Category Archives: Definitely Making it Again

September 26, 2010 · 10:26 am

Crock Pot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese

This is heavenly! Really, it has cream cheese so it has to be good. 🙂

Ingredients:
4-5 boneless, skinless FROZEN chicken breasts
15 1/2 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. jar of your favorite salsa
8 oz package cream cheese

Instructions:
Place chicken in the crock pot.

Add black beans and salsa.

Cook on high for 4-5 hours until chicken is cooked through.

When crock pot is done, put cream cheese on top of everything and let sit for 1/2 half hour.

We had this with tortillas. I shredded the chicken after it was done cooking and we used the chicken mixture as the filling and just rolled it up. You could also serve this over rice.

Did I change anything? The original recipe called for a can of corn.

What did the family think? It was a huge hit. My kids love cream cheese, so I knew they would like it.

from food.com

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Filed under Chicken, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Mexican, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

September 16, 2010 · 9:49 pm

Pumpkin Currant Muffins

I made a batch of these today to give to the boys’ teachers. I had never made them before and they turned out great.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
pinch nutmeg
2 eggs
1/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup currants

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease muffin tins or line with paper cups.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

In another bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, molasses, oil and pumpkin. Add to flour mixture and and mix with spoon until flour disappears. Stir in currants.

Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Did I change anything? I didn’t have any currants, so I used raisins and I didn’t have any molasses, so I used maple syrup. I also used a whole can of pumpkin instead of just a cup because I didn’t read the recipe correctly. They turned out great, so I guess it wasn’t a huge mistake.

What did the family think? The family didn’t get any since I made them for the boys’ teachers, but I ate one and they were fantastic.

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Filed under After School Snacks, Bread, Definitely Making it Again, Easy

September 15, 2010 · 9:23 pm

Spinach and Cheese Pasta Bake

Got this recipe from my good friend, Janelle. She said her whole family ate it up so I thought I would give it a try with mine.

Ingredients:
14 oz. box penne pasta
10 oz frozen creamed spinach, defrosted
7 1/2 oz. low fat ricotta cheese
1 cup Mozzarella, shredded
26 oz jar pasta sauce

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together spinach, ricotta and Mozzarella.

When pasta is done and drained, add pasta to spinach mixture. Stir well.

Pour the pasta mixture into a casserole dish. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the pasta making sure to cover as much of the pasta as you can.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Did I change anything? I just changed the type of pasta (Janelle stuffed the spinach mixture into manicotti) and I used a whole jar of sauce. Janelle used a cup of sauce. My family LOVES sauce. I also couldn’t find the creamed spinach at my grocery store, so I ended up making my own creamed spinach.

What did the family think? Everyone loved it including our babysitter who was here to watch the boys so we could go to Back to School night at the boys’ school.

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

September 11, 2010 · 8:24 pm

Apple and Cheese Quesadillas

This has been a new addition to our lunchbox menu and they make a great snack, too.

Ingredients:
Flour tortilla
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Apple, thinly sliced

Instructions:
Place a tortilla on a microwaveable plate. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on tortilla. Place in microwave until cheese is just barely melted. Place apples in a single layer on one side of the tortilla. Fold over, cut in half and enjoy.

If you are going to put this in your child’s lunch, let it rest for a couple of minutes after placing the apples on it and cutting it and then wrap it in aluminum foil. If you don’t wait and wrap it up before it has a chance to cool off a little, your child will have a soggy quesadilla come lunchtime. We learned this the hard way. 🙂

What did the family think? These are a favorite with my oldest.

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

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 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

August 27, 2010 · 11:16 pm

Meatballs in a Hurry

These are great in spaghetti and for meatball sandwiches. They freeze well, too.

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
1/2 lb. ground turkey or chicken
1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a baking pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the remaining ingredients and mix together using your hands.

Form golf ball size meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet about one inch apart.

Bake for 15 minutes and then turn over and bake for another 5 minutes.

What did the family think? These are so easy and the family acts like I am some sort of gourmet because I made them homemade meatballs. They loved them!

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