Ahh bruchetta.... a juicy, crunchy, flavorful blend of summertime goodness. Great lunch, dinner, snack or appetizer.
Prep time: 30 minutes
Yield 14 servings
1 garlic clove, peeled and halved
14 slices French bread (3/4 inch thick)
4 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced fresh basil
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
14 fresh basil leaves
Rub cut side of garlic over one side of each slice of bread. Place bread, garlic, side down, on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, oil, minced basil, salt and pepper; spoon about 2 tbsp onto each piece of toast. Top each with a basil leaf.
10 oz boneless beef sirloin steak/boneless chicken breast
1 medium green pepper
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
2 tsp canola oil
2 medium tomatoes, cut or 1 can diced tomatoes (14oz)
1/8 tsp pepper
4 cups hot cooked rice
1. In a bowl, combine cornstarch, bullion, water and soy sauce; set aside.
2. Cut steak or chicken into small cubes; set aside.
3. In a nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry green pepper, onion and garlic in oil for 4 minutes; remove and set aside.
4. Add meat; stir fry for 4-6 minutes.
5. Stir cornstarch and add to pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Add tomatoes, water and green pepper; cook and stir until heated through.
Sharp cheddar (block, not shredded) or cheese of your liking (sliced thin)
Bread or cracker crumbs (Ritz Garden Vegetable are good)
Butter (melted)
Toothpicks
1. Pound chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap/parchment paper.
2. Lay down a few thin slices of ham on top of the chicken breasts, and then add a layer of cheese. Roll up the chicken breast. Dip it in melted butter and roll in breadcrumbs, sticking a toothpick or 2 through the middle of the roll.
3. Put in a baking dish and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes depending on your oven.
3 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed, drained 3/4 lb. (12 oz) Velveeta, cut up 36 Ritz crackers, crushed 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix broccoli, Velveeta and half of the crushed crackers until well blended. Spoon into 2 quart baking dish. Mix remaining crushed crackers and butter; sprinkle over broccoli mixture. Bake for 45 minutes or until heated through.
Another one of those family favorites. We've actually had to expand this recipe to use an entire bag of potatoes in order to have enough for all of us at dinner!
1 sheet (18x24") aluminum foil 1 small onion, thinly sliced 4 medium red potatoes, cut in bite sized pieces 2 Tbsp olive oil or veggie oil 1 tsp. seasoned salt 1/2 tsp dried dill weed (opt) 1/4 tsp pepper
serves 4
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (or grill to med-high). 2. Spray foil with non stick cooking spray/ use glass dish and spray (we use cosco to grease the pan instead) 3. Center onion on foil. Layer potatoes evenly on top of the onion. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with seasonings. 4. Bring up the sides of the foil and double fold. (or cover glass pan with foil). Double fold ends to form one large oil packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside packet. 5. Bake 30-35 minutes on a cookie sheet in the oven. Or grill 15-20 minutes in covered grill
Taken from the Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook that my grandma got me for Christmas. :) Yay!! Thanks grandma!! It was just something I decided to do to occupy my time after dinner tonight. After it was out of the oven and on the rack, my mom and I went on a walk while waiting for it to cool. Of course, when I got back I just had to try it, it just smelled too good! I cut the first slice and shared half with my mom, but had no choice but to go back for another slice, my taste buds were screaming. It'll most likely be my breakfast tomorrow morning.
Makes 1 loaf.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 3 very rip bananas 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for pan 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped (optional - I only didn't add these due to allergies :( but the recipe called for it, I'm sure it'd be even better with it, but the bread turned out fine without it too. )
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly butter bottom and sides of a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan; lightly coat with flour. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, mash bananas with sour cream or yogurt until blended. In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer on high speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. 3. Fold banana mixture into batter until blended. Lightly fold in dry ingredients and walnuts until just combined. Batter will be chunky. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake about 1 hour, until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pan to loosen bread. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Mom made this for "dinner" today, which turned out to be more of a mid-day meal. When I asked where she'd gotten the recipe, it turns out that it came off of a package of egg noodles. What I liked the most about it was it reminded me of a lunch meal that my host mom used to make for us while I was in Germany. Only difference I could find was there was no peas. Good recipe for when you want to use up some leftover ham from dinner the night before. Really yummy!!
1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms, larger pieces cut in half
2 Tbsp. diced onion
1 cup frozen peas
1 1/4 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
1. Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil, add salt to taste if desired. Add noodles and return to boil for 7-8 minutes or until noodles are tender, then drain.
2. While noodles are cooking, melt butter in large skillet. Add ham; cook and stir until lightly browned. Add mushrooms, onions and peas; cook about 4 minutes or until peas are hot and onions and mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Add cream; simmer about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly.
3. Toss sauce with hot noodles and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with additional cheese, if desired.
Our family borrowed this recipe from katesblog to try for the holidays. When first mixing all of the ingredients together we were sort of leery about how it would turn out. But ummmm were they good!! Even a friend of mine, who is usually not so crazy about peanut butter, absolutely loved them. In fact, the reason I'm putting this recipe on my blog is so she can have access to it, because she asked me for it over the holiday but we were away, so I couldn't get it to her. Enjoy!!
1 18oz jar peanut bar 2lb powdered sugar 1 cup butter, softened chocolate almond bark (or melt 12oz bag of chocolate chips with 2 T shortening)
1. Mix peanut butter, butter, and optional 1tsp vanilla with electric mixer until well blended. 2. Add the powdered sugar, a little at a time, blending with the mixer until all the sugar is mixed in. The dough will be slightly crumbly. 3. Form the dough into 1-1 1/2 inch sized balls by rolling the dough between your hands. Set formed balls on a plate or cookie tray. 4. Mix all ingredients together except for chocolate. Shape into 1-inch balls. Cool in frig. Melt chocolate in microwave, or double broiler and dip balls in, being sure to cover completely. Put on wax paper to harden. 5. Once they are cool you can put them in plastic containers in the refrigerator or freezer. They will keep for several weeks.
Another famous recipe in our household. Quick and easy family favorite!
1-1 1/2 pounds hamburger
3-4 cups of water
3 medium carrots, chopped (about 1 cup or more if you like carrots)
2 medium stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup or more if you like)
1 large potato, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about 1 cup or more if you like)
2 medium onions, chopped (about 1 cup or more if you like)
1-2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 can (14.5 ounce) Diced tomatoes with the liquid! ( or 2 cans if you like)(or a 28 oz. can will do)
Cook and stir hamburger in Dutch oven until light brown; drain. Stir in remaining ingredients; Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer just until vegetables are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. (Depending on how small you chopped your vegies!)
Serves about 6, but in my household any leftover soup keeps for lunch the next day!
Quick and easy! This one is for Becca. After chatting online with her about the whole green bean recipe I decided to add it. ;)
Ingredients: 1 Red bell pepper 1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed 1/4 cup slivered almonds 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper
1. Cook green beans in boiling water to cover in dutch oven over med-high heat for 10 minutes. Plunge beans into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
2. Saute almonds in hot il on large skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add garlic; saute 30 seconds. Stir in green beans, dill, salt, and pepper; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
We had family visiting this weekend, and we were looking for an easy dish to add to our lunch menu...but something that would also feed a lot of people and taste just as good. Our solution was the "famous" pasta salad recipe that my mom had collected from one of her quilting bee members. Its a really easy salad to make, and there is not much to it and everyone, I mean everyone, who has ever tried it has absolutely loved it. The relatives staying with us this weekend even asked for the recipe. So, I decided to share it with all of you! I hope you guys find it to be just as good !! Enjoy!
Ingredients: Package of Wacky Mac pasta Broccoli Peppers Feta Cheese Peppers (green or red works) Artichokes Black or green olives Pepperoni Italian salad dressing
1. Boil and drain the pasta according to package 2. Cut desired ingredients (you can add or subtract what you want according to your own tastes - feel free to experiment with it!!) 3. Mix 4. Top with dressing and chill or eat right away.
*note: you may need to add more dressing if you let it sit in the fridge overnight, the pasta tends to soak in the dressing
Family Favorite!! This is dish is usually gone the same day we make it! Great as an appetizer, side or if you just want to have it for lunch. Perfect for those hot summer days.
Ingredients: 2 cucumbers 1 large tomato 1 small green pepper 1 small purple onion 1/3 cup veggie oil 3 Tbsp sugar 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar 3/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper
Directions: Chop cucumber, tomato, bell pepper and onion. Whisk together oil and next 4 ingredients in large bowl until sugar dissolves. Add cucumber mixture. Toss together. Cover and chill 3 hours.
Absolutely delicious!! My mom made this one morning for breakfast and I couldn't help but go back for seconds. Low calorie, low fat and yummy....I don't think it can get any better than that!!
45 min/10 min prep 8 slices
1 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 egg 1/2 low-fat plain yogurt 2 tbsp butter or margarine, melted 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 tbsp brown sugar 1 cup unsweetened raspberries (fresh or frozen...but fresh are definately better!!) 1 tbsp sliced almonds
Something that I tried off on a whim. Turns out it is really good, and not to mention, really easy to make! Even my sister liked it and she doesn't even drink coffee!! Tasty warm drink that works great as an alternative to hot chocolate for coffee drinkers and non coffee drinkers alike!! Would also work as a simple, great holiday gift for those on a tight budget.
Spiced Mocha Mix 1 cup sugar 3/4 instant nonfat dry milk powder 2/3 cup cocoa 1/2 cup powdered nondairy coffee creamer 1/3 cup instant coffee granules 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt Marshmallows (optional)
Combine first 8 ingredients. Store in airtight container. To serve, spoon 3 heaping tbsp into a mug. Add 1 cup hot milk, stirring until dissolved.Top with marshmallows, if desired.
