Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Snickers Salad

**This refreshing salad will satisfy a sweet tooth instantly. It's definitely a crowd pleaser.

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:
8 oz vannila pudding
1 c. lowfat milk
8 oz. cool whip
5-6 apples (medium size)
Banannas and/or other fruit you like (optional)
6 or more snickers bars (if you don't like nuts you can use mily ways)
mini marshmallows

Directions:
*Beat pudding and milk until thick. Add cool whip gently blending well.
*Fold in apples, optional fruit, marshmallows, and chocolate bars.
*Refrigerate until ready to serve!
**Becky

Best Bananna Muffins

**You are sure to get plenty of help making these muffins-kids love to smash banannas!
Servings: 12
Prep time: 10 min.

Ingredients:
1-1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 large ripe banannas or 4 smaller ones
1/2 c. brownsugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. butter melted or heart healthy oil
1/2 tsp. cinnamon or nutmeg -if desired 1/4 c. chopped nuts

Directions:
*coat muffin pans with non stick spray or use paper liners.
*sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. set aside
*In a large bowl mash banannas thoroughly, Then combine the banannas, sugar, egg, vannila, melted butter/oil, and additional spices and/or nuts if you like them. Add the flour mixture, stirring just until all dry ingredients are moistened.
*Spoon the batter into muffin tins and bake at 350 for 25 min. (for making 12 regular sized muffins).

**Becky

Crock Pot Taco Soup

Servings:10
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 360 min

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 can corn
1 chopped onion
1 can red kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
1 can chilli-ready tomatoes
1 can pureed tomatoes
1 cup water
Directions: Brown ground beef. Drain and rinse beans. Add everything to the crock pot (do not drain any other ingredients). Cook 6 to 8 hours until the beans are tender.
Optional: Serve with sour cream, salsa, and/or shredded cheese. Cover with Frito chips.
This hearty soup has lots of flavor and fiber, but not a lot of fat if you rinse the beef.

**Becky

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Salsa Sorta

1 can corn-drain
1 can black beans-drain
1 bunch green onions-chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro-chopped
2-3 tomatoes diced
1 package "good seasons" Italian dressing
(mix according to directions) *you can also use low fat "good seasons" italian dressing

Mix all together and chill for several hours. Before serving add two chopped avocados, salt and pepper

Serve with tortilla chips or over rice

*my new favorite thing is to grill chicken, cook up some rice, and then use the salsa sorta as the garnish, yummy!*

Courtney

Arizona Hot Dip

Arizona Hot Dip
This is a Simmons favorite. We are garnteed to have my Grandpa Simmons make this at every Simmons party we have. I don't know if this is something that was made up by the Arizona Clan or what, but it is dang good so enjoy!

1 lb Velveeta Cheese
1 can of Chili without beans
1 square of margarine
chili powder and cayenne red pepper to taste

melt the cheese and margarine in microwave, then put in crockpot. add chili and heat. season to taste with chili powder and red pepper

Courtney

Friday, February 1, 2008

What to do with....

I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes when it is time to cook dinner you are in such a hurry or it is time to go to the store so you only have this or that. Lately that seems to be happening a lot, so here are some dinner ideas with odds and ends. Maybe this is nothing new to anybody, but I thought I would post this anyway.

Canned Chili with or without beans
(at our house I make it two different ways one batch with beans and one batch without beans)

1 can chili
1/2 can stewed tomatoes
brown sugar to taste
lettuce
sour cream
salsa
cheese
ranch
chips

heat chili, stewed tomatoes, and brown sugar
once those are heated layer your plate with your likeings (each person at my house likes it different). This is how I perfer it chips, chili mixture, cheese then heat to melt the cheese, lettuce, salsa, ranch, a little sour cream

Enjoy, it is yummy and easy!

Alfrado Packet
(you get it in the gravy section and I just do the store brand, cheap!)

mix as directed to save having to wash to many dishes I just mix it in same pan once my noodles have been cooked and drained

It is yummy adding tomatoes in it or having fruit on the side! Easy and everyone seems to love (yeah no fights with the kids eating dinner!)
Courtney