Recipes and Menu Planning

Easy Chicken Chili Crockpot Recipe for Healthy Eating

2012-02-09T23:07:00.000-08:00

According to the experts, meaning doctors, chicken is a healthier food choice than beef because it’s a light meat, not red, and therefore leaner. Whether you prefer poultry to beef for nutritional reasons, however, or personal taste, this recipe is perfect. Moreover, you can use either chicken or turkey, and since it calls for three different types of beans, it’s high in both fiber and taste.

If you initially set the slow-cooker on low, it will take up to eight hours before the chili is ready to serve. If you are in a hurry, however, instead of using the Crockpot, put all ingredients in a large pot on the stove, set the heat on low after the chili begins to cook, and your meal will be ready to serve within an hour.

Recipe for Chicken or Turkey Chili with Three Beans

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground chicken or turkey
2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces each)
1 can tomato paste (12 ounces)
1 can kidney beans (15 ounces)
1 can pinto beans (15 ounces)
1 can black beans (15 ounces)
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
I medium onion, chopped
1 package chili seasoning, mild or hot depending upon taste preference

Preparation:

Brown chicken or turkey over medium heat.
Drain browned meat on paper towels.
Put meat in Crockpot then add other ingredients in order given, stirring to blend well.
Set temperature on high until mixture begins to bubble then reduce heat to low until chili is ready to serve.
Serve with taco chips, corn chips, or cornbread, along with sour cream and shredded cheese for garnishing.

Quick and Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe for Parties and Meals

2012-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

Photo by The Culinary Greek

As promised, tonight I am going to share another chili recipe. This is my favorite recipe since I prefer a chunky, mild chili, and it’s always a big hit in my home for quick meals or for informal get-togethers. Note, however, that this recipe feeds a crowd, so use an extra-large Crockpot or else cut the recipe in half.

Recipe for Chunky Chili with Bell Peppers and Pinto Beans

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground chuck
4 cans whole stewed tomatoes (14.5 ounces each)
4 cans pinto beans (15 ounces each)
1 medium onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1 package mild chili seasoning
Nature’s Seasoning or salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Brown and drain ground chuck.
Put meat in the slow-cooker.
Add the tomatoes, beans, onion, bell pepper, and all seasonings.
Set slow-cooker on high, leave on that setting until chili begins to cook, and then set on low until time to serve.
Serve with taco and/or corn chips, along with sour cream and shredded cheese for garnishing.

Easy and Quick Chili Recipe for Parties or Anytime

2012-02-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Photo by The Culinary Greek

I’ve decided to share some of my favorite chili recipes over the next few days. Even though the weather has been warmer than usual here in Louisiana, it’s still chilly, even cold, in some areas of the country, and chili is the ideal wintertime food.Then again, it's still good when the weather's hot; just turn down the thermostat on the A/C.

Depending upon your taste buds, as well as those of your family or guests, you can make chili singe-your-tongue hot or so mild that even a one-year-old can eat it without breaking a sweat. Another plus is its ease of preparation: Simply brown the meat; then toss it and the other ingredients into the slow-cooker around noon, and it’ll be ready to serve by the starting kickoff of Super Bowl Sunday.

The first recipe I’m going to share was my Aunt Pat’s favorite (Past tense because she is now departed, but don’t worry, my aunt didn’t die from eating her chili; she was almost 96 and died from natural causes). Then again, since my aunt tended to be a bit heavy-handed with the chili powder, I’ve altered the recipe to read “add chili powder to taste.” I’ve also modified it for slow-cooker preparation since I am a big, big fan of the Crockpot. In fact, I think the Crockpot is one of the best time-saving devices ever developed.

Crockpot Recipe for Chili with Mushrooms and Kidney Beans

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef or ground chuck
2 cans tomato sauce (14.5 ounces each)
1 can mushrooms, drained (14.5 ounces)
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup green pepper, diced
2 cans red kidney beans, 15 ounces each (Do not drain)
Salt to taste
Chili powder to taste
Dash of black pepper
Dash of cayenne pepper (if you want more ‘fire’)
Sour cream and shredded cheese
Prepared corn muffins or chips or tacos

Preparation:

Brown beef in skillet over medium heat.
Drain on paper towels then put in Crockpot.
Add tomato sauce, mushrooms, garlic, onion, green pepper, kidney beans, and all seasonings.
Set Crockpot on high, leave on that setting until chili begins to cook, and then set on low until time to serve.
Serve with corn muffins or taco or corn chips, along with sour cream and shredded cheese for garnishing.

This recipe was originally published online by Suite 101 in January 2011.

Easy Recipe for Pineapple Cheesecake

2012-01-28T00:42:00.000-08:00

Photo by

Marta Schoenle

Tonight I’m going to share another of my favorite cheesecake recipes. This one is really not complicated to make at all; however, your dinner or party guests will think you spent hours slaving over a hot stove in the kitchen.

Be forewarned, however, that if you're trying to lose weight, this dessert isn't exactly diet fare. Then again, my philosophy is, as long as you don't indulge in high-calorie foods at every meal, then why deny yourself the guilty pleasures in life--like this cheesecake?

Pineapple Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:

16 graham crackers, crushed
1 cup drained crushed pineapple
1 and 1/2 pound cream cheese
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint sour cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pat graham cracker crumbs into bottom of large angel food cake mold.
Top with crushed pineapple.
In a large bowl, cream remaining ingredients in order listed.
Pour mixture over pineapple.
Bake for 1 hour.
Remove from oven and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.
Serve with your favorite whipped topping if desired.

Easy Recipe for Mandarin Orange Cheesecake

2012-01-23T23:26:00.000-08:00

Photo by Dave Allan

As promised, here is another delicious cheesecake recipe. This one is especially rich and creamy, and it’s always a big hit at dinners and parties, although, to be totally honest, sometimes I make it simply because I’m in the mood to be self-indulgent and cheesecake is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods.

Please note that the photo is merely a representation since I did not have one available of the actual cheesecake. However, this photo bears a fairly remarkable resemblance to the actual dessert, although it's lacking the melted apple jelly glaze.

Recipe for Mandarin Orange Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 and 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
5 packages (8 ounce) cream cheese
6 eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon lemon flavoring
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can (11 ounce) mandarin orange segments, drained
1 small jar apple jelly, melted

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter.
Press mixture into greased 9-inch spring-form pan.
Beat cheese until fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth.
Mix remaining sugar with flour and salt.
Add sugar mixture to cream cheese and eggs.
Beat until smooth.
Pour into crust.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to 250 degrees.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Arrange mandarin orange segments on top.
Spoon melted apple jelly over top.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving

Easy Philadelphia Cheesecake Recipe

2012-01-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Photo by DexterSic

Cheese cake has always been one of my favorite desserts. It’s rich, creamy, and delicious. It’s also loaded with calories, but who cares? My philosophy has always been—as long you don’t eat them every day or gorge yourself on them until you’re sick, it’s perfectly all right to eat calorie-laden dishes. That said, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite cheese cake recipes with you over the next few days, beginning with a classic.

Please note: Make the crust first. However, if you prefer, you can use a prepackaged prepared crust. To be totally honest, I do this myself more often than not, mainly because I’m a lazy cook.

Recipe for Philadelphia Cheesecake

Ingredients for Graham Cracker Crust:

1 and 1/2 cups graham crackers
3 tablespoons granulated sugar or 1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Preparation of Graham Cracker Crust:

Crush graham crackers until fine.
Mix with sugar and melted butter.
Press into bottom and onto sides of pie dish or cheesecake pan.

Ingredients for Cheesecake:

1 cup sugar
5 packages (8 ounces) creamed cheese
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons flour
1 can (21 ounce) cherry pie filling

Preparation of Cheesecake:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and flour.
Beat on low until well blended.
Add sour cream, blending on low.
Add eggs, mixing on low until well blended.
Pour into graham cracker crust.
Bake until center is set (approximately 35 to 40 minutes).
Refrigerate for at least four hours.
Top with cherry pie filling. (You can also use either blueberries or strawberries.)

Valentine's Day Dessert Recipe: Number Three

2012-01-14T23:19:00.000-08:00

This is the third recipe in a series of special sweets for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. (For the other two recipes, see “Article Topics.) The recipe calls for a 10-cup heart-shaped mold, but you can also use any type mold, and although the dessert won’t be shaped like a heart, it will still be delicious. Then again, if you make the dessert in a regular mold, you can serve it anytime of the year for parties or dinners when you want to impress guests with your culinary skills

Easy Dessert Recipe for Cherry Bavarian Valentine

Ingredients:

Heart-shaped mold (10-cup)
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 jar maraschino cherries
6 eggs, separated
1 and 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream, whipped (or substitute prepared whipped cream)
Red food coloring (optional)
Additional cherries for decorating

Preparation:

Separate cherries from juice, setting aside cherries for later use.
Add enough water to cherry juice to create 3/4 cup of syrup.
Mix cherry syrup with gelatin, ginger, and salt in top of double boiler.
Stir in egg yolks and milk, blending thoroughly.
Cook over boiling water until gelatin dissolves and mixture thickens slightly.
Remove from heat.
Chill until mixture mounds on a spoon.
Chop cherries.
Add cherries to mixture.
Add a few drops of red food coloring, if desired.
Set aside cherry mixture.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
Add sugar to egg whites and continuing beating until peaks are very stiff.
Fold cherry mixture into stiff egg whites.
Fold in 1 and 1/4 cup of the whipped cream (save remaining 3/4 cups for decoration).
Place mixture in heart-shaped mold.
Chill overnight or at least 4 hours.
Turn dessert out of mold onto serving plate.
Using star tube of cake decorator, squeeze remaining whipped cream onto cake to create lace fluting around the edges.
Use saved cherries to outline immediately inside lace fluting.

Valentine's Day Dessert Recipe Number Two

2012-01-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is another recipe for Valentine’s Day. This one is guaranteed to “melt the heart” of your loved one at that romantic dinner for two. Then again, you really don’t have to serve as the last course in a meal. Just put on some romantic music, serve it alone, and let cupid do his magic.

If you missed the first recipe, which was for a heart-shaped cake, just click on the link “Valentine’s Day,” under "Article Topics" to your right.

Valentine's Recipe for Meringue Hearts with Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 egg whites
Dash of salt
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1/2 gallon strawberry ice cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
Place egg whites in deep bowl.
Add salt, vinegar, and vanilla.
Beat on high speed until peaks form.
Gradually add sugar until peaks are very stiff.
Create 6 mounds of egg whites on cookie sheet.
Using the back of a teaspoon, shape each mound into a heart-shaped shell.
Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from aluminum foil immediately.
Cool completely.
Before serving, fill each heart-shaped shell with ice cream.

Easy Valentine Day Dessert Recipes

2012-01-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day will soon be here, so I am going to launch my blog with the first of three delicious dessert recipes that are not only perfect for romantic dinners but also make original gifts for friends and lovers.

There’s an old saying: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” In reality, however, not only males enjoy good food but also females, so if a man likes to cook, and many men do, he can bake these tempting desserts just as easily as any woman. The kitchen, after all, is no longer considered “a woman’s domain;” it now belongs to anyone and everyone—as long as he or she enjoys pleasing the taste buds of friends and lovers.

Recipe for Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Cake

For this cake you will need two heart-shaped baking pans, which you can find at novelty shops and many stores the sell cooking items. If, however, you are unable to locate the pans, you can create a pattern on paper, place it on each cake layer, and then trim around the pattern with a sharp knife. Of course, if you use this method, cool the layers before you attempt to cut them.

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 egg whites
18 maraschino cherries, well drained and finely chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 container prepared whipped vanilla frosting
Additional cherries for garnish, sliced in half

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease and flour pans.
Separate yolks and whites of eggs.
Discard yolks and set aside whites.
Mix cake mix with water, decreasing the called-for amount by 1/4 cup.
Add cherry juice.
Add egg whites.
Add flavoring extracts.
Beat with mixer on low speed for 2 minutes.
Blend in cherries and nuts.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool before frosting.
Frost and garnish with sliced cherries.

Welcome to Recipes and Menu Planning

2012-01-11T23:56:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I would like to welcome you to Recipes and Menu Planning.

Many of the recipes I will share over the coming weeks, months, and quite possibly years were passed down to me by my mother, who inherited them from her own mother and sometimes her grandmother. Others were given to me over the years by siblings, aunts, cousins, uncles, sister-in-laws, friends, neighbors, and even a few total strangers. Yet others are recipes I happened across and adapted to my family's and my taste buds. Regardless of their origin, however, all the recipes I will share are kitchen-tested and, if you follow the directions, guaranteed to turn out well.

I also intend to share menu and entertaining ideas for formal, informal, and special occasions. Naturally there will be suggestions for holiday entertaining, but I will also provide suggestions for "lesser" occasions, for example, tailgating parties, backyard barbeques, and picnics in the park.

That said, I hope you find my blog useful as well as enjoyable. And I hope you return time and again.