Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients:
4-6 chicken breasts
1 pkg taco mix
24 oz salsa(bought or homemade)
Juice of 1 lime
Lime zest
1/4 c chopped cilantro

Place chicken in crock pot. Mix all ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours.
Tender and delicious !
Serve with sauce and rice and beans.
Great for tacos or enchiladas.

Fudge Brownie Pudding

My friend Lorna introduced me to this AMAZING dessert... I think it is my favorite dessert!
Lorna said this was served at her bridal luncheon in Oklahoma a few years ago.

Fudge Brownie Pudding
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 60 min  Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup dutch cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup AP flour
  • 2 T vanilla extract
  • serve with vanilla ice cream,p or whipped cream
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9×9 baking dish. Melt the 1/2 pound of butter and set aside to cool.
  2. Sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside. **Quick tip – whenever I sift flours together, I do it onto a piece of parchment so it’s easy to pick up and add to the mixing bowl)
  3. In your mixer, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and yellow. After 10 minutes, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla, Kahlua, and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix very slowly until everything is just combined. Slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add warm water to the pan until it comes halfway up the side of the dish Carefully place it into the oven, making sure not to slosh the water around and bake for 1 hour.
  5. When it’s time to take it out – don’t fear – it’s absolutely going to look like it’s under-baked. (that’s normal) Remove from the water and place in the fridge to cool. Because obviously there isn’t enough calories in the brownie pudding, serve it with vanilla ice cream.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Strawberry Clouds

Whipped cream tops a light, crisp meringue - a great base for the season's fresh berries.
Yield: Makes 6 servings.  Active Time: 20 min.  Total Time: 3 3/4 hr

3 large egg whites, at room temperature 30 minutes
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
1 lb strawberries, trimmed and thinly sliced lengthwise (3 cups)
3/4 cup well-chilled heavy cream

Special equipment: parchment paper

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 190°F.
Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl using an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add 3/4 cup sugar, a little at a time, beating, then continue to beat until whites hold stiff glossy peaks.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spoon a small dollop of meringue on each corner of parchment, then invert parchment to secure to baking sheet. Using a serving spoon, form meringue into 6 mounds about 2 inches apart on parchment. Using a soupspoon, lightly press down and swirl center of each meringue to spread out slightly, into a 3 1/2- to 4-inch round, and create a 1 1/2- to 2-inch-wide indentation in center.
Bake meringues until dry but still white, about 2 hours, then cool meringues in turned-off oven (with door closed) 1 hour. (Meringues will be crisp on outside and slightly soft in center.) Cool meringues completely on baking sheet on a rack.
While meringues cool, bring 5 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour cardamom syrup over strawberries in a heatproof bowl and stir gently to combine.
Just before serving, beat cream with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom in a clean bowl using clean beaters until it just holds stiff peaks.
Peel meringues from parchment and put on 6 plates, then spoon about 1/4 cup berries with syrup into each indentation. Spoon whipped cream over berries and top with another 1/4 cup berries with syrup. Serve strawberry clouds immediately.
Cooks' note:
Meringues, without berries, syrup, or whipped cream, can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at cool room temperature.

Chicken Piccata for Honey & CeCe Camp


Lemon Chicken Piccata
 

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 50 Minutes
Servings: 4

"Pan-fried chicken breast medallions get a light, fresh lemon-butter sauce with capers and parsley. "
INGREDIENTS:
3 large skinless, boneless chicken breast
halves - cut into 1/2-inch medallions
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or as needed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons minced Italian (flat-leaf)
parsley
DIRECTIONS:
1.Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place a serving platter into the oven to warm.
2.Season the chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet; pan-fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Work in batches and do not crowd skillet, adding oil as needed . Place the chicken pieces onto the warmed platter in the oven. When finished with all the chicken, drain most of the oil from the skillet, leaving a thin coating on the surface of the pan.
3.Cook and stir the minced garlic in the skillet until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth. Scrape and dissolve any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the lemon slices and bring the mixture to a boil. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces to about 2/3 cup, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the lemon juice and capers; simmer until the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more. Drop the butter into the skillet and swirl it into the sauce by tilting the skillet until the butter is melted and incorporated. Add the parsley; remove from heat and set aside.
4.Arrange the chicken medallions on serving plates and spoon sauce over each portion to 


2. Season the chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet; pan-fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Work in batches and do not crowd skillet, adding oil as needed . Place the chicken pieces onto the warmed platter in the oven. When finished with all the chicken, drain most of the oil from the skillet, leaving a  2/3 cup, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the lemon juice and capers; simmer until the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more. Drop the butter into the skillet and swirl it into the sauce by tilting the skillet until the butter is melted and incorporated. Add the parsley; remove from

Friday, May 31, 2013

Hot Fudge Sauce - YUM!!!





Hot Fudge Sauce

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 5 oz evaporated milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla4 tbsp butter
  • pinch of salt
1. In sauce pan combine sugar, salt, cocoa; stir in milk. Cook on medium high until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Continue to boil for 1 minute.
2. Stir in butter and vanilla. Great with brownies and ice cream, pound cake..l just about anything!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Kentucky Chocolate Chip Pie


Kentucky Derby Chocolate Walnut Pie Recipe
Kentucky Derby-Style Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie Recipe
I lost my original recipe for this so I found this one online. You can make it with walnuts or pecans and you can leave out the bourbon or substitute with Brandy... You really don't want to leave it out!
Kentucky bourbon chocolate walnut pie is traditionally served at the annual Kentucky Derby Horse race. This pie recipe is similar to the Melrose Inn's famous version which has been served at the race for over 50 years. 

Makes 1 Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie





Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons Kentucky bourbon
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 ready-made piecrust

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Combine flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and butter; mix to combine. Stir in the bourbon, walnuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture into the unbaked piecrust. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool before slicing. 

* Note: If you ever include a similar recipe in a cookbook, you can't legally call it a "Derby Pie" recipe. The name "Derby Pie" is trademarked, and the owners of the name are very 
aggressive protecting the name "Derby"

Comfort Food Collard Greens

Dad had fresh collard greens in his garden so I tried my hand at cooking them for the first time. Lizzie said Jason had told her the secret was to cook them with Coca Cola, so I tried that.

Ingredientss:
Collards, cleaned and cut up, including the tender part of the stems
1 12 oz Coke
Salt and pepper to taste
2 thick pieces of bacon

Sauté the bacon , add collards to the pan along with half or more of the coke; cover and cook on medium heat. As the greens cook add more cola. I used the whole can.
Cook until tender. About 45 minutes.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Done Buttered Biscuits

I originally got this recipe in a little recipe book put out by First United Methodist Church of New Orleans.  I went to a "tasting tea" about 38 years ago; EVERYTHING I tasted that day was wonderful This is probably the best cook book I have and it is well worn.

Done Buttered Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 cups Bisquick mix
1 stick melted butter
1 cup sour cream ( I use light sour cream)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray, set aside.*
Stir together melted butter, Bisquick mix and sour cream until ingredients are fully incorporated.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned on top.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Poppy Seed Chicken

When my mom died several years ago, a church member brought this casserole for our dinner. I had never heard of it before; from the number of recipes for this on the web it seems to me that everyone has tried this. Yummy for dinner or to give to a sick friend!  Enjoy!


1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
16 ounces sour cream
60 Ritz crackers, crushed (I used 1/3 less crackers )
1 tablespoon poppy seed
1/2 cup butter, melted (I used 6 T instead)
Directions:

1 Preheat oven to 350°F.
2 Place chicken in a pan and cover with water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender and no longer pink(about 10 minutes). Once cool enough cut into bite size pieces(I use my electric knife).
3 Mix two cans of soup with sour cream in a 13X9 inch rectangular pan. Sprinkle the chicken over the soup mixture.
Place Ritz crackers in a plastic bag and gently crush them. Add poppy seeds and shake to combine and then pour melted butter over the crackers and shake again. Sprinkle cracker mixture over the chicken.
5 Bake for 30-40 minutes until it begins to bubble around edges and the crackers are golden brown.



Enjoy!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Homemade Salad Dressings

I love the taste of homemade salad dressings! Easy, fast and lots cheaper than bottled plus they taste heavenly! And you probably have the makings of many varieties right in your fridge or pantry. Plus did I say they taste So Much BETTER???

BASIC RECIPE
1 portion sour - lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, balsamic, champagne vinegar, etc
1 portion sweet - honey, jams like raspberry or blackberry, agave, molasses, etc
2 portions oil - EVOO,  vegetable oil, etc

Add whatever you like in fresh herbs, spices, like basil, parsley
Add minced or sliced garlic if you like
Add any type of mustard if you like
Add a little salt and or pepper
Shake well. Can refrigerate for a couple of weeks. Let come to room temp before serving or run the bottle under hot water to de-solidify the olive oil.

MY FAVORITES
Honey LimeVinaigrette
    Lime juice, honey, EVOO
    I add a small clove minced garlic, t spicy mustard or Dijon, 2 t lime zest, a pinch of salt

Balsamic
   Balsamic vinegar, honey, EVOO
    Add minced garlic, chopped basil, mustard , S&P

He is a recipe for Ranch Dressing I found online. I plan to make this with low fat mayo, buttermilk or low fat sour cream to dip my ever present celery and carrot sticks as I am trying to take off the 4 lbs I gained last month with all the birthday celebrations, Easter, and wedding reception out of town!


Homemade Ranch Dressing
Prep time
Total time
Makes about 1 cup.
Author: 
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream, plain yogurt or buttermilk
  • 1 large clove garlic (or two small), minced
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh dill (or ½ tsp dried)
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley (or ½ tsp dried)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Whisk all ingredients together and store in a glass jar or other sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. (I figured 22 cal per T if made with buttermilk and low fat Hallmans mayo.)



Friday, April 5, 2013

Dessert Tonight WW Lemonade Cake


Great cake! Only problem is that there is too much left over. Must give cake away!

Ingredients:


Cake:

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons thawed lemonade concentrate
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
Cooking spray
Frosting:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons thawed lemonade concentrate
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar



Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cake, place first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat well after each addition.

Pour batter into 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray; sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, place 2 tablespoons butter and the next 4 ingredients (2 tablespoons butter through cream cheese) in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, and beat at low speed just until blended (do not overbeat). Chill 1 hour.

Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator.

Makes 16 Servings (1 Slice Per Serving

Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories: 322; Fat: 9.9g; Protein: 5g; Carbs: 54.1g;
Fiber: 0.5g; Cholesterol: 53mg; Sodium: 293mg

Quinoa Salad


QUINOA SALAD

I basically used this recipe but made a few changes. I deleted the tofu altogether, used chicken broth and added some fresh parsley and cilantro because I did not have enough fresh basil. I added avocado just before serving.  I also halved the recipe which still made about 6 cups.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
  • 3 cups organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)
  • (14-ounce) package reduced-fat firm tofu, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided $
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice $
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sugar $
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind $
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • garlic cloves, minced
  • (10-ounce) package frozen baby lima beans
  • 4 cups chopped tomato (about 3 medium) $
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions $
  • 1/2 cup chopped carrot $
  • (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

Preparation

  1. Combine quinoa and vegetable broth in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until broth is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat.
  2. Place tofu on several layers of paper towels; cover with additional paper towels. Let stand 5 minutes. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté tofu 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from heat; cool completely.
  3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons oil, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, basil, and next 6 ingredients (through garlic) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until blended. Stir in quinoa.
  4. Cook lima beans according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Cool completely. Add the lima beans, tofu, chopped tomato, green onions, chopped carrot, and black beans to quinoa mixture; stir gently to combine. Store, covered, in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tonight's Entree chicken in Mustard Cream Sauce


Entree Tonight
Sauteed Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce

This classic French combination of ingredients also makes an excellent sauce for fish, such as seared salmon and trout.
SOURCE
Everyday Food, May/June 2003



INGREDIENTS

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (6 ounces each)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine, or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon (or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh)

DIRECTIONS

  1. STEP 1Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; saute until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate; keep warm.
  2. STEP 2Pour wine into hot skillet; cook, stirring, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Whisk in cream, mustard, and tarragon. Cook, whisking, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
  3. STEP 3Pour any accumulated chicken juices from plate into sauce. Right before serving, drizzle cream sauce over chicken.


Dinner Tonight, 7 Up Biscuits


Dinner tonight... Our good friends from Shreveport, the Days,  will be in town this weekend and I am trying some new recipes on them tonight. This one is from Pinterest and you can easily find it online.  Must be VERY good  by the number of times this recipe is on the Internet. 


Easy 7-Up Biscuits
Ingredients:

2 Cups Bisquick
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 cup 7-UP
1/4 cup melted butter

Directions:
Cut Sour Cream into biscuit mix then add 7-up. It makes a very soft dough. Sprinkle additional biscuit mix on board or table and pat dough out. - Don't knead the dough - just pat it out.  Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 9 inch square pan. Cut 9 biscuits into circles. Place cut biscuits in pan and bake at 450 degrees for about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Keep on eye on them the last minutes of cooking.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

When you are hungry for dessert in a hurry and trying to stay one a diet...


Reposting from Salad in a Jar Blog

Apples in a Bag

JANUARY 29, 2011
apples in bag
Apples in a Bag

Apple Bueno
Homemade “Apple Bueno”
Then I remembered a tip I recently picked up from my new co-worker, Christa (an answered prayer in the flesh, incidentally). She told me about microwaving a sliced apple to use as a quick addition to oatmeal or ice cream. It sounded like the perfect topping for cinnamon chips similar to the Apple Buenos we used to enjoy at Taco Bueno on Sunday nights after church.  I tried it and was instantly smitten. I predict you’ll feel the same.
apple with peeling

6 reasons why you should try Apples in a Bag:

  1. Near-instant gratification–cooks in two minutes.
  2. Mix and nuke in a disposable plastic bag for quick clean-up.  I use Ziplock freezer bags approved for the microwave. If that makes you nervous or uncomfortable, see this article….or make it in a covered microwave-safe glass bowl or cook it on top of the stove in a regular pan. (When you’re the cook, you get to do it how you want. I  won’t try to change your mind if you won’t try to change mine. Thank-you very much.)
  3. It’s versatile. Substitute pears for apples or change up the spices.
  4. After making it one time, you won’t need a recipe–it’s that easy.
  5. Because it only makes one serving (unless you use a huge apple), there are no leftovers to call your name.
  6. The perfect snack/dessert when you must have a sweet but the pantry is empty.  Low in calories. See nutritionals below.
ingredients apple in a bag
Apples in a Bag
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert, Snack
Ingredients
  • 1 small apple (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith are my favorite)
  • 1 packet of sweetener (Splenda is my favorite), or a spoonful of sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Small handful of raisins, optional
Instructions
  1. Peel or don’t peel apple, core and slice or dice. Place in freezer-quality plastic zippered bag along with remaining ingredients. Seal bag and shake well to mix ingredients.
  2. Reopen bag just a touch to vent. Microwave on High for 2 minutes– longer if you use a big apple.
  3. Carefully (it will be HOT and steamy) open bag and pour over plain or cinnamon-sugar pita chips, flour tortilla chips, oatmeal or ice cream.
Notes
(Nutritionals based on no raisins, unpeeled apples and artificial sweetener)
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 Calories: 59 Fat: .2 g Carbohydrates: 16.7 g Sugar: 11.0 g Sodium: 2 mgFiber: 2.9 g Protein: .3 Cholesterol: 0 mg

Related Posts: