Ambrosia

Ambrosia

It's yummy, it's fluffy, it's easy, and there are some healthy ingredients in it! Well, it's a party food, so it's okay for once in a while. ;)

You Will Need:

1- 14oz. Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (the cheap brand is fine)
1- Small 8oz. Sour Cream (NOT light!)
1- 11oz. Can Mandarin Oranges
1- 20oz. Can Pineapple Chunks
1 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows
1/2 Cup maraschino Cherries (no stems)
1 Cup Shredded Coconut (sweetened)

Juice From 1 Lime  (this is my secret ingredient!!)                                            

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
Cover tightly.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Enjoy!! <3

Baked Mac N Cheese

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

No party is ever complete , or no BBQ, for that matter, without baked mac n cheese. Sometimes, you get a big spoonful of it on your plate, and it is pure delight. Other times, you wish you knew who made it so they wouldn't see you throwing it out, or even spitting it out! It is an absolute disgrace to the palate!!

Well, here is my recipe for it. I have always had rave reviews on it, and I hope that you also love it! I think the trick is in the seasonings, as well as the method.

This meal is also great to keep in the freezer for an easy dinner or when someone needs a meal.

*Note: For your own sanity, always make this in a disposable foil pan!*

You Will Need:

1 Can Evaporated Milk
1 Block Extra Sharp (yellow) Cheddar Cheese
1 Block Mild Cheddar (white)
1 Block Mild Cheddar (yellow)
1 Block Monterey Jack
2 Cloves Garlic
Dried Oregano (about 1 Tablespoon)
Salt
Garlic Salt
Italian Breadcrumbs, 2 Cups
1 1/2 Pounds Elbow Pasta
Cooking Spray

Directions:

- Heat oven to 350 degrees, unless you're making it ahead of time.

- Cook pasta. Drain.

- While pasta is cooking, cut all of the cheeses into cubes. Add evaporated milk, the garlic (minced), the oregano, 1/2 cup of the breadcrumbs, and some garlic salt. Melt over medium to high heat, stirring constantly. (It helps to first spray the pot with cooking spray to help it not stick.)

- Put pasta into 1 or 2 foil pans. Mix the cheese mix into it.

- Cover with the remaining breadcrumbs, and spray over with the cooking spray.

* At this point, you can freeze it to make later. Just cover with foil.

Bake in the oven for 35 minutes. (If it is frozen, bake for 55 minutes.)

Enjoy! <3                    

Garlic Balls

Garlic Balls

Garlic balls are just a non-knotted version of the garlic knot. They are a great way to get garlic into your meal (I know, I do not need any help there, but it's a good excuse!), and a very versatile side dish. They go with everything from Fillet Mignon to breaded chicken to pizza. Or, enjoy them as a snack, dipped in marinara sauce.
They are also a wonderful way to get your children involved in dinner making. My 7 year old will sit still for a half hour, just rolling and dipping garlic balls.

You will need:

1 Pound of Pizza Dough (either homemade or store bought)
3/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Minced Garlic (for this large amount, it is way easier to use the jarred stuff.)
2-3 Tablespoons Oregano
A Pinch of Garlic Salt
Course Kosher Salt

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Put oil, garlic, garlic salt, and oregano into a large glass bowl. Mix well.
Pull off small pieces of the dough, and roll into little balls.
Drop into the oil mixture.
Roll well to coat, then take out with a teaspoon, making sure to get a lot of garlic with each one.
Place on pre-sprayed baking tray.
Continue until all of the dough is done (usually takes me 2 trays).
sprinkle a generous pinch of Kosher salt over all of them.
Bake for 23 minutes, or until they are just turning brown and the whole house smells like garlic.

Enjoy!! <3      

Mommy's Fried Chicken ("MFC"))

Mommy's Fried Chicken

In our house, if it is your birthday, you choose what we have for dinner. This year, my son chose "MFC" (Mommy's Fried Chicken"). It's definitely not a healthy choice, but it is quite tasty!! Here is my recipe:

*I use my deep fryer for this. You could also put oil in a heavy duty pot and fry it in there if you don't have one.*

You will need:

2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (cut into pretty small pieces, like 5 or 6 pieces per breast)
Vegetable Oil

1-2 Cups All-Purpose Flour      
2 Jumbo or 4 Extra Large Eggs
2-3 Cups Bisquick Mix
Paprika
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

- Put oil into deep fryer and turn to 350 degrees.

- Place 3 shallow bowls on your work space, and in the first one put flour. In the second bowl, put the eggs, beaten. In the third bowl, whisk together the Bisquick, paprika, salt, and pepper.

- Dip the chicken pieces in the bowls in order, and put into fryer when it's hot enough.
- Fry each batch (Mine is 2-3 pieces at a time because my fryer is small. Just don't place them on top of each other, as they will stick.) for 7 minutes (make sure they are fully cooked!). they will be nice and crispy, and look like they came from a fast food place. :)
- Place on paper towel-lined plate to drain extra oil.
- Serve warm.

Enjoy!! <3

Pork Chops tonight!!

Pork Chops, My Way!

I think when most of us think back on pork chops, we remember those hard, tasteless things that you had to drag through the applesauce just to give them some flavor. You know, those dried out hunks of brick that sat on your plate as a child while you tried to imagine new reasons not to eat dinner.
Well, if the rest of the pig tastes so good, why not these as well? I decided to try and make them better. And a few years ago, I succeeded. Now my children enjoy pork chops, and even though we do not eat them too often, when I do make them, I know that they will be eaten!
My recipe makes them moist, almost fluffy, and delicious! Wait until you try them. You will love them!

What you will need (to feed 5 people):

5 Large Pork Chops, Bone In
Bacon Ranch Dressing (I prefer store brand, especially since I will no longer support Kraft.)
Italian Breadcrumbs
No-Stick Cooking Spray

Directions:

- Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a baking tray with cooking spray.

- Pour dressing into a wide, shallow bowl.
- Put a cup and 1/2 of the breadcrumbs into a large (gallon size) storage baggie.
*If you run out of either, just refill.

- Coat both sides of each pork chop in the dressing, then shake in the bag.
- Place on the baking sheet, and spray more cooking spray on top (so you don't have to turn them)

- When they are all ready, put in lower half of oven and bake for 48 minutes.

- Serve with pasta in olive oil, or biscuits and corn, or whatever (even applesauce!)

Enjoy!! <3

Orange Ginger Chicken

Orange Ginger Chicken

I told you I have a lot of Chinese food type recipes! So here's another one for you. This one is kind of built around a sauce that you buy. But it is SOOO good!! And it is also very sweet, so get your sweet tooth ready!!

You need:

- About 1 Pound Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- La Choy Stir Fry Orange Ginger Chicken Marinade (I use the whole bottle by the end)
- 1 can (15 ounce) mandarin orange slices in syrup
- 1 package frozen broccoli (florets or whole)
- Ground Ginger
- Flax Seeds (about 2 Tablespoons)
- Salt and Pepper

- White Rice, Prepared (kind of sticky)

Directions:

- Bake chicken (with some salt and pepper on it) in a 350 degree oven for about 47 minutes.

- In wok or frying pan, combine oranges (drained), broccoli, flax seeds, marinade, and some ginger.
- Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes, allowing the flavors to marry. (It will smell delicious!!)

- Using scissors (It's so much easier!), cut chicken into chunks. Add to the pan.   (I'm not sure how well it shows in the picture to the right, but I'm cutting the chicken into the pan.)

- Mix in well, so the chicken is totally coated in the sauce.
- Add more ginger or sauce, if needed.
- Keep mixing and tossing for 8 more minutes.

                                                           

- Serve over the white rice.  

Enjoy!! <3

Pancakes For Dinner!

So, I decided to let my children pick dinner tonight. My oldest chose. We had pancakes and baked beans. Kind of weird as a meal, let alone dinner, but she is very creative, so I went with it! So here is my pancake recipe for you. (It works for breakfast too! :)

Pancakes

You Need:

- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

- 1 3/4 Teaspoons Baking Powder

- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

- 1 Tablespoon Sugar

- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt (a fine salt, like table salt)

- 2 1/4 Cups Buttermilk

- 2 Extra Large Eggs

- 1 Tablespoon, plus 1 Teaspoon Vegetable Oil
- No-stick Cooking Spray (for pan only)

Directions:

- Place griddle or frying pan over heat. Spray with no-stick cooking spray.
- When you drip a drop of water on it, it should sizzle.
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, and wet ones in another.
- Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients in 2 batches, mixing slowly.

- Mix until batter is smooth.  

- Pour by ladle-full onto griddle or pan.
- Cook the first side until you have a lot of bubbles. Flip. Cook the second side.

Variations: Add chocolate chips, almonds, blueberries, or whatever you like inside! Top with butter, syrup, whipped cream, or strawberries!

Enjoy! <3

A Cool Tip From My 7 Year Old!

So I'm making this cake, and I have decided to have it all old-school (buttercream covered, no fondant), and I really wanted it to look goth and pretty. But I couldn't find any black, grey, or purple food coloring anywhere in the house (which is very strange, as I am always baking a cake for something). I was getting really upset that I couldn't make it look as I had pictured it: Kind of a grey-ish lavender, with black airbrushed over it. I had the black for airbrushing, but that wasn't going to help without the other colors.

So my seven year old comes in the kitchen, looks at the counter, and sees that I had taken out a little package of grape KoolAid to make with dinner. "Mommy," she says, "Why don't you just put the KoolAid in it?"

"I can't," I said. Then I thought about it. It was just a powder. There was no additional sugar, just fake grape flavor. Not exactly health food, but it was useful. Hey, I used to dye my hair with it! So, I tried it. It made the most beautiful grey-lavender color I had ever seen! It was perfect!! And it was grape flavored!! Awesome!!

So, if you are ever in a pinch for food coloring to add to your frosting, KoolAid really does the trick!! My daughter is such a genius!!!!

Chick Peas!!

Chick Peas

(AKA Garbanzo Beans, ChiChi Beans)

My Mother says they are my claim to fame. My children gobble them up like they're candy. And I LOVE them!! They are full of fiber, delicious, and very quick and easy.

You will need:

2 cans of Organic Chick Peas (Garbanzo Beans)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Oregano (very important. It's not in the pic because we ran out that day, but it's not the same without it!)
Garlic Salt

Directions:

Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with the oil. (Make sure it is 1-2mm of oil deep).
Heat on medium-high heat until you can smell the oil.
Add the chick peas (carefully!!)
Season generously with the garlic salt and oregano.
Stir often so they don't stick to the pan.
When oil is mostly soaked up, and chick peas are soft (not mush. That's too cooked!), remove from heat.

Serve hot or cold.
Goes with just about any meal.

Enjoy! <3

Where to find affordable organic foods (in southern Dutchess County)

Okay, so we all want to find organic food, but we don't want to have to sell our kidneys to get it! So I thought I would put the best places I've found around here, and maybe people who live elsewhere will be inspired to find it in similar places near them.

My number one place, believe it or not, is ShopRite. They have these store brand Artisan pastas that they have on sale every few weeks for like 99 cents, and they're certified organic!! (And they're the best pastas I've ever had that were not homemade!) They also have a lot of store brand organic beans, which are around $1.30 a can, or 99 cents sometimes on sale. Their Muir Glen organic tomatoes are $2 a can, when not on sale. Their organic produce is good, but the prices are a bit higher than non-organic still. I think the trick with them is to look for the organic things that are not in the healthy aisle and are the store brand. They have really good prices. And they deliver (for a fee), so it's a great solution when you are stuck in the house!

My second favorite place is the Ocean State Job Lot on 82. It may not sound like the typical place to shop for organics, but they have a small food section where you can sometimes find Amy's organic stuff, and organic Udon noodles. And it's one of those cool places, where you never know what you may find! It's definitely worth checking out!

WalMart has some organic stuff, but the prices aren't anything special from what I've seen.

Target sometimes has great sales on Annie's mac and cheese and snacks for the kiddies! But again, it's hit or miss.

BJ's has wonderful prices on some great organic items, if you don't mind buying in bulk. (It's great for our family!)

Price Chopper and Stop and Shop are both okay.

And there are always the health food stores, though you will spend more money. On the other hand, you definitely know you will find what you're looking for!

*While I love online shopping, I have not really found Amazon (or any other online place) to be significantly better for buying organic products. I always seem to find them cheaper at ShopRite.