Following is a simple, easy, and economical menu that is perfect for busy cooks. It is also a meal that diabetics as well as the whole family can enjoy. Turkey and Broccoli Supreme Casserole serves as the entree, Belgian carrots add color and flavor as well as great nutrition. Gelatin Buffet Salad can be made ahead to cut back on kitchen time when the cook is on a busy schedule. And Apple Pecan Cookies will please the youngsters as well as the adults. The cookies can also be made ahead. What a perfect time to get the kids in the kitchen and let them help make the cookies. The turkey casserole is a good way to use leftover turkey or chicken making this meal even more economical.
TURKEY AND BROCCOLI SUPREME
4 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 can (10 3/4 oz) low-fat condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained
1 pkg (6.9-oz) chicken-flavored rice mix
1 1/3 cups low-fat milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup chopped celery
1 can (8-oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped onion
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Mix well. Transfer mixture to a 3-quart casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover and bake 1 hour. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until rice is tender.
8 servings; Per serving, 268 calories, 32 g carbs, 28 g protein
BELGIAN CARROTS
1 lb carrots, thinly sliced
2 tbsp chopped onion
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp Splenda
1/4 cup chopped parsley
salt & pepper to taste
Clean carrots and slice thinly. In a small saucepan on medium-high heat, brown onion slightly. Add remaining ingredients, except the parsley, to the onion in saucepan. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parsley before serving.
GELATIN BUFFET SALAD
2 small boxes or 1 large box flavored sugar-free gelatin
2 cups boiling water
8 ice cubes
20 oz can crushed pineapple in its own juice, drain and save juice
1 pkg Dream Whip topping mix
8-oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
3/4 cup Splenda
3 tbsp flour
3 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
grated low-fat cheddar cheese
For first layer: Add gelatin to boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add ice cubes and pineapple. Mix well and chill until set.
APPLE-PECAN COOKIES
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup Splenda, granulated
2 tsps freshly grated lemon peel
2 tsps molasses
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsps ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup diced fresh apples
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray cookie sheets with vegetable cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, Splenda, lemon peel, and molasses on high speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Combine applesauce and apple juice concentrate; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add to butter mixture alternately with applesauce mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in apples and pecans. Drop by tablespoonfuls, 1 1/2 inches apart, onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight container.
Note: This recipe is modified from a Splenda cookbook.
Enjoy!
Linda Wilson
If your family is like mine, you just can’t have enough chocolate around the house. Is there anything better than a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven? Not much, in my opinion! This Chocolate Chip Cookie from the good folks at Hershey’s is easy and delicious. Even beginning bakers or the kids can turn out a good cookie with this recipe. The other cookie recipe is for Chocolate Pecan Cookies. What a perfect combination! I don’t know about you but that is two of my favorite things. Next time you have a yen for a good cookie, get out the flour, sugar, cookie sheets, etc and get busy. In a matter of minutes your house will smell wonderful and you’ll be taking some wonderful cookies out of your oven.
HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups (12 oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts, optional
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly on pan then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Yield: Approximately 6 dozen cookies
To make bar cookies, prepare as above but spread dough into a greased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.
CHOCOLATE-PECAN COOKIES
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
12 oz semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the unsweetened chocolate, semisweet chocolate and butter in a double boiler over hot water. Heat, stirring often, until melted and well blended. Carefully pour into a bowl. Add the sugar and mix well. Add the eggs to the chocolate mixture, 1 at a time, mixing in well after each one. Beat in vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt; mix well. Stir in pecans. Line cookie sheets with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls onto the cookie sheets about 2-inches apart. Bake for about 12 minutes or until firm. Cool about one minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Linda Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/chocolate-articles/cookie-recipes-for-chocoholics-737680.html
Grandma Hystad Recipes, Bar Mixes, Food information
CONTENTS
CRUNCHY CARROT SALAD
SQUASH APPLE CASSEROLE
BAKED WINTER SQUASH
PIZZA POTATOES
CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
LIGHTSIDE
CLEANING TIPS
FOOD INFORMATION
BAR MIXES
DRINKS
Crunchy Carrot Salad
Low in sodium, this salad will more than meet your daily vitamin A requirement.
1 1/2 cups fresh, grated carrots
1 unpeeled red apple, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1/8 cup toasted slivered almonds (optional)
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 1/2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Salad greens
Combine carrots, apple, raisins, and almonds in a salad bowl. Blend together remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and add to carrot mixture. Serve on salad greens. Serves 3.
Squash Apple Casserole
This dish is high in vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C, cholesterol free, and almost sodium-free.
2 1/2 cups fresh winter squash, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 1/2 cups cooking apples, pared and cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Alternate layers of squash and apples in an 8″x 8″ pan, ending with apples on top layer. Sprinkle spices over top layer. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake in 350 degree F oven for approximately 45-60 minutes until squash is tender. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes to remove any excess liquid that might have accumulated. Cool slightly before serving. Serves 4.
Baked Winter Squash
1 large acorn or butternut squash
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Margarine or Nonstick cooking spray
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with the margarine or cooking spray.
Slice the squash into rounds 1/4 inch thick. Remove seeds on each slice and arrange squash in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the slices for 8 minutes, turn, and drizzle lightly with maple syrup and cinnamon. Bake for 8 minutes longer; remove from the oven and let cool. Serves 4.
Pizza Potatoes
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped
1/4 onion, chopped
1/4 cup carrots, chopped fine
1 small tomato, sliced
2 baked potatoes
1/2 tablespoon margarine
1/2 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup cheese, shredded
Cook broccoli, onions, and carrots in a small amount of water until tender and set aside. In a saucepan, melt margarine and stir in flour. Add milk slowly while stirring. Cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add vegetables to cheese sauce and stir. Split open potatoes. Pour equal amounts of vegetable cheese mixture over each potato. Top with sliced tomatoes.
Serves 2.
CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
2 cups floor
½ cup white sugar
3 ½ teaspoons baking power
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
¼ cup oil
1 cup chocolate chips
Bake at Bake @400 F 18-20 minutes
GRANDMA’S WHIPPED SHORT BREAD COOKIES
1 POUND………(500 G)……………..BUTTER OR MARSRINE
3 CUPS………..(750 ML)……………FLOUR
1 CUP ……………(250 ML)…………..ICING SUGAR
Beat with mixer until creamy. Drop on cookie sheet and bake at 350 F, (175 C) until slightly brown.
YIELD: approximately 5 dozen cookies
TIME: 1 hour (includes cooking and cleaning time)
LIGHTSIDE
Dinner Blessings
The housewife invited 2 couple and their children for dinner one night. As they get ready to eat, the housewife asks her son, “Would you like to say blessings”?
“I don’t know what to say”, the boy replies. “Just say what you hear what your mother says”, replied the mother.
The boy bowed his head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite two 2 couples and their kids for dinner”?
CARPET CLEANER
If you have a cat, get rid of fleas in your carpet and keep carpet, rugs, fresh smelling.
½ cup baking soda
½ cup of cornstarch
½ teaspoon of Rosemary or Penny Royal citronella oil.
Before going to bed mix baking soda, cornstarch, and oil together. Spread evenly across carpet and scrub it into fibers with a stiff brush or broom. Leave over night; vacuum it up in the morning.
NO CATS; Just want to clean carpet substitute any fragrant oil.
CLEANING TIPS
Window Washer
For crystal clear window washer, Mix a tablespoon of cornstarch in a bucket of water, and wipe the solution onto the glass with paper towels. Rinse with clean water. Great for car or house windows.
BABY WIPES
Since heading the market in the 80’s, these moistened disposable baby wipes proved to be great in and outside the home. From cleaning your hands after changing oil or a tire, clean tools, rub marks off your walls, many, many uses including shining your shoes, wipe with baby wipe and buff with a soft, dry cloth.
To freshen up a smelly drain, just pour a cup of Baking Soda into it, and flush with hot water.
Blocked Drains?
Instead of using caustic products (be green and save money) for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a few jugs of water.
FOOD INFORMATION
USE FOOD THERMOMETER
Don’t rely on looks alone. Bacteria can spread during ground meat. Always use a food thermometer and cook at 160 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking your hamburgers.
Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak
Clearly, what began as an investigation of bulk peanut butter shipped to nursing homes and institutional cafeterias is now much broader.
It includes not just peanut butter, but baked goods and other products containing peanuts that are sold directly to consumers. Health officials say as many as one-third of those who got sick did not recall eating peanut butter.
“The focus is on peanut butter and a wide array of products that might have peanut butter in them,” said Dr. Robert Tauxe, director of the food borne illness division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We urge consumers to postpone eating any products that may contain peanut butter until additional information becomes available,” Dr. Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety said in a teleconference with reporters.
More than 125 products have been recalled in an investigation into a deadly salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter used in processed foods and in institutions, with dog biscuits and granola bars among the latest on a list that is growing.
The outbreak of salmonella illness, which began in late summer and is ongoing, has been linked to eight deaths, including two in Virginia. In all, about 500 people in 43 states and Canada have become ill. About 22 percent were hospitalized, and about half of those affected are children.
Health officials said they would work with companies supplied by Peanut Corporation of America to continually update a recall list that is available on the FDA’s Web site. The Web site details a long list of popular products that are affected, including candies, cookies, snack bars and snack mixes
Search For Peanut Butter Product Recalls
Information current as of 12 PM January 21, 2009
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced a recall yesterday of nine varieties of snack bars amid fears they may be contaminated with tainted peanut butter or peanut paste.
The affected products include snack bars from popular brands Clif, Larabar, Nature’s Path Organic and Hebert’s Fully Loaded.
Canadian officials warn more products may be pulled off shelves as they continue their investigation and identify other companies that may have used the contaminated spreads.
“With the size of this recall, in terms of volume of peanut butter, we may certainly expect more recalls in this country,” said Garfield Balsom, food safety and recall specialist at the CFIA. “We will certainly be notifying the consumers.”
Eight deaths are linked to the outbreak. However, CDC spokesman David Daigle, said salmonella outbreaks usually affect old people more than the young.
Salmonella causes diarrheic, vomiting and fever. While it usually clears up without treatment, it can kill the old, very young and patients with other serious illnesses.
NON- ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
ORGEAT FIZZ
1 ½ ounces orgeat syrup
½ ounce limejuice
Club Soda
Shake orgeat and lime juice with ice cubes. Strain into fizz
Glass. Add ice cubes. Add soda to glass. Serve with straws.
BAR MIXES
SHANGHAI COCKTAIL
¼ juice of lemon
1-teaspoon anisette
1 ½ ounce Jamaica rum
½ teaspoon grenadine
Shake with ice cubes. Strain into cocktail glass.
MARTINI (sweet)
1-ounce gin
½ ounce Italian vermouth
1dash orange bitters
Stir with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glass
NON- ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
ORGEAT FIZZ
1 ½ ounces orgeat syrup
½ ounce limejuice
Club Soda
Shake orgeat and lime juice with ice cubes. Strain into fizz
Glass. Add ice cubes. Add soda to glass. Serve with straws.
ICED COFFEE
There are just as many ways of making coffee, as there are different brands. Here are some general rules.
For good results measure water and coffee.
2 tablespoons coffee to each 1 cup
Make coffee just before serving
Make coffee double strength and pour the hot coffee over ice in a tall glass. As the ice melts, it will dilute the coffee. Top the glass with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Bruce Chambers
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/grandma-hystad-recipes-bar-mixes-food-information-750651.html
Do people who are looking to lose weight need help while doing so? This can have but two answers, yes and no. To decipher who would need guidance and who doesn`t, would depend on the individual themselves. Some people have the ability, and quickly pick up on how to choose and follow a sensible diet plan, whereas others find it difficult to without assistance. These particular dieters need company for encouragement, and to help strengthen their weaknesses which may hamper their chance of losing excess weight; without aid these people struggle with being consistent with their diet, and effortlessly find they cannot control the temptation to give in, or give up.
Weight loss is a major issue around the world because of the dangers to one`s health that obesity can cause. Let us face it, while you are grossly overweight, you are never going to be able to sit comfortable on a plane, look good in a bikini or win a marathon. Aside from these pointers it is all about health and inner vital organs like the heart. Obesity can cause heart failure. Keeping your weight down and your body healthy will have you see a new change of life. Things like running for a bus and being able to “catch it,” walking up the stairs without puffing and panting, or playing with the “grandkids,” or sadly in some cases the “kids.” Mom and dad if you are obese then if not for yourself think of the children and lose weight.
Are you familiar with phrases like?
Spare Tire
Love Handles
Muffin Top
Pot Belly
If you are then something tells me you may be looking to lose belly fat. The above references are not very flattering but neither is a podgy or flabby tummy. For some there may be no real issue concerning true obesity only that of a sagging belly or other fatty body parts. To lose weight, not only do you need a diet that works or a brain that thinks logically, but more importantly believing in yourself that you can get your weight down,
Below is a couple of slim plan weight loss recipes for those who can go it alone unaided, however for the people that can`t and see dieting as a problem, then you can join other happy dieters following the weightloss4idiots weight loss program. Each recipe has been carefully chosen to help you lose weight and make your diet a success in shedding the pounds. Eating healthily isn’t complicated once you know the basics. The balance of good health will help you plan for a healthy diet. Not many people who look to lose weight know what healthy eating means – and is there any wonder why with so much contradiction over particular diets. People under medical supervision and with special dietary requirements, and maybe taking specific prescriptive drugs should never attempt to diet or take up exercise without consulting their doctor first.
If you are trying to eat more healthily in order to slim down then you’ll need to pay attention to calories intake. It is not difficult to diet as some people think. Dieting is about following the guidelines and doing as suggested by the experts involved with your chosen weight loss plan to lose weight. The hardest part about the whole concept of dieting is, once you have achieved your ideal weight, is to keep it that way.
Some useful advice to help keep the weight off
There are certain sweetened juices and sugary beverages that can add unwanted calories, so avoid and drink diet pop, or better still water to quench your thirst. Sometimes the body craves food because it is dehydrated and drinking water is the best solution to remedy this.
Eat small healthy snacks; this stops your body from crashing because of low sugar throughout the day. Take in fiber – fiber keeps you feeling fuller longer (whole grain toast instead of white) and it will stop you from snacking on junk food.
If possible, keep healthy foods (fruits, healthy dishes) in visible places such as your kitchen sides, coffee table or at eye level on other household surfaces, this makes you more likely to nibble on healthier foods. Keep bad foods out of sight. The amount you eat in one portion is vitally important, when eating; use your dinner plate as a guide for specific food groups. Half of the plate should host fruit and vegetables, one quarter for grains/carbs, and the final quarter for meats. Plan your meals ahead of schedule eating times. This gives you the opportunity to consider different nutritional foods for your meals. An unorganized menu will have you eat foods as a matter of convenience to fill that gap.
An easy way of getting a few portions of vegetables into your daily diet is to make a tasty and filling soup. Leftover homemade soups can be put in a flask to make a quick, easy, low cal lunch for school, work or o take way a hunger pang.
Leek and Potato Soup
Potatoes make a great base for broths since they boil down and thicken. Chopped leeks with a sprinkling of herbs and seasoning added to spuds will result in a flavorsome soup.
Ingredients
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 Small Diced Onion
450g Chopped Leeks
450g Cubed Potatoes
500ml Semi Skimmed Milk
500ml Water
1 tsp Herbs
Method
Heat oil and lightly fry onion leeks and potatoes together for 3 minutes
Add milk and all water, along with herbs and seasoning
Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Sieve vegetables, retaining any juices
Liquidize vegetables, and then mix in vegetable juice
Reheat, season and serve
Everyone loves to eat curry and the good thing is the dieters can too, only one that is low in fat.
Chicken curry recipe, how hot is up to your own personal taste.
Ingredients
1 tbsp Oil
10g Butter
3 Cloves Crushed Garlic
1 Medium Onion
2 tbsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Ground Coriander
½ tsp dried mint
570g Chicken fillet cut into chunks
200 ml water
Method
Heat oil and butter together in a wok. Add garlic and onion and fry for about 5 minutes until onion a light golden brown. Mix in the garam masala, coriander and mint. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the water, stir, and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes until the chicken is cooked and sauce has thickened.
No matter how tasty a meal is after it has been cooked or prepared, many of us are still inclined to spice our meals up with sauces and relishes. Although these can add that extra zest, they can be threatening and upset the apple cart so as to speak in your attempt to lose weight. Let us say you have made every effort to make a healthy green salad, only to smother it in mayonnaise or salad cream. If you find the urge to strong to resist eating an undressed salad, then use low fat sauces.
Some guidelines below
Tesco Reduced Calorie Mayonnaise
Just like the real stuff Tesco mayonnaise has excellent texture and flavor.
Per 100g
Calories 326kcal
Carbs 9.8g
Fat 31.5g
Sodium 0.9g
Protein 0.8g
Fibre 0.0g
Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise
Although Weight Watchers mayonnaise dressing is mouth watering creamy and mild, it is not exceptionally incredible, however it lists highly among the lowest of different mayonnaises for calories and fat.
Per 100g
Calories 299kcal
Carbs 6.7g
Fat 29.8g
Sodium 0.9g
Protein 0.7g
Fibre Trace
Sensible Fruit and Veg Portions
1. apple, banana, pear or orange
2. 2 plums, Satsuma`s or kiwi fruit
3. 1/2 a grapefruit or avocado
4. large slice of melon/pineapple
5. 3 tablespoons of vegetables, beans or pulses
6. 3 tablespoons of stewed fruit
7. 1 tablespoon of raisins/sultanas
8. 3 dried apricots
9. cupful of grapes or cherries
10. (150ml) glass of pure fruit
Remember, an easy diet is one you like and because of this, it will work.
?
?
Kacy Carr
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/slim-down-low-fat-recipes-lose-weight-the-hard-way-or-the-easy-way-712911.html
Now that winter has set in and with it the long, cold, often rainy or snowy days, it is time to warm your home and hearth with some delicious baked goods. Here is a good selection of recipes from my vintage collection that would be perfect to make with the kids or just by yourself to share later. The Applesauce Raisin Muffins would make good after-school treats, lunchbox items, or breakfast treats with a hot drink and some yogurt for protein. The mint cookies are great to make with the kids and they remind you of the famous Girl Scout Mint Cookies. The Lacy Oatmeal Wafer Cookies are Swedish cookies known as Havreflarn in Sweden. They are easy but fancy. How about letting the kids help you make Homemade Granola Bars they can have as treats or take in their lunchboxes. Kids love eating something they helped to make. So get out the flour, sugar, etc, don an apron and get started on that baking!
HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS
3 1/2 cups oats
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup raisins
2/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 can cherry pie filling
Spread oats in a jellyroll pan and toast in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a large bowl, mix oats, nuts, and raisins. Melt butter in saucepan. Add honey, egg, vanilla, salt, brown sugar, and pie filling. Stir into oat mixture. Press firmly into greased jelly roll pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool, cut into squares.
QUICK AND EASY MINT COOKIES
This recipe was passed out at a Christmas Open House at a local flower shop in Southern Indiana years ago. These cookies are very simple and they will remind you of the “Girl Scout” Mint Cookies.
Melt 1 pound semisweet chocolate coating. Add 6 drops of oil of peppermint flavoring and mix well to blend. Dip Ritz crackers till well coated and place them on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet to set. Store in an airtight container and keep in a cool place until ready to serve.
LACY OATMEAL WAFER COOKIES
This is a cookie recipe from Sweden. It is known as Havreflarn in Sweden.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2 tbsp cream
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add flour, sugar, oats, and cream. Cook, stirring constantly, just until mixture starts to bubble. Remove from the heat and stir briskly for a few seconds. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls about 4-inches apart onto well greased and lightly floured baking sheets. Place only 5 or 6 cookies on a baking sheet at a time. Bake at 375 degrees five to six minutes until golden brown. Cool wafers for 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove carefully from baking sheet with a thin spatula and place over rolling pin until firm. If cookies harden before they can be removed from pan, reheat in oven for a few seconds to soften again. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.
APPLESAUCE RAISIN MUFFINS
1 large egg
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins
Beat together the egg, oil and applesauce. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and cinnamon; beat well. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into oiled and floured muffin tins. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until firm to the touch and browned. Cool on wire racks. Delicious topped with cream cheese!
Note: This is a soft and spicy muffin. Very good.
Enjoy!
Grandma Linda
http://www.articlesbase.com/desserts-articles/old-fashion-recipes-for-baking-on-cold-winter-days-691785.html
It is easy to learn how to make your own herbal home recipes. Herbal remedies are definitely a great way to treat any minor or common ailments that your family members may have. Just imagine the ease and convenience if you know how and what to do about treating open cuts, runny noses, fever, insect bites and back pain and best yet, in a natural way. You can, instead of reaching for your drug medication cabinet ever so often, be making your own herbal remedies that come right out of your kitchen or from your garden.
Here are a couple of basic herbal home recipes that you can try:
1. The easiest way to derive benefits from herbs is with consuming a herbal tea infusion. Herbal tea infusions can be made within a few minutes. Usually an infusion is made just like hot tea. Simply put the herb (or herbs) that you are working with into a pot that has a closed, tight-fitting lid. Then, pour hot water over the herbs and let them soak there for at least 10 minutes. Next, strain this by pouring it through a nylon sieve or a strainer into a coffee cup. Store the leftover infusion in a cool place so that you can heat it up again later. Nevertheless, you should try to drink herbal infusions fresh.
2. Herbal home remedies can also be made in the form of a decoction. Here, the active ingredients from the plant have to be more vigorously extracted than with an infusion. These herbal remedies are actually made from the twigs, barks, roots and berries. In order to make a decoction you will need to mash the herbs and then simmer it in water for about an hour. Next, remove the bark, twigs, roots or berries with a strainer. This can be drunk either hot or cold. Decoctions must be always consumed fresh.
3. Herbal remedies in the form of tinctures, are more difficult to make than the other methods of preparation. Place the herb that you are working with in a large jar and cover it with a mixture of vodka or rum and water. Please ensure that this mixture contains at least 25% alcohol. Seal the jar and then store in a cool, dry place for 2 weeks. You will also need to shake the jar occasionally. After 2 weeks, press the mixture through a wine press and collect the tincture in a jug. Once you have all of the mixture, use a funnel to strain the liquid into a dark bottle for storage.
4. Lastly, you can consume herbal remedies in the form of syrups. This goes well with kids! First, you need to heat about 2 cups of a standard herbal infusion in a medium-sized saucepan. Add approximately 500 grams of sugar or honey and then stir this mixture until the sweetener has completely dissolved. Let the mixture sit and cool. Then, pour the syrup into a dark bottle, seal it with a cork stopper and store it in a cool, dry location. You must not omit the cork stopper as syrups ferment quickly.
You can always seek the guidance of your local herbalist if you need more detailed instructions in the herbal home recipes. Your herbalist can also help you with your herb supplies. Of course, it will be useful to know what herbs to use for treating the various ailments. As a mother, there can be many unexpected crisis that I have to deal with on a day by day basis. Learning about how to make my own herbal home recipes has helped me save trips to my family medical doctor several times already!
Evelyn Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/learn-how-to-make-your-own-herbal-home-recipes-133722.html
Dinner recipes can get hard when days turn to weeks turn to months. It’s easy to get stuck on the same few meals. Families often find, when examining their food selection, that they constantly eat the same meals while ignoring some old favorites. It’s all haphazard and kind of random. Because people have so much to do they often ignore the healthy eating.
Prior planning is important when designing a menu and recipes to cook from it. People who take some time to plan out menus can select a wider variety of recipes. Food isn’t only about the taste and nutrition, it’s about presentation and the whole experience. Everyone can enjoy the same basic food if it’s made into a variety of different meals.
Take ground beef for example. Ground beef and wheat with vegetables and tomato sauce (ketchup) is a burger Well, it’s also tacos. Tacos and hamburgers have a lot of the same basic ingredients, but to most people they’re very different foods. Many different meals can come from one food. Let’s try another one. Chicken and potatoes. French fries and fried chicken can be fattening and thus not healthy. Roasting both will save the waist line. Still chicken and potatoes. Chicken salad and chips make a good lunch. Chicken pot pie. Chicken Teriyaki comes with rice, a starch just like the potatoes. There it is, a lot of variety from only a few basic foods.
Try more than one meat. Delicious kebabs come from chicken and steak along with some vegetables. Steak and lobster can be very elegant for a parents only dinner date, or pretty basic to include the kids too at a family meal. Fish and chips make a good appetizer for a fried turkey, all made in the same deep fryer.
Where can more ideas be found? There’s a television network dedicated to food, which shows a lot of cooking programs. They not only have practical cooking tips, but have web sites with even more information on dinner recipes. Try searching for dinner ideas on Yahoo or Google. Nobody could every get through all the available info online.
Do You Want To Know More? Hai Friends Click Here To Cook Like a Five Star Chef
kalidas
We all know that we need fast dinner recipes to get dinner on the table quick. Very seldom do any of us have time to make everything from scratch and spend hours in the kitchen. Here are some of my favorite fast dinner recipes to get dinner on the table in a jiffy!
Salisbury Steak
This recipe doesn’t take much prep time, but it does take a bit of time to bake, so plan ahead for that. The sauce has a nice zip to it, thanks to the barbecue sauce and the stuffing mix adds a nice flavor to the patties and helps to make this a quick fix dinner. To make this recipe even faster, substitute dehydrated onion flakes for the chopped onion.
Ingredients:
1 ½ lb ground beef
1 package stuffing mix for chicken
1 ½ cup water, divided
¾ c chopped onion (or 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes)
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
½ c barbecue sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together then ground beef, stuffing mix, 1 ¼ cup water and the onion. Pat into ½ inch thick oval shaped patties. Put in a large baking dish and bake for 25 minutes.
While patties are baking, spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Sauté mushrooms for 5 minutes, stirring every once in a while. Add remaining water and the barbecue sauce. Turn heat down to low and cook 1-2 minutes or until the sauce is heated.
Serve sauce over patties.
To round out this meal, serve with green beans and potatoes baked in the microwave while the patties are baking.
Zippy Chicken & Pasta
This is a fun and colorful fast dinner recipe that kids and adults love. It’s a great way to get kids to enjoy eating their veggies. This is a complete dinner on its own so it’s especially fast. Since it’s fairly light, dessert would be a good addition to this dinner.
Ingredients:
1 (8 oz) package fusilli or rotini pasta
½ c Italian salad dressing, divided
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
2 cups broccoli florets
1 large red pepper, chopped
1 small onion, sliced thin
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
Follow directions on package for cooking pasta.
While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, heat ¼ cup of the dressing over medium-high heat. Add chicken chunks and cook about 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir occasionally. Add vegetables and parsley to the pan and cook 5 minutes longer.
Drain pasta. Add to chicken mixture and stir well. Add remaining ¼ cup of Italian dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
A fun twist on this dinner would be to substitute shrimp for the chicken. If you make this substitution, you should reduce the cooking time to about 2 minutes or just until the shrimp turns pink. Shrimp will turn rubbery if overcooked, so it’s important to watch your cooking time.
Since this fast dinner recipe is a complete meal in one bowl, there really isn’t anything to be added to round out this meal. But since it’s nice and light, a quick dessert would be fabulous. I would suggest a pudding parfait. Just take your favorite flavor of pudding, layer it with cool whip and some graham cracker crumbs in a pretty glass and there you have an easy but fancy looking dessert.
Audra Elizabeth
http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/fast-dinner-recipes-719962.html
Being a parent isn’t the easiest job in the world, and it certainly gets even more difficult at meal times. What can you give your kids nutrition wise that they will eat? These days it’s come to being an almost impossible decision what with all the advertisements for fast foods that kids are bombarded with on an almost minute by minute basis. How can you compete with a greasy burger and fries accompanied by the latest must have toy included free?
I tell you it’s almost impossible and I had all but given up where my kids nutrition was concerned. It was so much easier when they were smaller and they had to eat what I set in front of them. At least then they got some nutritious food into their bodies. These days, it’s more along the lines of a battle field. I set a plate of delicious home cooked baked chicken in front of them and they just stare at it in disgust and tell me they want fried chicken!
I don’t give in but sometimes I feel that it would be so much easier if I could just forget my responsibilities to my kids nutrition intake and let the world of processed foods take over. It was at this almost despairing point that a fairy came to my aid in the form of my mother, who pointed out with a wicked smile that I had been just as bad, not eating anything that was set in front of me.
This didn’t make me feel any better, but the few recipes and tricks that she gave me did make me feel better. At last I now had at least a passing chance at getting my kids nutrition intake in order. Otherwise I was going to have to resort to giving them supplements, there was simply no other way.
If you’re giving your kids baked chicken try breading it first as this might give them the illusion of having fried chicken. Add a little bit of spices to the mix to give it that added taste as well. You could also try making your own burgers. These need not be complicated affairs, and should only contain the most basic of ingredients that you can throw together to create something that looks and tastes like a burger.
And if that doesn’t sort out your kids nutrition worries for you there always a host of other ideas that you can try that will have your kids eating happily at home and with no complaints. Of course you’re bound to come across one or two things that they absolutely won’t eat no matter however much you disguise it, but other than that, you shouldn’t have to worry over whether your kids nutrition levels are what they should be. All it takes is a little perseverance and a “fairy” mother!
Krishan Bakhru
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/kids-nutrition-75624.html
Peas had long been cultivated for various purposes. They are used as fresh vegetables in pea recipes, as soft green pod or as seeds in the pods. Green peas can be found at the market as fresh or frozen food. Dried peas are used for making flour. Green peas are the topmost processed vegetable in the Britain and USA. The foliage of the green pea is utilized in pea recipes of Asian and African countries.
In Burma, the leaves of the pea plant are used for the making of herbal potions. In Thailand, tender whole pods are put in various pea recipes. A Thai pea recipe does not contain the seeds of the pods. Pea contains proteins in large quantities, being easily digested in the small intestine. They represent a favorite aliment of detoxification diets and promote weight loss.
When you are making a pea recipe, be sure that you do not overcook. Overcooking will diminish the flavor as peas cook very quickly. One of the best pea recipes is: sauté the green peas in some butter, add a little pepper and sprinkle salt over it. This simple pea recipe keeps the nutrients intact while the flavor also augments. It can be eaten with white rice. The green pea tastes extremely well with pasta and soups. Just remember that you must add them towards the end of the preparation. The Snow peas are best suited for Asian pea recipes.
Toss young and freshly shelled peas that have been quickly taken out of hot water with fresh mint and some butter. This seemingly simple pea recipe is even more delightful and delicious to eat. You can have it for the whole day. You can really enjoy this recipe during the peak season of pea cultivation. But during the off season, you can take pleasure in eating the same pea recipe by using canned or frozen peas.
For perfect pea recipes, you must choose the correct pods. Choose peas that are small and very fresh. If flavor is your main criterion, opt for peas that are young and tender. Avoid buying peas that are yellow or are wilting. These will not be very nutritive and won’t have any flavor. When fresh peas are hard to find, you can choose a frozen package. As soon as you buy fresh peas from the market, prepare your meals with them or they will lose their delicious flavor.
Peas contain many important nutritional components. They are very good for a regular meal. Kids should have them as a part of a healthy diet. Pea recipes are a great way to improve healthy eating habits in children. Their sweet flavor attracts both the kids and elders alike. As a matter of fact, many people enjoy eating raw peas. In case you are a health conscious person, then pea recipes are best for you.
Kassia Macy