Summer Salsa or Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I made a new recipe called "Summer Salsa", which my family always called "Black Bean and Corn Salsa".  I tried a new version I found on Pinterest from "Be a Pot Stirrer".  It was very different and very light from the salsa I remember.  This has a very light, limey, with a hint of heat taste to it.  We served it with Pita Chips.  I love it.  I typed up the recipe and included a picture of the batch we made.

and here is the recipe for you:

Asian Noodle Salad... AMAZING

I was reading a post on facebook by Pioneer Woman for her Asian Noodle Salad and I knew we just had to try it.   I followed her recipe except for I omitted the Cilantro (Hate that) and added Parsley, I also sent my honey to the store and he forgot bean sprouts and cashews, so I left out the bean sprouts and used some almonds that I had on hand... let me just say.... DELICIOUS!!!!  This recipe is truly amazing.  Warning.. It makes A lot!  The leftovers are even better the next day!   You should try it!   Here's her recipe:
Pioneer Woman's Asian Noodle Salad  Check it out.  !

Spicy Turkey Burgers.... YUM!!!!

As Doug and I continue on our new healthy eating journey, we keep trying to find new and exciting recipes to try to keep things from getting boring.  These were a hit!  I think tonight is our third time making them. Doug wasn't too keen on trying "turkey burgers", but never one to not try something, he played along and guess what?  He loved them.  Give it a try.  I found the recipe on the net, but tweaked it.  The original recipe called for Cilantro, if you like it go for it.  It called for 1/2 CUP!  ick! I added a bit of parley instead.  I also used red jalepeno peppers in a jar for some added zing and a dash of hot sauce.  You can't go wrong.

Valentine Popcorn Mix

I whipped up some Popcorn Mix to give the kids and a few others for Valentines Day.  I think this would be a fun teacher, neighbor or co-worker gift as well.  It's very simple.  We make this for different holidays, just change out the M&M's and Sprinkles.  I used Heidi Swapps Digital kit called "For the Love" to make the cute little tags.

Bunny Mix
1 Package of Wilton White Chocolate Melts
3 bags of Microwave Popcorn (I prefer to use the white variety, not the buttery varieties)
1/2 bag of M&M's
1 jar sprinkles
(Optional:  Small spiral pretzels)

Pop corn in microwave and place in large bowl.  Melt candy melts in microwave or in double broiler.  Pour melted chocolate over popcorn and add sprinkles, mix lightly.  Lay popcorn on a cookie sheet to dry.  Add M&M's after 2-3 minutes.  When dry package as you like.

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

I mentioned that Doug and I have been eating very healthy and that we are both losing weight.  I thought I'd start sharing some of the yummy alternatives we've been fixing.  Believe me, NEVER EVER did I think I would EVER eat a Mushroom Burger.  I don't particularly care for mushrooms, but last week we made turkey burgers and they were pretty good, so I wanted to try this.  I have to admit, they are very good!  It's ALMOST like eating a cheeseburger.. in  a healthy way. ;)  So, if you're up for a change, try these one night, you may be very surprised!  I'm sorry I didn't take a photo, we got a late start on dinner and by the time they were done, we were ready to eat!

A little note:  You probably already know this, but I had to look up how to clean a mushroom.  Remove the stem and using a spoon remove the "gills" on the inside of the cap.  Next take a wet papertowel and wipe the mushroom off.  That's it.

Happy Thanksgiving & Polish Noodles

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the holiday with your special friends and family.  We had a great time hosting Thanksgiving.  So much food, so little time!  We have so many leftovers it's bordering on ridiculous!  I wanted to share with everyone this awesome recipe I got from Richie's mom for Polish Noodles.  They are so easy and oooohhh so good!  I made a double batch (and yes, you do double ALL the ingredients including the water).  Word of caution... doubling makes A LOT!!  These noodles remind me of the noodles my grandmother used to make.  Her's were homemade noodles, of course, but this is probably the closest I've tasted.  Trust me, you will like them!!  I'm sorry I don't have a picture (it's hard to get a nice picture of noodles!)  I even googled to see if I could find you a picture that looked similar and no luck. 

Pumpkin Dump Cake

You have got to try this amazing recipe. It is ooey, it is gooey and it is ooooh so lovely. I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin pie. I mean I don't hate it, but I'd much rather have something a bit sweeter if I'm going to eat pie. Well this recipe is just that. It's pumpkin pie all sweetened up. Just look at it!!

We served it fresh from the oven with ice cream, I could hardly contain myself as I watched the ice cream begin to melt. If you'd like to try this little ditty for yourself... here's the recipe.

The Best Ever Peanutbutter Pie!!

I made a new recipe for one of my favorites.... PEANUTBUTTER Pie.  OMG... it is so good!!!   If you like Peanutbutter pie, I highly suggest you try this recipe.  It's one from Pinterest/Willowbird baking.  You should click on the link and read the story behind the peanutbutter pie, very touching.  I also highly suggest you try out Pinterest if you haven't.  It's everything you can think of from Recipes, to funny signs, to crafts and cards, fashion, homes.  You name it, it's on pinterest.  Sorry, back to the recipe.  Here ya go, guys!

Almost No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

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Recipe by: Adapted from All-Recipes
Yields: about 8-10 slices

Pie Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (just grind ‘em up, cream and all)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Whipped Cream Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
peanuts and/or mini peanut butter cups for garnish (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter with a fork and press into a 9-inch pie plate. Spend a few minutes working on it to make sure there aren’t gaps and that it’s a thin layer (I had to discard some of my cookie crumbs because 1 1/4 cups turned out to be a bit too much for my pie plate). Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Whip the cream to soft peaks. Stir 1/3 of the cream into the peanut butter mixture to lighten it up, then gently fold the rest of it in. Gently spoon the filling into your crust and use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth it out. Chill this for a few hours.

To make whipped cream, whip cream and confectioners’ sugar together until you reach soft peaks. Spoon this over your peanut butter pie and top with peanuts and mini peanut butter cups for garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.

BBQ Sundae

A few years ago, I went to Tennessee for work and we stayed at a resort called Blackberry Farms.  It was a beautiful, picturesque place in the middle of the mountains.  They served smores at night by the fire, there was very little cell phone signal (a fact which I didn't appreciate until after I left! LOL).  They also featured breathtaking views of the mountains, vineyards, etc.  Upon our arrival the restaurant wasn't quite open yet and we were all starving, so they directed us to go sit on the hill on these amazing huge wooden anarondak  chairs which were painted in a rainbow of colors.  As we sat there taking in the fresh air and nature all around they served us lemonade in mason jars.  It reminded me of my younger years at grandmothers house.  A bit later they let us know that they had prepared a little lunch for us.  That little lunch was a BBQ Sundae.  It was sooo good and so unexpected.  I tried to duplicate it tonight.  I think this would be so fun to serve for Memorial Day, 4th of July or Labor Day cookouts.  It's very simple.  A layer of baked beans, a layer of coleslaw and topped off with a layer of pork BBQ with a slice of dill pickle as garnish.  It may not sound all that great, but it is.  You start off with the hot BBQ, then you start to dip into that cold coleslaw and by the end the baked beans have a bit of all of the heaven that was on top.  I am not one that likes my food mixed up or touching, but really, you should try this.  Serve it in a mason jar or a glass with a fork, you guests will have fun and the best part... no mess! :)

WOW your friends. Shrimp Pasta in Foil - FUN and Delicious!

Not your average presentation, eh??   How fun would this be to have this all ready and already bundled up in foil, so no one knows what's inside, pop it on the grill (instead of baking in the oven) for the last stage and voila... you unveil tonight's dinner in front of your guests. 

I made this last night, it's really good! It is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman.  The only change I made was the addition of mushrooms and red pepper.  You could easily add green onion, zuchinni or whatever your family's favorites are.

Here's a cute recipe card for you if you'd like

Pasta Carbonara

I made this recipe the other night and let me tell you... it is AMAZING!!  If you like pasta dishes, you will love this.  The only change I made was I didn't have Pecorinio cheese on hand, so I just used all parmesan.  The recipe came from the Food Network magazine.   I didn't take a picture, I was too excited to EAT!  LOL

For an easy printable copy of the recipe click here, or if you'd like this cute 4 x 6 recipe card, right click and print on the image below.

This isn't just any Meatloaf!!!

Let me start by saying, I am not a meatloaf kinda girl.

 Those men.. (you know who they are) who take COLD MEATLOAF

throw it on a couple slices of bread with Ketchup...just freak me out!

I just never really enjoyed meatloaf. No reason really. I'm the same way with hamburgers.. I think it's just ground beef in general. That being said, let me just say this...

This meatloaf is awesome! I mean really, really GOOD

Preheat your oven to 350 and give this recipe a try!!

This recipe is brought to you via my new cookbook "The Pioneer Woman Cooks - Recipes from an accidental country girl". You know the Pioneer Woman? I was first introduced to her through her Photoshop Tutorials and awesome actions... who knew she cooks and has her own cookbook... check out her blog HERE.

I highly suggest you get her recipe book.  We sort of collect recipe books and this one is unlike any I've ever had.  It's a story about Ree and her family and their ranch along with their everyday, doable recipes.  It's got a lot of fun little tidbits throughout and you'd swear she is in your kitchen right beside you sharing a cup of coffee and shooting the breeze with you,

Click on her cookbook below to be taken directly to this recipe.. You won't regret it!

Yummy Oatmeal Cookies! Seriously, you gotta try these!

Yummy Party Dip

My good friend Snowmanlover (Barb) called me today and challenged me to make this dip.  Since I was going to start the diet today, I hmmmm'd and haaa'd, but she left me so curious and hungry for it, then she told me she and Bridget were making it....I had to try it.  (Can't start a diet on Superbowl Sunday, right???)  Let me just say... HELLO!  YUMMY!!!  Doug loved it too.  My favorite is with the celery sticks, but chips and crackers were good too!

I used Fat Free Ranch and low fat cream cheese, so I felt like it wasn't as bad as it could have been. 

Spicy Buffalo Dip

2 - 8 ounce packages of cream cheese (softened)

1 cup bottled Ranch Salad Dressing

1 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce

2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped OR 2 cans of chicken drained

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Soften cream cheese, mix together all ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until bubbly. Serve with celery and Chicken in a Biskit crackers.

bruschetta

A little Bruschetta Appetizer tonight to go with our Chicken Noodle soup on this crazy snow day.  Totally winged this.

Set oven to broil (high).

Saute chopped onion in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a bit of garlic and basil when onion is lightly browned turn heat off.

Slice bread (I used an Italian Garlic Loaf from Walmart).  Lay bread slices onto a cookie sheet and drizzle lightly with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, put into boiler for about a minute until bread is just lightly browned.  Remove from oven and top with sauteed mixture.. and just a sprinkle of salt and pepper then top with a bit of Mozzarella and parmesan, drizzle lightly again with EVOO and return to broiler for approximately 1 -2 minutes.  YUMMM!!!!  I topped with extra basil, but not necessary

Chicken Pot Pie.... sooooo good!

One of my family's favorites.... there is never any leftovers!! :(

Yummy Chicken and Dumplings!!!

Chicken & Dumplings:  (just so you know.. Doug actually used leftover turkey in this... so the first section was done... can't tell a difference!)

Servings: Serves 4–6
Ingredients

Chicken and stock:
1 whole organic chicken , 4 to 5 pounds
2 bay leaves
1 head garlic , split through the equator
6 sprigs thyme
Kosher salt
4 to 5 black peppercorns

Vegetables:
2 carrots
1 large onion
2 ribs celery
1 clove garlic
4 sprigs fresh thyme , leaves only
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Buttermilk-Chive Dumplings:

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup chopped chives


Directions
To make chicken: Place chicken and all ingredients into a slow cooker and cover with water. Set on low (according to manufacturer's instructions), and cook until chicken is falling apart.

When done, remove the chicken. Strain the stock and shred the meat into big pieces.

To make vegetables: Slice vegetables up into a julienne, and set a large sauté pan over high heat. Add a 2-count of olive oil, and sauté vegetables until translucent. Fold vegetables into the slow cooker with the stock. Fold the shredded chicken back into the mixture and season well. Add chopped fresh parsley and stir. Turn slow cooker up to high while you make the dumplings.

Roasted Tomato Basil Bisque w/Mozzarella-Focaccia Grilled Cheese

THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE BISQUE

1 28-OZ CAN TOMATO SAUCE
2 14-OZ CANS FIRE ROASTED DICED TOMATOES
1 BUNCH BASIL, TORN OR ROUGHLY CHOPPED
32 OZ VEGETABLE STOCK (COULD USE CHICKEN STOCK IF DESIRED)
1/4 C CORN STARCH
1/2 C WATER
1 C MILK
3 TBS SUGAR
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
1 GARLIC CLOVE, FINELY CHOPPED
1/2 ONION (MEDIUM), FINELY CHOPPED
OLIVE OIL

WHAT TO DO:

1.  Preheat large stock pot, add olive 

 oil, add onions and saute on medium heat until tender. 

2.  Add Garlic and saute for just a minute.  Add Tomato Sauce, Fire roasted tomatoes, stock, sugar, salt and pepper to stockpot.

3.  Mix and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes.

4.  After 15-20 minutes of simmering, combine 1/4 C Cornstarch and 1/2 C water in a separate container, then add to soup.  Bring to a light simmer.  Soup will thicken.  Add Milk and Basil, heat through, but do not boil.   Plate and serve.

For the sandwich.. you could easily do a traditional grilled cheese, but I used a focaccia bread and fresh mozzarella with prosciutto.  YUMMM!!

Preheat oven on broil (hi).   Meanwhile, Slice bread in half.  Drizzle with Olive Oil

Line one side of the bread with mozzarella, the other with the prosciutto and basil.

.. place under broiler when soup has about 3 minutes left

Everything should be done at the same time.  Plate and serve.

 

Sesame Ginger Chicken with Sesame Noodles

Ok.. I "winged this".. I will try and show you what I did...

First, cut your chicken breast into strips.  Put into ziplock bag and add enough marinade to cover.. Note the longer your marinade the better (up to 24 hours in the refrigerator)  I started marinating at 5PM for a 7PM dinner... I must tell you, this marinade is soooo good.  I don't doctor it up one little bit and the chicken turns out so tender and full of flavor.

Here are the ingredients to the noodles.. I have to admit.. I missed the sugar and soy sauce in the photo.. I'm new at this.. forgive me :(

Bring a stock pot of 1/2 full of water to boil.. add pasta, cook according to directions.  I used whole wheat pasta.. it took 9 minutes.  While pasta is cooking.......

In a small bowl, add the soy sauce, garlic, sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil and hot chili oil.  Let that hang out for awhile and move on to the next step.

In a separate sauce pan saute snow peas (optional) and onion 3-4 minutes until tender, remove from

sauce pan and set aside 

 

Add the marinated chicken to the sauce pan and cook on med-high heat 8-10 minutes, tossing frequently until golden brown and cooked thoroughly.

While the chicken is cooking, check your pasta.  When pasta is cooked to your liking drain and return the cooked pasta to stockpot.. add sauteed Snow Peas /Onions

 

 Add Soy Sauce mixtureto the pasta and toss till evenly coated

 

Chicken should be done... Plate noodles and serve chicken on the side

 

 

I think you could add some shaved carrots to the mix for a bit more color and flavor... and/or even a couple mushrooms....  I don't like Cilantro.. but you could add that if you like that... even some cashews would be nice???  Or, mix it up and cook with beef strips instead of the chicken... just add your favorites and go... :)