Bean & turkey burger soup

1 lb ground turkey
1 can corn
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can Rotele chilie & tomatoes
1 can pinto beans (drained)
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can ranch style beans
1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch seasoning

Mix all together in crock pot or on stove and heat. Top with grated cheese and sour cream and serve with chips. I made this for our Halloween party and these was only a small amount left. Sooo good and sooo easy!

Asian Noodle Salad

Dressing:

Juice of 1 lime

8T olive oil

2 T sesame oil

1/4 c soy sauce

1/2 c brown sugar

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 jalpeno chopped

chopped cilantro about 1/2 bunch

Salad:

1 pkg linguine, cooked, and drained

1/2 head Napa cabbage, sliced (bite sized)

1/2 head purple cabbage

1 bad of baby spinach

1 red, yellow, and orange bell pepper, all thinly sliced

1 small bag bean sprouts

3 sliced green onions

3 sliced cucumbers

cilantro bunch chopped

1 can of whole cashews

Mix together salad, then top with dressing and toss---this salad is DELICIOUS!!!

*Recipe from Pioneer Woman

Pear Gruyere Pie

Look at this pie, it is heaven!

Recipe (<-- click here)

Tilapia fish tacos

This is a great recipe I made it last week & my husband has been asking for more every day since :) The orange salsa that tops it is delicious!

(click on word recipe)

*photo from CusinNie

Zucchini Bread muffins with frosting--YUM!

This recipe is from Nie....soooo good!
(click on the word recipe)

Garlic Green Beans

(photo of green beans in previous post)
1 pd of green beans
1 T of olive oil
1/2 T garlic minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 pepper

Bring a pot of water to boil, add green beans cook until color deepens (about 5 min) no longer. Drain. put back into warm pot add olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper & toss. Serve warm!

Fresh Tomato Sausage Pasta with Garlic Bread

Fresh Tomato Sausage Pasta

8 oz penne pasta, cooked


8 oz sweet Italian sausage


2 t olive oil

1/2 cup sliced yellow onion

2 t minced garlic

5 tomatoes chopped (Roma)

1/2 cup cubed mozzarella

1/4 salt

1/8 pepper

torn basil leaves about 5 large leaves (NO dry basil)

Cook pasta, heat olive oil skillet over med heat. Remove sausage from casings, add to pan. Add onion cook until sausage is browned. Add garlic, cook 2 min. Stir in tomatoes, cook 2 min, remove from heat & stir in penne pasta (drained)add cheese, salt &pepper & basil. Toss & serve!

Garlic Bread

1/2 loaf french bred, sliced

4 T of melted butter

1 T chopped garlic

Heat oven to 375* -slice bread, add garlic to melted butter and pour over bread....making sure to get in between slices. Wrap in foil and cook 15 min until bread is warm through.

Grilled Chicken Paillard

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon)

1 small shallot, chopped

1/4 Olive Oil

1/4 t ground black pepper

salt

4 chicken breasts pounded thinly

Whisk together first 4 ingredients in baking dish. Add chicken, coat & refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat grill to high. Remove chicken from marinade, add salt to both sides and grill until no longer pink in the middle.

Yum! My kids loved it & we ate every bite. I served it with a simple salad, cherries, and roasted potatoes (recipe to come)

Sausage Croissant Casserole

This is DELICIOUS! I make it early in the week and Francis takes the left overs with him to work. It re-heats really well.

*Recipe & pictures from www.kevinandamanda.com

Cheesy Corn Chowder

8 oz bacon, chopped & remove as much fat as you can

2 T olive oil

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

2 T unsalted butter

1/4 cup flour

1 T salt

1/2 t ground black pepper

6 cups of chicken broth

3 cups golden potatoes unpeeled and diced

4 cups FRESH corn kernals (about 5 ears)

1/2 c half & half

1/2 c skim milk

2 cups grated white cheddar cheese

In large pot over medium heat olive oil and add bacon, cook until crisp. Remove bacon and reserve. Add butter and onions cook until onions are translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and potatoes bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Cut corn off cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain, and add to soup. Add half & half and mil and cheddar cheese. Cook for 5 more minutes until cheese is melted and add bacon. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Serve hot!

*I made this for dinner last night & we ate almost the entire pot. The kids loved it too!

Peach Tart

This recipe is from my cousins blog : http://watsonfam2007.blogspot.com/
and it is CRAZY good!

(click on recipe card to enlarge)

Pasta Salad

My cousin's wife Rachell gave me this recipe...and she is a GREAT cook so you bet this is yummy!

Rachell's Pasta Salad
1 box of Penne Pasta (or whatever kind of pasta you like)
1 Cucumber
1 Bell Pepper
1 small box of Cherry Tomatoes
3-5 sticks of Mozzarella String Cheese (cubed)
1 can of olives
1 bag of mini pepperoni's
1 small bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
(optional) 1 small purple onion and you can sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if you like.

Just added all of your chopped veggies, olives, cubed cheese and mini pepperoni's (don't have to cut these cause they are small enough) to your cooked pasta. Then pour the dressing on top!

Banana Flax Seed French Toast

Healthy, yummy, easy to make and my kids love 'em!

Here is Kai enjoying them!
2 eggs
2 egg whites only
3 T banana puree (just put 1 banana in a food processor)
1/4 t cinnamon
1 T flax seed (I get mine at Sunflower Market)
4 slices of whole wheat bread
Non-stick cooking spray
butter or margarine

*Serve with strawberries

Mix eggs, banana, flax seeds & cinnamon....add bread and turn in mixture. Make sure bread is soaked but not soggy.

Heat skillet on med and spray with cooking spray, add bread and cook until golden brown and top with butter or margarine. Serve with sliced strawberries!

Lettuce Wraps

1-1/4 pounds extra-lean ground turkey

1 package (16 ounces) frozen stir-fry vegetable blend, thawed

1/3 cup reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

1 T reduced-fat creamy peanut butter

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 T rice vinegar

1 t sesame oil

4 green onions, chopped

10 iceburg lettuce leaves

Directions: In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and stir the turkey over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Coarsely chop the mixed vegetables; add to the pan. Stir in the teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, peanut butter, garlic, vinegar and oil. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in onions. Place a scant 1/2 cup turkey mixture on each lettuce leaf; fold lettuce over filling. Serve with additional hoisin sauce if desired. Yield: 5 servings.

YUM! YUM! YUM!! These are bomb!

Lettuce Wraps

1-1/4 pounds extra-lean ground turkey
1 package (16 ounces) frozen stir-fry vegetable blend, thawed
1/3 cup reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 T reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T rice vinegar
1 t sesame oil
4 green onions, chopped
10 iceburglettuce leaves

Directions: In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and stir the turkey over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Coarsely chop the mixed vegetables; add to the pan. Stir in the teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, peanut butter, garlic, vinegar and oil. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in onions. Place a scant 1/2 cup turkey mixture on each lettuce leaf; fold lettuce over filling. Serve with additional hoisin sauce if desired. Yield: 5 servings.

YUM! YUM! YUM!! These are bomb!

Garden compost

Our family has planted a small garden this year, it is our first real gardening effort. We are lucky enough to have lots of worms in our soil and a watering system installed. Our garden is doing great & we have enjoyed our fresh lettuce, tomatoes, snow peas, and soon our green peppers and artichokes. Our kids love to eat the peas as snacks and I know it is because they helped plant them, otherwise they would not be as interested. We plan on expanding our little garden and I just read about making your own compost so if you have a garden or would like to get your plants healthier read this article:

(okay I have to put a small disclaimer in here about my garden, it is not my first garden technically...I grew with a mom that is an amazing gardener and I learned from helping her. So this is just my first garden on my own)

All gardens benefit from compost -- and preferably you can make your own on site. Hey, it's free! Compost feeds plants, helps conserve water, cuts down on weeds, and keeps food and yard waste out of landfills (where it produces methane), instead turning garbage into "black gold." Spread compost around plants, mix with potting soil, use to bolster struggling plants…it's hard to use too much!
According to Country Living, the best compost forms from the right ratio of nitrogen- and carbon-rich organic waste, mixed with soil, water and air. It might sound like complicated chemistry, but don't worry too much if you don't have time to make perfect compost. Even a minimally tended pile will still yield decent results.
1. To get started, measure out a space at least three feet square. Your compost heap can be a simple pile or contained within a custom pen or bin (some can be rotated, to improve results).
2. Add alternating layers of carbon (or brown) material -- leaves and garden trimmings -- and nitrogen (or green) material -- such as kitchen scraps and manure, with a thin layer of soil in between.
3. Top off the pile with four to six inches of soil. Turn the pile as new layers are added and water to keep (barely) moist, in order to foster microbe action. You should get good compost in as little as two months (longer if it's cold).
4. A properly maintained compost pile shouldn't smell. But if it does add more dry carbon material (leaves, straw, or sawdust) and turn it more frequently.
5. Even if you live in a city, you can do some composting under your counter with a tidy worm kit, or partner with a community garden.

*from http://www.thedailygreen.com/

Vinegar, glorious vinegar!

* This article was taken from the www.thedailygreen.com
7 Smart Uses for Vinegar
Save money, feel better and get clean clothes and a non-toxic home. Then
By Brian Clark Howard
Now that you know ketchup can be used for shining copper and repairing hair, or that vodka can be used to repel insects and freshen laundry, you may have been wondering what tasks you can get done for cheap with other household items. Since May is National Vinegar Month (did you forget??), we thought we'd take a closer look at this inexpensive, versatile good.
According to the Vinegar Institute, the useful stuff was probably discovered by accident (most wine drinkers know what happens when you leave a bottle sitting around too long). In fact the word vinegar comes from a French translation for "sour wine." Over the centuries vinegar has been produced from many stocks, including molasses, dates, sorghum, fruits, coconut, honey, beer, maple syrup, potatoes, beets, grains and more. But the principle is the same: you get acetic acid (a.k.a. vinegar) after first fermenting natural sugars to alcohol, and then fermenting again.
As Michael de Jong, TDG's Zen Cleaner and author of the Clean series of books, points out, vinegar has been pressed into service for many uses over the centuries. It has been prized as a foodstuff, condiment, preservative and natural remedy.
What's so great about vinegar? Besides being effective, vinegar is cheap and widely available. It is non-toxic and lasts for a very long time without losing strength. It does not pollute land, air or water or combust. It's much safer to have under your sink than bleach, ammonia or other toxic cleaning products. Many folks also swear by the benefits of apple cider vinegar.
In the spirit of green cleaning, green thrift and green creativity, we put together this list of alternative uses for vinegar. Add your own in the comments!
1. Clean Windows
Instead of spending money on window cleaning chemicals -- especially ones that include toxic or potentially toxic chemicals -- make your own! Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.
Gerville Hall/Istock
2. Get Spring Fresh Laundry
Got grass stains? No problemo, says Michael de Jong. Make a mixture of one-third cup white vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply the solution to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat this process until you've removed as much green as possible, and then launder as usual.
When your big washing day comes around, toss in a capful of white vinegar. Your colors will come out bolder and your whites whiter. If you've recently had an encounter with a skunk, it will take more than a capful.
After washing, get a sharper crease in pants by dipping the cloth in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Then wring out the cloth and press the creases. Now you look like Dilbert!
3. Clean Carpets
According to this TDG community member:
"Spots in carpets often remove with a simple dilution of one part vinegar, one-sixteenth part lemon juice and eight parts distilled water."
Thanks for the tip!
4. Wash Produce
According to the green team at Ideal Bite, vinegar can help remove bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and veggies. Mix three parts water to one part white vinegar, and dispense in a spray bottle. Then rinse with water. The site claims the wash kills 98% of bacteria on produce.
Luca di Filippo/Istock
5. Break Bad Bonds
Having trouble getting that annoying sticky label residue off a product? Or accidentally glue something together? Vinegar can be used as a solvent to dissolve many common adhesives. Vinegar is also good at cutting grease.
6. Fight Hiccups and Cramps
If you often get foot or leg cramps in the middle of the night, you may want to try boosting your potassium levels. There are a number of great superfoods rich in potassium (way beyond bananas). Some folks have also suggested trying this remedy: Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey and a cup of hot water. Then drink before bed. Yummy!
Some have also said they were able to cure pesky hiccups instantly by swallowing a teaspoon of vinegar. Hey, if the Roman legions drank it, it must be good for you!
7. Deter Cats
We love cats here at TDG (even LOLcats!). But sometimes you don't want them doing their business in the kids' sandbox. Or in your flower bed. According to HomeEnvy, a simple solution is to pour vinegar around the edges of the area you want to protect every few months.

Chicken Roll Ups

These are sooo good, sooo yummy and best of all soooo EASY!
Chicken Roll-Ups

Filling:

1/4 c. butter 2 c. chopped, cooked chicken
6 oz. cream cheese 1/8 tsp. pepper

2 cans crescent rolls

Coating:

1/2 c. melted butter 1/4 - 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts
2/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs

Sauce:

1 can cream of chicken soup 1 c. sour cream


Mix ingredients for filling. Open crescent rolls and separate into squares. Press serrated seam to seal. Put 1/4 c. filling in the center of each square. Fold over sides and tuck in ends. Mix bread crumbs and nuts. Roll chicken rolls in butter and then in bread crumb mixture.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet, with folded side down. Bake for 30 minutes @ 350 degrees. Mix soup and sour cream together for sauce and cook in small pot. Add milk if sauce is too thick.

Yields: 8 servings

Fresh Broccoli-Mandarin Orange Salad

*my kids NEVER eat salad (I am sad to say) but I LOVE this salad, especially for the hot summer months! Basically any salad recipe I get from my mom is AMAZING and this is no exception!

1 egg + 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 1/2 t cornstarch
1/4 c tarragon vinegar
3 T butter
4 c fresh broccoli florets
1/2 c slivered almonds
1 can (11oz) mandarin oranges
1/2 c sugar
1 t dry mustard
1/4 c water
1/2 c mayonnaise
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
fresh spinach (one large bag)

In top of double boiler, whisk eggs, sugar, cornstarch and mustard. Combine vinegar & water, slowly add to egg mixture and whisk constantly. Place over hot water and cook, stir constantly until mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter and mayo. chill. 10-12 servings.

Avocado Corn Salsa

1 can black eyed peas (drained)
1 can of white corn
1/2 bunch cilantro
4 green onions chopped
3 avocados, chopped
4 tomatoes, chopped
1 package Good Season Italian dressing (prepared as directed on package)
1 T course salt
1/2 fresh ground pepper

Combine ingredients, serve with chips & ENJOY!

Orange Chicken

Ni-hao! Our family LOVES Chinese food, in fact my daughter will eat very few things but this girl will eat rice all day and with chopsticks! Here is a great recipe similar to PF Changs Orange Peel Chicken.

Orange Chicken

1/2 c veg. oil

4 chicken breasts cut into bit size pieces

1/2 c cornstarch

peel from 1 orange zested

Sauce

1 T veg oil

2 T minced garlic

4 green onions, sliced
1 cup tomato sauce (1 small can)

1/2 c water

1/4 c sugar

2 T chili garlic sauce (add less if you don't want it too hot)

1 T soy sauce

Prepare sauce, heat 1 T of oil in med. saucepan over Med heat, add garlic, green onions and quickly add tomato sauce & water because garlic can burn FAST. Add sugar, chili sauce and soy sauce and bring to a boil. Let simmer until sauce thickens (about 4 min)

Heat 1/2 cup oil in skillet or wok over med. heat, coat each piece of chicken with cornstarch. Add chicken to oil, cook a few minutes and then flip, when chicken is golden brown remove from pan & drain on paper towels.

Dump remaining oil from pan and place chicken back in pan and add orange peel. Heat for 20 seconds and add sauce, cook for a few minutes and stir gently.

Serve with white rice ( I use white jasmine rice--YUM)

Enjoy!

Red Lobster Cheese Garlic Biscuits

2 cups buttermilk baking mix (I use pancake mix from Costco)
2/3 c milk
1/2 shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 butter, melted
1/2 t garlic salt
1/2 t Italian seasoning

Preheat oven 450* combine baking mix, milk, cheese until soft dough forms. Beat for 30 seconds. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Combine butter, garlic salt and italian seasoning and brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm. YUM!

Rice Pilaf

1 C white rice (I use Minute Rice)
2 C chicken broth
1/2 cube of butter
1/2 diced onion
salt & pepper to taste

Brown the rice and onion in melted butter over med. heat in skillet. Add chicken broth and bring to simmer. Turn heat to low and cook approx. 20 min. or until rice is done. Season with salt and pepper.

French Fries

6 potatoes ( I like the yellow golden kind)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1T course salt
1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
3 lemons, zested
1 T freshly chopped parsley leaves
1 T garlic salt


Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Wash potatoes and cut into fries. (I leave the skin on)
Place the potatoes into a bowl with cold water; this will help keep the fries crisp and white. Just before cooking, drain water and place on paper towel, pat dry completely. Put in a bowl; add olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss well and lay out in 1 layer on nonstick baking sheets. Bake until light brown. Cook for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, turning frequently until golden brown. Less time if you made yours thin.

Remove from oven. Add lemon zest, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss well and ENJOY!

Fried Asparagus

1 c flour
3/4 c cornstarch
1 1/4 t salt
1 1/4 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
3/4 t garlic salt
1/2 t pepper
1 c beer or non-alcoholic beer
3 egg whites
2 1/2 pds fresh asparagus trimmed
Oil of frying
ranch dressing for dipping-YUM!

In bowl combine first seven ingredients. Combine beeter and egg whites. Dip asparagus into batter. In skillet heat oil...fry asparagus until each side is golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with ranch.

I make this all the time-it is such a great appetizer. I sometimes substitute the asparagus with zucchini or mushrooms and I have even used chicken, this recipe is GREAT!

Hash Brown Quiche

3 cups shredded frozen hash browns (thawed)
3 T butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
2 egg whites beaten
1 cup half & half
3/4 cup cooked bacon, cut into small bite sized pieces
1/4 cup diced green onions
1 cup marble cheddar cheese
salk & pepper

Preheat oven to 450*, press hash browns into bottom of pie plate or quiche pan. Toss hash browns with melted butter and press into bottom of pan. Back 20 minutes until golden brown.

Combine remaining ingredients. Pour egg mixture over cooked hash browns.

Lower oven to 350* and cook for 30 minutes until quiche is light golden brown.

We have this Christmas morning for breakfast & it is soooo yummy!

Chicken & Broccoli Crepes

1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
2 cups steamed broccoli
1 cup chicken broth
3 cups grated cheddar cheese

Crepes
1 1/4 cup flour
pinch of salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup milk
2 T melted butter
*let mixture stand in refrigerator for one hour

cook in hot skillet (spray pan with cooking spray and make sure crepes are very thin)

Over medium heat cook soup & broth, mix well. Stir in chicken, borccoli and 2 cups of cheese.

Spoon mixture into crepes. Fold over and spoon sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese. Enjoy!

Mongolian Beef

1 T cornstarch
3/4 chicken broth
2 T soy sauce
3 T hoisin sauce
1 t sesame oil
1 pound beef top sirloin steak cut into strips
1 T veg. oil
5 green onions cut into 1 inch pieces
white rice

Combine cornstarch & broth until smooth
stir in soy sauce, hoisin & sesame oil, set aside.

Cook white rice.

In large non stick skillet or wok stir fry beef in hot oil until no longer pink, add green onions. Stir in cornstarch mixture & bring to boil for 2 minutes or until thick. Serve immediately over white rice.

Lemon Salmon Pasta

Ingredients
1/2 pound penne pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 (4-ounce) pieces salmon
3 T cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 lemon, zested
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Directions-
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss.

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Add fish to the pan and cook at least 10 minutes until the salmon has a thin crust and it cooked thru. Remove the salmon from the pan.

Add the basil, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the pasta mixture and toss to combine. Set out 4 serving plates or shallow bowls. Place 1/2 cup spinach in each bowl. Top with 1/4 of the pasta. Top each mound of pasta with a piece of salmon. Enjoy!

Ham & Egg Croissants

1 tube of croissants

4 large scrambled eggs (I take out 1/2 of the yolk)
2 large slices of deli ham (cut into small pieces)
1/2 cup of grated cheese (I use cheddar cheese/Monterrey jack combo)


Preheat oven to 375*. Scramble eggs in pan, add deli ham and mix into eggs. Remove from heat. Open croissants and divide into four rectangle pieces, roll them out (not too thin). Divide egg mixture between the four croissants and top with cheese. Fold the the sides of the croissants up into a small square shape. Bake for 13-14 minutes & enjoy!

My kids love having this for breakfast and eat it all up. I serve with fresh fruit and juice.