Glazed Baked Donuts

My husband started a mountain biking club at the high school where he works. So...what we have here is a bunch of high school boys riding around in the mud every other Saturday morning working up an appetite. I thought this is the perfect opportunity for me to try new recipes out on these boys. I mean they are high school boys. They will eat anything :) I made these a couple of weeks ago and they were a hit! I am pretty sure the plate came back with lick marks on it. They loved them and so will you!



Ingredients:

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup fat free milk
2 beaten eggs or 1/2 cup egg beaters
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons melted butter (I used tub butter)

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk
(you want this glaze to be thin!)

Frosting: 1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons milk
(you want this frosting to be thick, spreadable, but thick so adjust according)

* DONUT PANS: ok, so you can use different pans for this recipe. I have a donut pan. I LOVE it. It is so much fun to use! I have seen them at walmart, target, target on-line, cooking stores, amazon..... If you want to make these without the pan you can use a mini muffin tin and they will be more like donut wholes. You could also use a mini bunt pan. Look for the dount pans.... the 12 bucks is totally worth it!

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Stir in milk, eggs, vanilla, and butter. Beat together until well blended.
2. Spray you pans with non stick spray. Pour all your batter into a storage sized zip lock bag. Snip the end and pipe the batter into the pans about half full. They get puffy. Just start in one spot and pipe around in a circle until you meet up with your batter.
3. Bake at 400 for 8-9 minutes until they spring back when touched. Give them a few minutes to cool before you put them on a cooling rack.
4. Now I did a double glaze for extra yumminess, but you could just frost them or you can dip them in the thin glaze. Totally up to you.
5. For the double glaze you dip both sides of the donuts into the thin glaze. Then but them back on the cooling racks for excess glaze to drip off. Once the glaze is cooled and hardened you can go ahead and frost them. Add sprinkles, nuts, chocolate chips, coconut....whatever you want!

Ham and Cheese Broccoli Roll-ups

This recipe is a spin off of a side dish that my mom used to make for us when I was a kid. I added the roll dough and a yummy sweet and spicy sauce and turned it into a main dish meal! It was soooo good. My husband and kids gobbled them right up. These will for sure be another dinner we will eat around here!



Ingredients:

1 batch of your favorite roll dough or refrigerated crescent roll dough (or Rhodes rolls thawed)
2-3 cups of trimmed blanched broccoli (how to blanch veggies at bottom)
sliced deli ham
sliced cheddar or Colby cheese
honey mustard sauce

Honey Mustard Sauce
1/3 cup light mayo
1-2 tablespoon spicy mustard
1-2 tablespoon honey
salt and pepper
I make the sauce with 1 tablespoon each mustard and honey and then taste it to see what I want to add more of. So just taste and adjust to your liking.

1. Divide your roll dough into 2 balls. I use my favorite roll dough that I make in the bread maker, but use any dough you want. Roll one of the balls out into a circle and you want the dough to be about 1/4 inch thick. Using your pizza cutter cut your dough into triangles. You should get 12 triangle wedges. Get all your toppings ready like this:




2. You are going to work with one triangle at a time. Spread a layer of sauce over your triangle of dough. Then at the wide end of the dough put a piece of cheese, top that with a folded piece of ham, and then top that with 2 pieces of broccoli. Like this:



3.Starting at the wide end again, roll up your filled dough and place on a sprayed and foil lined cookie sheet seam side down. Continue with the rest of your triangles. Now... that one ball of dough will make 12 broccoli ham roll ups, SO you can roll out your other dough ball and make another dozen or you can make a small batch of rolls (like I did). :) Totally your call. This is how all your roll-ups should look, yum!



4. Let those hang out for about 15 minutes and then pop them in a 375 oven for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. I cooked mine for about 10 minutes and they started getting brown so I covered them with foil and cooked them for another 10 minutes until they were cooked through. Eat with fruit salad or melon and you are good! You can use your extra sauce to dip in if you want, but they are pretty darn good right out of the oven! YUM!

HOW TO BLANCH BROCCOLI: Super easy and really good for meals like this or for even dipping veggies in dip or hummus. Blanching takes away the super crunch raw flavor of veggies, but still keeps them crispy and tender. All you do is bring a pot of water to a full boil. Drop your clean and trimmed broccoli in and boil 1 minute. Take off the heat and drop into a colander and run COLD water over the top of the broccoli to stop the cooking process. You can also drop your veggies into a bowl of water filled with ice for an ice bath..... but I do the cold water running over because it is easy and works. Anyway, that's it

Chicken Caesar Sandwhiches

I love sandwiches and burgers. They are so comforting and yummy. They always taste delicious with homemade french fries and fruit salad. This sandwich was right up there with all the deliciousness that it was. It has all the flavor of a yummy chicken Caesar salad....on a bun. So good and really really quick!



Ingredients: (yield 4 adults)

4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
fat free Caesar dressing
romaine lettuce
4 toasted buns
extras for toppings: sliced tomato
sliced olives

1. First lets cook the chicken. Salt and pepper each side of the chicken breasts. Cook them over medium/high heat in a bit if olive oil in non-stick skillet until cooked through.
2. While the chicken is cooking, it is time to make the sauce. In a medium sized saucepan pour about 1/2 of your dressing (I know, super technical measuring here) and add the grated cheese. Stir that all together and keep on low heat to keep warm until your chicken is cooked. Once your chicken is cooked through, remove and shred. Add all your shredded chicken to your sauce. Stir in all together...yum.
3.Now at this point you can add more dressing if you like your chicken extra saucy. If you want to thin is our a bit add a touch of water. It's all up to you and your preference. You just want it all warm and mixed.
4. Ok, no toast your buns and add whatever toppings you like. I like mine with lettuce, sliced tomato, and sliced olives.
* add some fruit and homemade fries and you are set!

Mock Eclair Dessert

I got this recipe from Taste the Joy and I have been wanting to make it for forever!! Why I didn't make it earlier I am not sure but I finally did and it was amazing! Light and delicious with tons of sweet creamy flavor. This would be perfect for company, for your family, or maybe for you and your husband to eat all by yourselves....I am just saying it was really good and you all should make it this weekend!


Ingredients:

1 box low fat graham crackers
2 small boxes of french vanilla instant pudding (i used plain vanilla, that's all I could find and it was perfect!)
3 cups cold fat free milk
1 tub fat free cool whip

Frosting:

4 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons tub butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons hot water

1. This comes together in no time. Place one single layer of graham crackers on the bottom of a 9x13. You can trim some of the crackers to make them all fit if you need too.
2. Mix your pudding and milk together. After that has set, fold in your cool whip. Pour half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top mixture with another layer of graham crackers. Pour the rest of the pudding on top of crackers. Ok, now put one more layer of crackers on top and set aside. Moving right along to making the frosting.
3. Cream your cocoa and butter together with a hand mixer. Add your vanilla and 1 cup powdered sugar. When it has come together add another cup and continue until all 4 cups have been added. Add water a little at a time until smooth and spreadable.
4. Spread on top of crackers and cover that baby and pop it into the fridge. YUM!!

Ok, now you MUST wait. The pudding soaks into those crackers and makes this dessert a dream, but you must wait. I suggest making it in the morning (like after breakfast early) so you can eat it after dinner. OR...... make it the night before and you will be set by the next day. Oh so good!

Tex-Mex Meatloaf

Meatloaf can be kinda well.....boring. But this recipe was so good! It was totally different from every other meatloaf recipe and with all the spices,tomatoes,and chilies mixed in, it was a Mexican hit! My kids even ate it....that is a good sign.



Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 cup petite diced tomatoes
4 oz. can green chilies
1 egg
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
salsa
sour cream

1. Heat your oven to 400. This comes together really quick.
2. Put your ground turkey in a large bowl. Then....wait for it.... add EVERYTHING in right on top (except of the salsa and sour cream). Don't mix until everything has been added. This way your meat mixture won't be tough or over mixed. Combine all your ingredients (I used a spoon or you could use your hands) until combined.
3. Line a 13x9 pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Plop (very technical word) your meatloaf mixture into your pan and shape into a loaf or a log shape. I find that cooking my meatloaf this way it cooks much faster. But you could put it into a loaf pan and increase the cooking time until it is done if you want to.
4. Cook your yummy loaf for 55 minutes and let it rest for 5 minutes after it comes out of the oven. I covered mine in foil for maybe the last 15 minutes so just check the top and make sure it doesn't get to dark. Slice and serve! You can serve it with sour cream and salsa on the table if you want, but it is pretty darn good just how it is!

* Good sides would be roasted potatoes or vegetables and a green salad or steamed veggies and fruit, muffins or rolls.

Greek Taboule Chicken Salad

Well, it is a new year and everyone is out to eat healthy and start fresh. I personally believe that you can eat healthy and light with main dish meals and dessert. :) That is what this blog is all about. I love food. Love it. I love cooking and enjoying time around the table with family and friends. There is so much good food out there just waiting for me to modify it, lower the calories and fat and make it just as good! So wish me luck!

Well this dish was outstanding! Seriously, really good. I had it at a friends house and then with in a week I made it too! We loved it and it was a fun way to introduce Greek food to my family. Super healthy, tons of flavor....try it!



Ingredients:
1 package of Taboule Wheat Salad (I got the NEAR EAST brand)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
zest of one lemon
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
3/4 cup peeled, chopped cucumber
1/4 chopped fresh basil
chopped grilled chicken (for as many people as you are feeding)
salt and pepper to taste
romaine lettuce leaves

1. In a large bowl combine the taboule wheat salad and the spice packed. Stir in 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and let stand 30 minutes in the fridge.
2. While the taboule is cooling, chop your tomatoes, cucumber, zest and juice your lemon, chop your basil and grill the chicken. Ok, that seems like a lot, but you can totally get that all done in 30 minutes. And if not that's ok :)
3. After 30 minutes is up add in your tomato, cucumber, cheese, lemon zest and juice, olive oil and basil. Taste and add salt and pepper if you like. Toss that baby together and let it rest for 30 minutes to an hour before you eat.
4. When it is time to serve make a bed of torn lettuce leaves on your plate, top with your wheat salad and place you grilled chopped chicken right on top. Oh..... so good. Serve with lemon wedges and a fruit for a yummy dinner.

* You could also serve this with hummus and homemade pita chips like us.... yum!

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownie Bites

Sorry it has been so long!! I can't believe I missed so much! Instead of blogging at night was sewing and trying to get Christmas presents done! But I am back and ready to cook....and eat!

Ok, here is a really yummy bite-size dessert that would be great for a New Year's treat! This makes a bunch and one just isn't enough! I love peppermint and chocolate together and add a bit of cheesecake and you can't go wrong!



Ingredients:

low fat Betty Crocker brownie mix (I can always find these at Safeway)
4 oz. low fat cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup egg beaters/ 2 egg whites/ 1 egg
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup Andes peppermint chips

1. Using a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add in the egg, sugar, and vanilla until mixed and creamy. Fold in the peppermint chips. Set aside.
2. Ok, now make your brownies. The low fat boxed mix is GREAT for making brownies in a short amount of time. You could also use your favorite box mix or make them from scratch. Either way these are going to be good! So mix up your brownies and spray your mini muffin tins. I chose to do bite-size brownies but you could do a full size pan and swirl in the cream cheese mixture and then cut them into bite size pieces too.
4.Moving on. For the mini muffin size you are going to put a heaping teaspoon of brownie batter into your greased tins. Then put a dollop of cream cheese mixture right on top. Probably about another teaspoon. Repeat until your tins are full and pop them into a 350 oven for 12-15 minutes. It could be longer depending on the type of pan you are using but you will know they are done when your cream cheese is cooked through.
5. When they are done, let them cool for a minute and run a knife around the edges to loosen and then pop them out.
6. Repeat the same process until your batter and cream cheese is all used up. Then enjoy!