Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe

Ingredients

• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• 3/4 cups all-natural, whole-grain, crunchy, high-fiber, low-sugar cereal (I used Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets)
• 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 large egg whites
• 15-ounce can (1-¾ cups) solid pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup agave nectar
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour
• 2-½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-¼ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 32 teaspoons whipped topping, divided (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11" x 7" glass or ceramic baking dish with spray.
2. Add the cereal to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a chopping blade. Process it for 15-20 seconds, or until the cereal is crushed. Transfer it to a small mixing bowl and add the maple syrup and cinnamon. Mix them until well combined (the mixture should be slightly sticky). Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using a small piece of parchment paper, gently press down on the cereal mixture, spreading it evenly across the bottom of the baking dish. Bake the crust for 7-9 minutes, or until it is slightly browned. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl. Using a sturdy whisk, lightly beat them until they bubble very slightly. Still using the whisk, stir in the pumpkin, agave, and flour until well combined. Stir in the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt and continue mixing until well combined. Pour the filling over the baked crust. Using a rubber spatula, spread it into an even layer.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry (a few crumbs are okay). Transfer the dish to a wire cooking rack, allowing it to cool to room temperature. Carefully cut 32 pumpkin "bites" (3 cuts along the width of the pan, 7 cuts along the length, creating 4x8 bites).
5. Just before serving, top each bite with 1 teaspoon whipped topping, if desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Chicken Ranch Pasta Recipe

Chicken Ranch Pasta Recipe

8 ounces penne pasta
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup cooked, chopped bacon
2 cups cooked chopped chicken

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In same pot melt butter. Add flour and stir. Cook flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Continue cooking until sauce thickens. Stir in ranch dressing mix and cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add chicken, bacon and pasta.  Stir to coat.

Garden Lasagna Recipe

Garden Lasagna Recipe 

Ingredients For the basil puree: 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves 1/2 cup spinach leaves 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or Parmesan), grated Salt and pepper, to taste 32 ounces ricotta cheese (One 2-pound container) 1 large egg For the vegetables: 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1/2 cup shallots, finely chopped 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 cups milk 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced 1 8-ounce jar of roasted red bell peppers, drained 1 pound baby spinach 9 ounces of no-boil lasagna noodles 4 and 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded For garnish: 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

Tilapia Parmesan

• 2 lbs tilapia fillets (orange roughy, cod or red snapper can be substituted)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt (I like Old Bay seasoning here)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• black pepper
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 
  

Directions:

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 2
   In buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish or jellyroll pan, lay fillets in single layer.
3. 3
   Do not stack fillets.
4. 4
   Brush top with juice.
5. 5
   In bowl combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and seasonings.
6. 6
   Mix well with fork.
7. 7
   Bake fish in preheated oven 10 to 20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake.
8. 8
   Spread with cheese mixture and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
9. 9
   Baking time will depend on the thickness of the fish you use.
10. 10
    Watch fish closely so that it does not overcook.
11. 11
    Makes 4 servings.
12. 12
    Note: This fish can also be made in a broiler.
13. 13
    Broil 3 to 4 minutes or until almost done.
14. 14
    Add cheese and broil another 2 to 3 minutes or until browned.

(Source)

Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken And Rice

Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken And Rice

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large onion, chopped (I use Vidalia)
• 1 -8 ounce box Zatarain's Yellow Rice Mix, cooked according to directions
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 - 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (regular or fat free)
• 1 -15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained

Instructions

1. Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Scatter chopped onion over top. Spoon cream soup over top of that. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours. A few minutes before serving, add in cooked rice, corn, and cheese. Stir to combine. Serve hot.

The Most Common Cooking Mistakes

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Strawberry Coconut Cake

Strawberry Coconut Cake

Summer Strawberry Coconut Cake

1 (18.5 ounce) box white cake mix
4 T. strawberry gelatin powder
2 T. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
2 T. granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. pureed strawberries
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. coconut extract
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, finely diced
1 c. coconut, finely shredded in food processor
several strawberries to fill cake and garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine dry ingredients in mixer bowl and stir together. Beat in oil, eggs, water, strawberry puree, vanilla, and coconut extract. Mix well. Stir in diced strawberries and coconut. Pour into two 8- or 9-inch round pans, greased and floured. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean and the cakes are pulling away from the sides of the pans.

Put pans on wire racks and cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and leave on racks to cool completely. While cooling, make icing.

Spread some icing on first layer, then top with sliced strawberries. Place second layer on top and ice the rest of the cake. Cover entire cake in shredded coconut and garnish with fresh strawberries. I don't tint my coconut pink like in the original recipe, because I think it's so pretty to cut into the white cake and have the surprise of bright pink inside. I like the contrast of the white icing/coconut and pink cake.

The first time I made this, I did cupcakes. They're really pretty with a small strawberry on each one.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
2 16-oz. boxes powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla. Slowly beat in powdered sugar until desired consistency. Add a tablespoon or so of milk if icing is too thick.

Hawaiian Grilled Pineapple and Chicken

Hawaiian Grilled Pineapple and Chicken

(Original Recipe)

* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 3 tablespoons brown sugar
*

 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar or sherry
* 1 tablespoon sesame oil
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 2 inch pieces
* Fresh Pineapple cut into slices
* 1/2 c. fresh pineapple, chopped into small pieces, juice reserved
* skewers

Basting Sauce
* 1 T. Cornstarch
* 1/4 c. cold water
* Leftover Marinade 

In a small bowl mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic powder. In a Marinating dish, (if you don't have one you can place them in a 9x13 casserole dish, place the chicken pieces and several pineapple slices that have been chopped into small pieces into the dish, pour over the marinade, stir until well coated. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours. If using a marinating dish, flip it over after an
 hour. I don't recommend marinating overnight if you're using fresh pineapple as the enzymes in the pineapple will break down the chicken and change its texture.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Soak 10-12 Wooden Skewers in a tall glass of water. This prevents the skewers from burning during cooking.

Thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers. Now, you're left with some tasty leftover marinade. If you'd like to baste your chicken during cooking, you can make a light basting sauce. In a small sauce pan add the leftover marinade (with pineapple pieces) over medium heat, stirring occasionally. While it is heating in a small bowl mix cornstarch and COLD water (Cornstarch only thickens once!), once your marinade is bubbling hot, add the cornstarch/water mix. Bring to a boil until thickened and no longer cloudy (this means the cornstarch is thoroughly incorporated into your sauce). 

Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill the chicken kebabs 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, or until chicken juices run clear. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the pineapple slices, grill lightly on both sides.

Alternatively, you could use canned pineapple chunks and make Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs by alternating pieces of chicken and pieces of pineapple.