Asian Pork Tenderloin with Ginger Glaze (crockpot)

This recipe is ranked up there with the Funky Fusion Fajitas - it is SOOO tasty. The meat is like candy and melts in your mouth. I love the flavors with the cloves, cinnamon and ginger. My most favorite part is that 99% of it is done in the crockpot!

• Ingredients: 

• For the rub:

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 pounds pork tenderloin
For the glaze:
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ¼ cup rice vinegar (or white)
• ½ cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
• fresh cilantro, to garnish (optional)
• lime wedges, to garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, powdered ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cloves, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.
2. Place the tenderloins in the slow cooker. Rub the seasonings over the pork, including the bottom.
3. Pour ½ cup water in the slow cooker, on the edge or in the middle so that you don't wash off all the spices you just rubbed on.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, then preheat your broiler.
5. While the pork is finishing up in the slow cooker and your broiler heats up, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, COLD water, and soy sauce in a small saucepan.
6. Set over medium heat and stir until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and stir in minced ginger.
8. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
9. Remove the pork from the crock pot (discard the liquid) and place on the lined baking sheet. Brush a generous amount of the glaze on the pork.
10. Put your oven rack as high as it will go, and broil the pork for 1 or 2 minutes, until bubbly and caramelized. Don't walk away! Repeat 2 to 3 more times until it is as crusty as you want it. I wouldn't go many more times than this though, or your pork will dry out.
11. Serve with remaining glaze on the side, and garnish with lime and cilantro. 

recipe from thefoodcharlatan.com

Healthy Broccoli Salad

I loooove broccoli salad, but once you add the bacon, cheese and mayonnaise based dressing it becomes one of the worst cook-out side dishes! This version is lightened up and healthy. The best part, you won't even miss all of the other ingredients. 

Ingredients:1/3 cup mayonnaise (lowfat)1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream or coconut yogurt)1 tablespoon honey4-5 cups chopped very fresh broccoli (cut into bit size pieces)1/2 cup dried cranberries (or raisins, or dried fruit)1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds (or sliced almonds or other chopped nuts)

Instructions:

1. Combine mayonnaise, yogurt and honey in a medium mixing bowl. Add chopped broccoli, cranberries, and sunflower seeds and toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator. Best when eaten within three days.

From: myglutenfree.com

Overnight Easy Breakfast Casserole

This is super easy and can be made 1-2 days in advance. This is great to make for a holiday breakfast, brunch or when you have guests stay overnight. 

Ingredients:

1 lb. Breakfast sausage (I use turkey)
1 med. onion, diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup (fat free)
6 oz. seasoned croutons
12 eggs
2 c. milk
12 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:

Brown sausage with onion. Drain well. Mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup with sausage and onion mixture. Place seasoned croutons in 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle meat over croutons.Beat 12 eggs with 2 cups milk and pour over meat. Top with 12 oz. cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Recipe adapted from cooks.com

Parmesan Garlic Edamame

Made this last night while entertaining and it was gone QUICK.   Cost a total of $2.99 because I had most of the ingredients on hand, except the steamable edamame (yes, steamable - so easy).   Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. 

Ingredients:
1 bag of steamable edamame
1 1/2 TBS EVOO
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon red hot pepper flakes (can use more if you like a lot of spice)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (can use more or less if you want)

1.  Steam the edamame according to the bag directions.
2.  Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.
3.  Add in the garlic and red hot pepper flakes.  Let the garlic simmer for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4.  Add the edamame to the pan and stir well to coat.   Let it simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
5.  Remove from heat and pour into a strainer to get off any excess oil.  Let sit for 2-4 minutes.
6.  Add the grated parmesan cheese to a medium bowl.  Add the edamame in and toss to coat.  Enjoy! 

Apple Pie Cheddar Dip

This dip is so delicious!!!! I had all of the ingredients in my refrigerator and threw it together for an impromptu girls night. We all inhaled it!

Ingredients:

2 apples, finely chopped
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 8oz block of light cream cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup light sour cream

Directions:
Toss apples, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl.

Combine cheese in a bowl then spread into a greased pie pan. Top with apples.

Bake for about 20 minutes (until bubbly) on 375.

Serve with crackers or toasted bread.

recipe adapted from Gooseberry

Summer Veggie Pasta

We are leaving for vacation in a few days and I needed to get rid of some of these wonderful summer veggies that I have sitting around.   I was craving carbs so I thought why not add them to pasta?  We had this for dinner but it would be great served as a side dish too in a small portion.  I bet it would pair wonderfully with fish.  And you could use whatever veggies you want for this... I was missing something green.  Next time I think I will add asparagus. 

Ingredients:
1/2 box linguine noodles
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
4-5 eggplant slices, peeled and cut in small chunks (we had some leftover from the Grilled Chicken Parmesan Subs with Eggplant)
2 cups squash, peeled and cut in small chunks
1 TBS italian seasoning (more or less to taste)
2 TBS EVOO
1/2 teaspoon dried basil (more or less to taste)
2 TBS grated parmesan cheese (more or less to taste)
dash salt & pepper to taste (optional)

1.  Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain well. 

2.  Heat a large nonstick pan on medium heat.  Add the  EVOO to the pan.  Swirl to coat. 

3.  Once pan is heated, add the veggies.   Sprinkle the italian seasoning over them and stir gently.   You can optionally add s&p here too.  Let saute for 4-5 minutes or until slightly tender, stirring gently every minute or so.  Be careful not to overcook or else they will get mushy.   Immediately remove from heat once done BUT LEAVE IN THE PAN THEY WERE COOKED IN.

4.  Add the well drained pasta to a mixing bowl.   Pour in the veggie EVOO mix.  Make sure you get all the veggie sauce out of the pan.   Then sprinkle with the dried basil, Parmesan cheese and s&p (if desired).    Mix well.    Enjoy. 

Grilled Chicken Parmesan Sub with Eggplant

WOW.   My husband amazed us again with this latest kitchen creation.    Most delicious sub I've ever had and healthy too!  He's so creative lately and I am NOT complaining.   Even my kids gobbled this up.   So flavorful and delicious.   And all of the main ingredients came to less than $12 (excluding the things we always have on hand like EVOO & italian seasoning).

Ingredients:
1 package of boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins
4 six inch sub rolls from the bakery department of your local store (ours were $.50 each)
1 package part skim Mozzarella Cheese (or 1/4 lb if buying from a deli)
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut in 1/2" slices
1 small jar of Prego marinara sauce (or your own favorite)
1 TBS EVOO
2 TBS italian seasoning


1.  Heat grill to medium- high heat.

2.  Pour the EVOO in the smallest bowl you have.   Add 1 TBS italian seasoning and stir to mix.

3.  Lay out the eggplant slices on a plate.   Lightly brush each piece with a little of the EVOO / Italian Seasoning mix.

4.  Sprinkle the chicken tenderloins with the other TBS of italian seasoning.

5.  Add chicken & eggplant to the grill.

6.  Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 and put the marinara sauce in a small pan on the stove on low-medium.  

7.  Gently turn the eggplant over after a few minutes.  Be careful not to let overcook.  A few minutes on each side should be good enough.   When chicken is thoroughly cooked, transfer to a plate.  Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes and then slice the tenders into 2-3" chunks.  Then slice the eggplant pieces in half.  The eggplant should be soft, but not mushy if cooked correctly. 

8.  Cut the sub rolls in half with a bread knife (be careful not to cut all the way through).   Add a few pieces of chicken and eggplant to each roll.   Then stuff in 1/2 piece of cheese each.   Add 1-2 TBS of the sauce on top (more or less to taste preference), then add another full piece of cheese on top.   Place the sub rolls against the outer edge of a baking pan to keep them upright.   Put in oven for 3-5 minutes but WATCH CLOSELY.   You just want the cheese to melt.   Enjoy! 

Crockpot Beef Burritos

This beef is absolutely delish. It only requires a few ingredients and is full of flavor. We love using it in burritos (they rival Qdoba and Chipotle) but it would also be great in quesadilla's or tacos!

Ingredients:
1 London Broil or top round roast (about 2 lbs)
1 diced onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce – I use 1 or 2 peppers (It’s in a can.)
1 ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional - I omit to keep it kid friendly)

You will also need:
Whole wheat burrito sized tortillas
Anything else you like on burritos –  black beans, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole etc.

We also like to add Cilantro Lime Rice to our burritos. All you need to do is make some white rice and add lime juice, cilantro, and salt.


Directions:
Dump all of the ingredients into the crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7 hours. I usually throw my beef in while it is frozen and it takes about 8 hours on low.

When the meat is cooked, you will need to strain the juices and add the juice back to the slow cooker. (You want to remove the peppercorns and onions.) Shred the meat and add back to the juice in the slow cooker for about 30 minutes.

recipe courtesy of www.savingyoudenero.com

Roasted Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese

Loaded with veggies, no butter cheese sauce - It's hard to believe this mac and cheese could be good. It wasn't good though - it was AMAZING. Zachary had 3 helpings and said it was the best mac and cheese he has ever had! I felt good fixing this for my family since it was loaded with veggies, whole grain noodles and the cheese sauce wasn't full of awful ingredients! This will definitely become a staple in our house!

Ingredients:

1 cup broccoli florets, chopped into small chunks

1 red pepper, diced

1 yellow squash, quartered and diced

10 baby carrots, sliced thinly

2 cups whole wheat pasta (elbow macaroni, rotini, penne, etc.)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups milk (I use 1%)

2 cups (8 oz.) Sargento® Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 Tbsp. panko breadcrumbs (I used whole wheat bread crumbs)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Set a medium pot of salted water to boil. Prepare a large baking sheet by lining with aluminum foil and coating with a little olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.

Toss broccoli, red pepper, squash and carrots onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until vegetables have softened. Remove from oven and set aside.

Once water is boiling, lower heat slightly and add pasta, cooking according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar cheese until well distributed and melted.  Add salt and pepper. Add macaroni and vegetables.

Place mixture in a large casserole dish and sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Place under the broiler in your oven (500 degrees) for 3-4 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.


We added red pepper flakes to ours at the table to keep it kid friendly. Yum!

recipe courtesy of http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/02/spicy-roasted-vegetable-macaroni-and-cheese.html
Comfort of Cooking

Honey Chicken Kabobs

Kabobs are a staple in our house during the summer. They are so colorful, fun to eat and delish! I found this recipe on Pinterest and knew the whole family would love these! They were so full of flavor and the marinade caramelized onto the veggies. So yum!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cloves garlic
1 large white onion, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces (I used 1 orange and 1 yellow - use your favorite!)
skewers

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking.

Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).

Preheat the grill for high heat.

Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers*

Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

*Don't forget to soak your skewers in water so they don't catch on fire

recipe courtesy of  http://www.allrecipes.com

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

This was so simple to make and yet soooooooooo incredibly good.  We couldn't stop eating it!  The kids absolutely loved it too.   Will definitely make again and again.  The only thing about it is that you can't make it too far in advance so be prepared to eat once it chills for a few minutes!  And trust me, once you start eating it, you can't stop anyway.
Side note:  We made the Baked Cinnamon Chips the first time we had this but we have also found that you can buy Baked Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips (we used Stacy's brand that we found at Mar's Grocery Store) if you want to save time.  Just as good!

Ingredients:

for the fruit salsa:
2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and diced
8 oz raspberries - chopped
6 oz blackberries - chopped
1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
8 oz blueberries - chopped (optional)
2 tbsp white sugar (I used splenda)
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp fruit preserves, any flavor (I used strawberry)

for the cinnamon chips:
10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray (we used the non fat cooking spray)

cinnamon sugar:
1 cup white sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1.  In a large bowl, thoroughly mix all the fruit, white sugar, brown sugar, and fruit preserves.  Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 350 degrees.

2.  Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray.  Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar, cut into wedges, and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter).

3.  Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be served with cinnamon graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Snack Mix

This is one of those snacks that you will have to force yourself to step away from the bowl. It is so yummy and you can throw it together in under 10 minutes! Perfect for a fall gathering or Halloween party. It makes a TON.

Ingredients:
4 cups Golden Grahams® cereal
2 cups Cocoa Puffs® cereal
2 cups thin pretzel sticks (2 1/4 inch)
1 cup candy-coated peanut butter candies
1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
10 oz white chocolate baking bars or squares, chopped
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar


Directions:
In large bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, peanut butter candies and peanuts; set aside.

In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave white chocolate and butter uncovered on High about 1 minute, stirring once, until melted and chocolate can be stirred smooth. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, toss half of the cereal mixture with 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar until evenly coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Repeat with remaining cereal mixture and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker

Turkey Meatball and Spaghetti Soup

My family has never been huge on soups, unless they are hearty and the broth is pretty much nonexistent. Back when my daughter was born a neighbor delivered this delicious soup to me. I literally ate the entire container by myself. I have been dreaming of this soup for over 2 years and finally decided to make it. I added extra noodles and less broth in hopes to please my picky people. The verdict? They ate it and didn't complain! I even convinced Rich to keep some broth in his bowl (he tends to drain it all and go for the chunks) and he had seconds! I'm slowly converting them :) 

 

Ingredients:

For the soup:
7 cups low sodium, fat-free chicken broth
2 cups water
2 chopped cloves garlic, divided
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 onion, chopped, divided
8oz can of tomato sauce
pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
kosher salt and fresh pepper
12 oz dry cut up whole wheat spaghetti

For the meatballs:
16 oz 99% lean ground turkey
1 small egg
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
In a soup pot over medium heat, bring chicken broth, water, crushed garlic, italian seasoning, 1/4 of the chopped onion, tomato sauce, crushed red pepper flakes and fresh black pepper to a boil; simmer about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the meatballs by combining ground turkey, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, remaining onion, italian seasoning, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Form into little 1 inch meatballs (about 36).

Drop meatballs into the broth, cook about 3 minutes; add pasta and cook according to package directions. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve with grated parmesan cheese.

recipe adapted from Skinny Taste

Italian Sausage Hoagies - kid approved

I got this recipe from my Cooking Light Magazine and this was a "kid tested & approved" recipe.  I thought I'd try it.  My 7 year old son is super picky but my 2 year old daughter eats anything, so it seemed like a good choice.   And the added plus is that one hoagie is only 300 calories and 7g of fat.  Super quick to make too.  We used 4 sausages to make this but since the kids only split one, we had enough for lunches for us adults the next day -- win win! 

Ingredients:
4 hoagie rolls, halved lengthwise (we only used 3 for dinner and saved the next one for lunch the next day)
4 links of sweet turkey italian sausage, cut into 1" thick pieces (they get a little mushy but it's ok)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (to hide it from picky kids)
1 TSP minced garlic
1 cup marinara sauce (more or less depending on preference, we used a bit more)
1 small red pepper, finely chopped (again, to hide it from picky kids)
1/4 TSP black pepper
1 cup shredded part skim mozz cheese


1.  Preheat broiler to high.
2.  Hollow out the top halves of the rolls.   Arrange the rolls, cut sides up on a baking sheet.  Broil 1-2 minutes until toasted (pay close attention so they don't burn).  Set aside.
3.   Heat a large non stick skillet over medium high heat.  Add sausage to the pan, cook a few minutes or until slightly browned, stirring occasionally.  
4.  Add the onion & garlic to the sausage, cook 1 minute longer.
5.  Add the marinara sauce, bell pepper and black pepper.  Bring to a low boil.    Reduce heat and simmer until the pepper is tender (or in my case, let cook on "warm" on the stove for 30 minutes because the hubby was stuck in awful traffic, lol).
6. Arrange about 3/4 cup sausage mixture over bottom half of each roll, sprinkle each with some cheese.  
7.  Place on baking sheet, broil 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Top with the top halves of rolls.   

Crockpot Bacon Ranch Chicken

Carmen mentioned the other day that cooking in a crockpot is a form of torture for stay-at-home moms. I couldn't have said it better after smelling this chicken cooking all day long. The chicken was super tasty and perfect comfort food on a chilly day. Also, who doesn't love bacon?!?

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2.5 oz real bacon bits
1 tsp minced garlic
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup (low sodium)
1.5 cups fat free sour cream

1 package of whole wheat egg noodles


Directions:
Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Combine bacon, garlic, ranch dressing mix, soup, and sour cream; mix well. Pour over chicken in the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.

Shred the chicken and put back in the pot and add the cooked egg noodles; mix together. Serve with your favorite veggie.

recipe courtesy of Crock Pot Girls

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore always reminds me of my dad. He used to make my grandmother's recipe pretty often and it was always so delicious. I have tried a few versions of the recipe but it never quite compared to what he made. I gave this Skinny Taste recipe a try and it was AMAZING. I can't say it is better than my grandmother's recipe but it came very close to it and that's good enough for me! It helps that it's a crockpot recipe, too!

Ingredients:
5-8 chicken thighs, with the bone, skin removed
28 oz can crushed tomatoes (Tuttorosso my favorite!)
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 large onion, sliced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
salt and fresh pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for topping


Directions:
Season chicken with salt and black pepper and place in the slow cooker. Pour tomatoes over the chicken, top with onions and peppers, add oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper, give it a quick stir and cover. Set crock pot to LOW 8 hours or HIGH 4 hours. An hour before serving remove the lid from the crockpot, remove the bones from the meat (it will fall apart) and shred the chicken. This will thicken the sauce as well.

Serve over a bed of brown rice or your favorite noodle.

recipe courtesy of Skinny Taste

Pancake Bites with Turkey Sausage

I saw this idea on Pinterest and got so excited. My kids absolutely love pancakes (and sausage!) and these are perfect for busy school mornings! You just pull them out of the freezer, pop them in the microwave for 1 minute and you have an easy homemade breakfast. I can't keep up with the demand in my house.

These bites are very versatile so you can use frozen sausage patties (I like turkey), blueberries, sliced strawberries or even mini chocolate chips.

Fluffy pancake with a bite of savory turkey sausage - yum!



If you're feeling ambitious, you can make a homemade pancake mix or use a pre-made mix. My go-to is Heart Smart Bisquick mix. (Follow the recipe on the side of the box for pancakes).

Here is my favorite pancake recipe:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg - I use egg substitute

1 cup milk, plus more if necessary - I use 1%

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon all natural sugar - I use pure cane

 

Directions:

 

Whisk together egg and milk. Slowly stir dry ingredients until moistened.

 

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Take a frozen turkey sausage patty and break it into bite sized pieces. Place a piece on the bottom* of each muffin tin.

 

Cover with about 1 tbsp of pancake batter.

 

*If using fruit, put pancake batter in tin first, then top with fruit. The fruit tends to stick to the bottom of the muffin tins.

 

Cook bites for 12 minutes. Serve with maple syrup for dipping!

 

To Freeze: Let bites cool completely. Place on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 10 minutes. Place them in a freezer safe container or freezer bag.

Hot Caprese Dip

Gooey. Cheesy. Good. This dip is so easy and SO yummy. We ate it as a late night snack with slices of whole wheat french bread and I slightly died at how good it was. You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge for when you're ready to use it! A great way to use up those tomatoes from your garden, too!

Ingredients:

16 ounces part-skim mozzarella, cubed
6 oz low fat cream cheese, cubed
2 cups tomatoes, diced, seeded and juiced*
3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil (or about 1 tablespoon dried)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

Spray a medium oven safe dish with cooking spray. Put about half of the mozzarella on the bottom of the dish. Top with tomatoes, basil and spices. Top with cream cheese cubes and remaining mozzarella.


Bake for about 15 minutes on 375 and then broil until cheese is bubbly. (There will be liquid at the bottom of the dish from the cheese. using a lower moisture mozz will decrease this!)

Serve with your favorite cracker, bread or spoon!

*A great way to get excess juice out of your tomatoes is to sprinkle them with salt and let them sit for about 30 minutes. Then rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

Recipe adapted from How Sweet Eats

Buffalo Chicken Chili

This recipe was absolutely delicious (and low cal/fat)! My only complaint is that it didn't make a lot so that I could freeze half. Next time I'm going to double it, or triple it! This is perfect football food -You can make it in advance and then keep it warm in your crockpot for the day. We ate ours with multi-grain scoops as "nachos" but it is also great with a spoon! I enjoyed mine with crumbled blue cheese and Rich topped his with sharp cheddar. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

 

1 pound ground chicken

1 tablespoon oil

1 onion, diced

1/2 cup celery, sliced

1/2 cup carrots, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground

1 can of light beer beer or chicken broth (use the beer!!)

1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 cup hot sauce (or to taste) - Franks Red Hot!

salt and pepper to taste

Toppings: crumbled blue cheese, feta cheese, cheddar cheese

 

Directions:

1. Cook the chicken in a large pan over medium heat and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in the pan, add the onions, celery and carrots and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
4. Add the beer or broth and deglaze the pan.
5. Add chicken, tomatoes, beans, paprika, oregano, cayenne and hot sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Serve with topping of your choice.

Recipe comes from Closet Cooking

Veggie & Hummus Wrap

Meat is expensive lately so I wanted to make a healthy satisfying meat free dinner full of veggies.  This wrap was so very tasty, easy to make and healthy.  We were shocked by how filling it was.   You can customize this any way you want with whatever veggies that are in season or that suite your taste.   Definitely going on the menu rotation!  We served the wraps with sweet potatoes.  The only thing I would change is that next time I think I will make my own hummus instead of using store bought. This recipe makes 6 wraps. 

1 med-large zucchini, peeled and quartered
1 small red onion, sliced (divided)
1 red pepper, cut in small chunks
1 green pepper, cut in small chunks
1 cucumber, peeled and quartered
10-12 ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups baby spinach leaves
black olives, halved (optional)
banana peppers (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt (more or less depending on taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (more or less depending on taste)
1 teaspoon italian seasoning (more or less depending on taste)
1 TBS Olive Oil
3-5 TBS hummus (depends on how creamy you want the wrap to be)
6 whole wheat tortillas (6"), warmed

Add the zucchini, 1/2 of the red onion, green & red pepper to a pan on medium heat.  Add the olive oil, salt & pepper (to taste) and italian seasoning.  Stir to coat.   Let cook until tender crisp, about 3-5 minutes.  (Be careful not to overcook.) 
Add the spinach leaves to the pan and stir to coat.  Cook one additional minute. Remove from heat. 

Spread a layer of hummus on one side of the tortilla, next add about 1/4 cup veggie mixture.   Top with cucumber, tomato, the uncooked red onion, and the optional black olives and/or banana peppers.  Roll up and enjoy!