Kaelin's Green Noodles aka Basil Pesto

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 large bunch of fresh basil leaves

1 large garlic clove

1 cup shredded parmesean cheese

1 cup pine nuts (I sub walnuts)

2 c olive oil

2 T lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

2 chicken breast grilled and sliced

noodles of choice (I usually just use spaghetti)

1. In a blender, puree basil, one cup of the oil, garlic clove, cheese, nuts, and lemon juice. Slowly add the remaining oil until you get your desired consistency. Add the salt and pepper last. Set aside and let the flavors develop.

2. Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook noodles to package directions.

3. Drain the noodles and toss with the pesto sauce (only enough sauce to coat everything, this pesto recipe should make extra that you can freeze).

4. Serve topped with the grilled chicken and some parmesean cheese.

ENJOY!!

Note: I like to add sliced sundried tomatoes in when I toss the noodles with the pesto. Sometimes, I will also add some parsley to basil when making the pesto. Just last night, I made pesto, but didn't have parmesean cheese, so I made the sauce without the cheese and it was great. I ended up making this pesto a creamy pesto though by making a cream cheese based white sauce and stirring the parmesean-less pesto in. It was yummy!!!

Strawberry Pops

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Freeze Time: at least 2 hours

2 cups strawberry puree
1 cup milk
sugar to taste

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Add sugar to get the flavor that you are looking for.

2. Pour mixture into your popsicle mold or ice cube tray. Let freeze for at least 2 hours.

ENJOY!!

Strawberry Vinegar

Prep Time: 48 hours

2 cups sliced strawberries
4 cups white wine vinegar
2 T sugar

1. Combine strawberries, vinegar, and sugar in a large jar or large airtight container.

2. Let this mixture set covered in a cool dark place for 48 hours.

3. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer lined with 3 layers of cheese cloth. Keep stored in the fridge in a jar. Is great made into a vinaigrette for spring and summer salads.

Gyro Burgers with Tzatziki and Feta

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

1 1/2 lb ground lamb (I sub beef)
1/2 c fine diced onion
1/4 c olive oil
2 garlic cloves - minced
2 t fresh oregano (1/2 t dried)
2 t fresh rosemary (1/2 t dried)
1 T cumin
2 T lemon juice
salt and pepper
3 whole pita pockets (cut in half)
lettuce
tomato
red onion
crumbled feta cheese
tzatziki (recipe below)

1. In a heavy bottomed frying pan, saute the onion over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until translucent. Add in garlic and saute for an additional 45 seconds stirring constantly so you don't burn the garlic. Set aside to cool.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the meat, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, cumin, lemon juice, onion, and garlic. Use your hands to incorporate all of the ingredients. Don't over work the mixture or you will have tough patties. Let this mixture set covered for 15 or so minutes if you have the time, the flavor is stronger.

3. Form the meat mixture into six patties. Heat the remaining oil in frying pan over medium high heat. Cook the patties until juices run clear.

Tzatziki

1 medium cucumber
1 c plain yogurt
1 garlic clove - minced
salt
pepper (optional)

1. Peel, halve, and seed the cucumber. Grate the cucumber into a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let this set for 15 minutes.

2. Place grated cucumber and salt mixture in the center of a clean dish towel. Squeeze out all of the water that you can.

3. Combine squeezed out cucumber, garlic, yogurt, and pepper. Let this set in the fridge while you cook your gyro's

Note: Serve the gyro patty in a pita pocket with some tzatziki, feta, lettuce, sliced tomato, and thinly slice red onion.

ENJOY!!!

Easy Granola

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20ish minutes

4 c old fashioned oats
3/4 c sliced almonds
1/2 c shredded or flaked coconut
2 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
1/2 c honey
1/4 c apple juice
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Mix together the honey and apple juice. Pour over the oat mixture and stir to coat each piece.

4. Spread the mixture in an even layer on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes until a golden color has been achieved. Be sure to stir the mixture two times during baking to avoid burning the edges.

5. Remove from oven and let cool. Once the granola is cool, add the raisins and cranberries.

ENJOY!

Note: You can really play with this recipe. Change up the dried fruits, add some pecans pieces, etc. My next batch, I am going to add some flax seeds and pearl barley. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Best Ever Rice Pudding with Irish Cream Caramel Sauce

Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 min

Pudding:
4 c milk
1 t vanilla
2/3 c heavy cream
2/3 c arborio rice (or other short grain white rice)
2/3 c sugar
1/2 c golden raisins (plumped in hot water and drained)
1/2 c irish cream liqueur
2 eggs beaten
1 t cinnamon
1 T lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 325. Combine milk, vanilla, and cream in a large sauce pan and bring to a boil.

2. Add rice and sugar to milk mixture, reduce heat to simmer, and cook rice for 30 or until tender. Note: the rice will not soak up all of the milk and cream.

3. Combine irish cream and eggs, stir to combine. Add in raisins.

4. Butter a 9x9 baking dish. When rice is tender, remove from heat and add in the egg mixture. Pour all contents into the baking dish and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Caramel Sauce:
1/2 c sugar
4 T butter
1/4 c heavy cream
1/4 c irish cream liqueur

1. In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, heat the sugar to melting point.

2. Remove from heat and stir in butter and then the cream. Once combined, add in the irish cream.

3. Serve the pudding warm drizzled with the caramel sauce.

ENJOY!

Leftover Ham Casserole

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 30 min

2 c cubed ham
1 c diced onion
2 c cubed potato
2 c chopped carrot
2 c chopped celery
3 T canola oil or butter
2 T flour
1-2 c ff milk
1 c reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 c grated parmesean cheese
salt, pepper, and garlic to taste
1/2 c crushed crackers or bread crumbs

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Bring potato, celery, carrots to a boil in a soup pot. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until just tender. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large skillet, saute the onion in 1 T of oil/butter. Add ham and saute until hot.

3. Combine ham mixture with potato mixture in a 9x13 baking dish.

4. In the skillet, heat the remaining 2 T of oil/butter over medium heat and add the flour. Stir and brown. Slowly add the milk while stirring. Once thickened, add the cream cheese and parmesean cheese. Stir until melted. Add in salt, pepper and garlic powder.

5. Pour cheese sauce over the ham mixture and stir to combine. Top with the cracker crumbs and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

ENJOY!

FamilyFun Great Cake Contest

So I entered Kaelin's birthday cake in FamilyFun's Great Cake Contest. Here is a link to where her cake is and where you can vote. The contest ends in April...fingers crossed!!!

http://family.go.com/2010-cake-contest/animal_and_characters/kaelin-s-3rd-birthday-23829/

Basil Wrapped Mozzarella w/ Sun Dried Tomato Balsamic Glaze

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0

10 oz fresh mozzarella log
10 large basil leaves
1/4 c sun dried tomato
3/4 c balsamic vinegar

1. Remove basil leaves from the stems. Use the largest leaves and reserve the small leaves for the glaze.

2. Slice the mozzarella log into 1/4" slices and place one slice on each basil leaf.

3. In a blender, combine sun dried tomatoes, vinegar, and small basil leaves. This should make a thin paste.

4. Spread the vinegar mixture on each of the mozzarella rounds and then wrap the basil leaf around the mozzarella.

ENJOY!!

Rolled Marshmallow Fondant

Prep Time: 30ish minutes
Cook Time: approx. 2 1/2 minutes


16 oz bag mini marshmallow
4-5 T water
2 lb powdered sugar (sifted to remove lumps)
1/2 c crisco shortening

1. In a large microwave safe bowl, combine marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of water.

2. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals and stirring until all of the marshmallows are melted. If you are tinting your fondant, now is a good time to add color or flavor.

3. Add about 2/3 of the powdered sugar to the marshmallows and combine. I found it easier to do this with my hands (well greased with shortening).

4. Put fondant onto a shortening coated surface, make sure your hand are greased up to avoid sticking, and knead until the fondant is elastic-like and doesn't crack. If cracking does occur, add water by the 1/2 tablespoon. If it is too soft, add more powdered sugar.

5. Store the fondant wrapped in a piece of plastic wrap that has been coated on the inside with shortening. Then put the wrapped fondant in a plastic bag. This can be stored in the fridge for several weeks.

6. When you are ready to use the fondant, coat your work surface with a mixture equal parts powdered sugar and corn starch, and roll out the fondant to 1/8 of an inch. For the correct size that you need, take the diameter of your cake in inches plus 2 times the height. Add another inch to that.

ENJOY!!

Notes: This was super easy to make and surprisingly easy to put on the cake. Have fun with it and be creative!

Fish Tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 lb white fish (I like talapia or roughy)
8-10 corn tortillas
3 small avocado (not too soft)
1/2 c fine diced onion
1 roma tomato (fine dice)
1 medium lime
zest from 1 medium lime
1/2 c chopped cilantro
3 garlic cloves (grated to make a paste)
1 can black beans
1 c fresh or frozen corn (thawed if frozen)
2 c shredded cabbage
1/2 c corn starch
salt and pepper
veg oil
shredded cheddar
sour cream

1. Prepare avocado relish:
a. Halve avocados and remove pits. While still in skin and with a sharp knife (be careful), slice the avocado vertically and horizontally (making cubes). Scoop the cubes out with a spoon and place in a large bowl
b. Add onion, tomato, zest, juice from lime, cilantro, corn, black beans, garlic, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine, cover and refrigerate to develop flavors.

2. Fill a deep frying pan slightly less than half way with veg oil. Heat to 350ish degrees.

3. While the oil is heating, cut fish fillets into 2" chunks. Combine corn starch, salt and pepper. Coat the fish with the corn starch mixture.

4. When oil is hot, cook off your corn tortillas (do the tortillas before the fish) just until tender. Fry your fish nuggets off in two batches, stirring frequently so they don't stick together (should take about 3-4 minutes per batch).

5. Serve with 4-5 nuggets in the tortilla, topped with the avocado relish, shredded cabbage, cheese, and sour cream.

ENJOY!!

Musroom Risotto

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20ish minutes

1 1/2 c Aborio rice
4 c beef, chicken, or veggie stock
1 c white wine
1 c fine diced onion
2 c diced crimini mushrooms
1 c chopped spinach
1 T butter
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1/4 c sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
3 T chopped parsley

1. In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter and saute the onions and mushrooms. Heat the stock in a separate sauce pan.

2. Add the rice to the mushroom mix and stir to coat each grain. Add the wine to the rice, stir to combine and until the wine is absorbed.

3. While stirring, add 1 cup of heated stock. Bring to a simmer. Add in spinach, Add additional stock, 1 cup at a time, once the previous cup of stock has been absorbed. Do this for a total of 18 or so minutes or until the rice is soft to the bite but still firm.

4. Add cheese and sour cream. Stir to combine. Serve topped with chopped parsley.

ENJOY!!

Sundried Tomato Alfredo with Grilled Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 pkg Linguine pasta
2 Chicken breasts
6 T unsalted butter
3 T flour
2 c milk (I used 2%)
1 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c finely diced shallot
2 finely diced garlic cloves
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 c chopped fresh basil
1/2 c chopped sun dried tomato (I like the kind I rehydrate myself)


1. Put on a pot of salted water for the pasta. Put pasta in water when boiling and cook to package direction.

2. Preheat grill and season chicken breast with salt and pepper. Grill until no longer pink and slice.

3. While chicken is on the grill: in a medium saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter and saute shallot for 2 minutes. Add in garlic and saute another minute.

4. Sprinkle flour over the onion and garlic mixture and stir around for 30 seconds (being careful not to burn the flour).

5. Slowly pour milk into the saucepan while stirring. The flour will thicken the milk as it brings the milk up to temperature. You may need to add more or less milk to desired consistency of sauce.

6. Add cheese to white sauce and stir until melted. DO NOT let the sauce set unattended on the burner so that you don't scorch the milk in the sauce (yucky).

7. Remove sauce from heat and add in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, basil, and sun dried tomato. Stir to combine.

8. Drain the pasta once tender and add to the alfredo sauce and stir to coat all noodles.

9. Serve pasta in a large bowl topped with sliced chicken and more grated parmesan. You can also sprinkle some fresh chopped parsley on top for a hint of freshness.

ENJOY!!

Note: Greg likes it when I mix either red or green chile into the sauce for a hint of southwestern flavor. I also like to make this recipe with steak and add some blue cheese to the sauce. This sauce lends itself well to experimentation to create delicious twists on a classic.

Gettin' a Move On!!!

Sorry I haven't been on in a while. With K's birthday around the corner, I have been working on getting her presents made and sort of putting off my blog. But....I do have a few new recipes in my head that I'm going to be trying out over the next couple of weeks that I will post as soon as I make sure they don't taste like poo ;o) !

Beth

White Chocolate Delight

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cool Time: 15 minutes

2 pkg SF/FF White Chocolate Pudding
3 c FF Milk
1 1/2 c Cool Whip Free
1/2 c Sweetened Coconut Flakes
1/2 c Semi-sweet Chocolate Flakes
1 c Mashed Strawberries

1. Combine pudding powder with milk in a large mixing bowl and whisk for 2 minutes.

2. Add coconut flakes and chocolate flakes and mix to combine.

3. Fold cool whip and strawberries into pudding mixture.

4. Place mixture into 6 small bowls and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

ENJOY!!

Easy Blueberry Cheesecake Pudding

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cool Time: 30 minutes

2 pkg Jell-o sugar free/fat free cheesecake pudding
4 c fat free milk
1 c fat free cool-whip
1 c frozen blueberries

1. Beat the pudding mix into the milk until it begins to thicken (about 2 minutes).

2. Fold in the cool-whip and blueberries.

3. Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

ENJOY!!

Note: I got some vanilla beans for Christmas...so I scraped some vanilla bean seeds into the mix as well. This was a good substitution for real cheesecake and only 3 ww points for 1 cup!!!

Lemon and Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours

4 egg whites
1/2 t cider vinegar
1 c sugar
2 t vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean (optional)
zest from 1 lemon

1. Preheat oven to 225. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until frothy with an electric mixer.

2. Add in the vinegar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.

3. Gradually beat in the sugar and continue beating until firm peaks form and the batter is glossy.

4. With a paring knife, cut vanilla bean pod length wise. With the side of the knife, scrape out the vanilla bean seeds. Add to mixture along with the lemon zest and vanilla extract. Beat thoroughly to combine.

5. On a foil lined baking sheet, place tablespoon size dollops about a inch apart. You will use 2 cookie sheets with about 22 dollops per sheet.

6. Place in middle of the oven and bake for 3 hours or until cookies are no longer gooey in the center. After the 3 hours, turn the oven off and leave cookies in the oven for another hour to cool.

7. Remove cooled cookies from the sheet and store in an airtight container.

ENJOY!!

Note: You can make a chocolate version of these cookies by leaving out the lemon zest and adding in 4 T of unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also make a marbled cookie by making half chocolate and half vanilla bean (again no lemon, and only use 2 T cocoa powder). To marble them together, put a small dollop of vanilla with a small dollop of chocolate on top. Marble each combined dollop with a toothpick while on the sheet.

Honey Mustard

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: none

1 C light mayo
1/2 C dijon mustard
1/2 C yellow mustard
1/2 C honey
1 T cayenne powder
1 T white vinegar

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for two weeks.

ENJOY!!

Note: If you want more of a salad dressing, add more vinegar until desired constancy is achieved.

Yummy Chicken Strips

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

1 large chicken breast
1/2 c lite sour cream
1 t dill
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t cayenne powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 c crushed corn flakes
cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 400. Slice chi ken breast into 1/2 inch strips.

2. Place chicken in bowl with sour cream, dill, garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Mix to combine and let set while oven gets to temp.

3. Coat chicken strips with crushed corn flakes and place onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spray the tops of the chicken strips with cooking spray as well.

4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked and coating is browned.

ENJOY!!

Note: If you put a cookie cooking rack on the cookie sheet and place the chicken on this, the bottoms don't get soggy while it cooks. I like to serve this over a salad with honey mustard dressing. You can change up the seasoning in the sour cream mixture to whatever you like (try some extra spice). I accidentally made this with honey corn flakes once...it was really good with the saltiness of the chicken.

Beef and Veggie Barley Stew

1 lb beef stew meat
2T canola oil
1c yellow onion (diced)
4 cloves of garlic (diced)
1c celery (large chop)
1c carrot (large chop)
1c halved mushroom caps
1c frozen peas
1c frozen sweet corn
8c beef stock
1c red wine
2T dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1c barley pearls
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large sauce pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Season meat with some salt and pepper. Brown meat.

2. Add onions, celery, and carrots to the meat and saute for 2 minutes. Add in garlic, mushrooms, and thyme. Saute for an additional 2 minutes.

3. Pour stock over meat mixture. Add bay leaves, barley, peas, corn, and salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil.

4. Once a hard boil has happened, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 1 hour or until barley is tender.

ENJOY!!