the best salad/dinner ever . i mean, EVER

the best salad/dinner ever.

i got this recipe from elaine she made it for us one night and i crave it when i need green stuff and i'm sick of meat and cheese (ish)

you'll need

1 baguette sliced and toasted (i put mine plain in the oven but you can butter them or drizzle olive oil on em or season them if you want)
olives (optional, brandon likes em so i chop em really fine and they add a nice flavor)
mozerella cheese sliced up
one yellow tomato
one orange tomato
one red bell pepper
one whole avocado
basil leafs
1 pound black forest TURKEY from the deli (dont have them slice it, just cut off a small hunk and throw it in the bag)
salt and pepper to taste
and season the whole thing with balsamic VINEGAR (not vineagrette, i got that messed up the first time)

chop it all up and toss it with the balsamic vinegar
serve it on the toasted baguette slices
OR if you want to keep the bread low,
just get a head of butter lettuce, chop it up, and serve the mixture on top of that!
it's scrumptious!!!!! and colorful and healthy.

Cumin-Lime Black Bean, Jicama, and Corn Salad

Cumin-Lime Black Bean, Jicama, and Corn Salad
by Sweet Treats & More
Lime-Cumin dressing inspired by Healthy Food for Living

1 can corn, drained
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced jicama
1 avocado, diced
Juice of 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
1 1/2 tsp cumin
Dash of salt and pepper

In a medium sized bowl combine corn, black beans, jicama, and avocado. In a separate bowl, whisk together lime juice and cumin. Pour juice over bean and corn mixture. Season with just a dash of salt and pepper. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.

Chile Cheese Egg Bake

Chile Cheese Egg Bake
by Sheri Denney via sweet treats and more

10 eggs
1/2 c flour
1 tbs baking powder
1 1/1 tsp salt
16 oz. cottage cheese
4 c shredded monterey jack cheese
1/2 stick butter (1/4 c), cubed
2 (4.5 oz) cans diced green chile (if you want it spicier, toss in some jalapeno)

Whisk the eggs and salt together in a large bowl. Add the cheeses and butter. Whisk in the flour and baking powder into the cheese mixture. Lastly, stir in green chiles. Pour into a greased 9 X 13 in. baking pan.

Bake for 10 mins at 400 degrees. Reduce heat to 350 and cook for another 25-30 minutes (or until knife or tooth pick comes out clean).

Coconut Cream Pudding Cookies {with Coconut M&M's}

Coconut Cream Pudding Cookies {with Coconut M&M's}
by Sweet Treats and More

1 cup butter, room temp
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 (4oz) package instant Coconut Cream Pudding mix
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 cup Coconut M&Ms (about 4 small pkgs)
1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips (I used milk chocolate candy bar chunks because it's what I had)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour and soda in a small bowl and set aside. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in pudding mix until blended, then eggs and vanilla. Add flour and soda mixture. Stir in coconut M&M's, flaked coconut, and chocolate chips. Using a cookie dough scooper, place dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving to a cooking rack. Store in air-tight container. Makes two dozen.

Snickerdoodle Sheet Cake

Snickerdoodle Sheet Cake
source: Always With Butter

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 sticks softened butter

1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups milk

Heat oven to 325.

Butter and flour an 18 x 24 in sheet cake pan {or two round cake pans for layer cake}. Sift together both flours, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.

Alternating, add dry mixture, then milk in three batches.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Buttercream
source: Always With Butter

1 1/2 stick softened butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp half and half (milk will work too)

Mix butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Alternating, add powdered sugar and half and half. Frost cake.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

The original recipe didn't call for any pasta noodles, but the consistency seemed a little too soupy so I decided to add just a little, about 1/2 cup of cooked whole wheat macaroni noodles. After baking, it was perfect!

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
adapted from Dianasaur Dishes

1 small head cauliflower
1/2 cup cooked whole wheat macaroni noodles
1 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup light sour crea
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dry mustard
salt & pepper to taste
3 Tbs melted butter
2/3 cup panko bread crumbs or whole wheat bread crumbs (home made)
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.


1. Cut cauliflower into small macaroni sized pieces (florets and stems) and place in a casserole dish.

2. Roast cauliflower for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are golden and it is easily pierced with a fork.

3. While cauliflower is roasting, fill a saucepan with the milk, cream cheese and shredded cheddar. Heat on medium high.

4. Slowly whisk the cheese as it melts until sauce is well mixed. Add sour cream to thicken. Stir in garlic powder, dry mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.

5. Remove roasted cauliflower from oven, stir in pasta noodles, and pour cheese sauce over cauliflower and pasta. Mix evenly.

6. Combine melted butter, breadcrumbs, and parmesan. Spread over the cauliflower.

7. Roast uncovered in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until crumbs are golden brown and cheese is bubbling.

frito pie

Oven-Baked Frito Pie
source: What's For Dinner?

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (16 oz) chili beans
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
1 envelope low sodium taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (2% fat kind)
3 1/2 cups corn chips (Frito's)
1 1/4 cup fat free sour cream

Directions:
Cook ground beef until meat is browned; drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 c. of cheese. Sprinkle 1 cup corn chips in bottom of 8x8 baking dish or 9x13 dish. Cover with chili. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Spread sour cream over chili. Top with remaining corn chips and cheese. Bake 4-5 minutes longer.

Makes 6 to 8 servings


**I froze half of the chili so essentially halved everything else (half the chips, half the cheese, half the sour cream. You get it) and put it together in a small round casserole dish (smaller than an 8x8).

Banana Whip Cream Cake

Banana Whip Cream Cake
by Sweet Treats and More

1 box white cake mix (plus egg whites and oil called for on package)
1 1/4 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup mashed bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla extract


Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Make cake mix according to package directions, only replacing the water called for with the 1 1/4 cup whipping cream. Stir in vanilla and mashed bananas last.

Pour into a lightly greased 9 X 13 in cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes (or until it passes the tooth-pick test.)

Serve with fresh whip cream and a few slices of banana on top.


Whipped Cream

1 pint whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbs granulated sugar

Beat together until soft peaks form.