Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Poppy Seed Ham Sandwiches

These are perfect for a party!
 Ingredients
24 rolls (I used two different kinds)
24 pieces honey ham (I used one package)
24 small slices Swiss cheese (I used one package of 2% Swiss)
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I omitted)
1/3 cup miracle whip (I omitted)


Poppy Seed Sauce
1 tbsp poppyseeds
1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
1 stick butter, melted
1 tbsp minced onion (I used onion powder instead, just a sprinkle)
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes. Serve warm.

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

 This is SOOO delicious! Definitely worth trying!

Fruit Salsa
 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
3 types of apples (I used Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Pink Lady) - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries
1 carton of blackberries
1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
2 tablespoons white sugar (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I used strawberry)

Directions
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. 

Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
(Tip: If your grocery store sells Stacy's Cinnamon Sugar Pita chips, just buy those! Mine doesn't, so I made my own! :) They were good, though!)
Ingredients
Plain Pita Chips
Cinnamon (to taste)
Sugar (to taste)
1 tbsp melted butter

Directions
Heat oven to 350. Place chips in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

 Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3-3 1/2 cups oats (I used old fashioned, which I worried would not work, but they did! So, either old fashioned or quick oats.)
2 tsp Vanilla

Directions
Add the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. Stir in the next 3 ingredients and drop spoonfuls onto wax or foil paper. Let cool until set.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Monster Cookies

These just might be my new favorite cookie! They are ridiculously good!
You will need:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 1/2 cups oats (quick cooking or old-fashioned)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M’s chocolate candies

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat together butter and sugars.  Add eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda, and mix well.  Mix in peanut butter until well-blended.  Add oats and stir until combined.  Mix in chocolate chips and M&M’s.

Drop cookies by ice cream scoopful to make monster-sized cookies about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.  Let cookies cool on baking sheets before moving to wire racks.  Store in an airtight container.
I got about 27 monster-sized cookies out of this batch!
These would be fun for Halloween or any holiday, really. You could use different colored m & m's to match your theme. For example, red and green for Christmas, pink for Valentine's, etc.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Cream Cheese Lemon Bars

 Ingredients
1 box lemon cake mix
1/3 cup butter or margarine-softened
1 egg
8 oz cream cheese-softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 lemon-grated
2 tbs lemon juice or 1/2 squeezed lemon
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
In a mixing bowl, blend dry cake mix, butter, and 1 egg.
Press into a 9 x 13 pan, ungreased.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Gradually blend in the powdered sugar.
Stir in lemon peel and lemon juice until smooth.
Reserve 1/2 cup of this mixture and refrigerate it for later use.
Beat the remaining 2 eggs, add the vanilla, and then beat this mixture into the remaining cream cheese mixture until well blended.
Spread over the cake mixture.
 
Bake at 350° until set, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool completely.
Spread the reserved cream cheese mixture onto the bars.
Refrigerate until firm; then cut into squares and serve.
 These were SOOOOO good! You have to try them.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Turkey Sloppy Joes

 You will need:
1 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey
1/4 cup Diced Onion
3/4 cups Ketchup
1/2 cup Water
Worcestershire Sauce, to taste
3 Tbs Brown Sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp Prepared Mustard
1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
4 Buns or Sandwich Thins
 
Directions:
Cook ground turkey and onions over medium heat, until meat is no longer pink. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine next 8 ingredients. Pour over turkey and stir to combine. Simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on buns or sandwich thins.
For the ingredients I used, one Sloppy Joe was 7 WW points +.

Small Batch (6 Cookies) of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is perfect when you just need a few cookies and don't want to make a huge batch. For me, it made 6 regular sized cookies or 12 mini cookies. 

2 Tbsp. plus 2 Tsp. room-temperature, unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. beaten egg
1/2 tsp. good vanilla
1/3 cup flour
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup rolled oats
Preheat oven to 350°.

Cream the butter and sugars together in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon.  Mix in the egg and vanilla and beat well. 

In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Stir the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar/egg mixture until well-blended and then stir in the chocolate chips and oats.  The dough will be stiff.  Divide batter into 6 balls of dough and place onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.   These cookies don't spread much, so you might want to flatten the mounds slightly with your fingers before baking.

Bake for 8-12 minutes.  Be careful not to over-bake the cookies for best results.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Won-sagna (Mini Lasagna Cups)

First I have to give credit to here for the recipe. I just tweaked it.

I also have to give credit to my awesome hubby who called them won-sagna! ;)
 You will need:
1/2 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey
1/4 cup diced onion (I used frozen onions.)
24 Won Ton wraps
Cooking Spray
Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Salt and Pepper
1 jar Tomato Sauce (I used Classico Tomato & Basil.)
Shredded Cheese (I used WW Mexican Style Blend.)

Preheat oven to 375. 

Brown turkey and diced onions in skillet on medium until done. Add tomato sauce to skillet and let simmer on low. 

Combine cottage cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl.

Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
 Place 1 won ton wrapper in each cup.
 Put one spoonful of cottage cheese on top of each won ton wrap.
 Then, add a spoonful of tomato sauce and meat mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of that. Add another won ton wrapper.
 Repeat layering process. Cottage cheese, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese.
 Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let sit in pan for a few minutes before serving.
 Enjoy!
 These are SOOOOO good.
For 4 cups, it is 12 WW points +.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Pepperjack Salsa Turkey Burgers and Cuban Black Beans

 Pepperjack Salsa Turkey Burgers
 For two turkey burgers, you will need:
1/2 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey
1/2 can Rotel (I used Mild.)
Taco Seasoning
1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 slices 2% Pepperjack cheese
2 Nature's Own Thin Buns

In a bowl, place ground turkey, Rotel, Taco Seasoning, and bread crumbs. Mix together. Form patties and cook until done. Top each patty with a slice of Pepperjack cheese and melt. Place on buns.

I served mine with sweet potato fries and Cuban black beans (recipe below).

For the ingredients I used, each burger was only 7 WW points plus!


Cuban Black Beans
1 can black beans
1/4 cup diced onions (I use frozen white onions. So easy!)
2 tbsp light sour cream

Place black beans and onions in a bowl and microwave for 3-5 minutes. Top with sour cream. Enjoy!

For 1/2 cup black beans and 1 tbsp light sour cream, it is 3 WW points plus.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Crepes

Not really a recipe, but a meal idea.

fresh fruit
whipped cream
crepes

Other ideas, Nutella and strawberries; chocolate chips, peanut butter, banana, and whipped cream; or a savory crepe with chicken, mushrooms, and cheese. The possibilities are endless!