Simple Roast Chicken

One of my favorite meals to make is a simple roast chicken.  I don't have a real recipe, I just kind of wing it.

What goes under the skin of the chicken.

Half a stick of unsalted butter softened
Poultry Seasoning
Thyme leaves
Onion Powder
Sage leaves

What goes on the skin.

Half stick of unsalted butter softened
Kosher Salt
Fresh black pepper

It doesn't look to pretty now.

Roast at 425 for about 30 minutes then reduce the heat to 375 for 30 to 45 minutes.

Woops, I ripped the leg off before I took the picture. 

Apricot Almond Bars

I made these earlier.  The recipe came from my Taste Of Home Fall Baking magazine.  They came out very good!!  I did have to make a substitution with the almonds.  I only had slivered in the freezer.

2 cups white baking chips, divided
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup apricot jam
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions
In a microwave, melt 1 cup chips; stir until smooth. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chips and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Spread half of the batter into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 325° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Spread with jam.

Stir remaining chips into remaining batter. Drop by tablespoonfuls over jam; carefully spread over top. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares; cut squares in half.

Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Meatballs and Sauce

I have made this many many times.  It is a family favorite and also makes lots of leftovers.

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I like plain then add my own herbs and spices.  I like dried basil, oregano, garlic powder and a dash of onion powder.)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (the good stuff, not from a can)

In a bowl, mix the ground beef (or turkey), bread crumbs, what ever herbs and spices that you like, eggs, and cheese. Season with bit of kosher salt and fresh black pepper.

Put a jar of Newman's Own Marinara and a can of diced tomatoes in the bottom of your crock pot.
Then I use my medium cookie scoop to make the balls and put them on the sauce/diced tomato mixture.  Pour another jar of Newman's Own Marinara and a can of diced tomatoes.
Cover and cook on high for 5 1/2 hours.

These come out nice and moist and go perfect with your favorite pasta.  Also you can double the meatball recipe and use another jar of sauce and one more can (15 oz) of diced tomatoes.

Lunch 9/12

Today's lunch

Left over shells and homemade meatballs (in the thermos)
Carrots
Yoplait Yogurt Cup
Cranberry and Citrus Newtons Fruit Thin Cookies
Trail Mix packet
Fruit Snack
Lemonade Capri Sun

Orville Redenbacher's Stirring Popper

To say we love popcorn, would be an understatement.  But....we do not like microwave popcorn.  The list of ingredients scare me.  A couple years ago Miss V picked out a hot air popper for Father's Day.  It worked great until fell off the counter and part of it broke.

After that we used a dutch oven and made it on the stove top.  This spring we were using up some gift cards from Christmas and found the Orville Redenbacher's Stirring Popper at Kohls.

It works wonderful!!!  Hot fresh popcorn with easy clean up.  Normally we just have butter and salt but a few weeks ago I picked up some Kernal Seasonings.  I bought White Cheddar and Chili Lime.  They are both yummy and a nice change from plain popcorn.

How do you like your popcorn?

Lunch 9/9 - Pizza Friday Snacks

Today is the first day of Pizza Friday at Miss V's school.  You still need to pack a drink and snacks.  It was also our NFL Back to Football Friday.  Miss V ate her pizza and a special cookie at lunch.  On the way home she ate the rest of the snacks since she was starving!

Apple Slices
Simply Go-Gurt
Chewy Granola Bar
Mini Oreos
Gold Fish
Capri Sun

Lunch 9/8

Today's lunch

Bee's Knees & Strawberry Jelly on Wheat
Simply Go-Gurt
Trail Mix packet
Chewy Granola Bar
Apple Slices
Gold Fish
Welch's Fruit Snack
Capri Sun

Lunch 9/7

Lunch for Miss V

Salad that had
Spinach & Romaine
Cucumbers
Carrots
Tomatoes
Craisins
Roasted Sunflower Seeds

Chow mein noodles to put on her salad for a little bit of crunch and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Chewy Granola Bar
Apple Slices
Trail Mix
Chocolate Teddy Grahams
Simply Gogurt
Capri Sun

Tangy Turkey Tostada

So I picked this recipe from my Taste of Home Southwest magazine.  I subbed 1 pound of ground beef for the turkey.  I asked Marcel to pick up the tostada shells on the way home.  Well.....he called from the store and they didn't have any and wanted to know if he should buy the tostada bowls, there are 4 bowls in the package for $7.00!  What?????  Are you kidding me?????  Think quick....so I said no freaking way and just to pick up some tortilla chips and we will have taco salads.

1-1/4 pounds lean ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (skipped)
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 drops hot pepper sauce
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend (used regular)
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
16 tostada shells
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

Directions
In a large skillet, cook turkey over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the green pepper, onion and garlic. Cook and stir for 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in the mushrooms; cook 1 minute longer.
Stir in the beans, salsa, chilies, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper sauce. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Add cheese and corn; heat through.

Yield: 8 servings.

This tasted really good as taco salads.  I am just bummed that the store didn't have the shells.  We live in an area that you can easily get "Mexican ingredients".

Lunch 9/6

Today's lunch
Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread
Green Apple Slices
Simply Gogurt
Chewy Granola Bar
Trail Mix Packet
Smartfood Popcorn
Lemonade Capri Sun

Polynesian Hot Dogs

When I bought the June 2011 issue of Food Network magazine I was intrigued with the World Class Hot Dog pictures.

On a two page spread there were 10 different "international" hot dogs.  Anyway my eyes kept going back to the Polynesian which was a hot dog with Hoisin Sauce, Pineapple and Scallions.

I was debating earlier what to make for dinner and when I asked Miss V to choose between my ideas she picked the hot dogs.

So....off to Sweetbay we went.

This will be interesting.....

 Lightly grilled all beef hot dog.

Little Hoisin Sauce

Little bit of scallions

Little bit of pineapple

 All done and a couple different kinds of chips.  Can't have a hot dog without chips.

So both Marcel and I had it the full version of the Polynesian hot dog and Miss V just had the pineapple.  She tasted the Hoisin sauce and didn't really like it.

I thought it tasted very good!  I was pleasantly surprised.  I guess I should step out of my comfort zone more often.  Hmm...maybe next time I will try the Thai which included peanut sauce, carrot and cilantro.

Lunch 9/2

Miss V's lunch today.

Her version of ants on a log; cream cheese, celery and raisins.

Dark Chocolate Dreams & Fluff Sandwich
Cheese Stick
Welch's Fruit Snack
Oreo Yo Crunch Yogurt
Ants on a Log
Chewy Granola Bar
Homemade trail Mix
Orange Capri Sun

Apricot Ginger Acorn Squash

This also comes from the Taste of Home Ultimate Halloween magazine.

1 small acorn squash
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
4 teaspoons butter, melted
1-1/2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions
Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Cut a thin slice from bottom of squash with a sharp knife to allow it to sit flat. Place hollow side up in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish.

Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon over squash.

Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes longer or until tender. Yield: 2 servings.

Woops...I forgot to take picture of them when they were done.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

This recipe comes from my Taste of Home Ultimate Halloween 2011 magazine.

4 boneless pork loin chops (4 ounces each) (I had a pork loin that I cut up)
2 tablespoons reduced-fat butter, divided
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 medium tart apples, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook pork chops in 1 tablespoon butter for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.



Remove chops and keep warm. Add the apples, pecans, brown sugar mixture and remaining butter to the pan; cook and stir until apples are tender. Serve with chops. Yield: 4 servings.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Land O'Lakes light stick butter.

Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 2/3 cup apples equals 316 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 62 mg cholesterol, 232 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 22 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat.

Nuts 'n' berries trail mix

This morning while flipping though my Taste of Home Ultimate Halloween 2011 I spotted this recipe.  It looks like it would be a winner.  After I dropped off Miss V, I went to Sweetbay to pick up a few things I needed for dinner and picked up the ingredients for the trail mix.  I did have to make a couple substitutions.  I couldn't find Hazelnuts and I am not a fan of Wheat Chex.

2 cups EACH Cinnamon Chex, Corn Chex, and Wheat Chex (used Rice instead of Wheat)
2 cup Hazelnuts (used Almonds)
1/3 cup maple syrup (please use the good stuff)
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground nutmeg (use fresh)
2 cups dried cranberries

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the cereals and nuts; set aside.

In a small microwave bowl combine the syrup, butter, brown sugar, salt and nutmeg. 

Microwave for 1 minute.  Stir until well blended.  Pour over the cereal mixture and toss to coat.  Microwave the mixture on high for 5 to 6 minutes; stirring after each minute.  Stir in cranberries.  Spread onto waxed paper to cool.

Store mixture in an airtight container.  Yields 2 1/2 quarts.

I did snitch a bite while it was still hot and it is super yummy!  I can't wait to try it when it cools off.

Lunch 9/1

Lunch for today, by the way....where did August go to?  It really can't be September 1st already!

Today it was a sandwich kind of day.  Miss V chose her favorite....Dark Chocolate Dreams & Fluff on Whole Wheat bread.  She also wanted it cut into a pumpkin shape since she said it is officially fall now.

Sandwich

Red Grapes

Baby Carrots

Colby Jack Cheese stick

Welch's Fruit Snack

Trail Mix

Goldfish

Orange Capri Sun

As for the peanut butter....if you are a peanut butter lover, you should really check out Peanut Butter & Company.  We have tried all of them except the Heat Is On.  I can't find it in stores down here.  I bet it would make an excellent peanut sauce for Thai foods.  I also have made peanut butter cookies with some of them and wow, what an nice change of pace.

Taste of Home - Ultimate Halloween 2011

I picked this up the other day at Sweetbay.  The caramel apples on the cover pushed me over the edge.  Anyway there are lots of yummy looking recipes and not just for Halloween, but also a lot of "fall" recipes.  Hey I might even make a turkey meatloaf and different kinds of chex mixes.

Lunch 8/31

Miss V's lunch today....

Salad that included
Romaine Lettuce
Baby Spinach
Sliced Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Hard Boiled Egg Whites (she doesn't like the yolk)
Shredded Cheese
Craisins
Roasted Sunflower Seeds
Crunch Chow Mein Noodles
Green Goddess Dressing

Goldfish
Simply Gogurt
Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bar
Welch's Fruit Snack
Lemondade Capri Sun

Edited:  In an effort to seperate my Foodie blog and my personal FB page, I set up a Networked Blog Widget.  Feel free to follow me that way or directly on Life of a Foodie and Her Family Facebook Page.

Thank you and sorry for any inconvience that this might have.

Lynn

Lunch 8/30

Today's lunch

Turkey, Spinach, & Cheese on a Spinach Wrap
Simply Gogurt
Smart Food Popcorn
Green Apple Slices
Packet of Trail Mix
Welch's Fruit  Snack and
Lemonade Capri Sun

Lunch 8/29 and a lunch box failure....

Miss V's Lunch from today.

Ham, Spinach, Cheese on a Spinach Wrap

 Today she packed her wrap, red grapes, cheese crackers, Oreo Yo Crunch, Welch's Fruit Snacks, Raisin Chewy Granola Bar, packet of trail mix and an Orange Capri Sun.

 Lunch Box Failure.......
Every year we but the same kind of lunch box and since Pre-K we have never had an issue with the lunch boxes, besides getting grubby by the end of the school year.  Look what happened after 6 days of use.  I am really not happy.  I did submit a claim with the company.  Tomorrow she will have to use her beat up green lunch box from last year.