BLT Pasta

I had some things in my fridge that needed to be used, so once again I made up a little dish that turned out pretty good.

Grape tomatoes, roasted in olive oil, salt and pepper until they start to pop open
spinach, I cut it in smaller pieces
Bacon, I used the precooked kind then cut it up in small pieces
Pasta of choice
Olive oil
Salt, Pepper
Italian Cheese blend

Roast tomatoes, cook pasta, toss all ingredients together. I used a little of the pasta water and olive oil as the dressing and season with salt and pepper. Toss with the cheese. It is good both cold and hot.

I can't figure out how to post a picture... sorry.

Butternut Squash Soup

Okay, I finally did it. I came up with a butternut squash soup that I really like. As most of you know I have been put on a pretty strict diet, which is really hard for me. I have tried to be creative with some new things to eat, and this one turned out really good (I thought).

1 Butternut Squash (med size)
salt, pepper, olive oil

Roast squash in the oven for about an hour at 325 or until tender.

1 apple (I just used a Fuji)
1/4 white onion (it was a large onion)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 cans chicken broth
salt, pepper, olive oil

Saute apple and onion in olive oil, add salt, pepper and thyme, cook until tender. Scrape squash out of the skin and add to apple mixture. Add chicken broth and simmer. (I will be honest mine simmered for 2 1/2 hours while I went visiting teaching) If you don't want to simmer it that long then simmer it without the lid on it so some of the liquid can evaporate out. If you have time to simmer it a while, it was worth it!

Blend with your hand mixer or blender until smooth then... this is where I was a little different. I can't have dairy and I like my soup creamed, so I added a lite coconut milk. I added the whole can. It made the soup really silky, it was really good. To finish it off put a pinch of nutmeg in it. (Just a little) If you try it I hope you like it as much a I did.

White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili
3 Chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
2 cans (15 oz) white northern beans
1 can chicken broth
1 small can chopped green chilies
1 t. salt
1 t. cumin
1 t. pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

Put sour cream & whipping cream in pot and whisk smooth. Add chicken broth & spices and stir again. Add other ingredients. Cook until hot. Can be put in crockpot for 3 hours on low!
I think this is even better the 2nd day! Before you add your salt check to make sure that it really needs it, and I wouldn't put as much pepper as this calls for it makes it too spicy for little kids. Super yummy!

Sugar Free smoothie

I had this smoothie at a ward fitness party and I really liked it. Since Kari, dad and I are not eating sugar on weekdays, I thought this was a good recipe to have.

1/2 c orange juice
3 tb greek yogurt(plain also works, but go for less sugar)
1/4 c frozen sliced peaches
1/4 c strawberries(fresh or frozen)
half ripe banana
1 tsp vanilla
dash cinammon

Chocolate Lava Cakes

I don't have a picture of these, but I thought if anyone wanted to make these for Valentines Day, I would post the recipe now. These are so easy and delicious and are a perfect dessert for V-Day.

4 oz unsweetened chocolate (Ghiradelli Bars)
4 oz semisweet chocolate
10 Tb butter
1/2 c flour
1/2 c powdered sugar
3 large eggs
3 egg yolks
1 T vanilla

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease muffin tins. Microwave butter and chocolate until melted. Add flour and sugar and stir in eggs and yolks until smooth. Add the vanilla and pour into muffin tins. Bake for 6 mins, middle should be gooey.

Cool and then loosen the edges with a knife and invert on a plate.

Raspberry Sauce:

10 oz pkg frozen raspberries
3 tb raspberry jam
1 tb fresh lemon juice

Thaw raspberries with some sugar on the stove. Strain the raspberries and add the jam and lemon juice. Serve the cakes with the sauce and Enjoy! Love you all!

Thai Chicken Salad

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
1 tb vegetable oil
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 pkg fresh spinach, torn
1/2 c chopped green onions
1/2 cup minced cilantro

Dressing:
1/3 c creamy peanut butter
1/4 c water
3 tb rice wine vinegar
2 tb vegetable oil
1 tb soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt

In a large skillet, stir fry chicken in oil until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, stir-fry carrots and red pepper for 5-6 minutes until crisp-tender. In a large serving bowl, combine spinach, onions, and cilantro. In a blender combine all ingredients and process til blended. Add chicken, carrots, red pepper and dressing to spinach mixture. Toss to coat and serve immediately.

I love this salad! It is light and delicious. I didn't add the onions because I didn't have any, but it was good without them. Make this, it's really good.

Waffles and Buttermilk syrup

I didn't get a picture of these cause I am out of batteries for my camera. Sorry!! Oh well, they are really good anyway, and really easy.

Waffles:

3/4 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c corn starch
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c buttermilk
1/3 c veggie oil
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all your dry ingredients together in medium sized mixing bowl, then mix your wet ingredients together. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry. Don't over mix the batter. Let batter sit for 30 min (at room temp.) Cook in waffle iron. I just have a cheap waffle iron and this batter works just fine. I have also used it in a belgian waffle iron and it works great in it too. This recipie doesn't make that many waffles, so you may want to double the recipie.

Buttermilk Syrup:

1 C sugar
1/2 c buttermilk
3/4 c butter (I used one stick today (1/4 c) and it worked just fine. The only difference is that it wasn't quite as thick)
1 TBSP corn syrup
1/2 t bakning soda
1 TBSP vanilla
(today for some extra flavor I added a tsp of coconut flavoring. It was yummy!)

Put everything in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Be careful cause it boils up and will boil over easily. Boil stiring constantly for 3 min. (apx) It will be a pale brown color. If it goes too dark it will to turn into caramel.

Enjoy. Serve with fruit of choice. Bananas and toasted coconut are really good. So are strawberries and whipped cream.