"Cooking for Real" - Steak Soup

Here's a recipe from the show "Cooking for Real with Sunny Anderson". I really like Sunny. She's very down to Earth and reminds of people that I grew up with. This soup turned out to be far better than I expected.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound lean beef
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 pound white mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
4 cups beef broth
1/4 cup jarred sliced pickled jalapenos
1 cup crushed canned tomatoes
1 (11-ounce bag) bag baby spinach
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups tortilla chips, crumbled

Preparations:

1. Combine cumin, garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper and one tablespoon of olive oil.


2. Rub your meat down with this seasoning and grill or fry until meat is medium rare.
   
3. Set meat aside and let cool.


4. Cook onions and mushrooms in remaining oil. Saute until soft.


5. Add garlic and jalapenos. Cook on low for 2 minutes.
   
6. Add tomatoes and beef broth.


7. Let simmer for about 20 minutes.
   
8. Right before serving, add spinach.
   
9. Serve and top with crumbled tortilla chips and a tablespoon of sour cream.
   

Pillsbury's Lamb Chops with Butter

Here's an easy recipe from Pillsbury that is awesome for just two lamb chops.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon orange marmalade
  
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
  
• 2 lamb shoulder chops (1/2 to 3/4 inch thick)
  
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  
• 1/4 teaspoon black and red pepper blend

Preparations:

1. In small bowl, mix butter, marmalade and marjoram; set aside.
   
2. Season meat with salt, paprika and pepper blend. Cook over medium heat until they're done.
3. Baste with butter/marmalade mixture and serve.

Servings: 2

Hungry Girl's Easy Tomato-Basil Chicken

I bought the Hungry Girl cook book recently and here's my first recipe from it. If you're not familiar with her cook book, every recipe is 200 calories or less so if you're watching your weight, this is a good cook book for you.

Note: This is a great recipe book if you're on Weight Watchers because it lists the points.

Ingredients:

• boneless skinless chicken breasts


• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes with basil


• 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onions

Preparations:

1. Pour 3/4 cup of tomatoes over bottom of greased pan.


2. Put chicken breasts on top of tomatoes.


3. Layer onions over chicken breasts and top with onions.


4. Pour 3/4 cup of crushed tomatoes over chicken mixture.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until chicken is done.

Servings: 4

Low Carb Crustless Spinach Quiche

This is one of my own creations. I'm not a fan of eggs but this recipe turned out so well that even I liked it.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup half and half


• 16 ounces of Jimmy Dean sausage


• 4 green onions (chopped)


• 1 medium size white or yellow onion (chopped)


• 12 spinach leaves


• 6 large eggs


• 1 diced jalapeno pepper


• 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella Cheese


• 1 cup of shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1/2 tsp pepper

Preparations:

1. Brown the sausage over medium heat until cooked.
   
2. Add all of your chopped onions and jalapeno pepper. Saute until soft.


3. Separately, whisk eggs thoroughly. Add half and half and beat.


4. Tear spinach leaves into small pieces and add to egg mixture.


5. Add salt and pepper to egg mixture. Mix well.


6. Grease a casserole dish well.


7. Pour meat/onion/pepper mixture into the well greased casserole dish.


8. Add shredded Mozzarella to your meat, covering it well.


9. Pour egg mixture over cheese layer.


10. Cover with final cup of shredded Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 375 for approximately 55 minutes.

Servings: 4

Betty Crocker Chocolate Peanut Butter Treats

I chose this recipe for one simple reason - I had a coupon! The cookies are good but the process is messy (so don't make with your kids unless you want powder sugar everywhere).

Ingredients:

• 1 Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of water
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

Preparations:

1. Add egg, water and vegetable oil to cookie mix until it makes dough.


2. Roll dough into small balls (use about a tablespoon worth of batter for each)


3. Bake at 375 for 8-9 minutes.


4. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes.


5. Melt butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips over low heat. Stir well.


6. Dip cooled cookies in chocolate mixture (while still warm)


7. Put powdered sugar in big Ziplock bag, place chocolate covered cookies inside, gently tossing until coated.


8. Repeat this process for cookies and set aside for them to cool.

Oprah's recipes for Comfort Food

It's cold outside and depending on where you are, it very well maybe raining or snowing. Isn't it nice on this kind of day to eat some comfort food, pull on some thick socks and get cozy?

If you're looking for recipes to keep you warm, check out what Oprah's website has to offer this week.

http://www.oprah.com/food/The-Comfort-Food-Menu

Comfort Food

Recipezaar has a whole section devoted to Comfort Food recipes. Check out recipes for Macaroni & Cheese, Chowders and lots more! It great stuff to keep you warm.

http://www.recipezaar.com/sitenews/post.php?pid=1063&nl=RZ-021610-eaters-digest__main-link-url-2

Nestle Tollhouse Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is Nestle's "healthy" version of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. Now, I know they have a test kitchen so I don't get how exactly they messed up on the flour measurements. Let me show you what I mean.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (If you want flat cookies, use their amount of flour. If you don't add 2 1/4 cups of flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) OPTIONAL

Preparations:

1. PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease baking sheets.


2. COMBINE flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl.


3. Beat brown sugar, granulated sugar, margarine and applesauce in large mixer bowl until smooth.


4. Beat in egg whites and vanilla extract.


5. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, morsels and nuts; mix well.


6. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies or 12 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies.

Here's the flat version of the cookie -

Now here's the fluffy version -

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's a recipe from Nestle that I thought was appopriate for a Wednesday. Sorry, there's no mid-process picture as I had flour, cocoa and baking soda explode all over one counter. Note to self - keep mixer on low speed until ingredients are mostly mixed.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour


• 2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/4 teaspoon salt


• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened


• 3/4 cup granulated sugar


• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 2 large eggs


• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels

Preparations:

1. COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl.


2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.


3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


4. Gradually beat in flour mixture.


5. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
   

BAKE at 375 for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set.

Martha Stewart's Pecan Pie

I used to think that making pies was the epitomy of hard work in the kitchen. Well, that was before I actually tried making a pecan pie. Turns out, it's really not that difficult (especially if you by a ready made crust :).

Here's a recipe based on Martha Stewart's Pecan Pie.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups pecan halves
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 ready made graham cracker pie crust

Preparations:

1. Coarsely chop 1 1/4 cups pecans; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine eggs granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine.
3. Add dark and light corn syrups, butter, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
4. Add chopped pecans, and stir to combine. Pour into prepared crust.
5. Top with remaining pecans.

Bake at 350 for 50 - 55 minutes (or until knife comes out clean). Top with whip cream and serve.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

If you're cooking a big meal for a bunch of people, one of the best things you can do is make dishes ahead of time. Make Ahead mashed potatoes are easy, tasty and will lessen stress!

Ingredients:

• 5lbs peeled potatoes
• 1 cup sour cream (I used low fat for less calories)
• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese
• 1 stick of butter, divided
  

Preparations:

1. Boil potatoes on medium heat for approximately 45 minutes or until they fall apart.

2. Drain potatoes.

3. Mash potatoes and add half of your stick of butter. (I used my Kitchen Aid to do the mashing which is a huge time saver)

4. Add sour cream, cream cheese and remaining butter. Mix well.

5. Salt and pepper to taste.

6. Store in refrigerator

7. Heat at 400 for 30 minutes before serving

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Here's a recipe for Super Bowl Sunday. These bars are easy to make and they taste so good I ate two!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups peanut butter - divided use


• 3/4 cup butter or margarine


• 2 cups powdered sugar


• 3 cups graham cracker crumbs


• 2 cups (12 ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels - divided use

Preparations:

1. Take a rolling pin and crush graham crackers on hard clean surface. (Each box of graham crackers comes with three individual packets of crackers. It will take two of these to make 3 cups of crushed graham crackers.)


2. Beat 1 1/4 cups peanut butter and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar.


3. With hands or wooden spoon, work in remaining powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.


4. Press evenly into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Smooth top with spatula.


5. Melt remaining peanut butter and remaining chocolate chips in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over lowest possible heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.


6. Spread over graham cracker crust in pan.


7. Chill for at least 1 hour or until chocolate is firm; cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Super Bowl Party Recipes

It's almost game day so get your shopping list ready and go team!

I did some research on super bowl party recipes and found this website - http://www.cooksrecipes.com which offers easy to make, good tasting recipes.

Check back later to see how my version of some of these tasty items turned out!

What to Do for Dinner Tonight

Cooking dinner night after night can be really trying. It's hard to cook the same thing over and over again and it's even harder still to find new recipes that are easy to cook and not expensive to make.

Here are my top five recipes that can help you answer the question - what's for dinner tonight?

1. Crockpot Chili
2. Beef Enchilada Casserole
3. Ken's Pasta
4. Chrissa's Taco Salad
5. Easy Lasagna

The beef enchilada casserole was a huge hit with the teenage boys that I teach Sunday School too. I've come to the conclusion that anything with Velveeta is usually well received. :)

Pioneer Woman Cooks - Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Ever wonder if a cookbook is worth the $15 you pay for it? Yeah, me too. Wouldn't it be nice to see a test run of those recipes before you hand over your hard earned cash?

My thoughts exactly. So here's a test run of Pioneer Woman Cook's Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies. To see the receipe on her blog, click on the name of the cookies. If this recipe is any indication of her book, it's worth the $14. 47.

The cookies are easy to make, they have a wonderful flavor to them and they are healthier alternative to the same old chocolate chip cookie I'm so fond of eating....I mean making. :)

Ingredients:

• 1-½ cup Butter, Divided


• 2 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal


• 2 whole Bananas


• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar


• ⅔ cups Granulated Sugar


• 1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter


• 1 teaspoon Vanilla


• 1 teaspoon Sea Salt


• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda


• 1 cup All-purpose Flour


• 1-½ cup Whole Wheat Flour

Preparations:

1. Take one stick of butter (1/2 cup) and melt it over low heat.


2. Add two cups of oatmeal to melted butter, toast for five minutes.


3. Got a kitchen aid? Toss your two bananas in there and set on 3rd notch until mashed.


4. Add sugars and vanilla to bananas.


5. Add peanut butter. (I was out of crunchy so I used smooth)


6. Let toasted oatmeal cool. Add to peanutbutter/banana mixture.


7. Separately combine both flours, sea salt and baking soda.


8. Combine both mixtures and mix well.

Bake at 375 for 11 minutes.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese for picky eaters

Are your kids Mac & Cheese snobs? Well, ours are! When I was little, I was happy to get boxed mac & cheese but the children in this house won't eat the powdered stuff. I tried a family recipe (that I really liked) but they turned up their noses at that too.

Imagine my joy when I finally found an easy macaroni and cheese recipe that's loved!



Here's my version of Campbell's Baked Macaroni and Cheese:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of elbow pasta or 2 cups of cork screw pasta


• 1 can condensed Cheddar Cheese soup


• 1 can of milk

Preparations:

1. Boil pasta until cooked. (Usually around 10 -12 minutes at a boil)


2. Drain pasta.


3. Add soup plus one can of milk to noodles.


4. Mix well.


5. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring well over medium heat.


6. Salt and pepper to taste.

Servings: 4


Cost of meal: $2.50

Saving Money on Groceries by Using Coupons

It's the first day of the month which means new coupons! I know that doesn't sound like really exciting news but in this economy, it warms my heart to save a few bucks here and there.

If you're like I was (before marriage and three kids ago) and haven't been clipping coupons; here's where you start.

1. Get a coupon organizer (I bought mine for $1 at Target)
2. Check out http://www.coupons.com
3. Print, clip and store coupons for everything that you buy regularly.
4. Watch for sales on the stuff that you use, buy these items before you run out with the coupons you've saved.
5. Sign up for promotions with the companies whose products you buy often. (Like Nabisco, Silk, Proctor & Gamble, etc.)
6. Sign up for daily emails from the http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ (These gals update their site daily with the greatest deals on the web.)

Last week I saved $10 on my grocery bill. It might not seem like a lot but on average, I've cut our grocery bill by $40 a month and over a year that adds up to $480. Clipping coupons and shopping sales can be time consuming but what's a little time when you save almost $500 a year?