Sunday, July 26, 2009

Black Bean and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

  • 1 1/2 TB Olive Oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
  • 6 oz jarred roasted red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 1/2 ts cumin
  • 1 ts chili powder
  • 1/2 ts salt
  • 1/2 ts hot sauce

--Cook oil and onion in skillet until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1-2 mins longer

--add all remaining ingredients and stir very well

--bring to a boil

--reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes

Serve with crackers and a nice side salad

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Taco Pie

from Betty Crocker


1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 package (1 ounce) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1 can (4.5 ounces) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, drained
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
Sour cream, if desired


1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (dry). Spoon into pie plate; top with chilies.

2.Stir milk, eggs and Bisquick mix until blended. Pour into pie plate.

3.Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Betty Crocker

The top 10 highest rate recipes on her site

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Marbled Paper


From Family Fun (aug 2009 issue)


Need: baking sheet with rim, shaving cream, squeegee, liquid food coloring, craft stick or toothpick, cardstock



1. cover the baking sheet with a half inch layer of shaving cream. Smooth it with the squeegee.


2. dot the cream with dots of food coloring and use the craft stick or toothpick to swirl it throughout the cream


3. lay a sheet of cardstock on top of the cream and press lightly. Peel off the paper and use the squeegee to remove the excess shaving cream. Set the paper aside to dry.

cute idea




To make veggies brighten up the fridge and look like an enticing, store fresh cut veggies in pasta jars, canning jars, or any type of jar in the fridge. Put veggies in the jar then add about an inch of water to keep them fresh. Yummy snack!!!

The Foamerator



From Family Fun

Bubble FUN!!

1. cut the bottom off a plastic water bottle

2. cover the bottom with a circular piece of towel (like a wash cloth) that's a little bigger than the circumference of the bottle

3.Secure the towel with a rubber band.

4. dampen it in water then dip into shallow bowl of dish soap

5. blow gently through the mouth of the bottle

Cute Rock Craft





1. find rocks of all sizes

2. wash and allow time to dry

3. paint (using acrylic) a variety of designs, colors, anything, allow time to dry

4. put in garden, yard, window box, anywhere!

from Family Fun










Saturday, July 18, 2009

WildFlour

LOVE THIS PLACE! GO THERE NOW!! :) http://www.wildflourtexas.com/




Super Yummers Dinner

Super Yummers Dinner

Sausage and Onions

  • slice kielbasa sausage
  • slice 1 yellow or white onion
  • pour into skillet and pour 1 cup worchester sauce(amount per your taste)
  • cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until onions are translucent
Green Beans

  • snap off ends and clean fresh green beans
  • put into pot, fill with water until beans are covered
  • stir in 1 half of a chopped onion, lawrys seasoned salt, a little worchester sauce and pepper
  • cook over medium to medium high heat for about an hour until green beans are tender
  • also stir in some of the sausage and onions from above for an extra kick
Red Potatoes

  • wash 8-10 red potatoes
  • slice
  • pour olive oil on top, sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
  • toss then pour into casserole dish
  • cook 45 mins in 375 degree oven

Monday, July 13, 2009

Tomato Basil Chicken

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breastes, cut into fourths (sprinkle with salt and pepper)
  • 1/4 c flour
  • 1 TB EVOO
  • 3 TB butter or marg. at room temp (divided use)
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 2 TB balsamic vinegar
  • 3/4 c chicken broth or stock
  • 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 16 basil leaves cut into thin strips
  • 1-2 TB Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 TB parsley
  • loaf of crusty bread (like french or sourdough)

1. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess

2. Combine the oil and 1 TB butter in large pan over medium high heat. When the oil is hot place the chicken in the pan and cook until golden on each side (about 4-5 mins on each side) and cooked through. Remove from pan and keep warm

3. In the same pan, add the shallot and garlic. Saute for 1 minute then add the vinegar to deglaze the pan, scraping all the browned bits from the bottom. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until sauce is reduced by half.

4. Remove pan from heat. Stirring constantly add the basil, remaining butter, Italian seasoning, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until butter is Incorporated into the sauce.

5. Place a slice of crusty bread on plate. Top with chicken, pour sauce on top.

Cookie Cake Pie

Pure Awesome.

Blueberry Lemon Pecan Pie

  • 1 box (15 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel (from 1/4 medium lemon)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 medium lemon)
  • 1 teaspoon quick-cooking tapioca
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 cup lemon pie filling (from a can)
  • Lemon slices, if desired
  • Pecan halves, if desired


1. Heat oven to 425°F. Unroll 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom.

2.In small bowl, mix 1/3 cup sugar and the cinnamon until well blended. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until melted. With pastry brush, brush melted butter on side and top edge of pie crust. Sprinkle buttered areas of crust with sugar mixture. Stir remaining sugar mixture and the chopped pecans into remaining melted butter until pecans are well coated. Sprinkle pecan mixture into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust; trim and flute edges. Prick top crust several times with fork. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 30 minutes.


3. In 1-quart saucepan, mix 1 cup of the blueberries, the lemon peel, lemon juice, tapioca and 2 tablespoons sugar. Using potato masher or fork, mash blueberry mixture well. Cook over medium-low heat about 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in remaining 2 cups blueberries. Spread lemon pie filling evenly over top of cooled pie. Pour blueberry mixture on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with lemon slices and pecan halves. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.

Desserts

Friday, July 10, 2009

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Fun with Betty Crocker

I heart Betty Crocker and always have. If I could be anyone, I would be Betty Crocker. Here are some great recipes I found on her website recently.


turkey club bake
italian beef kabobs
all american snack mix
pink lemonade pie
black bean dip
peanut butter and banana wrap

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Tomato Pie

From The Dallas Morning News
Makes 6 servings

  • 1 unbaked (9-inch) pie crust
  • 1 (6-ounce) package loose-leaf baby spinach
  • 6 ripe local tomatoes, sliced horizontally
  • 1 large sweet onion, chopped
  • 12 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove crust and increase oven to 400 F.


In the partially baked crust, layer ½ of the spinach, ½ of the tomatoes, ½ of the onions and ½ of the crumbled bacon. Repeat with a second layer.


In a small bowl, thoroughly blend mayonnaise and mozzarella. Spread on top of the pie. Bake 45 minutes.

Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Citrus and Strawberry Chicken Salad

from the Dallas Morning News
Makes 4 servings
  • ½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and cut in half
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder plus additional for sprinkling on chicken (divided use)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups baby garden greens
  • ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, well-drained
  • 1 green onion, white and green parts, chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped celery
  • 2 tablespoons toasted pecan pieces

Place halved strawberries, orange juice, vegetable oil, lemon juice, sugar, ¼ teaspoon chili powder, salt and pepper in blender. Process until smooth.

Pour into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened; remove from heat.

Allow to cool slightly.

Measure out ½ cup dressing to use for salad; cover and refrigerate remaining dressing for another use.

Sprinkle chicken lightly with chili powder, salt and pepper.


Heat a grill skillet or a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Spray generously with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook chicken about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Set aside.


Place greens, sliced strawberries, mandarin oranges, green onion and celery in a large bowl. Toss with ¼ cup of the dressing mixture.


Divide salad mixture equally between four dinner plates. Slice chicken and place on top of greens.

Drizzle with remaining dressing. Top with pecans.

Mango Salsa

from the Dallas Morning News
Makes about 2 cups
  • 10 to 12 strips fresh peeled mango, finely chopped
  • 1 cup finely chopped fresh tomato (see note)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro leaves
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • Tortilla chips, for serving

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, catching as much of the juices from the mango and tomato as possible and mixing them in. Serve immediately with chips or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to a week.

Hot Fudge Sauce

from Dallas Morning News

  • 3 tablespoons cocoa
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine the cocoa and butter in a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
2. Melt and blend thoroughly, but do not boil.
3. Mix in boiling water and blend thoroughly.
4. Add the sugar and corn syrup, but do not stir. Cover.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, allowing it to boil steadily but not furiously for 3 minutes, without
stirring.
6. Continue boiling uncovered for 3 minutes without stirring.
7. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve and enjoy!

Makes about 1 cup.

Friday, July 3, 2009

My Favorite Thing Right Now

Flower Spatula

Grilled Corn

We had a fab bbq dinner tonight!

Chicken marinaded in Ubon's sauce, and my mom's grilled corn. Here's what you do...

  1. shuck fresh corn
  2. tear a large square of foil and put corn on top of it
  3. spread margarine over entire cob, on all the sides
  4. sprinkle Lawry's Seasoned Salt over cob
  5. wrap in foil
  6. grill

Easy and Delish!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Herbed Potato Salad

From Susan Conley, Natchez Mississippi

  • 2 lbs potatoes, cubed
  • 1- 14oz can fat free chicken broth
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 c nonfat plain yogurt
  • 1 TV chopped dill
  • 1 TB chopped oregano
  • 2 TB light mayonnaise
  • 2 TB olive oil
  • 2 TB white wine vinegar
  • 1 ts salt
  • garnish: chopped, toasted pecans

1. Bring first 3 ingredient and 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium high heat, and cook 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and let cool 30 mins.

2. Whisk together yogurt and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl until combined

3. Gently fold potatoes into yogurt mixture. Cover and chill 1 to 12 hours. Garnish with pecans if desired.

Tomato Rosemary Tart

from Southern Living
  • 3 plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 ts kosher salt
  • 1/2 (17.3oz) a package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
  • 1/4 c (2 oz) shredded mozzarella
  • 1 ts lemon zest
  • 1 ts rosemary
  • 1/2 ts pepper
  • 1 TB chopped parsley
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut tomatoes into 1/4 in thick slices and place on paper towel lined wire rack. Sprinkle with salt and let stand 20 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels
  2. Unfold 1 puff pastry sheet on a lightly greased baking sheet. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on pastry. Stir together cheese and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle over tomatoes
  3. Bake tart for 24-27 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley

Herb Infused Vinegar

These make great gifts, as they look beautiful sitting out and are such a treat to cook with (delish!). They are SO easy. I got the information for these from the new issue of Southern Living, but there are tons of ways you can make a great one... use whatever you've got in the pantry.

Each recipe yields about 2 cups and takes about 15 mins to prepare.

Italian Herbal Vinegar
  • 1/4 c each of basil, oregano, marjoram, chives, and thyme
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 c white wine vinegar
  • 1 c red wine vinegar
Classic Tarragon Vinegar
  • 1 c tarragon
  • 2 c champagne vinegar
Basil, Garlic, and Chive Vinegar
  • 1 c basil
  • 1/2 c chives
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 2 c red wine vinegar
Peppercorn Vinegar
  • 1 TB black peppercorns
  • 1 TB white peppercorns
  • 2 (6in long) strips lemon rind
  • 1/4 c thyme
  • 2 c white wine vinegar

Almond Bark

Almond Bark is my new soul mate. I LOVE it! Yesterday I melted it and dipped pretzel rods in it. Next I'm going to try dipping potato chips and serving them with ice cream. When I made cupcake pops, Almond Bark was my base.

Almond bark is basically chocolate melting candy that is A LOT easier to work with than regular chocolate. It's easier to melt, and has a wonderfully smooth texture.


Almond Bark comes in 2 flavors, vanilla and chocolate. Here are some ideas of things you could dip into almond bark!


  • pretzels
  • potato chips
  • strawberries
  • pineapple
  • popcorn
  • blueberries
  • sugar cookies
  • ginger snaps

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Bacon Pimiento Cheese

from Southern Living

I'm not a big pimiento cheese fan, but I look forward to making this for my Momma for her birthday. She is a p.cheese nut!!
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked, and crumbled
  • 2- 8oz blocks Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1- 4oz jar diced pimiento, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 c mayonnaise
  • 2 TB finely chopped onion
  • 1 TB Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 ts salt
  • 1/8 ts ground red pepper
  • 1/8 ts pepper

Stir together all ingredients just until well blended. Store in an airtight container in fridge for up to 1 week

Chicken or Tuna Salad with Lemon Aioli

from Southern Living. Use either Chicken or Tuna

First Make the Lemon Aioli. Stir the following ingredients together:

  • 1/2 c mayonnaise
  • 2 TB chopped parsley
  • 2 ts lemon zest
  • 2 TB lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • pepper per taste
Now its time to make the chicken salad.

  • Lemon Aioli from above
  • 3 c cooked, chopped chicken or Tuna (drained, flaked)
  • 1/2 English cucumber, cut into half moon shaped slices
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple, diced
  • 1/4 c minced red onion

Stir everything together, add more or less of anything to fit your taste. Cover, and chill for at least 2 hours.

Serve on green leaf lettuces leaves or wassa crackers... or anything you can think of!

M Cafe

M Cafe in Richardson is my new favorite place. Everything about this place is fantastic. The ambiance is lovely, the people are sincere, and the food is delish. They even donate their food leftover at the end of each day to a local shelter, which I love.

Beautiful art graces the walls and wonderful soft music echos throughout. My MOST FAVORITE part of M Cafe though is their desserts! Two words... STRAWBERRY CROISSANTS!!!!

All meals come with a mini danish too, which I think is a perfect little touch.

Check them out!

http://www.mcafeandcatering.com

Lotty Lot Chicken Salad

  • 1/3 c slivered almonds (bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 mins until lightly toasted)
  • 3 c chopped cooked chicken
  • 1/2 c dried cranberries
  • 1/2 c chopped pecans
  • 7 oz (half a can) artichoke hearts
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 1/2 c diced onions (use frozen! its sooooo much easier!)
  • 3/4 c mayonnaise
  • 1 TB Lawry's Season Salt
  • 2 TB lemon juice

Stir all ingredients together! Add more/less mayonnaise and season salt per your taste.

Serve in bread bowls, or serve as a dip for crackers, or serve open face on croissants, or .... the possibilities are endless!