Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

You've gotta try this recipe! It's delicious!! I put it with chicken and then any type of noodles and it's wonderful.


Ingredients & Directions:
~ 1 pt. whipping cream or half and half
~ 1 stick butter
~ 2 T cream cheese
Combine above ingredients in a saucepan and boil, remove from heat and add:
~ 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
~ 1 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste
Return to stove, remove from stove as soon as it reaches a boil. Serve immediately over noodles. YUM!

Recipe from: Friend, Jaimie Trevino

Monster Cookies (NO flour!)

These are really good. It's a recipe from our friends on the cute little farm in Plano (Rexburg) who took our goats and ducks when we moved here. These require NO FLOUR!


Ingredients & Directions:
~3 eggs
~1 c. brown sugar
~1 c. sugar
~1/2 c. butter
~1 tsp corn syrup
~1 1/2 c. peanut butter
MIX ABOVE TOGETHER, THEN...

ADD:
~4 1/2 c. oatmeal
~2 tsp baking soda
~3/4 c. chocolate chips
~3/4 c. M&Ms (I love to substitute reeces pieces baking pieces also!)
~1/2 c. peanuts

Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Recipe from: family friend, Becky Garrett

Shrimp & Broccoli with Pasta

Shrimp is considered fancy and expensive. I have it on rare occasions when I'm craving the succulent taste. This is a recipe from one of my magazines I tried for the first time and really liked it. It's creamy, delicious and pretty HEALTHY. You can't lose. It reminds me a lot of the "zucchini pasta" recipe I love (posted earlier). Great summertime dishes!



Ingredients:
~4-6 oz uncooked angel hair pasta (I use whole wheat, of course)
~1 lb uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
~4 T Canola Oil
~2 bunches broccoli, cut into florets
~3 garlic cloves
~6 T butter, cubed
~6 T chicken broth
~2 T grated Parmesan cheese
~1/2 tsp salt
~1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, stir-fry shrimp in oil for 1-2 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm. Stir-fry broccoli in remaining oil for 3 min. Add garlic; stir-fry 2 min. longer or until veggies are crisp-tender. Add butter, wine, cheese, salt and pepper. Drain pasta; add to skillet. Stir in shrimp; heat through. Serves 3-4

The Bomb! Messy Taco Salad

This is the best taco salad I've ever had. We had it at my baby shower and it was a huge hit as well as our family reunion and my sister-in-law's baptism. It feeds as many or few people as you'd like, just make it bigger.


Ingredients:
~ Iceberg or Romaine lettuce, rinsed and torn (spinach and fancy lettuces don't hold up well)
~ 1 lb. ground beef, seasoned with 1 packet taco seasoning, according to package directions
~ 1 can kidney or pinto beans, drained
~ Tomato, diced (as much as you like)
~ Olives, sliced (as much as you like)
~ Chips (I like Doritos but I've had with tortilla)
~ Cheddar cheese (as much as you like)
~ Ranch Dressing (your fav brand)

Directions:
Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Be sure you use PLENTY of ranch...this is what makes it soooo yummy. If you're counting calories the day you think about making this...make something else!!

Recipe from: My sister-in-law, Liz

Quick Chicken Gravy

This is a recipe everyone should have handy. It's quick, simple and delicious with any type of chicken and rice! I use this with my Parmesan chicken and Parmesan cornflake chicken recipes as well as just plain grilled and chopped chicken breasts.


Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
milk

Directions:
Place first two ingredients in a pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Whisk in enough milk to make "gravy consistency." If you don't have sour cream, this gravy is still deliciously perfect with just milk and soup. That's how I made it forever until someone told me about sour cream. Enjoy!

Parmesan Cornflake Chicken

This is a quick and yummy chicken that goes with anything...rice, potatoes or noodles and white sauce. You'll love the flavor as well as the simplicity. I made this tonight for dinner for another family and it's great because with very little effort, you can make as much or little as you want. (very different texture and flavor from "parmesan chicken" recipe, both delicious!)



Ingredients:
1/2 cup crushed cornflakes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 t dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
6 Tbsp. melted butter
5-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can also use broiler/fryer chicken, just cook longer)

Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. Place butter in another shallow bowl. Cut each breast into 3 equal pieces, then dip in butter and roll in cornflake mixture. Spray a 13x9 dish with PAM and place chicken in dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. If temping with meat thermometer, I always cook my chicken to 170 degrees.

Tiff's Own - Spaghetti Bake

Yesterday I was in a mad rush for dinner...and this was the result. A scrumptious spaghetti bake!! I made it again tonight for another family and it makes a TON! It ended up making enough for a family of 5 as well as 2 smaller dishes, one for my mom and James and one for my little fam. I'm sure you could freeze half for another meal later on. My mom asked me to please put it online so she can make it again soon. YUM!

(PICTURE COMING SHORTLY)

Ingredients:
~ 2 1/2 cups dry noodles (I love capelletti from Costso 3 pack, can use any small noodle, I'm sure)
~ 1 lb. ground beef or turkey (I use turkey)
~ 20 Italian meatballs (from Costco frozen section)
~ 2 large cans spaghetti sauce (I use cheap $.88/can)
~ 1 cup mozzarella
~ about 1/4 cup shredded or grated Parmesan

Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, bake meatballs according to package directions. In a large frying pan, cook beef or turkey. Add sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, baked meatballs and cooked noodles. Stir well. Pour into a baking dish, I use a really deep pie-shaped dish. Top with additional mozzarella and sprinkle with a little Parmesan and parsley flakes (optional- for looks). Bake at 350 degrees until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted. ENJOY!

Recipe Created By: Me :)

Zuppa Toscana (Kale Soup)

This soup is delicious. I've made my bread bowls with it twice in the past 2 weeks. My bread bowl recipe is posted and the combination is delicious! I LOVE spinach in soups and kale is exactly like spinach except it holds up better than spinach.


Ingredients:
1 lb Italian sausage
1 ¼ c. onion, diced.
2 slices uncooked bacon, diced
2 1/3 t. minced garlic
3 c. chicken broth
5-6 potatoes cut into 1/4 “ pieces
3-5 c kale, roughly chopped (I love kale, so I put in a ton!)
2/3 c whipping cream or half and half
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Put onion and bacon in a pot, sauté. Meanwhile, shape sausage into little bite size patties and cook in a frying pan over med-high heat until cooked through; set aside. Add broth and potatoes to onion and bacon, Boil. Simmer 15 min. Add kale, sausage, garlic, cream or half and half. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 5 min. more. Serve hot.

Recipe from: my mom's enrichment activity

Incredible Cannery Potato Pearls

We all love the cannery potato pearls but, believe it or not, you can love them even more!! We have these at least once a week. Quick and simple and MMMM, MMMM, GOOD! No one will ever guess how simple and easy these are!


Ingredients:
Cannery Potato Pearls(as much as you want)
~Sour Cream
~Cheddar Cheese (I'm sure you can use any type)
~Bacon
~Green Onions (optional, I usually don't have them)


Directions:
Prepare potatoes according to label directions using the least amount of water suggested. I always throw the water in the microwave, much quicker than on the stove! Add enough sour cream to make smooth and creamy, I use ALOT. Shawn doesn't like sour cream but, these are his favorite potatoes! Add cheddar cheese, for 2 cups water and 1 cup potato pearls, I add a couple of handfulls. Stir in cooked bacon. ENJOY!

Recipe from: my sister, Tricia

Summer Spinach, Strawberry & Bacon Salad (the one you've been waiting for, friends!)

Absolutely mouth watering! This has been a hit every single time I’ve made it! You just can’t go wrong with this salad. There are a lot of different recipes for this type of salad floating around and this has combined the best parts of a few of them to come up with the PERFECT spinach salad.


Ingredients:
¼ c. vinegar
½ c. canola oil
1/4 c. chopped onion
2T plus ½ tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 squirt of bottled mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp poppy seed
8 c. torn fresh spinach
1 ½ green onions (optional) I never have them so I do without
6 strips bacon, cooked crispy and chopped OR packaged real bacon bits
fresh strawberries, sliced
Sliced mushrooms
Mozzarella cheese
½ c. or more of slivered almonds, caramelized (see below)

Directions:
In a small bowl mix oil, vinegar, onion, sugar, mustard, salt & poppy seed. In a separate large salad bowl place spinach and top with remaining ingredients. Toss with dressing. You probably won’t use all of the dressing, it makes a lot. Just use enough to make the salad moist and yummy. Also, if using packaged bacon bits, quickly fry them in a pan to return moisture and freshness.

Caramelizing almonds: In a saucepan, place almonds with sugar. (always use about 1/4 as much sugar as almonds). Cook and stir over medium heat. DO NOT BURN! When sugar melts and caramelizes, place almonds onto wax paper (aluminum foil works also). Separate and allow to cool. Add to salad.

Recipe from: friend, Renee Vankampen

"Better than Geraldine's Rolls" ROLLS!

These are the best rolls. I've made them multiple times and friends love them. They really are better than Geraldine's (sorry Geraldine!).

Ingredients:
4 1/2 -5 c flour
1 1/2 T regular yeast
½ c butter
1 c milk
½ c sugar
1 tsp salt
3 eggs

Directions:
Combine 2 c. flour w/ yeast. In another container melt butter + add milk. Microwave until warm. Add sugar & salt to milk. Add that to flour. Stir and add eggs. Stir. Add rest of flour. Knead dough. Turn oven to 325 degrees and set timer for 4 minutes. Turn oven off when timer goes off. Cover dough, place in warm oven and let rise a couple of hours until doubled.

If making crescent rolls, divide dough in half and roll each into a circle. Out of each half you should get 12 rolls. Cut into triangles & roll (crescent rolls) OR shape as you wish, there are a lot of fun things you can do. Melt about 1/4 cup butter (what you don't use now, you will use after baking.) With a basting brush, brush formed rolls generouslys with butter, before they rise. Turn oven onto 325 for 4 minutes again, then turn off and place rolls, covered, in warm oven. Let rise until doubled (45 min. tops), but don't let them overrise.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and baste generously with remaining butter.

Zucchini Pasta - Healthy and DELICIOUS!!

This is my new favorite recipe. It's a "Healthy Cooking" recipe. I made it two days in a row last week and I'm making it again today. YUM! You'd never know the noodles are whole wheat and the taste of this rich and creamy dish will have you convinced it's not lower in fat, but it is! Quick and easy to make too!


Ingredients:
~ 8 oz uncooked whole wheat linguine
~ 4 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (about 3 medium)
~ 4 tsp. olive oil
~ 2 garlic cloves, minced
~ 1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
~ 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
~ 3/4 tsp salt
~ 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Cook linguine according to package directions. Pat zucchini dry and saute in oil for 2 minutes. Add garlic; saute 1-2 min. longer or until zucchini is tender. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the yogurt, cheese, salt and pepper. Drain linguine; add to zucchini mixture and toss to coat. Serve with a pinch of cheese on top.

Kids Crave! Twisted PBJ

This is a yummy, healthy twist on PBJ that kids (and adults) will crave! And it's perfectly healthy in every way...whole wheat, real nut butter and fresh fruit, eliminating the sugar and salt rich traditional PBJ.




Ingredients:
~ Whole Wheat Bread (check pkg label and don't let them trick you. The first ingredient needs to be Whole Wheat Flour, nothing bleached or non bleached!)
~ Almond Butter (Pure almonds, from Costco, this is our favorite) OR Healthy Peanut Butter...NOT Jiffy or brands filled with sugar and salt. Nuts should be the only ingredient. It's fantastic!!
~ Fresh fruit, sliced (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, plums, peaches...)

Directions:
Make like a PBJ, except instead of sugar filled jelly, top nut butter of your choice with sliced, fresh fruit!! YUM! Our fav is fresh strawberries. You can also drizzle a little pure honey over your fruit and toast your bread if preferred. This makes for a yummy breakfast too.

Recipe from: My sister, Tricia