Showing posts with label cheap eats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap eats. Show all posts

Friday, July 17, 2009

Creamy Banana Bread

I just got this recipe from a friend...it is so good, I had to share!

Creamy Banana Bread
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1¼ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2¼ cups flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1¼ cups finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
Prep time: 20 minutes, Cook time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 325°F and spray two 8½x4½x2½-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cream butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add sugar; continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda, stirring just until moistened. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour half of batter into prepared pans; sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Repeat layers and bake for 45 minutes. Tent loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes more or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 2 loaves.
Nutritional Information:Nutrition per serving (140 g, based on 12 slices): 460 calories, 7 g protein, 24 g total fat (10 g sat., 0 g trans), 55 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 31 g sugar, 80 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, 10 points
Shopping List:1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, 1¼ cups sugar, 2 large eggs, 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas , 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 2¼ cups flour, 1½ tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1¼ cups finely chopped pecans, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 4 tsp. cinnamon

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Easy Santa Fe Chicken (crockpot)

I love my crockpot! I'd use it everyday if I could!
Here's one of our favorite crockpot recipes:

CROCKPOT EASY SANTA FE CHICKEN
1 15 oz can black beans -- rinsed and drained
2 15.25 oz cans whole kernel corn -- drained
1 cup bottled thick and chunky salsa
5 or 6 skinless boneless chicken breasts -- (can use frozen)
1 8 oz brick cream cheese -- low fat is fine
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a 3.5 or 4 quart electric slow cooker, mix together the beans, corn, and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with the chicken breasts, then pour the remaining salsa over the chicken. Cover and cook on the high heat setting 2.5-3 hours, or until the chicken is tender and white throughout; do not overcook or the chicken will toughen. Remove the chicken and cut into bite sized pieces. Add back to the slow cooker. Add the cream cheese (cut into cubes to melt faster), and turn slow cooker to high heat. Heat until cream cheese melts and blends into sauce. Serve over rice. Top with shredded cheese.

Here's a List of Family Favorite Recipes...Yum!

CAFE RIO SALAD DRESSING
3 FRESH TOMATILLOS (PEEL OFF PAPER SKIN AND QUARTER)
1 PACKAGE BUTTERMILK RANCH
1 CUP MAYO
1/2 CUP BUTTERMILK
1 CUP CILANTRO
2 GARLIC CLOVES, CRUSHED
1/4 TSP. CRUSHED CAYENNE PEPPER
BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS IN BLENDER AND CHILL FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE SERVING. ENJOY!

Lime Rice
6 cups minute rice
6 cups water
9 bouillon chicken cubes
1 1/2 tsp. dried onion
3/4 bunch cilantro
3 TBS oil
2 limes
Bring water, bouillon, dried onion, cilantro, and oil to boil (I just do it on the stove in a big pot) Add rice. Add juice of 2 limes. Mix well - and then dump it all into a crockpot on low and it will stay warm and cook the minute rice - you can make it a couple of hours ahead because of the crockpot - The cilantro I blend up in my baby food grinder - but I suppose you could do it in any kind of grinder - maybe even the blender –

Here is the recipe for the sweet pork:

1 Pork Roast (some butchers call it the Boston Butt)
1 Cup Italian Dressing
1 Cup French Dressing
1 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

If you have a huge roast then I would double the sauce. Put in crock pot on low for at least 7 hours. About 1-2 hours before you are going to eat, shred the pork really well. Serve with limes, too, because the lime juice really makes it great!
For the salad, we just did romaine lettuce, crushed tortilla chips, black beans, corn, salsa, cheese, and ranch dressing. For mexican haystacks, I do crushed chips, white rice with a little cilantro and lime juice, the pork, cheese, sour cream, and then the following salsa.



Super Bowl Artichoke Dip
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz) Artichoke hearts, finely chopped
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Wheat thins
Mix cream cheese, artichokes, mayo, and parmesan cheese. Spoon into 9 inch pie plate. Sprinkle with almonds.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly
Serve warm as a dip with crackers. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.
Enjoy!


Rice bowls are always a big hit here at the house. The kids love em, and you can do sweet and sour, teriyaki, or everyone's favorite, with peanut sauce! Plus, it's a great way to get the veggies in! Just stir fry for a few minutes and you're done (too much stir frying and you'll get limp veggies that no one will eat!)

Peanut Sauce Recipe:
1 Tablespoon Peanut Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chili paste (more if you like it spicier!)
1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Chunky Peanut Butter (Jif is best)
1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce

Heat the oil, then add the garlic, chili paste and tomato paste. Fry until fragrant (about 1 min.). Add water, sugar, peanut butter and hoisin sauce. Boil for about 5 minutes. Mmmm Mmmm Good! I usually have to at least double (if not triple) the recipe to keep everyone happy!


Teriyaki sauce:
1 cup Kikoman Soy Sauce
1 1/2 cups brown sugar - make sure you stir until the sugar has dissolved in the soy sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger root (or 2 teaspoons powdered ginger)


P.F. CHANG’S LETTUCE WRAPS

1 head iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts
2 chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons bottled minced ginger
1 bunch green onions
1 large onion, diced
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 T. bottled minced garlic
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1. Separate lettuce leaves, wash and refrigerate for a few hours (or overnight) until cold and crisp.
2. Dice chicken into small pieces. (This is easier if it's partially frozen.)
3. Stir fry on high heat in a small amount of oil until done. Add diced onion and stir fry for a minute or two.
4. Lower heat to medium. Stir in minced garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar, and cayenne pepper.
5. Stir to blend and continue cooking for a few more minutes.
6. Add chopped water chestnuts.
7. Rinse the green onions, trim away the roots. Slice thin and use the white bulb plus some of the green tops to equal 3/4 cup.
8. Add the green onion to the skillet with the sesame oil. Cook and stir until onions begin to wilt. Remove from heat.

To serve, Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a platter. Place meat mixture in the center.

Does P.F. Chang's sell their own red pepper sauce? If not, you can find some good stuff in the Asian stores, or the Oriental section of the grocery store. Anybody have a favorite you can recommend?


Won Ton Salad

2-4 chicken breasts-boiled and shredded
1 Head of lettuce (romaine or iceberg)
1 Bunch of green onions-diced
15 won ton skins-cut in strips and fried in vegetable oil

Dressing:
2T sugar
1/2 t. accent
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. salt
1/4 c. oil
1 T. sesame oil
3 T. rice vinegar

Toss lettuce, shredded chicken, fried won tons and diced green onions together. Add dressing just before serving.
Winger's Buffalo Wings Sauce
2 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar3 tablespoons light corn syrup1/3 cup Franks Red Hot pepper sauce (or any other brand of Louisiana hot sauce - but not Tabasco)1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar1/2 cup hot water
Place brown sugar and corn syrup in medium saucepan and melt over medium heat until boiling. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly or it will burn. Add hot water, pepper sauce and vinegar. Stir all ingredients together well and continue cooking at a low boil, stirring often until mixture has reduced to a syrupy consistency (about 15 minutes). The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools.

Perfectly Glazed Carrots
1 pound baby carrots
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 Tablespoon butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons lemon juice, or less
pepper, optional

Bring carrots, salt, 1 T. sugar, and chicken broth to a boil, covered, in 12 inch skillet over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until carrots are almost tender - 5 or 10 minutes. Uncover. Increase heat to high and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid is reduced to about 2 Tablespoons. (1-2 minutes) Add butter and remaining 2 T. sugar.

Toss carrots to coat and cook, stirring often, until carrots are completely tender and glaze is a light gold color, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in lemon juice. Transfer carrots to serving dish. Season with pepper if desired. Serve hot.


Better Than Anything Cake
1 pkg. German Chocolate Cake
1 can sweetened condensed milk
20 melted caramels mixed with ¼ cup milk
whipping cream
2-3 crushed Heath Bars
Make cake according to directions. Poke holes into cake with a straw or wooden spoon handle. Pour condensed milk and Carmel into holes and over entire cake. Let completely cool. Top with whipping cream and crushed Heath bar.



White Bean Chili
3 cans Great Northern White Beans (total about 48 oz)4 cups cooked and cubed chicken breasts1 T olive oil1 medium onions, chopped4 garlic cloves minced1-2 4oz cans chopped mild green chilies2 t ground cumin1 1/2 t dried oregano1/4 t cayenne pepper6 cups chicken stock or canned chicken brother3 cups grated Monterey jack cheese In crockpot - combine ALL the ingredients except the cheese (don't drain the beans). After chili comes to a boil, turn the crockpot to low - Stir in the cheese 1/2 hour before or leave it on the side for people to do it themselves. You can serve it with salt/pepper, Lime chips and sour cream on the side as well - If you really have a lot of time - BBQ the chicken outside, then cut it up and put it in the soup - but not worth the work unless you're in that cooking mood!


Crock pot Lasagna
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked 1 jar spaghetti sauce ¼ c water
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained 1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 carton (16 oz) cottage cheese 2 c mozzarella cheese

Break noodles in half. Place half of the noodles in the bottom of greased crockpot. Stir Italian seasoning into meat and spread half over the noodles already in crockpot. Layer half of the sauce and water, half of the cottage cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese over beef.
Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low heat 4-5 hours. Do not cook more than 5 hours.
Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
8 oz Swiss cheese, cubed
8 oz ham, diced
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 box of stuffing
1-2 T. butter
PREPARATION:
Brown chicken and place chunks in baking dish, add cubes of swiss cheese and small pieces of ham. Mix cream of chicken soup with 1 cup of milk; mix well and pour over all. In a separate pan, melt butter, pour in dry stuffing, mix. Pour stuffing over casserole. Bake about 30 minutes at 350° or until tender and bubbly.


Café Rio Pork Roast #2
3-4 lb. pork sirloin roast1 C. Pace salsa1 1/3 C. brown sugar1 C. 7-up
Place roast in crockpot. Mix salsa, brown sugar and 7-up together. Pour over roast. Cook on low all day (8 hrs). Shred with forks before serving.
*Serve on top of salad, or use to make burritos. Then we add warm black beans, cooked rice, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, and ranch dressing. The below dressing is also really yummy if you want to make it instead of using plain ranch.
1 1/3 C sour cream3/4 C. mayo1 bunch cilantro4 TBS. salsa verde1 pkg. ranch dressing mix2 cloves garlic1/8 tsp. tabasco saucejuice of 1 lime
*Or you can get some really fancy-schmancy rolls and serve them as sandwiches - any way you make it, it’s to die for!


Chicken Enchiladas (the easy version)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 4oz. can chopped Ortega Chili
8 oz. sour cream
1 doz. corn tortillas
1 med. onion, chopped
1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken…(canned works well also)
Jack Cheese, grated.
In a bowl combine chicken soup, sour cream, ortega chili, 1/2 c jack cheese 1/4 c. chopped onion and set aside.
Cut tortillas into bite size pieces and add to soup mixture, mix. Add chicken and combine well. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray. Add mixture and top with Jack Cheese.
Bake approx. 30 min. uncovered until bubbly and cheese starts to brown a bit.
I’m a big make and freeze ahead girl and this casserole freezes and bakes well!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sweet and Sour Chicken

This is one of my most requested recipes. Instead of going out for Chinese, try this one tonight:

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2 pkgs. Ritz crackers, crushed
1 1/2 T. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. season salt
Mix these together, put in bowl.

1 (8oz.) container plain yogurt, put in another bowl
1/2 c. melted butter (to drizzle over chicken)
8 chicken breasts, cut in 1/2 and pat dry
Dip chicken pieces in yogurt, then dip in cracker crumbs, set on 13 x 9 inch pan, not touching each other. Now drizzle melted butter over chicken. While baking, make sauce.

Sauce:
1/2 c. ketchup
3/4 c. water
1/2 small can drained crushed pineapple or tidbits, add just before serving
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. cornstarch, min in 1/3 c. water to thicken
1/4 c. vinegar (apple cider)
Simmer 30 minutes. Serve over rice. Baking time: 45 minutes. Temp: 350. Serving Size: 6-8.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 pounds skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
  • 8 oz Swiss cheese, cubed
  • 8 oz ham, diced
  • 1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 box of stuffing
  • 1-2 T. butter

PREPARATION:

Brown chicken and place chunks in baking dish, add cubes of swiss cheese and small pieces of ham. Mix cream of chicken soup with 1 cup of milk; mix well and pour over all. In a separate pan, melt butter, pour in dry stuffing, mix. Pour stuffing over casserole. Bake about 30 minutes at 350° or until tender and bubbly.

Crock Pot Lasagna

Crock pot Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles, uncooked 1 jar spaghetti sauce ¼ c water

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained 1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 carton (16 oz) cottage cheese 2 c mozzarella cheese

  1. Break noodles in half. Place half of the noodles in the bottom of greased crockpot. Stir Italian seasoning into meat and spread half over the noodles already in crockpot. Layer half of the sauce and water, half of the cottage cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese over beef.
  2. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low heat 4-5 hours. Do not cook more than 5 hours.