Skillet Chili Mac

Ingredients:
1/2 TBSP cooking oil
1-1/2 cups of chopped onion
1 lb ground beef
1 lb breakfast sausage
1 TBSP minced garlic
1/2 tsp of cumin
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Salt & Pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can of tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 (15.5 oz) can pinto or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c ups of dry medium cut pasta (elbow, macaroni or shells)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided, or to taste, plus more for garnish
(Optional Garnishes: Sliced green onions, fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream)

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a large lidded skillet over medium high heat; add the onion and pepper, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.  To that, add the ground beef, sausage and garlic, breaking up the meat and cooking, until no longer pink.  Drain off any excess fat.  Stir in the cumin, oregano and salt and pepper; taste and adjust seasonings.
2.  Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce; stir.  Add the water, beans, pasta and half of the cheese.  Bring to a boil, stir, cover and reduce heat to simmer.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked through; uncover, stir and let simmer, uncovered, until reduced to desired consistency.  Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and cook over low until cheese melts.  Garnish with sliced green onions, fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream or your other favorite toppings.

Pancake Squares

Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
2 TBS melted butter
1 large egg
1 TBS sugar
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Lightly  grease an 8x8 baking dish.
3.  In a large mixing bowl, beat together milk, butter and egg.  Add sugar, then gradually beat the flour in.  Carefully stir in the baking powder and salt.
4.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  
5.  Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

Serves 4.

You can also double and bake in a 9x13 pan.  You can also sprinkle with blueberries, bananas, or chocolate chips prior to baking.

Original recipe posted here.

 

BLTE

Ingredients:
2 slices whole wheat bread
3 slices turkey bacon
2 Tbsp mustard
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light French Onion cheese
1/2 cup egg whites or 1 whole egg
2 tomato slices
1 leaf green lettuce
Directions:
1. Toast the bread
2. Cook the turkey bacon, then cut the strips in half
3. In a nonstock skillet coated with cooking oil spray, cook the egg as desired.
4.  Place the lettuce, bacon, egg, and tomatoes on the cheese-covered toast.
5.  Cut in half and serve immediately.

Creamy Cilantro Tomatillo Dressing

Ingredients:
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk (we just used skim milk)
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeno, seeds removed (we didn't use)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 green onion
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/8 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1.  Combine all ingredients in a blender

Cheerio Treat

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
5 cups Cheerios

Directions:
1. In a large sauce pan, combine sugar and corn syrup.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.
2. Allow mixture to boil for one minute and remove from heat.
3. Add peanut butter and vanilla to mixture and mix until smooth.
4. Add Cheerios and mix until all coated.
5. Drop mixture by spoonful onto waxed paper and allow to cool.

(We just re-heated in the microwave once they got a little hard)

Holiday Cornflake Wreaths

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz) regular marshmallows/or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
1 tsp green food coloring
6 cups corn flakes cereal
red cinnamon candies
Prepared vanilla frosting

Directions:

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat. Stir in food coloring.

2. Add corn flakes cereal.  Stir until well coated.

3.  Portion warm cereal mixture evenly by using a 1/4 cup dry measure coated with cooking spray.  Using sprayed fingers, quickly shape into individual wreaths.  

4. Dot with cinnamon candies, using prepared frosting to hold candies in place.  

(recipe and picture from kelloggs.com)

North Pole Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 package (10 ounces) frozen strawberries in syrup, partially thawed and undrained
1/4 cup water
2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt
2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt
1 strawberry-flavored or peppermint candy cane, finely crushed
Green decorating gel

(I wasn't able to find frozen yogurt in the grocery store, so I just used 2 cups of vanilla yogurt and used lots of ice in blender to make it thick.)

Directions:

1. Place strawberries and water in blender.  Cover and blend on medium-high speed until slushy.  Blend on medium speed until smooth.  Transfer to a 2-cup measure.

2.  Place yogurt in blender.  Cover and blend on medium speed until smooth.

3.  Place crushed candy cane on a small plate. Pipe decorating gel around rim of glasses.  Dip rims into crushed candy candy.

4.  Carefully pour yogurt mixture and strawberries at the same time into glasses, creating a half and half design.  Server with large drinking straws if desired.

(makes 3 small size glasses)

(not my picture)