Italian Mini-Meat Loaves

This is a great Rachel Ray recipe that Rex just loves! It is perfect because it makes mini meat loafs so you don't have a huge amount of leftovers. With the extras Rex likes a meat loaf sammy the next day for lunch! Your family will love this healthy, personal sized dinner. I serve them with baked sweet potatoes and corn muffins ...yum!

Ingredients:

1& 1/3 lb. ground sirloin (I used ground turkey)

1 large egg, beaten

2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/4 grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons tomato paste

salt and pepper

olive oil

1.Place meat in a bowl and make a well in meat. Fill well with egg, bread crumbs, 1/4cup cheese, onion, garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper.
2.Mix all together and form into loafs. (You can make them small or big as you like. This recipe will make 4-6 depending on size). Make loafs about 1 inch thick. Coat loafs with a bit of olive oil and arrange on sprayed baking sheet.
3.Roast for 18-20 minutes on 425 degrees.

Wheat Dinner Rolls

This is a great go-to recipe if you want yummy homemade rolls! You let your bread maker do the work and can have these warm for dinner tonight! ( If you don't have a bread maker I put directions at the bottom for you too!) I make them all the time to complement a delish dinner!

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons soft butter/margarine

1 egg

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons yeast

1. Measure carefully placing all ingredients in bread machine pan in order recommended by the manufacture. (usually in the order they are on the list above, or wet then dry)

2. Select dough cycle.

3. When dough is ready (usually about 1 1/2 hours) remove dough with floured hands. Place on lightly floured surface. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

4. Grease or spray a 9x13 pan ( used 2 pie pans) and divide dough into 15 equal pieces Shape each piece into a ball, place in pan. Rise in a warm place until double in size. ( I turn the oven on for a few minutes onto 150 degrees, then turn it off and let them rise in the warm oven)

5. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover rolls and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

* YOU must try this!! So good! If you don't have a bread machine then all you need to do is let the yeast soften in the warm water. Mix the butter(melt it first), egg, sugar and salt together. Next add yeast mixture. Then add flour a little at a time until it makes a soft dough. Let rise in bowl. Then pick up from step #3 and continue. Bread always takes a little more time but it is worth it!

Inside Out Reese's Cookies

I love any reason to bake, cook, or get into the kitchen! I made these cookies for one of the girls that I visit teach. I love taking a classic like a peanut butter cookie and adding a twist! These cookies have a chocolate treat in the middle! So yummy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, soft

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cup flour

2 Hershey candy bars, cut into 1 inch squares ( you could also use chocolate chips)

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter until well combined. Add sugars, baking soda, and baking powder. Scrap down sides. Add egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add as much flour as you can with mixer and finish stirring by hand if necessary.
2. Using a cookie scooper, fill scoop half way with dough and place a piece of chocolate in the middle. Then place more dough on top. Scoop out onto tray. Fill tray and bake for 8-9 minutes in a 375 degree oven.
3.While cookies are cooling, take remaining chocolate and place in a zip lock bag. Microwave for about 30 seconds or until chocolate is melted. Snip the tip of the bag off and drizzle over cookies. Let them cool before transferring them to jar or container! Enjoy!

*I have made these cookies low fat before by replacing the butter with 1/4 cup applesauce. They really do turn out great!! Give it a try!

Classic Beef Stroganoff

This is one of those recipes that always turns out great and is great for company or just a yummy comfort meal. It is perfect for any weeknight and is low in fat too! You can't go wrong with this one!Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb beef sirloin steak, cit into strips

2 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon butter or a drizzle of olive oil

1 1/2 cups beef broth

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup flour

1 cup fat free/low fat sour cream

3 cups of hot cooked egg noodles

1. Cook mushrooms, onions, and garlic in butter/oil in a nonstick skillet over medium until tender. Remove from skillet and reserve in a bowl.
2. Cook beef in same skillet until brown stir in one cup broth, salt, and worcestershire sauce. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
3. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup broth into flour. Stir into beef mixture. Add onion mixture and heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in sour cream until smooth and heat until hot. Serve over warm noodles.

* I have made this with ground turkey too and it is great. Use wheat egg noodles too if you want to add a few more grains. You can serve the stroganoff over potatoes or rice too! Serve with a green veggie and bread sticks or garlic bread. Delish!

Strawberry Chessecake Trifle

I am in love with trifles! They are so easy and great for entertaining. We made this one for Easter dessert, and it was a hit!

Ingredients:

1 cake mix with ingredients as said on back of box

*(we used angle food but I would recommed either a yellow or white cake mix, the angle food cake was quite spongy and seemed to get a little compressed by the other ingredients)

1 box of cheesecake pudding (you can find it in sugar free/fat free box)

1 carton of low fat/fat free cool whip

4-5 cups of cut up strawberries tossed with a little sugar

1. Make the cake according to the box directions. Let the cake cool in the pan. When cooled cut into rows then cubes.

2. Make the pudding and set aside.

3. Now the fun part, time to layer.

4. Make a bottom layer of cake. Then spread with pudding. Next is the strawberries. Then a layer of cool whip. Ok, start over with the cake and repeat the layers until you are out of ingredients. It is usually about 2-3 layers, depending on how much of each you use. Top with strawberries or another bright fruit. You will love this! So yummy, low in sugar and in fat, a delicious Sunday treat!

* for yummy,and I mean yummy pumpkin trifle go here: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/pumpkin-pudding/

Oven baked apple bagels

This is such a yummy breakfast and it is always fun to have something besides cereal. Rex made these for me when we were first married and I know that his mom made them for her family. As long as you have bagels and apples you are ready to go!

Ingredients: apples, bagels, butter, cinnamon and sugar

1. Slice your bagels and butter. Next, slice your apple to make rings. Cut down the middle so you can see the "star" from the seeds. Cut out seeds (I used a tiny heart cookie cutter) and place on bagel. ( I put about 3 slices of apple per bagel)

2. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees! That's it! Your kids or hubby will love waking up to this healthy breakfast!

* You can make as many or as little of these as you want!

Bajio Chicken Salad

This salad was amazing! So easy too, because the chicken cooks in the crock pot, so all you have to do is cut the veggies. The dressing ties in perfect with the sweet chicken too!! I have seen lots of copycat recipes for meals like this and I just had to try it! It tastes just like the salads that Rex and I used to love getting at Bajio in Rexburg. Make this you will love it!
It makes my mouth water!

Bajio Chicken Chile Salad
5 chicken breasts (I only used 4 large ones)
1/2 cup salsa
1 Tbsp cumin
1/2 cup brown sugar (more to taste)
1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
6 oz. Sprite (1/2 can)

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Return to crock pot and cook 1 more hour. Thicken the juices with a little cornstarch mixed in water.
Serve with flour tortillas, lettuce, black beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, and dressing!!

Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing

1 pack (1oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup milk

juice of 1 lime

2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro

1/4 C green salsa

Place milk, mayo, and ranch mix in a blender. Juice the lime in there too, you should get about 2T juice. Toss in the garlic, cilantro and green salsa. Blend well. Make it several hours ahead of time to allow it to thicken. Makes a fair amount so save the rest and put it on tacos, burritos, or for dipping veggies.
* I used lowfat mayo and fat free milk and it tasted amazing too!

Double Chocolate Rocky Road cookie bars

These were soooo good! Very rich and delicious! They make a big pan so plan on sharing them or you might eat them all your self!

*I made a few modifications to make them a little healthier and lower in fat.

Cookie base

1 pouch (1lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker double chocolate chunk cookie mix

1/4 cup applesauce

2 tablespoons water

1 egg white

Filling

1 8oz. package of fat free/reduced fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons butter/margarine, soft

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg white

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 cup chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Frosting

2 tablespoons butter/margarine

1/4 cup cocoa

1/3 cup milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

2. In large bowl stir together cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Press into pan and set aside.

3.In large bowl, beat all filling ingredients together except for chocolate chips and marshmallows. Spread over cookie base. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake 26-28 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle evenly with marshmallows. Bake 2 minutes longer.

5. In saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in cocoa and milk . Heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. With whisk, gradually add powdered sugar until well blended. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Immediately our over marshmallows, spreading gently to cover. Cool 30 minutes.

6. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.

* I know it seems like lots of steps and a long process, but it is really not, and it is totally worth it!

pizza dough

This is the best and easiest pizza dough recipe. I always make homemade dough because it takes no time and very little effort. It makes enough for two regular size round crusts, eight mini pizzas and/or one large round or rectangular crust. It just depends on how thick you want it so you can play around with it!. I always make the dough and split it into half. I use one half for a medium thin crust and then put the other half into a zip lock bag and put it into the freezer. Then when ever I want to make a crust, bread sticks, or calzones i just take it out of the freezer a few hours before dinner to thaw, and presto.... you're ready!

Ingredients:

2-3/4 to 3-1/4 cups flour

1 pkg. active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons cooking oil or olive oil

1. In a large mixing bowl combine 1-1/4 cups of the flour, the yeast, and salt; add warm water and oil. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.

2. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. ( about 6 minutes)

3. Divide (if you want) and cover left out dough and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll out and add toppings. Bake at 425 for 12 minutes or until done.

This is what your ball of dough should look like after you have finished kneading it. Now would be the time to put half in the freezer if you wanted to save half. Roll it out and top with sauce, cheese and all your favorites!!

Yummy! Rex loves homemade pizza and asks for it often, so we always make our favorite... BBQ chicken and pineapple. It turns out great every single time!

* one time I didn't add the oil and it turned out perfect, so that is how I make it everytime! Fat free crust!