Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos

This recipe is from a family friend...who is the healthiest eater that I know. Sounds like a crazy combination, but they're awesome together and amazingly healthy... which makes them even better to me. I added some cheese on top before I baked them. And then topped with some guacamole.

3 cup peeled, cubed sweet potatoes
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon vegetable oil
3 ½ cup diced onions
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh green chile
4 teaspoon ground cumin
4 teaspoon ground coriander

4 ½ cup cooked black beans (3 - 15oz cans)
2/3 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
8 tortillas
Fresh Salsa
{I topped with 1/4 c. pepper jack cheese before I baked them}
Guacamole/Avocado {I did this instead of the salsa}

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sweet potatoes in medium saucepan with the salt and water to cover. Cover & bring to boil, simmer till tender, roughly 10 minutes. Drain, set aside.

While these cook, warm the oil in a skillet and add onions, garlic, and chile. Cover, cook on med-low, stirring a bit, for about 5-8 minutes. Add cumin, coriander and cook for 3 minutes more, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside.

In food processor add black beans, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and cooked sweet potatoes; puree until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, and mix in cooked onions and spices.

Put your burritos together, and then put them seam side down in a lightly oiled baking dish or tray, and cover with foil, bake for 30 minutes. Serve with Salsa.

{Pictured with Rachael Ray's Tex-Mex Fried Rice... yummy!}

Cinnamon Rolls

I got this recipe from my mother, and we love it. Everyone I know who's ever tried it loves it.


Dough:
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (more or less as needed)
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) quick-acting active dry yeast
1 1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract*
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs

Filling:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon

Glaze:
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract*
4 teaspoons milk (more as needed)

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour and yeast. Heat milk , vanilla, sugar, butter, salt, and cinnamon until just warm and butter is just beginning to melt (approx 110*-115*F), stirring constantly. Add milk mixture to flour and stir. Add eggs and beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes.

Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can (dough will be soft). Knead in enough flour to make a moderately soft dough (approx.3-5 minutes). Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half. Shape each half into a smooth ball and then cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll each half into a 12x8" rectangle. Spread each with 3 tablespoons of the softened butter. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle half over each rectangle. Roll up from the short side. Seal edges; using a sharp, serrated knife, slice each roll into 8 pieces. Arrange slices evenly in a greased 13x9" baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350*F for 25-30 minutes until browned. Invert at once onto a wire rack and then invert again. Cool slightly.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, adding more milk as necessary to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over rolls.

*The point of the clear vanilla is, obviously, color. If you don't have clear, I'm sure regular vanilla extract would work just as well.

Sweet and Sour Pork (or Chicken)

Dip chunks of pork (or chicken) in egg, then in a mixture of 1c. flour and 1 tsp. baking powder. Cook in oil.

Add:
2 c Ketchup
1/4 c vinegar
3/4 c sugar
chopped onion
2 chopped green peppers
1 can pineapple tidbits w/ juice

Steam until vegetables are tender. In needed thicken with cornstarch (I never do). Serve over rice.

*I never do the egg, flour step. I just brown the meat in oil. It saves a little time, and still is REALLY good!

Melt-in-your-mouth Caramels

3/4 cup butter

1 cup light corn syrup

2 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice

dash of salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Butter the inside of an 8x8 disposable aluminum pan (they come in sets of 3).

In a large pot over medium-low heat, combine all ingredients except the vanilla. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Increase heat to medium and simmer. Stir occasionally. Cook until it is between 135 degrees and 140 degrees on a candy thermometer. (I like them soft but not gooey).

Remove from heat and pour in vanilla. It will bubble up, so make sure you have it in a large enough pot.

Carefully pour into the prepared pan. Chill for a few hours.

Remove from pan and cut into bite sized pieces. Wrap in wax paper or candy cellophane.

These stay good in the fridge for several weeks- but put them in an airtight container.

Amy's Favorites...

I'm a bit late in my post about my favorites, but here goes...


Aimee's Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Melissa's updated version of our Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Mel's Bakes Ziti. I loved it when I was laid up.
Jackie's Holiday Pretzel Treat
My Banana Bars from the Lion House Cookbook
January's Texas Sheet Cake
Mel's Molaskas

Breakfast Tacos

These breakfast tacos are great on the go. I make a huge batch in advance and then wrap them individually in plastic wrap or a baggie and pop them in the freezer. Then, when I want a quick breakfast, I take it out, microwave it for 1 minute (if still frozen, 30 seconds if thawed) and eat! I also will grab one on my way out the door and just pop it in the microwave when I get to work. You can really pump these up with more vegetables or more meat if you prefer...or you could also add potatoes....just throw in there whatever you like.

Ingredients:
1/2 onion chopped
1 bell pepper chopped (I prefer yellow/orange/or red)
1 cup shredded cheese (whatever you prefer, I used cheddar)
1 hand full of fresh spinach
salt and pepper to taste
9 eggs
16 tortillas
2 teaspoons of Mrs. Dash
1 tablespoon Oil or butter (I used olive oil)
1/2 to 1 cup of chopped up ham, bacon, or some other breakfast meat, I really like the ham, so I put about a cup in there but for bacon bits I would probably use less.

Place oil in large skillet and melt, then add onions and peppers (and any other veggies you might want to throw in there). Once they have started to get translucent and toasty, add the spinach and stir it around until it is fully wilted, then add the seasonings and continue to stir as needed.

While that is cooking, I will lay out about 5 tortillas and put a little shredded cheddar on each.

Back to the skillet....Crack your eggs into a container and mix them with a fork to break them up, then add them to the skillet. You can also add a little milk here if you prefer...or cream if you want to live high on the hog. Continue stirring to make scrambled eggs until they are done to the firmness that you desire. My husband wants them WAY done...no question on whether they are cooked...so that is how I do it. That is what you get when you have a Poultry Scientist for a hubby.

Once the eggs are done, taste them to make sure the seasoning is right, then just take a large spoon and place the egg mixture down the middle of every tortilla, fold the tortilla in half and then wrap up in plastic wrap or place in a baggie. You can really make these tacos or burritos...its your choice. Then, I usually hold a few out for tomorrow's breakfast and just put those in the fridge, and the rest I place in the freezer individually wrapped.

I love them! I made 16 last time I made them but if you want to bulk them up a bit, you would make less and use more filling. This is a great grab and go breakfast on those busy mornings....and its easy for older kids to fix themselves since it just involved a microwave.

Pizza Loaf

This is fun for FHE!

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
2 eggs, separated
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp EVOO
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic pwd
1/4 tsp pepper
8 oz pepperoni slices
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 can sliced ripe olives
1 medium green pepper
1 can pizza sauce (I used spaghetti sauce)

Roll out dough on baking sheet (or counter). In a bowl combine egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, oil, oregano, garlic powder and pepper. Brush over dough. Sprinkle with pepperoni, mozzarella, peppers & olives. Roll up jelly roll style, pinch ends together.

Brush with egg whites. DO NOT LET RISE. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Slice and dip in pizza sauce!

Chicken Pot Pie

A little bit of work, but well worth the effort! I double this recipe and it makes 4 potpies in an 8" square foil pan that freeze very well!

Pie Crust
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 sticks butter (unsalted)
4-10 Tbsp ice water -- add water by the Tbsp until it is pie crust consistency (The amount fluctuates depending on the temp and consistency of your butter.)

Filling
2 1/2 cups cooked cubed chicken (or turkey)
2 cups fresh/frozen peas
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 large carrots sliced
2 med/large potatoes peeled, cubed and parboiled

White Sauce
6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp flour
2 cup half-half
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Instructions:
Roll out 2/3 of pie dough and place in the bottom of two 8" square foil pans. (Save 1/3 for the tops of the pies.) Make white sauce in sauce pan by melting butter and stirring in flour with a whisk until smooth and bubbly. Whisk in half-half, chicken broth, salt & pepper. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens. Stir hot sauce into a large bowl with the remaining filling ingredients. Pour filling ingredients into pie crust. Roll out remaining pie crust and place on top of filling. Flute edges to seal. Make three small slits in the top of the crust and lightly brush with milk. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 375 degrees.

These freeze REALLY well. However, they must be THAWED before baking. I will usually pull mine out a day ahead of time and put in the fridge. . . . Enjoy!

Carnitas with Grilled Salsa Verde

Amazing, and sooo much flavor! I got this recipe from my Bon Appetit magazine. It's from a restaurant in Chicago, Table Fifty-Two (that appears to be pretty fancy). I only made the meat and used my favorite tomatillo sauce for my carnitas. But I put the grilled salsa verde recipe at the bottom. I'll try it someday... but I wanted to stick with what I knew to be good, real good. The meat is my new favorite, and will replace my recipe for the tomatillo burritos.

3 1/2 oz. achiote paste (about 1/2 package) {the pkg I found was exactly 3 1/2 oz.}
8 garlic cloves, peeled
2 jalapeno chiles, chopped with seeds
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro with stems
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), cut into 2 inch cubes
20 corn or flour tortillas
Grilled Salsa Verde (recipe below)
Sour cream
chopped red onions

Preheat oven to 300 F. Puree first 10 ingredients in blender until smooth.

Arrange pork in large roasting pan. Add achiote puree; mix to coat pork. Cover pan tightly with foil. Roast pork until very tender, stirring occasionally, about 3 1/2 hours. Cool slightly. Coarsely shred pork. Mound pork in large bowl; add enough juices from roasting pan by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten as desired.

Wrap tortillas in paper towels or clean kitchen towel. Microwave on high until headed through, about 1 minute. Fill warm tortillas with carnitas. Top with Grilled Salsa Verde, sour cream and red onions.

{I just put the meat and puree in the crock pot all day}

Grilled Salsa Verde
{makes about 3 1/2 cups}

nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 pounds tomatillos, husked, rinsed
1 cup coarselty chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno chile, halved, seeded

Spray grill racks with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill tomatillos until slightly softened and charred in spots, about 15 minutes. Transfer to processor. Add cilantro, 1/4 cup warm water, lime juice and jalapeno; process until almost smooth. Transfer salsa to medium bowl. Season to taste with salt.

Easy Italian Pasta Bake

This is another recipe from the Kraft Food & Family website. I've decided I'm only going to cook 'fancy' meals once or twice per week and will do easy/cheap meals the other nights. This falls into the latter category.

1 lb. lean ground beef {or turkey or sausage}
3 cups whole wheat penne, cooked & drained {I only boiled mine for 6 mins. b/c it's going to be baked and I didn't want it to get soggy}
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella
1 tsp italian seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced

Heat oven to 375*. Brown meat in large skillet with italian seasoning and garlic. Drain. Add pasta, sauce and 1/2 the parmesan and mix well. Spoon into 9x13 pan and top with remaining cheeses. Bake for 20 mins. I served mine with Rhodes rolls and steamed broccoli. Yummy!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

This is one of those recipes that I can't wait for the next day so I can eat the leftovers!

3-4 chicken breasts, boiled and cubed
1/2 c. diced onions
1 T. garlic, minced
4 c. chicken broth
1 c. tomato sauce
1 c. fresh, diced tomatoes
16 oz Velveeta cheese
1 tsp. chili powder
1 small can diced green chilies (optional)
salt and pepper to taste (I never add any)
1 1/2-2 Tbsp Taco seasoning
1/2 tsp. cumin (optional)

Mix together before adding to pot:
1/2 c. corn starch
2 c. cold water

Add all ingredients together. Cook over medium heat until heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve with corn chips, sour cream, grated cheese and salsa.

Corn Chowder

Here's another soup recipe! I need spring to come!

2/3 cup celery, chopped
1/3 cup butter
2 1/4 cup water
4 cups potatoes, cubed
3 green onions, sliced

Simmer for 20 minutes.

6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups milk

In a separate saucepan, combine to make white sauce. Then add the following to the white sauce:

1 1/2 tsp dill weed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Add white sauce to vegetables, and then add the following:

1 bag frozen sweet white corn
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Heat through and serve with your favorite bread! Yummy!

Spicy Spinach Artichoke Dip

1/2 white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium jalapeno, minced (seeds removed for a milder flavor)
1/2 red pepper, diced
3T butter
1 10oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed (squeeze to remove most of the water)
1 can artichoke hearts, diced
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 oz shredded Parmesan cheese
1 t salt
1/2 t white pepper
1 pkg blue corn tortilla chips

In a large skillet, melt better. Add jalapeno, cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and onion and cook another 5 minutes, until onions begin to turn clear. Add red pepper and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add spinach and artichokes, heat through. Cut up the cream cheese into about 8 chunks and add with the sour cream. Cook until the cream cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Add salt, pepper and 1/2 the Parmesan cheese. Heat about 3 minutes, until cheese is melted. Pour into a greased shallow dish (8" square or similar). Top with remaining Parmesan cheese. **Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly and top starts to turn brown. Serve with blue corn tortilla chips.

**This can be made a couple of days in advance then covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. If heating from the refrigerator, it will need to be cooked for 30 to 40 minutes.

Heather's favorites

Hello...

I don't think I was on here last May, so this will be my first "favorites" post! Wahoo!

My favorite salad Asian Chicken Salad http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/07/asian-chicken-salad.html

Jenn posted this Garlic Basil Shrimp and I have made it a bunch and used chicken and spinach in it and it is still so fab... http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/08/garlic-basil-shrimp.html

Mel's Chocolate Chip Cookies are my all time fav cc cookie. I have even substituted the flour for whole wheat pastry flour and they still are so yummy. http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/08/mels-award-winning-chocolate-chip.html

My favorite way to cook veggies is roasted http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/07/roasted-broccoli-roasted-chicken.html

My sister's Monterrey Chicken is so versatile and easy, I make it all the time and change it up here and there to make it last for 2-3 meals http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/07/monterrey-chicken.html

I have made Jenn's Mom's Whole Wheat Bread lots of times http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/05/100-whole-wheat-bread.html and I love the sandwich bread recipe for a lighter loaf http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/03/honey-whole-wheat-sandwich-bread.html And Tiffany's view on how to make better wheat bread opening my world to dough enhancer and wheat gluten and I am forever grateful for that! http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2008/08/tips-for-better-whole-wheat-bread.html

And I love Le Madeleine's Tomato Basil Soup http://recipestop.blogspot.com/2007/12/lamadeleines-tomato-basil-soup.html


And that is more than 5...oh well...I am an overachiever, what can I say?

I also wanted to add that if any of you are Enrichment Leaders in your ward, I have a blog of HFPE ideas and random thoughts at http://thebeautifulbasics.blogspot.com/

Happy Eating!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

OK, so I just had these last night and they were so yummy! I haven't made them, yet -- but I sure enjoyed eating them -- so here's the recipe. (Courtesy of Kellie Munster)

Brownies
1/2 cup butter or marg
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I would leave these out)

Melt butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat lightly just until combined (don't over beat). Stir in flour and nuts. Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Cookie Dough
(This looks just like the Toll House recipe)

2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter/marg (I would use 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (I would leave these out)

Combine flour, baking soda & salt. Beat butter sugars and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until creamed. Add eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by tablespoons evenly in brownie batter.

Bake brownies 35-40 minutes on 350 or until toothpick comes out almost clean. Cool completely and frost with frosting.

Frosting
4 oz semi sweet chocolate
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp hot water
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Melt chocolate and butter. Remove from heat and stir in water and powdered sugar. Mix well and spread over brownies!

Dessert Favs from the Farm

Oh my Goodness! I must say that just about any dessert is my favorite! Here are a few that I make quite a bit . . .

Malaskas
Caramel Apple Crisp
Better than Canadian Sex
With a few additions! I add chopped nuts to the crust and do a layer of vanilla pudding, too!
Texas Sheet Cake

I am really sad to say that I could sit down and eat each of these desserts, in there entirety by myself. I'm gaining weight just thinking about eating them! Thanks for all your contributions -- I love this blog and am at a total loss for what to fix for dinner when my computer is down!

request: favorite desserts

Michelle has spoken. She would like a favorite desserts post! Hop to it!

Michelle's personal favorites from this fabulous recipe blog.

These are not in any kind of order

-Cajun Chicken Linguini
-Tomatillo Burritos
-Carmelized Garlic Chicken
-Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
-Sweet and Sour Chicken

I think favorite desserts need to be a separate category!

request: favorites

So, I made a request last May for everyone to list their favorite recipes. I got a whopping TWO responses {other than mine.} Meggs and Kristin are exempt from this second request. Will you create a post {labeled favorites} and link to your top 5 recipes from the site? They can either be yours or one you found on this blog. Pretty please?

Balsamic Pork Loin morphed into pulled pork sandwiches on Day 2

The pork loin recipe comes from Robin Miller of Quick Fix Meals. I really love balsamic vinegar, so this is a great way to add some rick flavor. You could also do this with pork chops.

Balsamic Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:
Two 2 pound pork tenderloins trimmed of silver skin if necessary.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of Dijon Mustard
2 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme or about half as much dried.

Directions:

Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. Place the pork in the pan and season the top and sides with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, and thyme. Spoon the mixture over the pork then roast for about 45 minutes or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached. Baste every 15 minutes if possible.

Let the pork stand for 10 minutes before slicing enough for your dinner, I think this will feed 4-6 people.

The leftover pork can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months.

Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches:

Ingredients:
The 2nd pork loin from the above recipe and any leftovers
a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce, I like KC Masterpiece
Kaiser rolls

Take the pork tenderloin and with 2 forks, pull apart the pork so it is shredded. Take the port and put it in a pot, empty the bottle of barbecue sauce in and mix. I would probably add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water to thin it out a little if it seems too thick. Cook until warmed through and the pork is coated in the sauce.

Warm Kaiser rolls in over or toast them. Serve the BBQ pork on Kaiser rolls, I would add mustard and a pickle, but that is just me.

And there you go...2 meals and basically just one prep and a warm up!

YUMMMMM!

Creamy Mushroom and Chicken Soup

This is really YUM! Perfect for a cold day!

6 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tbsp flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup celery, chopped
3/4 cup carrots, chopped
2 cups quartered baby red potatoes
1 cup yellow squash
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 tsp thyme
2 cups light cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 cups chopped cooked chicken

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper and mix until smooth. Gradually add the broth, then turn up the heat up to medium high and bring the soup to a boil. Add the mushrooms, celery, carrots, potatoes, squash, corn and thyme. Reduce the heat and simmer the soup, covered until the vegetables are tender.

Add the cream, Parmesan and chicken. Heat the soup for an additional 10 minutes -- do not let the soup boil. Makes about 15 cups.

Mulligatawny

Don't ask me how to pronounce it -- just trust me it's pretty good. We are freezing our behinds off here in Idaho this week so I've got a couple of soup recipes to add to the blog!

4 Tbsp butter (or 2 Tbsp EVOO)
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 apple, cored, peeled & chopped (I used a gala -- but would use a granny smith in the future)
1 1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped
1/2 cup flour
2-3 tsp curry powder
5 cups chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
salt & pepper to taste
hot cooked rice to serve soup over

Melt the butter, in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, green pepper, apple and chicken and saute for about 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Turn heat to low.

In a small bowl mix together the flour and curry powder. Add the mixture to the pot, then stir and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes. Partially cover the pot and simmer the soup for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Add the salt and pepper to taste.

To serve, place about 1/4 cup of rice in a bowl and ladle the soup over the rice.

Roasted Chicken with Red Potatoes and Asparagus

Dont be shocked Mandy-- I am actually going to post something!

Andrew and I love this meal and it is super easy, healthy, (and no dairy ).

• Cooking spray
• 3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped into 2 inch cubes
• 2 lb red potatoes, chopped into 2 inch cubes (4-5 medium size)
  
• 1 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes (2-3)
  
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 3/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (dried is fine too)
  
• 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
• Ground pepper to taste

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 400°F and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Add chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, basil, garlic and olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary. Add pepper if desired. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, turning occasionally until tender. Serve.

Smothered Chicken

4 chicken breasts
MOntreal Steak seasoning
1 T veg oil
8-16 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 c srdedded cheddar cheese
1/2 c green onions
1/2 c crumbled bacon
1/2 c chopped tomatoes
1 bottle BBQ sauce ( I use sweet baby rays)

Flatten chicken to 1/4 in thick ( optional)
Sprinkle with montreal steak seasoning, in a skillet brown chicken in oil for 5 min. Cook in a seperat pan the bacon till done, Drain grease and crumble. Then add muchrooms to saute with bacon. top the cooked chicken with BBQ sauce , mushroom/bacon, and onions. Sprinkle smothered chicken with cheese and tomatoes cover and cook until chicken is doen and cheese is melted. About 10 minutes, Serve with Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

The recipe tells you tao also make Honey mustard sauce to have with it, I didn't do this when I made it and wasn't sure you really need it, but here it is if you want to try it with it.

1 C mayo
1 c dijon mustard
1/2 c honey
1/8 tsp cayane pepper
1/4 c lime juice
1 tsp ginger powder

Honey LIme Chicken Enchiladas

This is my new favorite mexican dish! Sweet and spicy at the sime time so different!

6 TB honey
5 TB lime suice ( 1 large lime)
1 TB chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

3 chicken breasts
Montreal steak seasoning ( packets sold by taco seasoning, etc)
1 can black beans
8-10 flour tortillas
1 lb monterey jack cheese, shredded
16 oz green enchilada sauce
1 Cup heavy cream ( or whole milk)

Mix first four ingredients together and set aside. Place chicken in a saute pan and season with half package of montreal seasoning, and cook till almost done, add honee lime mixture to chicken pan and shred chicken. saute until Chicken is completely cooked.

Pour half of enchilada sauce on bottom of 9 x 13 dish Filll flour tortillas with chicken beans, and cheese, save some cheese for top. mix the reamaining enchilada sauce with the cream and leftover sauces from the chicken. Pour sauce on top of enchiladas ( they will be swimming in liquid its okay) and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 350 for 20-30 min until brown and crispy on top.

Albondigas

I wasn't convinved this was a great recipe when I originally made it, but the leftovers have convinced me. I've eaten this five times already.

2 T olive oil
2 3/4 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
3 quarts beef or chicken broth {I used both}
2 14-oz cans of diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup chunky tomato salsa
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 pound ground beef {I used turkey instead}
1/4 pound bulk pork sausage
6 T yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 cup white rice

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 3/4 cup onions, 2 cloves garlic, and bay leaves. Saute five minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, salsa and 1/4 cup cilantro and bring to boil. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Combine ground beef, sausage, cornmeal, milk, egg , salt, pepper and cumin, then rest of onions, garlic and cilantro in medium bowl. Mix well. Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Add rice and meatballs to soup and bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

from Bon Appetit

Breakfast Casserole

Here is the Breakfast Casserole recipe that I made for a Sunday lunch (for picture see picture with German Pancakes). It is adapted from a recipe in our ward cookbook.

1 large bag of hash browns (although I bought a large bag and didn't use the whole thing)
1/2 onion chopped (You can add onions or buy hash browns with onions)
12 eggs
1-2 cups of grated cheese
Meat of choice: 8 oz of cooked breakfast sausage crumbled or 1 cup of cooked chopped up ham or
1 pound of bacon cooked and crumbled (I used ham)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 garlic salt
Pepper to taste

Pour frozen hash brown in greased 9X13 pan. place meat in a layer on top of hash browns. In a large bowl beat eggs with a whisk and add 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of garlic salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture on to hash browns and meat. Top with cheese. You can now refrigerate overnight if you want to eat it for breakfast or go ahead and bake it now. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes, turn oven down to 375 and bake 20 minutes longer.

German Puffy Pancakes

This is from a cookbook Aaron brought me back from Utah " the Essential Mormon Cookbook: Green Jello, Funeral Potatoes, and other Secret Combinations" by Julie Badger Jensen.
These were really good. It recommends that you serve them with sour cream, brown sugar, and strawberries...and we laughed at that but tried it and it was really good. You can also add syrup to that. We also had topping options of pecans, whipped cream, cherry jam, powedered sugar, peaches, and blueberries.

1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups of milk
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Toppings:
3 cups fresh strawberries, halved
2 tablespoons sugar
1 carton of sour cream
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
Maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Put butter in a 9 inch glass pie plate. Place in oven for 5 minutes, or until butter melts and bubbles. While butter is melting put milk, flour, sugar, eggs, and salt in belnder. blend on medium until smooth. remove pie plate from oven. Immediately pour mixture into pie plate. Return pie plate to the oven. bake for 20 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake 8-10 more minutes until edges are puffed and brown. remove from oven, cut into wedges and serve with toppings.
I really like these, they are interesting looking and super easy. I doubled the recipe and had enough for a pie plate, a tart pan, and a round serving dish.
Here is a picture of the breakfast casserole (see next recipe) and the 3 German Pancakes!

Bread Sticks

Andrea's Bread sticks
Yields 12 bread sticks

1 tablespoon yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ cups warn water
½ tsp salt
3 cups flour
½ cup butter
garlic salt, Parmesan cheese, and/or salad supreme

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix together yeast mixture, sugar, salt, and flour. Knead for about 3 minutes. Add flour as needed. Let stand for 10 minutes, or longer. Melt butter on cookie sheet. Cut dough into fourths, then into thirds. Roll & twist. Roll in butter, sprinkle with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese and/or salad supreme. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until lightly browned.

La Madeleine`s Strawberries Romanov

Have you been to La Madeleine's? Its a yummy place and my little sister LOVES their Strawberries Romanov, she gets it almost every time we go and savors ever minute of it. We found the recipe and low and behold it has brandy in it! Who would have thought? But, I am sure you could substitute the brandy with an extract or just leave it out. I also use this as a topping on German Puffy Pancakes (without the brandy). This says it will serve 2 but I bet Lindsey would argue that it will only serve her!

Ingredients:


1 cup strawberries, hulled and rinsed
1/2 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon brandy



Directions:
Just before serving, rinse berries and trim stems with a paring knife. Mix remaining ingredients and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.

Put berries in stemmed wine glass and top with sauce.

Cheddar Soup

This is one of my Mom's favorites and a favorite at the tea room that she and my sister used to own. Its creamy and so good!

Ingredients to serve 8
1/4 cup of butter or margarine
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup flour
1 and 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 quart chicken broth
1 quart half and half
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 and 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a heavy sauce pan over medium heat. Saute in the melted butter, the onion, carrots, and celery (I chop these in a food processor) Saute until soft.Gradually stir in the flour and cornstarch.Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in the chicken broth and half and half. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened and smooth.Stir in the baking soda and grated cheddar.Stir until cheese is melted.Add salt and pepper.Enjoy!Note: Be sure to use half and half, not milk.When you add the flour and cornstarch to make the roux, it will quickly thicken, so be sure to stir.

Variations: crumble bacon bits on top or mix with a potatoe soup.

sweet and sour chicken

I have had terrible luck with new recipes lately. I almost didn't try this one because I didn't think I could handle another dud. I'm so, so glad I gave this one a try. It's easily one of our new favorites.

3-4 chicken breasts {I used two huge Costco ones}
salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 T ketchup
1/2 c vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt

Cut chicken into chunks. Season with salt and pepper, dip into cornstarch and then into egg. Fry in the oil until brown but not cooked through. {I did about three minutes one one side, flipped them all over and cooked for another minute or two.} Mix sauce ingredients and pour over chicken in an 8x8 baking dish. Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. I thought there was plenty of sauce, but if you want more, you can mix up another batch and simmer over medium heat until thickened. I served this over rice with a side of steamed stir-fry veggies.

from here

Chewy Ginger Snaps

These cookies just smell like Christmas to me! :)

2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg

Mix together first six ingredients. Cream sugar, shortening, molasses and egg. Add dry ingredients -- beat well. Form 1 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. (The cookies are going to look really puffy - but they will flatten a bit after you take them out of the oven. I let mine sit on the pan for another 5 minutes or so.)

Southwest Chicken Chili

I found this recipe on Picky Palate and was excited to make it because it requires NO dairy! Matt's not a fan of spicy food so I dialed down the heat, but it was still excellent and way easy to make.

4 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
2 T olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large bell pepper, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 14-oz cans chicken broth
1 can black beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can cannelini beans, drained
1 14-oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 T Tabasco {I just did a few drops}
1 T fresh lime juice
2 T chili powder {I used about half}
2 T cumin
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and shredded chicken; cook for 1 minute then stir in rest of ingredients. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes then reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to serve. You can top with cheese, sour cream, or whatever else you like. Serve with Pancheri Cornbread.

Romaine Lettuce & Strawberry Salad

Salad:
2-3 heads of Romaine Lettuce
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced lengthwise
1 small red onion, sliced thin (or half a regular sized onion is enough)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted*

Dressing:
1 cup Mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons Half & Half
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup raspberry vinaigrette
1 1/2 Tablespoons raspberry jam

Put all ingredients in blender and mix well. Good for two weeks in fridge.

*Toasted Almonds:
1 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup white sugar

Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until almonds turn brown. Spread on cookie sheet to cool.

Salad:
2-3 heads of Romaine Lettuce
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced lengthwise
1 small red onion, sliced thin (or half a regular sized onion is enough)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted*

Dressing:
1 cup Mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons Half & Half
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup raspberry vinaigrette
1 1/2 Tablespoons raspberry jam

Put all ingredients in blender and mix well. Good for two weeks in fridge.

*Toasted Almonds:
1 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup white sugar

Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until almonds turn brown. Spread on cookie sheet to cool.

Turkey Barley Soup

I found this on allrecipes when I was looking for something to use up my Thanksgiving leftovers. I was pleasantly surprised and will make this again when I have leftover chicken or pork to use. Bonus -- it's super easy!!

2 quarts chicken broth
1 1/2 cup diced celery
1 cup barley {I'll probably do 1/2 cup next time}
1 onion, diced
3/4 cup diced carrots
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp allspice
dash cayenne
2 cups cubed turkey {or chicken or pork}
1/4 cup parsley

Combine first 12 ingredients in large pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add turkey and parsley. Heat through and serve.

Murph's Cheesecake

We (the Strattons) got this from our neighbor, Murph, in Texas. This is the best New York style cheesecake I think we've ever had. The crust is the best part!

1 pkg graham crackers, crushed
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cups of chopped nuts, optional
4 T melted butter
Mix together and press on bottom and slightly up the sides of a spring form pan.

2 8oz packages cream cheese
2 8oz cartons whipped cream cheese
2 cups sugar
1 t salt
2 pints sour cream
2 T cornstarch
6 Extra large eggs

Beat cheeses and sugar well then add other ingredients, except eggs. Add eggs one at a time. Pour into crust and bake 1 hour at 375. Turn oven off and leave cake in oven for 1 hour. No peeking except to cover with foil towards end of baking time to keep top from over browning.

Southern Cornbread Dressing for the Holidays

I made this dressing last year for the firs time and it was by far the best dressing I have ever tasted. Its a good old southern version of the cornbread variety but it does have some bread in it as well. I hope you love it as much as we do! (We don't actually stuff it in the bird since there are health issues with it not getting cooked enough and poultry juices running through it.)


Ingredients
Pan of cornbread (I doubled the recipe and made one that would fill a large rectangle casserole dish), crumble after its done and cooled

1 package of family sized stuffing mix (like stove top, the bread and the seasonings)
1 sleeve saltine crackers
8 tablespoons butter
2 cups celery, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
7 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sage (optional)
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (optional)
5 eggs, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine crumbled cornbread, dreid stuffing mix, and saltines; set aside.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the vegetable mixture over cornbread mixture. Add the stock, mix well, taste, and add salt, pepper to taste, sage, and poultry seasoning. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Reserve 2 heaping tablespoons of this mixture for the giblet gravy. Pour mixture into a greased pan and bake until dressing is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Serve with turkey as a side dish.

Here is a cornbread recipe if you need one, but I think I used 2 package mixes last year

Cornbread:
1 cup self-rising cornmeal
1/2 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
To serve, cut into desired squares and serve with butter. For stuffing above, crumble cornbread.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Florentine Frying Pan Pizzas

Another Rachael Ray from me, imagine that. This pizza's really good and smells amazing!! She made them in a frying pan for the deep dish approach. I just put the pizza dough on a flat baking sheet and called it good. I got a little confused because it was an "individual" but in on the show she put it in a small frying pan - but yet it's 4 to 6 servings. Not my idea of a slice of pizza. But then again, who ever just has one slice/one serving of pizza?! I spread out the whole Pillsbury pizza dough and it was enough for my whole family: 2 hefty eating adults and 2 hefty eating kids.

She also said that you can also feel good about eating it because of all the vitamins in it... well, I think all the fat in her cheese trumps the vitamins - so I cut way down on the cheese... and it still tasted real good.

4 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
Salt and ground black pepper
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cloves garlic, grated
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated (I used 1/4 c.)
A pinch of nutmeg
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 store-bought pizza dough from your favorite pizzeria
1 1/2 cups fontina cheese, shredded (I used 1/2 c.)

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Preheat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons EVOO. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown. Season them with salt and pepper then remove them to a plate.

In the same skillet the mushrooms where cooked in, melt the butter. Add the flour and garlic, and cook 1-2 minutes then whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened.

Add the mushrooms back to the skillet along with the cheese, nutmeg and spinach. Remove the Florentine mixture and let cool.

Cut the dough into quarters, reserving one for this recipe. Wrap up the rest in plastic wrap and freeze it for another time. Roll out the dough so it fits into a 6-inch skillet (use one that's oven-safe).

Before placing the dough into the skillet, drizzle about 1 to 2 tablespoons EVOO on the bottom of the skillet. Lay the dough into the skillet, pressing gently as you work the dough up the sides so it reaches the edge of the skillet. Fill the with the filling and sprinkle with fontina cheese. Pop in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, until the edges and bottom of the crust are golden brown.

Homestyle Potato Soup with Roasted Corn

I wanted a crockpot soup for after church so I snagged the idea of roasted corn from Mel's Roasted Corn Chowder and added it to a crockpot Homestyle Potato Soup recipe I had. The results were SUPER yummy. Between Shayne, I and the 2 kids we almost finished off the whole pot {i don't know if that should be overly embarrassing admitting how much we eat, but it's not!} It's a perfect Sunday meal, ready to eat in only 25 minutes after church.

1 (14 1/2 oz.) can fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
2 c. cubed red potatoes (about 4 lbs.)
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. thinly sliced celery
3/4 c. thinly sliced carrot
3 T. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
1 1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. 2% reduced-fat milk
4 c. frozen corn
1 3.4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Place first 9 ingredients in crockpot; stir will. Cover with lid and cook on HIGH setting for 1 hour. Reduce to LOW setting and cook 4 to 5 hours or until vegetables are tender. Increase to HIGH setting.

Place flour in a bowl; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Stir into soup. Cook, uncovered 25 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently.

To roast the corn, heat the oven to 400. Place kernels on an oiled sheet pan (you only need about 1T to keep it from sticking). Roast corn for 17-20 minutes, until it just begins to brown and the sugars are released. When done, gently stir into soup.

Ladle into bowls; sprinkle with cheese and ground pepper.

Chorizo Black Bean Soup

This is my new favorite black bean soup, it beat out my old favorite. It's really good and really cheap to make but totally filling - BONUS!

1 tablespoon EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pound cured chorizo, casing removed and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
2 serrano peppers, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Salt and ground black pepper
3 14-ounce cans black beans, drained
3/4 to 1 quart chicken stock, depending on desired thickness
2 ripe avocados
1/2 cup sour cream
Zest and juice of 1 lime

1/2 cup (about a handful) flat-leaf parsley or cilantro, chopped

{{I did 4 cans of black beans and the full quart of chicken broth, and it was barely enough for 1 serving for 4 adults}}

Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Add the chorizo to the pan and cook until crispy, 4-5 minutes. Remove from pan and reserve.

Add the onion, garlic, serrano peppers, smoked paprika, salt and ground black pepper to the pan, and cook until the onions are tender, 5-6 minutes.

Add the black beans and chicken stock to the pan, and bring the liquids up to a bubble. Ladle a couple of scoops of the soup into the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Return the pureed soup to the pot and keep warm.

After pureeing the beans, rinse the food processor bowl out and return it to the base. Add avocados , sour cream, lime zest and juice and process until smooth.

Serve the soup topped with some avocado cream, reserved crispy chorizo and cilantro.

Rachael Ray

{{I served with Pancheri Cornbread}}

Raw Apple Cake

This recipe is from my Grandfather Smith. I don't have the original recipe in his writing, but I'm sure it says to enjoy this with whipped cream and ice cream! Personally, I like it just plain.

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil
1 egg
3 large apples, peeled and grated
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup flour
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Beat egg. Add sugar and oil. Add dry ingredients. Stir in apples and nuts. Pour into a greased 8" square pan. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.

"Shrek Shakes" a.k.a. Green Smoothie

My sister told me all about these Green Smoothies she makes. And after fighting with my kids each meal to eat their veggies, I was completely intrigued. I tried them, held my breath as my kids tried them and they were in love... which means I was in love too. I don't worry about them eating their veggies so much when they down one of these each morning. And since my kids love Shrek, we call them Shrek Shakes.

It's been 2 weeks of eating them everyday and they still love them and ask for them each morning (at least Ava does, Nolan still doesn't talk - so he grunts for it)! If you can brave gulping down something green, give it a whirl. They're really good - especially considering how good they are for you!

This is how we make our Shrek Shakes...

Put in your blender...
1-2 T. flax seed
{{contain high levels of lignans and Omega-3 fatty acids. Lignans may benefit the heart, possess anti-cancer properties, may also lessen the severity of diabetes by stabilizing blood-sugar levels. Benefits of flax seed as shown in many studies include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) levels. Other benefits show that flax seed may also help lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.}}
{{blend}}
1-2 bananas
(make sure it's ripe and not green... this should not be where the green comes from! ;)
2 handfuls of frozen strawberries
(probably 1 cup - like 6 or 8)

**blend these together first, smoothie will be creamy pink

huge handful of spinach
(1 1/2 to 2 cups)
{{rich source of iron and calcium; an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc and vitamin E. In addition, it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, niacin and selenium.}}
3-4 large kale leaves
{{considered to be a highly nutritious vegetable with powerful antioxidant properties and is anti-inflammatory.^[1] Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium}}
3-4 collard green leaves
{{good sources of vitamin C and soluble fiber and contain multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties.}}
**submerge and blend, smoothie turns green!
6 or 8 baby carrots
1 scoop of soy protein powder
then I add some ice to make it cold
**blend and Voila!!

How's that for some nutritional value before 9am?!?
And here it is from the original Green Smoothie Lady... GENIUS!!

Southwest Chicken Salad

We had this at a ladies function at our church a few months ago and it was great! This is my friend and workout buddy Angie's recipe....

Southwest Chicken Salad Romaine

Heads of Lettuce 1-2 (depending on size)
2-4 Grilled Chicken Breast
3 Roma Tomatoes - chopped
1 Red, Orange and Yellow Bell Pepper - sliced or chopped
1/2 bunch Cilantro chopped (not too fine)
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan cheese
1 can Black Beans - rinsed and drained
1 small bag Frozen Corn - thawedTortilla Strips - you can buy them or you can fry strips of flour or corn tortilla in oil
Southwestern Caesar Salad Dressing - Look for it at HEB/Grovery Store (you can also substitute with plain caesar dressing if you need to)

You can layer salad or toss all ingredients together just before serving. Tip--add romaine lettuce after tossing the other ingredients so that it will stay crisper.

She served this is a large clean bucket and it was so festive!

I hope you enjoy it! Its a great salad meal...one of those yummy salads with enough stuff it in so you feel like its a meal and not just rabbit food!

Cream Soup Mix

I got this recipe from my Sister-in-law. It is SO much cheaper than buying creamed soups and takes up less room in your pantry too. (I haven't figured the exact price but I think I have about $5 into ingredients and made the equivalent of 27 cans of soup).

2 c. powdered milk
3/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 c. bouillon granules (chicken for cream of chicken, beef for cream of mushroom, etc)
2 T. onion flakes
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper

Store in an airtight container. When ready to use combine 1/3c. of the mix with 1 c. water. Cook and stir until thick. Makes 1 can of soup.

Mix makes the equivalent of 9 cans of soup

Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

I got this recipe from a ward cookbook my sister in law gave me from Houston. It was super easy, and tastes pretty good... but the best part - completely ready and waiting for you when you get home from church at 5pm!

4 lb. pork tenderloin
package fajita seasoning mix
ground pepper
2 red peppers, sliced
large onion, sliced in rings
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 medium or 4 small red potatoes, cut into bit size pieces
large zip lock bag

Put all ingredients into Ziploc bag, mix... then add the pork. Dump contents into a Pam sprayed crockpot and put 1/4 to 1/2 cup water in the bottom. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. The longer, the more tender the tenderloin.

It was good for how fast and easy it is! And for sure works when you want dinner as soon as you get home!!

Meatball Subs

For some strange reason, I had a hankering for a meatball sub. I don't think I've ever eaten a meatball sub before, but the craving was still there. I turned to reliable old allrecipes and found a winner.

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1 T grated parmesan cheese {I left this out to make it non-dairy}
1/2 egg, beaten
1/2 French baguette {I used wheat sub rolls we had on hand}
1 1/2 tsp EVOO
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 pinch salt
7 oz. spaghetti sauce

Preheat the oven to 350*. In a medium bowl, mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, italian seasoning, garlic, parsley, parmesan cheese and egg by hand. Shape into 12 meatballs and place into a Pyrex pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cooked through. Meanwhile, cut baguette in half lengthwise and scoop out some of the middle to make a well for the meatballs. Brush with olive oil and season with garlic powder and salt. Slip into the oven for the last five minutes of the meatballs' cooking time, until lightly toasted. Heat up spaghetti sauce in medium bowl in microwave. When meatballs are done, place them in bowl with sauce and mix lightly. Scoop meatballs into baguette. {I topped Matt's with shredded mozzarella cheese and put it back in the oven for a few minutes.} Enjoy!

Double Chocolate Muffins

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (no substitutions)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Let all ingredients come to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease muffin cups or line with paper/foil cups. Melt unsweetened chocolate and let cool.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine buttermilk and vanilla. In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually add brown sugar, beating on high speed until lightened in color and texture, about 4 to 5 minutes. Beat in egg. Add melted chocolate and beat in until just blended.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat in thoroughly, then 1/2 of buttermilk mixture and beat in. Continue until all of flour mixture and buttermilk mixture have been fully incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among muffin cups and bake 25-30 minutes, until toothpick inserted into one or two of the muffins comes out clean. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes in the pan before removing; serve at room temperature.

Chicken, Corn & Black Bean Stoup

2 T vegetable oil
2 pounds chicken tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 T ground cumin
1 1/2 T ground coriander
1 large onion, chopped
3 cups corn {I used frozen}
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 T. flour
1 quart chicken stock
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
hot sauce {Tabasco}

Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat with the vegetable oil. Add the chicken and season with salt, pepper, cumin and coriander. Cook the chicken until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, corn and red bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes. Dust the chicken and veggies with flour, stir, and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Turn up the heat to high and add the chicken stock. Bring the stew up to a simmer and then add the black beans. Simmer the stew for 15 minutes. Add the lime juice and cilantro and stir to combine. Add a little hot sauce {I used about 5 drops}. Serve garnished with sour cream, cilantro and/or cheese.

Also from 365: No Repeats

Honey Nut Chicken Sticks

2 pounds chicken tenders
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup flour
3 eggs
splash of milk
2 cups Honey Nut Corn Flakes {I used Honey Bunches of Oats}
1 cup bread crumbs
1 T paprika
1 T Montreal Chicken seasoning
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400*. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a large, shallow dish. Coat the chicken in the flour. Beat the eggs and milk in a shallow dish. Combine the cereal, bread crumbs, paprika, Montreal seasoning and oil in a food processor. Transfer the breading to a shallow dish. Place a nonstick baking sheet near the chicken breading station. In batches, dip the flour-coated chicken into the egg mixture and then in the breading mixture and place on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. May be served hot or cold.

Compliments of Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats.

Roasted Corn Chowder

1 T olive oil
1 T butter
8 ears corn, shucked and kernels removed from cobb (or 4 cups frozen corn)
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 jalapenos, finely diced (remove the ribs and seeds if you don't want it too spicy)
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
1/2 to 1 cup cream or half-n-half
2 T cumin
2 t salt
1 t pepper

To roast the corn, heat the oven to 400. Place kernels on an oiled sheet pan (you only need about 1T to keep it from sticking). Roast corn for 17-20 minutes, until it just begins to brown and the sugars are released.

In a large stock pot, heat oil and melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, jalapenos, pepper and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, until onion is translucent and veggies begin to soften. Add potatoes, corn, water and seasonings. Boil uncovered until potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes. Add cream or half-n-half and heat through. For thicker soup, you can add about 1 T cornstarch mixed with 2 T cold water (mix water and cornstarch until smooth and add to soup). Check seasoning.

*This is a recipe that I created in an attempt to use up a bunch of veggies from my CSA shares. If you find something wrong, or make your own changes, please let me know. Personally, I wanted a little more kick. I'll either add additional jalapeno (or include some seeds) or add 1/4 to 1/2 t cayenne pepper.

**For Mandy, you can do this soup non-dairy as well. Just leave out the dairy and substitute vegetable stock or chicken stock for the water.

Smoky Chicken Tortilla Soup

LOOOOOVVEEE the smokiness of this stuff!
3 cups chicken stock
1 pound chicken tenders
1 bay leaf, fresh if available
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
4 slices thick, smoky bacon, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 chipotles in adobo, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons sauce {next time I'll just use the adobo sauce, no chipotles - it was too spicy for my kids to eat}
1 28-ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
Salt to taste
4 cups corn tortilla chips, lightly crushed
3/4 pound (2 cups) shredded fresh smoked mozzarella or smoked sharp white cheddar cheese
1 lime, cut into wedges
1/2 red onion, chopped
Fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

Bring broth to a simmer and add the chicken tenders. Poach them for 6-7 minutes with a bay leaf.

While the chicken poaches, heat EVOO in a medium soup pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook it until crisp then remove it with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain off the excess fat, leaving 2-3 tablespoons in the pan. Add the onions and garlic to the skillet and cook them for 5 minutes. Stir in chipotles and tomatoes.

Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid, dice it then add it to the tomatoes and chipotles. Pass the poaching liquid through a strainer then add it to the soup pot as well.

Place a pile of crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of each soup bowl. Cover it liberally with cheese then ladle the hot soup down over the top. Serve it with lime, raw onions and cilantro at the table.

a Rachael Ray

Potato-Pumpkin Soup

1 8 to 10 lb. pumpkin
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 medium white or yellow onions, chopped
6 cups water
1/2 cup condensed milk, cream or half-n-half
1 t cardamom
1 t salt
1/2 t white pepper
1/2 t nutmeg
2 T minced fresh parsley, for garnish

Cut off the top 1/3 of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and strings, saving the seeds. Using a sturdy spoon, scoop out the pumpkin flesh, leaving a 1-inch wall inside. Refrigerate the shell and top.
Combine the potatoes, onions, 2 cups pumpkin flesh and water in a large stockpot. Add the salt, white pepper, cardamom and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are fork tender, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200. Put the pumpkin shell and top on a baking tray and place in the oven to warm.
Remove the vegetables and place in a food processor and puree until smooth, or mash by hand until no lumps remain. Return the puree to the cooking water. Stir in the milk, cream or half-n-half, adding more if necessary for a creamier consistency. Heat over low heat until hot.
To serve, place the pumpkin shell on a large serving tray. Pour in the hot soup and sprinkle with fresh parsley and toasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Mean Green Tortilla Soup

This is a lot like my Mom's tortilla soup that I posted a while back... but Rachael Ray adds tomatillos to it... and I loved it!! It makes it greener, tangier and more flavorful. Next time I think I'll add some rice like in my Mom's recipe.

2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
3 ears of corn, kernels removed (reserve shaved corn cobs)
1 package corn tortillas, cut into strips
4 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
1 package (3 pieces) chicken thighs or breasts
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, grated
2 teaspoon cumin
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
10 to 12 tomatillos, husks removed
2 cups cilantro, chopped
Zest and juice of 2 limes
2 cups jack cheese, shredded
3 avocados, chopped (optional)
{1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered lengthwise - I added}

Preheat oven 400°F.

In a large pot, bring the chicken stock and water to a bubble with the reserved corn cobs and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Place the corn tortilla strips onto a baking sheet and spray them with some cooking spray. Transfer to the oven and bake until crispy, 10 minutes.

Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat with some EVOO about 2 turns around the pan. Add the chicken, browning on all sides, then place into the oven for about 7-8 minutes, until juices run clear and no pink remains in the center. Once the chicken is done cooking, remove from oven and let rest before cutting into strips.

Preheat a heavy-bottomed pot with remaining 2 tablespoons of EVOO. Add the onion, garlic and cumin, and cook till soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the corn kernels along with the jalapeño.

While the veggies are cooking, puree the tomatillos in a food processor until somewhat smooth. Add the purée, stock and chicken to the pot along with the veggies.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and add in the cilantro, lime zest and juice, and serve it up garnished with a big handful of jack cheese, tortilla and avocado.

Pumpkin Bread

This is from one of my favorite cook books Aggies, Moms, and Apple Pie

I love every recipe that I have made in this book, and I have made a bunch!


Pumpkin Bread
by Martha Rutherford, Deep East Texas Mother's Club
...
Ingredients:
3 cups of sugar
1 cup of vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup orange juice
1 (16 oz) can of pumpkin or pumpkin pie
3.5 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1.5 teaspoons of salt
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
Optional ingredients:
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup of raisins
...
(I have made it with pecans and it is good. I don't do raisins...I think they are scary!)
Combine sugar and vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl; blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Add orange juice and pumpkin. Blend in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in nuts and raisins if desired. Pour batter, evenly divided, into four 1 pound coffee cans that have been well greased and floured. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Test for doneness with toothpick; longer baking is sometimes required. It is also a good mailer.
Now, I have never made it in the coffee cans, I have always used loaf pans. I would recommend the smaller loaf pans so that it gets done in the middle. I have made these as mini loaves and given them as Christmas gifts many times.
...
My husband would tell you to throw in some chocolate chips in the batter but I don't like my chocolate mixed with pumpkin...but some people love it.

Blitz bread

I found this recipe here and they got it from another blog. I made it tonight and really liked it. It's actually a lot like garlic pull aparts, but I had much better luck with it. Also a plus for me? No dairy. It's harder than you might think to find recipes without milk of some incarnation. Anyway, this bread was ridiculously easy to make and really tasty.

1 1/2 cups warm water
3 T. olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
1 1/4 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups flour
1 T. yeast
3 tsp. italian seasoning

Lightly grease a 9x13 pan and drizzle 1 to 2 T. olive oil in the bottom. Combine all of the ingredients together and beat at high speed for 60 seconds. {I used my Bosch and I actually put the yeast into the warm water with a bit of sugar to let the yeast get going before adding it to everything else.} {The original recipe also says you can add 1 cup crumbled feta cheese to the batter here, but I didn't try that.} Scoop the very sticky batter into the 9x13 pan, cover and let rise for an hour. Preheat the oven to 375*. Poke the dough all over with your index finger and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle more italian seasoning over the top. Bake the bread 35-40 minutes and enjoy!

button?

Thanks to Megan for the new header! I just love the cupcakes! Jen mentioned that she wanted a button for her sidebar, so I asked Megan to make it happen. Once again, she came through for us!

**If any of you would like to add this to your sidebar, just go to your blog layout and add a picture. Use this URL for the picture {https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftzrpC0QKm9YJp1C7872EqZ_anAVHjEAWyxDjy1jJmL1klea31i84z5X_cU-4VwOc0rZyvILL7HQgeSPkZOwyFHiU3E0XwAqmi1Ns8frnkjpu94tIrXS0pM6MX3ARzu2u4uo8DiE2nB0/s200/lugub+button+2.png} and this URL as the link {http://recipestop.blogspot.com}.

Pasta with Arugula, Fresh Herbs, and Garlic

I found this recipe in a cooking magazine I subscribe to and tried it for the first time today. It has a pleasantly sharp sort of flavor from all the garlic, red pepper, and fresh herbs. All in all, very delicious. Bonus: from start to finish -- including prep -- this recipe took me less than 35 minutes!

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
7 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper
1 pound pasta (campanelle, fusilli, or penne)
2 cups lightly packed baby arugula (or baby spinach)
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh parsley
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Boil pasta according to package directions until al dente. Meanwhile, heat oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a large saucepan over medium-low heat just until garlic turns golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, cover, and keep warm.

Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water from pasta and drain pasta. Return to pot, add warm oil mixture, reserved cooking water, arugula, parsley, basil, and Parmesan, and toss just until greens wilt. Season with salt and pepper.

Fish Taco w/ Quick Slaw, Avocado Sauce and Green Rice

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus additional for drizzling
2 jalapeño peppers, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 1/2 cups rice
3 cups vegetable stock, divided
4 firm white fish filets, such as Mahi Mahi (about 8 ounces each)
Zest and juice of 3 limes, divided
1 tablespoon grill seasoning
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1/2 small head red cabbage, shredded
1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
3/4 pound baby spinach
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
2 ripe avocados
1/2 cup sour cream
1 clove garlic, grated
12 6 to 8-inch flour tortillas

Preheat broiler, grill or large, nonstick skillet – whichever you prefer.

Place a medium-size pot over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Toss the jalapeños into the pan and cook until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add in the rice and cook about a minute (you’re toasting it, so it's ready when it starts to smell nutty). Add in 2 1/2 cups stock and bring up to a bubble. Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer the rice until tender, about 20 minutes.

While the rice is working, season the fish filets on both sides with the lime zest, grill seasoning, cumin and coriander. Lightly drizzle some EVOO over the filets and cook: If you're broiling, the fish should take about 6 minutes to cook (3 minutes per side); if you're grilling, the filets should take about 8 minutes to cook (4 minutes per side); if you're cooking them on the stovetop, they should take about 8 minutes to cook (4 minutes per side). Once the fish is cooked, transfer the filets to a plate and cover them with aluminum foil until you're ready – just don't let them sit too long here!

Once you've got the fish cooking, prepare the quick slaw by mixing together the juice of 2 limes, honey, hot sauce, some salt and freshly ground black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup of EVOO. Add the cabbage and red onion, toss to combine and set aside.

Make the "green" part of the rice by pureeing together the baby spinach, cilantro and remaining vegetable stock (about 1/2 cup) in a food processor. Dump the mixture into a dish and reserve it until the rice is finished cooking. Rinse out the food processor bowl and make the avocado sauce by pureeing together the avocado, sour cream, garlic and the juice of the remaining lime. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and set aside.

When the rice has finished cooking, stir in the green sauce and transfer the rice to a serving bowl or platter.

Assemble the fish tacos by shredding the fish filets (each one should give you enough meat for 3 tacos) and place some meat into each tortilla. Top them off with a little of the quick slaw and some avocado sauce. Serve each person 3 tacos and some green rice, and enjoy!

Rachael Ray

Crockpot Beef Tortilla Wraps

round rump roast
Green Mexican Salsa (I use the La Costena brand)
tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
tomatoes

Put meat and salsa in crockpot for 4-6 hours on low. Shred. Place in tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and tomatoes. Super simple, super easy and super yummy! I serve with spicy creamed corn.

Monster Cookies

1 1/4 C. Shortening
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
1 C. Sugar
3 eggs
1 1/4 C. Peanut Butter
2 C. Oats
2 1/2 C. Flour
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 C. Chocolate Chips
1 C. Butterscotch Chips

Bake at 350* for 9-10 minutes. Makes 8 dozen.