Summer Shrimp Stir-fry

10-15 large shrimp - peeled, deviened, tails off
1 lemon
1-2 ears of corn (removed from ear)
1 pt. grape tomatoes (halved)
2-3 small zucchinis (sliced)
4 tbsp tbsp. evoo or butter
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
salt & pepper to taste
optional: fresh herbs (basil, parsley)

melt 2 tbsp butter in pan & add garlic
add shrimp, cooking 3-4 mins. on each side, season with salt & pepper & remove from pan
melt remaining butter & add zucchini in a single layer, cook 1-2 mins while turning, then add corn, tomatoes & more salt & pepper. cook 1-2 more minutes
add shrimp just until warm, stir & remove from heat
squeeze lemon over & enjoy!

for step-by-step, picture directions, check out the recipe here

linguine in lemon cream sauce

*courtesy of vegetarian times

ingredients:
8 ounces dry linguine
1/2 cup light cream cheese
2 Tbsp. olive oil
approx. 1/2 lemon, juiced and 1 Tbsp. zest grated (i skipped the zest)
1/2 cup chopped parsley (i used 1/4c. instead & it was more than enough)

instructions:
1.  Cook linguine according to package directions in pot of boiling, salted water.
2.  Warm cream cheese, oil and 2 Tbsp. lemon juice in saucepan over low heat.
3.  Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking water.  Stir reserved cooking water into cream cheese mixture.  4. Add pasta, lemon zest, and parsley; toss to coat.  Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

raspberry cake bars

1 box of yellow cake mix
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 stick of butter, melted
1 jar (12-14 oz.) raspberry preserves

1. preheat oven to 375
2. combine cake mix & oats, then add melted butter. stir until crumbly
3. press 2 cups of mixture firmly into bottom of greased 9x13 dish
4. spread raspberry preserves evenly over cake mixture
5. sprinkle remaining cake mixture evenly over jelly
6. bake 24-28 mins. or until golden brown
7. let cool completely, then cut into bars

yields: 32 bars

"Crack" Candy

1 sleeve of saltines
2 sticks of unsalted butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 bag chocolate chips

1. preheat oven to 400 &  layer saltines in the bottom of a greased (or foil lined) 9x13 dish
2. meanwhile, melt butter
3. add brown sugar to butter. stir constantly to prevent burning/sticking
4. boil mixture for 3 mins or until frothy (do not overcook!)
5. pour mixture over saltines & bake for 5 mins.
6. remove from oven & sprinkle on chocolate chips
7. let chocolate melt for 5 minutes, and spread over crackers with rubber spatula
8. refrigerate at least 1 hour & break candy in pieces

Cheesey Potato Breakfast Casserole

10 eggs
2 cups (1 pt.) half & half
1 bag shredded cheese, any kind
1 - 10 oz. bag shredded potatoes/has browns (I used "simply potato' southwestern style)
veggies of your choice (chopped peppers, onions, etc.)
meat of your choice (cubed ham, crispy, crumbled bacon, think-sliced sausage)
optional - parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Add shredded potatoes in greased 9x13 dish, press lightly to bottom of dish
3. Add meat & 1/2 of the bag of cheese
3. Pour eggs evenly over other ingredients & add remaining cheese & parmesan cheese, if desired.
5. Bake for 40-50 mins. until eggs are done (check center with toothpick)

weight watchers chocolate pumpkin muffins

1 box devil's food cake mix
1 can pumpkin
1/2 bag chocolate chips

1. preheat oven to 350
2. mix all ingredients
3. pour into cupcake pan
4. bake 15-20 mins

yields 12 regular sized muffins or 24 minis

picky kid's chicken noodle soup

The last time Logan was sick, he got a little addicted to Campbell's Healthy Request Chicken Noodle Soup. Even though it is a low-sodium soup, it still has a lot of sodium.  So I came up with my own, healthier version.
This makes enough for about 6 kid servings. I split them up in freezer bags & freeze them, so I always have ome on hand.

Ingredients:

1 c. cooked chicken, cubed about 1 chicken breast, perdue shortcuts work well too)
1/2 lb. wide egg noodles
32 oz. low-sodium 100% natural chicken brother
1 c. peeled, sliced carrots
optional: 1/4 celery, chopped fine; pepper, onion powder to taste


Directions:


1. Add chicken broth to large sauce pan and bring to a slow boil; add carrots.
2. Meanwhile, cook noodles in large pot,  according to package; drain, return to pot
3. Once carrots are fork-tender, throw in chicken (& celery), cook 2-3 mins. For more broth, warm water can be added at this time.
4. Combine ingredients in large pot & heat 2 minutes.
5. Let cool completely before freezing

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

Ingredients:

3 boneless skinless chicken beasts, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch strips
2/3 cup Original Bisquick mix or Heart Smart Bisquick
1/2 cup grated parmesean cheese
1/2tsp salt or garlic salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

Directions:

HEAT oven to 450 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with w/ cooking spray. In 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt, and paprika.

DIP half of the chicken strips into egg; place in bag. Seal bag; shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet. Repeat to use up remaining chicken. Drizzle butter over chicken.

BAKE 12-14 min, turning halfway through bake time with pancake turner, until no longer pink in center.

4 servings.

Courtesy of Spiced Chefs

Jersey Style Tuna Melt

:

Ingredients for 4 sandwiches:

• 2-3 (6 ounce) cans solid white tuna in water, drained
• approx. 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (I used 1/4 tbsp. b/c we arent fans of parsley)
• 3/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 4 slices seedless rye bread
• 8 slices ripe tomato
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• optional: paprika, for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven broiler.
2. In a bowl, mix the tuna, mayonnaise, celery, onion, parsley, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the rye bread slices on a baking sheet, and broil 1 minute in the preheated oven, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and spread with the tuna salad. Place 1 cheese slice over the tuna salad on each piece of bread, layer with a tomato slice, and top with remaining cheese slices.
4. Return layered bread to the preheated oven, and broil 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Courtesy of All-Recipes

Chicken Caesar

Ingredients:

2-3 boneless chicken breasts

2 bottles of Creamy Cesar dressing

2-3 cloves of freshly pressed garlic

grated parmesan cheese

romaine lettuce

Directions:

1. Add chicken to baking pan

2. Add 1 bottle of dressing & top with remaining ingredients

3. Bake uncovered at 400 for 45 min (30 min for tenderloins).

4. Make a salad with Romaine lettuce, grated parmesan cheese and croutons,

5. Slice the chicken and place on top of salad

(can also be served over pasta)

*This can also be prepared as a quick & easy freezer meal. Add all ingredients to a gallon size freezer bag & freeze. When ready to make, defrost for 24 hours, then bake as directed.

Super Easy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

1 pkg pasta (I like using bow-ties)
1 lb. small-medium shrimp, tails off (I used de-veined, uncooked shrimp, but cooked is fine too)
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
a few tbsp. olive oil
3/4-1 c. white wine (or cooking wine)
1/2 can chicken broth
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil & add pasta.
2. Meanwhile, add olive oil to a hot saucepan & saute garlic. When garlic is cooked, add salt, pepper & chicken broth.
3. Add butter & let it melt. Add parmesan cheese, wine & shrimp. Mix well & bring to a simmer. If you are using uncooked shrimp, be sure to simmer according to bag - or until well cooked (light orange in color).
4. Drain pasta & toss with scampi sauce or spoon over pasta.
5. Serve with fresh bread


*Courtesy of 3 Pugs & a Baby

*Serves 2-3

Fried Rice

2 c white instant rice
3-4 tbsp. soy vay (in the soy sauce aisle)
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
2 eggs
extra virgin olive oil, keep this handy
1/2 package of mushrooms, sliced and fresh
1 tsp garlic salt

1. Make the rice and set aside.
2. In a non-stick pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil, crack the eggs into this and start separating them as they cook.
3. Add the onion, add the rice, stir around and add the mushrooms and garlic salt.
4. Pour soy vay onto the rice, stir, and add a bit more olive oil.
5. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes on medium.

*courtesy of amyjo

Easy Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
4-6 chicken breasts
taco seasoning packet
diced onion
1 can of chicken broth
diced tomato
fiesta corn (drained)
black beans (drained)
optional: shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips

Directions:

1. add first 4 ingredients to crock pot & cook on low for 2-3 hours.
2. add remaining ingredients, cook another 30m-1hr
3. top with optional ingredients.

baked potatoe bites

Ingredients:

1 bag small peeled white potato
1 package bacon
1 chunk of fresh parmesan cheese
sour cream
optional: chopped chives

Directions:

1. Slice potatoes & parmesan cheese very thin.
2. Layer potatoes & cheese on a plate until you have an inch high stack
3. Wrap in a 1/4 slice of bacon & place each bite into a mini muffin tin
4. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
5. Serve immediately, with sour cream & chives

Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 3/4 of crushed butter flavored crackers (about 15 Ritz crackers)
1/4 c. shredded parm cheese
1/4 .c shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese
3/4 c. ranch dressing
1/4 c. flour
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Grab 3 plates:
one: flour (seasoned with salt and pepper)
two: ranch Dressing
three: crackers, both cheeses

2. Dip chicken into flour, ranch, then cheese/cracker mixture.

3. Place chicken in a greased shallow baking dish and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
This also tastes wonderful on the grill! Spray grill with cooking spray so the crackers stay on the chicken. Cook 10-15 mins., flip & repeat.

chicken teriyaki

Ingredients:

1/4 cup regular or light zesty italian dressing
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or chunks
1-1/3 cups water
1/4 - 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (depending on your preference)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked

Directions:

1. Heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.

2. Add chicken; cook and stir 7-10 min. or until cooked through.
3. Add water, teriyaki sauce and garlic powder; stir. Bring to boil.
4. Stir in broccoli and rice; cover. Reduce heat to low; cook 5-8 min, or until rice is soft. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 min. Fluff with fork

banana split salad

Ingredients:


1 can 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. frozen whipped topping
21 oz. cherry pie filling
3 medium bananas
8 oz. crushed pineapple drained
1/2 cup chopped nuts


Directions:

Blend milk and whipped topping and then add the rest.
Chill for at least 3 hours.

BBQ Pineapple Chicken Packet

Ingredients

for each packet:

1 small boneless skinless chicken breast
1 pineapple ring
1 green pepper ring

1 tbsp. barbecue sauce

optional: red onion ring
cherry (I love cherries!)

Directions:

1. Heat grill to medium heat.

2. Place chicken in center of large sheet of heavy-duty foil; top with remaining ingredients.
3. Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
4. Grill 20-25 min. or until chicken is done. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening packet.

OR bake in oven/toaster oven for 30 mins. at 350 degrees.

Mango Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken Breasts
Mango Salsa (Newman's Own has a great one)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees
2. Cover chicken breasts with salsa
3. Bake for 30-40 mins until chicken is cooked through
4. Serve over rice

or cook in crockpot on low for 6 hours

Crash Hot Potatoes

Ingredients:

10-12 New Potatoes -or other small, round potato

Olive Oil
Kosher Salt

Black Pepper

any herbs/extras you like: pressed garlic, rosemary, chives, parmesan cheese, bacon bits, thyme, etc.

*serves 4

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add clean potatoes and cook until the are fork-tender. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2. Generously drizzle olive oil on a cookie sheet. Place potatoes on sheet 2-3" apart.

3. Next, grab your potato masher and gently press down on the potato until it slightly mashes. Then rotate the masher 90 degrees and finish flattening it.

4. Brush tops of potatoes generously with olive oil mixed with the garlic. Then add a generous amount of kosher salt and pepper.

5. Next add any herb that you wish - finely chopped & preferably fresh (I used chives & bacon bits - yum!)

6. Put cookie sheet on top rack of the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.