Monday, August 24, 2009

Quick & Healthy Chicken and Veggies

This is always so delicious and you feel so good afterwards.

(Picture coming shortly)

Ingredients:
~ Chicken breasts (as many as you'd like)
~ salt & pepper
As much as you'd like of the following:
~ Onions
~ Peppers (any type)
Optional:
~ Mushrooms
~ Squash, yellow or zucchini
~ Fresh green beans

Directions:
Cut chicken breasts into strips and season both sides with salt and pepper. Grill until deliciously golden brown. Remove from heat. Saute veggies (if using green beans, sautee them a few minutes before adding other veggies). Top cooked chicken with sauteed veggies and WA-LAH!

Simple Banana Bread

Moist and delicious!

(picture coming shortly)

~ 1/2 c. butter
~ 1 c. sugar
~ 2+ bananas, crushed
~ 2 eggs
~ 2 c. flour
~ 1 tsp soda
~ 1/4 cup nuts

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Add bananas and beat. Add flour sifted with soda. Bake in loaf tin at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Recipe from 1935 Relief Society Cookbook

Zucchini Bread

Delicious and moist. I especially like it after it's been refrigerated.


~ 1 c. sugar
~ 1 c. brown sugar
~ 3 eggs
~ 1 c. oil

Mix first then add:

~ 2 c. grated zucchini
~ 3 tsp. vanilla

Add all liquid ingredients, then add dry ingredients:

~ 3 c. flour
~ 3 tsp cinnamon
~ 1 tsp soda
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1 tsp baking powder

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out nearly clean.

Recipe from: Debbie Babbitt

Hawaiian Rice

Serve this rice with the Hawaiian Chicken recipe posted in May. Perfect together.



~ 1 can beef broth
~ 1 can french onion soup
~ 1 stick butter
~ 1 1/2 cups white rice

Mix all ingredients, except butter, in a 13x9 pan. Cut butter into cubes and spread on top. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover last 15 minutes.

Recipe from: Sister-in-law, Liz

Saturday, August 8, 2009

No Fail! Apple Pie

This is the best apple pie I've ever had. The filling was delicious and the crust was amazing! She said it's a no-fail recipe and she loved it so much when she found it that she ditched her mom's apple pie recipe for this one!


Ingredients & Directions:
PASTRY
~ 3 c. flour
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1 c. shortening
~ 1 egg
~ 1/2 c. water
~ 1 Tbsp vinegar


Blend flour & salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles big crumbs. Combine beaten egg, water & vinegar in a separate bowl. Add to flour mixture. Pack into 3 balls. Roll each ball between plastic wrap (don't skip this step!) to make pastry crust.


FILLING
~ 6 c. sliced, peeled apples
~ 1 c. sugar
~ 2 Tbsp. flour
~ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
~ dash ground nutmeg
~ double crust pastry (above)


Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon & nutmeg. Add sugar mixture to apples and toss to coat. Fill a pastry-lined 9in. pie dish with apple mixture. Dot with butter & apply to crust. Seal & flute edges. (Apply foil to edges for last 20 minutes) Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

Recipe from: friend, Angie Case

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken


Ingredients:
2 T. EVOO
2 T. butter
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (i used 4)
1/4 c teriyaki sauce
1/2 c ranch dressing
1 c cheddar cheese
1/2 lb bacon cooked and chopped (homemade bacon bits)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet heat oil and butter over med-high heat. Pound chicken if it's too thick (the ones in the pic are too thick!) Add chicken breasts, and cook 4 to 5 min each side until lightly browned. Place chicken in a 9x13 pan. Cover with teriyaki sauce and ranch dressing. Top with cheese and bacon bits. Bake for 30 min or until chicken is cooked all the way through.


**I served this chicken with mashed potatoes with the left over bacon, cheese, green onions and sour cream mixed in. Is also great with a side salad or baked potato.

Recipe from: Sister-in-law, Liz

Thursday, June 11, 2009

EASY Crockpot Chicken & Gravy

This is a really EASY and delicious meal. You serve it over rice or potatoes, we prefer rice. I know it only has 2 ingredients and doesn't sound like much but, you'll be pleasantly surprised! It's VERY good. My mom has been making it for years and I always get a thumbs up when I make it for my fam and others. It's a really inexpensive meal too!

(PICTURE COMING SHORTLY)

Ingredients:
~chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless- there's less "work" with boneless)
~cream o' mushroom soup (about 1 small can for 4 or 5 thighs, can't really go wrong!)

Directions:
In a crockpot, place chicken thighs on bottom and top with soup. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6, until the meat is completely falling off of the bone. YUM! Serve over rice or potatoes (we prefer brown rice). If you used bone-in thighs, pull the bones out before serving.

Recipe by: mom

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Hawaiian Chicken (crowd pleaser for the BBQ)

We made this chicken for Katelyn and her cousin's big birthday bash. It fed a ton of people and was great! Serve this with Hawaiian Rice recipe posted under "side dishes."

(PICTURE COMING SHORTLY!)

Ingredients:
~Chicken thighs and legs
~Equal parts soy sauce and sugar
~Ground ginger (1 T for about every 2 cups soy)

Directions:
Place chicken in a deep pan, with skin on. Mix soy sauce, sugar and ginger and pour on top of chicken. Boil for 1 hour. Heat barbecue grill to medium-high, place chicken pieces onto grill. Grill with lid open until sauce caramelizes.

Recipe from: Sister-in-law, Liz

Thursday, May 28, 2009

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

Friday, May 22, 2009

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

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

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 :)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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

Thursday, May 14, 2009

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.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

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.

Monday, May 4, 2009

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

Monday, April 27, 2009

Enchilada Beef - easy peasy MICROWAVE recipe!!

Dinner in a flash, literally! You microwave everything in this meal. It's done in minutes with no sink full of dirty dishes! Not a fancy dish by any means but quick and definitely a kid pleaser.



Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, drained
3-4 T enchilada sauce (any)
2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese (I've used cheddar also)
about 1 cup coarsely crushed Frito's corn chips
Additional chips, optional

Directions:
Crumble beef in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and cook on high 4-6 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Stirring once; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, green chilies and enchilada sauce. Spread half of beef mixture in a 2 qt microwave safe dish; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Top with remaining beef mixture. Cover; microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle w/ crushed chips and remaining cheese. Microwave 1 min longer or until cheese is melted. Serve with additional corn chips, if desired.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Simply French Toast...FAST!

This is always a hit at our place. It's great as a last minute meal anytime of the day. This recipe is about the most simplified french toast recipe invented.


Ingredients:
~ Thick sliced white bread (can use any bread, even whole wheat if you'd like)
~ Eggs (about 1 egg per 3 pieces of bread)
~ Cinnamon (as much or little as you like)
~ Milk (About a tablespoon per egg), optional

Directions:
In a shallow dish, beat eggs, add milk and sprinkle in cinnamon. Place one piece of bread in the dish and let sit for about 20 seconds and then flip and let the other side soak. Place on a hot griddle and grill, flipping when grilled side is golden brown. Serve with plenty of butter and syrup.

Tuna Melt...Grown-Up Style!

This is my sister's recipe that we've all come to appreciate. It's quick and simple and very good.



Ingredients:
~ 4 Slices of bread (whole wheat is great!)
~ Spreadable butter
~ Tuna (preferrably pure white Albacore tuna...Costo has it)
~ Mayo (as much as you like to make tuna creamy and moist)
~ Pepper Jack Cheese, sliced (I never have this so I just mix in shredded Colby Jack)
~ Salt & pepper or No Salt Seasoning from Costco

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine tuna and mayo. Season to taste. Generously butter one side of each peice of bread and place buttered side down on a hot griddle or in a hot frying pan. Top with sliced cheese, tuna, and another slice of bread, buttered side out. Grill until both sides are golden brown and cheese is ooey, gooey melted throughout. Serve and enjoy.

Recipe from: Sister, Tricia

Savory Pork Ribs...A MUST TRY!! EASY Crockpot Recipe

Most people think ribs are expensive when the truth is, they're cheaper than ANY meal you make with hamburger meat!! Boneless pork ribs are about $1.99/lb. Hamburger meat runs about the same for poor quality and much more for good quality, and then you have to add ingredients to it to make it a meal. So, ribs really are an inexpensive, hearty, filling and perfectly delicious meal. This is one of Shawn's FAVORITES, if not his absolute favorite!! You really have to try this. Super easy!!!! We make this a couple of Sundays a month and a few weekdays.


Ingredients:
Boneless Pork Ribs (I've used bone-in, whatever you can get), as much as your family will eat


BBQ Sauce: (double if making more than about 2 lbs of meat)
1 cup ketchup
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar (any, I use white)
garlic
Mrs. Dash (quite a lot!)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients for sauce, seasoning with a little garlic and plenty, plenty of Mrs. Dash. Place ribs (not frozen) in a large crock pot and drizzle with 1/2 of the sauce. Put remaining sauce in the fridge. Cook on low for 8-10 hours OR high for 4-6 hours until meat is fall-apart tender. Before serving, heat oven on BROIL at about 400 degrees. With tongs or a slotted spoon scoop ribs out of the crock pot, leaving all drippings and sauce behind, and place in a 13x9 dish. Drizzle ribs well with remaining, pre-made BBQ sauce. Broil on center rack (or one just higher) in the oven until sauce boils on the top and caramelizes. Serve immediately. YUMMY!!!

Recipe from: MOM

Plain and Simply Egg Salad Sandwich

Ok, so sometimes I put recipes on here just as a quick and easy reminder of simple throw together meals...and this is definitely one of them. You'll laugh at the simplicity of this, but we love it and it's SO simple to make! Inexpensive too!


Ingredients:
~ Sliced bread (whole wheat is always great)
~ Boiled eggs (as many as you'd like, you need a couple per sandwich)
~ Mayo (as much as you like to make eggs creamy and moist)
~ Salt & Pepper or No Salt Seasoning from Costco
~ Lettuce (optional)

Directions:
I don't like my egg salad sandwich toasted, but I do like the eggs warm right out of the boiling pan and into my sandwich (maybe I'm weird, so you can eat it any way you like!) Shell eggs and rinse. Place in an egg cutter, if you're lucky enough to have one, otherwise just dice the eggs with a knife. Place in a small bowl and coat with mayo. Season to taste. Fill sandwiches, topping with lettuce.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Quick and Delicious Dinner Salad w/ Homemade Dressing

This salad goes with any dinner and I also eat it by itself for lunch. Quick and easy and definitely a crowd pleas er. I have another recipe that friends LOVE, (no, I still haven't posted it yet, I know!) it's quite a bit more work than this one but they're similar in taste.

Ingredients:
(Salad)
1/4 c. slivered almonds (I crush whole if that's all I have)
1 T sugar
1 head lettuce or spinach
1 c. chopped celery
hand full of craisins OR 1 (11 0z) can Mandarin oranges (for a more oriental salad)

(Dressing)
1 tsp salt
2 T vinegar
2 T sugar
3 green onions
1/4 c canola or veg oil
1 T parsley

Directions:
Caramelize almonds by heating them in a small skillet with the sugar until sugar caramelizes onto almonds. Place almonds on a baking sheet or aluminum foil, separate and let cool. (If you're short on time, skip this step and just sprinkle with almonds)

Salad: Tear lettuce or spinach and combine with celery and craisins or oranges.

Dressing: combine all ingredients, drizzle over salad and toss. Sprinkle with caramelized almonds.

Recipe from: a friend of a friend

Thursday, April 9, 2009

New York Red Clam Chowder

I made this for my mom with bread bowls and we both LOVED it. I love clams but, New England chowder is just so unhealthy so when I found this recipe, I've been in heaven ever since. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.


Ingredients:
~ 2 tsp canola oil
~ 1 med onion, finely chopped
~ 2 large yellow boiling potatoes (about 1 lb), peeled and cut int o med-size pieces
~ 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, with their juices
~ 1 cup dry white wine (I buy white "cooking" wine)
~ 2 cups cold water
~ 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
~ salt and pepper
~ 2 cups chopped clams, with their juices
~ 2 T chopped fresh parsley leaves (I use dried)

Directions:
Heat the oil in a heavy 4 qt saucepan over med-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring until it begins to often. Stir in the potatoes, tomatoes, wine, water and thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to med-low, partially cover saucepan and simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Add the clams and cook 10 min. longer. Add parsley and serve. Bread bowls are particularly good with this recipe.

Home-Style Chicken and Veggie Soup

A wholesomely healthy chicken and vegetable soup that's easy to make with whatever veggies you have on hand. I got this recipe from my sister. We've made it numerous times over the past couple of years. It's one of my fav healthy soups. Don't forget to make bread bowls with this (recipe posted earlier)! (I'm eating it as I'm typing and it's YUM!)


Ingredients:
~1 tsp EVOO
~1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
~Salt
~1 medium-size onion, finely chopped
~2 carrots, trimmed and chopped
~1 zucchini, trimmed and diced
~1 large yellow boiling potato (about 1/2 lb)
~2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, with their juices
~4 cups chicken broth
~Pepper
~1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Directions:
Heat the oil in a heavy 4 qt sauce pan over med-high heat. Add chicken, season w/ salt to taste, and cook, stirring until all pieces have turned white and are beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and place in a small bowl.

Add the onion, carrots, celery, fennel and zucchini to the pan and cook, stirring until the veggies begin to soften.

Stir in the chicken pieces, potato, tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Partially cover the saucepan, reduce the heat to med-low, and simmer until the potato is tender and the chicken cooked through, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the parsley, and serve.

Recipe from: my sister, Tricia

Monday, April 6, 2009

Granny's Chicken Noodle over potatoes

This is a home-made chicken noodle soup served over mashed potatoes. Sound odd? You gotta try it! Granny really has something going with this recipe. It's VERY simple and VERY delicious. I know this has been made by every grandchild from Shawn's parents fam and is enjoyed everytime. This is great with homemade rolls or bread for dipping.



Ingredients:
• Chicken or Turkey (cooked & shredded)
• Fill pan with amount you want with either chicken broth or water and chicken boulion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Onion
• Salt
• Pepper


Directions:
Simmer for 1 ½ hours.
------------------------
Noodles:
• 2 c. flour
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup milk

Add more flour if needed to make not sticky. Roll out to a little thinner than ¼ inch, cut into 1/4" x 1 1/2" inch strips. Drop in simmering soup. Cook for 10-15 min. Take out some broth, add flour to thicken and return broth to soup. Serve over mashed potatoes.

(The bread in the pic is my homemade bread bowl recipe that I let rise too long so they turned out a little flat...perfect for slicing, buttering and dipping!)

Recipe from: GRANNY (Shawn's mom's mom)