Tacos!!

One option for taco seasoning: Make-a-Mix Taco Seasoning Mix:
2t instant minced onion
1t salt
1t chili powder
1/2t cornstarch
1/2t crushed dried red pepper
1/2t instant minced garlic
1/4t dried oregano
1/2t ground cumin
Mix into 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef and 1/2 c water.

Taco shells/tortillas
Browned ground beef with favorite taco seasonings
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Cheese
Green onion
Salsa
Sour Cream (optional)
Guacamole (optional)
Black beans, or Kidney, or Pinto, or Refried
Corn (optional)

Teriyaki Chicken Burritos

These are the best! And so easy!!

Ingredients:
Amounts depend on how much you want to serve.
2-4 Chicken breasts
2 Avocados, chopped
3 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
1 C Shredded Mozzarella
6-8 Large flour tortillas
1-2 C Teriyaki sauce (if you live near Wegmans, get their Asian Classics Teriyaki Sauce. It is the best).

Slice chicken and place in baggie with teriyaki sauce and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Prepare chicken by desired method with marinade. I usually boil the chicken, but broiled or grilled would do, as long as you marinate the chicken longer.

When chicken is fully cooked remove from marinade and shred with two forks.

On a skillet or grill pan, toast the tortillas individually and melt desired amount of mozzarella on the tortilla to desired toasty-ness.

Remove toasted tortilla from skillet and place on a dinner plate.

Dish up desired amount of chicken, avocado, and tomato onto tortilla.

Fold, and eat immediately.

Granola

10 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 lb shredded coconut
2 cups raw sunflower seeds
1 cup sesame seeds
3 cups chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts
1-1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1-1/2 cups water
3/4 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Raisins or other dried fruits, if desired


Preheat oven to 300F. IN a large bowl combine oats, wheat germ, flax seeds, coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and nuts. Blend well.
In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, oil honey, molasses, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Heat until sugar is dissolved, but do not boil. Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well-coated. Spread into five 13"x9" baking pans with sides.
Bake 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally,. Bake 15 Minutes longer for crunchier texture. Cool. Add raisins or other dried fruit, if desired. Put in airtight containers. Store in cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. Yield: about 20 cups.


A good, healthy alternative to granola is muesli. It's got lots of health benefits minus the sugar! :D

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

From Make-A-Mix Cookbook: Super creamy and yummy!! NOT very low fat so I usually substitute one can of chicken and one can of navy/great northern beans for the chicken. That adds a little bit of fiber to the dish so I feel better, but it doesn't make it too beany if I use a white bean. It's really good actually. I also like the can chicken because I like the texture for this dish and it means less cooking! :D Also, I don't recommend softening the tortillas in oil like the recipe says to do. It makes the dish seem really greasy. Warming the tortillas in the microwave or dipping them in hot water does just fine. Enjoy!!!

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken cubed or shredded
1 (4oz) can diced roasted green chiles
1 (7oz) can green chile salsa
10 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Vegetable oil for frying*
8 (6inch) flour tortillas (I usually use the largest tortillas I can find, and it fills 8 of them. Try whole wheat for a healthier option.)
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Chopped green onions, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl combine chicken, green chiles, salsa, and 1 cup of cheese. Heat oil in a medium skillet (*I usually skip this part and they taste fine). To soften tortillas, quickly dip them in hot oil with tongs, one at a time. Drain on paper towel.
Put about 1/3 cup filling in center of each tortilla and roll up. Place close together in a shallow casserole dish or baking pan, seam-side down.
In a bowl, combine whipping cream and salt. Pour cream over pan of enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with foil. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly. Garnish with cilantro and green onions.

Beef and Ravioli Bake

Ingredients -
1 Package Refrigerated Cheese Ravioli (9 ounce)
1 Pound Lean Ground Beef
1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce (14 ounce)
1 Package Frozen Spinach (10 ounce, thawed)
Mozzarella (4 ounces, shredded)
1 White Onion (finely chopped)
2 Roma Tomatoes (coarsely chopped)


Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook the ravioli to desired doneness as directed on package.
3. Drain in a colander.
4. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped
onion.
5. Drain the excess liquid.
6. Stir in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes and the spinach.
7. Spoon and spread half of beef mixture into ungreased 8-inch
square (2 quart) baking dish.
8. Arrange the ravioli over the beef layer.
9. Spoon and spread the remaining beef mixture over the
ravioli.
10. Cover with foil.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
12. Uncover baking dish and sprinkle with the mozzarella.
13. Bake another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
14. Serve immediately.

Amy's Easy Crock Pot Chicken

4-5 Chicken Breasts
8 oz cream cheese softened (I use lowfat)
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use the lowfat Healthy Request)
1 package good seasons italian dressing mix

Place Chicken in the crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat. Serve over angel hair pasta or over egg noodles. Yummy!

easy slow cooker bbq chicken

Place 4-6 frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Cover with one bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred and enjoy! We love ours on hamburger buns, but it also tastes great on BBQ chicken pizza, as BBQ chicken tacos or just freeze the leftovers!

Chunky Two-Bean and Beef Chili

Another of our favorites!!! I substitute stew meat with ground beef, and cut out some of the simmering. I also use balsamic vinegar in place of the wine, and I omit that ancho chile. This is spicy and delicious. If any of you use this in the chili cook-off while we're here, I get to claim your prize!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil, divided
• Cooking spray
• 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeño pepper
• 2/3 cup Cabernet Sauvignon or dry red wine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can hot chili beans

Preparation

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle beef with salt. Place half of beef in pan; sauté 8 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan. Repeat procedure with remaining beef; remove from pan.

Add 2 teaspoons oil, onion, and bell pepper to pan, and sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño; sauté for 1 minute. Add wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return beef to pan.

Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally.

Fettuccine and Tofu with Finger-Licking Peanut Sauce

This is a staple in our house, only we usually have it with chicken, and shrimp would be delicious too!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons chile paste with garlic
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
• 1 pound firm tofu, drained and cubed
• 1 cup (2-inch) sliced green onions
• 1 cup shredded carrot

Preparation

Combine first 8 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until smooth, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

Cook pasta in boiling water 8 minutes, omitting salt and fat. Add tofu, onions, and carrot; drain. Place pasta mixture in a large bowl. Add peanut butter mixture; toss gently.

Pad Thai with Tofu

Ingredients

• Sauce:
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 
  Noodles:
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 cups thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps (about 5 ounces)
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
• 1 cup (1-inch) sliced green onion tops
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup dry-roasted peanuts
• 8 ounces uncooked wide rice stick noodles (Banh Pho), cooked and drained
• 5 lime wedges

Preparation

To prepare sauce, combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk.

To prepare noodles, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, carrot, and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add sauce and tofu; cook 1 minute. Stir in coconut milk; cook 2 minutes. Stir in lettuce and next 5 ingredients (lettuce through noodles); cook 1 minute. Serve with lime wedges.

Spinach and Ricotta Pizza

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients

• 1 portion Homemade Pizza Dough
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup New York–Style Pizza Sauce
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2 plum tomatoes, cored and thinly sliced

Preparation

1. Remove Homemade Pizza Dough from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 500°.

3. Coat a 12-inch perforated pizza pan with cooking spray.

4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface; roll into a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to prepared pan, shaking off excess flour. Brush dough evenly with oil. Spread New York–Style Pizza Sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle with Parmesan; top evenly with spinach and garlic. Sprinkle mozzarella over spinach. Spoon teaspoonfuls of ricotta over mozzarella. Bake at 500° for 12 minutes or until mozzarella melts and crust browns. Let stand 5 minutes; top with tomato slices. Cut into 6 wedges.

Cranberry, Walnut Turkey Sandwich

Cranberry, Walnut Turkey Sandwich
(Great for Thanksgiving leftovers!)

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 10 min
Makes: 1 serving

What You Need
2 slices honey wheat bread, toasted
1 Tbsp. MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1 lettuce leaf
5 slices OSCAR MAYER Thin Sliced Honey Smoked Turkey Breast
1 Tbsp. whole berry cranberry sauce
1 Tbsp. PLANTERS Walnut Pieces

Make It
SPREAD toast slices evenly with dressing.
TOP 1 of the toast slices with lettuce, turkey, cranberry sauce and walnuts.
COVER with remaining toast slice.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Substitute
Substitute 1 Tbsp. cranberry-orange crushed fruit (when available) or a slice of jellied cranberry sauce for the whole berry cranberry sauce.

Variation
Substitute 1 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread for the MIRACLE WHIP Dressing.

Penne with Sausage, Eggplant, and Feta

Penne with Sausage, Eggplant, and Feta

Meaty breakfast sausage, earthy eggplant, and zesty feta complement each other in this hearty pasta dish.

4 1/2 cups cubed peeled eggplant (about 1 pound)
1/2 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups hot cooked penne (about 10 ounces uncooked tube-shaped pasta)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Cook eggplant, sausage, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 5
minutes or until sausage is browned and eggplant is tender. Add tomato paste and the next
3 ingredients (through tomatoes); cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Place pasta in a large bowl. Add tomato mixture, cheese, and parsley; toss well.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)

Ravioli Alfredo With Mushrooms

Ravioli Alfredo With Mushrooms

This is an awesome recipe! Delicious and easy to make. Serve with your favorite veggie and garlic bread. YUM!

Ingredients -
1 Package Cheese Ravioli, (20 ounce)
3 Tablespoons Salted Butter
1 Package Fresh Mushrooms, (8 ounce), sliced
4 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Container Alfredo Sauce, (10 ounce)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Parmesan Cheese, grated
2 Green Onions, finely chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, to taste

Preparation:
1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot of water.
2. Add the ravioli and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
3. Drain.
4. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
5. Stir in the mushrooms and garlic and cook until they are tender.
6. Toss the cooked ravioli with the Alfredo sauce to coat in a medium saucepan over low heat.
7. Mix in the mushrooms and garlic.
8. Cook and stir until the sauce is heated.
9. Garnish with Parmesan cheese, green onion, and red pepper.
10. Serve and enjoy.

Spicy Burgers and Fries

Beefy Mexican Burgers (2 servings)
1/3 lb lean ground beef
1/3 teaspoon ground black pepper
Dash of salt
Dash of ground cumin
Dash of ground oregano
Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
2 slices low fat cheddar cheese
2 whole wheat burger buns
Garnishes:
Chopped cilantro
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced red onion
Shredded lettuce
Gently combine ground beef and seasonings; shape into 2 burgers about ¾- inch think.
Broil to desired level of doneness. Immediately add a cheese slice to each burger.
Serve on buns with desired garnishes and enjoy!

Herbed Oven Fries
1 lb russet potatoes
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
½ teaspoons dried thyme, crumbled
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt\
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a heavy baking sheet with non-stick spray
Scrub potatoes and cut into ½-inch-thick matchsticks. Pile potato sticks in the center of
prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with parsley, oil, thyme, pepper and salt. Toss to coat
well then spread potatoes in and even layer.
Bake fries, turning SEVERAL times, for 20-25 minutes, or until crisp and browned.

Jackie's Homemade Mac 'N Cheese

Mac-n-cheese

1 1/2 C. uncooked macaroni
8 oz. Cheddar Cheese, cubed
1 sm. onion, chopped (optional)
2 TBS. butter
2 TBS. flour
2 C. Milk
salt & pepper to taste
paprika

Cook Mac until almost done. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Sauté onion in butter.
Add flour, whisk until blended. Add the milk a few TBS. at a time and whisk in each
time until well blended. (This avoids lumps) lower to a medium heat and whisk often to
avoid burning at bottom of pan. When sauce starts to thicken and bubble add cheese, salt
and pepper. Stir and cook until cheese is melted. Put Mac. in to 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Pour
sauce over top. Sprinkle paprika on top if desired. bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 mins or
until bubbly around edges.

Spicy Black Bean and Yam Chili

Spicy Black Bean and Yam Chili
1 rating/review
MAKES 11 cups ACTIVE TIME: 15 min TOTAL TIME: 40 min

1 Tbsp Wegmans Basting Oil
1 pkg (16 oz) Food You Feel Good About Sliced Peppers and Onions (Produce)
1 dry chipotle pepper, coarsely chopped
2 cups Food You Feel Good About Vegetable Culinary Stock
3 cans (15.5 oz each) Food You Feel Good About Black Beans, undrained
1 can (14.5 oz) Food You Feel Good About Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Garlic & Onion
1 medium yam or sweet potato (about 1/2 lb), peeled, diced 1/2-inch
2 Tbsp Italian Classics Chianti Red Wine Vinegar
1 clove Food You Feel Good About Peeled Garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp Wegmans Hot Cocoa Mix
2 Tbsp Wegmans Pure Honey
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat basting oil in medium stockpot on MEDIUM-HIGH. Add peppers & onions and chipolte pepper. Cook, stirring, 3-4 min until soft, but not browned. Add stock, beans and liquid, tomatoes, yam, vinegar, garlic, cocoa powder, honey, chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on LOW, uncovered, 25-30 min. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Option(s):
Use Wegmans Patisserie Hot Cocoa Powder.

Pizza Crust/BBQ Chicken Pizza

Pizza Crust

3 cups flour (substitute 1 cup whole wheat if you want)
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons oil (usually olive)
1 cup warm water
1 packet of active-dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon sugar

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add sugar. Wait until the yeast starts to foam. Combine yeast mixture and all other ingredients in a bowl. Knead for several minutes until dough clings together and no longer sticks to the bowl. (If you've been kneading for a while and the dough is still gooey, just add a little more flour). Knead for a few more minutes to mix everything together thoroughly. Spread over 9x13 pan or cookie sheet or a pizza pan. Add toppings. Bake at 350 for 20-30, minutes until crust is golden.

For the BBQ chicken pizza (our favorite), we add Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, mozzarella, cooked shredded chicken breast, diced green peppers & red onions, cooked chopped bacon, diced fresh pineapple, fresh cilantro. Delicious!!

artichoke dip

1 cup mayonnaise
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese (it works with the kraft kind, but I usually use the fresh kind from Wegmans)
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped

Mix all ingredients well sprinkle top with paprika and bake at 350 for 20 min

Usually I just throw everything in my food processor without even chopping the onion or artichoke hearts. Then I just pulse until the consistency I like, makes this super simple!

Serve warm with crackers, pita chips, or bread chunks.

another website to check out

This week I discovered a great website with lots of yummy and easy recipes...

http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com

I tried the caramel crunch bars, skillet lasagna, and honey lime enchiladas. ALL were totally fabulous. Just passing on a good thing.