BBQ Style Chicken

I found this recipe at Weight Watchers and it's sooooo easy and really good!

Serves 4
WW Points: 6 pts. per serving

BBQ Style Chicken

Ingredients:

16 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( I used chicken tenderloin)
1 cup Ketchup
12 ounces diet cola
4 high fiber hamburger rolls

Instructions:

Combine the ketchup and diet cola in the skillet. Stir well. Add the chicken breasts. Bring
to a boil; reduce heart and simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn chicken; cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Remove chicken from skillet. Continue cooking liquid until it thickens. Meanwhile, shred
chicken by "pulling" apart with two forks. Add back to liquid. Cook 2 more minutes. Divide among rolls.

*Core plan users may substitute a baked potato instead of the rolls.

I'm making this for supper, but using turkey instead of chicken.

Chicken Pot Pie recipe

1 cup reduced fat Bisquick
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables thawed (any style)
2 cups cooked, chopped white chicken meat
2 cans Campbell's fat free (Healthy Request) Cream of mushroom soup
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with Pam.
Mix together vegetables, chicken and soup. Pour into prepared pan.
In another bowl, mix Bisquick, milk and egg. Pour over the top of chicken mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden.

6 servings = 4.5 WW points per serving
4 servings = 6.5 WW points per serving

Mozzerella and Marinara Chicken Sandwich

MMM...made these for supper..super easy and really good.

Chicken tenderloin (2 pieces per sandwich)
Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Marinara Sauce, warmed ( Sam's has the best)
Whole wheat buns

Grill chicken ( I used inside grill) with some seasoning till done through. Cut tenderloins in half long ways and lay on bun. Top with 2 tablespoon of marinara sauce and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake

This dessert is for people who like their cake and ice cream too.
How can we make it Weight Watcher Friendly and it still taste awesome!?



Ingredients
1 18 oz. Pkg. Small chocolate chip cookies
1/4 C. Margarine, melted
1 C. Hot fudge topping
2 qt. Ice cream
1 C. Whipped cream
12 maraschino cherries

Directions

Crush half the cookies (about 20) to make crumbs. Combine crumbs with melted margarine, and press into the bottom of a 9-inch Springform pan or pie plate. Stand remaining cookies around edge of pan. Spread 3/4 cup fudge topping over crust. Freeze 15 minutes. Meanwhile, soften 1 quart of ice cream in microwave or on countertop. After crust has chilled, spread softened ice cream over fudge layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Scoop remaining quart of ice cream into balls and arrange over spread ice cream layer. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight. To serve, garnish with remainder of fudge topping, whipped cream and cherries.

Roasted Herb Potato Wedges

Roasted Herb Potato Wedges

Side dishes
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 12 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

If you really want to turn up the flavor in this savory side dish, substitute one tablespoon whole-grain mustard for one tablespoon of the Dijon.


Ingredients


2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp rosemary, fresh, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1 Tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pound uncooked new potatoes, white or red, cleaned, halved
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Combine all ingredients, except potatoes, in a small bowl.
Place potatoes in a large zip-close plastic bag. Add mustard mixture. Close bag and shake to coat.
Pour contents of bag into a shallow baking pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake, turning occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 25-30 minutes. Yields about 1/2 cup potatoes per serving.

Fried Squash...WW Style

I adapted the Fried Squash I traditionally love in the summer. Similar taste and I don't have to do without!

2 medium squash
Olive Oil cooking spray
2 Tablespoons of corn meal or corn meal mix

Spray skillet. Heat pan and add sliced squash. Heat till squash start to brown. Spray Squash with olive oil and sprinkle corn meal over both sides of squash. Brown and enjoy!

If the recipe I read is correct, 2 Tbsp. of corn meal is about 1 point.

Pineapple Pretzel Salad

My friend Jessica, who I work with at Mother's Day Out, made this to share. I took one bite and one bite only, but it was soooooooooooo good! Here is her recipe. I'm trying to figure out how I can make it more weight watcher friendly.....I have some ideas!


Pretzel Salad

1 cup of crushed pretzels
1 stick of butter or margarine (melted)
1/2 cup of sugar
Combine above ingredients and pour into a small baking pan. Spread flat and bake for 7 minutes at 400 degrees. Stir as it cools so that it is crumbly.

1/2 cup of sugar
12 ounces of cool whip
1 package of cream cheese
1 12 ounce can of crushed pineapple (well drained)

Mix ingredients together well and top with the pretzel mixture before serving. Keep chilled.

Weight Watchers Bean Salad

I so love a good bean salad...so fresh and tangy tasting. I haven't tried this recipe..but it's seems less in points that the store bought one I Love from Sam's.


Weight Watchers Bean Salad recipe
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
4 (16 ounce) cans beans (green beans or kidney beans or chickpeas or cannellini beans or wax beans or black-eyed peas), rinsed and drained
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Let sit to marinate for several hours (to overnight) before serving.

WW POINTS per serving: 5Nutritional information per serving: 250 calories, 13.9g fat, 8.1g fiber

Ways to Cut Calories

I was reading online and found these "tips" to cut calories. Some good ideas here!



11 Simple Ways to Cut Calories

Anyone who's ever tried to lose weight knows it takes work. But it may not require as much as you think. Throwing everything at the problem might, in fact, be exactly why you fail at the latest plan you've sworn you'll stick to. "You have to start small," says Holly Wyatt, MD, a clinical researcher at the Center for Human Nutrition in Denver. "People tend to launch on a weight-loss program and try to change everything in their lives all at once." Therein lies the problem, experts say. Such drastic attempts rarely ever work. The simple solution? Make incremental adjustments to your eating and exercise habits that can shave calories here and there for maximum impact. For example, consuming just 100 fewer calories each day is enough to avert the 1 to 2 pounds the average person gains each year, says Wyatt, who co-authored a study in the Journal Science on battling obesity. To lose weight, you have to go a step further, she says, downsizing by 500 calories a day. But you don't have to slash them all from your plate. "You can eat 250 calories less and then burn 250 by walking for 30 to 45 minutes. Over a week, that will produce about a pound of weight loss," Wyatt says. You won't see dramatic changes immediately, but small tweaks like these can, and will, pay off over time.

1. Order two appetizers.Instead of an entrée, that is. It's no big secret that serving sizes at restaurants have grown exponentially over the last couple of decades. According to a study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the average hamburger is 23 percent larger today than it was in 1977, and soft drinks are a whopping 50 percent bigger. So rather than ordering a main course that might leave a long-haul truck driver requesting a doggie bag, choose a pasta dish and salad or soup from the appetizer column. The smaller sizes here won't wreak havoc on your dietary goals.

2. Visit the vending machine.Nibbling on single servings is better than digging your way to the bottom of a mega bag of chips. Just don't bring a whole roll of quarters along during your next snack attack.

3. Start with salad...and eat less during the rest of the meal, says a recent study from Pennsylvania State University. Researchers there had 33 women eat a variation on the same garden salad 20 minutes before a main pasta course. When the salads were topped with low-fat mozzarella and low-calorie Italian dressing instead of high-fat alternatives, the women ate 10 percent fewer calories over the course of the day.

4. Stick a fork in it.If you prefer your salad dressing on the side, dip your fork into it before stabbing your greens. That little maneuver could cut 500 calories, say Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames, authors of the book Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever (Fireside). Plunging an already-loaded fork into the buttermilk ranch will pick up more of the creamy condiment–and the calories that come with it.

5. Watch coffee calories.The fancy concoctions that are now the javas of choice for many people can contain as many calories as an entire lunch. A 16-ounce Starbucks Caffé Mocha with whole milk, for instance, packs 400 calories–the same number as in a grilled-chicken sandwich–along with 22 grams of fat and 33 grams of sugar. If a regular cup of joe bores you, slim down your latte by going with skim or 2 percent milk.

6. Walk and talk.The next time a call on your cell phone keeps you yakking for a while, slip on your walking shoes, and stroll the halls at work or hoof it outside. If you did this for 10 minutes every workday at a moderate 3 mph pace, you'd burn about 1,000 calories a month and lose 3 pounds a year.

7. Crack a nut.Dieters in a Harvard University study who ate a handful of peanuts or mixed nuts daily were more likely to keep weight off than a group whose regimen didn't include the high-fat snacks. Remember, though, that nuts are not only rich in heart-healthy fats but also calorie-dense: Count out 15 almonds or cashews or 30 pistachios to keep your consumption in check.

8. Don't just sit there.The average person burns 100 calories per hour sitting and 140 per hour standing. Get on your feet two hours a day while you work, and you could drop an extra 6 pounds over the year. To this end, Frances Wilkins, publisher of MemoryMinder diet journals, put a counter-height worktable in her office. "As a result, I move around much more, and it gives me a break from that office-chair posture," she says.

9. Sleep well, lose more.According to a recent study in The Lancet, sleep loss may hinder your efforts to lose extra pounds. Insufficient shut-eye appears to increase production of the stress hormone cortisol, which regulates appetite. High levels seem to worsen bingeing and hunger; moreover, too little sleep could keep your body from burning carbohydrates, which translates to more stored body fat.

10. Double your protein.The high-protein, low-carb approach may help keep you from losing muscle along with fat, according to a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Twenty-four overweight women ate 9 to 10 ounces of lean meat, three servings of low-fat dairy, and at least five servings of vegetables a day–roughly double the protein and half the carbs of the average American. Over 10 weeks, the women lost 16 pounds, about the same number as a control group who ate according to the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. But the women who pumped up the protein lost 2 more pounds of fat while maintaining a pound more of calorie-burning muscle than the other subjects. The secret: the amino acid leucine, found in beef, dairy, poultry, fish, and eggs. According to study author Donald K. Layman, PhD, of the University of Illinois, it may help preserve muscle tissue.

11. Keep an exercise journal.Writing down your fitness achievements is a great way to track your progress, give yourself positive feedback, and maintain focus on your goals. Molly Kimball, RD, a sports nutritionist at New Orleans' Ochsner Clinic, goes one better, encouraging her clients to share their exercise diaries with friends. This fosters accountability by making your accomplishments and aspirations a matter of public record.

Summer Veggie Stir Fry

2 medium squash, washed
1 medium green pepper
1/2 red onion
Olive Oil
Roasted Garlic Grinders Salt
Butter Buds ( low cal butter flavoring)

Wash veggies. Diced into desired size. Add about tablespoon olive oil, salt and Butter Bud. Stir till veggie are tender. Enjoy over rice with a bit of soy sauce. (Sometime I add soy sauce while I'm cooking them)

Cheesy Potato Skins

Cheesy Potato Skins

2 POINTS per serving

Ingredients:
4 Large potatoes
2 tablespoons butter -- melted
1 medium tomato -- chopped
1/2 cup cheese -- colby-jack
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
5 medium green onion -- sliced

Instructions:

Heat oven to 375º. Scrub potatoes; pierce potatoes to allow steam to escape. Bake about 45 minutes or until tender. Let stand until cool enough to handle.Cut potatoes lengthwise into fourths; carefully scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4 inch shells. Save potato pulp for another use.Set oven control to broil. Place potato shells, skin sides down, on rack in broiler pan. Brush with butter.Broil with tops 4 to 5 inches from heat 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp and brown. Sprinkle tomato and cheese over potatoes. Broil about 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Top with fat-free sour cream; sprinkle with green onions

Yield: 8 serving2 POINTS per serving

Nutrition information:Per serving: 89 Calories (kcal); 3g Total Fat; (28% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 9mg Cholesterol; 47mg Sodium

LuAnn's Note: I haven't tried this one yet..but it sounds yummy! I hope it's really only 2 points a serving. I LUV potato dishes!!!

Potato, Onion and Carrot Bake

My mom used to make something similar to this. I think it's easy and good.

5 or 6 Potatoes ( I like Idaho)
about 10 baby carrots
1 medium onion , sliced or diced
1 small red onion ( adds color)
1/2 of butter or margarine
Garlic Salt ( I like the "grinders"....roasted garlic sea salt
pepper to taste

Sliced potatoes (I use my Pampered Chef apple/peeler/corer/slicer to do mine... Gives it some "curly Q" effects.) I take the "core" since it's still all potato and slice it in the dish. I dice 10 baby carrots, both types of onion and toss it around. I top with about 1/2 cup butter or margarine and grind the sea salts and pepper over the dish. I toss it around. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake about 50 minutes until potatoes, carrots, and onion are cooked. Enjoy!

Cucumber Sandwiches

Italian Cucumber Sandwiches


1 cup mayonnaise1
(.7 ounce package dry) Italian-style salad dressing mix

1 (1 pound) loaf cocktail rye bread
1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

Directions
1 In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix mayonnaise and dry Italian-style salad dressing mix.
2 Arrange the cocktail rye bread slices in a single layer on a serving platter.
3 Place mayonnaise mixture in a pastry bag and squeeze an approximately 1 inch dollop of the mixture onto each cocktail rye bread slice.
4 Top each cocktail rye bread slice with a cucumber slice.

Taco Dip

Touchdown Taco Dip

1 cans (16 ounces) refried beans
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)
½ cup pitted ripe olives, sliced medium tomato, seeded and diced
½ cup thinly sliced green onions with tops
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley thinly sliced
Tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread refried beans over bottom of deep dish. In bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. Finely chop garlic and add to bowl.

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans. Grate cheese over top. Bake 15-18 minutes or until hot.

Prepare topping. Sprinkle over dip. Serve with tortilla chips.

Easy Chicken

We ate at Cracker Barrel today and I had the best grilled tenderloin, quite a bit of it, and it was only 4 points. That let me to do an Internet search for some chicken recipes. This one caught my eye. I'll be trying this one this week. I'll let you know how it turns out!


Weight Watchers 4pt. Diet Cola Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c sliced onions (optional) .
1 diet cola .
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts .
1 c ketchup

Directions

Step #1 In a skillet, mix ketchup & cola.
Step #2 Add chicken & onions.
Step #3 Bring to a boil & cover.
Step #4 Reduce heat to medium & let cook for 45 mins.
Step #5 Remove lid & let simmer until thickens.

Double Layer Pudding Pie

5 Minute Double Layer Pudding Pie

5 Points Per Serving on Weight Watchers

1 1/4 Cups cold skim milk
2 pkgs. (4-serving size each) Jell-o Instant pudding, any flavor
1 tub (8 oz.) thawed Fat Free Cool Whip whipped topping, divided
1 Reduced Fat Keebler Ready Crust graham cracker pie crust (6 oz.)

Beat milk, pudding mixes and 1/2 of the whipped topping in bowl with wire whisk 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread in crust. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding layer in crust. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Makes 8 servings

Parsley by the Bunch

Recently I asked David to go get me some fresh parsley from the grocery store. It comes in a "Huge" bundle for like 79 cents. So I'm going to try this one!

PARSLEY POTATOES

3 med. potatoes
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Pare potatoes. Cut into 3/4 inch cubes. Put in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with 1/4 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high 7 to 9 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Stir once during cooking. Sprinkle with parsley and dot with butter. Serves 4.

Sugar Free Frosting

"The Preacher's Wife" stopped by for a sugar free frosting. Here is one I found. I haven't tried it, but it sounds good.



Sugar-Free Frosting

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 30 MinutesYields: 12 servings

"Versatile cream cheese frosting flavored with sugar-free instant pudding. It will frost one 9x13 or one 2 layer cake. Use any flavor of pudding mix."

INGREDIENTS:
1 (1.4 ounce) package sugar-
free instant pudding mix
1 3/4 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream
cheese
1 (8 ounce) container lite
frozen whipped topping,
thawed

DIRECTIONS:
1.
In a medium bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Mix well and let stand until thickened.
2.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pudding and mix well. Finally, fold in whipped topping.

Dump Cake

I've not tried this but it sounds great..and I plan too! I'll let you know how it turns out when I get around to it!

Makes 24 -2" squares
1 can cherry pie filling
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, un-drained
1 package yellow cake mix, dry
1 cup melted butter
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put ingredients in a 9" by 13" pan in the same order as listed.
DO NOT STIR. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. may be served with whipped cream.

Sesame Honey Mustard Chicken

While at the Outer Banks I found a kitchen store at an outlet mall with the BEST Sesame Honey Mustard pretzel dip I've ever had by a company called Roberts Rothschild Farm. It can also me used other ways, one of which is a glaze for chicken on the grill. MMMM We tried this Sunday night after we got back from our trip. Just take 3 or 4 chicken breast and liberally glaze them and grill away...mmmm

Strawberry-Chicken Spring Salad

This is a favorite of mine...light and flavorful. Good on a day when you've had a heavy meal already like we did today when we took David's mom to Ridgewood BBQ......out in the middle of nowhere near Piney Flats, Tennessee. Big Portions and good BBQ...( still nothing like North Carolina BBQ though!)

I've done several variations..this is one of them.

1 small bag spring salad mix

1 small bag walnuts

8-10 strawberries, washed, capped and sliced

1/4 block cheddar cheese, sliced or shredded

small tomato, diced

fully cooked chicken strips ( like Tyson or Perdue , found in the luncheon meat section) diced

your favorite vinaigrette salad dressing ( I like Tuscan Romano or Balsamic Vinaigrette)

Add salad mix in a large bowl. Add walnut, sliced strawberries , cheddar cheese, tomatoes and diced chicken. Toss gently. Add desired amount of salad dressing. Toss lightly again. Enjoy!

*****I've seen this type of salad topped with Bleu cheese as well...not an option for me because I

strongly dislike bleu cheese, but alot of folks enjoy the added flavor.

Easy Lasagna...LuAnn Style

Ok..I don't have "exact" measurements for this one...but here goes.


1 box lasagna noodles, cooked according to package, drained
1 pound hamburger meat, browned
1 jar favorite spaghetti sauce
1 large container of Ricotta Cheese ( I try to use low fat)
1/2 onion , chopped finely
1/2 tsp. approx. oregano
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Brown hamburger meat. Drain grease. Chop meat finely with wooden spoon as it cooks.
Add jar of sauce to meat. Add onion and oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer till onions are cooked ( soft)

I lightly grease a 9 x 11 casserole dish. Start with one layer of noodles. Add sauce mixture over the noodles and sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese and layer with Ricotta. Repeat Process until all noodles are used. Top the final layer with sauce and mozzarella cheese only ( I don't put Ricotta on the very top.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted.


mmmmmm

Quick and easy stroganoff-like dish

This one is super easy. It's good with or without noodles.

1 pound hamburger, browned
1 can cream of potato soup, condensed
1/4 cup milk
16 oz pkg of noodles of your choice.

brown hamburger meat. Add can of soup, milk. Stir till blended.

Prepare noodles as instructed on package. Mix sauce and noodles. Enjoy!

Meatball Sub Casserole

My mother in law says this is a good recipe. I was too lazy to type it over. Double click on the scanned image and it should come up big enough for you to read.

Enjoy!

Monte Christo Sandwhich

I love this one. I've done several variations , one being a baked version. Here is the latest.
I recently enjoyed on at Garfield's in the Kingsport Mall...it was soooooooooo good!


Monte Christo Sandwich.


Approx. 1/2 cup pancake mix
Enough milk to make the mix creamy

2 pieces of bread
Ham
Swiss Cheese ( optional)

Place ham and cheese between slices of bread. Dip sandwich in pancake batter covering both sides generously.

Place is pan of heated oil. Fry on both sides till outside is golden brown and crisp.
Dust with powdered sugar.

Serve with Strawberry preserves or Jelly.

Anybody out there?

Anybody reading these recipes? I'd be curious to know!

Crockpot Pork Chops

Crockpot Pork Chops

Ingredients
1 onion, sliced 3 potatoes, peeled and sliced 1 can cream of mushroom or celery soup 4-6 pork chops salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Put onions and potatoes in bottom of slow cooker. Top with chops, salt and pepper, pour soup over chops. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

Layered Salad

Ok...honestly??? I havent't tired this recipe but I've had similar ones before. Looks good to me...I'll be trying it soon!!!


Layered Salad


3 cups medium shell pasta, cooked, drained
1 large red onion, sliced
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed, drained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Smoked Ham, chopped
1/2 cup KRAFT Mayo Real Mayonnaise
1/2 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing
1 cup KRAFT Natural Three Cheese Crumbles
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
LAYER pasta, onions, peas and ham in 3-qt. clear serving bowl; set aside.
MIX mayo and dressing; spread over salad to seal. Top with cheese and tomatoes; cover.
REFRIGERATE several hours or until chilled. Toss gently before serving.

Onion Rings

ONION RINGS

1 lg. onion, sliced and separated into separate rings (Chill at least an hour in ice water before deep frying
1 c. water
1 egg
1 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/8 c. oil
Pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients well with wire whip - dip onion slices - rings into batter and cook in hot (350 degree) oil till onion rings float and are golden brown.

Cheddar Garlic Biscuits

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1. Heat oven to 450ºF.
2. Stir Bisquick mix, milk and cheese until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 9 spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Stir together butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits.

Scrumptious!

Don't let the word "Braid" scare you. This is easy and it's delicious. A good dish to serve when you have your girlfriends over. Add a nice salad and you have a simple light lunch. I used to make this one when I sold Pampered Chef. It was always a hit.


Chicken Broccoli Braid

12 oz. cooked chicken, chopped (2 cups - about3 cooked boneless skinless chicken breast halves)
1 C. broccoli, chopped
1/2 C. red bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed
4 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
1/2 C. mayonnaise
2 tsp. All-purpose Dill Mix (or 1 teaspoon dill weed)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 T. slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Chop chicken and broccoli and place in bowl. Add chopped red bell pepper. Press garlic over mixture and shred cheese over mixture. Add mayonnaise, dill mix and salt. Mix well. Unroll package of crescent rolls. Do not separate. Arrange longest sides of dough across width of 12 x 15-inch pan and repeat with remaining package of dough. Roll out dough to seal perforations. On long side of pan, cut dough into strips 1 1/2 inches apart, 3 inches deep leaving approximately 6 inches in the center of dough for filling. Spread filling evenly over middle of dough. To braid: lift strips of dough across mixture to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form braid. Tuck ends under to seal at ends. Brush egg white over dough and sprinkle with almonds. Baked 25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Another Pampered Chef Favorite

Banana Cream Brownie Squares


3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
1 package brownie mix (plus ingredients to make)
3 medium bananas
1 1/4 cups milk 1 package (4 serving size) vanilla instant pudding
1 container (1 1) Cool Whip, thawed
12 strawberries
1 square (1 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate for baking
Preheat to 350° F.
Using food chopper, chop peanuts.

Prepare brownie mix according to instructions, stir in 1/2 cup of peanuts. Pour into square baker dish. Bake according to package instructions. Cool Completely.

Slice 2 bananas. Place in a single layer over brownie. In a bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk; beat until mixture just begins to thicken. Gently fold in 2 1/2 cups of the cool whip. Quickly spread pudding mixture over bananas.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup peanuts over pudding mixture. Using decorator, fill with cool whip.

To serve, cut into squares; garnish with whipped topping. Grate chocolate evenly over dessert. Slice remaining banana and strawberries. Garnish each square with banana and strawberry slices.

A Favorite

Apple Bundles

2 lg apples
1 pkg refrigerated breadstick dough -- 11 oz
1 med orange
2 tbsp butter -- melted
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375F.
Peal, core, and slice apples. Cut slices in half. Unroll dough; separate into 8 breadsticks. Cut each in half crosswise to make 16 strips. Place 3-4 apple slices at the end of each piece of dough; roll up.
Arrange bundles in greased 7x11-inch pan.
Zest 1 teaspoon orange rind, set aside. Juice orange. Pour orange juice into bottom of pan. Poor butter over bundles. Mix zest, sugar and cinnamon; spoon over bundles.
Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or topped with light whipped topping if desired.

** We prefer ours warmed and topped with vanilla bean ice cream....mmmmmm!!!! I've also made it with the Orange Juice and without. good either way!
LuAnn

Apple Berry Salas w/Cinnamon Chips

** This is a favorite of mine..although I've never made it personally, I have enjoyed this recipes made my family and friends.

Apple Berry Salsa w/ Cinnamon Chips
This fruit salsa makes a great appetizer or can be served as a fun side dish with a Mexican meal.

CINNAMON CHIPS

4 (7-inch) flour tortillas
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

SALSA

2 med Granny Smith apples
1 cup strawberries -- sliced
1 kiwi fruit -- peeled and chopped
1 small orange
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
2 tbsp apple jelly

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

For cinnamon chips, lightly spray tortillas with water. Combine sugar and cinnamon in flour/sugar shaker; sprinkle over tortillas. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; place in single layer on round baking stone. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Remove to cooling rack; cool completely.

For salsa, peel, core, and slice apples. Cut apples into quarters; chop
with food chopper. Slice strawberries and chop kiwi. Place fruit in 1 quart bowl. Zest orange and juice. Add orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar and apple jelly to fruit mixture, mix gently.

Serve with cinnamon chips

Appetizer

BACON-WRAPPED SHRIMP

1 (16 oz.) pkg. bacon
40 shrimp
1 (10 oz.) bottle teriyaki sauce

Cut bacon slices in half. I was able to do thirds with the size of the bacon slices I used.
Wrap bacon around shrimp. Secure with toothpicks. Place in 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour teriyaki sauce over shrimp. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Veggie Squares

2 cans crescent rolls
2- 8 oz. pkg. Cream cheese
1 cup chopped cauliflower
¾ cup grated carrots
¾ cup chopped broccoli
½ cup minced green onions

Unroll crescent rolls and press onto cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool. Mix cream cheese with 1 tablespoon milk and 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Spread over rolls. Sprinkle vegetables over cooled rolls and then sprinkle season all or season salt over vegetables.
Refrigerate.

Comfort Food

CROCK POT MACARONI AND CHEESE

1 (8 oz.) box macaroni (cook according to directions and drain)
2 eggs, beaten
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
12 oz. reg. milk (use evaporated milk can to measure)
16 oz. cheese (extra sharp) I use mild and extra sharp..half and half
salt and pepper to taste
Put all ingredients in crock pot and stir (mix well). Cook on low 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Very good.

Tortilla Soup

I've yet to make this one, but I have eaten this recipe on several occasions. My friend Shelby Milby made it. MMMMM



Tortilla Soup
from Shelby Milby

2 cups shredded boiled chicken breast
3 cans chicken broth
2 can black beans
2 cans white beans
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 garlic cloves chopped
1- 4 0z. Jar jalapeno peppers—chopped
½ onion, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin

Saute onions, garlic, and jalapeno in olive oil
Add the rest of the ingredients in large pot. When the onions are sauteed add to pot. Cook on medium heat for about 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over tortilla chips and sprinkle w/grated cheese.

Chicken Club Ring


3 cups chopped cooked chicken
4 slices bacon crisply cooked and chopped
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 TBS. Parsley
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 egg while, lightly beaten

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Combine chicken, bacon, ¾ cup cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, parsley, and garlic. Mix well.

Scoop filling evenly over ring. Brush with egg white and top with remaining cheese. Bake 25 – 30 minutes.

To make ring:

2 cans crescent rolls. Separate into a circle of 16 triangles overlapping each other. Roll wide ends together toward center. Bring points of triangles over center to form a ring over mixture.

Easy Crockpot Chicken

Crockpot Chicken


3-4 chicken breasts, boneless
1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, condensed
4-5 tablespoons of milk
salt and pepper to taste


Cook on low for 5-6 hours in crockpot. When done, add an 8 oz container of sour cream. Heat through. Serve over rice.

Touchdown Taco Dip

Touchdown Taco Dip

1 cans (16 ounces) refried beans
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (½ cup)
½ cup pitted ripe olives, sliced medium tomato, seeded and diced

( I, personally ,omit the olives)

½ cup thinly sliced green onions with tops
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley thinly sliced
Tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread refried beans over bottom of deep dish. In bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. Finely chop garlic and add to bowl.

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans. Grate cheese over top. Bake 15-18 minutes or until hot.

Prepare topping. Sprinkle over dip. Serve with tortilla chips.

This was served at our missionary potluck we had Monday. Not sure who made it, but it was oh so good. This is my version. My mother in law made it for Easter dinner that I had at my house. It was scrumtious.

BROCCOLI SALAD

4 broccoli stalks (tops only)
1/2 C. raisins
1/2 red onion
1/2 C. pecans
1# bacon, fried and crumbled

Dressing
1 C. mayo
1/2 C. sugar
2 T. white vinegar

Mix together broccoli, raisins, onion pecans and bacon. Toss. Add dressing. Toss and chill for a hour before serving.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

At my former church in Virginia I planned quite a few ladies luncheons. One of the ladies in our churh, Jean Spradlin, used to bring this easy dish quite often. I love the pineapples in this easy appetizer.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
borrowed from Jean Spradlin


Sauce:

2 bottles LaChoy Sweet/sour sauce
1 bottle Heinz chili sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 ½ green peppers chopped
1 can pineapple chunks (I use 2)

Simmer sauce. Add meatballs and ½ pineapple chunks. Add ½ pineapple chunks just before serving.

Chicken and Grape Salad

This is another of my all time favorite chicken salad recipes. I think the grapes just make this one!!

Chicken and Grape Salad


2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
½ cup seedless grapes, halved
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
¼ cup chopped almonds
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons orange juice
salt and pepper to taste

Combine chicken, grapes, celery, and nuts. Mix mayonnaise with orange juice
And fold into mixture. More mayo may be added as needed. Season to taste.
Makes about 3 ½ cups. Great on deli bread or crackers!

Easy Taco Bake...one dish!

Taco Bake

1 pound lean ground beef
medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 envelope (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (15.25 ounces) whole kernel corn
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix

1 cup milk
2 eggs
Sour cream, chopped tomato and shredded lettuce, if desired
Heat oven to 325ºF. Grease rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet, stirring frequently, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in dry seasoning mix, tomato sauce and corn. Spoon into pan; sprinkle with cheese. Stir Bisquick mix, milk and eggs until smooth. Pour over beef mixture.
Bake about 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with remaining ingredients.

Spaghetti Salad

Here is another favorite of mine. It's oh so easy and so good and tangy. It's make a big bowl...great for potluck dinnners!


SPAGHETTI SALAD

1 lb. thin spaghetti
1 lg. green pepper, diced
2 lg. tomatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
1 cucumber, diced
(18 oz.) bottle Viva Italian dressing
1 jar McCormick salad supreme seasoning (do not substitute this seasoning)

Cook spaghetti; drain well and rinse with cold water.
Mix spaghetti and vegetables. Add salad dressing.

Simple and Easy

I decided to start blogging in some of my favorite recipes. If I attempt them they have to be easy!!!

I love to cook. I used to sell Pampered Chef..another favorite of mine! I enjoying trying new things, but I really enjoy recipes that are good and sooooo easy!

Here's my first entry. It's a simple vinger based slaw that I love. My grandma Ketchie used to make a similar one. I got this from my friend Phylis Still in Virginia. MMMMM

Slaw

Small head cabbage chopped coarse
About 2 Tbsp onion minced

Dressing
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix together and pour over slaw and marinade overnight. The next morning, drain well and layer with celery seed. Keep in refrigerator.