I am not sure how to explain this but what I basically did was get all of the ingredients that I wanted to put in the roll and then I googled "how to make sushi" to find a how-to video.Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sushi
I am not sure how to explain this but what I basically did was get all of the ingredients that I wanted to put in the roll and then I googled "how to make sushi" to find a how-to video.Friday, February 5, 2010
Melanie's "2 Can" Chili
3 stalks celery, diced
3 Tbsp minced garlic
Plenty of fresh ground black pepper
Brown beef together with onion, celery and garlic. Drain any grease.
Heat to med-high and add:
2 cans fire roasted tomatoes (don't drain)
2 cans tomato sauce (I rinse the cans and end up adding about 1/2-3/4 can water)
2 cans dark red kidney beans (drain the tops because bean goo is disturbing)
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (don't sub another kind)
2 Tbsp really good/dark raw honey
2 Tbsp chili powder
Simmer for at least one hour. Try to share.
Cheese Chowder
Makes: 6-8 side dish servings (about 5 cups)
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped carrot (1 medium)
1/2 cup celerey (1 stalk)
1/2 cup chopped red sweet pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions (2)
3 cups milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp instant chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (6 oz)
1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese (6 oz)
1. In large saucepan bring water to boiling; add carrot, celery, sweet pepper, and green onions. Cook, covered, about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Do not drain.
2. In a small bowl gradually stir about 1 cup of the milk into the flour; stir into cooked vegetables in saucepan. Add the ramaining milk, the bouillon granules, and white pepper.
3. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Add cheddar cheese and American cheese, stirring until melted.
Quick Cheese Chowder: Prepare as above, except omit celery, sweet pepper and green onion. In a large saucepan combine the water, carrot, and one 10-oz package frozen cauliflower or frozen cut broccoli. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 4 minutes or just until vegetables are crisp-tender. Do not drain. Cut up any large peices of cauliflower or broccoli. Continue as directed in step 2. Makes 6 to 8 side-dish servings.
*If feeding this as a dinner for 4 or more people, triple the recipe. Can of evaporated milk can be substitued as the milk, it makes it very creamy. I just used mild cheddar because that is all I had, but it tasted great. I want to try it mixing the different cheeses.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sugar Cookies

· 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
· ¼ teaspoon salt
· 12 tablespoons butter, softened
· 1 cup granulated sugar
· 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
· 1 teaspoon lemon zest
· 1 egg
Directions:
Place a fine mesh sieve or a sifter over a medium mixing bowl and add the flour and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar; using a hand held mixer on medium-high speed cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light in color and has a fluffy texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and then add the vanilla extract, lemon zest and egg. Beat until blended, 1 or 2 minutes longer. On low speed, gradually add the sifted flour and salt, mixing until just blended.
Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 2 balls. Place each half between 2 pieces of waxed or parchment paper and roll into 5-inch diameter disks. Place the dough on baking sheets and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or as long as 24 hours.
When you are ready to roll and bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with silicone liners or parchment paper. Place 1 disk of the cookie dough on the work surface and remove the top sheet of paper. Lightly dust the surface of the dough with flour. Roll the dough out starting from the center to an even thickness of 1/8-inch. Using decorative cookie cutters cut the dough directly on the parchment paper. Use a spatula to transfer the dough to the lined baking sheet. Place the cookies at least 1/2-inch apart.
Gather the dough scraps and reroll them to make additional cookies. Only reroll the dough once.
Bake the cookies 1 sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden around the edges and firm to the touch. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
The cookies can be stored in resealable plastic containers or cookie tins for 1 week. To frost the cookies prepare a recipe of royal icing as follows and decorate as desired.
Royal Icing:
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon milk
1 pound confectioners' sugar
Place all of the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat slowly until well blended. Then beat at medium-high speed until the icing forms stiff peaks, 6 minutes. If icing is not stiff enough add more sugar if it is too stiff add more milk. Use immediately or place in a plastic container with a lid until ready to use. Allow icing to dry for at least 24 hours before packaging.
Yield: About 2 1/2 cups
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Greek Couscous Salad
1 cup cherry tomatoes - halved
1 medium cucumber - chopped
1 medium sweet green pepper - chopped
1/2 cup snipped chives
1/4 cup snipped parsley
1/4 cup oregano
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup grapeseed oil (or light olive oil)
2 tsp agave nectar
1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts
Bring 2 cups of vegetable broth to a boil and add 1 cup of couscous. Stir until incorporated, reduce heat to low and cover for 20 minutes. Chop cucumber, tomato and green pepper and set aside. Combine oil, vinegar, agave and spices and whisk until blended. Remove couscous to a large bowl and add cucumber mixture and balsamic mixture. Add feta and walnuts and stir until completely combined. Chill for one hour for best taste results. TRY to share! YUM!
Source: from my friend Melanie.
I don't have a picture but I will be making it soon and I'll take a picture then.
The Best Breakfast!

4 Cups frozen hash browns, thawed
6 Eggs
1/4 Cup Milk
2 Tbsp. Dried Parsley
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1 Cup Grated Cheese
Saturday, May 16, 2009
From Crackers to Toffee
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
40 soda crackers (approx. 2 packs)
Chocolate chips
Chopped nuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil, dull side up. Spray with cooking spray. Line soda crackers on cookie sheet. Mix brown sugar and butter in a pot. Bring to a full boil and let boil for 3 minutes. (I find it's a good idea to stir while it's boiling so that it doesn't burn on bottom.) Pour over crackers and spread evenly. Bake for 5 minutes.
I allow them to cool a few minutes before putting on the chocolate chips, because I don't want them to melt. If you prefer, you can put them on right away and spread the chocolate evenly over the top. You can also sprinkle chopped nuts on top if desired.
Note: Depending on how many people you are making them for, the recipie can easily be cut in half.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Whole Wheat Brownies
6 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate
1 cup Unsalted Butter
4 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Agave Nectar
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup Whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a glass bowl over boiling water, melt chocolate. When chocolate is melted mix in agave, butter, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes. Stir in whole wheat flour and eggs.
8x8: 40 minutes
9x13: 30 minutes
Recipe courtesy of Melanie
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Here's what I did, just in case:
1 pint strawberries
1 bowl microwavable dipping chocolate
holiday sprinkles
Wash and dry strawberries. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate according to package directions. Dip strawberries into chocolate and lay on lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with holiday sprinkles. Refrigerate for approximately 15 minutes or until chocolate is hardened.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Andy Boy Romaine Hearts Lettuce Wraps
Monday, January 26, 2009
Broccoli Cheese Soup
1 1/2 lbs of fresh or 20oz. of frozen broccoli (COOKED)3 TBS butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 TBS flour
2 cups chicken broth (I used chicken bouillon cubes, made up to box directions-another option: Vegetable bouillon)
2 cups light cream (I just used milk)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup sharp chedder cheese-grated.
Directions: Melt butter, add chopped onion and cook until onions are clear. Stir in flour to make a roux. Add broth and cream. Cook until thick, stirring frequently. Add salt nutmeg, and broccoli. Just before serving add cheese.
NOTE: I tripled the ingredients to feed four adults-about 2 large servings for each adult.
I would also reccommend using fresh steamed broccoli so you aren't stuck with mostly stem chunks that you usually get from a frozen bag of broccoli, and you can cut the fresh broccoli to a size you like.
Salsa Ole

Monday, January 12, 2009
Creamy Potato Zucchini Soup
Creamy Potato Zucchini Soup
3 medium potatoes (cubed)
1 medium zucchini (diced)
1 small onion (chopped)
2 Tb butter/margarine
2Tb flour
2 C milk
1 C grated cheese (I used cheddar...you could use whatever you have)
1 Tb corn starch
1Tb cold water
Salt
Pepper
Thyme
Boil diced potatoes (I left skins on, but you could peel them if you want) in enough water to cover them, with a few dashes of salt. After a few minutes, add the chopped onion. When potatoes are nearly soft, add the zucchini. Discard any water that is above the line of the vegetables, add pepper and a few dashes of thyme, and let simmer.
In another saucepan, melt butter and mix in flour until smooth. Then add milk, and stir until flour/butter mixture is mostly dissolved. Add cheese and stir until melted. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth, and then add to creamy mixture. Stir. When mixture begins to thicken, add to the vegetables and water. Stir well, and continue to let simmer. Add more salt, pepper, and thyme to taste. Serve hot.
Serves about 6, also reheats well (though it continues to thicken in the fridge).
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Mile-High Fudge Brownie Pie

Recipe provided by Kraft Foods
4 (1 ounce) squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
2 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (4 serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
1 (8 ounce) tub COOL WHIP or COOL WHIP French Vanilla Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; stir until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour until well blended. Spread into greased 9-inch pie plate.
2. Bake 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack. Scoop out center of brownie with spoon, leaving 1/2-inch-thick rim around edge and thin layer of brownie on bottom. Reserve removed brownie pieces for later use.
3. Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick.) Gently stir in half of the whipped topping and all but 1/2 cup of the reserved brownie pieces. Spoon into brownie crust; top with remaining whipped topping and remaining 1/2 cup brownie pieces. Refrigerate 2 hours or until set. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.
Yield: 10 servings
* I refuse to put the nutritional information up for pure simple fact of guilt! It's definitely loaded!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Guilt Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

We love these fast and guilt-free cookies in our house! They're naturally sweet with no added sugar which means I can eat them and the kids love that I don't say "no" to a second one!
For those that worry about the saturated fat in coconut oil, take heart that coconut oil is actually a healthier saturated fat that the dozens of other oils out there. The way that the body processes it means that it does not affect cholesterol. I use Spectrum organic virgin coconut oil because it is unrefined. If you do not have coconut oil on hand, extra virgin olive oil may be substituted. If you are on a gluten free diet (as many of our family is) be sure to use certified gluten free oats. And finally, if you don't have almond meal (Trader Joe's has some for a decent price!) you can make your own by pulsing almonds in the food processor until it resembles course sand. But remember: PULSE! Too much and you'll get almond butter!
Guilt Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
3 large, ripe bananas
1/4 cup coconut oil, warm (in a melted state)
1 tsp pure vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix well and then stir in:
2 cups oats
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup finely shredded UNSWEETENED coconut
1/4 cup flax meal
1 cup raisins
Place on a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet in rounded spoonfuls (a cookie scoop works great!) and bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes or until edges are starting to brown.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Hello Dollies
I have to give credit for this recipie to my Mother-in-Law, Lynette. Up until my last pregnancy, I despised coconut. I could even taste when something had been made with coconut OIL! So unfortunately, I would never even try these when she made them. However, I have to admit that the look and smell of them always had me curious. Once I gained my newfound love for coconut, I have been addicted ever since. Occasionally I will get a craving for them, and today was one of those days!
I am going to list the recipie exactly as she gave it to me, but explain slight adjustments I have made to suit my own taste.
1 stick butter, melted (I use probably half that amount)
1 box graham cracker crumbs or 1 - 2 sleeves graham crackers (crushed)
1/2 bag angel flake coconut (I have used regular coconut and like them just as much)
chocolate chips
chopped pecans (optional, but since I love nuts, I NEVER leave them out!)
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk (again, I use any brand and still like them the same)
Pour melted butter in 9x13 pan. (I pour half of the butter on the bottom and save the other half to drizzle over the graham cracker crumbs. In my opinion, it makes for a chewier, less crumbly crust.) Pour graham cracker crumbs over the butter, making an even layer of crust. (If using the box of cracker crumbs, I probably use 3/4, but you can make it as thick as you want.) Pour a layer of coconut, then a layer of chocolate chips, and then a layer of pecans. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top to coat everything. Bake at 320 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden on top.
*Note: This recipie is typically made with small chocolate chips sprinkled all over the top. The picture shows jumbo chocolate chips because I didn't read the package carefully when I picked them up in the store. Of course, chocolate is chocolate, so it all works. My only complaint is that I didn't put ENOUGH of the jumbo ones on! As you can see, there were lots of bites that didn't contain chocolate...not good!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Chicken Casserole

CHICKEN CASSEROLE
3-4 cups diced cooked chicken
2-3 cups cooked white rice
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup (6 oz.) sour cream
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Saute celery, onion, and garlic in olive oil on medium heat until softened.
In a large bowl, combine soups, sour cream, milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken, rice, and sauteed veggies. Stir until well mixed. Pour mixture into 13x9 dish.
In a medium bowl, combine crushed crackers, butter, and garlic powder. Spread over chicken mixture.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes.
**To reduce some calories, use the reduced fat versions of the soups and lowfat sour cream. There are also reduced fat Ritz crackers and you could just skip the butter (but I don't recommend it).
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Caramel Apples

'Tis the season for caramel apples!
Since eliminating refined sugars from our home, I've been trying out various sweet treats made with the natural sugars. Heidi Swanson (author of one of my all time favorite cookbooks and all time favorite blogs) posted this recipe on her blog JUST IN TIME! I'm sure she won't mind if I share it here. They are delicious, just like the original but without all the bad sugar. Follow the directions EXACTLY as written and you're on your way to a caramel coma!
Thank you, Heidi!
Caramel Apples
Heidi SwansonPlease be careful when making caramel apples, you will be working with dangerously hot, sticky, ingredients - I always put on an apron and make sure I have a closed-toed pair of shoes on when making candy. Be extra, extra careful if you have kids around. On the ingredient front, I typically go for a mild clover honey when making caramels.
6 - 8 small apples, unwaxed, cold
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup honeySpecial equipment: candy thermometer, and lollipop sticks
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Push a lollipop or popsicle stick deep into each apple - in through the stem.
Fill a large bowl 1/2 full with ice water and set aside.
In a medium, thick-bottomed saucepan heat the cream and salt until tiny bubbles start forming where the milk touches the pan - just before a simmer. Stir in the honey. Bring the mixture to a boil. Now reduce the heat to an active simmer and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for about 15-20 minutes minutes or until the mixture reaches about 255-260F degrees. To stop the caramel from cooking, very, very carefully set the bottom of the saucepan in the bowl of cold water you prepared earlier - taking special care not to get any of the water in the caramel mixture. Stir until caramel begins to thicken up - you want the caramel to be thin enough that it will easily coat your apples, but not so thin that it will run right off. If the caramel thickens too much simply put the pot back over the burner for 10 seconds or so to heat it up a bit.
I tilt my sauce pan so all the caramel forms a pool on one side, and use my other hand to dunk and twirl each apple until it is thoroughly coated with caramel. Place each apple on the parchment lined baking sheets and allow the caramel to cool and set.
Makes 6 - 8 caramel apples.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Mandarin Orange Cake

MANDARIN ORANGE CAKE
1 (18.25 ounce ) box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 (11 ounce) cans mandarin orange segments, drained, with juice reserved
1 tsp. orange extract (optional, but recommended)
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, with juice
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, orange extract, and juice from mandarin oranges. Beat with an electric mixer at low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in mandarin oranges. Pour batter evenly into 2 pans.
Bake for 35 - 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool. Remove from pans.
To make topping: In a large bowl, beat pineapple with juice and dry pudding mix until well blended. Fold in whipped topping. Spread between cake layers and on top and sides of cake. Store in refrigerator.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya

Having lived in Louisiana for several years when I was young, I experienced my fair share of Cajun food and culture. I grew to love it quickly even though I was only 10 years old. The people are genuinely warm and friendly, much like the food they are famous for. Cajun cooking is comfort food, especially if you are familiar with the comfortable culture from which it was born.
This is one of my favorites and now my family enjoys it too! Feel free to omit the hot sauce if you don't enjoy a lot of spice in your foods, but the other spices add unmistakable flavor and most importantly... don't forget the Tony's! (You can find it in nearly any mainstream grocery store.)
Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (16 ounce) can crushed Italian tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Tony’s Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 10 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked white rice
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- Heat olive oil in a large pan and saute onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic until tender.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, and season with red pepper, black pepper, Tony’s, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Stir in cooked chicken and sausage. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.




