A Taste of Summer

It's winter, it's cold, and right about now I'm craving a bit of summer.  Sitting by the campfire and roasting s'more's may be a few months off, but this easy, little recipe gives me a little taste of summer.  I recently made this for a gathering of youth who got together to play *indoor* camp games.

Enjoy!

S'More Snack Mix

1 Box of Golden Graham cereal

1 small bag of mini marshmallows

1 small bag of milk chocolate chips

Soup and Roll Days

As opposed to Rock and Roll Days, November, for me, is a time of Soup and Rolls.  Two very comforting and satisfying foods.  Enjoy some easy to make and highly delicious ideas for your own Soup and Rolls

Chicken Dump Soup

I had no recipe for this.  Just dumped in what I had, and it was delicious

Leftover Rotisserie Chicken
Egg Noodles
Chicken broth
Water
frozen carrots
zucchini
onion
fresh rosemary
fresh basil
fresh garlic

Simmered and cooked together.

Cake Mix Dinner Rolls, These are a family favorite.  
Be ye therefore warned

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 pkgs (1/4 ounce/7 g each) yeast
1 package (18 1/4 ounces/517g) yellow or white cake mix
5 cups flour, approximately

1.  Pour the warm water into a large bowl, add the yeast and stir until dissolved.
2.  Blend in the cake mix.  Then mix in the flour until the dough is smooth. (use clean hands to mix and nead the dough.  Add more flour, if needed)
3.  Cover the bowl and put it in a warm place.  Let the dough rise for one hour, then punch it down.
4.  Spread the dough into a greased 10x15x1 " jelly-roll pan, cut the dough into squares, cover, and let rise until double in size.
5.  Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown

What's Cooking?

Here is a family favorite.  It is rare that I cook something that everyone enjoys.  I tried using cooking wine, but the recipe came out too salty.  Since I'm not a drinker and don't have wine on hand, I bought a little bottle of white wine at the store.  I think it was a 10 ounce bottle.

Angel Chicken

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast
1/4 cut butter
1 envelope Italian Salad dressing mix
10 ounces condensed golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 ounces cream cheese with chive/onion
hot cooked angel hair pasta

Place chicken in a 3 1/2 - 4 quart slow cooker.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.  Stir in the dry Italian salad dressing mix.  Next add soup, white wine and cream cheese until combined.  Pour over chicken.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.  I remove the chicken and shred it, then return it to the sauce in the crock pot.  Serve over hot cooked pasta.

Serves 6 (or more)

***Post Edit*** Ladybug informed me that she doesn't like it anymore.  Dang! It's yummy!

The perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

I am always in the market for a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe. To the less experienced, you might think that all chocolate chip cookies are the same. This is, in my opinion the perfect cookie. It is crisp on the outside, yet chewey in the middle. AND, because I am such a nice person, I am going to share my find with you. This recipe is not lo-cal like some of my previous recipes shared. Enjoy every last nibble of fatty goodness...

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 TBL vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 F or 165 C. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a mediu,m bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sutar and white sugar until well blended. 3. Beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy. mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended.

4. Stir in the cholcolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough one or two tablespoon sized onto the prepared cookie sheets.

5. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

YUM!

Low-fat Living 7

Here is another smoothie idea that tastes similar to an Orange Julius. (I use my blender a lot!) 1 cup orange juice (not from concentrate) I'm thinking of trying the Trop 50. (50% less sugar) 1 cup ice cubes protein powder Blend to your preferred consistency. Enjoy!

Low-fat Living 6

I love a good smoothie. When made right, they are low cal and can be quite filling. I like to buy frozen bags of fruit. I've found some good fruit blends at Sams Club and Walmart. One cup fruit 3/4 cup cold water or less protein powder Blend in blender for a healthy meal replacement. The protein will help keep you full longer. Enjoy!

Low-fat Living 4

There is nothing about Salsa that is fattening until you overdo it with chips. Serve it over Chicken or Eggs/egg substitute to spice up a low-fat meal. When I do this right, it tastes like the green salsa at Baja Fresh. Salsa 3 red chilles (dried) 6-7 tomatillos 3 tomatoes 2-3 cloves garlic, diced 1 small bunch cilantro Boil the tomatillos 4 to 5 minutes. (Peel hard outer skin before boiling). Cook (dry roast) tomatoes until soft. Dry roast the chiles. In blender put garlic, cilantro, 1 teaspoon salt, dry roasted red chiles and tomatillos. Blend until chiles are smooth. Put tomatoes in the blender and blend. Add water if need.

Low-fat Living 3

Low-Fat living can be very flavorful. Try this recipe over a chicken breast with a pinch of cheese or over whole wheat pasta... Marinara Sauce 2 Tbs minced garlic (fresh) 2 16 oz cans crushed tomatoes (I really like S&W Italian crushed tomatoes) 1/2 tsp parsley 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp red peper 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 1 Tbs Splenda (Or sugar or even honey) Spray a 3 qt sauce pan with olive oil and saute garlic until golden brown. Stir in remaining ingredients, stir and simmer for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Low - fat living 2

When I make this, I make it just for me. I get comments like, "It smells like a dumpster in here..." I like to make fish tacos. I'm not a fishy fish eater, so I really like the taste of Mahi, Mahi. Fish Tacos Mahi, Mahi (or other) 2 corn tortillas olive oil Pico de gallo cole slaw Mrs. Dash Chipotle seasoning Cut up Mahi Mahi, season with chipotle seasoning and cook in pan with a spritz of olive oil. Combine in warmed tortilla with pico and cole slaw. (click link for recipe). Yummy and light

Low-fat Living

I have been slowly making adjustments to my diet. Eating now how I should have been eating for years. I hope it isn't too late to benefit my health for the better. The family is in an uproar, and most nights I am making two separate dinners. I've said good bye to french fries, Coca Cola and complex carbs. I am making friends with splenda, diet pepsi with a wedge of lime, and low fat cook books. Here is a recipe that I found somewhere on the internet. Turkey Roll-Ups Whole wheat flour tortilla deli sliced turkey (ask for it shaved) Reduced fat mozzarella cheese Cole Slaw (I buy the bagged) with homemade vinaigrette Warm the turkey, and tortilla, top with cole slaw and a bit of cheese. Dressing for cole slaw 1/4 cup fat-free plain yogurt 1/4 cup light mayonnaise 1/4 cup 100% orange juice 3 tbls white vinegar 1 1/2 tsp honey Whisk together, chill for three hours, then spoon over desired amount of coleslaw. This doesn't keep but for 2 days. I freeze it. (Cole Slaw dressing recipe comes from "The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook")