Recipeasy

Cherry Bars

2010-12-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

I love these treats. They easy to make and are great for parties.

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups floer

1 - 21 oz. can cherry fruit pie filling

1 cup butter, softened

4 eggs

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 - 2 Tbs milk

Grease 15x10 inch jelly roll pan. In large bowl, cream sugar, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg. Gradually add flour and backing powder - blend well. Spread 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan. Spread pie filling over batter. Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter over pie filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over bars. Sprinkle with green sprinkles (optional). Cut into bars.

Garden Bounty Tortilla Soup

2010-11-09T15:45:00.003-07:00

This soup is very good for you and is a great way to get your kids, spouse or anyone for that matter to eat their veggies. I am a picky eater and really don't like a lot of veggies, but this soup is delicious!

Ingredients
8 cups chicken broth (you can use chicken bouillon cubes - 1 cube to 2 cups of water)
1 red onion, diced
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 carrots, pealed and diced
2-4 potatoes, peeled and diced
1/4 cup tomato paste (more if desired, to taste)
1 bay leaf
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 whole pepper of the canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce (I use the La Costena brand)
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 tsp oregano
1/8 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper
1 small to medium zucchini, diced
1 yellow summer squash, diced
1 Red bell pepper, chopped
1 Green bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbs freshly squeezed lime juice
2 Tbs freshly squeezed orange juice
Fresh, frozen or canned corn - optional

In large stockpot over high heat, combine chicken broth, chicken, onion, carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, garlic, chipotle pepper, jalapenom oregano and cumin. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. When the chicken is cooked, remove from pot and shred it. Add salt and white pepper. Add zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers and corn if desired. Bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low and summer 15 minutes. Add cilantro, lime and orange juice. Stir well and remove from heat.

Garnish: Tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocados, jalepeno rings, lime wedges. (I usually just do chips, cheese and cilantro).

Makes approx. 3 quarts

White Chili - a great fall recipe

2010-10-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

1 T oil
1 med onion chopped
6 cloves minced garlic
1 can white northern beans
6 c chicken broth
1 t chicken bouillon
7 ozs diced green chillies
1 cup sour cream
2 t dried oregano
2 t chili powder
1 lb lean ground turkey
3 cups Monterrey jack cheese, shredded

directions:
1. saute garlic and onion in oil
2. add turkey, cook through
3. add all remaining ingredients, saving sour cream and cheese until the end
4. simmer until cheese in melted

Peach and Strawberry Crumble

2010-08-30T10:30:00.001-07:00

This is a recipe of Giada's on the Food Network. It is quite delicious.

Filling
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 large lemon)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons arrowroot flour
- 1 pound medium strawberries, halved
- 1 1/2 pounds yellow or white peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced* see Cook's Note
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar

Topping
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup old fashioned style oats
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions
Serving suggestion: whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or gelato
Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
For the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and arrowroot until smooth. Add the strawberries, peaches and brown sugar. Gently toss until the fruit is coated. Pour the fruit mixture into the prepared pan.
For the topping: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, oats, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and sea salt. Pulse until mixed. Add the butter. Pulse until the butter is the size of peas. Sprinkle the mixture over the filling and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top is light golden. Cool the crumble for 5 minutes.
Spoon the warm crumble into bowls and serve with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.

Homemade Pizza Pockets

2010-07-02T11:01:00.001-07:00

Using the bread recipe below, I make pizza pockets (you can use Texas Roadhouse Rolls instead of the bread recipe if you want). I fourth the bread recipe for this and it will make 4 - 5 large pizza pockets. Here is the fourthed recipe:

Dough Ingredients:
2 5/8 cups bread flour
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 Tbs salt
3/4 Tbs yeast
3/4 Tbs lecithin
1 cup hot water

You'll want to spray your counter with pam as well as your hands so the dough doesn't stick. Break the dough into little balls and flatten them out into a circle. On one half of the dough put your pizza toppings - except for the sauce. Fold over the dough and seal it well. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.

Top the pizza pocket with garlic butter. To make the garlic butter, combine melted butter, garlic powder, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and seasoning salt.

Serve with heated pizza sauce.

Bread Dough

2010-07-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

I went to a bread class a while back and learned this recipe. It's a good recipe because it's things that can be found in your food storage and it uses lecithin rather than oil since oil can go rancid. This recipe can make four loaves of bread (when they calculated the price for one loaf it was 25 cents!). You can also use it to make pizza, cinnamon rolls, etc.

Ingredients
10 ½ cups white bread flour
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 rounded tablespoons saf-instant yeast
3 tablespoons liquid lecithin*
4 cups hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. If dough is too moist, add more flour. Mix for 5 minutes. (Do not add water or flour to the dough after it has finished mixing.) Spray counter and pans with cooking spray. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel. Let rise 25 minutes. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. If you are using it for pizza dough cook at 450.

*Only half of this recipe will fit in a kitchen aid mixer

Applesauce Spice Cookies

2010-07-01T13:03:00.003-07:00

Sorry, no picture this time. This is what I'm craving right now, but I can't make them because my kitchen is torn apart. So I thought I post the recipe for the rest of you to enjoy!

Applesauce spice cookies

Cream together:
½ cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg

Add:
2 cups flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder

Stir well and add I cup applesauce. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes.

Chicken Cordon Bacon

2010-06-28T17:51:00.001-07:00

So a while back, I was wanting to make some chicken cordon bleu, but I didn't have any ham....what I did have was bacon. So, I made up this recipe. It's actually quite delicious :)

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 pound bacon
1 cup grated guyere cheese (guyere is super pricey, so use a different cheese if you want to save money. Gruyere is like a fancy swiss cheese).
3 Tbs butter, melted
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

Cut back into small pieces and cook until just crispy. Cut the chicken breast in half (so they are the same size, but thinner)

Then pound them out until each half is about 1/4 - 1/3 of an inch thick.

Place bacon and cheese down the center of the chicken (like a taco). Roll the chicken up and use toothpicks to hold them in place. Don't worry if there are holes. Dip the chicken in melted butter, then roll it in the bread crumbs.

Put chicken in a baking dish and cook at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until chicken is done. I like to put a little cheese on the top at the end and put it back in the oven till it melts.

If you are on a diet, this meal probably isn't for you, but it's quite yummy. I served it with a sauce, but am trying to find a better one since my husband didn't like the sauce.

Mini Hamburger Cupcakes

2010-06-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

I recently did a post about these cupcakes on my Sharing The Wealth blog, but I thought I would post the recipe here for those of you who don't check that blog. If you want to see how I actually made them, click here.

Ingredients:
1 boxed yellow cake mix
1 boxed brownie mix
Some white chocolate (for the cheese)
Frosting

These take a little bit of time, but I think they are worth it! Everyone loves how they look and they are actually quite delicious!

Healthy Fruit Smoothies!

2010-06-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Freshly squeezed orange juice from one orange
1/2 of an orange, peeled
1/2 red lady apple, with the seeds cut out (leave the skin on)
A couple handfuls of blueberries
6-8 Frozen strawberries
1 slice fresh pineapple (a new addition to the recipe - it really makes the smoothie pop)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1-2 Tbs agave
Blend until smooth then add 6-8 ice cubes and blend again.

You can use whatever fruit you want for your smoothie - the trick to keeping it healthy is the agave (natural sweetener) and the low-fat yogurt - I like the Light & Fit brand.

Mixed Berry Cheesecake

2010-01-03T21:31:00.003-07:00

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (10 crackers)
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

2 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 whole extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

1 cup red jelly (not jam) such as currant, raspberry, or strawberry
1/2 pint sliced strawberries
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
1/2 pint fresh blueberries

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the crust, combine the graham crackers, sugar, and melted butter until moistened. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan. With your hands, press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and about 1-inch up the sides. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Keep the oven temperature at 350 degrees F.

To make the filling, cream the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed of the mixer to medium and add the eggs and egg yolks, 2 at a time, mixing well. Scrape down the bowl and beater, as necessary. With the mixer on low, add the sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and pour into the cooled crust.

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 (I did 23 minutes). Turn the oven temperature down to 225 degrees and bake for another 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn the oven off and open the door wide. The cake will not be completely set in the center. Allow the cake to sit in the oven with the door open for 30 minutes. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to sit at room temperature for another 2 to 3 hours, until completely cooled. Wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the cake from the springform pan by carefully running a hot knife around the outside of the cake. Leave the cake on the bottom of the springform pan for serving.

To make the topping, melt the jelly in a small pan over low heat. In a bowl, toss berries and the warm jelly gently until well mixed. Arrange the berries on top of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Potato Cheese Soup

2009-12-01T18:45:00.004-07:00

I love this soup. Especially during the cold winter months!

Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes chopped
1 large onion chopped
2 cans of chicken broth
8 0z Velveeta cheese chopped
salt
pepper

Directions:
Bring potatoes, onion, chicken broth and a pinch of salt and pepper to a boil. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender (about 10 minutes). Put most of the potato mixture in the blender - leaving about 1/3 of the potatoes in the pot if you want some chunks in your soup. Blend the potato mixture until smooth (I add all of the liquid to the blender). Return mixture to the pot. Add the Velveeta cheese to the soup. Stir until completely melted. You may need to add a little bit of water (maybe 1/2 cup) to the soup to make it the consistency you would like it. Top soup with a bit of grated cheddar cheese and bacon bits.

Snickers Fruit Salad

2009-11-27T08:52:00.005-07:00

My in-laws always make this salad and I love it! Plus it is really easy to make!

Chopped green apples (I used Granny Smith)
Grapes (I used red)
4-6 Snickers bars chopped
1 container of whipped cream

There are no specific measurements. You just toss everything together in the whipped cream and serve. You can make it a few hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Enjoy!

Ultimate Mexican Dinner... mmm ;)

2009-07-13T08:09:00.002-07:00

Sweet Rice

Ingredients:

1/2-1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 of a white onion, chopped (add more or less to your taste)
1 1/3 cups white rice
3 cups chicken broth
1/4-1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro

Directions:

Put a little oil in bottom of pan (maybe about 1/2-1 tablespoon). Saute chopped onion until transluecent. Add the rice, cooking until it is light brown (being careful not to burn). Combine the chicken broth and sugar, letting sugar disolve. Then stir into rice until combined. Bring to a boil. Cover and let cook on low, med-low until rice is done, about 25-30 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Add the chopped cinlantro (no big stems) before serving.

Basic Bean Recipe

Ingredients:

1 bag beans of your choice

1 onion chopped

3 tbs garlic

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

Rinse beans. Make sure there are no rocks or dirt. Add to crock pot. Add double the water to beans. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low overnight or on high for 8-10 hours.

For Refried Beans: Cook Pinto beans using basic bean recipe. When fully cooked puree in blender or food processor until smooth (if you don't have either just mash with fork or potato masher until you get desired consistency). Then heat 1 tbs oil in skillet. Fry beans while stirring occasionally 5-10 mins. For a healthier version do not fry beans.

Shredded Pork/Beef

Coming soon... I have to double-check the ingredients.

Super Yummy Broccoli Grape Salad

2009-05-26T15:20:00.005-07:00

1 head broccoli, cut stems and tops in small pieces
2 cups red grapes
1 pack bacon cooked and cut into small pieces (if you are in a hurry you could also use bacon bits)
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
1 cup finely chopped celery (optional)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (optional)

Mix the above ingredients than add the dressing and stir.

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 T vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

This salad has been a super hit wherever I take it and is my husbands new favorite. Hope you enjoy!

Spicy Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Mango Basil Salsa and Lime Jasmine Rice

2009-04-18T18:51:00.003-07:00

I was in the mood for some shrimp... so we made this for dinner the other night! It's delicious! We will definitely make this again...

Recipe courtesy Dave Lieberman (Food Network)

Ingredients

Salsa:

1 mango, peeled and finely diced
3 scallions, sliced
5 basil leaves, julienned
1 lime, juiced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Shrimp:

2 fresh jalapenos, sliced *I only used 1 and took out the seeds because I don't LOVE spicy food... so it made it very mild
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2--inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 lime, zested
1/4 cup coconut milk
Small handful basil leaves, torn
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
15 grinds pepper
1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
Lime Jasmine Rice, recipe follows

Directions

For the salsa: Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Make up to a day in advance. Keep covered in the refrigerator.

For the shrimp: In a mixing bowl, combine jalapenos, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime zest, coconut milk, basil, vegetable oil, salt and pepper. Add the shrimp and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours, refridgerated.

Heat a nonstick skillet over high heat. Use tongs or a fork to remove the shrimp from the marinade and place in an even layer in the pan, reserving the marinade.

Cook the shrimp until well browned on each side, turning once, about 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer cooked shrimp to a serving plate.

Add reserved marinade to pan, bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Pour over the cooked shrimp and serve with Lime Jasmine Rice and Mango Salsa.

Lime Jasmine Rice:

1 cup jasmine rice

3/4 cup coconut milk

3/4 cup water

Pinch salt

1/2 lime, zested

Put the rice, coconut milk, water, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cover and gently simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 12 to 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in the lime zest. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

White Chili

2009-03-05T19:35:00.001-07:00

Sooooo good...

White Chili

2 pounds dried great northern beans (6 cans)
1 ½ cups diced onion
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon ground oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 ½ quarts chicken broth (1 qt if using canned beans)
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies

Place beans in a saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Soak 1 hour; drain and rinse. In a 5 qt. Dutch oven, sauté onion in oil until tender. Combine seasonings; add half to Dutch oven. Sauté 1 minute. Add beans, broth and garlic; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 2 hours. Coat chicken with remaining seasoning mixture; place in a 15 in x 10 in x 1 in baking pan. Bake at 350o for 15 minutes or until juices run clear; add to beans. Stir in chilies. Simmer 1 ½ - 2 hours. Yield: 20 servings.

THE bananna muffins

2009-03-02T20:03:00.005-07:00

So here they are the muffins from social studies! don't make the same mistake I did and add all of the brown sugar into the batter, most of it is for the topping. But, as you all still tasted it's still good even with the extra sugar...enjoy
Kamden

Banana Crumb Muffins
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 bananas, mashed
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1/3 cup butter, melted
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Homemade Ice Cream

2009-02-26T08:09:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt
1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc)
1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
Ice cubes

How to make it:
Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:
A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don't increase the proportions more than that

~Enjoy! Alyssa Yandow

Chex Muddy Buddies

2009-02-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

By Request....

9 cups of your favorite chex cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter
1/4 cup margarine
1tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cup powdered sugar

Pour cereal into large bowl and set aside. In small sauce pan over low heat, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine until smooth, stirring often. remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal into a ziploc bag with powdered sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

Tortilla Soup

2009-02-19T16:54:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:
1 Cup instant rice
2 Cups water
2 Chicken bouillon cubes
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can black beans
1 cup frozen corn

Toppings:
sour cream
shredded cheese
tortilla chips

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except toppings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with toppings!

Super easy...that's the way to do it!

Pizza

2009-02-19T16:46:00.003-07:00

Seriously, the easiest recipe for pizza. And really good too!

Ingredients:
1. loaf of Rhode's frozen pizza dough
2. jar of pizza sauce
3. Mozzarella cheese
4. toppings of your choice

You have to spray a large bowl with Pam or something and put the loaf of frozen dough in it and cover it with saran wrap. You need to give it about 8 hours to rise, so I usually put it in the bowl when I wake up and it is ready to use by 4 or 5.

Knead dough and roll it out to desired shape. Make sure and roll a nice crust on the outside of crust. Put it on a pizza stone (or regular cookie sheet if you don't have one...I've never done it this way but I'm sure it will be just as good) that is covered in corn meal.

Spread desired amount of pizza sauce on dough, put cheese and toppings on top.

Cook at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. It is usually different timing every time I make it (not sure why) so I typically keep a close eye on it while it is in the oven.

Enjoy!

Molten Chocolate Cake

2009-02-15T18:37:00.011-07:00

I just made this for Valentine's Day. I got the recipe off of kraft.com. It looks cool and is yummy too. Next time I think I will try it with strawberries on top :)

Ingredients

4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup thawed Whipped Topping

PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Butter four 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Place on baking sheet.

MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar until well blended. Blend in eggs and egg yolks with wire whisk. Stir in flour. Divide batter among prepared custard cups.

BAKE 13 to 14 min. or until sides are firm but centers are soft. Let stand 1 min. Carefully run small knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert dishes. Serve immediately, topped with whipped topping and a side of ice cream - depending on your oven you may need to cook it less. DO NOT overcook. I cooked mine for 12 minutes.

If desired you can store the batter in the fridge - just make sure to let it sit at room temperature for an hour if you do so.

Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup

2009-02-15T14:59:00.012-07:00

This makes a fair amount of soup, but it makes for good leftovers. It is pretty easy to half. I had a recipe that is similar, but I revamped it, added potatoes and changed a couple things - enjoy!

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups chopped onions
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 Pinches nutmeg
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves – or 1/4 - 1/3 tsp dried thyme leaves
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
3 cups vegetable broth
1 - 2, 12 oz packages frozen broccoli, thawed
3 medium potatoes quartered then sliced - cooked
1 cup heavy cream
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese – grated

Directions

In a medium pot, melt the 6 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 20 seconds. Add the flour and cook, stirring until the mixture is well blended and smells fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Slowly add the chicken and vegetable broths, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add one package of broccoli and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender or normal blender.

Add the cream and bring to a simmer add the remaining ½ - 1 package of broccoli depending on how chunky you want your soup and simmer for 7 minutes (if you don't want chunks of broccoli, don't add the extra package, it is still very delicious!). Add cooked potatoes and once the broccoli is tender, add the cheese and cook over low heat, stirring, until melted.

Serve and top with grated cheese.

*To make even more delicious and unhealthy – add pieces of bacon when you add potatoes and remaining broccoli.

Cheese Ball

2009-02-13T23:08:00.005-07:00

This is the best cheese ball ever! I love it!

2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese (room temperature)
1 can - crushed pineapple, drained
1 Tbs - seasoning salt (I actually put less so it's not so salty)
2 Tbs -green onions - finely chopped
1/4 cup - green pepper - minced

Mix together in a large bowl until well blended. Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours to set back up. Take mixture out of the bowl and using your hands - mold it into a ball or log. Once it is the desired shaped roll it in chopped pecans. Serve with a variety of crackers.

Mini Pizzas

2009-02-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Okay this is kinda a stupid recipe but it's good for poor starving college students ha ha ha

Tortillas
Spaghetti Sauce
Pizza cheese (mozzarella and cheddar)
any toppings you like: mushrooms (yuck!), grilled chicken, pepperoni, etc

Okay super easy:
1. On the tortilla spread 1 to 1 and a half scoops of sauce
2. Put the cheese on top. Be careful to not put too much or it will be gross. I put only enough to barely cover the sauce, you want to be able to see the sauce through the cheese
3. Put the toppings on
4. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees until the crust of the tortilla is browned and the cheese is melted.

Enjoy! ~Alyssa Yandow

Cake Bites

2009-02-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Cake mix (and everything you need for the cake--oil, eggs, and water)

A tub of frosting

Chocolate chips

Crisco (shortening)

Something to set-up the balls on

To make the cake bites, bake a cake just like you normally would. After it is done baking, crumble the cake and mix it with a whole thing of frosting. This will make it sticky, and you can roll it into balls. You have to squeeze them to make them stick--you will get nice and messy!!

In the mean time, melt a bag of chocolate chips. The best way that I have found to do this is to fake a double boiler by putting a glass bowl hanging from a pot. Put water into the pan and put the bowl on top of the water. As the water boils underneath, stir the chocolate chips (they are in the glass bowl). (The consistency of the chocolate will be better if you put a scoop of Crisco in it.) After the chocolate is melted, roll the cake balls in it and place them on wax paper on a tray. After you have a whole tray, put the tray in the refrigerator to set-up.

You can use any combinations of cake mixes, frostings, and chocolate. Here are some favorites that my friend and I have discovered:

Just so you know--she prefers semi-sweet chocolate, and I like milk chocolate, so that just goes to how sweet you want it.
Funfetti cake, Rainbow chip icing, chocolate
German chocolate cake, coconut icing, chocolate
Strawberry cake, strawberry icing, white chocolate (but just know that white chocolate reacts a little differently than the others, so it can be tricky)

Let me know if you find any other amazing combinations!! =)

Pizza Salad

2009-02-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorities! It's pretty easy, delicious and makes great leftovers! It's a little much for two people, but nothing except the dressing really needs to be exact. Just put in the quantities that look good for you.

Pizza Salad
I pound spiral macaroni, cooked and drained
3 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 pound cheddar cheese cubed
1-2 bunches green onions, sliced
3 ounces sliced pepperoni
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Croutons, optional

In large bowl, combine macaroni, tomatoes, green onions, cheddar cheese and pepperoni. In a small bowl combine oil, Parmesan cheese, vinegar and seasonings. Pour over macaroni mixture. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Top with croutons just before serving, if desired. Yield: 16 servings

Black Bean Pizza

2009-02-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

So this sounds weird and my roommates used to mock me for it, but it is WONDERFUL!! Everyone who I have made try it, loves it! Enjoy!

Pizza Crust: (You can use premade crusts or you can make this recipe that is really easy.)

1 TBS (or 1 packet) yeast

1 tsp sugar (white or brown)

1 cup hot water (but be careful, too warm will kill the yeast)

2 TBS oil (I prefer olive oil, but vegetable oil works)

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

Mix the yeast, sugar, and water together, and let it sit for 5 minutes. After it starts to bubble and has sat for the 5 minutes, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Put the crust on a greased pan, and cook for 3 minutes at 450 degrees. This will allow the dough to rise. Add the toppings and cook for 10 more minutes at the temperature.

Black Bean Sauce: (use this instead of normal pizza sauce)

1 can of black beans (partially drained--completely drained is too dry and not drained at all is runny)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic salt

1/4 cup salsa

Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender. Pour some on top of the pizza crust, add salsa on top of that, cheese on top of that, and then grilled chicken on top of that. Bake for 10 minutes at 45o degrees.

Good Link

2009-02-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I will post recipes of my own soon, but in the meantime here is a really good link. This is my cousins blog, she is a dietitian and has some really good ideas!

http://thehealthybite.blogspot.com/

Orange Julius

2009-02-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most favorite things!

1/2 can - frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup - milk
1 cup - water
3/4 cup - sugar
1tsp - vanilla
12 - 18 ice cubes

Blend until smooth.

Taco Soup

2009-02-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

1 lb ground beef

1 chopped onion

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 can kidney beans

1 can chili beans, drained

1 small can chopped green chilies

1/4 c water

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

Brown and drain the beef
Chop the onion
The all you have to do is dump everything into the
crock pot and stir it together
Then enjoy with a bag of tortilla chips, cheese, and
sour cream!

Enjoy! ~Alyssa Yandow

Homemade Oreos

2009-02-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1 box Devil's Food Cake mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tub Cream Cheese Frosting- (whipped or regular works great)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix devils food cake mix, and oil, then add in eggs. Make small (1- 2 inch) balls and place them on a cookie sheet. (Try to make an even # cause they each need a match!) Bake for 7-10 minutes. Let cookies cool then frost one cookie and put another on top! Eat with milk :)

These are so easy and everyone loves em!
by Melanie Park

Apricot Chicken

2009-02-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

This is a yummy recipe and it is super easy, aka, the best kind of recipe!

4-6 Chicken Breasts
1 Cup Apricot Jam
8 oz Russian Dressing
1 package dry onion soup mix

All you do is mix all of the ingredients and pour it over the chicken in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350* for 45min-1hour. You can serve it with potatoes, rice or pasta! Easy, easy, easy!!!

Magic Bean Soup

2009-02-10T10:38:00.003-07:00

My husband and I absolutely love this and it's actually healthy! We always double the recipe so we can have left overs later.

2 cans - black beans drained and rinsed (reserve one cup)
1 - 1 1/2 cups - chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup - salsa
1 tsp - cumin
1 - 2 cloves - minced garlic
1/4 cup - chopped onion
1 Tbs - fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1/2 cup - cilantro

*Top with*
Sour Cream
Thinly sliced green onions (I actually add this into the soup instead)
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Tortilla Chips

Put ingredients into blender and blend until there are no big chunks (I actually don't chop the onions or garlic, etc since they are going to be blended anyways). I also add extra cilantro since I love it! Add the blended ingredients into a pot along with the one cup reserved beans - when I double it I reserve one of the four cans of beans. Heat the soup over medium to medium high heat until hot. Make sure to stir soup occasionally and right before serving. When doubling the soup make sure to do one batch at a time in the blender. Enjoy!

Italian Baked Chicken

2009-02-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Okay this is a very easy reciepe that my whole family loves!

4-6 Chicken Breasts (bone-in makes it more juicy)
1 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing
Rice
Steamed Veggies

Put the chicken breasts in a 9x13 glass baking dish
Cover the breasts with 1/2 the bottle of Italian dressing
Cover dish with tin foil
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes
After the 45 minutes remove foil and baste chicken (pour dressing in pan over chicken)
Bake another 15 minutes or until chicken is brown
Serve with rice and steamed veggies. I like to pour the dressing left in the pan over top of the rice, it is really yummy.

Enjoy! ~Alyssa Yandow

Welcome!

2009-02-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I decided to start a blog where people can post recipes, tips, tricks, decoration ideas, etc. We welcome all of your ideas and if you wish to become an author e-mail me: madelynwayment@gmail.com and I will be happy to add you. I look forward to all the fun things that will be posted.