Thursday, October 22, 2009

Mojito Makeover

In general, the Mojito is already a better choice when it comes to calories, but the talented folks at the trendy Chapel Hill restaurant Jujube show us how to serve up this Cuban drink with one smart substitution -- Splenda syrup instead of simple syrup. Make your own by dissolving 2 packets of Splenda into an ounce of water or purchase Da Vinci's Sugar Free Sweetener Syrup (available on amazon.com), and keep the bottle on hand for iced teas, coffees, and more.

2 ounces light rum
1 ounce Splenda syrup, Da Vinci's Sugar Free Sweetener Syrup
1 ounce lime juice
7 mint leaves
Splash of club soda

In a shaker, muddle mint leaves and a lime wedge. Add ice and other ingredients and shake. Pour into tall glass and top with soda.

Calories: 140

Blended Raspberry Cocktail

Let ice be your ally this summer. By blending drinks with fruity flavors you ultimately consume fewer calories, says Giancoli. Another sip tip: Using tall glasses (10 ounces and above) means you'll refill -- and fill up on calories -- less often.

1/2 cup ice or several ice cubes
8 ounces Minute Maid Light Raspberry Passion
1 1/2 ounces vodka


Combine ingredients in a blender. Garnish with several fresh raspberries.

Calories: 115

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Bean Dip

2-3 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic {minced}
1/2 onion chopped fine
2 cans black beans {drain & rinse}
1 can corn {drain}
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 bottle bronco bob's roasted raspberry chipotle sauce {@ Target by the bbq sauces}
1 small can green chilies
1 small can sliced olives

Mix butter, garlic, and onion together. Spread on bottom of deep 9x13 dish. Layer with black beans, corn, cream cheese, 1/2 the chipotle sauce, green chillies, olives, cheese, and then the rest of the sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serve hot with tortilla chips.

Use any leftovers in soft tacos or burritos the next day!

Fruit Dip

ingredients:

2 pkgs cream cheese softened.
-if you need to soften the cream cheese, put it in a microwave safe dish, and pop it in for 30 seconds. it will be perfectly soft.

1 cup brown sugar
1 small package white chocolate pudding mix
16 ounces vanilla yogurt

Mix all four ingredients together till smooth with no lumps. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Serve with fruit, best choice - strawberries & fuji apples.
To keep your apples from turning brown, dip them quickly in lemon juice.

Strawberry Cream Freeze

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup cold milk
1 pkg (3.4 oz ) JELL-O Vanilla flavored instant pudding
1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip
20 Nilla Wafers, coarsely broken
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced, divided
1/2 cup strawberry ice cream topping
1 Oreo Pie Crust (6 oz)

Beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk. Add dry pudding mix; beat 2 min.

Stir in cool whip, wafers and 1 cup berries. Swirl in ice cream topping.

Spread into crust. Freeze 6 hours or until firm. Remove dessert from freezer 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining berries.

Makes 8 servings.

Salsa Dip

1 pkg (8 oz) Cream cheese, softened
1 cup Taco Bell Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

Mix cream cheese and salsa until well blended.
Serve with cut-up fresh vegetables or tortilla chips.

Makes 2 cups or 16 servings, 2 Tbsp each.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Ham Swiss Rolls

elephant sandwiches

mayonnaise
12 thick slices deli ham (black forest)
12 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 c. melted butter
1 1/2 Tbsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. poppy seeds

Slice rolls in half so they open. Spread mayo on top and bottom of the inside of each roll. Assemble rolls with ½ slice of cheese and ½ slice of ham. Place all of these in a baking pan or stone. Mix together the melted butter, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and poppy seeds with a whisk. Brush this mixture all over the tops of the rolls and cover with tin foil.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles

1 lb whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
½ Cup smooth peanut butter
¼ Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ Cup finely chopped white onion
½ Cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper
1 Cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
¼ Cup finely chopped cilantro leaves (missing in picture, it’s much better with cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
¼ Cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)

1. Cook noodles according to package. Drain, rinse with cold water, place in large pasta bowl and toss with sesame oil. Set aside.

2. Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water. Set aside.

3. Place olive oil in hot skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in chicken breast, cilantro and salt. Stir until heated through.

4. Add sauce and chicken mixture to noodles. Toss to coat and garnish with peanuts and sesame seeds if desired.

6 servings

Simple Coleslaw

16 oz bag of coleslaw mix
½ Cup mayonnaise or miracle whip
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 teaspoon honey

Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

3 Tablespoons melted butter

3 Cups Golden Graham Cereal, ground in food processor

1 Roll Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough or 2 pkgs Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Dough Mix prepared and divided into 2 equal parts

8 oz softened cream cheese

1/4 Cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

21 oz can apple pie filling

1.5 oz package Nature Valley Oats N’ Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (2 count), crushed (I use a rolling pin to crush them right in the bag before opening)

9.5 oz Kraft Caramels

1/2 Cup half and half

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine melted butter and ground cereal into a large bowl; press into an 8×8 inch baking dish lined with foil that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven. Crumble half of the cookie dough over partially baked crust.

2. Place cream cheese, sugar and vanilla into a mixer; beat until smooth. Pour over crumbled cookie dough layer. Bake for 25 minutes then remove from over. Top with 3/4 of the apple pie filling (I chose to just add part, but you can add the whole can if desired). Next top with remaining cookie dough, breaking off into little pieces evenly over top. Sprinkle with crushed granola bars and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center. Let cool completely then cut into squares. Melt caramels and half and half according to package directions. Drizzle over each bar. Refrigerate leftovers.

9 squares

The Mother Load Layered Cookie Bars

This looks SO good!

Layer 1: Sugar Cookie

1 Roll of Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Press sugar cookie dough into bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish that’s been lined foil and sprayed with cooking spray.

Layer 2: Double Chocolate Chip Cookie

(the recipe below makes double what you’ll need for the bars, use extra for cookies)

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder)
2 tsps. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until well combined.

2. In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients then stir in chips. Layer 1/2 the recipe over sugar cookie layer, pressing gently.

Layer 3: Peanut Butter Cookie

1 Cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined. Press over chocolate cookie dough.

Layer 4: Chocolate Chip Cookie

(the recipe below makes double what you’ll need for the bars, use extra for cookies)

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 bag chocolate chips

1. Make sure oven is preheated to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer cream the butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Place flour, baking soda and salt into a large bolw; mix to combine. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips. Spoon 1/2 of the dough evenly over peanut butter cookie dough but don’t press, just leave uneven. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until center of dough is cooked mostly through. Edges will be brown. I covered pan with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

2. Let cookies cool completely. Lift out of pan with edges of foil. I cut off 1/2 inch edges and just used softer centers, but do as you wish. Edges are crispier. Drizzle top with 1/2 Cup melted chocolate chips if desired.

*Note: You can layer dough and refrigerate until ready to bake. This is what I did and it worked very nicely.

8 large bars (if you cut off edges), 12 bars (if you keep edges)

Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Breakfast Rolls

2 packages/cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

4 0z cream cheese, softened

1/4 Cup brown sugar

1/4 Cup canned pumpkin (Libby’s)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unroll crescent rolls to form 4 rectangles placed side by side. Pinch seams together to form one long rectangle. Place cream cheese, brown sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg into a mixer; beat until well combined. Spread mixture over crescents leaving a 1/2 inch border around edges. Starting at long end, roll up then cut into 1 inch pieces. Place around 2 9 inch cake pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. I left the centers open so the rolls form a circle.

2. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes. Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting recipe below.

Frosting

4 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon canned pumpkin (Libby’s)

1. Mix all ingredients into a large bowl until smooth. Spread over warm rolls.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Fried Chicken

The Early Show Recipes - Katie Lee Cooks Her Favorite Sunday Supper Dishes

Fried Chicken

People always ask me what my favorite thing to cook is, and I have to say that I enjoy nothing more than fryin' up some chicken. The only think I enjoy more than cooking it is eating it! Paula Deen taught me to cover the chicken for part of its cooking time so that it steams and keeps the meat juicy. I transfer my chicken to the oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking which I find makes the skin really crisp. It also makes it really easy to fry in batches and keep all of the chicken hot. Don't be afraid of the hot sauce in the recipe-the chicken will not be spicy.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Fryer chicken, cut into 10 pieces
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 large eggs
1/2 cup hot sauce
1/2 cup buttermilk peanut oil
2 1/2 cups self rising flour*

*Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour with added salt and leavening (baking powder). You will notice that recipes that call for self-rising flour do not call for baking powder.

METHOD:
Season the chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In a large bowl, big enough to accommodate all of the chicken, whisk the eggs, hot sauce, and buttermilk. Add the chicken and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate. Let marinate at least 2 and up to 4 hours.

In a large Dutch oven, heat a couple inches of peanut oil to 350°F degrees. Preheat oven to 450°F.

Dredge the chicken in the flour, taking care to evenly coat each piece. Transfer in batches to the hot oil. Cover and let cook 5 minutes. Remove the cover and turn the chicken. Let cook uncovered an additional 5 minutes. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are yummy, and also a valuable food for boosting antioxidants in the body. For this recipe, I whip them with spices, put them in a baking dish, and cover them with marshmallows. The marshmallows get golden brown and crunchy and taste fantastic with the sweet potatoes. I could almost eat this for dessert!

INGREDIENTS:
4 large sweet potatoes (about 4 pounds), peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup milk
1/2 heavy cream
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
One 16-ounce bag large marshmallows

METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Grease a 4-quart baking dish.

Place the sweet potatoes in a medium pot. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and butter until warm but not simmering.

Return the potatoes to the pot and add warm milk mixture, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Using a handheld mixer, whip the potatoes until smooth and creamy with no lumps. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the marshmallows.

Bake until the marshmallows are golden brown, about 30 minutes

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Classic Chicken Pot Pie

Crust
1 box (15 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Filling
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 3/4 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey
2 cups Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie using 9-inch glass pie pan.

2. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened.

3. Stir in chicken and mixed vegetables. Remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.

4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. During last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover crust edge with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Blackened Chicken Pizza with Yellow Tomato Salsa

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Prep Time:12 min Cook Time:18 min
Serves:3 servings

•1 tablespoon grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Grill Seasoning) or other seasoning blend
•1 teaspoon sweet paprika – eyeball it
•1 teaspoon chili powder
•1/2 teaspoon dried cayenne pepper
•3/4 pound thin cut chicken breast
•1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 turn of the pan
•All-purpose flour or cornmeal, a couple of tablespoons to work dough
•1 pizza dough
•1/2 pound brick reduced fat Cheddar with jalapeno or chipotle pepper (recommended: Cabot brand)
•2 small yellow tomatoes, seeded and chopped
•1/4 cup chopped red onion
•1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
•2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, optional
•2 tablespoons thyme leaves
•1 clove garlic
•Coarse salt
•1/2 lime, zested and juiced
Directions
Preheat a large heavy skillet over very high heat. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine grill seasoning, paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper on a plate. Press thin cut chicken into seasoning on 1 side. Add oil to screaming hot pan and cook chicken 2 minutes on each side.

Spread out a little flour or cornmeal and stretch out pizza dough onto a pizza pan. Shred reduced fat cheese.

Remove chicken from pan and chop. Combine tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro and thyme. Make garlic paste by chopping garlic then mashing it with the flat of your knife and a generous pinch of coarse salt. Add paste to salsa. Add zest and juice of 1/2 lime and mix salsa thoroughly. Scatter chicken, salsa and cheese over pizza dough working to the edges of both pies. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until crisp and bubbly-brown on top.

Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Chipotle's Chicken Marinade

1 (2 ounce) package dried ancho chiles
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
6 cloves garlic
1/2 red onion, quartered
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 chicken breasts (6 ounces each)

Soak dry chilies overnight in water, until soft. Remove seeds. Add all
ingredients except meat in food processor. Puree until smooth.

Spread mixture over chicken, or other meats and refrigerate at least
one hour, up to 24 hours.

After marinating, heat grill to about 400 degrees F, or if cooking
inside, heat small amount of oil in skillet or grill pan over high
heat. Salt meat to taste (optional), and grill lightly, turning only
once, until done. 4 minutes per side of chicken.

Recipe will make four burritos.

Chipotle Steak Marinade

Chipotle's Steak Marinade

1 (2 ounce) package dried ancho chiles
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
6 cloves garlic
1/2 red onion, quartered
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 Small Steaks (6 ounces each)

Soak dry chilies overnight in water, until soft. Remove seeds. Add all
ingredients except meat in food processor. Puree until smooth.

Spread mixture over chicken, or other meats and refrigerate at least
one hour, up to 24 hours.

After marinating, heat grill to about 400 degrees F, or if cooking
inside, heat small amount of oil in skillet or grill pan over high
heat. Salt meat to taste (optional), and grill lightly, turning only
once, until done. 8-10 minutes per
side for 3/4" thick steak.

Recipe will make four burritos.

Chipotle Guacamole

Individual sized recipe:
2 Hass Avocados
1/2 of a Jalapeno pepper, seeded, and minced
1/4 of a red onion, finely chopped
2 heaping Tablespoons of Cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 of a lime, juiced
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl, and mash together until smooth. Add additional lime juice or salt to taste. For extra spicy guacamole, you can leave in the jalepeno seeds!

Notes: This recipe is an approximation based on the original Chipotle recipe below. Please use it as a base for your guacamole creation, and feel free to make improvements based on your own personal preferences.

Chipotle's Batch Recipe:
Remove stems and stickers from 48 avocados, wash for two minutes. Cut avocados in half, remove pit, scrape out the good stuff.

Mash avocados in large mixing bowl. You don't have to get it to the final consistency yet, but it's easier if they're at least partially mashed at this point.

Now for the other ingredients. Add 2-1/2 cups cilantro, 2-1/2 cups chopped red onions, 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno, 1/2 cup lemon-lime juice, and 3 tablespoons of salt. Continue mashing until smooth.

When you go to store the guac, put a layer of plastic wrap directly on the guac and squeeze the air out, then put another layer of plastic over whatever container you're using. This keeps the guac from oxidizing and turning all brown. Depending on how long you keep it in the fridge, the top might turn brown anyway, so just skim off the top layer before serving.

Chipotle's Rice

Chipotle's Basmati Rice Recipe

1 teaspoon vegetable oil or butter
2 tsp. fresh cilantro
2/3 cup white basmati rice
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Lime

In a 2-quart heavy saucepan, heat oil or butter over low heat, stirring occasionally until melted. Add rice and lime juice, stir for 1 minute. Add water and salt, bring to a full rolling boil. At boiling, cover, turn down to simmer over low heat until rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork.

[bahs-MAH-tee]
Basmati is a long-grained rice, with a fine texture. It can be found in Middle Eastern and India markets, as well as some supermarkets.