Cinnamon Syrup

I saw the recipe for this syrup and knew I just had to make it. Unfortunately, I've been trying to eat healthier (I know, UNFORTUNATELY!) so I figured if I was going to go all sugar crazy with the syrup I should at least TRY to make the pancakes a little healthier. (waaahhhhh)

This syrup is fantastic! I'm thinking how great it would be to drizzle the left overs onto some vanilla ice cream........................... uh, oh, I'm sorry. I was off in a food fantasy. These things happen when you're trying to eat healthier.

UNFORTUNATELY.




Cinnamon Syrup

Recipe from Allrecipes

Ingredients:


1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk


Directions:

In a saucepan, combine the first four ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. Stir in milk.

Breadsticks

This is a quick and easy breadstick recipe!

Breadsticks

Recipe from Siggy Spice


Ingredients:

1-½ cups warm water
1 tbsp. instant (rapid rise) yeast from a jar. Sorry, the packets don't hold a full TBSP
2 tbsp. sugar
3-½ cups all purpose flour
½ tsp salt
2-4 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp. garlic salt
1-2 tsp herbs/seasoning of your choice. I am using an herb blend that is for mixing with olive oil and dipping bread, but any herb or combo of herbs that you like would work well.
4 tbsp. melted butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Mix together water, yeast, sugar, flour, and salt in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread 1-2 tbsp. olive oil (just enough to coat) onto the bottom of a 16"x14" cookie sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and large enough to fit onto baking sheet. Place whole sheet of dough on baking sheet, then brush 1-2 tbsp. olive oil over top of dough making sure it is all lightly covered. Sprinkle garlic salt and herbs of choice over top of olive oil. Using a pizza cutter, cut breadsticks into desired length and width. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.

Remove plastic wrap and place in preheated oven and allow to bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush melted butter all over top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Nicea's Favorite Fried Rice

Since I am a known Rice Addict, I knew I had to make this as soon as I saw it. I loved it. There were a couple of family member's who freaked out about the peas (ok, fine, I was one of them) but they come out easily. This makes a lot!!!



Nicea's Favorite Fried Rice

Recipe from Good Things Utah


Ingredients:

1-2 chicken breasts or 10 chicken tenders
3 scrambled eggs
2 carrots (finely grated)
½ white onion (finely chopped)
¾ cup frozen peas
½ cup butter
1-2 garlic cloves (crushed) or 1 tsp. garlic powder
2 cups white rice (not instant)


Directions:

Marinate chicken in soy sauce, if you do not have much time, mix it with chicken before cooking.

In a large frying pan Cook chicken in small amount of olive oil, add carrots and onions and sauté until clear. Add frozen peas and cook until soft.

In a separate pan cook rice then add to the mixture .

In another pan, scramble three eggs, chop finely and add to mixture

Melt 1/2 cup butter, add crushed garlic cloves to butter, stir and add to mixture.

Mix all together well, add soy sauce to taste.

Homemade White Castle Sliders

After biting into one of these babies Colby leaned over to me and whispered "There's O's in these, isn't there?" Yes, I did it. I put O's in something for once in my life. O's would be onions, which I hate. Detest. Loathe. Curse. Despise. Shun. Usually...... But I knew in my heart of hearts that I couldn't honestly make a fake White Castle wannabe without onions. And shock of shocks, I ate TWO of these guys, I loved it, and I didn't mind the O words at all. Now husband, don't get all jazzed thinking we're going to have onions in our meals now, because that is just crazy talk. While we were eating dinner, one of the kids said out loud, "Are there onions on these burgers??!" and another one answered immediately, "Onions! No way! Mom made these!"

See? I have a reputation to uphold!


Homemade White Castle Sliders
Recipe from Big Red Kitchen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dried onion flakes (of course, you know I only used about 1 tsp. Baby steps! Baby steps!)
2 pounds ground chuck- 80/20 ground beef
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
6 slices cheddar cheese
24 small party rolls (potato if possible)
24 dill pickle slices

Directions:

Evenly spread the onions on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Gently press the ground beef on top of the onion flakes. Press evenly making one giant pattie. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Using a paper towel, pat the excess grease from the top of the pattie. Top with cheddar cheese, return to oven for 2 more minutes. Remove from oven, let set 5 minutes then cut into 24 patties. Slice open and separate each party roll. Place bottom of rolls on a large platter. Using a spatula lift pattie with onion layer onto each bun bottom. Top each slider with a pickle slice then the bun lid. Serve immediately. Makes 24 Sliders.

No Peek Beef Tips

This was a super easy dinner that the kids all loved. I served it with mashed potatoes although I was told that next time they would like it with noodles. I loved sticking it in the oven after church, taking my required Sunday Afternoon Nap and waking up to delicious smells and our meal finished.



No Peek Beef Tips

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen


Ingredients:

2 lb. - Beef tenderloin tips, Stew Meat, Chuck Roast or Chuck Eye (Cubed)
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 – packet brown gravy mix
1 - packet lipton dry onion soup mix
1 – small can mushrooms
1 - cup water or ginger ale

Directions:

Add cubed meat to a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a big bowl mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat add mushrooms and stir to coat. Cover with foil and bake at 300 degrees for 3 Hours do not remove foil until done. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or noodles.

Nacho Pie

I should have made two of these because it was inhaled in 2 point 3 seconds. It has already been requested as a birthday dinner, high praise in our home!!





Nacho Pie

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 cup chopped onion (of course I skipped this!)
1 8 oz. can tomato cauce
¾ cup water
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 tube crescent roll dough
1 1/2 cup crushed tortillas chips
1/2 cup sour cream (I didn't add this)
1 cup cheddar jack or plain cheddar cheese
additional sour cream for garnish, diced tomatoes and sliced black olives.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. In large skillet brown beef and onion over medium heat until done. Drain off any grease. Stir in tomato sauce, water and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Separate crescent rolls into 8 triangles. Place in greased 9 inch pie plate points facing towards the middle. You might have to maneuver the triangles a bit at the end and turn some of them side ways, that's OK as long as the pie plate is covered completely. Press onto bottom and up sides of plate to form crust. Seal perforations. Sprinkle 1 cup crushed chips over crust. Top with meat mixture. Using a spatula spread sour cream over meat. (I skipped this step because I don't like sour cream). Sprinkle the cheese and then remaining 1/2 cup crushed chips. Bake 30 - 40 minutes or until cheese melts, pie is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before cutting. Add a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes and black olives for garnish. If the crust starts to brown to quickly cover the pie plate with foil from the bottom and up around the sides to cover crust.

Chicken, Bacon and Veggie Pizza

I thought for sure my children would hate this pizza, so I made one for my husband and I, and one regular cheese pizza for the kids. Well, they loved it! Next time I will make two of them! The no fail pizza crust recipe is a keeper, very easy. It makes a thick dough if that is the kind you like, if not, then use your favorite pizza dough recipe. Oh, and see that red pepper on the bottom of the picture, on the edge of the crust? That would be my dividing line - on the right of that is the onion free zone, on the left is Onion City. I was VERY careful when putting the onions on, I didn't get them even CLOSE to the dividing line!! This pizza was delicious!!! When I grilled the chicken, I also put barbecue sauce on it. Yum.





Chicken, Bacon and Veggie Pizza

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen


Ingredients:

1 recipe no fail pizza crust or use your own favorite pizza dough recipe
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 1/2 cups cheddar or Colby jack cheese, shredded
1/2 red pepper, cored, seeded & cut into strips
1/2 medium red onion, sliced vertically
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled & diced
6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the pizza crust and roll out to fit into one 14 inch pizza pan or stone. Drizzle two tablespoon olive oil and the garlic onto the pizza crust, followed by half of each of the cheeses. Scatter half of the bell pepper, sliced onion, chicken, and bacon.

Add the remaining chicken, bacon, veggies and the rest of the cheeses. Finish it off by drizzling the last tablespoon of olive oil all over the top. Bake the pizza at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned. Remove from the oven, let cool and slice.

Machaca Burro

We have yet to find a great Mexican food restaurant near where we live. It's been nearly two years, and to say we are in withdrawl is no exaggeration. Luckily, I have some recipes that help us hold out until the next Arizona trip and was able to pull some fantastic tortillas out of the freezer from my last Arizona trip in January!!




Machaca Burro

I have no idea where I got this recipe, I've had it about 15 years


Ingredients:

3 lb. chuck roast
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup bacon drippings or vegetable oil
1 cup beef stock
1 medium onion, chopped (Obviously, I only used about 1/16 onion, finely minced into practically a paste)
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 small tomatoes, chopped (I only used 1 tomato so my kids wouldn't freak out)
1/2 cup chopped green chiles
1 tbsp. lime juice


Directions:

Rub the roast with salt and pepper. Warm 2 tbsp. oil, brown meat on all sides. Reduce heat to low. Pour stock over the meat and add half the onion and garlic to the pan. Cover and simmer until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the meat, reserving liquid. Shred the meat.

Warm remaining oil and saute remaining onion and garlic until soft. Add the meat, stirring for about 10 minutes. Stir in the reserved liquid, tomatoes, green chiles and lime juice. Cook over low heat for 25 minutes.

I made some black beans and added them to my burrito, along with cheese and fresh salsa.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

My husband and I are TRYING to eat healthier, but, sigh....... sometimes that's not so much fun. Last week we had salads for dinner for four nights. That got old pretty quick. I was excited to find this recipe because I really love chicken parmesan. It was SO good. I was sad that there wasn't any left overs.




Baked Chicken Parmesan

Recipe from SkinnyTaste

Ingredients:

4 (8 oz) chicken breast halves, sliced in half
3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1 cup marinara
cooking spray


Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°. Spray a large baking sheet lightly with spray.

Combine breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a bowl. Melt the butter in another bowl. Lightly brush the butter onto the chicken, then dip into breadcrumb mixture. Place on baking sheet and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Lightly spray a little more cooking oil on top and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Turn chicken over, bake another 5 minutes. Remove from oven, spoon sauce over chicken and top with shredded cheese. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

S'Mores Bars

Umm, I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you how good these bars were. Just look at it for crying out loud!! I've already been asked to make this again, I was told it was the best thing ever created in the existence of Earth, I was offered a bribe to give someone an extra piece, I could go on and on. This dessert was VERY well received!!!



S'Mores Cookie Bars

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen


Ingredients:

1 stick of butter, room temperature (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 king-sized Hershey’s milk chocolate bars
1 large egg
1 7 oz jar marshmallow creme/fluff
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
(7 full-sized graham cracker sheets, processed til fine)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan (I line my pan with foil for easy removal and cutting). Use an electric mixer to cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Set aside. Meanwhile,whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture until combined.

Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place blobs of it on the chocolate and then spread it around.

Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (I rolled the dough out between two pieces of waxed paper and use a spatula to place pieces of it on the top and pressed the pieces together). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes (I did mine a little longer to get that nice brown color), until lightly browned. Be sure to cool completely before cutting into bars. Makes 16 squares.

Spagetti Carbonara

I decided to try another recipe for Spaghetti Carbonara and I'm glad I did. I like this one a lot better than the one I previously posted. I forgot to buy pancetta, but you can substitute bacon and I luckily had some bacon I could use, because you KNOW I didn't want to make a last minute run up to the grocery store.




Spaghetti Carbonara
Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen


Ingredients:

1 16 oz box spaghetti
2 tablespoon olive oil, separated
8 slices bacon or Italian bacon, diced
1/2 small onion, chopped (I omitted this of course)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 - 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)(I didn't use this)
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbsp heavy cream or milk (I used half and half)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Extra grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

Directions:

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti pasta until al dente. Drain well and reserve a bit of the pasta water, about 1/2 cup. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and set aside. While the pasta cooks start on the bacon. In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until slightly crisp; remove and drain onto paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and heat in reused large skillet. Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add wine if desired; cook one more minute.

Return cooked bacon to pan; add cooked and drained spaghetti. Toss to coat and heat through, adding more olive oil if it seems dry or is sticking together. To ensure a creamy, silky sauce, mix the cheese, cream and beaten eggs together then stir into the pasta, off of the heat. Tossing constantly with tongs or large fork until eggs are barely set. If the mixture is too thick add a bit of reserved pasta water. Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that bacon and Parmesan are very salty). Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled on top, and extra Parmesan cheese at table.

Bolognese Sauce

I found this recipe on a site where there are a lot of healthy recipes because I'm making those baby steps towards eating better. This is so good it's hard for me to believe that is good for you, but there you go.


Mental note: things that are good for you can also be tasty Kathee!!!

Good to know!



Bolognese Sauce
Recipe from Skinny Taste


Ingredients:

4 oz pancetta, chopped
1 tbsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, minced
1/2 cup carrots, minced
1 lb 95% lean ground beef
1/4 cup white wine (I didn't add this)
2 - 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
salt and fresh pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup half & half


Directions:

In a deep heavy saute pan, saute pancetta until fat melts. Add butter, onions, celery and carrots and cook until soft. Add meat, season with salt and pepper and saute until browned. Add wine, cook until it reduces down, about 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaf. Simmer covered on low, at least 1-1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add half & half and parsley, cook 2 minutes longer. Makes about 8 cups.

Cheeseburger Rolls

I am all about making easy, fast meals - as if you couldn't tell. If I wasn't in a hurry, there is a really good chance I would have made homemade dough for this recipe (really!), but I was having a busy day, so I left out some Rhodes rolls to thaw and they worked out perfectly. These were great, I will definitely make them again.



Cheeseburger Rolls
Recipe made up by me after seeing similar things here and there.


Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste
2 tsp. Worcester sauce
12 Rhodes rolls, thawed out
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

(I'm sorry about these directions, for some reason I had a hard time putting in writing what I did!!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground beef in a pan. Add salt, pepper and minced garlic to your taste. Add 2 tsp. Worcester sauce. Stir everything together and set aside.

Take a roll and press it out. Put a few tablespoons of the ground beef mixture onto the roll, then put a little bit of cheddar cheese on top. Close the roll by bringing the sides up and pressing them tightly together. Repeat with all the rolls.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.