Thursday, December 18, 2008

Fabulous Christmas Treats

Chocolate dipped Pretzels
Pretzel rods
caramel bits
evaporated milk
chocolate
Melt 1 pkg of caramel with 1-2 tbsp evaporated milk in the microwave on med heat, cook for 1 min then stir, repeat until smooth. Dip pretzel rods about 2/3 up and set on wax paper lined cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let cool in fridge. Melt chocolate in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Dip pretzels in chocolate, set on wax paper. Drizzle with white chocolate or sprinkles or chopped nuts of choice. Enjoy!

White Chocolate Popcorn
2-3 bags Light butter microwave popcorn **--popped
1 bag white melting chips, white chips, or almond bark
Melt chips slowly in the microwave. Pour over popped corn in a large mixing bowl. Add mix-ins -- caramel bits, peanuts, almonds, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, craisins, pistachios. Spread out in a wax-lined pan and drizzle with melted dark or milk chocolate. Let cool. Break up and package.

Best Chocolate Sauce Ever
1 C Heavy Cream

3/4 C Sugar

1 Square Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate

2-3 TBSP Butter

Dash of Salt

Put all of the ingredients into a saucepan. over med heat bring to a boil while stirring occasionally, let boil for 5 minutes while stirring. remove from heat and let cool to thicken. Serve with fruit, ice cream, as fondue.

Christmas Morning Recipe Ideas

Morning Glory Potatoes
Thanks to Carrie Godfrey for the following two recipes.

12 large potatoes (or 1- 32 oz bag frozen hash browns)
1 lb bacon or 2 cups cubed precooked ham
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 onion, chopped or green onions are good too
1 red pepper, chopped (optional)
1 TBSP dill --opt.
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided in half

Scrub potatoes. Cut into bite-sized chunks. Place in a large stockpot. Cover with water. Boil with lid on just until tender (about 20 minutes). If using frozen has browns, thaw. Place bacon in a frying pan and cook until well done, but not crisp. Drain bacon and potatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes and blend. Cut bacon into pieces. In a bowl microwave onion and red pepper in butter for about 3 minutes. Stir in sour cream, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, and bacon pieces. Stir carefully into cooked potatoes or thawed hash browns. Place in a 9X13 greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.


Creme Brulee French Toast

1/2 C butter
1 C packed brown sugar
2 TBSP corn syrup
1 loaf of texas toast
5 eggs
1 1/2 C half and half
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

In a small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup oer med heat until smooth. Pour mixture into a large, greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1) Spread to cover surface. Place 12 slices of bread in a single layer to cover pan. Mix together remaining ingredients. Spoon over each piece of bread. Cover and refrigerate over night. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. If not serving immediately turn each slice of bread over, this will prevent bread from sitcking to the bottom of the pan. Delicious served warm or cold.

Melt in your Mouth Pancakes

1 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 TBSP sugar
1 C milk
1 egg
2 TBSP oil

Sift together dry ingredients. Mix together wet ingredients, thne incorporate with the dry. Let rest for at least 10 minutes. Cook on griddle. Makes 10-12.

German Pancakes

In Blender Combine:
6 eggs
1 C milk
1 C flour
1/2 tsp salt

Melt 1/4 C butter in a 9x13 pan in a 350 degree over. Add egg mixture. Return to oven adn bake for 20 minutes, til golden on edges and puffy. Serve with fruit and whipped cream, syrup, or powdered sugar. YUM!

Homemade Granola

Combine:
6 C Old Fashioned oats
2 C almonds or cashews
1 1/2 C coconut
Combine:
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C maple sugar
1/2 C oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
Mix everything together and pour into a baking sheet. Cook for 1 hr and 15 min at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes.

Christmas Morning Breakfast

The Most Delicious Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

A BIG GIANT SHOUT OUT TO LINSEY FOR THIS RECIPE. IT IS A FMILY FAVORITE, THANKS FOR FINDING IT SIS!

12 C Texas Toast (1 loaf) -- cubed
8 eggs-- beaten
2 1/2 C milk
6 TBSP butter -- melted
1/4 C sugar
2 TBSP cinnamon

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Butter a 9x13 pan add 1/2 of bread cubes and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon and sugar mix. Repeat. Combine eggs, milk, and slightly cooled butter. Pour egg mixture over bread. Press bread until it is soaked through. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours. Bake at 325 for 35-45 minutes. Serve with buttermilk syrup and raspberry sauce drizzled over the warm french toast.

Buttermilk Syrup

1/2 C buttermilk
1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
Bring ingredients to a boil. Stirring constantly let boil for a couple of minutes. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Let sit for at least 1 hour. You can make it up ahead of time and then just barely reheat it in the microwave.

Raspberry Sauce

10 oz of frozen raspberries in syrup
1 TBSP lemon juice

Blend together, and if you want to take the time, strain through a sieve to get out the seeds. Also if you only have plain raspberries just put them in a pot with some sugar and let them cook down a little.
I like to put my syrups in those clear plastic condiment bottles then it is really easy to drizzle over your french toast! Enjoy!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

OPA!

Last night was Greek night at our dinner table. We enjoyed some leg of lamb along with a great side dish I wanted to share. I just kind of made this up and I never measure anything so just give this a go and season it to your liking. My kids loved this!! Just a side note, I bought the Israeli couscous in the bulk section of the Good Food Store in Missoula, MT...I sure miss that place!

Mediterranean Couscous

1 C Israeli Couscous
English cucumber -- small dice
grape tomatoes -- cut in half
1 can of olives -- black or kalamata
3 TBSP crumbled feta
olive oil
red wine vinegar
salt & pepper
1 small lemon --juiced
Pampered Chef Greek Seasoning mix or
fresh or dried oregano or other herbs

Bring 2 C water to a boil. Add couscous, turn down to med and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse. Let cool. Add cukes, tomatoes, and olives. Drizzle with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, a little red wine vinegar and squeeze of lemon. Add seasonings to taste. Mix and top with feta. Enjoy!

Baby Its Cold Outside

So we have gone from close to 100 degrees to 60!! Thought is would be a good day for soup! Here are couple of favorites.

Tortilla Soup

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 cans (14 oz) chicken broth
2 cans stewed tomatoes -- chopped & with liquid
1 C medium salsa
2 TBSP chopped cilantro

Cook in crockpot for 4 hours on low

Before serving shred chicken and return to soup. Garnish with corn tortillas cut into strips, cilantro, cheese, avocado, or sour cream.

Thanks to Natalie Anderson for the recipe!


Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli


Ingredients
1lb ground beef
1 small onion -- diced
1 C matchstick carrots
3 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2--14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
1--15oz can kidney beans (with liquid)
1--15 oz can great northern beans (with liquid)
1--15 oz can tomato sauce
12-24 oz V-8 juice
2 TBSP white vinegar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp oregano
1 TBSP dried basil
1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 lb ditali pasta ( I actually use about 1/2 of that, because the pasta seems to suck up all of the liquid in the soup! )

Method:
1. Brown ground beef in large saucepan over med heat. Drain off most of the fat. 2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute for 10 minutes. 3. Add remaining ingredients except for pasta, and simmer for 1 hour. 4. Cook past in boiling, salted water. Drain. 5. Add the pasta to the soup. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve. Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Watermelon & Peach Salsa


2 C diced watermelon
2 small peaches -- peeled & diced
1 Lime -- juiced
1 jalepeno -- minced
dash of salt
1 TBSP -- minced red or sweet onion (opt)

Combine ingredients. Serve with lime tortilla chips.

Lime Chips

Flour Tortillas
lime
cayenne pepper
salt
cooking spray

Spray a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut up tortillas into triangles. Brush with lime juice and sprinkle with cayenne and salt to your taste. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.

This recipe is also great with just watermelon, you could also do mango or pineapple salsa using the same basic technique.

Light Done Right





Thursday, May 1, 2008

Challenge

I am starting this program in my ward for enrichment tonight, just thought I would throw it out there for anyone who is interested.

Feeling Great in Eight

A simple plan of healthy eating and lifestyle resulting in possible weight loss and probable gain of healthy habits.

Amount of loss and gain depends on how competitive you are. This is a team effort.

Rules:

  • Program runs for eight weeks. Beginning Monday May 5th, and ending Monday June 30th.
  • Weigh in – weigh yourself at home every Monday. Honor System of course. Record this weight loss in your point tracker.
  • Track points daily on point tracking sheets. We will go from Monday to Sunday each week. Total your points and turn them into your team leader every Monday morning. (we will use email to do our reporting and pass along info. If you do not have email we will work something out.)
  • Good Food Points – See included sheet. Add one point for each good food eaten, up to 10 points a day. Hint: Tally on chart for each good food but use F and V to help track your fruits and vegetables.
  • Bad food Points – See included sheet. Subtract 2 points for every bad food eaten. NO MAX!
  • Exercise Points – 20-30 minutes = 10 points, 30-45 minutes = 15 points, 46-60min = 20 points, 20 points MAX per day.
  • Daily Calendar – Earn 5 points/ day by following the daily calendar. This will be emailed to you each Sunday for the upcoming week. It will also be available in Relief Society on Sundays.
  • After 8 p.m. points – Earn 5 points/day if you eat NOTHING after 8 pm.

    Eat after 8…put on weight.

  • Water Points – Earn 5 points for drinking water everyday, 32oz/day for week one, 40 oz week 2, 48 oz for weeks 3-8.
  • 5+ Fruits and Veggies – Earn 10 points if you eat a combined total of 5 fruits and veggies daily.
  • Lost Pound Points – Weeks 2-8 weigh in every Monday a.m. and give yourself 10 points for every pound lost. Give 5 points for ½ pound.
  • Personal Prayer Points – There is a special relationship between your body and your spirit. Strengthen your spirit as you strengthen you body. 5 points max for daily personal prayer (family, dinner, or sacrament prayers are not included…it has to be personal!)
  • Total your points – Inform your team captain of your score. Team captains will turn in their combined team score to Summer on Mondays. Weekly winning team will be announced by email and at church the following Sunday on a poster in the R.S. room. Hand in your tracking sheets on Sundays to Summer to help determine our Grand Prize winners.

    GOOD LUCK!


     

    Bad Food List


     

    Subtract 2 Points for EACH food you eat a day on this list.


     

    Sugar cereal or low fiber cereal

    White bread

    White pasta

    White rice

    Fried food

    Bakery items, muffins, cake, pie, doughnuts

    Soda or other drinks with sugar

    Regular mayo or sour cream

    Ice cream or yogurt with more than 19 grams of carbs/serving

    Potato chips, cheetos, fritos, crackers, etc

    Any cookie with sugar

    Chocolate

    candy

    High sugar or high carb bars such as granola bars, cliff bars, pop tarts

    Hot dogs


     

    You know your body…put anything on this list that you think isn't good for you.


Good Food List

Try to choose the majority of your foods from this list. You get one point for every good food choice you eat each day –

up to 10 points/day


 

Oatmeal, without a lot of added sugar

Eggs, egg whites, or egg beaters

100% Whole wheat bread

Whole grain foods

Low sugar, high fiber cereal

Skim or 1% milk

All fruit

All veggies, except corn and peas

Baked Potato or Sweet potato

Tuna (packed in water)

Chicken

Fish

Pork

Lean Beef

Lean Ham

Non fat or 1% cottage cheese

String Cheese

Yogurt with less than 20 grams of carbs

Olive oil

Air popped popcorn or low fat microwave popcorn

Protein bar with less than 15 grams of carbs

Go Lean Kashi

Low sodium soups

Daily Vitamin

RDA Calcium

Remember to read the labels on your food, you might find some of them surprising. Really pay attention to the sugar, sodium, and fat content. Don't go overboard on the artificial sweeteners. Try to eliminate some of the processed foods in you diet. We will send out some good eating tips in the upcoming weeks.


 


 

Daily Calendar

Week 1

May 5-11


 

Monday – Meet with your team and come up with a team name, elect your team leader. You may also want to discuss any strategies.


 

Tuesday – Call, email, or send a note to a friend you haven't been in contact with for a while.


 

Wednesday – Read a newspaper/book/ or magazine for at least 20 minutes


 

Thursday – Get 8 hours of sleep tonight.


 

Friday – Write in your journal


 

Saturday – Go for a walk and enjoy the great outdoors


 

Sunday – Plan your menu for the week ahead


 

If you need to switch days for these activities that would be just fine!


 

"Obviously there is a great difference between feeling

happy for at a given moment and

being happy for a lifetime,

between having a good time and leading a good life."

Pres. James E. Faust

Friday, April 25, 2008

California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Crunch Salad

For lime-cilantro dressing :
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup rice vinegar
½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
¼ cup minced red bell pepper
¼ cup honey
4 tsp dijon mustard
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp lime juice
2 cloves garlic
dash salt
dash ground black pepper

For spicy peanut sauce :
½ cup crunchy peanut butter
6 Tbs hoisin sauce
2 Tbs soy sauce
2 Tbs rice vinegar
2 Tbs light brown sugar
1 Tbs chili sauce (or garlic-chili sauce)
1 tsp sesame oil
½ tsp minced ginger
½ cup water

vegetable oil for frying wontons and threads
8 wonton wrappers
handful bean threads
4 small skinless chicken breast fillets
1 cup cooked edamame
1 cup unsalted peanuts
12 cups chopped napa cabbage
2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
2 cups shredded or julienned carrot
1 cup julienned cucumber
4 green onions, green part only, chopped

For lime-cilantro dressing :
1 Combine all ingredients in a blender on high speed for 20 seconds, or until cilantro is chopped finely, but not entirely pureed. Cover and chill
For spicy peanut sauce : 1 Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium/low heat. Heat until sauce is hot, but not boiling, and sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture into a blender and blend for about 20 seconds. Cover and chill.
2 Flatten chicken breasts by covering them with plastic wrap and pounding them with a kitchen mallet. Rub oil on each breast, sprinkle each with a little salt and pepper, and grill for 3 - 4 minutes per side or until done. Wrap and chill the cooked chicken.
3 Make the crispy wontons by heating 2 cups of vegetable shortening or oil in a medium sized saucepan to 375°F. Slice a stack of 8 wonton wrappers into 1/4" wide strips. Slice those strips in half. Fry them in hot oil for about 30 seconds or until light brown. Drain on paper towels.
4 Fry a big handful of bean threads in hot oil for about 10 seconds or until they float to the top of the oil. Drain on paper towels.
5 Cook edamame following the directions on the package. If the soyabeans are in the pods, remove them and chill the beans after they have cooked.
6 Toast the peanuts by heating them up in a skillet over medium/low heat for 3 - 4 minutes or just until starting to brown. Immediately remove them from the heat so they don't burn.

For the salads : 1 For each serving, combine 3 cups napa cabbage, ½ cup red cabbage, ½ cup carrot, ¼ cup cucumber, ¼ cup edamame, ¼ cup toasted peanuts, ¼ cup crispy wontons, and a couple Tbs of chopped green onion in a large bowl. Thinly slice a cold chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and add it to the salad. Pour 4 - 5 tablespoons of cilantro-lime dressing over the salad and toss well. 2 Carefully pour tossed salad onto a serving plate. Sprinkle about ½ cup crispy bean threads on top of the salad. 3 Spoon spicy peanut sauce into a squirt bottle and squirt the sauce in a sweeping motion over the salad. Repeat for remaining salad servings. Yield: 4 large salad servings

Recipe Book

Watch for my upcoming favorite recipes. I have always wanted all my favorites in one place. So here goes. Hope you enjoy.