Spicy Popcorn

Spicy Popcorn

1 bag of Microwave Natural Popcorn
Sprinkle with Ttumeric and chili powder (to taste)
Toss and enjoy!!!!!!

http://www.womenshealthmagazine.com/

PS- Added bonus-- Tumeric may help decrease your risk for certain cancers, and chili powder may help boost your metabolism....Get poppin'!!!!!

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

2-4 skinless chicken breasts ( I prefer bone in- more flavor)

1 sweet onion (sliced)

1 green pepper(sliced)

1 cup mushrooms (sliced)

minced garlic to taste ( I like 1 tsp.)

Oregano (dried- 1 tsp.- not as strong as fresh)

mixed Italian herbs (dried- 1/2 tsp)

1 can low sodium diced tomatoes

2 cups low sodium V-8 juice

salt and pepper to taste

olive oil

First sautee the vegetables in olive oil until they are soft and the onions translucent.  Then  add the garlic- it burns quickly, so watch it – it will turn bitter. Add oregano and herbs into the mixture.

After the vegs. are done,  add in can of tomatoes-( to avoid the acidity of them, I add a teaspoon of sugar- but it is to taste.)  Then add the v-8.  Simmer a few minutes.

Salt and  pepper chicken to taste.

In a large dutch oven or a deep frying pan, sear chicken breasts in olive oil- very quickly- to seal in juices.

Pour the tomato mixture over the chicken and let it simmer for about an hour- until the chicken is falling off of the bone and the sauce is thickened.

If it needs more thickening, add two Tbsp. of tomato paste.

This is really good served over whole wheat pasta or with brown rice and a salad.

Thank you Janet for sharing!!!!!!!

Easy Orange Salad

Easy Orange Salad
1 container (8oz) Cool Whip
1 cup of cottage cheese
1 can mandarin oranges, drained well
1 package of orange jello
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained well.

Mix cottage cheese and cool whip. Sprinkle with jello and mix very well. Add the fruit and mix well. Chill until cold and serve.

Pam's Hot Bean Dip

Pam's Hot Bean Dip
1 can refried beans (fat free is my favorite)
1 small can of chopped chilies
1 small jar of roasted red peppers
1 pkg of taco seasoning
1 8oz pkg of Fat Free Cream Cheese-softned
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 can Black Beans-rinsed and drained
**Jalepeno's if you like-to taste***

Place refried beans, chilies, peppers, taco seasoning, cream cheese and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor. Pulse until everything is well incorporated. Add the black beans in. Pulse until just mixed in but not a puree. I like the texture. Place in a small casserole dish, bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Top with shredded cheese, black olives and scallions. Serve with chips, wheat thins or your favorite. ENJOY!!!!!!

**Another options
Add shredded chicken
Add Taco Seasoned Meat
Roll up in a tortillia and serve!!!!!!!!

SQUASH BAKE

SQUASH BAKE
4 medium squash (use zucchini or yellow squash)
2 cups finely crushed club cracker crumbs (I sometimes use Ritz as a substitute)
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
1 small onion, finely chopped or grated
½ cup 2% reduced fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (reduced fat can be used)
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. sugar
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9-inch pie pan or 9-inch square baking dish.
Cook squash and drain well (just until tender). Press cracker crumbs in bottom of dish to form a crust. Dot with butter. Spoon squash on top.
Whisk eggs in a bowl until fluffy. Stir in onion, milk, 2/3 cup of cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Pour over squash. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered 35 minutes or until golden around the edges.
Serves 6 to 8 people.

Sin in a Bowl

Sin in a Bowl (that is literally what I call it!!!)
1 box of your favorite brownie mix-prepared according to directions-allow to cool
1 box of chocolate cake mix-prepared according to directions-allow to cool
1 large container of Cool Whip
1 large box of Chocolate Pudding-prepared according to Pie Filling Recipe
1/2 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts or peanuts
1 cup of chocolate chip morsels + 1/4 cup of morsels for topping

You will need a very deep glass bowl. You want to be able to see the layers.
In a separate bowl, using all of the chocolate pudding mix and 1/2 of the tub of Cool Whip, combine these together with a whisk and create a "mousse". Set aside.
Take 1/3 of the brownie's, crumble in the bottom of the bowl.
Take 1/3 of the cake, crumble in the bottom of the bowl.
Take 1/3 of the "Mousse" mixture and cover over the crumbled brownie and cake.
Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips
Repeat 2 more times.
When completed, cover with remaining cool whip.
Top with 1/4 c. of morsels.
Cover and place in refrigerator.
Allow to chill for approx. 4 hours or over night.

Serve and enjoy!!!!!!!

Mexican Chunky Salsa

Mexican Chunky Salsa
1 Can of black beans, drained and rinsed well
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
1 jar of you all time favorite salsa (can be mild, medium or hot)
1 small jar of diced green chile's (optional)
***If you are making this for a large crowd, you can double or even triple***

Open and prepare the beans and corn. Pour all 3 (or 4) ingredients in a bowl and combine very well. Place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Over night is best.
Serve with a big bag of tortilla chips (Scoops are my favorite) and ENJOY!!!!!!!!
****Another idea
Great on a Mexican salad
Great heated and rolled in a tortilla with cheese and heated

Hendrix Hamburger Helper

Hendrix Hamburger Helper
1 Small box of Macaroni (elbow is best)
1 can Tomato Soup
1 can whole kernel corn(DO NOT DRAIN)
1 pound of ground hamburger or turkey
1/2 small onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup shredded cheese (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Brown meat with onions until tender Salt and pepper to taste. Drain well. Stir in soup, corn and macaroni. It will be thick. Stir in 1 can of water. Place mixture in baking dish and cover with tinfoil. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover, top with shredded cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with Green salad and crunchy bread!!!!!! DINNER IS SERVED!!!!!

Frozen Lemonade Pie

Frozen Lemonade Pie
1 small can of frozen lemonade, thawed
1 can condensed milk (Eagle Brand)
1 Large Cool Whip
1 deep or 2 shallow pie shells, prebaked OR you can use graham cracker pie shells

Put first 3 ingredients in a bowl and beat well with spoon. Pour into pie shell(s) and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

This was one of my Papa's favorites. I hope you enjoy it to. If you like limes, you can also use limeade.

Marsha's Salad

Marsha's Salad

1 bag of baby spinach leaves
1 containter of feta cheese or you can use bleu cheese crumbles
1 small can of mandarin oranges, drained well
1 bag of candied walnuts or you can use pecans if you have those
1 cup of dried cranberries or cran-raisins
1 bottle of Raspberry Vinegarette Salad Dressing (Ken's Steakhouse is my favorite)
1-2 cups of a plain crouton

Mix salad together WITHOUT the dressing. Allow people to add as much as they like. It is an awesome salad. Great to take places or eat at home.

This is awesome with left over grilled chicken!!!!!!

Triple Triffle Delight

Triple Triffle Delight
1 prepared angel food cake (if you are feeling sinful, use pound cake)
1 large box of vanilla pudding
Milk to prepare pudding with minus (-) 1/2 cup
2 containers of Cool Whip (Light if you like or regular)
1 small container of blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
1 small container of strawberries
2 bananas-sliced

In a large glass bowl crumble up 1/3 of the cake. Use a tall glass bowl because you want to see the layers. Layer over the cake 1/3 of the berries, 1/3 of the strawberries and 1/3 of the bananas. In a seperate bowl, prepare the pudding according to directions minus (-) 1/2 cup of milk. It will be thick and that is what you want. Whisk in 1 full container of Cool Whip. This is the "mousse". Layer over the top of the berries 1/3 of the mousse mixture. Now repeat with cake, berries, strawberries, bananas and more mousse. Once you are done with all the layering, cover with the entire container of Cool Whip. If you have to press it down a little, that is not a problem. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator.

Tips----
**Fozen fruit works great and so does canned. If you use the canned, drain them well.
**Use pound cake or angel food cake. Either works great
**Always put fruit on top of the cake and then the mousse. The juices from the fruit get in the cake.
**Make this in the morning and allow to chill until lunch or dinner. If you are making ahead, you may want a TINY bit of lemon on your bananas so they don't turn dark.

Believe it or not, there is a CHOCOLATE VERSION!!!!!! You will have to check back for that one!!!!!

Mexican Dump Stew

Mexican Dump Stew
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 pkg of Taco Seasoning
1 pkg of Ranch Dressing Mix (powdered)
3 boneless chicken breast (not cooked),whole
1 can cream corn
1 can whole kernal corn
1 can pinto
1 can chili beans
1 can black beans
(You can use any mix of beans, just needs to be 3 cans and DO NOT DRAIN)

Open all the cans and dump them into the crock-pot. Push the chicken into the mixture. Cover and put on low for 8 hours.
After 8 hours, remove the chicken and shred. Put the chicken back in and stir to mix in.
Serving ideas
**Serve with Nacho chips
**Drain well and wrap in a tortillia
**Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and or guacamole.
**Great to do before leaving for work or even put on before going to bed and then it's ready in the morning for lunch or dinner. Great to take to covered dish events as well.

This has become one of the favorites in our house. Especially when I don't have time to fix anything. You literally dump it in, stir and cover. It is just wonderful. It will be great this fall and winter when the temp finally starts dropping. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Hawaiian Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken

1 Can Sprite
1 Jar of favorite BBQ sauce
1 Can Pineapple with the juice
1 Onion
1 Green/Red Pepper
3-4 Boneless Chicken Breast (cut into chunks)

Place all ingredients into the crock-pot.  Cook for 4-6 hours or until chicken is done.  Serve over rice.  You can add more peppers and onions if you like.  Of course, this would be a great crowd pleaser and easy to double or tripple if needed!!!!!

This would be a great Mass Cooking Recipe!!!!!  Thank you Candace for sharing!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Potatoe Scones

Sweet Potatoe Scones

1/2 C. Sugar

3 1/2 C. Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and vanilla to taste -- I’m not much on measuring.Sorry!

1 can of sweet potato puree or pumpkin 

a little less than 1/2 C. canola oil, or half a cup of butter.

I just threw it all in a bowl, and mixed it up then turned it out and kneaded it a few times. I patted it out about 1 inch thick circle and used a pizza cutter to slice it into (almost) even pieces.  I put them on a greased cookie sheet, 425 oven for 13-15 minutes. I dusted them with brown sugar and cinnamon when they came out of the oven.

Enjoy!

This is a recipe from one of my sweet Mom's from my childbirth classes.  Thank you so much Jessica for sharing!!!!!!!

Oreo Bon-Bon's

Oreo Bon-Bon's (I can't wait to do these)
1 pkg of Oreo's
1 8 oz pack of Cream Cheese,softened
1 pkg. of Chocolate Melts (like you would make molded candy out of)

In a food processor, place all the Oreo's. Pulse until all the cookies are crumbled. Place cream cheese in with the cookie crumbs and pulse til completely mixed. Once they have been combined, scoop into bite size balls. Place the balls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper and place in the freezer. In the mean time, melt chocolate according to directions. Remove the cookie balls from the freezer and dip into the melted chocolate and place them back on the cookie sheet. Place back in the freezer. Once they are completely frozen, approx 1-2 hours, place into an airtight container. Enjoy all Holiday Season!!!!!
** Alternatives**
Use Vanilla, Strawberry, or Mint Chocolate Oreo's
Use white chocolate or dark chocolate.
Use Nutter Butter cookies.

Daddy's Sausage Balls

Daddy's Sausage Balls
1 pound of your favorite sausage (hot or mild)-almost room temp
8 oz of sharp cheddar cheese. (NOT PRE-SHREDDED) Grated and at almost room temp
3 cups of Bisquick
Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Take off your rings and your fake nails (just kidding) and start mixing. Really mix well until everything is totally incorporated.
Start with a small spoon, small cookie scoop or just pinch off enough to make the size of sausage ball you want. Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Now you have a choice to make. You can place them on the cookie sheet and freeze before cooking or you can cook them and then freeze them. Either way, they are AWESOME!!!!!! If you chose to cook them, place them in pre-heated oven of 365 degrees. Typically about 10 minutes but keep an eye on them, depending on how big you have made them.
ENJOY!!!!!!!

Kyle's Peppermint Bark

Kyle's Peppermint Bark
1 bag of Chocolate Melts ( You can use White, Dark or Milk Chocolate)
1 handful of small candy canes or small star burst peppermints (the little round red and white ones)
1 Cookie sheet covered in parchment paper or tinfoil
1 small hammer (told you it was good for frustration and stress)

Melt chocolate as directed. While chocolate is melting, take the peppermint candy of choice and hit it with the hammer on a cutting board. (LEAVE IT IN THE WRAPPER OR YOU WILL HAVE A MESS!!!!!) Once all the chocolate is melted and you are stress fee, unwrap the candy into the chocolate. Stir until well mixed. Pour melted chocolate onto the cookie sheet and spread out evenly. Place in refrigerator to harden. Do not put away the hammer yet. Once the chocolate has hardened, you are ready for the final preparation. Take a clean kitchen towel and flip the chocolate on to the towel. Peel off the tinfoil or parchment paper. Cover with another towel and hammer away until you get the size of bark that you want. I usually go no bigger than my palm. This is up to you. Then place your bark into containers and be prepared to watch it disappear!!!!!!!

Fitness Nugget

Sweating For Two.....

Pregnancy is no time to ditch the gym: Moms-to-be who frequently logged moderately hard workouts (a 5-7 on a scale of 1-10) in the first trimester had a lower risk for preterm birth, reports a new study.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/

Christmas Is Coming!!!!!

Since Christmas is right around the corner and everyone likes to make the treats and goodies, I will posting some of our Family Favorites!!!!!  Chocolate Peppermint Bark, Sausage Balls, Oreo Bon-Bon's and the like.  Most are not "diet-friendly" but it's all about moderation!!!!!!!!!
Do you have favorite family traditions?  Would you like to have them posted?  Just send me an e-mail (address is on the sidebar)and let me know!  Include a little "story" if you wish! 
Hoping everyone has a wonderful and blessed Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Pam