...or atleast one of them. Jeff loves it and it makes plenty for leftovers.

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 can of Rotel
1 can of Ranch Style Beans
3/4 cup uncooked white rice
1 can of corn, drained
1 small package of shredded mexican blend cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a skillet, brown meat and cook according to directions of taco seasoning Packet. Spray the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. In the baking dish, mix together the taco meat, tomato sauce, Rotel, beans, rice corn, and 3/4 of the package of cheese. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top and bake an additional 5-10 minutes.

Snickerdoodles

I really love sweet stuff. They are a fun recipe to make with the kiddos and they are really really yummy. They also make your house smell soooo good.

Ingredients
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened object
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg object
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. PreparationPreheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and egg.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat just until combined. Shape dough into 30 balls.
4. Combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a small shallow dish. Roll balls in sugar mixture, and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until tops crack. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove from pans; cool on a wire rack.
Yield
30 cookies (serving size: 1 cookie)


Nutritional Information
CALORIES 99(30% from fat); FAT 3.3g (sat 2g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 0.9g; CHOLESTEROL 15mg; CALCIUM 17mg; SODIUM 59mg; FIBER 0.3g; IRON 0.5mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.9g

Lorrie Hulston Corvin , Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2007

Shrimp Scampi

This is a great recipe if you are in to eating healthy. It's a lot less fattening than traditional shrimp scampi, but still tastes great, and is very easy. I use whole wheat pasta to make it even healthier. I also make it with white cooking wine instead of the brandy.

Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds large shrimp (prawns), peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped shallots or green onions
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons brandy or sherry, optional
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
4 tablespoons trans-free margarine

Directions
Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (tender), about 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes. Turn the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque throughout, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
Add the garlic and shallots to the saucepan and cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add the lemon juice, brandy or sherry if desired, parsley, salt and pepper. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the margarine and cooked shrimp. Toss to coat with the sauce.
Divide the pasta among warmed individual bowls. Top each serving with shrimp sauce and serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis(per serving)
Calories 335
Cholesterol 233 mg
Protein 36 g
Sodium 405 mg
Carbohydrate 30 g
Fiber 2 g
Total fat 8 g
Potassium 401 mg
Saturated fat 1 g
Calcium 101 mg
Monounsaturated fat 4 g

Mozzarella Chicken

Quick, easy, and yummy!

INGREDIENTS
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 cups spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes each side, or until white. Add pepper, garlic, onion and broth. Cover and simmer over medium heat until broth cooks off, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Stir in spaghetti sauce, then cover and simmer another 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Sprinkle cheese on top, cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve.

Beef Stew

This beef stew recipe was given to my by my sister-in-law and it's really good. I love the basil in it. I do borrow her dutch oven to make this.

2 lbs. stew meat
8 celery ribs cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
8 carrots, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
5 potatoes, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
2 onions chopped
1 c. water
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 tsp. beef bullion
1/3 c. quick cooking tapioca
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a dutch oven and bake at 325 for 2 1/2-3 hours.

Cajun Sausage and Rice

This is probably the easiest and cheapest meal ever, but it's great! I usually serve it with Ranch Style Beans and cornbread.

1 package of Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage, sliced (this sausage tastes the best with the flavors)
1 medium onion coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper (optional)
1 (28oz) can Petite Diced Tomatoes
1/2 tsp. Tony Chachere's Seasoning (more if you like it spicier)
cooked white rice

Cook sausage and onions in a skillet over medium high heat until thesausage is cooked and browned. Add tomatoes and Tony Chachere'sseasoning and cook on medium low heat for another 10 minutes or untilheated thoroughly. Serve over rice.

Pecan Peach Cobbler

I love cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream and this recipe was amazingly delicious! And just for the record, I do not have a dutch oven so whenever I am making a recipe that uses one, I just make due with what I have.

Ingredients
12 to 15 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced (about 16 cups)*
3 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup butter
2 (15-ounce) packages refrigerated piecrusts
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup sugar
Vanilla ice cream

Preparation
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a Dutch oven, and let stand 10 minutes or until sugar dissolves.
2. Bring peach mixture to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes or until tender.
3. Remove from heat; add vanilla and butter, stirring until butter melts.
4. Unfold 2 piecrusts. Sprinkle 1/4 cup pecans and 2 tablespoons sugar evenly over 1 piecrust; top with other piecrust. Roll to a 12-inch circle, gently pressing pecans into pastry. Cut into 1 1/2-inch strips. Repeat with remaining piecrusts, pecans, and sugar.
5. Spoon half of peach mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Arrange half of pastry strips in a lattice design over top of peach mixture.
6. Bake at 475° for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Spoon remaining peach mixture over baked pastry. Top with remaining pastry strips in a lattice design. Bake 15 to 18 more minutes. Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream.

*2 (20-ounce) packages frozen peaches may be substituted. Reduce sugarto 2 cups, flour to 3 tablespoons, and nutmeg to 1/4 teaspoon. Proceedas directed.

Note: To make ahead, let baked cobbler cool; cover and freeze up to 1month. Thaw in refrigerator over-night. Uncover, and reheat in theoven at 250° for 45 minutes.
Southern Living, MAY 2004

Saucy Manicotti

This manicotti is REALLY good. I was super impressed. It is not a quick recipe but it's worth the extra time it takes to put it together.

Ingredients
1 (8 oz.) package uncooked manicotti shells
1 (16 oz.) package Italian sausage, casings removed
1 large onion, chopped
9 garlic cloves, pressed and divided
1 (26 oz.) pasta sauce
1 (8oz) container chive-and-onion cream cheese, softened
6 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1. Cook manicotti shells for 6 minutes and drain.
2. Cook sausage, onion, and 5 garlic cloves in a large Dutch oven overmedium-high heat 6 minutes, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in pasta sauce; bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
3. Combine cream cheese, 4 cups mozzarella cheese, next 3 ingredients and remaining 4 garlic cloves in a large bowl, stirring until blended.
4. Cut a slit down length of each cooked manicotti shell.Spoon 1 cup sauce mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish. Spoon cheese mixture evenly into manicotti shells.
5. Arrange stuffed shells over sauce in dish, seam side down. Spoon remaining sauce over stuffed shells. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 2 cups of cheese.
6. Bake, covered, at 350 for 50 minutes.

Southern Living

Spaghetti with Sausage and Peppers

I LOVE this recipe. It's delicious! You have to be a fan of peppers to like it, but it's a really good change to regular spagetti and really easy to make.

Ingredients
8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 (1-lb.) package mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 medium onion, cut into eighths
1 medium-size green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 medium-size red or yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation
1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat
8 to 10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking sausage into pieces while cooking. Remove sausage and drippings from Dutch oven, and drain well on paper towels.
3. Sauté onion and next 3 ingredients in hot oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
Stir in tomatoes, salt, and pepper; cook 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage, pasta, and cheese. Transfer mixture to serving platter, and serve immediately.

Southern Living

Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

My hubby won't eat this because he absolutely hates chicken casseroles but I make it for me and the kids whenever he is out of town. It's really yummy and fresh tasting and I love things I can assemble ahead of time.

Ingredients
2 (3.5-oz.) bags boil-in-bag rice
2 ripe avocados
3/4 cup salsa verde
1 (4-oz.) can chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can reduced-fat cream of chicken soup
1 cup light sour cream
1 cup (4 oz.) grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Topping: chopped tomatoes

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare rice according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, cut avocados in half. Scoop avocado pulp into a medium bowl, and mash with salsa verde, chopped green chiles, and lime juice.
Stir in hot cooked rice.
3. Stir together chicken, soup, and sour cream in a small saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until blended and slightly heated.
4. Spoon rice mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish; spoon chicken mixture over rice. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese.
5. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Top with chopped tomatoes.

Southern Living

Salisbury Steak

I make this recipe a lot and serve it with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. It's really good and pretty quick!

Ingredients
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

Directions
1.In a large bowl, mix together 1/3 cup condensed French onion soup with ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, salt and black pepper. Shape into 6 oval patties.
2.In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown both sides of patties. Pour off excess fat.
3.In a small bowl, blend flour and remaining soup until smooth. Mix in ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder. Pour over meat in skillet. Cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I love recipes!

I thought it would be really fun to start a recipe blog because I LOVE recipes! I especially love recipes that others have tried and thought were worth sharing. I have a very picky hubby who pretty much only likes meat and potatoes, a daughter who doesn't like red sauce or cheese (wth??), a son who likes what his sister likes, and a baby who will eat mostly anything as long as it isn't green. I will only share recipes that I have tried and liked and I hope you will too! Just send your recipes to my email address over there on the left and I will post them here. Also, feel free to comment on the recipes that you have tried with your opinions or ways to make them better. Hopefully this blog will give us some fresh food ideas to please our families!