Zucchini and vegetable pancakes

2 medium zucchinis
1 medium red potato peeled
1/2 medium yellow (sweet) onion
1 large carrot
2 xlarge eggs, or 3 regular
1/2 cup flour
salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder

Shred the vegetables, including the onion..  Squeeze out excess moisture.  Add the beaten eggs, mix.  The mixture will be very wet.  Add seasonings, mix well.  Slowly sprinkle in the flour while stirring until thick enough to hold shape in a pan.

Heat large skillet, using the oil of your choice, spoon mounds into the hot pan, smooth them out so they are about 1/2" thick.  These cook pretty fast, but you want them to cook about 3 minutes per side, flipping often.  I lay them on a paper towel to soak any excess oil, and salt while they are hot.  Enjoy!

Yellow Squash Taco Casserole

This is an adaptation of a pin I saw on Pinterest.

4-6 Yellow squash cubed.
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
taco seasoning
1 can diced tomatoes with green chile - drained
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
2 cups shredded cheese (I used Colby Jack)
1 small onion - chopped
1/2 bag Doritos chips (about 2-3 cups crushed)

Prepare taco meat according to directions.  Once done, add the black beans and tomatoes.  Set aside.

Meanwhile, saute squash and onion in a little olive oil until about half done cooking. (You may need to steam them with a little water and put the lid on)

Once the squash and onion are barely tender, pour them into a 9x13 glass baking pan.  Sprinkle half the cheese over the squash, followed by half of the crushed Doritos.

Next, layer the meat/bean/tomato mixture on the squash.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over the meat, followed by the rest of the crushed Doritos.

Bake at 350 for half hour.

Serve with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and your other favorite taco toppings!

Pulled Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken

I threw some chicken thighs in the crock pot, i made a sauce myself using soy sauce, honey, a dash of sesame oil, a little EVOO, a splash of rice wine vinegar, lots of garlic and ginger, crushed red pepper flakes and a can of crushed pineapple. . then I have some green onions to chop on the top as a garnish.

The measurements are not exact, so use your taste buds to gauge your own sauce :) 

It looked kinda scary until I took the meat off the bone, but mmmm it was so moist and FULL of flavor.  The meat was turned brown all the way to the bone with the marinade!!  And it just fell apart and melts in your mouth.  

Cheesy Quinoa with spinach and chicken

Quinoa is a new food that I am experimenting with, and this turned out amazing!

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked Quinoa
2 cups water or chicken broth
1 small onion, minced
1 red pepper minced
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained (Or you can use fresh~!)
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 TBLS minced garlic
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 TBLS light cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
salt, pepper, garlic powder, poultry seasoning of your choice
Olive oil


In a pot, add 2 cups water, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and poultry seasoning (if using broth, use less salt).  Once it comes to a boil, add dry quinoa, minced onion and peppers to the pot.  Boil until tender (about 15-20 min) stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat a few tsp olive oil.  Add chopped spinach, garlic, salt pepper and stir.  Add chicken.  Sautee until warmed through.  Season to taste.

Once the Quinoa is fully cooked, add the parmesan cheese and mix it in.  Then add the chicken mixture, the cream cheese and mozzarella.  Stir well.  Serve hot.  Delicious!

This recipe would also make wonderful patties and sauteed until golden...  or rolled into balls and fried.

Garlic cheese 'cauliflower' biscuits

1 head cooked, riced cauliflower - I used food processor

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

3 eggs, beaten

1 tsp dried oregano - optional

1 -1/2 tsp crushed garlic (I used garlic powder)

 salt to taste

Mix all ingredients in food processor, then put small mounds on sprayed cookie sheet. 

Top with a little extra garlic powder and cheese.  

Bake at 350 for20 min. or until golden.

Cauliflower pizza crust

I have been hearing about this, and wanted to try this ZERO carb pizza for several months.  You use cauliflower mixed with a few things as the crust!!!!!  AMAZING!

First, you take an entire head of cauliflower and put it in a food processor until its rice sized.  Do it in batches.

Next, boil the 'rice' in about 2-3 inches of salted water about 6 minutes.  The strain in a mesh strainer.  I did not have one, so I used a clean pillow case!  It worked beautifully.  Then wring it out and get as much water out that you can.  (I ran cold water over it first).

Once you have wrung out as much water as possibly, put into a large mixing bowl.  Add one egg, 1 cup shredded mozzarella,  1/3 cup cream cheese (warmed in the microwave to be very soft), and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.  Also add 1 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp oregano. Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix thoroughly with wooden spoon

Preheat oven to 400.  Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray, and press the mixture onto the sheet about 1/2 inch thick.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy around the edges.  (I prefer mine well done)

Once cooked, remove from oven, add your favorite pizza sauce, cheese and toppings.  Bake about 10 minutes or until desired meltiness.

ENJOY!

Enchilada Pasta

This is pretty easy, and super tasty!  You can use chicken, shredded beef, even ground beef or turkey.

1 box rigatoni pasta
3-4 chicken breasts shredded (or your choice of other meat)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
2 cans green chili enchilada sauce
1/2 can red enchilada sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg cream cheese
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 onion chopped
garlic powder, salt, pepper
Garnish: sour cream, green onion, fresh tomato and avocado (optional)


Cook pasta according to directions.  Meanwhile, put chopped onion into large saucepan with a little oil, cook on medium until tender.  Add chicken, seasoning, sauces and Rotel to the pan.  Mix.  Add cream cheese and sour cream, stir until creamy.  Add cheese and stir.  Finally, add pasta and fold into sauce, until coated.  Serve with sour cream, green onion, fresh tomato and avocado.

Ritzy Chicken

4 chicken breasts
2 sleeve Ritz crackers - smashed into crumbs
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp either Italian seasoning or Mrs. Dash garlic & Herb
3 TBLS butter melted
Salt & Pepper

Mix together the crackers, seasonings.  Melt the butter, set aside.
Pound the chicken so it is all the same thickness. Salt and pepper each breast.  Dip each chicken in the dry crumbs, pressing into the chicken to coat it.  Lay in a greased pan.   Next, add the melted butter to the remaining crumbs and spoon the mixture onto the chicken.  Pat the coating down slightly to stay on the chicken.

Bake at 400 for 25-30 min.

Awesome Asian Pot sticker sauce

No, I am not making homemade Chinese Pot Stickers.  BUT, I am making awesome sauce to go with them.  and it is SO EASY!  3 ingredients!

1/4 cup Soy sauce
1/ 4 cup Hot water
1/8 to 1/4 cup sugar (depending on your taste - some people like it sweeter than others)
fresh chopped green onion
fresh minced ginger
mix all together.  Microwave 1 minute.  make sure all the sugar is dissolved.

I usually steam/saute the frozen pot stickers in a pan, and then add them to the sauce so they are almost submerged.  mmmm

My spin on Goulash

Ok, here is my own spin on goulash.  The picture doesn't so it justice..

1 box large macaroni noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 green pepper
1 sweet yellow onion
1 jar of your favorite thick spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Italian seasoning (2-3 tsp)
Smoked paprika (about 2-3 tsp)
minced garlic (1-2 cloves)
salt / pepper

Dice pepper and onion , saute in oil until tender.  Add ground beef.  Season with salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning and about 1 tsp. paprika.  (I usually add a little water, and cover it until the meat is cooked)  Drain.  Add the jar of sauce, add more Italian seasoning, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and another tsp of paprika.  You can add more or less depending on your own taste.  I tested it a few times and added more paprika until it tasted smokey and rich.

Cook macaroni noodles, and drain.  Add to the beef mixture.  Then add in the mozzarella and stir until melty, smokey and rich, ready to enjoy!

Chocolate mug cake.. so EASY

Yummm! Got a chocolate craving?? All you need is 5 minutes, a few simple pantry ingredients and a mug!

4 TBLS flour
4 TBLS sugar
3 TBLS cocoa powder
pinch salt
pinch baking powder
1 egg
3 TBLS milk
3 TBLS oil

In a bowl mix dry ingredients. In large mug combine wet ingredients. Slowly stir in dry ingredients until completely mixed. Microwave approx 2 minutes.

 Sprinkle with powdered sugar, chocolate or caramel sauce, serve with ice cream, or whipped cream...

 ***Optional, Add 3 TBLS choc chips before microwaving.. :)

Best Ever Split Pea Soup w/ ham

All the fresh herbs really make this soup rich and savory!

1 pound dried split peas
5 carrots peeled and chopped
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 sprig rosemary
1-2 thyme sprigs (take leaves off)
3 bay leaves
8 cups chicken broth/stock
salt/pepper
1 ham bone (try and have it with a lot of meat left)
extra ham - chopped

Put all ingredients in a stock pot / simmer 2 hours. Remove ham bone, and take meat off, chop. add back to soup.