Spinach Orzo Pasta Salad

I found this salad on a great little family blog dedicated to good food.  There are some great recipes there so check it out.   

This is all sorts of different.  Different taste. Different texture. Different ingredients.  But surprisingly....good!  

1 bag baby spinach

1 16 oz box of orzo pasta cooked and cooled

1/2 cup finely chopped red cabbage

3-4 fresh tomatoes chopped

2-3 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes

1 can black olives

1/2 bottle capers

pine nuts

Parmesan cheese

Mix all together in large bowl and when ready to serve add dressing and toss.

Dressing:

In blender add:

1 clove garlic

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/3 cup garlic rice vinegar

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 1/2 teaspoons sugar

salt

fresh ground pepper

I was out of capers. I was bummed. The saltiness in capers would compliment the sweetness of the dressing and sun dried tomatoes great. So use the capers. Enjoy!

Sausage Corn Chowder

My Husband could eat this every day!

Sausage Corn Chowder

1 lb ground sausage
1 can creamed corn
1 can whole kernal corn
2 cups water
1 medium onion, diced
1 can evaporated milk
four large potatos

brown sausage and onions together. drain. Add water and potatos, simmer 15 minutes until potatos are tender. Add corns and evaporated milk. Heat through, salt and pepper to taste.

Crockpot Cheese Dip

1 pound processed american cheese, cubed
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 medium onion, diced
1 can diced tomatos with green chiles
1 4oz can diced green chiles
1 pound of ground beef, cooked and drained

Mix all ingredients together in a crock pot. Cook on low heat until cheese melts. Serve with corn chips

Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy

Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy by way of a campbells cookbook

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. each of the following: salt, ground pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper

4 boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1 8oz carton sour cream

Mix flour and seasonings. Coat chicken

Melt Butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned.

Add soup and onions. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in sour cream. Serve with mashed potatos or rice.

*I left out the cayenne pepper cause I have small children and wussy tastebuds!*

Cake Mix Cookies

1 Box Cake Mix (any flavor)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 Eggs

Mix ins of your liking

This recipe is awesome! You can use any combination of mix/mix ins. Here are some examples of ones I have used:

Coconut Cake Mix with Chocolate Chips

Devils Food Cake Mix with Peanut butter chips

White cake mix with white choc chips and dried cranberries

Chocolate cake mix with choc chips and walnuts

Yellow Cake mix with chocolate chips

White cake mix with andes mint chips

The possibilites are endless! They always turn out perfect. I usually bake mine for about 9 minutes because if you cook them too long, they get dry. :) Enjoy!

Bake cookies at 350 for 9-13 minutes!

Homemade Playdough

3 cups flour

3 cups boiling water

1 1/2 cups salt

6 tsp. cream of tartar

3 Tbs. oil

food coloring

In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil. Add boiling water and mix well. Knead food coloring into dough on lightly floured surface. Store in air tight container.

Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Dough

Courtesy of AllRecipes.

Below is exactly how I did it. I only adjusted the resting time for the dough, the baking time, and oven degrees. The ingredients, I didn't change a thing.

Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Dough

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
1 cup warm water
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey


DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl combine flour, wheat germ and salt. Make a well in the middle and add honey and yeast mixture. Stir well to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. The dough will rise while the yeast is still warm.

After the dough has rested for while, roll dough on a floured pizza pan and poke a few holes in it with a fork.

Bake in 425 degree preheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and add toppings. Bake for another 10 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown!

For the orginal directions, click here.

Blondie!

Ingredients:
Dough
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour, sifted
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or more if desired)
1/3 cup butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Maple Butter Sauce
3/4 cup maple syrup ( I highly recommend using REAL maple syrup )
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Dough
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add baking powder, baking soda and salt to the already sifted flour. Then sift dry ingredients again.
Add chopped nuts and mix well. Set aside.

Add brown sugar to melted butter and mix well. Then add egg and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add flour mixture, a little at a time, until mixed well.
Stir in white chocolate chips. Spread out dough in a 9-inch pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a toothpick or fork to test if it is cooked in the center.
Serve warm with ice cream and Maple Butter Sauce.

Maple Butter Sauce

In a pan, add real maple syrup and butter, cook over low heat until butter is melted. Next, stir in brown sugar until completely dissolved. If you desire, add walnuts.

Enjoy !