Baked Macaroni and Beef

1 pound ground beef browned.
1 package mac and cheese make to package directions
1 can peas drained
4 Roma tomatoes chopped
1 can mushrooms
1 can cream of celery soup
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic salt
 1/2 cup chopped onion and bell pepper mixed
salt and pepper
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese


Brown the ground beef breaking it up and crumbling while it's cooking add the in the seasons. Next add the drained peas the mushrooms with the can juices and the tomatoes. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Pour into a casserole dish top with the mac and cheese then the mozzarella cheese and the bread crumbs

Bake at 375 until the top is golden brown.

Maple Pork Chops and Biscuits

OK, I admit it. Betty Crocker is one of my favorites when I need a new idea for dinner. This is a slow cooker recipe that is really good.

I added my special touch of course...

Ingredients

·         1 Tablespoon butter

·         5 Pork chops (3/4 inch thick) Salt and pepper to taste

·         1 /2Pound carrots cut is small pieces

·         1 Can (10.2 oz) Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (5 biscuits), or make your own.

·         2 Tablespoons chopped parsley

·         2 Tablespoons chopped onion

·         3/4 Cup maple-flavored syrup

Directions

• Heat oven to 350°F. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook pork chops in oil until browned on both sides. Place pork chops in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange carrots around pork chops. Sprinkle the chives over the top. Cover with foil. Bake 10 minutes.
• Move pork chops carrots to one side of pan; drain and discard drippings. Separate dough into 5 biscuits; arrange in pan next to pork chops and carrots. Drizzle syrup over everything.
• Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes longer or until biscuits are golden brown and pork chops are no longer pink and meat thermometer inserted in center reads 160°F, cand the carrots are tender. To serve, spoon liquid in pan over pork chops and carrots. If desired, brush biscuits with additional syrup.

 

Banana Split Pie

1 graham cracker crust
1 pkg vanilla pudding, made to package directions
18 maraschino cherries
2 sliced bananas
1/2 cup crushed pineapple well drained
1/4 cup chocolate fudge sauce
3 tbls Carmel sauce

I made the vanilla pudding for this recipe, but instant vanilla pudding can be substituted.
Start by slicing two bananas. To keep them from turning brown, put them in a bowl of water with 1 tsp of lemon juice.

Drain the pineapple and squeeze as much of the liquid out as possible. Set aside. Next drain the cherries.

To assemble the pie, add the pineapple, and banana slices. Then add the fudge sauce. Pour the pudding on top.

Bake until set. About 20 to 25  minutes. Drizzle the Carmel sauce on top.

Let it cool completely before serving.

Creamy Chicken Bake

2 cups coded chicken cubed  
1 can cream of celery soup
1 10 oz mixed veggies
2 cups biscuit mix
1/4 cup chopped onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic

1cup Milk

Punch of Salt

1 cup shredded cheddar Cheese 

Mix the biscuit mix and the milk together and set aside. 

In a baking dish add the chicken, veggies, salt garlic and onion. Add the soup and the rest of the milk. 

Mix to combine. 

Next add the biscuit mix and top with the cheese. 

Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is coked through and the top is golden brown. 

The Everything Cookie

You've heard of the everything bagel  with poppy seeds and sesame seeds and onion? Well this is the everything cookie.

1 cup butter, melted

3/4 cups brown sugar

3/3 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 cups quick cook oats

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup choclate chips

1/2 cups butterscotch chips

Beat the sugars and the melted butter together until smooth. Then add the eggs one at a time and the vanilla extract. 

Add the salt and baking side. Mix well to make sure there are no lumps. 

Then slowly add the flour and the oatmeal. Mix well. Make sure there is no trace of loose flour in the bowl. 

Now add the chips and raisins. Give it all a good stir. 

Drop spoonfulls onto a light greased  cookie sheet. Space them a couple of inches apart. 

Bake at 375 for about 11 minutes. 

Black Beans and Rice

Meatless Monday

This recipe is quick and easy. It’s perfect for a work night dinner. Black Beans and Rice.

2 cans of black beans

3 small tomatoes, diced

½ diced onion

½ diced green bell pepper

2/3 cup vegetable broth

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onion and pepper in a little olive oil until soft. Add the beans, tomatoes, and seasonings. Bring to a boil and add the broth. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve over hot rice.

Killer Marinated Tomatoes

A friend shared this with me on my Facebook account. They look amazing!

 Ingredients:

[always use organic ingredients when available.]
3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Chopped
2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil, Chopped
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar [raw honey]
1-½ teaspoon Garlic Salt
1-½ teaspoon Seasoned Salt
¾ teaspoons Dried Thyme
½ teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
¾ cups Canola Oil [use healthier oil such as extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, Macadamia nut oil, etc.]
½ cups Red Wine Vinegar
3 whole Scallions, Sliced
6 whole Tomatoes, Cut Into Wedges


Instructions:

Whisk together all the ingredients except the tomato wedges. Add the tomatoes and toss to coat. Allow to marinate at room temperature for a couple of hours, stirring every now and then. Serve with lots of bread to soak up all the yummy marinade. Enjoy!


Via: http://www.piarecipes.com/2013/06/killer-marinated-tomatoes.html

Raspberry Lime Parfaits

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup lime juice 

Graham cracker crust 

1/3 cup raspberries

1 tbls raspberry jam

Simple syrup (sugar and water)

1 tsp unflavored gelatin 

Whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbls sugar

2 drops Green food coloring ( optional)

Make a simple syrup with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Add the raspberries and the jam. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a summer. Add the gelatin and continue simmering for ten minutes.  Make sure it is well blended. Pour mixture through a strainer to remove any seeds.  Let cool.

Mix milk egg yolks and lime Juice  an food coloring in a oven proof bowl. 

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Bake the graham cracker crust for 10. 

Whip the cream vanilla and sugar until peaks form. Chill for 15 minutes. 

To assemble, break up the graham cracker crust unto small pieces. Place some of the pieces in the bottom of a desert dish or glass cup. The add a couple table spoofs of the lime mixture followed by a tablespoon of the raspberry sauce and a dollop of whipped cream. The repeat the process until the glass is full. Chill for a few minutes before serving. 

Tomato Sauce

5 ripe Roma tomatoes

1/2 tsp salt

2 beef bullion cubes

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 cup water 

3 Tbls tomato paste

Dice the tomatoes, and put them in a small sauce pan. Add all the other ingredients. 

Bring to a boil.  Cook until the bullion disovles, about 10 minutes. 

Pour into a blender and mix until smooth. 

Return to the pan and simmer slowly. Stir in the tomato paste  Let it continue to reduce until it has reached the desired consistency. 

Makes about one cup. And it is fat free and sugar free. 

Easter Brunch

How about a nice Easter brunch? There are lots of great ideas out there. Here's one from Walmart. With my version I also add bell pepper and onion.

Pretty,  isn't it?

 

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups Ore-Ida Potatoes O'Brien
• 6 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 2 Tbs. chopped onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup bacon , crumbled

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Melt butter in a microwave-safe pie dish; add potatoes, bell pepper and onion,  microwave for 10 minutes.
3. Stir together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and pepper jack cheese. Pour over potatoes.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until eggs have set. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bacon. Serve immediately.

Cinnamon Roll Bunnies

Here is something fun from Pisbury... Happy Easter.

                              

1   can (13 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated flaky cinnamon rolls with icing                                              

8 semisweet chocolate chips             

4 red baking chips or candy-coated chocolate candies                        

8 almond slices

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

2 Place 4 rolls on cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart. Unwind remaining 4 rolls in to long dough strips. For each bunny, place one dough strip, cut ends together, next to a whole roll. Press and firmy pinch cuts ends into top of whole roll. Shape strip into floppy bunny ears.

3 On each bunny, place two chocolate chips for eyes, 1 red baking chip for nose and 2 almond slices for teeth; press firmly into dough.

4 Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack. Spread frosting on warm rolls. Serve warm.

Mexi-Chicken and Rice

Here's a quick meal. and it is healthy and filling and so yummy. Chicken and rice Mexican style

 

2 ½ oz grilled chicken

¼ cup sliced onion

¼ cups sliced bell pepper

½ cups cooked brown rice

½ cup diced tomato

¼ cup sliced mushrooms

1 tablespoon sour cream

1 tablespoon mild salsa

2 tsp olive oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp chopped cilantro

 

Saute onion, bell peppers, garlic and mushrooms with the olive oil for 10 minutes, or until soft. Add the tomatoes and salsa. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile dice the chicken. And stir into the tomato mixture. Add the brown rice. Simmer 2 minutes. Spoon into a small bowl and, top with the sour cream.

Enjoy

 

(If you are counting points this is just 7 PointsPlus®.)

Chicken Apple Salad

New stuff:
Try this great salad next time .

Makes one salad:

1 small apple
3 oz of grilled chicken
4 cups of mixed greens
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup shreddded cheese (optional)

put the greens in a large bowl, top with favorite dressing.