Category Archives: Easy

August 24, 2011 · 3:30 pm

Fruity Breakfast Smoothie

There is not an exact science as to how we make these, but they are pretty popular around here. Sometimes we have them with breakfast and sometimes they are just a healthy snack. Last night we had them for dessert.

Ingredients:
1 banana (about a 1/2 cup)
6 oz yogurt (your favorite flavor, we usually use strawberry or blueberry)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice

Instructions:
Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

What did the family think? I like these and so does our oldest. They are too fruity for my hubby and our youngest does like these, but usually opts for something else for breakfast instead.

Where did recipe come from? Me

Smoothie with Breakfast Sushi…that recipe’s coming tomorrow!
Photo by Me

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Filed under After School Snacks, Beverages, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

August 17, 2011 · 3:15 pm

Lemon Pepper Salmon

This is one of my favorite ways to make salmon. It is so easy and so good and is ready in a snap.

Ingredients:
1 lb. salmon
Lemon Pepper

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle salmon with lemon pepper. I would say about 1-2 tsp. I put enough on to cover it fairly well, but not enough so that it looks like it’s coated in it.

Bake for about 20 minutes.

What did the family think? I have made this many, many times and it is a winner every time. (P.S. When I say it’s a winner, I mean hubby and I love it. The kids won’t touch it.)

Where did this recipe come from? I just made this one up myself.

Photo from mccormick.com

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Fish, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

August 16, 2011 · 9:46 am

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

Recipes don’t come much easier than this and the result is fantastic.

Ingredients:
4 ears fresh corn

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place corn husks directly on the oven rack and roast for 30 minutes or until corn is soft.

Peel down the husks and use as a handle when eating.

What did the family think? Everyone loved it! I think the boys’ favorite part was using the husks as a handle.

Where did this recipe come from? Food Network

Photo from cookstr.com

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

August 10, 2011 · 4:34 pm

Super Easy Whole Wheat Biscuits

These biscuits come out buttery and a little crispy. They are so good and so easy and are a good addition to breakfast (think biscuits with butter and honey/jelly) or dinner.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup cold unsalted butter
1 cup milk (any kind)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a medium sized bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well with whisk or fork.

Cut the 1/2 stick butter into little pea sized pieces and then mix the pieces into the flour mixture. Using a fork, try to mash the butter pieces as you mix it together with the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. It is okay if the outcome just looks like the same pea sized pieces of butter covered with flour.

Then pour in the milk and mix it all together. Knead the dough with your hands 8 to 10 times and then turn out onto a floured counter or cutting board. Pat it out flat with your hands until the dough is a somewhat even 3/4-inch thickness.

Turn a drinking glass upside down and cut out biscuit rounds. Put them on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

We had this with roasted chicken, salad and watermelon.

What did the family think? What’s not to like about warm, buttery, crispy biscuits fresh out of the oven?

Where did this recipe come from? 100 Days of Real Food

photo from 100 Days of Real Food

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Filed under After School Snacks, Bread, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegetarian

August 3, 2011 · 5:41 pm

Pesto and Tomato Naan Pizzas

The pictures of this pizza from Simply Scratch were enough to make me want to try it. I am glad I did.

Ingredients:
2 whole pieces of Naan (I bought mine at the store. I didn’t make them.)
4 tablespoons Basil Pesto, more or less to taste
1 Large Tomato, sliced thin
6 oz. Fresh Mozzarella, sliced thin
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
Red Pepper Flakes, for garnish {optional}

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place naan on a sheet pan and spread with equal amounts of pesto on each. Top naan with slices of tomato, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and finally with some mozzarella slices.

Place in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes OR until cheese is melted and the crust is a deep golden and crispy. Let cool for a few minutes and serve!

Did I change anything? I also added a little spicy ground Italian sausage.

What did the family think? Hubby was out of town, but the boys and I liked it. I did change one of the pizzas to a tomato sauce for the pickiest eater in our house.

Where did this recipe come from? Simply Scratch

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Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

July 31, 2011 · 2:07 pm

French Peach Pie

My friend Christie had posted a wonderfully yummy-looking picture of a peach pie on her blog. I inquired about it and she was more than happy to share. I like it because, as far as pies go, it’s pretty easy to make and it’s a great way to eat some of those yummy summer peaches. Also, it makes a great dessert and an even better breakfast the next day.

Ingredients:
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar (or less)
7 T unsalted butter, melted

In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs (you can either buy the crumbs or just put whole graham crackers in the food processor), the sugar and the melted butter. Press firmly and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake for seven minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool for about 15-20 minutes and then stick in the freezer to really cool it off.

Filling:
Slice 8 ripe peaches (I left skins on, but could remove)
1/2 c sugar (or less)
1/3 c flour
juice from a medium lemon
2 T butter, sliced thinly

Mix sliced peaches with sugar, flour, and lemon. Pour into cooled graham crust. Top filling with thinly sliced butter. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350, or until golden.

Did I change anything? I had to change the crust a little because I didn’t have the right kind of graham crackers. I also didn’t use as much sugar as the above recipe calls for in the crust, maybe half of that.

What did the family think? I knew when I was making this that I would be the only one eating it. No one in my house likes peaches. I know. They have no idea what they are missing.

Where did this recipe come from? my dear friend, Christie

photo from Christie

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Filed under After School Snacks, Breakfast, Desserts, Easy, Vegetarian

July 27, 2011 · 3:24 pm

Green Beans in Tomato Vinaigrette

I made these in the morning and let them marinate all day on the counter. They were SO good and went really well with the herbed chicken kabobs we had with them.

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lb. green beans, washed and trimmed
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove, minced
6 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. each minced fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley
Salt to taste
1 lb. plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup minced red onion

Instructions:
Boil the beans for 5 minutes, then rinse quickly in cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.

In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar, mustard and garlic. Gradually whisk in the oil. Add the herbs and salt, whisking thoroughly. Add the vegetables and toss everything together.

Let the beans marinate, unchilled, for at least 2 hours. Serve at room temperature. (If you prepare them earlier in the day, go ahead and chill them. Just make sure to take them out of the refrigerator at least 2 hours before dinner. They are not very tasty cold.)

Did I change anything? I left out the red onion. I didn’t use as many tomatoes because I didn’t have enough. I didn’t use parsley because I don’t like fresh parsley.

What did the family think? Hubby and I LOVED these. They were so good. Our oldest tried them, but was not impressed. I am not sure if our youngest tried them, but I am guessing he didn’t.

Where did this recipe come from? Family Fun

photo from Epicurious

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Make Ahead of Time, Salad, Side Dish, Vegetarian

July 25, 2011 · 9:38 am

Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad

This salad is so bright and summery. It’s beautiful on the plate and it tastes great, too.

Instructions:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 5 ears)
1 1/2 cups diced avocado (1/2-inch pieces)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cup finely diced red onion

Instructions:
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

Add the corn, avocado, tomatoes, and onion and toss to mix. Serve at room temperature.

Did I change anything? I didn’t use fresh corn. I used canned corn. I know, I know. I should have used fresh, but I knew it would be way faster if I just used canned. I also used way, way, way less red onion than this recipe calls for.

What did the family think? Note to self: Hubby does not like canned corn in any dish ever. I thought the salad was awesome. It was so summery and it went perfectly with the salmon we had with it.

Where did this recipe come from? Family Fun

photo from Family Fun

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Salad, Side Dish, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

July 23, 2011 · 3:49 pm

Heirloom Tomato Sandwich

I wait every year for JUST the right time to make these. It’s a small window, but it is worth the wait every time.

Ingredients:
1 heirloom tomato
2 pieces of good quality sandwich bread, toasted
Mayonnaise
Salt, optional

Instructions:
Slice the tomato into thick slices.

Spread mayo on the toast.

Put about two tomato slices on the toast. Sprinkle with salt if you’d like.

Assemble your sandwich and eat. Enjoy!

What did the family think? I am the only one who eats these. They just don’t know what they’re missing which is fine with me because I wouldn’t want to share anyways.

Where did the recipe come from? My dad used to eat tomato sandwiches all the time with TONS of mayo.

photo from Skippy’s Vegetable Garden

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Sandwich, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

July 21, 2011 · 10:27 am

LeeAnn and Alton’s Mac and Cheese

We are always willing to try a new mac and cheese recipe and this one did not disappoint. The best part was that my 9-year old made it almost entirely by himself.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
6 ounces evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
8 to 10 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded

Instructions:
In a large pot cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Melt the butter in the pot and return pasta to the pot. Toss to coat.

In the meantime whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Mix into the pasta. Add the cheese and stir over low heat until melted and creamy.

We had this with rotisserie chicken and some cantaloupe.

What did the family think? We’ve never met a mac and cheese we didn’t like.

Where did this recipe come from? I got it from LeeAnn. She got it from Alton.

photo from LeeAnn

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Lent, Side Dish, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian