Thursday, June 30, 2011

blueberry muffins

*this is a paula deen recipe, so delicious and easy, i have to share!!*



2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup granulated brown sugar or white sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and sugar. In another bowl, combine butter, egg, and milk and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and with a spatula, stir until just combined. Do not beat or over mix; it’s okay if there are lumps in the batter. Gently fold the blueberries into the batter.
Spoon the batter into the muffin tray, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the granulated brown or white sugar and return the muffins to the oven to bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before turning the muffins out.

easiest banana nut bread

1 package yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup chopped pecans

preheat oven to 350 degrees
in a bowl, combine cake mix, egg and milk.
add bananas and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. 
stir in pecans. pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. 
bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. cool and enjoy!!


fruit ttrifle

1 box of yellow cake mix
1 can raspberry cake filling
1 container fresh raspberries
1 container cool whip
1bag chopped walnuts
1 bag toffee chips (or heath bar chips)

bake cake according to directions on box, remove from oven and cool.
after cake is cool, in a trifle bowl, put in half the cake layer with raspberry cake filling, raspberries, 1/2 container of cool whip, chopped walnuts and toffee chips.. then repeat with another layer.
and if u dont like raspberries, do strawberries or cherries.. yummm!



bacon egg & cheese in crescent rolls

6 slices bacon
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 package shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg crescent rolls

preheat oven to 375 degrees, put bacon on a slotted grill pan, and bake until crispy.. remove and cool.
leave oven on 375 degrees after bacon is removed.
melt a pat of butter in hot skillet. whisk together eggs and milk, add to skillet. scramble eggs.
on a sheet pan, lay out half the roll of crescents, pinching together the seams. fill the middle with eggs, then bacon and finally cheese.
take the other half of crescents, pinch together seams and lay on top, pinching together all sides until sealed.
bake according to crescent package. or until golden brown...


red leaf lettuce salad with goat cheese fritters, beets & blackberries!

i know, your thinking...salad?? as a pregnancy craving??? beets??? LOL
but yes!! i actually crave veggies this time around. and salads are my fav!
this one was definetly a hit! even my 15 year old wanted in on it!
and, i bought a goat cheese brie, because its the one goat cheese version i found that was pasteurized. if your not pregnant, get any version you want!! 

1 bunch of red leaf lettuce from a farmers market
a bunch of fresh beets
1 container of blackberries
1 goat cheese brie (pasteurized)
1 egg
flour for dredging
bread crumbs for dredging
evoo
salt 
balsamic vinegar

to make beets:
i peeled the beets first, tossed it whole in evoo and wrapped in parchment paper and then foil
put them on the bbq or if you dont want to grill, then the oven at 350 degrees. i left them on there for about an hour or so.
when you unwrap them be careful of the beet juice that spills out!
when done, slice them up and put back on the grill (or a grill pan) season with salt and another drizzle of evoo and cook for about 15 mins more...

for goat cheese fritters:
cut up goat cheese in slices (size according to your preference)
dredge thru flour first
then thru whisked egg
and finally in the bread crumbs until coated...
put into a hot skillet with evoo. they will be done rather quickly. just get a good brown to both sides and remove from pan..

put lettuce in bowl with a swirl of evoo and balsamic (or another dressing if u prefer)
top with blackberries, beets and goat cheese fritters.
a perfect blend of sweet and salty! a prego mamas dream!! enjoy!!










Wednesday, June 29, 2011

fruit salsa

2 kiwis
2 gold del. apples
8 ozs rasperries
1 lb strawberries
3 tbs preserves (any)
2 tbs white sugar
1 tbs brown sugar

cut up all fruit, mix all ingredients, refrigerate..
serve with cinnamon chips... (i use stacy's pita chips..cinnamon & sugar)

breakfast casserole

8 frozen hash brown patties (uncooked)
4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 pound cubed fully cooked ham (if u dont like ham, can substitute with coooked bacon or cooked sausage..both are yummy)
9-10 eggs
1 cup milk or half & half
1/2 teaspoon salt
onions and peppers (chopped) but thats optional.....

place hash brown patties in a single layer in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and ham.(and onions and peppers)

in a bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt. pour over ham.
cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. uncover  bake 15 minutes longer or until edges are golden brown and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

stuffed french toast


 1 loaf bread (16 slices)
 10 eggs
 8 oz cream cheese
 1 1/2 cups half and half
 1/4 cup maple syrup
 8 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
 cinnamon (optional)
  
preheat oven to 350 degrees
spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray and layer 8 slices of bread on bottom.  
cube cream cheese and scatter over bread.  
mix 1/2 and 1/2, syrup, butter and eggs in blender.  
pour half over bread.  
top with other 8 slices of bread and pour rest of the egg mixture over top.
sprinkle with cinnamon (optional)
bake for 50 mins...

when done top with 2 cups strawberry preserves (heated in microwave)

crab meat stuffed filet

1 pkg imitation crabmeat
1 package frozen onions & peppers
evoo
1/2 cup chicken broth or butter
2-3 garlic gloves
pinch salt
pinch pepper
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup bread crumbs
tilapia or fillet

put olive oil in  hot skillet.
add chopped garlic. simmer... add peppers & onions..simmer for 5 mins.
chop crabmeat..add to skillet. add butter or about a 1/2 cup chicken broth..simmer for another 5 mins.  add about 1 cup bread crumbs. add 1/4 cup white wine (any kind) and 1/4 cup lemon juice.. if its too liquidy, then add more bread crumbs.. if it looks too dry, then add more broth.
take off heat.

dip both sides of fish into bread crumbs (i didnt use eggs)  and put the crabmeat mix in middle of fish.. roll up and hold closed with toothpick or baking twine...
put fish on greased sheet pan or broiler pan
add remaining crab mix to the top of fish.. sprinkle with more bread crumb and olive oil.
bake at 350 for approx 35-40 mins...
enjoy!!

banana fritters.. my favorite!!

1/2 cup milk
2 bananas mashed
2 cups AP flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs whisked
1 tbsp butter, melted
veg oil for frying (if u have a fry daddy its way easier)
confectioners sugar 

in a mixing bowl, combine the milk and bananas. Sift in the flour, salt, and baking powder. 
mix in the eggs and butter.
heat the oil.
place spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil and fry until brown. Flip the fritter and continue to brown. Remove fritters from the oil and drain on paper towels. Dust the fritters with confectioners' sugar and serve while warm. 
enjoy!!!!

apple muffins

2 cups AP flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup veg. oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apples - peeled, cored and diced clean. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm.

heat oven to 400 degrees .
grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.


in bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.. mix well.
in another bowl, combine apple juice, oil, and egg.. blend well.
add dry ingredients all at once and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.) Stir in chopped apples.

pour into muffin cups about 2/3 full and bake 18-22 mins or until toothpick comes out clean..
serve warm...enjoy!!


un done loaded baked potatoes

8 all purpose potatoes cut into chunks
salt
pepper
paprika
onion powder
dried or fresh chives
evoo
1/2 stick butter
1 pkg shredded cheddar cheese
bacon bits or fresh cooked bacon pieces
1/2 container sour cream

preheat oven to 375 degrees

put potatoes in bowl, drizzle evoo to coat lightly, sprinkle salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and chives to season.. toss together.

put into a sheet pan, add butter in pats randomly over potatoes and put in the oven for about 45 mins or until potatoes are cooked.

pull out sheet pan, sprinkle with cheese, and bacon. put back in oven for a few minutes just so cheese melts.

take out of oven, toss with sour cream and serve.

crab, spinach and ziti

evoo
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 pkg defrosted spinach
1 pkg imitation crab meat
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 stick butter
1/3 cup lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 box ziti

saute 2 cloves chopped garlic in evoo
add spinach (i used 1 pkg defrosted) cook few mins
add 1 pkg imitation crab meat
cook for a few minutes, add chicken broth (about 2 cups)
add 1/2 stick butter (more or less depending on u)
add about 1/3 cup lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
let simmer
until bubbly and hot..

cook one box ziti, when done drain and toss with crab mixture...enjoy!!



spinach & cheese quiche

1 frozen pie crust
8 eggs
1/2 cup half and half
1 and a 1/2 cups shredded cheese (any kind)
salt and pepper
1 pkg.frozen spinach
1 clove garlic
1/2 onion
evoo

preheat oven to 350 degrees

in a hot saute pan, add a few swirls of evoo, add chopped clove garlic, and 1/2 of an onion, chopped.. saute...
add spinach and cook.
drain liquid and cool.

in a separate bowl whisk together eggs and half and half. pour into pie shell.
add cheese, salt and pepper, and spinach mixture.
put into oven and bake about 45 mins until golden brown on top...

another option is a crust-less version, instead of a pie crust, pour egg and other ingredients into a greased pie pan...

and if youd like a version with meat... add a cup of diced honey ham to pie crust or pan...




Prego cookies


1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup craisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and almond extract.
Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in the dark chocolate chips and craisins. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. For best results, take them out while they are still alittle doughy. Yummmm!




Chicken Francese

2 eggs
2 cups AP flour
1/4 cup parsley
salt
pepper
1/4 cup grated cheese

6 thin sliced chicken cutlets

EVOO
2 cloves garlic chopped


1 stick butter
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 white wine (optional)

to prepare chicken:
in one bowl whisk 2 eggs
in another bowl, mix flour, parsley, salt, pepper, and grated cheese
dredge chicken cutlets thru egg and then thru flour mixture

put EVOO in hot saute pan, throw in chopped garlic, saute a few minutes,

add prepared chicken cutlets to saute pan with EVOO and garlic
saute chicken cutlets until browned and cooked..
remove chicken from pan.

add butter to already hot pan and melt.
add broth, lemon juice, white wine
saute until hot and bubbly..

add chicken cutlets and simmer on low for about 10 mins...

if you prefer sauce to be thicker, make a roux (flour and water) and whisk into sauce little by little until preferred thickness...


 put on top of, or serve with your fav pasta..


pictured below with gemelli pasta.