New Recipe - Apple Crescent Roll Ups!

Fall is here & that means fresh, crisp apples!   I tried this easy apple turnover recipe last week!  It would be great for kids who like to help out in the kitchen too.   Click here for the recipe I used.

Orange Honey Teriayki Chicken & Quinoa Fried Rice

One of my favorite (and perhaps my only) Chinese dishes is General Tso's chicken.  I love the combination of sweet & spicy.   We don't eat Chinese often because it usually leaves me feeling miserable and bloated.  I ran across these two recipes on Pinterest & decided to give them a try.  Thumbs up for both of them!

Orange Honey Teriyaki Chicken - click here for the recipe.   I didn't not follow the recipe to a T because I didn't have all the ingredients on hand.  However, it turned out DELISH!   I omitted the mirin and ginger & substituted chicken breast in place of the chicken thighs.

Quinoa Fried Rice - click here for recipe.  I am a new fan to quinoa.  It is incredibly feeling and has a texture between rice & pasta.  This dish did not disappoint.  Of course, I modified and it turned out great.  I didn't use fish sauce, tomatoes, red peppers - but instead used a diced onion, a small can of peas/carrots (drained) and only 1 egg. 

Twice Baked Potatoes - Lightened Up

Last week, I made twice-baked potatoes.  It was the second time I've made the recipe and once again, it was a hit.   I pinned the recipe here.  If you want accurate serving size/nutrition information,  I would highly recommend running through a recipe builder.   The recipe was quite a few more calories according to My Fitness Pal.  We had the potatoes with a side salad it was filling and delish!

Easy Twice Baked Potatoes

3 large russet potatoes
1/2 c. fat free chicken broth  (I used reserved chicken broth from another recipe I was making)
1 c. 2% shredded cheddar
1/3 c. thinly sliced green onions
1/4 c. light sour cream
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 TBS Hormel real bacon bits

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Pierce potatoes in several places with tip of sharp knife. Bake 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until tender. Immediately cut potatoes lengthwise in half; scoop out centers, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells.

Beat potato pulp, broth, 1/2 cup cheese, onions, sour cream and mustard with mixer until well blended. Spoon into shells; top with remaining cheese and bacon bits.

Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.

Makes 6 Servings

I prepped these ahead of time & popped them in the oven when I got home from work.

New Recipe - Crispy Oven "Fried" Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Happy Tuesday!  

Do y'all love Pinterest as much as I do?   I know you get tired of hearing me talk about it.   :)    It's such a wonderful resource for ideas, recipes, decorating, organizing and the list goes on and on.   Last week, I found a recipe for "Oven Fried Buffalo Chicken Tenders".   It sounded like a real family pleaser.  Lucky for me,  chicken tenderloins were buy one, get one free this week - SCORE!    They are super easy to prepare and tasty!

Now, if you are one of those folks that likes exact measurements the link above for the recipe won't be for you.    I couldn't find measurements, baking time on it anywhere - so I do what I usually do anyway and just modified.   :)     I lined the countertop with a paper plate (all-purpose flour), bowl (buffalo wing sauce), and paper plate (panko crumbs).   I dipped each tenderloin into each of those in that ordered.  Then, I placed them on a wire rack on a cookie sheet - baked at 450 for 20 minutes.  The results -- moist & juicy on the inside and nice & crunchy on the outside.  Personally, I thought it could have used a little more kick from the buffalo wing sauce, but I was experimenting with a new brand.

Perfect recipe for the upcoming football season!

New Recipe

Happy Thursday!

I hope everyone is having a great week.  I trying to get back into the groove of work/home/school.  It will take me a week or two to get the right balance.  I wanted to share a new recipe I tried on Tuesday night.  Super easy!

Roasted Broccoli
(source: Food Network)

1 lb broccoli, rinsed & trimed
2 TBS Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced  (I'd even go for 3 next time)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/3 c. panko bread crumbs
1/4 c. parmesan cheese or shredded cheddar (we used cheddar this time, but I think parmesan would probably be better)

Directions


Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Cut the broccoli florets into bite size pieces. Cut the stalk into 1/8-inch thick, round slices. Place the broccoli into a mixing bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic, kosher salt and pepper and set aside.

Spread the panko into a 13 by 9-inch metal cake pan and place into the oven for 2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove the panko from the oven and add to the bowl with the broccoli mixture. Toss to combine. Return the mixture to the cake pan, place in the oven and roast just until the broccoli is tender, 8 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven, toss in the cheese and serve immediately.

SO, It was fabulous on Tuesday night - great low calorie side dish!   Super-husband was late, so it was not the best warmed up.  Tonight, I had one serving left - I hate to be wasteful, so I put on my resourceful hat.  :)   I took 2 eggs; 1 TBS of hormel bacon bits; 1/4 c. shredded cheddar & the leftover roasted broccoli and made an omelet.  And, let me tell you --- it was the absolute best (if I do say so myself!) add a side of center cut bacon and orange juice and dinner was complete.  You could definitely eliminate the cheddar cheese to reduce calories.

I'll be back with a weekly wrap-up on Sunday night!

My Favorite Holiday Snacks...

My mom is one of the best cooks I know - she loves to try new recipes & read cookbooks.  However, baking is not her thing, so for Christmas our treats were often snack related and not cookies she had baked for us to ice.  :)  

Here are a few of my favorites...

1. Sausage Balls - quick & easy... the trick -- letting all the ingredients come to room temperature before trying to make them into balls...
2. Butterscotch Haystacks - again, quick & easy... some people like to add peanuts, but I prefer the noodle & butterscotch only version  (yes, I even omit the peanut butter & marshmallows)
3. Chocolate Pretzels - am I repeating myself - another quick & easy recipe... this is a great one to let kids help with ... they can unwrap the hershey kisses or places the M&M's on the finished treat!
4. Fudge - For as long as I can remember, our family has always used the recipe on the Kraft marshmallow creme jar.
5. Spinach Artichoke Dip - my favorite appetizer & snack!
6. Queso Dip - again, right off the back of the Rotel label

There are many other "treats" I love during the holiday season, but these are just a few of my favorites.  Do you have a favorite holiday treat?

Good Eats for Thanksgiving

It seems a bit strange to not be in the kitchen this evening beginning preparations for Thanksgiving Day, but I do appreciate my father-in-law offering to take everyone to dinner.  :)    Last year, we tried to enjoy the day without over indulging and modifying recipes on some of our favorites.   Here is one of my favorite recipes that replaces the congealed salad (gag!) or Watergate salad on our table.

Autumn Fruit Salad

2 granny smith apples (cored and diced)

1 small can mandarin oranges (drained)

red, seedless grapes  (I always eyeball these, so I don't know an exact measurement)

1 small container of vanilla yogurt

1/2 to 1 cup of miniature marshmallows

1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

Mix all the ingredients together & chill.

Super easy & yummy!   We enjoy the leftovers for breakfast!

Summer Recipe Party

I'm linked up to the Summer Recipe party at Rhoda's place... Grab a glass of sweet tea and venture over for some delicious looking treats! I posted my "light" Pimento cheese recipe -- I had to y'all -- it's a southern thang. If you've never tried it on grilled burger -- DO!

What are you cooking up this summer?

Weight Watcher Recipe - Pimento Cheese

I jotted down this recipe from our Weight Watcher meeting last Saturday. I think pimento cheese is a southern thing, but it certainly is delicious. I made this last Sunday and it was yummy. It's creamy and has a slight sweetness to it. Pimento Cheese

1. 2 lb. Light Velveeta


2. 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar


3. 1/2 c. Splenda


4. 8 oz diced pimentos


5. 1 c. Kraft mayo (I used Duke's light mayo)

First of all, I decided to half the recipe since the Light Velveeta comes in a 1lb. box. I recommend placing the cheese in the freezer for about 30 minutes prior to shredding (trust me!). Now for the easy part - SHRED Velveeta and mix with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate. 1 TBS = 1 WW Points+