To Die For Peanut Butter Bars!!!

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Copycat)

OLIVE GARDEN CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP (COPYCAT)

 Prep Time15 minutes

 Cook Time35 minutes

 Total Time50 minutes

 Servings 16 cups

 Calories 194kcal

 Author : Carrie's Experimental Kitchen

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp. Butter
1/2 c. Celery, washed and thinly sliced
1/4 c. Grated Onion
1/3 c. Grated Carrots
1 tbsp. Garlic, minced
2 tbsp. All Purpose Flour
8 c. Chicken Broth
1/8 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Ground Thyme
4 c. Fresh Baby Spinach, rinsed
2 c. Cooked Chicken, small dice, roasted or grilled
2 c. Heavy Cream
16 oz. Gnocchi, frozen or fresh
Cornstarch, if needed to thicken
Cold Water, if needed to thicken

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat; then add the celery, onions, carrots and garlic. Stir for 1-2 minutes until the celery starts to soften.
  
• Whisk in the flour; then add the chicken broth.
  
  
• Next, add the chicken, nutmeg and thyme; stir well. Increase heat and bring to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  
• Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan; then add it to the soup along with the spinach and gnocchi.
  
• Simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes or until gnocchi is cooked. If needed combine equal parts of cornstarch and cold water to thicken your soup as desired.
  

NOTES

*You can also use 8 chicken bouillon cubes + 8 cups of water in place of the chicken stock. 

NUTRITION

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.1g | Protein: 8.4g | Fat: 11.8g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 455mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2.6g

Dill {Veggie} Dip

1/2 Cup Mayo
1 Cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
1 Tablespoon Dried Dill
1 Tablespoon Dried Minced onion
2 teaspoons Parsley Flakes
1/8 teaspoon Seasoned Salt

Combine all and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

I recommended this dip in a discussion we had about eating more veggies. I also recommended this one, which Jana posted once upon a time.
http://bunchofcooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/spinach-dip.html

Baked Oatmeal

This is from Nichole but she can't remember her login.

Baked oatmeal

INGREDIENTS

• 3 c old fashioned oats 
• ¾ c coconut sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¾ c dried fruit - craisins, raisins, cherries, coconut flakes
• 1 c milk
• ½ c butter, melted OR 1/2 apple sauce 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract OR coconut extract OR almond extract 
• 2 eggs

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.
3. Melt butter.
4. Add butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla to dry ingredients and stir thoroughly.
5. Pour mixture into a deep 9" pie plate or 8"x8" baking dish.
6. Bake for 35 minutes or until browned on top.
7. Serve hot with milk, if desired.

Energy Bites/ Power Ball

2 Cups Oats
1 Cup Ground Flax Seeds
1 Cup Peanut Butter- I use the fresh ground stuff. I am not sure if you would decrease the honey amount if you used a sweetened PB??
2/3 Cup Honey
2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

I know we said no need for pictures. Sorry, old habits die hard. 

Roll into balls a little smaller that a ping pong ball. I line a cookie sheet with parchment and refrigerate them before putting them in a quart size bag. Store in the fridge (or freezer if you want them to not disappear fast)

Bran Muffins

Here is the muffin recipe I promised. This makes a ton. I wish I had counted, but I would guess about 5 dozen. So it might be a good idea to half the batch first before you fully commit. But once you have them, they are handy to make a batch every week or so.

2 Cups Boiling Water
2 Cups 100% All Bran
1 Cup Butter
1 &1/2 Cup Sugar or Honey
4 Eggs
1 Quart Buttermilk
5 Cups of Flour
5 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
4 Cups Raisin Bran

In a sauce pan, boil 2 cups of water. Add the All Bran, turn of the heat and cover.

In another bowl, mix flour, soda, salt and raisin bran. Set aside.

In a huge mixing bowl, mix butter and sugar or honey. I think my kitchen aid mixer is a 5qt or 6qt. It fits in there but looks a little sketchy near the end. Once mixed add eggs. Once mixed add buttermilk. Then mix in the dry ingredients 2 cups at a time. Lastly, add the All Bran/water sludge.

At this point I bake a dozen and put the rest in the fridge. 350 for 19 minutes was perfect for me.

*My Mom says to put them in quart jars. I don't know if there is magic in the glass jars, I use tupperware. She also says it stores for 10 weeks, I would not chance it that long. Maybe 6.

*When I am making the last batch I like to add a banana to switch it up cuz I'm a rebel like that. I don't add it before then because I fear what that banana will do in the fridge over time.

Pretty Penne Ham Skillet

This recipe comes from Taste of Home. I found it just after Easter when we were looking for ways to use up leftover ham. My kids have devoured it. I mean, really devoured it. I had to make it a second time to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and once again we cleaned up the pan. Winner!

Ingredients:
1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 large sweet red pepper, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add ham, red pepper and onion; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until ham is browned and vegetables are tender. Add garlic and herbs; cook 1-2 minutes longer.

Stir in broth and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add pasta and cream; toss to combine. Sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

Black and White Honey Wheat Swirl Bread

Notes: This recipe is from my bread mentor and dear friend, Meg. Not only does this bread look incredible, it's amazingly soft and delicious. My kids can't get enough of it and neither can I! The only thing I do a little differently is I don't use the caramel color (cuz it's hard to find) so instead I use dark cocoa powder to make it extra dark. But neither changes the flavor, just the color, so just use what you have.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. room temperature water* (100°-110°F)
4 TBS vegetable oil
2 TBS caramel color (or water if you don't have caramel color)
1/2 c honey
3 1/2 c wheat flour (100% winter white wheat)
3 1/2-4 c all purpose flour or bread flour
2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
2 TBS active dry yeast (I use SAF yeast---it's the best!)
2 TBS vital wheat gluten
2 tsp table salt
cornmeal for dusting bottom
oatmeal to decorate top

Instructions:
1) Combine water, oil, caramel color, and honey in KitchenAid until well mixed. 

2) Add yeast, whole wheat flour, cocoa, gluten and salt, making sure not to dump the salt directly on top of the yeast (salt kills yeast).   Mix until well blended. Use a rubber scraper to make sure the entire contents of the mixer bowl are well mixed. Sometimes ingredients like to hide in the bottom of the bowl and the color doesn't mix in evenly. Give everything one good scrape by hand. 

3) Let mixture rest 10-12 minutes.  

4) Add all purpose/bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Dough will start to climb the mixer.  Stop adding flour when the dough clings to hook and almost cleans the sides of mixer.  

5) Let dough rise until doubled in mixer bowl bowl, covered with a towel. About 30 minutes.

6) (if making swirl bread, Skip step 6 here and use directions below for step 6, returning back to this recipe for step 7. )  Divide in half. Shape into loaves by rolling dough flat on an oiled surface, into an oval/rectangle about 12 inches long x 8 inches wide.  Then roll up sideways into a 12 inch "log", pinching seam and ends together.  

7) Roll bottom side (seam side down, obviously) of loaf log in cornmeal and top side in oatmeal, then sprinkle top with sea salt or a little coarse pretzel salt.  

8) Place loaves into two 3 1/2 x 12 inch metal loaf pans. Cover with dishtowel and allow to rise until big and loafey (yes, loafey), doubled and delicious.  Be patient, it may take about 40 minutes to an hour. (note: less time if it is a very warm/humid day…maybe 25 minutes.)

9) Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. The bread top will suddenly turn a little white/dry on top when it's done and the smell, OH THE SMELL, will tell you for sure that it is done. 

10) Cool on wire racks and enjoy with honey butter (see below for recipe). 

Note: instead of  making two 3 1/2 x 12 inch loaves, you can make three 3 1/2 x 8 inch loaves (med standard size) or  a bunch of mini loaves (adjust bake time a little shorter) or  even just throw a lump on a pizza stone and make it like an old fashioned artisan loaf. This recipe is SO user friendly. Get on it and make something amazing!  

Speaking of amazing, see below for swirl recipe:


For swirl bread or marble rye: Yield 4 loaves
Use recipe and directions above except make two batches of the bread recipe. Omit the cocoa powder and caramel color in one batch.  In that same batch, add 2 TBS of wheat flour and (optional) replace up to 1c of the whole wheat flour with rye flour. 

1) Divide each recipe into 4 equal sized dough balls, so you have 4 dark and 4 light colored balls. 

2) Roll loaves out very thin so they are in a 12 inch long x 8 ish inch oval/rectangle on a greased surface.  

Layer rolled dough into a "dough sandwich" as follows: 
Loaf 1: dark, light
Loaf 2: dark, light
Loaf 3: light, dark
Loaf 4: light, dark

3) Press the layers down tightly together with a rolling pin so there are no air bubbles between them.  

4) Roll the entire "sandwich" up into a log and be sure to pinch the seams tightly so that no contrasting dough color is peeking out.  You will have two "wheat bread colored" loves and two "black bread colored" loaves. Follow directions as seen above in step 7. Rise, Bake, etc. 

Honey Butter
Who knew how easy it is to "whip up" some honey butter?  This recipe comes from my friend, Angie, who introduced me to the goodness of honey butter. 

Use equal parts butter and honey (1 lb salted butter to 2c honey). 

Soften butter on countertop for an hour, then whip in kitchen aid until fully blended and nice and fluffy. Store in fridge. Youcan halve or quarter the recipe, but don't. You'll want butter to share when you share all that bread! 

Harvest Lasagna Soup

I have a thing for soups with cream in them. This one is a tomato cream base with hearty root vegetables. As with the butternut squash soup, I prefer Jimmy Dean's maple sausage in this. It is so delicious. There are no measurements on this-- just throw in whatever you have until it looks right.

Campanelle noodles 

Chicken broth 

Tomato sauce 

Ground beef/ground sausage (Sautéed with diced onions) 

Sliced carrots 

1 can of tomatoes with the juice. 

Peeled, sliced and diced sweet potato

Fresh thyme, oregano, and rosemary, and dry Italian seasonings. 

Put everything in a big pot (noodles just the last 15 min) and simmer to soft veggie perfection. Add a splash of heavy cream. Yum. 

Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Soup

This soup is fall at it's finest. It is amazing and you won't believe me until you try it. I highly recommend using Jimmy Dean's maple sausage. It takes this thing to a new level.

Ingredients:
32 oz butternut squash soup (you can make your own or buy it in the box)
2 lb pork sausage
2 c chopped onions (I usually skip this and throw in some onion powder instead)
salt and pepper
7 c chicken stock (or 7 cups water and 7 tsp chicken bouillon powder)
2 c wild rice
2 c frozen corn
2 c cream

Directions:

1. In a BIG soup pot, over medium heat, brown onion and sausage. Set cooked meat aside.

2. Add chicken stock to rice and boil for 1 hours. Add squash soup, sausage and corn. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 20 min.

3. Remove from heat and stir in cream and season with salt and pepper.

Thanksgiving {Stuffing Balls}

4-6 Tablespoons Butter
2 Celery Stalks-diced
2 Onions-diced
1/2 Cup dried Craisons (the original recipe called more mushrooms but I don't like shrooms but think craisons are a better fit)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 Can Creamed Corn
1 Can Corn Niblets
1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
2-4 teaspoons Poultry Seasoning
1/2-1 teaspoon Seasoning Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
2-4 teaspoon Parsley
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
3 Lg. Eggs, slightly beaten
8 Cups of dried bread Cubes
1/3 Cup Melted Butter

Saute Onions and celery in butter until they are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and craisons and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add corns, broth, poultry seasonings, parsley, cheese, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, simmer for 10-15 minutes over low heat. Remove mixture and let cool for 30 minutes.
Add in eggs and mix well. Add bread cubes and mix well. Get in there with your hands, don't be scared.
At this point you can taste it and adjust your salts and poultry seasonings.
At this point you can refrigerate the mixture until cooking day and time.
With
your hands or an ice cream scoop, shape into golf ball sized balls. If they are not feeping shape after a few balls, add more bread crumbs. Place the balls in a buttered baking dish. drizzle with melted butter and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Thanksgiving {Creamed Corn}

2 Bags of frozen corn, approx. 16 oz. each
8 oz. Cream Cheese
1/4 Cup Butter
2 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Tablespoon Water

Place it all in crock pot on low for 4 hours, stirring every hour.

Thai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles (and others)

Does anybody still look at this? I reference it all the time, but haven't added anything in awhile, so I thought I'd share some new favorites I've found. My friend, Chelsea, started a food blog as a place to store and organize all her recipes. She is trying new stuff all the time and if it makes it to her blog, you know it's good. Here are some of my favorites that I've tried. I've been trying to make more ethnic food lately to change things up so that's why they are all Eastern dishes.

Chicken Tikka Masala - If you like Indian food, this is a must. I left out the jalepeno and cayenne pepper so my kids would eat it. I made naan using this recipe to go with it. Super easy and so delicious.

Asian Chicken Strips - Quick, easy, crowd pleaser.  Made this last night and my kids loved it. This is a simple meal that can be dressed up with vegetables and/or a salad.

This one isn't on her blog, but was given to me by the same friend. I was complaining about having bought fish oil for a new recipe (that was not a winner) and not knowing what else to do with it, so she gave me this recipe. It uses a few strange ingredients (fish oil, oyster sauce, rice noodles), but you can find them all in the asian section and they aren't terribly expensive. I actually didn't bother with the chili vinegar and it was still amazing.


Thai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles

Chili Vinegar

• 1/3 C white vinegar
• 1 serrano chile, stemmed and sliced into thin rings

Stir Fry

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut against the grain into 1/4 in thick slices
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 8 oz 1/4 in wide rice noodles
• 1/4 C veggie oil
• 1/4 C oyster sauce
• 1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp packed dark brown sugar (or just regular brown sugar works fine too)
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp molasses
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
• 3 large eggs
• 10 oz broccolini, florets cut into one inch pieces stalks in 1/2 in pieces (or way more and different variety of veggies - I used carrots, bean sprouts, red peppers, regular broccoli)

1. For chili vinegar: Combine vinegar and serrano in bowl. Let stand at room temp for at least 15 minutes.
2. Combine chicken with 2 Tbsp water and baking soda in bowl. Let sit at room temp for 15 mins. Rinse chicken in cold water and drain well.
3. Bring 6 C water to boil. Place noodles in large bowl. Pour boiling water over noodles, Stir, then soak until noodles are almost tender, about 8 mins, stirring once halfway through soak. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well and toss with 2 tsp oil.
4. Whisk oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, molasses, and fish sauce together in bowl.
5. Heat 2 tsp oil and garlic in 12-in nonstick skillet over hight heat, stirring occasionally until, until garlic is deep golden brown 1-2 mins. Add chicken and 2 tbsp sauce mixture, toss to coat, and spread chicken into even layer. Cook, without stirring, until chicken begins to brown, 1 to 1 1/2 mins. Push chicken to 1 side of skillet. Add 2 tsp oil to cleared side of skillet. Add eggs to clearing. Using rubber spatula, stir eggs gently and cook until set but still wet. Stir eggs into chicken and continue to cook, breaking up large pieces of egg, until eggs are fully cooked, 30-60 seconds. Transfer chicken mixture to bowl.
6. Heat 2 tsp oil in a now-empty skillet until smoking. Add broccolini and 2 Tbsp sauce and toss to coat. (Here is where you can throw in other veggies either veggies that take the same amount of time to cook or you may want to start with veggies that take longest and add in other in order of what takes longest to shortest time to soften) Cover skillet and cook for 2 mins, stirring once halfway through cooking. Remove lid and continue to cook until broccolini is crisp and very brown in spots, 2-3 mins, stirring once halfway through cooking. Transfer broccolini to bowl with chicken mixture.
7. Heat 2 tsp oil in now-empty skillet until smoking. Add half noodles and 2 Tbsp sauce and toss to coat. Cook until noodles are starting to brown in spots, about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking. Transfer noodles to bowl with chicken mixture. Repeat with remaining 2 tsp oil, noodles and sauce. When second batch of noodles is cooked, add contents of bowl back to skillet and toss to combine. cook, without stirring until everything is warmed through, 1-1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to platter and serve, passing chile vinegar separately.

Banana Bread

This was a great version of banana bread that I don't want to forget.

• ¹⁄₂ cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ¹⁄₂ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed banana
• ¹⁄₂ cup chopped nuts (omit if you don't like nuts)
• ¹⁄₂ cup sour cream

Directions

1. Grease 1 large loaf pan.
2. Cream margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients, then bananas, nuts and sour cream.
4. Mix well.
5. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour.

Jamba Juice Mango-A-Go-Go Copycat Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 cups natural orange juice (or you can do 2 cups water and 1 orange peeled)
• 1 cup fresh pineapple
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cups organic frozen mango chunks

Instructions

In a Vitamix blender, add ingredients in order listed. Blend on high until smooth and slushy.

Caribbean Passion Smoothie

HEALTHIER CARIBBEAN PASSION SMOOTHIE (JAMBA JUICE COPYCAT)

 

PRINT

Author: Recipe from No Diets Allowed

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups Orange Juice
• 2 cups frozen peaches
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 frozen banana

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

NOTES

If you use fresh strawberries or peaches instead of frozen add ice. But be sure to use a frozen banana!

My favorite green smoothie!

This is a good one. My kids even love it.

I use the Wide jar with my Blendtec for the recipe and it makes 2 XL glasses and 3 mini ones for the kids. Feeds the whole fam! :)

Stuff blender with LOTS and LOTS of greens. All the way full! I buy bags at Costco and put them in the freezer so they don't go bad.

This part is key...it hides the taste of the greens and there is awesome health benefits to eating ginger and lemon.
Add a few cups of water
Juice of 1 lemon
1-2 T. fresh ginger
1 dropper of stevia

BLEND very well!

Add:

Frozen Banana
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Pineapple

Vu-alla!

Variations:

Substitute banana with half a can of coconut milk

or
Substitute pineapple with an orange

Robyn's Hot Pink Breakfast Smoothie

1 1/2 cups coconut water (fresh or canned/boxed)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 large carrot, halved

1/2 medium raw beet, peeled

1/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup chopped dates (or 4 – 5 large, pitted dates)

1 tbsp. protein powder (optional)

12 frozen strawberries

Place all ingredients in blender and run on High speed for 50 seconds (“Whole Juice” cycle with a Blendtec).  Additional blending time is fine if strawberries aren’t completely incorporated into the smoothie.

Blueberry-Orange Smoothie

This is a great smoothie for people starting out with greens in their smoothies. Even though I'm not starting out, I have it all the time because it's my personal favorite!

- big handful of spinach

-2-3 peeled oranges

-1 peeled banana

-approx a cup of frozen blueberries

-1 small container of blueberry (or plain) greek yogurt

-water/ice to get the consistency you would like

*BLEND & ENJOY.

Penne Pasta Bake

This dish is crazy easy and devoured by all.

1 box of penne
1 jar of marinara sauce
1 jar of a quality Alfredo  sauce - I have found that all Alfredo sauce is not created equal. Skip the value brands and go for a good quality sauce. I like new the Newmans brand.
2 cups of mozzarella cheese-divided
Parmesan to top

Cook the pasta as directed on the box. In a large bowl mix marinara and alfredo, add the hot pasta and combine. Add 1.5 cups of cheese and stir it until the cheese is evenly distributed. Pour into a 9X13 baking dish and top with the remaining cheese and grated Parmesan. Bake at 350 until the cheese is melted and bubbly, maybe 20-30 minutes but I really don't know the exact. I just watch it.

Creamy Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
2 quarts of canned tomatoes (diced or whole)
1 garlic clove
1/4 onion
2 1/2 t. Knorr Caldo con sabor de Pollo (Chicken Flavor Bouillon) (this can be found in the mexican section of most grocery stores, Walmart and Costco) I am sure you can use chicken bouillon cubes as well.
1-2 quarts of milk
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
basil, oregano, pepper to taste

Instructions: 

There is no exactness to this - you have to do it to taste, desired thickness, and desired amount - it can be easily halved. This amount easily serves 10 people.

Place tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, and chicken bouillon in blender on high. Allow to run for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy bottomed pan on med-high. Add flour and mix, making a nice roux. This may need more or less flour. You want a thick paste (almost too thick) consistency. While stirring, allow to cook for a few minutes, taking care not to burn. Place sieve over pan, and pour tomato mixture into roux, straining out all seeds. Quickly stir into roux, making sure to

eliminate any lumps. Continue stirring until entire mixture is smooth, heated, and on the brink of 

boiling. Add milk (once again - to taste and desired thickness), stirring constantly. Heat stirring constantly, but do not bring to a boil (this will curdle the milk) and serve. Season with pepper and fresh basil to taste. 

You can garnish with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese or I like to serve this with mozzarella grilled cheese sandwiches. 

A few of my favorite "challenge" recipes

Here are the recipes I told those doing the "challenge" that I would post for you... some of my favorites!

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS:
1 cup peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or your favorite nut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup flaxseed (you can omit this and do 1 cup of coconut instead of 1/2)
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, optional (if you're doing the challenge make sure you use a "challenge worthy" chocolate chip)

In a medium pot set over medium-low heat, melt together nut butter, honey, and coconut oil, stirring until smooth. Remove from stove and stir in oats, coconut and flaxseed. Pour mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Spread into an even layer, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, and firmly press down with the back of a spatula or clean hands. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Slice into squares or bars (I like to cut 3 rows of 6 bars each) and remove from pan. Store in refrigerator.

HONEY "CARAMEL" POPCORN
6 cups natural popcorn, popped
1/8 c coconut oil
1/8 c honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Pop popcorn.  Melt oil and honey together, then add vanilla and salt.  Coat popcorn with mixture.

PEANUT SAUCE STIR FRY

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup milk
2 tsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 box wheat linguini
16 oz bag stir fry vegetables
1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth
Cooked cubed chicken (if desired)

Melt together peanut butter, milk, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, and garlic.  Spray large pan and dump veggies in.  Cover and cook on med-hi for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Meanwhile, cook linguini.  Once veggies are tender, add prepared peanut sauce and then broth slowly (stop when you reach desired consistency of sauce).  Add chicken, if desired.  Turn heat to low and cook until warms through.  Toss in linguini.

BLACK BEAN SALAD
2 tomatoes, diced
2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
2 chopped avocados
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Toss all together in a bowl and enjoy!

Southwest Rice and Bean Salad

 Let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING! My sister in law made it for me when I had Jonah. I was eating it and thought I must have had five days of hospital food because this stuff is unreal. But I have made it again and again and it just really is that good. Anyone I make it for raves and chows it down. As one of the missionaries said the other day, "I thought I thought I was going to  hate that but it was like the best thing I've ever had". Have I convinced you yet, let me finish by saying it comes together really fast and easy, make great for left over and did I mention it is delish! 

:side note, it is called salad, yet its a warm dish, you figure that one out:

Ingredients

Salad:
• 5 cups cooked rice, warm or at room temperature (white, brown, wild rice or a combination!)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
• 1 (12-oz.) can corn, drained
• 4 green onions, chopped
Dressing:
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 4 pickled jalepeno pepper rounds (found in the glass jars next to the olives, usually)
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin

Directions

1. Combine all of the salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Combine dressing ingredients in blender until peppers are finely minced. Toss with salad. Serve warm or at room temperature.

   

   Now this is the strange ingredient of the batch. But don't be afraid and skip it. They are not hot and adds a great flavor. And trust me, once you make this, you will have not problem using up the whole jar. Fun fact: this company is a client of Jons-true story.

   
   

   

   I think all my current favorite recipes include this beauty.

   
   

Pasta Al Forno

As mentioned this is a great go-to dish when making meals for someone. I often double it, or just freeze half so I have a meal for another day...Marianne made this for me after I had Raleigh, she was given the recipe by Natalie Paul. This is my version, I believe Natalie makes her own marinara so the original is a bit different.

PASTA AL FORNO

1 jar of your fav. marinara (I use Newman's Own Marinara)

1 box penne pasta

1/2 lb ground beef

fresh mozzarella

White sauce:

1/4 c butter

1/4 c flour

2 1/4 c milk

pinch nutmeg

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

Start water boiling for penne, then make white sauce in separate pan: Melt butter. Then add milk, and flour. Whisk constantly until boiling. Once boiling turn temp. down to simmer for 20 min, stirring occasionally. Let cool 10 min.

Cook penne and drain. Brown meat and drain, then mix in marinara sauce w/ meat.

In a 9X13 casserole dish layer penne, white sauce, a couple handfuls mozzarella, then marinara/meat and mix all together. Top with mozzarella (I always put a little shredded parmesan on top too!) and cook uncovered 25 min @ 350 or until a bit crispy on top and heated all the way through.

Milk conversion chart

I found this on line when I needed whole milk and only had skim and half and half. Ridiculously handy, I would say!!! 

Add the following to 1 cup of skim milk to approximate 1 cup of

1.5t heavy cream= 1% milk

1T heavy cream= 2% milk

2T heavy cream= whole milk

5T 1t heavy cream= half-&-half

9T heavy cream= light cream

1T light cream= 1% milk

1T 2t light cream= 2% milk

3T light cream= whole milk

5 oz light cream= half-&-half

2T half & half= 1% milk

3T half & half= 2% milk

4T half & half= whole milk

Death by Chocolate Cheesecake

My sister-in-law introduced me to this cheesecake. It is super, super rich so make at your own risk! I used dark chocolate cocoa powder, but I don't know that it would change the flavor that much.

 

 

Decadent Chocolate Cheesecake

Yield: Serves 8-10

Note: This cheesecake needs to be chilled overnight so plan ahead! The good news is this cheesecake can be made all the way through the topping, covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days before serving. It is preferable to let the cheesecake stand at room temperature 1-2 hours before serving.

Ingredients

Crust:
• 9-ounce package of chocolate cookies (such as chocolate wafers, graham crackers or teddy grahams)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
 
Filling:
• 10 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (use the best quality you can afford – I love the Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chips and I’m not ashamed to admit I buy them in bulk, often, at Sam’s Club)
• 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs
 
Topping:
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Chocolate curls for garnish (I use this method)

Directions

1. For crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch-high sides (or use a 10-inch springform pan with 2-inch sides). Process the chocolate cookies in a food processor (or the old-fashioned way with a bag and a rolling pin) until they are finely ground. Transfer them to a small bowl and mix in the sugar. Add the melted butter and mix until well combined. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom only of the prepared pan. Bake just until set, about 5 minutes. Cool while preparing filling. Keep the oven heated at 350 degrees.
2. For filling: Melt the 10 ounces of chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler until melted and smooth. Cool the chocolate until lukewarm but ensure that it is still warm enough to be pourable. In a large bowl (or with a stand mixer), blend cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Mix in lukewarm chocolate. Pour the cheesecake filling over the crust; smooth the top. Bake until the center is just set and just appears dry, about 1 hour. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of cake to loosen. Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
3. For topping: One hour before serving (or up to 3 days ahead of time), stir cream, 6 ounces chocolate, and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over the center of the cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge and filling any cracks. Chill until the topping is set, about 1 hour.
4. When ready to serve, release the springform pan sides. Transfer the cheesecake to a platter. Top with chocolate curls. It is preferable to let the cheesecake stand at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving.

Original source: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/10/decadent-chocolate-cheesecake.html

Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa

I found this on Pinterest and made it for the first time a few weeks ago. It was so good I've already made it again! It's got all the elements for comfort food, but is low in calories so you don't have to feel guilty eating it. I am not an olive fan, so I left those out, but here is the original recipe.

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
• 2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
• 3/4 cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

1. Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside.
2. Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Mash this squash with the back of a fork. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
4. Add chicken thighs, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
5. Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and allow to cool. Pour broth into a medium-sized bowl.
6. Return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium. Add olive oil.
7. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Add the salt, minced garlic and oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute.
9. To the saucepan, add tomatoes, butternut squash pieces, mashed butternut squash. Stir to combine.
10. Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.
11. Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork.
12. Stir the chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.
13. Stir in parsley and serve.

Original source: http://www.cookincanuck.com/2011/11/hearty-chicken-stew-with-butternut-squash-quinoa-recipe/

Notes

Calories 329 / Total Fat 14.1g / Saturated Fat 1.0 / Cholesterol 15.2mg / Sodium 1209mg / Total Carbohydrates 32.8g / Fiber 5.4g / Sugars 3.0g / Protein 19.4g / WW (Old Points) 7 / WW (Points+) 9

Broccoli Bites w/ dipping sauce

This is a new way to eat broccoli and I love it. Don't skip the sauce...it's the best part! 
*From the Unconventional Kitchen. 

Ingredients:

1 lb broccoli, chopped in small bit- sized pieces

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded (I used mozzarella)

1/2 c. parmesan cheese, shredded 

3 eggs

1 c. almond flour

1 t. oregano

salt & pepper to taste   

Method:

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix all ingredients except for the broccoli in a medium sized bowl.

Next toss in the broccoli. It helps to use your hands to roll the pieces of broccoli in the mixture into little bite sized balls. Place balls on lightly greased parchment paper.

Put them in the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes, or until brown. Serve with the tasty Maple-Dijon Dipping Sauce.

Sauce:

6 T sour cream

2 T pure maple syrup

1 T Dijon mustard

1 T fresh lemon juice

salt to taste

 

Method:

Simply whisk all the ingredients together and you have yourself an awesome sauce. Kids love dipping so that is what makes this sauce extra fun.