Monthly Archives: September 2010

September 10, 2010 · 9:01 am

Oatmeal Applesauce Bread

I love it when I get in the mood to bake and I already have everything I need. This was something I whipped up last night and it was the perfect addition to the boys’ lunches today.

Ingredients:
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine (at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup oats
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one loaf pan.

Mix applesauce, sugars and margarine together. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Stir together applesauce and flour mixtures. Add eggs, oats and vanilla and stir to combine.

Pour into loaf pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.

I had some of this with apple butter and it was SO good. I bet it is good with regular butter, too. I would try it with apple butter first if I were you. 🙂

Did I change anything? Mine seemed to take more like 50 minutes to bake.

What did the family think? I am the only one who has had some so far and I give it a thumbs up. I put some in the boys’ lunches today, so we’ll see what the verdict is when they get home. This would make a good after school snack, too.

from halfassed kitchen

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Filed under After School Snacks, Bread, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

September 9, 2010 · 10:28 pm

Graham Cracker Sandwiches

My kids found this snack idea in Food Network’s magazine from last month. The magazine had a whole pull-out section of after school snack ideas. They will no longer settle for some popcorn or a cereal bar now that they have seen the possibilities. Thanks Food Network. 🙂

Ingredients:
2 graham cracker squares
Vanilla frozen yogurt (It helps if you let the yogurt stand out long enough to get a little soft.)
Chocolate chips (we used the miniature kind)

Instructions:
Put frozen yogurt on one of the graham cracker squares. Sprinkle a small helping of chocolate chips on top. Place remaining graham cracker square on top like a sandwich. Enjoy!

What did the family think? Well, the boys were the only ones who ate these and they loved them!

from Food Network Magazine

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Filed under After School Snacks, Desserts, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Sandwich, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

September 8, 2010 · 10:46 pm

Chicken Noodle Soup

This was a perfect dinner for the chilly and rainy weather we had today.

Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 cup sliced carrots
1/3 cup frozen peas
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 cup uncooked egg noodles
Pepper, to taste

Instructions:
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken pieces and garlic in the oil until chicken is cooked through.

In a Dutch oven, heat chicken broth over medium heat. Add the carrots, peas, water, celery, onion, bay leaf and poultry seasoning. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 20-25 minutes. Add the noodles and cook for about ten more minutes.

We had this with watermelon and bread and butter.

What did the family think? Hubby and I really liked it. I think it is one of the best chicken noodle soups I have ever made. Our boys aren’t huge soup fans, but they ate the chicken, some noodles and some carrots.

adapted from recipe at allrecipes.com

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Filed under Chicken, Stew/Soup

September 7, 2010 · 10:37 pm

Italian Meatloaf

Our boys love meatballs, so I thought this might be like a meatball, but in a different shape. I was kind of right.

Ingredients:
Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 T olive oil
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup carrot puree (I use baby food)
1/4 cup catsup
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup tomato sauce
4 slices bacon

Instructions:
Preheat over to 350 and coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, soak the breadcrumbs in the milk.

Coat a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. Add the oil and onions and cook for about 7 minutes, occasionally stirring. Add the celery and cook about 3 minutes more. Put the onion mixture in with the breadcrumb mixture. Add the turkey, Parmesan, carrot puree, ketchup, salt and pepper. Stir (or use your hands) to combine.

Put the mixture in the loaf pan and smooth the top. Spread tomato sauce over the meatloaf and lay the strips of bacon on top. Bake about 45-50 minutes or until the meatloaf in no longer pink and the bacon begins to brown.

We had this with broccoli sprinkled with Parmesan and some watermelon.

Did I change anything? I didn’t change anything, but I think the next time I make this I will use less tomato sauce. The meatloaf wasn’t as firm as I am used to, so I think less tomato sauce might help.

What did the family think? Well, the kids were not convinced that this was like a meatball but in a different shape. However, after quite a bit of stalling, they did finally eat it and actually liked it. Our youngest even ate the bacon…he has never had bacon. Ever.

from Deceptively Delicious

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Filed under Everybody Ate It, Italian

September 6, 2010 · 11:07 pm

Pumpkin Doughnuts

This will be our special back-to-school breakfast tomorrow morning.

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg white
1 T butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup powdered sugar, optional

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Coat a doughnut mold or mini-muffin tin with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat together sugar, pumpkin, milk, egg white, margarine and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spice and mix completely.

Pour the batter into a gallon-sized Ziploc-type bag, snip off the corner of the bag with scissors and squeeze the batter into the doughnut mold.

Bake about 20-25 minutes, until the tops are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

When cool, dust with powdered sugar or eat them plain.

Store in an airtight container for up to two days.

adapted from Deceptively Delicious

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Filed under After School Snacks, Bread, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Everybody Ate It, Vegetarian

· 12:01 am

Homemade Sloppy Joes, Take 2

Last spring I tried a recipe for homemade Sloppy Joes that did not go over so well with the hubby or our youngest, so I thought I would give it another try.

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 T olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 cup sweet potato puree (I use baby food)
1/2 cup butternut squash puree (baby food, again)
1/4 cup raw carrots, finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
Hamburger buns

Instructions:
Coat a large non-stick pan with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the oil, onion, celery and garlic. Cook until the onion begins to soften.

Add the meat, using a wooden spoon to break it up. Cook until no longer pink.

Add the veggie purees, the carrots, the broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the mixture has thickened to the desired consistency.

Spoon the mixture over toasted buns and serve.

We had this with corn on the cob, blueberries and strawberries.

Did I change anything? I didn’t add the salt. It needs the salt. Also, sometimes I put a slice of cheddar on top. I forgot to do that this time, but it sure is yummy.

What did the family think? Everyone really liked it. Hubby thought it needed more salt. Umm, well, I forgot to add the salt.

from Deceptively Delicious

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Everybody Ate It, Sandwich

September 4, 2010 · 7:25 pm

Roasted Veggies

I haven’t found a roasted veggie I don’t like and these are no exception…

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini, cut into spears
1 red bell pepper, cut into spears
1 red onion, cut into wedges
2 T olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:
Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Place veggies in a large roasting pan or on a cookie sheet that has sides. Add olive oil, salt and pepper and stir/toss to coat.

Arrange veggies in a single layer for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Veggies are done when they are light brown and tender.

We had this with pesto and lemon kabobs, grapes and bread and butter.

Did I change anything? This recipe also called for asparagus, summer squash and a yellow bell pepper, but I knew we wouldn’t be able to eat all of that, so I just chose a few veggies to work with. If you are going to use all of these veggies, then you need more olive oil.

What did the family think? Hubby and I really liked them. My favorite was the red onions. The kids weren’t impressed.

from cooks.com

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

September 3, 2010 · 9:39 pm

Spaghetti Carbonara

We love pasta around here and this dish was no exception…

Ingredients:
1 box spaghetti
8 oz pancetta, cut into thin strips (can use bacon instead)
1/4 cup olive oil
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
Cook pasta according to the directions on the box.

Beat egg yolks with cheeses and salt and pepper.

Cook pancetta in skillet over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Add olive oil.

Drain pasta and add to pancetta, stir and cook for one to two minutes.

Add egg and cheese mixture to pasta and cook until eggs have thickened up, stirring constantly.

We had this with a simple salad and grapes.

What did the family think? After our youngest got over the fact that this was not the type of pasta with red sauce everyone loved it and wanted seconds. Everyone even loved the pancetta (and these are kids who refuse to eat bacon.)

from barillaus.com

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Pork

September 1, 2010 · 11:17 pm

Olive Oil, Garlic and Lemon Chicken

So easy and simple!

Ingredients:
2 1/2-3 lb. fryer, cut up
1/2 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
Wash chicken and pat dry. Pour olive oil in a 9″x12″ pan. Place chicken pieces in pan and turn to coat oil on all sides. Sprinkle salt and pepper on chicken. Sprinkle garlic, and lemon juice over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes, or until chicken is tender.

We had this with watermelon and a baguette.

What did the family think? Everyone ate it so it must have been a hit. Hubby ate his with spicy German mustard and the boys ate theirs with catsup.

Did I change anything? I just used chicken breasts. Also, the recipe called for parsley. I used the parsley, but I think it would have been better without it.