White Chocolate Peanut Butter Drops

Here is the recipe from the wonderful treats my Susie made for Kendall's baptism:

1 lb. white chocolate chips, melted
(In microwave, use half heat, mix and stir every minute)
1/2 c. chunky peanut butter (mix in with warm white chocolate)

Stir in with warm mixture:
1/2 c. miniature marchmallows
1 c. roasted peanuts (dry roasted are fine)
2 c. rice krispies

Mix all together and drop by large tablespoons onto foil or wax paper. Let cool at room temperature, or put in refrigerator.

Ginger Peanut Chicken Wraps

This is something you will definitely want to try if you like Thai food. It is so good.

Peanut Ginger sauce:
1 1/2 T sugar
1 T minced fresh ginger (I used bottled)
3 T lime juice
1 T low sodium soy sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 garlic clove crushed (I normally use garlic powder-about 1-2 tsp)
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 T water

Put everything in a blender or food processor except peanut butter and water and process until smooth. Add peanut butter and water and process until smooth.

1 cucumber peeled and chopped into chunks
3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
Cooked cubed or shredded chicken (however much you think your family eats)
Bagged shredded cabbage-coleslaw mix
Wheat tortillas (white work too)

Warm tortillas and assemble taco style. Pour sauce over before closing wrap. We also like to use ranch dressing with the peanut dressing. I love these, hopefully you all will too. Enjoy :)

BBQ Chicken Salad

Let me tell you this dinner is definitely worth trying once. I absolutely loved it and so did Eric. Even Porter ate a whole bunch of chicken which he normally doesn't do.

Ingredients:

1/2 head iceberg lettuce chopped

romaine lettuce chopped

1 cup frozen white corn- rinse under cold water, or fresh corn if in season:)

1 can black beans- drain & rinse

2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded

2 medium diced tomatoes

1-2 avocados chunked

drizzle 1/2 lime over to prevent from browning

Ranch Dressing:

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup mayo

1 package Hidden Valley ranch mix

1/4 cup cilantro

BBQ Chicken:1 hour before, marinade 2 pounds chicken tenders in

1/4 cup olive oil,

1/4 cup soy sauce,

1 tsp minced garlic,

1/2 tsp salt & pepper.

Place chicken on broiler pan and broil 4-6 minutes per side. Let cool then dice in cubes,then toss with 1/2 cup bbq sauce of your choice! (I LOVE Sweet Baby Rays) On large platter, layer lettuces, corn, black beans, cheese & tomatoes. Top with warm bbq chicken and avocados!Serve with ranch dressing, garlic bread or HOME MADE ROLLS!

Bulgogi

Eric's dad served his mission in Korea and gave us this recipe. It is so good!

5 Tbsp soy sauce

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 tsp black pepper

2 Tbsp sesame oil

1" fresh ginger root, diced

1 large onion

3 cloves garlic

combine all ingredients and put in ziploc bag with beef cut into strips.(I used one package of sirloin strips) Marinate meat overnight.

Brown meat in a small amount of oil. Do not cook all the way. Place in crockpot for 3 hrs on high. One hour before done, cut up a leek and stir into meat mixture. Serve over rice.

Stuffed Burgers

So I found this recipe and it gets an A+ in our good food rating.

Shape 1 1/2 lbs of hamburger into eight 4 in patties. (You can use either a fork or your hands)

Top half of the patties with an onion slice and cheese. Cover with remaining patties and seal edges with a fork.

Grill over medium heat until desired doneness.

I actually used 2 lbs of hamburger, and it made 12 1/2 patties, or six burgers with a little unstuffed one for Porter.

You can always use what ever you want to go inside.

Click here for a website that has other great ideas.

Penne Alla "Not-Ka" (no alcohol)

So I have been watching (or rather DVR-ing) "Cook Yourself Thin" on Lifetime. This show is based on the recipe book by the same title. They take favorite recipes and make them with half the calories or less. The great thing is, they use a lot of seasoning and wonderful flavors that make these dishes come alive. You can find the recipes here: This is a healthier version of penne alla vodka, but called "Not-Ka" because there is no alcohol. I actually made it with multi grain penne and left out the red pepper flakes since I didn't have any on hand. The mixture of tomato, basil and red onion is fantastic!! Oh- I also used fresh parmesan which made a difference too. I also did NOT drizzle olive oil on before serving. I didn't feel it was necessary. Even my pickiest eater loved this!!! One more note - I don't know anything about nonfat evaporated milk so I just used regular non-fat milk.

Penne Alla "Not-Ka"

Serves 4
Calories per serving: 371

2 teaspoons olive oil, plus extra for serving
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes in juice, pureed in a food processor
Pinch red pepper flakes
8 ounces penne
1/4 cup heavy cream
6 tablespoons evaporated nonfat milk
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the penne.
. In a large saucepan, heat the 2 teaspoons oil with the garlic over low heat until the garlic begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt, cover, and cook until the onion is softened, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat and simmer very gently 10 minutes. Stir in the cream and evaporated milk and simmer 1 more minute.

3. Meanwhile, after the sauce has cooked 5 minutes, add the penne to the boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water. Add the drained penne to the saucepan and simmer until the penne is al dente, 1 to 2 minutes, adding a little of the pasta cooking water if the mixture is dry. Stir in 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, along with the basil and black pepper.

4. To serve, divide pasta among 4 serving bowls. Drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.

Ravioli Lasagna

Wow, I can't tell you how good this was and super easy and fast.

2 bags of beef ravioli's
1 jar your favorite pasta sauce
about 2 cups cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Cook ravioli's according to package instructions. Place foil on the bottom of a 13x9 pan and spray with cooking spray. Put some sauce on the bottom then place a layer of ravioli's down with the flat side up. Put a layer of sauce and cheese. Repeat once and cover with foil. Cook for about 45 min or until bubbly. Take off foil and let it cook for about 5 more min until cheese is slightly golden.

You can always add more stuff to the sauce, but it is good just as it is.

Everyone over 15 loved this!

BACON AND MUSHROOM QUICHE

1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 c. cooked, crumbled bacon
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. dried minced onion
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese
1 frozen deep dish pie shell, thawed and baked for 10 minutes at 400 degrees
5 eggs
1 c. fat free half & half or milk
1/2 tsp. white pepper

Place layers of Cheddar cheese, mushrooms, bacon, Parmesan cheese, onion, and Swiss cheese in pie shell. Beat eggs until frothy and add half & half. Season with pepper. Pour custard mixture evenly over pie filling. Place quiche on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until set. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Honey Lime Enchiladas

This is from my cousin Julie Ward's recipes. She is an awesome cook and has some pretty amazing recipes. This one is really worth trying.

4 T. honey
2 T. lime juice
1 T. oil (I used olive oil)
2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Mexican blend shredded cheese
Flour tortillas, soft taco size
1 can green enchilada sauce

Cook and shred 4 chicken breasts. Mix above sauce with shredded chicken. Roll chicken mixture and grated cheese into flour tortillas. Top with green enchilada sauce and a little grated cheese. Bake at 350º for 30-40 minutes.

Chicken Spaghetti

These ingredients sound funny and it looks funny when you make it, but Eric will eat a whole pan by himself if there is no one else home to eat it.

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
2 cups uncooked spaghetti noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces (about 7 ounces)
1 cup (1/4-inch-thick) slices celery
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
Cooking spray
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine broth, salt, pepper, and soup in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add soup mixture to chicken mixture; toss. Divide mixture evenly between 2 (8-inch) square or (2-quart) baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese over each casserole. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Thai Chicken

1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 lb chicken, cut into strips
1 red bell pepper cut into ¼ inch strips
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 serrano hot pepper seeded and minced (I usually only use half because we don't like it super spicy)
4 Tbsp hoison sauce
1 Tbsp Soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup water
1 cup fresh basil leaves (you can use dried but it is better with fresh - with the dried I add about a TBSP when I am cooking the chicken)

Heat the oil, stir fry the chicken, until almost done. Add pepper, garlic and Serrano, Cook 2-3 minutes. Add hoison sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and water. Throw in basil leaves and toss until wilts. Serve over rice!! Wow it is good!