Detox Friendly Pasta Salad

1 package Brown Rice Pasta Noodles
1/4 cup EVOO
1 package Italian Seasoning (check ingredients, not all seasonings are created the same)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 cup shredded chicken (I use the leftover chicken from a whole roasted chicken)

• Cook noodles according to package directions
• Meanwhile, chop veggies
• Mix extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and Italian Seasoning packet
• Toss all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes

ENJOY!

Homemade Salsa

I very well may get hacked for posting this one.  My father-in-law has an amazing salsa recipe.  For almost six years I dated his son, and he would not fork it over.  He told me we had to get married first before he would tell me.  It is top secret, and here I am telling it.  If you don't hear from me over the next couple of days, please contact authorities.  I kid.  He wouldn't kill me.  He loves me.  I am one of his two favorite daughter in laws.  Plus, I'm leaving out the extra special ingredient.  I guess if you want the icing on the top, then you'll have to marry a Torres.

Even though I won't give you the final ingredient, I'll give you a still delicious recipe.

Torres Homemade Salsa
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 medium tomatoes, deseeded and diced (leave one whole)
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 lime
1 jalapeno
1/4 tomatillo
1/4 cup cilantro
salt or pepper to taste

Toss all ingredients into a food processor except one tomato and lime.  Pulse processor until you have a good salsa consistency.  Pour into a large bowl.  Dice the last tomato with seeds and all.  Toss into bowl and squeeze the lime juice into the bowl.  Add sea salt to taste.  Keep refrigerated.

Beans, Beans, The Magical Fruit

If you don't know the song, I'll spare you.  However, you should really should educate yourself.  At the very least you should learn, If you're sliding into first and you feel a sudden burst...Okay, I'll stop there.

Really beans is the topic today.  Yesterday a friend from church commented on my strict grocery budget.  She mentioned exchanging meats for beans as a cost/health saving tip.  She is so right on.  Beans and lentils are so perfect in so many ways.  The only problem.  I'm not a bean eater.  I'm not a bean eater and I married a Puerto Rican.  Do you know the main ingredients for PR's?  Rice and, you guessed it, beans.  YIKES!

Over the years I have done a much better job incorporating beans into our diet, but it's mainly black beans.  So, I haven't ventured out too far in the bean department.  Disappointing, I know.

Regardless of my lack of bean consumption, I have found a few tried and true black bean recipes that I love and I just added one more.  I pinned this jewel on Pinterest a few months ago.

Black Bean Fritters

Of course I had to make adjustments.  I didn't have any cilantro.  Nor a yellow bell pepper.  Not even a tomato. I did have a green bell pepper and salsa.  That was enough to make it work.  Instead of a creamy cilantro dipping sauce, we had salsa.  Here's the review from the Torres family.

Steven-A head nod.  He was too busy stuffing his face.  That's a good thing.

Little Man-Thumb's up

Little Miss-Didn't like it.  Nothing new.  It will take her a few more times before she'll eat it.

Chubby Cheekers-Well, he liked the Milk Twins afterward

Myself-A definite hit!  Loved them.

Happy Cooking!!!

Hits and Misses: Pinterest Recipes

A few days ago, I had a few people mention they were 50/50 on the recipes they were making from Pinterest.  Sometimes you just never know.  I have quite a bit of recipes on my Recipes board, and I've made my fair share of them.  I thought I might break it down for you on the hits and misses for our family.  Fortunately (unfortunately for my thighs), most have been hits.

Hits
Pasta e Fagioli
Sonic Cherry Limeades
Hawaiian Roll Ham Sandwiches
Honey Spiced Glazed Chicken (I cut back on the cayenne pepper)
Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Taco Cupcakes
Baked Club Pinwheels
Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta
Hashbrown Casserole
Layered Zucchini Parmesan
Sausage Egg Muffins
Reese's Cheesecake Brownies

Misses
WW Bubble Up Enchiladas (A little too dry. I would make these again, but cut back on the biscuits)
Slow Cooker Potato Soup (Bland, bland, bland)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those are really my only misses.  Either we aren't very picky, or I've been super lucky. 

What are your favorite recipes you have on Pinterest?

Some New Recipes

I made three recipes from Pinterest this week.  All three were keepers.  Here's the rundown:

Layered Zucchini Parmesan

{via Handle the Heat}

Deliciousness: 10, It was yummy, and good for ya'

Preparation/Baking Ease: 7, the process was easy, but prepping was time con-sum-ing

Would I Make This Again?  Definitely, YES!

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole

Deliciousness: 8, Pretty stinkin' good, but not good for ya'

Preparation/Baking Ease: 10, short fixin' time and simple steps.

Would I Make This Again? Yes, especially if I need some comfort food

Easiest Dinner Ever

{via The Larson Lingo}

Deliciousness: 6, I would make this again, but not necessarily for guests

Preparation/Baking Ease: 10, The recipe name says it all.  Perfect for a busy day.

Would I Make This Again? Yes.  I have to have some simple stuff that can cook itself.

Since Pinterest is my newest addiction, you might see recipe reviews on here quite often.  I have a long list of baking goods that will all make me gigantically fat, but I do have one I plan on making this week. So long to the 2 lbs I've gained thus far in pregnancy. I'm about to blow up!

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken and Green Beans

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken is fairly similar to Parmesan Pork Chops, except it's chicken and the base is different.  When an excess of Dijon mustard showed up in my pantry and no Puerto Rican steaks (the coveted pork chop) in the freezer, this recipe was born.  It turned out delicious, but when is frying something not delicious?  It's a wonder that I'm not 500 lbs given the way I like to eat.  So if you also enjoy all things fried, be sure to try out this little recipe...

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken
2 eggs
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup instant garlic mashed potatoes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1/2 tsp onion powder
4 chicken breasted
3-4 Tbsp of cooking oil

• In a small bowl, beat together eggs and dijon mustard. 
• In a separate small bowl combing bread crumbs, instant potatoes, parmesan, and onion powder.
• Flatten chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.
• Dip in egg, then bread crumb mixture.
• Place each breast in hot cooking oil for about 8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.

And since you already have out the Dijon mustard, you might as well make the green beans in the picture.  Here's the recipe for those little guys...

Dijon Green Beans
4 cups fresh green beans
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp pepper.

• Boil green beans to your desired tenderness. Drain.
• Add remaining ingredients, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.

That's it.  Two recipes in one day.  I'm exhausted. Be sure to check out the Cheesy Biscuits to round out this meal.  Again, it's amazing I'm not 500 lbs. 

Happy Cooking!!!

Homemade French Fries

I've had a lot of emails about how we make homemade french fries.  It's really not hard, and way better than picking up a pack of preservative filled frozen ones.  Plus, you get to add your own seasonings.

First we start by digging up our potatoes from our organic garden.  Gotcha!  We don't have an organic garden.  It would be nice, but I have yet to tackle that one.  Instead, we have a grocery store that sells a 5lb bag of potatoes.  We use those.  Grocery stores...such a great invention!

I wash and slice the potatoes into french fry size pieces.  I use 3-4 potatoes for my family.  After I slice them up, I drizzle a little olive oil over the top and sprinkle on the seasonings of choice.  In the pic below, we used a little Kosher salt and oregano.  (Alternative choices: seasoning salt, steak seasoning, garlic powder combined with onion powder...whatever we're in the mood for.)  Once you season, toss them around a bit so you can get a good coating...

{Notice the man hands are not mine.  The hubby is getting domesticated.}

After the coating, you'll throw them in a non-stick skillet for about 10-15.  You shouldn't need to spray the pan since the fries are coated in olive oil, but if you're pan has a history of 'stickage' please spray.  You'll keep them in the skillet until they are starting to soften up a bit and the outer part is getting a little golden brown.

Once the potatoes soften up and are a little golden brown, spread them out on a greased baking sheet.  Bake @ 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.  If you like your fries crispy, then crank on the broiler for a minute or two at the end.

I have not one picture of the finished product.  I went to teach my gymnastics class before these were finished.  I felt bad asking the newly domesticated husband to take a pic of his first batch (he had stage fright).  Maybe next time.  I don't want to scare him out of the kitchen.

Happy Cooking!!!

Homemade Mac N Cheese

Sometime last week, and I say 'sometime' because I'm too darn lazy to find the exact date, Lynne left a comment asking for a good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe.  Although I don't have a one true favorite, I usually go between two depending on my mood.  Neither one is my own creation, and I just bet you can guess where one of the recipe's comes from.  Here's some hints...She's the only 'celebrity' I would want to meet, and she's mentioned at least once a week on this blog.  Got a guess?  It's, it's, it's...I'll leave you in suspense.

Here's my two go-to recipes...

The Neelys Mac and Cheese

The Pioneer Woman's Mac and Cheese (my hints were pretty obvious)

There you have it!  My secret weapons.  I bet you're super duper surprised that I use recipes outside of my own and TPW.  I would like to make a point that if you cook outside of the realm of Ree Drummond's world, The Neelys offer up some pretty yummy low calorie meals.  Well maybe not low calorie, but it's definitely packed with some down home flavor.  Hmmm, I wonder if that's how they got the name of their show...Down Home With The Neelys???  I think I just had an epiphany.  Must take nap.  Too much thinking...

Corn Saute

Poor Alice asked about this recipe months ago.  At the time I told her I would get it up 'soon'. Well 'soon' never came.  More like later.  Much later.  So in this situation I'm going to use the phrase 'Better late than never'. 

Here's the long awaited Corn Saute modified from the Aug/Sept 2010 Simple & Delicious cooking magazine...

Corn Saute
1 large zucchini, thinly sliced
1/3 cup sliced onion
1-1/2 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup whole kernel corn
2 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning

• In a large skillet, saute zucchini and onion in oil until crisp/tender. 
• Add corn and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes longer until vegetables are tender.
• Sprinkle with sugar, salt, and lemon-pepper.

Really easy and really yummy.  The sugar combines well with the flavors.  A little sweetness.  Like Walter Payton. Complete Sweetness.

Happy Cooking

Cheesy Biscuits

You can go ahead and thank me now.  I'm about to share the recipe to the most amazing biscuits brought to you by my mom.  I'm about to share the Cheesy Biscuits recipe. 

{Moment of Silence}

Cheesy Biscuits are mouth watering deliciousness.  Make them tonight.  Make them tomorrow night.  Heck, make them every night.  You'll be loved all the more for it.  I will, however, not be responsible for any weight gain you acquire from the cheesy bicuits.  Your biscuits (booty cheeks) will get bigger from the biscuits.  You must eat at your own risk folks.

Cheesy Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup melted butter
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• Mix all ingredients together. 
• Drop spoonfuls on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

So sorry for the ghetto picture!  I was headed out to teach gymnastics, and the biscuits were finishing up.  So ya' know...I just threw open the oven and snapped the pic.  Photography at its finest. 

Change in Food Types

I love the changing of the seasons.  Going from summer to fall means less grilling and more crockpotting.  Crockpotting?  Yes, I'm sure it's a word.  Kinda sure.  Even though my recipe today is not a crockpot one, it's still falls under the Fall category.  Hee hee, I said 'fall' twice.  What?  You, don't find that funny?  I'm hurt!

Today's recipe comes from my family.  My family, meaning my husband's brother's wife's mother's mother.  Did you get that?  Simplified version...my sister-in-law's grandma.  This one is to die for and will probably be added to your Thanksgiving Day Menu.

Corn Casserole

{No editing done...sorry...not enough hours in the day}

1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can cream corn
1 pkg Jiffy cornbread mix
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
8 oz sour cream

• Mix all ingredients together well.
• Pour into a greased 8 x 8 baking dish
• Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a knife comes out clean from the center.

Happy Cooking!!!

Twice Baked Potato and Anger Management

Last night we had twice baked potatoes.  Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. I baked the potatoes, cut them in half, waited for them to cool a little, and then scooped out the soft middle.  That's when it hit the fan.  The peel to the first potato ripped.  A rational person would have patched it back together, but not I.  Potatoes started flying, along with screaming, kicking, and crying.  I mashed those suckers getting out all my aggression.  When I came to my senses, I realized I still had to cook dinner.  With tail tucked, I threw in some sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, butter, and because there's just not enough recipes with french fried onions, I added a dash of french fried onions. Spread it in a pan and baked it like I would twice baked potatoes (@ 350 degrees for 20 minutes).

{Before baking. Last 5 minutes, I topped it with more cheese.  I like to be constipated.}

Then Steven came home and asked, "What's this?"

"Don't ask, Dear.  Don't ask."

And then I dialed the number for Anger Management Anonymous.

Happy Cooking!

Broiled Fish and Roasted Peppers

Here's a delicious meal that won't break your caloric bank!

Roasted Peppers

{Before broiler}

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

1 large red bell pepper, chopped

1 large yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 small red onion, chopped

1/4 cup (or less) of Italian Dressing

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded

• 
  
  Put peppers and onions in a large oven safe dish or pan. 
• 
  
  Drizzle on Italian dressing, and mix peppers/onions well in the dressing.
• 
  
  Broil for 5-7 minutes. Stir. Broil 5-7 minutes longer
• 
  
  Remove from oven, and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese.Broil for 3 minutes longer.

Broiled Tilapia and/or Salmon

8 filets of tilapia or salmon (or both)

4 Tbsp of 6 pepper seasoning (found with marinades)

1 lime, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp Mayo

1/4 cup Italian dressing

Parmesan cheese to sprinkle

• 
  
  Place fish on a greased pan. 
• 
  
  Sprinkle each piece generously with pepper seasoning.
• 
  
  Slice lime (you can use lemon too), and place on top of each filet.
• 
  
  Broil for 7-10 minutes.
• 
  
  While fish is boiling, mix mayo and Italian dressing in a small bowl.
• 
  
  Remove lime slices from filets, and baste each one with mayo/dressing mixture.
• 
  
  Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese.
• 
  
  Broil for 3-5 minutes longer, or until basting mix begins to bubble and turn brown.

{Before broiler}

{Finished Meal}

Now, I'm sure you're probably thinking, "Wow.  What a super healthy meal."  You are right.  It's healthy and delicious, and it probably makes you feel bad about what you ate last night.  You should feel bad.  I ate a deliciously healthy meal, and to top it off I went for an after dinner run.  Yep, I'm healthy...

OH STINK!  How did this photo get on here?

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

I can eat store bought pasta salad.  I'd really prefer not to, but I can.  It's like store bought cookies.  They're okay.  In case of a 'Sure I'll bring dessert, but then you forget' moment, they'll do, but the real thing is much better.  So much better.  All that gooey dough warm from the oven.  Melted chocolate chips.  Mmmmmmm...

Take a moment.  Visualize the cookie.  Enjoy the cookie.

WAIT A MINUTE!  This post is about Pasta Salad.  See how easily distracted I get...

There a lots of different versions of pasta salad, but this is one of my favorites for two reasons.  Yep, you guessed it.  It's easy and delicious!

Here you go...

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

1 box spiral noodles

1 small jar of sliced olives

1 med red or green pepper chopped

1 small red onion chopped

1/2 cucumber quartered

1/2 package of pepperoni quartered

1 cup (or more) of Italian dressing

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• While noodles are cooking.  Chop up those veggies, pepperoni, and drain/rinse the olives.
• After noodles are soft, drain and rinse with cold water.  Dump into a large bowl with a lid.
• Add veggies, pepperoni, and olives to noodles.  Mix well.
• Pour dressing and Parmesan over the top.  Put the lid on the bowl and shake it like crazy.  Go ahead, get out all of your frustration from the day...or do a dance...or just shake it...whatever.
• Taste it.  Savor it.  What?  It needs more dressing.  Pour it on.  Shake it up.  Taste it again. Repeat if necessary.  Just don't 'taste test' the whole bowl.

Happy Cooking!

Spring Potato Toss

{Picture via Southern Living}

We recently had dinner with some great people, Kendall and Jaime.  Jaime made some delicious, delicious ribs, corn on the cob, and a spring potato toss.  It was all so fabulous!  She sent me the recipe the other day via Southern Living, and I made it for our family.  It was such a hit, I had to post it on here.  Such a refreshing, yummy side dish for Spring!

There is one little thing you might need to know, and that's the amount of ingredients you use for the red potatoes, lemon juice, pesto, peas, and bacon.  Here's what I did...

5 red potatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp of lemon juice
8 oz of pesto
12 oz frozen peas, cooked (I know it says fresh)
5 strips of bacon

It turned out wonderful!

Happy Cooking!

Trees and Raisins

Family recipe time!  I love this one.  It is a perfect pair with grilled chicken...or hamburgers...or brats...or sandwiches.  Okay, so it's a perfect pair with anything!  Super easy to make and will be gone quickly. 

Trees and Raisins
1/2 cup mayo
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar (we use Splenda)
2 broccoli crowns, chopped
1-2 snack boxes of raisins (depending on how much sweetness you want)
1/4 cup diced red onion
4-5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

• In a large bowl, combine the first 3 ingredients.  Mix well, and taste test.  We like ours tangy-sweet, but others in my family like it overly sweet.  So depending on your taste buds adjust the flavor.
• Stir the broccoli in the dressing mixture and coat well.
• Add the remaining ingredients.  If you are not serving immediately, refrigerate.

Happy Cooking!

Pineapple Salsa

I made this less than an hour ago and it is already half empty (call me a pessimist). It was supposed to last all week long. Don't think it's going to make it!

So here's how it's thrown together...

Pineapple Salsa

1 pineapple
1 large red pepper
1 bunch cilantro
1/2 medium purple onion
-or- 2 green onions
1 Tbsp lemon juice

• Dice pineapple, red pepper, cilantro, and onion.
• Mix well
• Sprinkle on lemon juice.

That's it. It's delicious. It's nutritious. It'll be gone fast.

Happy Cooking!

Black Bean Corn Salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained
3 cups chopped tomatoes, seeded
1 large onion chopped
3/4 cups cilantro
1/4 of a diced tomatillo
1/2 of a jalapeno diced
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp cumin
dash of salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! This is more of a pico style salsa. If you enjoy a liquidy salsa, I suggest taking 2 cups tomatoes and running it through your food processor. Then dicing 1 cup tomato so it's not so runny.

Parmesan Pork Chops with Herb Roasted Veggies

I know pork chops aren't for everyone, but I have learned to love them. After all my husband refers to the pork chop as the "Puerto Rican steak" He's quite the character I tell you!

Parmesan Pork Chops

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsps all-purpose flour
2 tsps italian seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops
2 Tbsps olive oil

• In a small bowl, melt butter. In a large Ziplock, combine Parmesan cheese, flour, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Dip pork chops in butter and then place in bag to shake one at a time.
• In a large skillet, cook pork in oil on medium heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.

Herb Roasted Veggies
1 medium zucchini sliced
1 yellow summer squash sliced
1 medium tomato seeded and chopped
1/2 cup onion
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
• Put veggies in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake uncovered @ 450 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned and tender.

Another quick and easy recipe, but oh so delicious! Happy Cooking!