Tracy's Food for Thought

Olive love

2013-01-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'm sharing my 'Olive love' with you today - and who doesn't LOVE olives ??? I like them all: green, black, kalamata....don't matter ! I'm thinking i must have some Greek & some Italian in me some where... :-) I found this on Pinterest- my latest foodie obsession! Some of their recipes are unique and something different when you're in the 'cooking rut'. My finiky hubby would not 'love' this- so i fixed it last week for my Scrapbooking friends for our monthly 'crop'. I'm not sure how they felt about it (but-it was almost all eaten!), but I thought it was fab. All the cheesy olive-y goodness.

WARNING- this is so NOT a low calorie recipe ;-)

Cheesy Olive Bread:

here's what you need:
*small can of sliced black olives
*small jar of green olives w/pimentos
*2 green onions
*1 stick of butter -softened
*1/2 cup mayo
*1 pound Monterey Jack cheese- shredded
* 1 loaf crusty French bread

and here's what you do:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Dice up your green olives, black olives & green onions. In a large bowl- combine butter, mayo, cheese, olives & onions; stir until completely mixed. Slice bread lengthwise & spread the mixture on each half. Bake for 20-25 minutes . Cut & serve immediately !

This goes great with a pasta dish & a salad !

Enjoy !!

Chicken on the Ranch

2012-12-30T08:03:00.003-08:00

A good friend of mine asked me about my blog last night- which reminded me that a few folks STILL read my blog, and that i don't post as often as I should. I'll admit- life sometimes gets in the way, and sometimes i get into a cooking 'rut'- and i need something new to inspire me. Pinterest has been a great help, and also Betty Crocker. I recently 'rediscovered' Betty Crocker's website- Oh My Geez- I found some excellent new recipes, and felt inspired ! I cooked 5 new recipes last week. I thought they all were great- but Mr. Picky did not like a few of them . His loss! This one I'm sharing with you today WAS a hit with the hubby- Ranch Chicken!

Ranch Chicken-

You'll need :
4 Boneless Skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs ( i used Italian flavor!)
2 tablespoons olive oil

Here's what you do:
Prepare 2 plates- one with your dressing, the other with your bread crumbs. Dip the chicken into the dressing, then coat with the bread crumbs.
In a 10 inch skillet, heat the oil over medium heat . Cook the chicken in oil for 12-15 minutes- turning once- until outside is golden brown & juices are no longer pink when cut.
* this makes 4 servings- only 305 calories a serving !
Serve with salad, potatoes, or any other side dish of your choosing.

Enjoy :-)

Pumpkin Dump Cake

2012-11-24T12:05:00.005-08:00

This is a recipe i found on Pinterest. If you don't know about Pinterest, you are missing out ! All kinds of recipes & ideas there ! This is a easy dessert, one of my new seasonal favorites. And its just another twist on the classic Southern 'dump cake'.... Pumpkin Dump Cake- you'll need :1- 15oz can of pumpkin1- 10oz can Evaporated Milk (i used fat free)1 cup light brown sugar3 eggs3 tsp pumpkin pie spice1 box yellow cake mix2 sticks of butter, melted1 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers or pecans here's what you do :Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray.In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients- stir well.Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle entire box of cake mix on top- followed by graham crackers or pecans. Pour the melted butter evenly over the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set & edges are lightly browned. **serve with some ice cream or Cool Whip- YUM !!** Enjoy :-)

Oreo Dessert= yum !

2012-08-25T07:31:00.001-07:00

So my good friend & coworker, Heather , asked me for a dessert recipe yesterday. I thought of this one immediately - its easy, few ingredients, low calorie (an old Weight Watcher recipe) . And who DOESN'T love Oreos ??? I was suprised I had not posted this one on my blog before- but I want to share this goodie with you now :-)

OREO DESSERT

You'll need: 15 reduced fat Oreos

4 oz. fat free cream cheese

1/4 cup powdered sugar

8 oz. fat free Cool Whip

1 small box sugar free vanilla pudding

1 small box sugar free chocolate pudding

4 cups skim milk

spray butter

Here's what you do:

Crush Oreos & spread into small dish. Spray butter over Oreos (10 sprays). In a bowl, mix cream cheese, Cool Whip, and powdered sugar and spread over Oreos. In the same bowl, mix vanilla pudding (according to package directions). Spread over the previous layer. In the same bowl, mix chocolate pudding (according to package directions). Spread over previous layer. Spread remaining Cool Whip on top layer. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Enjoy !!

Going Greek

2012-08-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Doing something a little different this time: i am blogging about a recipe I HAVE NOT tried yet! May sound a little strange, but this is one i found the other day in my Cooking Light 5 ingredients 15 minute Cookbook. And I soooooo want to try it. I am a new fan of the Greek salad, and this sandwich sounds right up my alley! My husband has already said there's no way he's eating it - so its one i'll have to fix just for me. As i have said many times before, my hubby is a picky one & doesn't try new foods much. I asked him to try some hummus- he said no way- because he didn't like the name. I just looked at him like he'd lost his mind. Oh well, he's missing out ! Already put the ingredients on my shopping list :-)

GREEK CHICKEN PITAS-

you'll need:
   cooking spray
   1 pound chicken breast tenders
   1 tsp. Greek seasoning
   1/2 cup hummus
   4 (8 inch) pita bread rounds
   1 cup torn romaine lettuce
   2 plum tomatoes, sliced
   1 small cucumber, cut into strips
   1/4 cup (2 ounces) crumbled basil & tomato flavored feta cheese

here's what you do :
   Coat a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray & place over medium high heat until hot. Sprinkle the chicken with the Greek seasoning & add to skillet. Cook chicken for 6-8 minutes or until light brown, stirring occasionally. While the chicken is cooking, spread hummus evenly over pita rounds. Arrange chicken, lettuce, and remaining ingredients evenly on one half of each pita round. Fold pitas over filling . Secure with toothpicks if needed before serving, Yields 4 servings.
314 calories per pita- not bad !

Enjoy :-)

Didn't your mama ever tell you breakfast is THE most important meal of the day ???

2012-08-11T05:59:00.001-07:00

And its true- breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Doctors have said it gets your metabolism going for the day (mine needs to be started as early as possible...lol ) Sometimes you want something really good, but just don't have a lotta time . Here's something really fabulous that beats a bowl of cereal ! (from the awesome folks at Kraft)

Grab and Go Breakfast Sandwich-

You'll need: 1/4 cup Egg Beaters, 1 english muffin (spilt & toasted), 1 slice of Kraft 2% milk Sharp Cheddar Singles, 1 slice turkey bacon (cooked & cut in half).

Here's what you do : Cook the Egg Beaters in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat for about 3 minutes- or until set- stirring occasionally. Fill the muffin halves with egg, cheese & bacon.

Now- wasn't that easy ? And only 270 calories :-)

Enjoy !!

Who knew a little rabbit food could go a long way ?

2012-07-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Its hot outside, and you just don't feel like a 'hot' meal- a salad sounds good, right ? I love meal salads- maybe even with a side of garlic bread. My hubby always wonders where the rest of the meal is - maybe thats a man thing ! This is a meal salad i fix frequently (minus the purple onions- for my onion hating hubby!)

Caesar Tortellini Salad:
you'll need:
1 - 9oz. package of refrigerated or frozen tortellini
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped purple onions
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup refridgerated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 medium cucumber - thinly sliced
3/4 cup light Caesar salad dressing
8 cups of shredded romaine lettuce (about 1 head)

here's what you do :
*Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Combine pasta , tomatoes, and the next 6 ingredients; toss well. Cover & chill thoroughly. Serve over lettuce.

YUM ! Enjoy- and stay cool in this heat :-)

It's been a while, but i'm back ! Ready to eat ??

2012-07-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a good year or so since i did this blog. I decided it was way past time to get back to it. As you may remember- my husband is a picky eater (and a diabetic) - so finding things he will eat is sometimes a challenge. And with my own weight & health issues- we both need to eat better. This is one recipe i found- courtesy of Kraft- that is hearty AND healthy all at the same time.

Hearty Round Steak Dinner-

you'll need :
1 pound round steak (about a 1/2 inch thick)
1/4 cup A1 Thick & Hearty Steak Sauce
1/4 cup Kraft fat free Italian dressing
1/2 cup chopped onion ( i had to cut back on my onions- husband is not an onion fan !)
2 small cloves of garlic- minced
1 pound of new potatoes- quartered
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 package (16oz) frozen broccoli, cauliflower, & carrot blend

here's what you do :
Cut steak up into 6 equal portions; place in a large baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Mix steak sauce , dressing, oniion & garlic; pour over steak. Cover & marinade in the fridge for 1 hour.
Add potatoes and mushrooms to the items in the baking dish ; cover.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until steak is cooked through and potatoes are tender; adding frozen veggie mixture to the baking dish after 45 minutes.

* if you'd like your steak more tender- marinate the steak in the steak sauce overnight.

You'll get 6 servings out of this. And it only has 190 calories and 3g fat per serving.

Enjoy !

Mini Cheese Balls

2011-03-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what to make for a party thats a great appetizer, but doesn't cost alot to make ? I've got your answer ;-) One of my doctors I work for, and fellow crafter- we'll call her Dr. B- gave me this great recipe to make for our monthly Stampin Up club . I made it- and it was a big hit ! And they're bite size- can't beat that.....

Mini Cheese Balls-
you'll need : 2 blocks cream cheese (softened), 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1/4 cup chopped green onions (more or less to taste ), 1/2 cup real bacon bits, 1 ounce package of Ranch dressing mix, 2 cups chopped pecans.

here's what you do :
Mix all of the ingredients together except pecans. Roll into bite sized balls (about the size of a ping pong ball- about 2 bites). Roll into chopped pecans. Store in the fridge. You can make them ahead of time- just don't roll them into the pecans until the day of.
Serve with your favorite crackers ( I like 'em with Triscuits!)

Enjoy !!

Baked Apple Pancake

2011-01-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

Learning how to cook for a diabetic has been tough- and learning to cook for a PICKY diabetic is even harder ! I'll get there one day :-) This is one recipe we tried recently- and Mr. Picky actually liked it ! So I'll definatley keep it in the recipe box for future use....
This recipe is courtesy of Kraft- gotta love Kraft ;-)

Baked Apple Pancake:

you'll need : 2 tbsp. margarine (divided), 3 Granny Smith apples (thinly sliced) , 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese , 1 oz. Neufchatel cheese -softened (can be found with the cream cheese in the grocery store) , 1/2 fat free milk, 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 cup egg product (I use Egg Beaters), 1/4 cup Splenda (divided), 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon.

here's what you do : Heat oven to 475 degrees. Melt 1 tbsp. margarine in a large ovenproof skillet on medium heat. Add apples ; cook for 5 minutes . Top with cheddar. Whisk Neufchatel & milk in a medium bowl until blended. Stir in the flour , egg product, 1 tbsp. Splenda, and salt ; pour over the apples. Sprinkle with combined remaining Splenda and cinnamon; dot with remaining margarine. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until puffed & golden brown.

Yum ! Enjoy :-)

Better -Than-Ever Cheesy Meat Lasagna

2011-01-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

Lasagna is one thing that always goes over well in our house. I have lasagna recipes, but i like to

try new ones out every once in a while - searching for one that takes less time, fewer ingredients, tastes better....

This one is courtesy of Kraft. I made a couple of variations- I've made it twice- and its not bad !

See what you think....

Better-Than-Ever Cheesy Meat Lasagna

You'll need : 3/4 lb. extra lean ground beef , 3 minced cloves garlic, 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, 1 jar (26 oz) spaghetti sauce (I use 2 jars- hubby likes extra sauce) , 1 large chopped tomato (I used a can of diced tomatoes- italian style instead ) , 1 egg, 1 (16 oz) container lowfat cottage cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese ( I always use more !) , 9 lasagna noodles ( I use the Barilla lasagna noodles- they don't require boiling!) , 1 package mozzarella cheese shredded.

here's what you do : Heat over to 375 degrees. Brown ground beef with the garlic & oregano in a large saucepan. Stir in spaghetti sauce & tomato- simmer for 5 min., stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Mix together in a bowl the egg, cottage cheese, & Parmesan. Spread 1/2 cup of meat sauce onto the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish - top with layers of noodles, half the cottage cheese mixture, 1/2 cup of mozzarella , and a cup of sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles sauce . Cover. Bake for 30 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella & bake for 5 additional minutes uncovered.

Enjoy :-)

White Chocolate Mousse Pie

2010-12-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

We recently found out my husband has Type 2 Diabetes. It has been like learning to cook all over again- knowing what he can & cannot eat. There has been more than a few times I have been scratching my head come dinner time ! And my hubby LOVES some sweets- so i had to come up with something to take care of his sweet tooth . I got this recipe from a friend of mine who also has a diabetic husband. And it is sooooo easy!

White Chocolate Mousse Pie-

you'll need : 2 pie crusts, 1 bar of cream cheese ( i used reduced fat) , 1 container sugar free Cool Whip, 2 boxes sugar free instant Jello White Chocolate pudding, 2 cups milk ( i used 1% milk).

here's what you do :
Melt cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl for 1 minute. Stir. Add 1/2 cup milk, then add the boxes of pudding & the remaining milk. Using a mixer, mix for 2 minutes. Then fold in the Cool Whip. Once blended, pour into pie crusts & refridgerate for atleast an hour.

Enjoy :-)

A Thanksgiving with the Family.....

2010-11-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

What do you remember most about Thanksgivings past ? I always remember when i was younger we would always go to my grandparents house- and there was always a house full of people & the best food EVER! As I've always said- my grandmother & mother were the best cooks- and those times with them I'll always treasure. There are foods that just take me back to those times, and today I want to share one of those foods with you.....

Granny's Cornbread Dressing:

you'll need : 1 pan of baked cornbread in a 13x9 pan , 3 cans Cream of Chicken soup, 3 cans chicken broth, 1 can Cream of Celery soup, 2 cups chopped onion, 16 slices of bread (torn), Sage to taste.

here's what you do: Crumble cornbread in a VERY large bowl. Add bread , onions & sage. Heat soups and pour over bread mixture. Stir & mash with a potato masher. Pour into a VERY large roasting pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

AND you can't forget the Giblet Gravy to top it off!!

Giblet Gravy-

you'll need : 3 cups chicken broth, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 can Cream of Chicken soup, 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped chicken or turkey , 3 hard boiled eggs (chopped ) , pepper to taste.

here's what you do : Mix broth & flour until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients . Cook until hot & thick.

** I hope you all enjoy a wonderful thanksgiving with your families! Enjoy the little things that mean so much :-) ****

Sweet Potato Casserole

2010-11-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving is FAST approaching! What are you thankful for ? One thing you can be thankful for is some good homemade cooking - say, for instance -a Sweet Potato Casserole? This recipe I got from my husband's grandmother- and it does wonders for any holiday dinner !

Sweet Potato Casserole:

you'll need : 3 cups cooked sweet potatoes (mashed), 1 cup sugar , 1/2 cup margarine, 2 eggs (beaten), 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/3 cup milk.

*Mix all of the above ingredients and put in a baking dish. THEN...the topping...

you'll need : 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup margarine, 1 cup chopped pecans.

*Mix these ingredients well & sprinkle on top . Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 min.

YUM !!!
Enjoy :-)

Mexican Shepherd's Pie

2010-09-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is one of those quick & easy recipes- just like I like ! And best of all, its something DIFFERENT ! I'll admit every once in a while I get in a "cooking funk " - where I feel like I'm cooking the same things over & over again. That's when you just want something that you've never had before. And you should have seen my husband's face when i told him what we were having for dinner- it was not pretty! But amazingly, he tried it- and actually liked it !

Mexican Shepherd's Pie-
here's what you need :
1 pound ground beef, 1/2 cup sliced green onions, 1 cup thick & chunky salsa,
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 3/4 tsp. cumin, 1 can of Mexicorn (11 oz.- drained), 1 pouch of Betty Crockers loaded mashed potatoes (from a 6.1 oz box) , 1 1/3 cups water, 2 tbsp. butter, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1 medium tomato ( cut into wedges), Tortilla chips.

here's what you do :
In a 10 inch skillet, cook the ground beef and a 1/4 of the onions over medium heat, for about 7 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked , then drain. Stir in the salsa, chili powder, and cumin. Spoon corn evenly over the beef mixture in the skillet. Cover & cook over low heat until its thoroughly heated.
In the meantime, in a 2 quart saucepan, heat water & butter to boiling. Remove from heat & stir in milk & the pouch of potatoes just until blended. Let stand for about a minute , fluff with a fork.
Spoon the potatoes over the corn in the skillet & spread evenly. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining green onions. Cover & cook over low heat for about 5 minutes more. Then top with the tomato wedges, and garnish with tortilla chips around the outside edge of the skillet.

** Makes 4 servings. (1 1/2 cups each)
* wanna make it a little healthier ? Try using ground turkey instead of beef, use reduced fat cheese, and lowfat milk .

Enjoy :-)

Something new, something sweet....

2010-07-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been off the blog "train" for almost a month- where does the time go? Did you miss me ? What can I say- life has gotten in the way! To beg your forgiveness- i bring you something sweet ....

Brownie Shortcake-

you'll need : 1 box (19.5 oz ) brownie mix
                     1 container (16 oz) sour cream- divided
                     1 cup of thawed Cool Whip
                     1 tbsp. powdered sugar
                     1 tsp. vanilla
                     3 cups of cut up strawberries & peeled kiwi

here's what you do : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the brownie mix as directed on the box.
                                  Then stir in 1/2 of the sour cream. Spoon this mixture into a greased & floured 9
                                  inch round cake pan. Bake for 45 minutes, cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the
                                  pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Mix remaining sour cream, Cool Whip,
                                  sugar & vanilla. Cut brownie horizontally in half. Place bottom half on a plate,
                                  spread with half of the sour cream mixture. Cover with top of brownie, remaining
                                  sour cream mixture, and fruit. Store in refridgerator until ready to serve.

YUM :-)

What to do when you can't find Suddenly Salad....

2010-06-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

I went to the grocery store yesterday, had a craving for Suddenly Salad (you know- the box pasta salad mix from Betty Crocker?) . But Kroger had none, no- not one. So, i thought I'd improvise & make my own . There's no exact measurements on this- you just have to wing it ;-) But I'll warn you- my version has a couple of add-ons.....
First, i went over to the pasta aisle & grabbed some Kroger brand rainbow colored rotini, grabbed a can of black olives, moseyed over to the produce section for portabella mushrooms & tomatoes . I was thinking of what to use for seasoning.... italian dressing packet mix! (its on the same aisle as condiments- with the Hidden Valley Ranch dip mixes). So I took all of my ingredients home. First thing I did was cook the pasta according to the package directions. Once i rinsed, drained, & cooled it- i mixed in the mushrooms & black olives. Then i covered the bowl & put it in the fridge. Next I prepared the italian dressing mix (which according to the directions- you'll need to have some oil & vinager on hand). It was shaken & stirred- then it sat in the fridge overnight to "gel" so to speak. This morning , I got up ready to mix it up. Opened up the bowl, poured the dressing over the pasta . Then I added some Italian Seasoning, salt & pepper, parmesan cheese. Stirred all of it up well. Then i sliced a tomato up for the topping. And believe it or not- it was actually pretty good! I took it to work to share with my co-workers - and it was all gone in a few minutes :-)
Yeah!

Enjoy :-)

Soooooooo Sweet !!!

2010-06-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

It's late at night....you get a hankering for something sweet.... but what ? Here's a couple or recipes for some sweetness when ice cream just won't do ...!

MONKEY BREAD-

YOU'LL NEED : 4 packages canned biscuits, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, 1/4 cup sugar.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO : Quarter biscuuits into fourths. Roll into balls. Roll in 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Put into a greased bundt pan. Melt 1/2 cup margarine and 1/4 cup sugar. Pour over top . Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

BAYOU BROWNIES-

YOU'LL NEED : 1 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup butter (melted), 3 large eggs, 1 box yellow cake mix, 1- 8oz. brick cream cheese (softened), 1-16 oz. package powdered sugar.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO: Combine pecans, butter, 1 egg, and cake mix- stirring until well blended ; press in the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 pan.Set aside. Combine remaining 2 eggs, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl ; beat at medium speed with a mixer until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over cake mix layer. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes or until cream cheese mixture is set. Let cool completely, then cut into sqaures.

Enjoy :-)

Three Cheese Macaroni

2010-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Macaroni & Cheese ! Wheather it be out of a box, or from scratch- LOVE it! I just found this new recipe, cooked it one night when we had some friends over- soooooo good & very cheeeeeeesy !

Three Cheese Macaroni-

you'll need : 12 ounces dried elbow macaroni, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper, 1/4 tsp. salt, 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, 8 ounces cubed American cheese, 2 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded), 20 Ritz crackers (crushed).

here's what you do : preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain & return to pot. Add milk, melted cheese, pepper & salt. Stir in the cheeses. Transfer to a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Bake , uncovered for 15 minutes. Stir mixture. Sprinkle with crushed crackers. Bake 5 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy ;-)

It's HOT outside, and I'm thirsty!!!

2010-05-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

If you've been outside lately in our neck of the woods, you would swear its August- instead of May. We've seen a few 90 degree marks, and the humidity- WHEW! And there is nothing better when its hot out than something cold to drink! Today I'm sharing a couple of my favorite punch recipes...

Mixed Fruit Punch Recipe

You'll need : 1-46 oz. can pineapple juice, 1 cup orange juice, 2/3 cup lemon juice, 1 1/2 tbsp. lime juice, 1 cup sugar, 1 -2 liter bottle chilled ginger ale, 1 - l liter chilled club soda, 1 cup strawberries (quartered), 1 thin sliced lemon, 1 thin sliced lime.

Here's what you do : Combine the first 5 ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover & chill for atleast 4 hours. Stir in ginger ale & remaining ingredients.

THIS MAKES 5 1/2 QUARTS

Sangria Punch

You'll need: 3/4 cup lemonade flavor drink mix, 1 quart cranberry juice cocktail, 1 cup cold orange juice, 1 tbsp. lime juice, 3 cups cold club soda, 2 medium oranges (sliced), 2 mediun limes (sliced).

Here's what you do : Empty drink mix into a large pitcher. Add cranberry juice, orange juice, & lime juice- stir until drink mix is dissolved. Refridgerate until ready to serve. Stir in club soda & fruit . Serve over ice cubes in tall glasses.

Enjoy !!

Easy Sides to Share

2010-05-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

Looking for a side dish to go with that yummy main coarse? Look no further! And they are veggie related - so it's good for you ;-)

*Broccoli Casserole*

YOU'LL NEED : 1 -10 oz boxfrozen chopped broccoli, 1 med. grated onion, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 small jar of sliced mushrooms, 1- 8 oz. jar of Cheez Whiz, 1 1/3 cup cooked rice, 1/2 cup butter,

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO : Cook the broccoli & onions according to the directions on the broccoli box. Cook the rice separately. Then mix all of the ingredients , pour into a baking dish thats coated with cooking spray. Then bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

YUM !!

*Corn Casserole*

YOU'LL NEED : 1- 16oz. can whole corn, 1-16 oz. can creamed corn, 1 stick butter, 1 -16oz. tub of sour cream, 1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO : Melt butter in a glass dish. In a mixing bowl , pour box of Jiffy mix- then add in the sour cream. Mix well. Add both cans of corn (include the "liquid" from the cans of corn). Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Enjoy :-)

Create-A-Pasta !!

2010-05-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

As a lot of you probably already know- I love pasta. I could eat it daily , and be perfectly ok with that ! As we were eating dinner last night (yep, it was pasta), I had a thought for todays post. I used to love eating at Romano's Macaroni Grill, before they closed the one in our area. One of my favorite things there was the "build your own pasta" - i loved the idea of personalizing my pasta. And today, I'm gonna help you to personalize YOUR pasta! Choose from the following :

Pick a Pasta: Ziti, Rigatoni, Bowtie (my personal fave!), Elbow Macaroni, Fettucine, Linguine, Angel Hair

Pick a sauce: ** Garlic Alfredo- you'll need: half a brick of cream cheese (cubed), 1 cup milk, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese, 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder.

Combine all of these ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until cream cheese is melted & mixture is well blended. Add to hot pasta ;-)

** Cheddar Cheese Sauce- you'll need: 3 tbsp. butter, 3 tbsp. flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. white pepper (black pepper is ok to use if you can't find white), 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese.

Melt butter, remove from heat. Stir in the flour & seasonings. Gradually add milk, stirring until well mixed. Cook over low heat , stirring constantly until thick & smooth. Cook for 5 minutes longer then add cheese. Stir until smooth & well blended. Serve over pasta ;-)

** Marinara Sauce- you'll need : 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 sm. onion( diced), 2-3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp. fresh parsley (or dry), 2 tbsp. olive oil, 6-8 leaves fresh basil (or dry), Salt and pepper to taste.

Lightly saute onions and garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer about 5 minutes; add basil. Add to pasta!

Now the fun stuff- Toppings !!

Choose your toppings-veggies: mushrooms, olives (black or green), broccoli, carrots, califlower, onions.

meats: chicken, sausage, ground beef.

seafood : shrimp, clams, crabmeat, mussels, scallops

Ta-dah! Now have fun & make your own designer pasta ;-)

** tip- when doing veggies, add them to your pasta boiling water for the last 3 minutes of the cooking time- then drain. Makes veggies tender !

** cook pasta according to package directions

Enjoy !!!!

Cheesy Chicken & Salsa Skillet

2010-04-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

My friend/coworker requested a easy chicken recipe . This is courtesy of wonderful Kraft Food & Family !! Cooks in 30 minutes- fast & easy! I personally leave the green peppers out - not a pepper fan! This one is for you, Tara !!!

Cheesy Chicken & Salsa Skillet-
you'll need : 2 cups multi-grain penne pasta (uncooked) , 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite size pieces), 1 1/4 cups salsa , 1 cup frozen corn (thawed) , 1 large green pepper (cut into thin strips), 1 cup shredded mexican-style cheese.

**Cook pasta as directed on package. Grab a large non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray . Heat over medium heat. Add chicken, cook & stir for 2 min. Stir in salsa, corn & peppers. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked. Drain pasta, add to chicken mixture, & mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese & let sit for a minute until cheese melts .

Enjoy :-)

Blueberry Crunch Cake

2010-04-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

This is a quick & easy dessert if you need something in a jiffy ! This a recipe my Mom passed down to me. She was the best cook I know ! And now I'm gonna share it with you - my foodie friends :-)

Blueberry Crunch Cake -

You'll need : a large can of crushed pineapple, 3 cups blueberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 box of yellow cake mix, 1 cup of chopped nuts (your choice- i use pecans myself!) , 1/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 sticks melted margarine.

** Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Layer ingredients in the order listed. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. While baking :After 25 minutes in the oven, cut into cake for juice to rise, then finish baking.

** Enjoy with a big glass of milk or a cup of coffee !!!

Taco Salad Bowls

2010-04-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

It's Taco night! Wanna spice it up a little ? Try this recipe- you even make your own edible salad bowls! Found this one in the Kraft Food & Family magazine- I'm a fan :-)

Taco Salad Bowls-
you'll need : 4 flour tortillas (8 inch), 1 Tbsp. chili powder( divided), 3/4 lb. extra-lean ground beef ,1 cup carrot sticks, 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. salsa , 2 tbsp. light Mayonnaise, 4 cups torn salad greens ,1 large tomato (chopped), 1/2 cup Mexican Style 2% Milk Finely Shredded Four Cheese, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.

* Heat oven to 425 degrees. CRUMPLE 4 large sheets of foil to make 4 (3-inch) balls; place on baking sheet. Place 1 tortilla over each ball; spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. chili powder. Bake 6 to 8 min. or until tortillas are golden brown. (Tortillas will drape over balls as they bake.)

Meanwhile, brown meat with carrots and remaining chili powder in large nonstick skillet on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 cup salsa; cook 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Mix mayo and remaining salsa in large bowl. Add salad greens and tomatoes; toss to coat. Fill shells with greens mixture, meat mixture, cheese, and cilantro.

Try this with a Margarita ;-)

Enjoy!