Every summer we buy melons- watermelons, honeydews, cantaloupes, and so forth. However, as a family of four, we often have trouble finishing the whole melon. Last summer I made a muffin with a cake mix and watermelon. This summer I decided to work on that recipe. These muffins turned out delicious! They were light, fluffy and very healthy. They are also dairy free and egg free. If you would like to use eggs instead of the flax seed, replace the water and flax seed with 2 eggs. Enjoy the recipe!
Melon Muffins with Lime Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
1 Cup Blended Melon
1 Cake Mix (White, Yellow, or French Vanilla)
1/2 Cup Multi Grain Hot Cereal (I used Hodgkins Mills)
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1/4 Cup Juice (I used mango/tangerine, but any juice would work)
1/8 Cup Flax Seed
3/8 Cup Water
Lime Caramel Sauce (Optional)
1/4 Cup Honey
Juice of 1 Lime
Lime zest
Melon Muffins
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Microwave water for 45 seconds. Mix flax seed into water and stir. Set aside to cool.
2. In your magic bullet or blender, blend about 2 cups fresh melon (I used cantaloupe and watermelon). Your goal is 1 cup of blended melon. You want a thick juice. Small chunks of melon are okay, they actually taste delicious in the muffin!
3. In a large bowl, mix together melon, muffin, multi-grain cereal, applesauce, and juice. After mixing, mix in flax seed. Thoroughly spray muffin tins with non-stick spray. Fill each muffin tin almost to the top. It will make 12 muffins. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes. Muffins will start to crack and pop up when gently pushed. They will also start to brown around the edges. Let cool before adding sauce. (I let ours sit covered overnight)
Lime Caramel Sauce
Poor honey in a small pan. Juice 1 lime into pan (make sure to remove seeds). Mix together. Cook on high, stirring constantly. It will take 2 to 3 minutes to make the caramel. I let mine boil for almost 5 minutes and that was too long. The caramel and lime will start to boil and then froth up. Keep stirring, it burns easily. After it has reached a rapid boil, let boil for a minute. Pull off the heat and let continue boiling for a minute, stirring while it cools. Drizzle over muffins. Grate lime zest over top of the muffins.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
What to do with Melons...
Labels:
breakfast,
cake mix,
cantaloupe,
dairy free,
egg free,
flax seed,
honey,
lime,
melon,
muffin,
watermelon,
whole grain hot cereal
Saturday, May 12, 2012
What to do with cabbage...
I am on the countdown- 6 more days of students and 1 teacher workday!!! I LOVE summer! I especially love all of the fresh fruits and vegetables! Here is a great slaw recipe if you are tired of traditional slaw. It is sweet and crunchy, a favorite combination of mine! Enjoy :)
Strawberry Apple Slaw
Ingredients:
3 Cups Cabbage, shredded
1 Red Bell Pepper, thinly chopped
1 Apple, thinly chopped
8 to 10 Large Strawberries, chopped
1/4 Cup Red Onion, finely diced
3/8 Cup Vinegar & Oil Fruit Based Salad Dressing (E.g. raspberry vinaigrette, strawberry balsamic, etc.)
1/8 Cup Honey
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
1/2 Cup LaChoy Rice Noodles (the crunchy, salad topping kind)
In a large bowl, mix together cabbage, pepper, apple, strawberries, and onion. In a separate bowl, mix together salad dressing, honey and juice of 1/2 a lime. Pour over salad and mix gently. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. Immediately before serving mix in the LaChoy rice noodles. Serves 6 to 8.
Strawberry Apple Slaw
Ingredients:
3 Cups Cabbage, shredded
1 Red Bell Pepper, thinly chopped
1 Apple, thinly chopped
8 to 10 Large Strawberries, chopped
1/4 Cup Red Onion, finely diced
3/8 Cup Vinegar & Oil Fruit Based Salad Dressing (E.g. raspberry vinaigrette, strawberry balsamic, etc.)
1/8 Cup Honey
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
1/2 Cup LaChoy Rice Noodles (the crunchy, salad topping kind)
In a large bowl, mix together cabbage, pepper, apple, strawberries, and onion. In a separate bowl, mix together salad dressing, honey and juice of 1/2 a lime. Pour over salad and mix gently. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. Immediately before serving mix in the LaChoy rice noodles. Serves 6 to 8.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
What to do with dip...
I've posted a lot about a little bit of dip, but it always seems like we have a tablespoon or two left in the containter and I can't throw it out. I made these potatoes the other night and they were E.A.S.Y. There are only 3 ingredients! They would be great with bbq chicken or ribs this summer. Once again, I ate them cold for lunch the next two days (I am a traveling teacher and I have to eat lunch in my car). They were still great! Enjoy!
Weeknight Potatoes
Ingredients:
6 Small Baked Potatoes
3 TBSP Dip (I used French Onion, but Ranch, Dill, Spinach or Bacon would work just as well)
1 Cup Shredded Cheese (I used Colby)
1. Thoroughly wash potatoes (you're going to keep the skin on so this is important). Cut off the ends and cook in the microwave for about ten minutes until soft. I usually check at 5 minutes, and 7 minutes to make sure they're not finished yet. You don't want your potatoes exploding!
2. When potatoes have cooled, slice into thin slices. Pour into a bowl. Mix in cheese and dip. Spray a large skillet with non-stick spray. Spread potato mixture into the skillet. Broil on high for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly (keep an eye on them, you don't want to burn them). Serves 5 to 6
Weeknight Potatoes
Ingredients:
6 Small Baked Potatoes
3 TBSP Dip (I used French Onion, but Ranch, Dill, Spinach or Bacon would work just as well)
1 Cup Shredded Cheese (I used Colby)
1. Thoroughly wash potatoes (you're going to keep the skin on so this is important). Cut off the ends and cook in the microwave for about ten minutes until soft. I usually check at 5 minutes, and 7 minutes to make sure they're not finished yet. You don't want your potatoes exploding!
2. When potatoes have cooled, slice into thin slices. Pour into a bowl. Mix in cheese and dip. Spray a large skillet with non-stick spray. Spread potato mixture into the skillet. Broil on high for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly (keep an eye on them, you don't want to burn them). Serves 5 to 6
Thursday, May 3, 2012
What to do with leftover dessert cups...
I love the dessert cups they sell for strawberry shortcake, but it seems we always run out of strawberries before we finish the cakes. This past weekend, I took our leftover dessert cups and make sorbet sandwiches out of them for Celia and Charlie. They were beautiful and delightfully tasty and messy: a perfect dessert combination! This would work even if your cakes are a little stale! You can make them ahead and freeze them for a party or a children's play date.
Sorbet Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Dessert Cups
Sorbet or Ice Cream
Scoop one big ball of sorbet or ice cream into the center of the dessert cup. Place other dessert cup on top. Cut through the middle to make two ice cream sandwiches. We sprinkled sprinkles on top to make them even fancier :) Enjoy!
Sorbet Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Dessert Cups
Sorbet or Ice Cream
Scoop one big ball of sorbet or ice cream into the center of the dessert cup. Place other dessert cup on top. Cut through the middle to make two ice cream sandwiches. We sprinkled sprinkles on top to make them even fancier :) Enjoy!
What to do with zucchini...
I love zucchini! Celia, Charlie, and Andy- not as much. However, it is my goal in life (while this seems like a strange goal, it's true!) to get my family to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible. I strictly stick to the 5 to 9 a day rule and try to sneak them in as many meals and dishes as possible. Last night for dinner I made these Zucchini Pancakes as a side dish. I loved them! In fact I ate them cold for lunch the next 2 days. Charlie and Celia did not like them as much, but Celia did eat the batter before I cooked them and Charlie was impressed that they were green. I think in general, it is an adult recipe, at least for our family. They would be great served with Tzatziki sauce.
Zucchini Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 Small to Medium Zucchini
1/2 Cup Cooked Oatmeal (I used plain, but I think Apple Cinnamon would taste okay too)
1 TBSP French Onion Dip I(if you don't have this, use salad dressing)
1 Egg
1/3 Cup Chopped Green Peppers
2/3 Cup Flour
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp Curry Powder
1. Cook oatmeal in microwave following oatmeal directions.
2.. Chop Zucchini into large chunks. Put into Magic Bullet, blender or food processor with dip, egg and green pepper. Blend until at least semi-smooth. Small bits of pepper or zucchini are okay.
3. In a bowl, mix together zucchini mixture, oatmeal, flour, sea salt and curry powder.
4. Heat a large skillet to med-high. To cook mine, I used 2 TBSP of coconut oil, but olive oil would work as well. When oil is hot, add scoops of batter to the pan. Cook on each side 1 to 2 minutes until lightly browned. Add more oil as needed. Makes 10 - 12 pancakes.
Zucchini Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 Small to Medium Zucchini
1/2 Cup Cooked Oatmeal (I used plain, but I think Apple Cinnamon would taste okay too)
1 TBSP French Onion Dip I(if you don't have this, use salad dressing)
1 Egg
1/3 Cup Chopped Green Peppers
2/3 Cup Flour
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp Curry Powder
1. Cook oatmeal in microwave following oatmeal directions.
2.. Chop Zucchini into large chunks. Put into Magic Bullet, blender or food processor with dip, egg and green pepper. Blend until at least semi-smooth. Small bits of pepper or zucchini are okay.
3. In a bowl, mix together zucchini mixture, oatmeal, flour, sea salt and curry powder.
4. Heat a large skillet to med-high. To cook mine, I used 2 TBSP of coconut oil, but olive oil would work as well. When oil is hot, add scoops of batter to the pan. Cook on each side 1 to 2 minutes until lightly browned. Add more oil as needed. Makes 10 - 12 pancakes.
Labels:
curry powder,
flour,
french onion dip,
green peppers,
oatmeal,
pancakes,
side dishes,
zucchini
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
What do with leftover chili...
I know cold weather foods aren't on everybody's menus right now, but my mom's work had chili the other day and she brought me the leftovers. I often make chili dogs after we have chili, but I wanted to make something a little different this time. Instead, I made Chili Cheese Burritos and they turned out great! Plus, they have to be somewhat healthier than chili dogs :) Enjoy the recipe!
Chili Cheese Burritos
Ingredients:
3 Small to Medium Baked Potatoes or 2 Large
1 & 1/2 Cups Chili
1/2 TBSP Minced, Dried Onion
1/2 TBSP Fresh, Minced Garlic
1 TBSP Fresh, Chopped Parsley (I was out of Cilantro, but you can use that instead)
1 &1/2 Cups Shredded Cheese (Colby, Cheddar or Mexican Mix)
8 Large Flour Tortillas
Salsa
Frito Corn Chips, crushed (I used a snack-size bag, but you'll want about 1/2 to 1 Cup)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread a thin layer of salsa into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Deskin potatoes and cut into chunks. In a large bowl, mix together potatoes, chili, onion, garlic, parsley, and shredded cheese.
3. Microwave tortillas until soft (I microwaved mine separately for about 10 to 15 sec. each). Put a large scoop of filling on each tortilla and roll. Place into baking dish. Spray burritos with Pam and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cover burritos with a thin layer of salsa and sprinkle Fritos on top. Bake for 5 minutes more. Makes 8 large burritos. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream if desired.
Chili Cheese Burritos
Ingredients:
3 Small to Medium Baked Potatoes or 2 Large
1 & 1/2 Cups Chili
1/2 TBSP Minced, Dried Onion
1/2 TBSP Fresh, Minced Garlic
1 TBSP Fresh, Chopped Parsley (I was out of Cilantro, but you can use that instead)
1 &1/2 Cups Shredded Cheese (Colby, Cheddar or Mexican Mix)
8 Large Flour Tortillas
Salsa
Frito Corn Chips, crushed (I used a snack-size bag, but you'll want about 1/2 to 1 Cup)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread a thin layer of salsa into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Deskin potatoes and cut into chunks. In a large bowl, mix together potatoes, chili, onion, garlic, parsley, and shredded cheese.
3. Microwave tortillas until soft (I microwaved mine separately for about 10 to 15 sec. each). Put a large scoop of filling on each tortilla and roll. Place into baking dish. Spray burritos with Pam and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cover burritos with a thin layer of salsa and sprinkle Fritos on top. Bake for 5 minutes more. Makes 8 large burritos. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream if desired.
Labels:
baked potatoes,
burritos,
cheese,
chili,
flour tortillas,
Fritos,
main dishes,
Mexican,
salsa
Sunday, April 15, 2012
What to do with leftover cole slaw...
Happy Sunday! I recently discovered our local CSA. For an incredibly reasonable price I got a huge bag of fruits and vegetables for our family from local farms. I love that in the bag there are tons of kinds of fruits and vegetables that I wouldn't normally buy. Here is a recipe using Kale. I have never bought Kale in my life, but my children not only ate it, they loved it in this dish! Plus, it's a great way to use leftover coleslaw. I used a vinegar and oil based coleslaw, but I think a mayo based one will work as well, it will just be creamier.
Kale with Bacon and Onions
4 Slices Bacon (ours was brown-sugar which added to the taste!)
1/2 Cup Chopped Red Onions
4 Cups Kale, torn and lightly packed
1 Cup Cole Slaw
1 Hard Boiled Egg
1 Large Pinch Sea Salt
Chop bacon into bite-sized pieces. Throw into a large skillet and start sauteing. Add chopped onions to the skillet. Cook bacon and onions while washing and tearing the kale. Add kale to the skillet and stir. Next add coleslaw and stir. Chop hard boiled egg and add it to the skillet. Sprinkle the sea salt on top and stir. Cover and continue cooking for another 5 to 8 minutes until bacon is finished cooking, onions are translucent and kale has wilted completely. Stir occasionally during this time. Serves 4 to 5.
Kale with Bacon and Onions
4 Slices Bacon (ours was brown-sugar which added to the taste!)
1/2 Cup Chopped Red Onions
4 Cups Kale, torn and lightly packed
1 Cup Cole Slaw
1 Hard Boiled Egg
1 Large Pinch Sea Salt
Chop bacon into bite-sized pieces. Throw into a large skillet and start sauteing. Add chopped onions to the skillet. Cook bacon and onions while washing and tearing the kale. Add kale to the skillet and stir. Next add coleslaw and stir. Chop hard boiled egg and add it to the skillet. Sprinkle the sea salt on top and stir. Cover and continue cooking for another 5 to 8 minutes until bacon is finished cooking, onions are translucent and kale has wilted completely. Stir occasionally during this time. Serves 4 to 5.
Labels:
bacon,
cole slaw,
hard-boiled eggs,
kale,
onions,
red onions,
sea salt,
side dishes
Monday, February 27, 2012
What to do with white rice and tuna...
I know fish is healthy for you, and I try to feed it to my family, but unfortunately they only like it when it's fried shrimp or sushi. For just about as many meals as I've made with fish, I've gotten just as many no thank yous. However, tonight that changed!!! I got sneaky with my cooking. My lovely children consumed tuna taquitos tonight quite happily. They weren't even fried! I hope you can trick your family into eating this delicious fish meal too :) Enjoy!
Italian Taquitos
Ingredients:
1 Can Tuna, drained
1 Can Beans, drained (I used Kidney beans)
1/2 Cup Cooked White Rice
1/8 Cup Italian Salad Dressing (I used Ken's Northern Italian)
1/4 Cup Diced Onions
1/3 Cup Diced Green Peppers
1 TBSP Mayonnaise
1 Tsp Dried Basil
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Heaping Tsp Minced Fresh Garlic
1 and 2/3 Cup Shredded Mexican Cheese
12 to 15 corn tortillas
1. Mix together tuna, beans, white rice, Italian dressing, onions, green peppers, mayo, basil, salt, garlic and 1 Cup of the shredded cheese.
2. Preheat oven to broil- high. Place oven rack on the second to lowest level. Spray a large baking sheet liberally with non-stick spray.
3. Wrap 3-5 corn tortillas in a damp pamper towel and microwave for about 45 minutes. They need to be flexible so you can wrap them easily without the corn tortillas cracking. Uncover one at a time. Lay a large spoonful (about 1 and 1/2 to 2 TBSP) of tuna mix on one end and roll. Lay taquito folded side down on baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the tortillas, heating up more when needed. If you have any mix left, push a bit more into the ends of the taquitos.
3. When finished folding, spray taquitos with another liberal spray of non-stick spray. Broil in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, sprinkle the remaining 2/3 cup of shredded cheese on top. Turn off the oven and let them sit in there for 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with a side of salsa.
Italian Taquitos
Ingredients:
1 Can Tuna, drained
1 Can Beans, drained (I used Kidney beans)
1/2 Cup Cooked White Rice
1/8 Cup Italian Salad Dressing (I used Ken's Northern Italian)
1/4 Cup Diced Onions
1/3 Cup Diced Green Peppers
1 TBSP Mayonnaise
1 Tsp Dried Basil
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Heaping Tsp Minced Fresh Garlic
1 and 2/3 Cup Shredded Mexican Cheese
12 to 15 corn tortillas
1. Mix together tuna, beans, white rice, Italian dressing, onions, green peppers, mayo, basil, salt, garlic and 1 Cup of the shredded cheese.
2. Preheat oven to broil- high. Place oven rack on the second to lowest level. Spray a large baking sheet liberally with non-stick spray.
3. Wrap 3-5 corn tortillas in a damp pamper towel and microwave for about 45 minutes. They need to be flexible so you can wrap them easily without the corn tortillas cracking. Uncover one at a time. Lay a large spoonful (about 1 and 1/2 to 2 TBSP) of tuna mix on one end and roll. Lay taquito folded side down on baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the tortillas, heating up more when needed. If you have any mix left, push a bit more into the ends of the taquitos.
3. When finished folding, spray taquitos with another liberal spray of non-stick spray. Broil in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, sprinkle the remaining 2/3 cup of shredded cheese on top. Turn off the oven and let them sit in there for 5 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with a side of salsa.
Friday, February 10, 2012
What do with leftover popcorn...
It's Friday night and Miss Celia and I decided to do some leftover cooking. A couple of nights ago my dad, "Papa", bought Celia and Charlie a giant bag of kettle corn- yum! Unfotunately we also had a tin of popcorn leftover from Christmas. Needless to say the kettle corn did not get eaten, but I could not let such yummy goodness go to waste, so here's a recipe for popcorn bars. I have never made popcorn balls, but I would guess it is a version of that recipe- but it's for lazy people :) I mean who really wants to make all those sticky balls? Enjoy!
Cashew Popcorn Bars
Ingredients:
4 TBSP Butter, melted
10 Cups Popcorn*
2 Cups Cashews
4 Cups Mini Marshmallows
1/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup
Chocolate Cookie Icing (optional)
1. Measure out 10 cups of popcorn in a large bowl. Add 2 cups of cashews to the popcorn. Set aside.
2. Spray a 10x15 bar pan with pam. In a small bowl, melt butter in microwave.
3. Put marshmallows in a third bowl. Pour corn syrup on top. Microwave marshmallows in 30 second intervals for 2 minutes. They will expand to 3 to 4 times their size. When expanded, fold pour popcorn mixture and butter into marshmallows. Pour into pan and pat down. Let sit for 30 minutes. Swirl icing over top of bars and let sit until hardened. Cut into squares and serve.
*I would not use popcorn with extreme amounts of butter on it.
Cashew Popcorn Bars
Ingredients:
4 TBSP Butter, melted
10 Cups Popcorn*
2 Cups Cashews
4 Cups Mini Marshmallows
1/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup
Chocolate Cookie Icing (optional)
1. Measure out 10 cups of popcorn in a large bowl. Add 2 cups of cashews to the popcorn. Set aside.
2. Spray a 10x15 bar pan with pam. In a small bowl, melt butter in microwave.
3. Put marshmallows in a third bowl. Pour corn syrup on top. Microwave marshmallows in 30 second intervals for 2 minutes. They will expand to 3 to 4 times their size. When expanded, fold pour popcorn mixture and butter into marshmallows. Pour into pan and pat down. Let sit for 30 minutes. Swirl icing over top of bars and let sit until hardened. Cut into squares and serve.
*I would not use popcorn with extreme amounts of butter on it.
Labels:
cashews,
chocolate cookie icing,
corn syrup,
dessert,
marshmallows,
popcorn,
snacks
Monday, February 6, 2012
What to with leftover dip...
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I love the Superbowl- not necessarily for the football but because of all the wonderful leftovers you can use in recipes afterwards! Here's one for your leftover bits of dip. I used a ranch dip in our Crescent Cups but you can use dill, french onion, bacon cheddar or what every kind of dip you have leftover and your family loves. Enjoy!
Ham and Broccoli Crescent Cups
Ingredients:
1 Cup Chopped Ham
1 Cup Chopped Broccoli, cooked
3 TBSP Dip (ranch, dill, french onion, bacon cheddar, etc.)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tube Crescent Rolls
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together ham, broccoli, dip, egg, and cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl.
2. Spray a 12 muffin, regular size muffin pan with Pam. Unroll crescent rolls. Take each triangle, and make it into a triangular cup (see picture, use long perforated side to join together). Place into muffin pan. Fill with ham and broccoli mix.
I love the Superbowl- not necessarily for the football but because of all the wonderful leftovers you can use in recipes afterwards! Here's one for your leftover bits of dip. I used a ranch dip in our Crescent Cups but you can use dill, french onion, bacon cheddar or what every kind of dip you have leftover and your family loves. Enjoy!
Ham and Broccoli Crescent Cups
Ingredients:
1 Cup Chopped Ham
1 Cup Chopped Broccoli, cooked
3 TBSP Dip (ranch, dill, french onion, bacon cheddar, etc.)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Tube Crescent Rolls
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together ham, broccoli, dip, egg, and cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl.
2. Spray a 12 muffin, regular size muffin pan with Pam. Unroll crescent rolls. Take each triangle, and make it into a triangular cup (see picture, use long perforated side to join together). Place into muffin pan. Fill with ham and broccoli mix.
Labels:
appetizers,
bacon cheddar dip,
breakfast,
Broccoli,
brunch,
Cheddar Cheese,
crescent rolls,
dips,
egg,
french onion dip,
ham,
main dishes,
ranch dip
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
What to do with leftover Mexican/Spanish rice...
Rice always seems to be the gift that never stops growing. Our neighbor made us a huge dish of Mexican rice the other day, and it was delicious! For a week I have been making dishes with this rice. This is my last one, I have finally used it all up! This happens to us when we eat out at a Mexican restaurant too.
I made this for our church lunch on Sunday. It was delicious and soooooo easy! Just like the name says, you should probably have everything on hand in your pantry. It is easy to make this soup really spicy or really mild according to your family’s taste. So, the next cold, snowy day you have- don’t go out to buy ingredients to make a soup, just look in your pantry!
Everything you already have Mexican Crockpot Soup
2 and ½ Cups Mexican Rice
1 to 1&½ Cups Hamburger, browned with diced onions
1 Can Rotel
1 Can Tomato Sauce
1 Can Chicken Broth
1 Can Black Beans
1 Can Tomato Soup
½ Cup Salsa
5 Cups Water
1 TBSP Onion Powder
1 TBSP Chili Powder
½ TBSP Cumin
1 TBSP Dried Cilantro
½ TBSP Garlic Powder
1&½ Cups Frozen Corn
4 Slices of American Cheese
Tortilla Chips
Shredded Cheese
Put all ingredients in your crock pot. Cook on high 3&½ to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Top with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Serves 12 to 15 people.
I made this for our church lunch on Sunday. It was delicious and soooooo easy! Just like the name says, you should probably have everything on hand in your pantry. It is easy to make this soup really spicy or really mild according to your family’s taste. So, the next cold, snowy day you have- don’t go out to buy ingredients to make a soup, just look in your pantry!
Everything you already have Mexican Crockpot Soup
2 and ½ Cups Mexican Rice
1 to 1&½ Cups Hamburger, browned with diced onions
1 Can Rotel
1 Can Tomato Sauce
1 Can Chicken Broth
1 Can Black Beans
1 Can Tomato Soup
½ Cup Salsa
5 Cups Water
1 TBSP Onion Powder
1 TBSP Chili Powder
½ TBSP Cumin
1 TBSP Dried Cilantro
½ TBSP Garlic Powder
1&½ Cups Frozen Corn
4 Slices of American Cheese
Tortilla Chips
Shredded Cheese
Put all ingredients in your crock pot. Cook on high 3&½ to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Top with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Serves 12 to 15 people.
Labels:
canned tomatoes,
chicken broth,
crockpot,
frozen corn,
main dishes,
rotel,
salsa,
slow cooker,
soups,
tomato soup
Saturday, January 7, 2012
What to do with leftover cheesy broccoli rice...
I love when we have Chinese take-out, it's like the dinner that never ends :) There are so many uses and creations that can come for it. Over the New Year's holiday we got Chinese take out. We had several cartons of rice left over. Earlier in the week I made a batch of cheesy, broccoli rice with it. Apparently it miraculously grew because it felt like we had more leftover than I started with. Well you know how I hate to throw away food, so our cheesy broccoli rice became meatballs. The nice thing about this recipe is if you don't feel like taking the time to make meatballs, you can use the mixture to make meatloaf or even hamburgers. While the meatballs were baking, I made a gravy to serve with them, but they would be great by themsevles or as a sandwich with cheese melted on top. Enjoy!
Easy, Cheesy, Meatballs
2 cups Broccoli Cheese Rice
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Egg
1/2 TBSP Onion Powder
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Form 1" to 1 and 1/2" meatballs. Spray a large frying pan with non-stick spray. Brown meatballs on all sides. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Makes around 15 meatballs.
*Your meat mixture should have the consistency of a meatloaf mixture. If your rice is dry, add a little milk to the mixture to moisten it up. Be cautious though, if it is too moist, your meatballs will fall apart!
Easy, Cheesy, Meatballs
2 cups Broccoli Cheese Rice
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Egg
1/2 TBSP Onion Powder
1/2 tsp salt
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| Browned Meatballs |
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| My Helper :) |
Sunday, June 12, 2011
What to do with watermelon....
Summer is finally here!!!! As a teacher, summer is a precious time for me. It means weeks of teaching and spending time with my own babies. I love it! For us, an important part of summer is grilling with friends. I tend to buy huge watermelons and then after the bbq, my children get to see the watermelon at every meal for the rest of the week. This week I decided enough was enough, I was going to figure out something to do with the rest of the watermelon. Celia, Charlie and I created this recipe for watermelon muffins. Can you believe it only has 2 ingredients! They had a lot of fun helping me. Charlie loved them so much he ate 7 in 2 days!
Watermelon Muffins
Ingredients:
3 Cups of Cubed Watermelon
1 Cake Mix (white, yellow, or be creative, maybe strawberry)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Puree watermelon cubes in the food processor until it resembles chunky applesauce. Don't over puree, 5-7 pushes of the button should do the trick.
3. Mix watermelon puree with cake mix. Pour into cupcake pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.
Watermelon Muffins
Ingredients:
3 Cups of Cubed Watermelon
1 Cake Mix (white, yellow, or be creative, maybe strawberry)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Puree watermelon cubes in the food processor until it resembles chunky applesauce. Don't over puree, 5-7 pushes of the button should do the trick.
3. Mix watermelon puree with cake mix. Pour into cupcake pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
What to do with Chocolate Easter Bunnies...
I love after holiday sales! I went to Dollar General the other day and I got these 3 Chocolate Bunnies for ten cents apiece. What a savings! Andy's cousins moved into a new house so I made these Chocolate Bunny Bars for them for a housewarming gift. They were oooey gooey chocolate goodness and easy to make! Enjoy :)
Chocolate Bunny Bars
Ingredients:
For the Base:
1 Devils Food Cake Mix
3 Chocolate Bunnies (I used the hollow ones)
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil
1/4 Cup of Milk
For the Top:
1/2 Cup Cake Mixture
1/2 Chopped Chocolate Bunnies
3/4 Package Cream Cheese, chopped into small cubes
1&1/4 Cup Coconut
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking pan.
2. Chop Chocolate Bunnies into small pieces, then set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and milk. Add 1/2 of the chopped bunnies.
4. Set aside 1/2 Cup of the mixture in another bowl for the topping. Spread the rest of the cake mixture onto the bottom of the 9 x 13 pan.
5. In the other bowl, add the rest of the chocolate bunnies, coconut and creme cheese cubes. Mix together with 1/2 cup of cake mixture. When mixed, drop onto base in small dobs. Make sure to dob evenly across cake base.
6. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Labels:
All Recipes,
cake mix,
chocolate,
chocolate bunnies,
coconut,
cream cheese,
dessert
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
What to do with leftover peas and Ritz crackers...
Andy loves meatloaf. It is a childhood favorite of his. However, it is not one of mine, so I always forget to make it for him. He has been so sweet lately that I wanted to surprise him with a meal he'd love, so I made meatloaf with an Italian twist. The fun thing about it is that I made it in the shape of a giant meatball which the kids loved!
Italian Meatloaf or Giant Baked Meatball
Serving Size: 8
Weight Watchers Points: 5
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Beef
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup Sliced Black Olives
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2/3 Cup Smashed Ritz Crackers
1 Cup Cooked Peas
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
1/8 Pinch of Salt
1/3 + 1 Cup Spaghetti Sauce
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix together ground beef, eggs, black olives, parmesan cheese ritz crackers, and peas. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion, salt and 1/3 cup of the spaghetti sauce. Mix thouroughly.
2. Form meat into a meatloaf or giant meatball. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. After 30 minutes, pour 1 cup of spaghetti sauce on top and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the sauce. Bake for another 30 minutes.
Italian Meatloaf or Giant Baked Meatball
Serving Size: 8
Weight Watchers Points: 5
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Beef
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup Sliced Black Olives
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2/3 Cup Smashed Ritz Crackers
1 Cup Cooked Peas
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
1/8 Pinch of Salt
1/3 + 1 Cup Spaghetti Sauce
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix together ground beef, eggs, black olives, parmesan cheese ritz crackers, and peas. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion, salt and 1/3 cup of the spaghetti sauce. Mix thouroughly.
2. Form meat into a meatloaf or giant meatball. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. After 30 minutes, pour 1 cup of spaghetti sauce on top and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the sauce. Bake for another 30 minutes.
Labels:
black olives,
ground beef,
italian seasoning,
main dish,
parmesan cheese,
Peas,
ritz crackers,
spaghetti sauce
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
What to do with applesauce...
This is a coffee cake I made for our Easter Breakfast at church. I have been working on "healthifying" my recipes, so this one is made with skim milk, pineapple and apple sauce. There's not any oil or eggs in it! It turned out incredibly light and delicious. It was so easy to prepare, I will definitely make it again. If you cut the cake in 10, there's about 5 weight watchers points per slice. Enjoy!
Pineapple Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 cup applesauce
1 cup bisquick
1/2 yellow cake mix
1/2 cup skim milk
1 can pineapple chunks and juice
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix together applesauce, bisquick, cake mix, skim milk and the juice from the pineapple in a bowl.
3. Spray 9" pie pan and pour pineapple on bottom. Pour batter on top. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
4. Let cool and serve, or flip coffee cake over onto a serving platter and have Upside Down Pinapple Coffee Cake.
Pineapple Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 cup applesauce
1 cup bisquick
1/2 yellow cake mix
1/2 cup skim milk
1 can pineapple chunks and juice
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix together applesauce, bisquick, cake mix, skim milk and the juice from the pineapple in a bowl.
3. Spray 9" pie pan and pour pineapple on bottom. Pour batter on top. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
4. Let cool and serve, or flip coffee cake over onto a serving platter and have Upside Down Pinapple Coffee Cake.
Labels:
All Recipes,
applesauce,
bisquick,
breakfast,
cake mix,
dessert,
evaporated milk,
pineapple
Monday, November 15, 2010
What to do with leftover turkey...
With Thanksgiving right around the corner (Holy Cow!!!), I thought I should start working on some "leftover" recipes for our favorite Thanksgiving foods. This one I made for dinner tonight. If you don't have leftover turkey, it also works great with leftover chicken. This recipe is a tasty change from normal turkey salad and it's very simple to make. It'll take you 15 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake. If you're as busy as we are during the holiday season, it's nice to have a great meal that doesn't take a lot of work. Enjoy!
Turkey Curry Melts
Ingredients:
1 Loaf of French Bread
2 Cups Chopped Turkey or Chicken
1 & 1/2 Cups Cooked Corn (cooled)
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Tbsp Curry Powder
1 Tbsp Seasoning Salt
1 Large Green Pepper
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together turkey, corn, mayo, cheese, curry powder and seasoning salt.
2. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Slice loaf of bread in half long ways. Place two halves onto baking sheet. Spread turkey salad onto the two halves of bread. Slice green pepper into thin circles. Place on top of turkey salad.
3. Bake for 20 minutes. Serves 4 to 6 people.
Turkey Curry Melts
Ingredients:
1 Loaf of French Bread
2 Cups Chopped Turkey or Chicken
1 & 1/2 Cups Cooked Corn (cooled)
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Tbsp Curry Powder
1 Tbsp Seasoning Salt
1 Large Green Pepper
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together turkey, corn, mayo, cheese, curry powder and seasoning salt.
2. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Slice loaf of bread in half long ways. Place two halves onto baking sheet. Spread turkey salad onto the two halves of bread. Slice green pepper into thin circles. Place on top of turkey salad.
3. Bake for 20 minutes. Serves 4 to 6 people.
Labels:
All Recipes,
chicken,
corn,
curry powder,
green peppers,
main dishes,
mozzarella cheese,
sandwiches,
turkey
Friday, October 22, 2010
What to do with leftover roast beef...
Check out What's for Leftovers on Facebook to get new recipe updates :)
We have had such a beautiful, mild fall, but I'm excited for some cold weather and some cold weather cooking! Just this afternoon Celia told me, "Mom, I love winter! I can't wait to stand outside in the cold!" While I'm not quite that excited, I am thrilled to share some hearty What's for Leftovers recipes with you all! Here is one for leftover roast beef. The nice thing is you don't even have to cook a roast for this recipe. If you want to make it quick, get some thick slices of roast beef deli meat from your grocery store. After cooking for a half an hour with the stuffing, you (and your family!) won't even be able to tell that you used deli roast beef. Your short cut will be your secret!
One Pot Roast Beef Dinner
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Water
1 Green Pepper, diced
1 Onion, diced
2 & 1/2 Cups Roast Beef, chopped into large chunks
1 Can Green Beans
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Water
1 Box Stuffing Mix
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1. In a large, oven safe, skillet, saute green peppers and onions in 1/2 cup water on high for 5 minutes.
2. Add roast beef and green beans to skillet. Pour 1/2 Cup of water on top. Next add a layer of cheese. Then add stuffing mix to the top. Pour chicken broth over entire dish. Cover and cook on med/hi heat for 15 minutes.
3. Broil in the oven for 7 min. until top is golden brown and crispy. Serves 4 to 5 people.
With God, all things are possible :)
We have had such a beautiful, mild fall, but I'm excited for some cold weather and some cold weather cooking! Just this afternoon Celia told me, "Mom, I love winter! I can't wait to stand outside in the cold!" While I'm not quite that excited, I am thrilled to share some hearty What's for Leftovers recipes with you all! Here is one for leftover roast beef. The nice thing is you don't even have to cook a roast for this recipe. If you want to make it quick, get some thick slices of roast beef deli meat from your grocery store. After cooking for a half an hour with the stuffing, you (and your family!) won't even be able to tell that you used deli roast beef. Your short cut will be your secret!
One Pot Roast Beef Dinner
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Water
1 Green Pepper, diced
1 Onion, diced
2 & 1/2 Cups Roast Beef, chopped into large chunks
1 Can Green Beans
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Water
1 Box Stuffing Mix
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1. In a large, oven safe, skillet, saute green peppers and onions in 1/2 cup water on high for 5 minutes.
2. Add roast beef and green beans to skillet. Pour 1/2 Cup of water on top. Next add a layer of cheese. Then add stuffing mix to the top. Pour chicken broth over entire dish. Cover and cook on med/hi heat for 15 minutes.
3. Broil in the oven for 7 min. until top is golden brown and crispy. Serves 4 to 5 people.
With God, all things are possible :)
Labels:
All Recipes,
casseroles,
deli meat,
green beans,
green peppers,
mozzarella cheese,
roast beef,
stuffing
Friday, October 15, 2010
What to do with potatoes and apples...
Don't forget to like What's for Leftovers on Facebook to get recipe updates!
It seems like a bag of baking potatoes lasts us forever! I looked in my crisper drawer just the other day and I have a 5 pound bag that desperately needs to be used. Since the weather has been fabulous lately, we've been spending as much time outdoors, soaking up the sun before cold, yucky weather starts. Here's a veggie recipe for the grill to make during those beautiful, golden fall days.
Potato Packets
Ingredients:
3 Large Baking Potatoes
2 Apples
1 Small Onion
2 Green Peppers
1 Red Pepper
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Tsp Salt
1. Wash potatoes, trim off ends and microwave for 90 seconds.
2. Chop potatoes into large chunks. Chop apples, onion, and peppers into chunks 1/2 the size of the potato chunks.
3. In a large bowl, mix together potatoes, apples, onion, peppers, olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper.
4. Fold veggie mix into 3 large pieces of aluminum foil. BBQ on the top rack of bbq grill for 25 minutes on high.
It seems like a bag of baking potatoes lasts us forever! I looked in my crisper drawer just the other day and I have a 5 pound bag that desperately needs to be used. Since the weather has been fabulous lately, we've been spending as much time outdoors, soaking up the sun before cold, yucky weather starts. Here's a veggie recipe for the grill to make during those beautiful, golden fall days.
Potato Packets
Ingredients:
3 Large Baking Potatoes
2 Apples
1 Small Onion
2 Green Peppers
1 Red Pepper
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Tsp Salt
1. Wash potatoes, trim off ends and microwave for 90 seconds.
2. Chop potatoes into large chunks. Chop apples, onion, and peppers into chunks 1/2 the size of the potato chunks.
3. In a large bowl, mix together potatoes, apples, onion, peppers, olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper.
4. Fold veggie mix into 3 large pieces of aluminum foil. BBQ on the top rack of bbq grill for 25 minutes on high.
Labels:
All Recipes,
apples,
green peppers,
olive oil,
onions,
potatoes,
red bell peppers,
red wine vinegar,
side dishes,
soy sauce,
vegetables
Saturday, October 9, 2010
What to do with leftover breadsticks and pasta salad...
Whenever we go to restaurants, it seems like such a waste to throw away all of those bread sticks or rolls that they give you. Often their servings are so large, we end up with 5 to 6 leftover. Here is a recipe that uses those bread sticks or rolls. If you don't have the bread sticks, simply substitute torn up bread pieces. If you don't have leftover pasta salad, use leftover or fresh cooked pasta. To make this recipe a complete meal, add cooked chicken and serve a salad on the side. Enjoy!
Baked Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
4 Cups Bread sticks, toasted
4 Cups Pasta Salad
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 Can Cream of Soup
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Envelope Onion Soup Mix
Parmesan Cheese
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut or tear bread sticks into large chunks and put in the oven until lightly toasted. Let cool before mixing with other ingredients.
2. Mix together bread sticks, pasta salad, egg, sour cream, soup, milk, mozzarella cheese, and onions soup mix in a large bowl.
3. Spray a large baking dish with Pam. Pour mixture into dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes. Dish is finished when top is starting to brown and bubbly.
Baked Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
4 Cups Bread sticks, toasted
4 Cups Pasta Salad
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 Can Cream of Soup
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Envelope Onion Soup Mix
Parmesan Cheese
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut or tear bread sticks into large chunks and put in the oven until lightly toasted. Let cool before mixing with other ingredients.
2. Mix together bread sticks, pasta salad, egg, sour cream, soup, milk, mozzarella cheese, and onions soup mix in a large bowl.
3. Spray a large baking dish with Pam. Pour mixture into dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes. Dish is finished when top is starting to brown and bubbly.
Labels:
bread sticks,
cream of soup,
egg,
main dishes,
milk,
mozzarella cheese,
onion soup mix,
parmesan cheese,
pasta,
pasta salad,
side dishes,
sour cream
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