Taco Spaghetti

Ingredients:

* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 packet taco seasoning
* 1 can black beans
* 1 to 2 cups frozen corn
* 1 can crushed or pureed tomatoes
* 1/2 pound whole wheat spaghetti

Directions:

Start by cooking ground beef in a large skillet.

Add a packet of taco seasoning.

Drain and rinse one can of black beans and add it to the skillet.

Add frozen corn.  You don’t need to thaw or pre-cook it in anyway.  It will heat up in the skillet with the other ingredients.

Add one can of crushed or pureed tomatoes.

And mix!

While this is happening, boil a pot of water and cook some whole wheat spaghetti.   You could also use regular spaghetti or even spaghetti squash.  And if you have some other kind of pasta at home,  use it!  Any noodle will work.

Quick Gourmet Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

2 ( 12.5 oz) cans of chicken (or 3 cups diced cooked chicken)
3/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 cup red grapes, halved
1 green onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 cup diced apple
salt and pepper to taste
pecans or cashews, optional

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, grapes, green onion, celery, apple, salt, and pepper.  Combine until well blended.
Serve on rolls, bread, or croissants sprinkle with some cashews or pecans.  This can also be served on a lettuce leaf.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Ingredients:

1 box any chocolate cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tub cherry flavored frosting

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and coat and 9 x 13 cake pan with Crisco and dust with flour.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the cake mix, cherry pie filling, chocolate chips and eggs on low until combined.

Spread cake mix evenly in pan and bake for 25 – 30 minutes.

Cool before frosting.

Notes:

Do NOT prepare the cake mix as described on the box. You only use the powder from the package and the ingredients listed. The cherry pie filling replaces the oil, butter and water.

Homemade Coleslaw (KFC)

Ingredients:

1package cole slaw mix OR
8cups finely diced cabbage (about 1 head) and ¼ cup diced carrot
2tablespoons minced onions
⅓cup granulated sugar
½teaspoon salt
⅛teaspoon pepper
¼cup milk
½cup mayonnaise
¼cup buttermilk
1½tablespoons white vinegar
2½tablespoons lemon juice

Directions
           
1. Buy preshredded cole slaw mix( I use 1pkg) Mix with minced onions.

2.You can shred your own cabbage and carrots if you prefer, enough to toal 8 cups cabbage and 1/4 cup carrots.

3 Using regular blade on food processor process remaining ingredients until smooth.

4 Pour over vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly.

5 Cover bowl and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.

Baker Cream Cheese Wontons

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz cream cheese softened
1/8 tsp. minced garlic
1/8 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. chopped green onion
1 egg
24 wonton wrappers

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, garlic, salt and green onion until well mixed.

Whisk egg until well beaten in a small bowl.

Place one teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into the center of one wonton wrapper.

Dip your finger into the beaten egg and lightly coat the outer edges of the wonton wrapper..

Bring all the corners of the wonton together up to the center and pinch. Pinch all the sides together to to form an "X" or star appearance. Place on greased cookie sheet.

Repeat for remaining wontons.
Lightly spray the tops of the wontons with cooking spray.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 7-12 minutes or until tops are golden brown in color.

Cracker Barrell's Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredient:

2cups Flour
½teaspoons Baking Powder
1pinch Salt
2Tablespoons Butter
1cup Milk, A Bit Less Than A Full Cup
2quarts Chicken Broth
3cups Cooked Chicken

Directions:
                   
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or pastry blender.  Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork  until the dough forms a ball.

To cook them, bring the broth to a boil.  Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them.  The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth.  Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they not doughy tasting.  Add the cooked chicken to the pot and you’re done!

Cheesy Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced
1 cup long grain rice
1 can Rotelle tomatoes, undrained
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
2 tbsp olive oil
salt
shredded cheese - cheddar or Monterrey jack

Directions:

Heat oil on skillet or sauce pan over medium high heat.  Stir in onion and cook until translucent.  Add rice and stir frequently for 2-4 minute so grains don't burn.  Add tomatoes and mix to combine with rice.  Slowly add in broth and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, mixing occasionally to prevent rice from sticking on the bottom of the pan.  Remove from heat, add salt for taste and fluff with a fork.  Let rice cool down for at least 5 minutes before serving.   Serve warm in individual bowls and drizzle with cheese on top so it melts.

Jalapeño Cornbread

Ingredients:

all-purpose flour - 3 cups
cornmeal - 1 cups
Sugar - ¼ cup
Baking powder - 2 tbsp
salt - 1 tsp
milk - 1 cup
beer - 1 cup
eggs - 3, beaten
butter - 1 cup (227g), melted
cheddar cheese - 8 ounces (200 g), grated
jalapenos - 3 – 4 tbsp - pickled, roughly chopped

Directions:

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (including the jalapenos). Quickly add the wet mix to the dry, and stir until the batter is almost smooth. (it will be very thick)

Heat the oven to 425 F (200 C), and let the batter rest while the oven is heating. Grease a 9 x 13 cake pan, scrape in the dough, and smooth the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown, and a toothpick comes out clean.

(be sure and do the toothpick test, even though it can appear done on the outside, it’s very important that it’s cooked through).

Cheesy Bacon Potato Bites

Ingredients:

Potatoes
Shredded cheese
Green onions
Bacon bits

Directions:

Slice potatoes into round circles and then boil for 5 minutes. Drain (I pulled out of water with a slotted spoon) and layer on baking sheet.

Top with cheese and bacon bits.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Once baked add green onions.

Cauliflower Cheese Sticks

Ingredients:

¼ of a large head of cauliflower “riced”
1 tsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg (white), lightly beaten
½ cup mozzarella cheese
½ tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
Marinara Sauce for dipping

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.

To “rice” the cauliflower, use your cheese grater (or food processor). When you’re done, you should have about 1.5 cups lightly packed. Place the riced cauliflower into a microwavable bowl and microwave until softened, about 5 minutes depending on your microwave (no need to add any water, drain).

While that is cooking, heat the oil in a small skillet over low heat and add your garlic until softened. When your cauliflower is softened, add the garlic mixture, lightly beaten egg white, Italian seasonings, and 3/4 of the mozzarella. Stir and mix well, then spread onto your prepared pan.

Bake until they start to turn golden brown; about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the loaf over so the bottom side is now on top and add the remaining cheese and a sprinkle more of the Italian herb seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.
Cool (until they harden slightly) and cut into pieces and serve hot or warm. Heat up marinara sauce and serve.

BBQ Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless thin-sliced chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 Roma tomato, diced
3/4 cup canned corn kernels, drained
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Ranch dressing
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup tortilla strips

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, to taste. Add to skillet and cook, flipping once, until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.

To assemble the salad, place romaine lettuce in a large bowl; top with tomato, corn, beans, onion and cheeses.

Pour Ranch dressing and BBQ sauce on top of the salad and gently toss to combine.

Serve immediately,topped with tortilla strips.