Crab Rangoon Dip Recipe

Crab Rangoon Dip Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup chopped scallions

2 tablespoons each chopped fresh cilantro and ginger

1 teaspoon sugar

two packages cream cheese, softened, 8 ounces each

2 tablespoons lime juice

salt to taste

one can lump crabmeat, 6.5 ounces

Directions

1. preheat oven to 400°. Coat a 3 cup oven proof dish with nonstick spray.

2. Minced scallions, cilantro, ginger, and sugar in a food processor.

3. Add cream cheese and lime juice, then pulse to combine. Season with salt and transfer to a bowl. Fold crabmeat into cream cheese mixture. Transfer to prepare dish. Bake dip until hot in center and bubbly, 15 minutes. Serve dip with fried wonton chips. Makes 3 cups.

Sesame Quinoa Spring Rolls Recipe

Sesame Quinoa Spring Rolls Recipe

	Ingredients
2	cups red quinoa
3	cups water
4	handfuls of greens
10	rice paper wrappers
Dressing:
4	Tbs. rice vinegar
5	Tbs. soy sauce
2	tsp. minced garlic
2	Tbs. minced ginger
4	tsp. sesame oil

Rinse and drain the quinoa and cook for 12 minutes in 3 cups of water. While quinoa cooks, make the dressing, cut up the greens and whisk the greens and dressing together in a bowl. Once quinoa is done, combine it with the dressed greens. Before assembling the spring rolls,  fill a square pan with water.  Then soak a wrapper for 30 seconds or until it begins to soften. Don’t let it sit for too long because it will soften and fall apart. Place the wet rice wrapper on a flat surface and with a spoon fill the wrapper with about 3 Tbs. of the lettuce-quinoa mixture. Fold the edges over and roll into a spring roll.  Repeat by soaking another rice wrapper and wrapping it. Keep going until all the filling has been used.

Grilled Cabbage Recipe

Grilled Cabbage Recipe

1 medium head cabbage 

1/3 cup butter, softened 

1/4 cup chopped onion 

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 

1/4 teaspoon pepper 

Cut cabbage into eight wedges; place on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Spread cut sides with butter. Sprinkle with onion, garlic salt and pepper. Fold foil around cabbage and seal tightly. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 20 minutes or until tender.

Baked Banana Bread Recipe

Baked Banana Bread Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2  cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and sugar a 9×5 inch loaf pan (or 4 mini loaf pans).

In a large bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Stir in vanilla, eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes (less time for smaller pans), until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

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

Chicken Jalapeno Bombs

Chicken Jalapeno Bombs

Ingredients

5 Chicken Breasts

5 Jalapenos

20 Slices of Bacon

4 oz Cream Cheese

1 Cup of Colby Jack Cheese

1 Cup BBQ Sauce

Directions

Slice chicken breasts in half (like a hamburger bun), place between wax paper and pound until it’s ¼” thick. Season with S&P. Mix the two cheeses together and smear about 1 Tblsp into each pepper half (just use up the cheese between all of the peppers). Place the pepper on the chicken breast and wrap it up as best you can. I suggest placing the pepper cheese side down so it gets completely covered by the chicken. 

Wrap each chicken breast completely with two pieces of bacon. Start at one end, wrap half the breast and finish the second half with the other piece of bacon. 
Cook on a preheated 350 degree grill over indirect heat for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. Turn every 5 minutes and baste with BBQ sauce each time you turn it. 
For oven: Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. Baste a couple times and finish under the broiler to set the BBQ sauce. **I suggest a 400 degree oven and no BBQsauce for the first 20 minutes, turning once to help cook the bacon. Then reduce heat to 375, change pans to loose some of the bacon fat (if you don’t have a broiler pan), cover in BBQsauce and finish baking

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps Recipe

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wrap Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature
• 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken (or other leftover meat, like shredded pork or beef)
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
• 1/2 red or green pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combination of Monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
• Sour cream (optional)
• 6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: I like to dollop little bits of sour cream over the cheese before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center – it makes the wraps delightfully creamy.) Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open and slightly flatten the wraps with the palm of your hand. Spray seam-side of the wrap lightly with cooking spray.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. Arrange wraps, seam-side down, in pan or griddle and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Cooking them seam-side down first helps seal the long edge so they don’t fall apart. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve warm.

Simple Nacho Cheese Recipe

Simple Nacho Cheese Recipe

4 oz. pepper jack cheese,shredded
4 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk, divided
2 teaspoons hot sauce
pinch salt

Toss together cheese and cornstarch, in a medium-sized saucepan, until evenly coated. Stir in 1 cup evaporated milk, the hot sauce and salt. Cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat until thickened, smooth and bubbly. Stir in additional evaporated milk, if needed, until desired consistency is reached.

Holy Yum Chicken Recipe

Holy Yum Chicken Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 - 2 pounds boneless, skinless, chicken thighs (most of the fat cut and discarded)

1/2 cup Dijon mustard (must be Dijon mustard, no substitutes)

1/4 cup pure maple syrup (again, no substitutes. No fake Aunt Jemima stuff)

1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 tbsp. cornstarch

2 tsp. fresh rosemary for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a 8x8" oven-proof pan with 2 layers of tin foil.
2. In small bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Place the chicken thighs in the foil layered pan then pour the mixture on top of it. Turn the chicken around in the sauce to make sure it gets all coated.
4. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and let chicken sit for 5 minutes then transfer to a plate. Do NOT discard the liquid.
6. Immediately after plating chicken, whisk in the 1 tbsp. of cornstarch into the liquid in the pan. You'll create a nice, thick sauce to drizzle over your chicken. You need to do cornstarch mixing immediately because the liquid needs to be hot in order for it to thicken properly. If it's still not thickening after 1 tbsp., you can add a little more.
7. Sprinkle rosemary on top before serving.
8. Serve with rice or potatoes or vegetables.

Note: If you like things more tangy, I would add 2 tbsp. of rice wine vinegar instead of 1 tbsp. I did this the second time I made this and it was a nice tangy kick with the sweetness that subdued it. If you like things on the sweeter side, keep it to 1 tbsp. of rice wine vinegar. Regardless, taste the sauce after mixing it together and adjust to taste. 

 Mini Cinnamon Rolls Recipe 

Flatten Crescent rolls; cover with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar 

Roll into log and slice into mini rolls

Place in muffin pan; bake 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown. 

Icing: 3/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 tbsp skim milk; 1 tsp maple syrup.

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna with Mushrooms & Kale Recipe

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna with Mushrooms & Kale Recipe

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
20 ounces from a 32 oz. container part-skim ricotta
4-5 ounces of low-fat cottage cheese
1 large egg
1 cup coarsely chopped Kale leaves
6 oz. mushroom caps, stems removed, roughly minced
3 1/2 cups or so (maybe 30 ounces) of high quality marinara sauce (low sugar, low salt)
15 lasagna noodles (whole-wheat preferred), uncooked
1 cup shredded parmesan or reduced-fat cheddar
Coarse salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. In a skillet (I used the ninja cooking system so I cooked in it on stove-top function), heat the oil over medium heat. Begin sauteing the onion and green pepper, stirring often for about 5 minutes. Turn of the heat, toss in the garlic, stir and allow to cook 30 seconds or so.

2. Meanwhile combine ricotta, cottage cheese, egg, kale and mushrooms in a large bowl. Mix the saute mixture into the ricotta mixture and mix well.

3. Unless nonstick, coat a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray and spread 1 cup or so of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place 4-5 noodles over the sauce, overlapping them slightly and breaking into pieces as necessary to fill up the space.

4. Spread some of the ricotta-vegetable mixture over the noodles followed by some marinara sauce. Repeat until you have used up all of the luscious ingredients.

5. Sprinkle the Parmesan or cheddar on top and set the slow-cooker on high for 2 hours (or 4 hours on low). I found mine was done at about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Crockpot Potato Soup

Crockpot Potato Soup

Ingredients

Soup:

• 5lbs Russet Potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into ½ inch cubes
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 10 cloves of garlic (you can use whole, crushed, or minced) – I used 10 t of minced jarred garlic
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 16 oz cream cheese
• 1 TBS seasoned salt or all-purpose seasoning (I used Nature’s Season All)

Garnishes:

• Crumbled bacon
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Green onions (I don’t like green onions so I left them off.)

Instructions

1. Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken stock to slow cooker.
2. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.
3. Remove and puree the garlic cloves (if you used whole cloves), the cream cheese and ½ to ⅓rd of the soup, and then reintroduce to the remainder in the crock pot.
4. Stir every 10-15 minutes until soup is well blended.
5. Top with your choice of garnishes & serve!