Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

Dangerous, but oh so delicious!

Brownie Layer:  

Just mix up your favor 9x13 pan of brownies (I used a mix)

Peanut Butter Layer:  

8 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup peanut butter

Cream above together, 

then stir in 1 c powdered sugar, 

a splash of milk, 

and a splash of vanilla

Fold in about 1 cup of whipped cream.  You can make your own or use Cool Whip

Peanut Butter Cup Layer: I used about 6 packages (12 cups in all) and chopped them up

Chocolate Mousse Layer: I used a store-bought mix and whipped up about 2 cups of mousse.  You can also use Jell-o pudding if you want

Repeat layers again and top with Whipped Cream--if you made your own, you could use about 2 cups heavy cream whipped up total and use half of it for your peanut butter layer.  Or use Cool Whip if you are running out of bowls and whipping utensils!

Finish off with about 8 peanut butter cups chopped up!

This was a huge hit and fed a big crowd.  We will be serving it again when we have people over for dinner!

S'Mores Cookie Bars

I have no picture because these get eaten so quickly!

I found the recipe on Pinterest and have made these 4 times already.

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 King sized Hershey bars

1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff

Directions:

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees.  grease an 8 inch square baking pan

2. in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and mix at low speed until combined.

3.  divide dough in half and press half the dough into an even layer on the bottom of the pan

place chocolate bars on top of the dough

spread marshmallow on top of the chocolate

4.  use wax paper and press the last 1/2 of the dough into an 8 inch square shape and then lay on top of marshmallow

5.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool completely before cutting into bars

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

I found this recipe in BYU Magazine

The girl decided to cook dinner in a crockpot every day for a full year.

This was the recipe posted with the article and it was really good!

Makes about 2 quarts

2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice


1 cup finely diced celery


1 cup finely diced carrots


4 cups chicken broth
1 cup finely diced onions


1/2 bay leaf


1 tsp dried oregano or 1 Tbsp fresh oregano


1 Tbsp dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil


1/2 cup butter


1/2 cup flour


1 cup Parmesan cheese


2 cups half and half, warmed


1 tsp salt


1/4 tsp black pepper 

In a large slow cooker, combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and basil (if using fresh oregano and basil; if using dried oregano and basil add those two ingredients in the last hour of cook time). 

Cover and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

About an hour before serving prepare a roux: Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour; stir constantly with a whisk for 5 to 7 minutes.

 Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup from the slow cooker. 

Add another 3 cups soup and stir until smooth.

Add all back into the slow cooker. 

Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt, and pepper. 

Cover and cook on low for another hour until ready to serve.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

I love making these. My family loves them and we make them about once a week for dinner or lunch on Sundays. :)

1 cup whole wheat flour (I grind up the Hard White wheat from the storehouse)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons sugar (I've even omitted this once or twice and nobody seemed to notice)
1 cup milk
1 egg

If you use 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake, it makes 12 pancakes.

I've also added wheat germ, ground flax seeds, etc. and they turned out great. Last sunday Owen wanted to try sprinkle pancakes so I used sprinkles instead of sugar. You could put pumpkin in them too and I think that would be yummy.

Hazelnut Encrusted Salmon

This one is yummy! And I thought all my hazelnut lovers up in Ferndale might like it too. :)

Hazelnut-Encrusted Salmon (adapted from the Whole Food Bible)
Makes 4 Servings
1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley (flat leaf)
1 T. grated lemon zest (if you have access to a Meyer, use it!)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
4 skinless salmon fillets, 6 ounces each
2 T. olive oil
4 cups mixed organic baby greens or one large head of organic, red lettuce
Lemon wedges
Grind the hazelnuts in a food processor-do not over grind and turn into a
paste (if you don’t own one, use a hammer and a small, freezer Ziploc bag–works great!). Mix the hazelnuts, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper on a plate.
Dry the salmon; dredge the fillets on both sides in the nut mixture.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the salmon and cook
for about 5 minutes on each side, making sure that the salmon is cooked
through (if you don’t like the smell of fish in your home, cook your salmon in a cast iron skillet right on your gas or charcoal grill).
Toss the greens/lettuce with the house dressing below and then place a handful of greens on each plate. Transfer the hot salmon fillets on top. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately. Fish is best when it’s nice n’ hot!
Our “House” Vinaigrette
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (Maille is best but Grey Poupon works well too)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
pinch sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Mix and shake well before tossing lightly on greens (sippy cups or small mason jars work well for this step). Add a little bit at a time to avoid overdressing.
Enjoy!

I found it on Cafe Zupas via stephmodo.com

Quinoa Black Bean Salad

1 C uncooked quinoa (see below)
1 Can black beans (drained and rinsed)
3 Roma tomatoes diced
1 large cucumber sliced
1 red bell pepper diced
1 yellow bell pepper diced
1/4 red onion diced
2 + limes (for juice) to taste
1 C frozen corn
1 avocado diced (optional)
1/2 bunch cilantro - rinsed and finely chopped
Salt & pepper to taste (I used garlic salt)


Cook quinoa according to directions. Dice vegetables while quinoa is cooking. Once quinoa is cooked add frozen corn 1st to start the immediate cooling process for the quinoa, then add all the remaining veggies, lime juice, salt & pepper. Place in fridge until chilled.

Rigatoni with Sausage & Zucchini

I found this one here, via stephmodo.com
I really enjoyed this one and I went a little easy on the zucchini, but didn't need to. My family loved it! I did use less cheese than indicated in this recipe and it was great!

1 16 oz. box of rigatoni (I prefer Barilla or De Cecco)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 lb. best-quality mild Italian sausage, casings removed (you can buy it without casings at the farmer's market)
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic*
1 medium red onion, halved and then sliced
1 lb. zucchini, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds (about 3 small)
sea salt + freshly ground pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1. Cook pasta in a stockpot according to package directions. Drain, return to pot, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet (preferably cast-iron), heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring often, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate and set aside.

3. In the same pan, cook garlic, onion, and zucchini until starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pepper and reserved sausage then cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

4. Pour the sausage mixture into the stockpot full of reserved pasta and carefully toss. Mix in about 1/2 of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and then sprinkle the remainder on top just before serving. Enjoy immediately!

Chicken Tortilla Soup with Corn & Spinach

This one is really easy and delicious. I got it from Jamie, but thought it worth sharing. Thanks Jamie. :)

2 tsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cups fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup frozen or canned corn kernels (I use hominy sometimes too)
4 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach (4oz)
2 cups diced chicken breast
1/2 cup salsa
Juice of one lime
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
1 ounce tortilla chips

1. Heat oil in deep medium saucepan over medium-high heat. saute onion until translucent.
2. Pour in broth. add corn and spinach. reduce heat to medium and cook until corn is heated through and spinach is bright green, 3 minutes. mix in chicken, salsa and lime juice. season soup to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. (I omit the pepper).
3. to serve, divide soup among 4 bowls. top each with cilantro, crushed tortilla chips and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings: 313 calories per serving.

Southeast Asian Chicken & Noodles

My family really liked this one too, which surprised me since it has so many herbs. But I think the rice noodles won them over. I don't make it often, because I don't think the rice noodles have much in the way of nutrients, but it's a light summery meal. Found here via stephmodo.com

Time: 30 minutes. Chinese long beans (or regular green beans) and plenty of fresh herbs turn this Thai-inspired dish into a whole meal.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)
Ingredients

* 8 ounces Thai flat rice noodles
* 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic
* 8 ounces yard-long beans (Chinese long beans) or regular green beans, cut into 2-in. pieces
* 2 boned, skinned chicken breast halves (1 lb. total), sliced 1/2 in. thick
* 1/4 cup Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
* 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
* 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, divided
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves, divided
* 1/2 cup chopped green onions, divided

Preparation

1. In a large pot, cook noodles in boiling water until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain noodles and transfer to a large serving bowl.

2. Heat oil in a large wok or frying pan over high heat. Add garlic, long beans, and chicken. Cook until chicken is slightly browned, stirring often, about 4 minutes.

3. Add fish sauce, broth, sugar, ginger, lime juice, and 1/4 cup each basil, mint, and green onions, stirring to combine. Bring mixture to a boil and pour over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining basil, mint, and green onions.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
341 (26% from fat)
Protein:
34g
Fat:
10g (sat 1.9)
Carbohydrate:
30g
Fiber:
4.2g
Sodium:
1673mg
Cholesterol:
66mg

zuppa toscana

Zuppa Toscana

I made this for dinner tonight and it was a big hit. Very easy and quick. I served it with mini paninis made from a thinly sliced baguette with provolone cheese. Even my kids liked this one.

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 {32} ounce containers organic chicken broth (or homemade if you have on hand; also, Costco carries a great organic chicken stock at a great price)

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes

4 cups kale, chopped, stems discarded

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (I omitted this one, since my kids were eating it)

pinch of red pepper flakes (I omitted this one, since my kids were eating it)

3/4 lb. mild Italian sausage links, casings removed (I used 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage)

1/2 cup heavy cream (I used half and half)

In a large pot, saute onion in olive oil over medium heat until onion becomes translucent–about 10 minutes. Add broth, potatoes, kale, sea salt, pepper, and pepper flakes then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the sausage until browned in a pan over medium heat, breaking up with the back of a wooden spoon. Once cooked thoroughly, add the sausage and cream to the soup. Heat to desired temperature and serve with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Enjoy!