Chutney Cheese Ball

This one is for you Terry..

This is my friend's mom's recipe and it's amazing.

What you need:
16 oz cream cheese, room temp.
1/2 c. chutney
1/4 c finely chopped scallions
1 med clove garlic, minced
1/2 c . shredded colby cheese
1/2 c. shredded monterey jack cheese
Salt & pepper
1 c. coarsely chopped pecans (optional)

In a med. bowl , combine the first 4 ingredients. Stir until well blended. Add the colby and jack cheeses. Stir and season with salt and pepper. Form into a ball and roll in pecans. Chill in the refrigerator. Makes 2 balls. Serve with crackers.

Recipe for peach cobbler

Ingredients
6 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons butter

vanilla ice cream

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10x10 inch baking dish.
Stir together peaches with cinnamon and 1 cup sugar. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together shortening and 3/4 cup sugar. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt alternately with milk. Pour into prepared pan. Top with peach mixture. Drop butter in boiling water and pour all over peaches.

Bake in preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown.

Serve with vanilla ice cream!

Foody Friday

This recipe was given to me by my friend Janice. At first I thought, I don't know about this. But, I'm telling ya, it's really yummy! It is a Weight Watchers recipe so it's also pretty healthy ..

Mexican Meatloaf

1 spray(s) cooking spray
1/2 pound(s) raw extra lean ground beef
1/2 pound(s) lean ground turkey, breast
2 large egg white(s)
2 oz cornbread stuffing dry mix, (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced
8 oz canned enchilada sauce

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a broiler pan with cooking spray. (I just used a pan lined with aluminum foil)

In a large bowl, mix beef, turkey, egg whites, stuffing mix, onion, chili powder, cumin, chilies and half of enchilada sauce together.

Shape into an oval with your hands and place on prepared broiler pan.

Cook for 1 hour, top with remaining enchilada sauce and bake for 5 minutes more. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.

Thanks Janice!

Foody Friday

Spicy beef vegetable stew

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 (30 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
3 1/2 cups water
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1 cup sliced celery
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
In a skillet over medium heat, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain.

Transfer to a slow cooker. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

This recipe is so easy and very yummy! You can add more vegetables of your choice too. I got the recipe and photo from allrecipes.com. The original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of pepper but that is way too much in my opinion.

Foody Friday: Parmesan Fondue

Parmesan Fondue

recipe and photo from allrecipes.com.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 (1 pound) loaf French bread, cubed (or bread bowl like I used)

Directions
In a large saucepan, cook and stir the milk and cream cheese over low heat until cheese is melted. Stir in Parmesan cheese and garlic salt; cook and stir until heated through. Transfer to a fondue pot or mini slow cooker; keep warm. Serve with bread cubes.

I put it in a bread bowl instead. I liked this idea but I didn't like that it cooled down and became thick. I think I will add white wine to it next time to give it more of a 'bite'. Very yummy and if you like cheese fondue this is a quick and easy way to make it.

Foody Friday

Pork Chalupas

Ingredients
1 (4 pound) pork roast
1 pound dried pinto beans
3 (4 ounce) cans diced green chili peppers
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons garlic powder
12 flour tortillas (we used wheat low carb tortilla wraps instead)
Fixings (any or all: lettuce, sour cream, salsa, cheese)

Directions
1. Place the roast inside a slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
2. In a separate bowl, stir together the beans, 2 cans of the chili peppers, chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano, and garlic powder.
3. Pour the whole mixture over the roast, and add enough water so that the roast is mostly covered. Jiggle the roast a little to get some of the liquid underneath.
4. Cover, and cook on Low for 8 hours. Check after about 5 hours to make sure the beans have not absorbed all of the liquid. Add more water if necessary 1 cup at a time. Use just enough to keep the beans from drying out.
5. When the roast is fork-tender, remove it from the slow cooker, and place on a cutting board. Remove any bone and fat, then shred with forks. Return to the slow cooker, and stir in the remaining can of green chilies. (ours was bone free so I just shredded it inside the crock pot.. much easier)
6. Heat through, and serve with flour tortillas and your favorite toppings.

Serve with a big margarita if you are up for it!

The next day for dinner I took some leftovers and put it in between bread with some colby jack cheese and grilled it in a frying pan to make pork chalupa grilled cheese.. yum!

Foody Friday.. on a Saturday again!

Maybe I should start calling it Supper Saturday? I keep forgetting to post a recipe on Friday..

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. ground beef (we used ground turkey)
1 packet taco seasoning
15 oz can tomato sauce

16 oz seashell pasta (I think it was a half box)

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened in microwave (you could used fat-free)

1/2 cup sour cream (we used close to 1 cup of light sour cream)

8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:(preheat oven to 350 degrees)

1. Brown ground beef, drain, return to pan. Add taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Bring to boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

2. In the meantime, cook pasta according to package directions, drain.

3. In a small bowl, mix softened cream cheese and sour cream.

4. Spray bottom of 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Put pasta in bottom of pan.

5. Spread cream cheese mixture over pasta. Spoon ground meat mixture over this.

6. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

I doubled the recipe and froze half.. so happy I did because this is so YUMMY.

Foody Friday...

Foody Friday on a Saturday. I forgot that I was supposed to post a recipe yesterday. Here it is one day late!

Amazing Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker

Ingredients
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
3/4 cup red wine
1-2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Place pork tenderloin in a slow cooker with the contents of the soup packet. Pour water, wine, and soy sauce over the top, turning the pork to coat. Carefully spread garlic over the pork, leaving as much on top of the roast during cooking as possible. Sprinkle with pepper, cover, and cook on low setting for 5 hours. Serve with cooking liquid on the side as au jus.

I got this recipe off of allrecipes and it is amazing. I served it with mashed potato and broccoli. I will definitely make this one again!

Foody Friday

I have LOVED cooking lately. I like trying out new recipes and sharing them. I also enjoy taking recipes from friends to try. I have decided to dedicate my Friday posts to sharing a recipe that I think is yummy. Last night I made this casserole. It came out delish and I will definitely be making it with a variety of fresh veggies this summer.

Zucchini Lasagna

2-3 small zucchini or 1 large
2 medium tomatoes

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 green pepper

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves chopped

2 tbsp. butter

16oz shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can tomato soup

Parmesan cheese

Brown turkey in a medium skillet.

Meanwhile melt butter in a large skillet, saute zucchini, onion and garlic.

Spread turkey in a 9x13 inch pan.

Spread 1/2 of the cheese on top of the meat.

Layer zucchini, onion and garlic evenly across cheese.

Top with remaining cheese.

Slice tomatoes and green pepper and arrange evenly on top.

Spread tomato soup (just the soup, no water) over top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake covered for 35 minutes at 375 degrees. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes

fish offering

Today I was filling the crock pot up with ingredients for chicken taco soup and Anya was in her jumper. She was getting hungry and I could tell by her little random whines. I only had one more ingredient to add so I said 'hang on munchkin I will be there in a second'. Herman comes into the kitchen with his favorite fish toy and drops it at her feet! He was saving the day with his offering. It was the sweetest thing and I gave Herman lots of strokes and love for his generosity. He loooooves this toy and it is his favorite. It was given to him by Dwight's brother Ed in a stocking two years ago. It is a little stuffed fish head with a felt skeleton fish body and it fits perfectly in Herman's mouth. He brings it to his bed and leaves it next to his food bowl and I have even found it in his food bowl. He thinks it's real. Well, I scooped up Anya and fed her apples and squash instead and Herman picked up his fish and brought it to his bed. He then carried it to the stairs and played a little bit finishing with dropping it at my feet in front of the high chair. He definitely redeemed himself from last weeks bite on my arm. Here is a picture from today. I can't wait for nice weather and outdoor photos.

White Chocolate Party Mix

I have had some requests for this party mix recipe so here it is...
I have to add that it's from Annie B who I used to work with in Bow.. thanks Ann!

4 cups honey nut Cheerios
4 cups rice Chex cereal
3 cups unsalted peanuts
16 oz bag plain m&ms (red and green for Christmas)
1 lb white melting chocolate

Mix everything together in a large pan except for the chocolate.
Melt chocolate and slowly add to mixture as you stir.
Mix until well coated.
Spread on wax paper until cooled.

Enjoy!

Turkey Burgers

These turkey burgers are quite amazing if you ask me. If you want a fresh dinner idea .. try it I tell ya!