Apples in a Bag

Ingredients:

1 small apple (Fujis and Jazz are my favorite)

1 packet of sweetener, or a spoonful of sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

 Small handful of raisins, optional

Directions:

1.  Peel or don’t peel apple, core and slice or dice. Place in freezer-quality plastic zippered bag along with remaining ingredients. Seal bag and shake well to mix ingredients.

2.  Reopen bag just a touch to vent. Microwave on High for 2 minutes– longer if you use a big apple.

3.  Carefully (it will be HOT and steamy) open bag and pour over plain or cinnamon-sugar pita chips, flour tortilla chips, oatmeal or ice cream or just enjoy alone.

Pesto Cheese Bread

Rather than just have the same ole cheese toast with dinner, I decided to experiment with a healthier version of your regular pesto cheese bread.

 

My version of pesto cheese bread:

Ingredients:

1 Ororwheat Sandwich Thin

1/2 tbsp. pesto sauce (per 1/4)

slice of tomato 

sprinkle of cheddar and swiss cheese

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400.

2.  Slice bread.

3.  Spread pesto.

4.  Top with tomato and cheese. 

5.  Bake 10 minutes or until brown 

Sweeter Green Beans

Want to give your green beans a little more flavor?

Just add 2 tbsp. of brown sugar per can of green beans!  

Just cook the green beans as stated on the can and you've got a delicious side. It's really that easy and yummy! 

Italian Spinach

Ingredients:

EVOO

1 tbsp. minced garlic (or add more if you like)

1 can of fresh spinach

1 can of petite diced tomatoes

Parmesan cheese (OPTIONAL)

Directions:

1. Warm EVOO and garlic in skillet. Do not burn the garlic.

2. Once garlic is browned, add spinach and tomatoes (be sure to drain both cans).

3. Heat all ingredients until warm (3-5 minutes) and serve.

It's really that easy and it's delicious!

Baked Zucchini Sticks

Recipe from: Simply Made with Love
3 medium zucchini sliced into 3" x 1/2" sticks
1 large egg white (I used 1/4 cup of Egg Beaters)
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I used Italian Panko bread crumbs)
2 tbsp grated Pecorino Romano cheese (OMITTED)
cooking spray
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt
fresh pepper

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, pour Egg Beaters and season with salt and pepper.
2. In a shallow bowl, place breadcrumbs, garlic powder and cheese and mix.
3. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
4. Dip zucchini sticks into eggs then into bread crumb and cheese mixture.
5. Place the breaded zucchini in a single layer and spray more cooking spray on top.
6. Bake at 425° for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

*These were so yummy and so easy to make.

Skillet Cornbread

Recipe from: About.com
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups white cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup low-fat milk
2 large eggs
2 to 3 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.Add about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to a 10-inch seasoned iron skillet; place in oven.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the meal, flour, salt, baking powder and soda.
3. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk and milk with eggs and melted butter.
4. Gradually fold milk mixture into dry ingredients, folding and mixing just until all dry ingredients are moist.
5. Using oven mitts or potholders, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven; swirl slightly so oil coats sides of pan.
6. Pour batter into the skillet then return to oven.
7. Reduce heat to 350°.
8. Bake cornbread for 35 to 45 minutes, until it pulls away from sides of pan and is lightly browned.
9. Cut into squares or wedges.

Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Recipe From: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
6 sweet potatoes, cut into French fries
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a plastic bag, combine the sweet potatoes, canola oil, taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Close and shake the bag until the fries are evenly coated. Spread the fries out in a single layer on two large baking sheets.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy and brown on one side. Turn the fries over using a spatula, and cook for another 30 minutes, or until they are all crispy on the outside and tender inside. Thinner fries may not take as long.

Hungry Girl's Miracle Mashies

PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, about 2/3 cup): 82 calories, 1g fat, 168mg sodium, 16g carbs, 3g fiber, 2g sugars, 3g protein -- POINTS® value 1

Ingredients:
1 large (about 13-oz.) potato
3 cups cauliflower florets3 tbsp.
fat-free half & half
1 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread
1/4 tsp. salt pepper and additional salt, to taste
Optional: 1/2 tsp. crushed garlic

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. While waiting for the water to boil, peel and cube the potato.
3. Once water is boiling, add peeled potato cubes and cauliflower.
4. Wait for the water to return to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook for 15 - 20 minutes (until potatoes and cauliflower are very tender).
6. Remove the pot from heat and strain out all of the water.
7. Transfer contents to a large bowl, and add half & half, butter/buttery spread, salt, and (if you like) crushed garlic.
8. Mash it all together with a potato masher, until completely blended.
9. Season to taste with pepper and additional salt.

MAKES 5 SERVINGS

Sweet Potato Casserole

Recipe from: Natasha at A Day In The Life
Ingredients:
2 large cans of canned sweet potatoes (aka yams)
1 egg
1 cup of sugar
1 stick of melted butter
2 table spoons of flour
½ cup of sweetened condensed milk
1 and ½ teaspoons of vanilla
1 and ½ teaspoons of cinnamon
1 table spoon of allspice
Topping:
1 stick of butter
2 cups of brown sugar
2 cups of pecan pieces
Mini marshmallows

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Drain potatoes and mash in large bowl.
2. Mix in sugar, egg, 1 stick of melted butter, flour, and condensed milk.
3. Blend well and then add spices and vanilla.
4. Spoon mixture into 9x13 greased casserole dish.
5. Melt 1 stick of butter in sauce pan on low.
6. Add brown sugar and pecans and stir until smooth and easy to spread.
7. Spread topping evenly over potato mixture.
8. Bake for 40 minutes in preheated oven set at 350 degrees.
9. Remove from oven and add marshmallows to cover dish.
10. Replace in oven and allow tops to brown for 3-5 minutes.

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
1 – 1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (preferably the easy release kind).
3. Peal the sweet potatoes.
4. Cut into strips that are about 1/2 inch wide on each side.
5. Place the sweet potatoes into a resealable plastic bag. Add oil, salt, paprika and cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake well to thoroughly coat the fries.
6. Spread the potatoes out onto the baking sheet in a single layer.

Cook for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes, until slightly browned. Transfer immediately to a paper towel lined plate and serve warm.

Parmesan Okra

From: Southern Living

Ingredients
1 pound fresh okra, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning
1/4 cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Sauté okra in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender.
2. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and seasoning, and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes.
3. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.

Potato Bundles

From: The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Ingredients:
6 whole Russet potatoes
1/2 whole Yellow Onion, diced
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Kosher Salt to taste
Paprika to taste
Black Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced parsley

Directions:
1. Pile potatoes and onions on a square of foil.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Splash on cream.
3. Then sprinkle on salt, paprika, and black pepper.
4. Sprinkle minced parsley over the top.
5. Wrap bundles tightly and bake 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until extremely tender.
6. Serve bundles right on the dinner plate.

Ola Brown's Baked Beans

For Memorial Day, Fred and I went over to his parents house for dinner. We had the usual ribs, potato salad, and I was in charge of bringing the baked beans.

I used my grandmother's recipe for baked beans and they were a hit!

Ingredients:
1 large can of baked beans (any flavor)
1 pound tube of sausage (I used Jimmy Dean's Reduced Fat Sausage)
3 tablespoons of brown sugar (I use Light Brown Sugar)
4 tablespoons of BBQ sauce (any brand)
4 tablespoons of Ketchup (any brand)
1/2 teaspoon of vinegar

Directions:
Brown the sausage. Combine all ingredients in a baking dish and cook at 325 for one hour.

Green Bean Bundles

I got this from Kelly's Recipes!

Ingredients:
2 or 3 cans of whole green beans
Bacon slices
1 stick of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
tsp of garlic salt

Wrap a handful of green beans in half a slice of bacon. That makes one bundle - keep going for as many bundles as you would like to have. Melt a stick of butter and stir in one cup of brown sugar (more or less depending on how sweet you would like it). Add a teaspoon of garlic salt. Pour over bundles. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Then put under the broiler for 4-5 minutes at the end. DELICIOUS!

Five Cup Salad

1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 8 oz. can of sliced pineapple (drained)
1 8 oz. sour cream
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of miniature marshmallows

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place in the refrigerator overnight and serve.

Easy Fried Rice

Ingredients:
1 - 2 green onions, as desired
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
4 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed
4 cups cold cooked rice (I used brown rice)
1 - 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, as desired

Preparation:
Wash and finely chop the green onion. Lightly beat the eggs with the salt and pepper. Heat a wok or frying pan and add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the eggs. Cook, stirring, until they are lightly scrambled but not too dry. Remove the eggs and clean out the pan. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add the rice. Stir-fry for a few minutes, using chopsticks or a wooden spoon to break it apart. Stir in the soy sauce as desired. When the rice is heated through, add the scrambled egg back into the pan. Mix thoroughly. Stir in the green onion. Serve hot.


*Super easy and very delicious!