Three Vegetable Bake

What a great alternative to our usual potato packets and steamed veggies. We really enjoyed this side dish and will be making it more when the weather cools down and we are using the oven more.

Three Vegetable Bake

Source: Very Best Baking
Ingredients:

3c coarsely chopped red potatoes

1c peeled and coarsely chopped parsnip (I used onion)

3c broccoli or cauliflower florets

3tbs butter, divided

2tbs flour

1 can (12oz) evaporated fat free milk

1 vegetable flavored bouillon cube

1/8tsp white pepper

1/4c seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Microwave potatoes and parsnip in covered, medium, microwave safe casserole dish on high for 9 minutes. Drain. Return to dish and top with broccoli.

Melt 2tbs butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Gradually stir in evaporated milk, bouillon and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes or until bouillon is dissolved and sauce is slightly thickened. Pour sauce over vegetables.

Microwave remaining butter in small, microwave safe bowl for 10 to 20 seconds, or until melted. Stir in bread crumbs until combined. Sprinkle over vegetables, cover.

Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, bake for an additional 10 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Honey Chicken Marinade

I modified this recipe from one I found on allrecipes.com. It was really good. The honey gives the chicken a nice sweet taste, but is also really subtle.

Honey Chicken Marinade

Source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/4c soy sauce

3tbs honey

2tbs cider vinegar

1 1/2tsp garlic powder (I used 3 cloves garlic)

1 1/2tsp ground ginger

3/4c olive oil

2 green onions, chopped

1tsp black pepper

Directions:

Whisk all the ingredients together. Marinate chicken breast for at least 2 hours, but not longer than overnight. Cook in your favorite way (I prefer grilling).

Caramel Apple Pork Chops

Yum! What a treat these were. The perfect combination of yummy pork chops and sweet apples. We will definitely be making these again. I enjoyed my apples and pork chop with a baked sweet potato and a glass of sparkling apple cider.

Caramel Apple Pork Chops
Source: Adapted from allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1/2c soy sauce
1c apple juice
olive oil
4 3/4in thick pork chops
2tbs brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8tsp ground nutmeg
2tbs butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

Directions:
Marinate pork chops for at least 2 hours in the soy sauce and apple juice.

Preheat oven to 425. Drizzle pork chops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Roast pork chops for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let juices settle.

While chops are roasting, combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Add butter to a warm skillet and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon and arrange on top of chops.

Continue cooking sauce until slightly thickened. Spoon sauce over apples. If desired, sprinkle with pecans.

Pumpkin, Spice & Everything Nice Muffins

I made these muffins on Sunday and have been munching on them all week. They are VERY tasty and the perfect way to start off the fall baking season. Enjoy!



Pumpkin, Spice & Everything Nice Muffins
Source: Very Best Baking
Ingredients:
1 boxed spice or carrot cake mix
1 can (15oz) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
6tbs egg substitute or 3 large egg whites
1/3c water
2/3c raisins (I subbed mini chocolate chips)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease or paper line 24 muffin cups.

Combine cake mix, pumpkin, egg, and water in a large mixer bowl until moistened. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Store muffins in covered container.

Velveeta Cheesy Chicken Skillet

What's not to love about mac n cheese, yummy vegetables, and chicken all mixed up? I chose this recipe because it used Velveeta Shells & Cheese which is my favorite boxed dinner EVER. It was very good and we will be making it again. Next time, I may steam the veggies a bit before adding them though because I prefer them a bit more tender than they turned out.

Velveeta Cheesy Chicken Skillet

Source: Kraft Foods

Ingredients:

1lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bit sized pieces

1 package (12oz) Velveeta Shells & Cheese

1c milk

1c water

1c broccoli florets (I used frozen but thawed them before adding)

1c sliced carrots

Directions:

Cook chicken in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until cooked through.

Add shells, milk and water, stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add broccoli and carrots, stir. Cook, covered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in Velveeta sauce.

Easy Ramen Noodle Bowl

This tasted just like my dad's fabulous stir fry, just with added noodles! I LOVED it!

Easy Ramen Noodle Bowl

Source: Betty Crocker

Ingredients:

2tsp vegetable oil

1lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into thin strips

2c water

1 package Oriental flavor ramen noodle soup mix

1 package (1lb/4c) fresh stir fry vegetables

1/4c stir-fry sauce

Directions:

Spray large skillet with nonstick spray, heat oil over medium heat. Add beef, cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown. Remove beef.

In same skillet, heat water to boiling. Break block of noodles from soup mix into water, stir until slightly softened. Stir in vegetables. Heat to boiling. Boil 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender crisp.

Stir in seasoning packet from soup mix, the stir-fry sauce, and beef. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until hot.

Crock Pot Turkey!

I made turkey in the crock pot! It was very exciting and very yummy. You should do this. You won't regret it. I promise.

Crock Pot Turkey
Source: A Year of Slowcooking
Ingredients:
4-6 pound turkey breast
2c chicken broth
1/2c butter
1 onion
salt and pepper

Directions:
Unwrap turkey breast and pat dry with paper towels. Salt and pepper turkey and place breast side down into crock pot.

Cut up onion coarsely and plop on crock. Add the stick of butter. Pour broth over the top.

Cover and cook on low 7-9 hours of high 4-6 hours until meat reaches at least 170 (use a meat thermometer, it's important). You also want to make sure it reaches at least 140 within 4 hours of beginning cooking so that all bacteria is killed within the recommended time.

Once cooked, remove from crock and let sit 20 minuted until carving.

One Pan Taco Dinner

Another quick and easy dinner. This one is a keeper for sure! It's got all the great things about a taco, plus the extra base of rice. This was just delicious and will also make great leftovers for lunch.

One Pan Taco Dinner

Source: Kraft Foods

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

2c water

2c instant white rice, uncooked

1c shredded cheddar cheese

2c shredded lettuce

1 large tomato, chopped (I omitted)

Directions:

Brown meat in skillet. Drain.

Add seasoning mix and water, stir. Bring to boil.

Stir in rice. Sprinkle with cheese and cover. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Top with your choice taco toppings. We used crushed up taco shells, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, and extra cheese.

New Mexican Black Bean Burritos

What a great, quick, light supper! We very much enjoyed these. Next time I may season them a bit more, but otherwise, they were very delicious. We added some shredded chicken to out burritos to add some protein.

New Mexican Black Bean Burritos

Source: Betty Crocker

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped

6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 can black beans, drained, rinsed, and mashed

1 tsp finely chopped chipotle chilies (I used 1 small can green chilies)

4 flour tortillas

1 large tomato, chopped (I omitted)

Directions:

Spray skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Cook onion ans garlic about 5 minutes. Stir in beans and chilies. Cook until hot.

Assemble burritos, topping with cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, etc.