It's been a yummy weekend!!

Here are some photos from our cooking this weekend!!

This was our dinner Friday night, I LOVE this recipe!!! Weight Watchers Linguine Alfredo with Chicken

This was breakfast Saturday morning! Waffles with strawberries and lazy maple bacon!

Our dinner Saturday night, BBQ ribs with twice baked potato and ginger fried veggies! I'll include recipes later.

Here's the mango salsa I made Saturday evening, so yummy! 

Here's our breakfast/brunch on Sunday! Bacon, eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.

Mango Salsa

This is so yummy with nacho chips!! I don't even like half the ingredients but altogether I do! There is no strict measurements so I'll just include what I used.

1 ripe mango, chopped fine

1/2 cucumber, diced

2 slices of red onion, chopped very fine

1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

3 tbsp of lime juice

Homemade Apple Pie

Here's my attempt at my friend, Elizabeth's famous pie! Hers looks much nicer but I hope mine tastes just as yummy! I'm taking it to a dinner party tonight.

Yummy Pastry

1/2 lb shortening (Lard)

1/4 cup real butter

3 cups flour

1/2 cup cold water

Pinch of salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

Cream shortening and butter together. Add flour and mix together until fine. Add salt and baking powder. Add water and mix with a fork. Roll into a ball. Makes enough for 1 full pie. Let pastry rest in fridge for at least one hour. Remove from fridge, cut in half and roll with rolling pin. Place rolled out pastry on pie dish. Place topping inside and cover with remaining pie crust. Seal the outside of crust by pinching the edges. Puncture with knife on the top to allow steam to escape.

Apple pie filling

5-6 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

1 tbsp of cornstarch or 2 tbsp flour

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp salt

2 tbsp butter

Toss all together and place in pie shell.

Here is my pie, I hope it tastes yummy! We will see if our company enjoys it tonight!

UPDATE: It was so yummy!!! :D Yay me!

Happy Easter Feast!!

Here are some of the pictures of the food we ate this weekend!!

This is homemade WW pasta with a cheddar cheese sauce, chicken, ham, squash, and Parmesan cheese with homemade garlic bread! :) YUMMY!

This was the dinner table for Easter Sunday dinner. There was about 12 adults, 2 kids and a baby! Great time!

This was the turkey, so tasty!!

My fiance made garlic bread again because our hosts requested it again! He makes amazing garlic bread! This batch has fresh chopped basil on them!

And for dessert, we had homemade apple pies with ice cream!! I'm making homemade apple pie today with the recipe for these, mine doesn't look as pretty but it's my first time!

Rosemary and Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Potatoes

I wanted to try a different recipe to make pork tenderloin. Funny story though, I started making it the way I used to and then I added a new recipe to it so it has a bit of water and onion in it also! Hope it turns out tasty! Here's where I got the inspiration source.

Ingredients

1/3 c. olive oil 

2 garlic cloves, minced 

2 tsp. dried rosemary leaves, crushed 

2 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1/4 tsp. pepper 

2 whole pork tenderloins (3/4 to 1 lb. each) 

2 1/2 lbs. new potatoes, quartered

Directions  

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Stir oil, garlic and seasonings; coat meat with 3 tablespoons of seasoning mixture. Place in large roasting pan. Toss potatoes with remaining seasoning mixture; arrange around meat in pan.

Roast 35 to 40 minutes or until meat thermometer registers 155 degrees and juices run clear, stirring potatoes after 20 minutes. Broil on top rack of oven 5 minutes to brown. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Serves 8.

Yummy Waffles

I've been making these for a few months now and I'm very impressed with the recipe. I thought I should share it with you! We normally put sliced strawberries or blueberries on top but I didn't have either so it's just pretty plain looking! It tastes great complimented with pure maple syrup, not the Aunt Jemimah crap (I used to love that stuff until I converted!)! :P The website says it make 5 waffles, haha maybe 5 HUGE ones!! We always half the recipe because our waffle maker makes two and with half the recipe I can get about 6 waffles!! Here's the source. Here is the recipe in half!

Ingredients

1 c. flour 

1 eggs 

1 c. buttermilk 

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder 

3/4 tsp. baking soda 

1/4 tsp. salt (I usually don't add it) 

1/2 tbsp. sugar 

1/8 c. plus 1 tbsp. cooking oil

Directions

Mix eggs, buttermilk and oil together. Add dry ingredients. Bake on a hot Belgian Waffle iron. Makes 5-12 3x3 waffles.

The Absolute BEST Brownies!!

I got this recipe from a parent of a student that I had in my class in 2008. Her mom baked brownies for one of our many fun celebrations and at the end of the year I asked her for the recipe! The brownies are AMAZING and so easy to make!! They are very sweet and super moist, almost melt in your mouth gooey-goodness!! Here is the famous recipe that I had a request to make for our dinner out tonight. Apparently, the husband and son requested I make my famous brownies (which I've made for them before). I love it that people like them! I may try to cut back on the sugar somehow though, cause they make me a little jittery! I may see if I can make my own chocolate icing also. ENJOY!!!

Ingredients

1 cup butter

4 eggs

1 cup cocoa

1 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups sugar

1 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1⁄2 tsp. salt

Directions

Melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in cocoa and sugar. Stir well. Add eggs and vanilla.

Mix dry ingredients together. Add to chocolate mixture in saucepan. Stir well. Grease and flour a 13x 9 inch pan. Pour thick brownie mixture into pan and spread evenly. Bake 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. For really moist brownies take out just before you think they are cooked. DO NOT OVERCOOK!

Ice with your favorite chocolate icing recipe.

Here is the recipe I used, Chocolate Icing

Picture to follow after they are baked!

Beef and Zucchini Stir Fry

We had steak on Sunday and ended up with leftovers so I used it to make this new dish. It wasn't to bad, not my favorite but I'd make it again as it was easy, filling and healthy! The key here is not to overcook the zucchini and tomatoes (like I did!). I had steak that was already cooked so I skipped the first step of cooking the steak in the pan, I just cooked the zucchini and then started from there. (Again, DO NOT overcook!) I used whole wheat broad egg noodles and it tasted great! Here is where I got the recipe: Company's Coming

Ingredients

1/4 cup Water
2 tsp. Cornstarch
1 tbsp. White vinegar
1/2 tsp. Sugar
1/8 tsp. Onion salt (I didn't have or use)
1/4 tsp. Garlic salt (I used powder)
1/8 tsp. Oregano
A pinch of Thyme

1 tbsp. Olive oil
3/4 lb Sirlion steak, sliced into 1/8 inch pieces
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. Olive oil
1 Zucchini, with peel thinly sliced
1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions
Stir water into cornstarch in small bowl. Add next 6 ingredients. Stir. Set aside. Heat wok or frying pan on medium-high. Add first amount of olive oil. Add beef strips. Stir-fry until desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Add second amount of olive oil to hot wok. Add zucchini. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until tender-crisp. Add beef. Add tomato halves. (DON'T overcook!!!) Stir cornstarch mixture. Stir into beef mixture until boiling and thickened. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Makes 3 1/2 cups (875 mL). Serves 4. 1 serving: 160 Calories; 7.9 g Total Fat; 170 mg Sodium; 18 g Protein; 5 g Carbohydrate; 1 g Dietary Fiber

Proctor and Gamble FREEBIES!!

Yes that's right, it's that time of year again - Spring freebies from Proctor and Gamble! I just ordered some for my mom and I. They have lots to chose from! I got Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner, Puffs tissues, Cover girl sample, Pringle sticks, Scope mouthwash, Cascade dish washing tabs, Head and Shoulders, and my mom got the febreeze sample. This comes in a large box and it's like Christmas!!

Please go sign up to get yours today!! It's going fast! Here's the link: Samples

Molasses Buns Recipe

As promised, here is the recipe for Molasses Buns which are a Newfoundland tradition. My Nan makes these, and they are fantastic!! I love them! I hope you love them too. I'm making them for my potluck tonight, hope they all enjoy them too!

Ingredients

1 cup margarine

1/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup molasses

4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp all spice

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp salt

About 1 cup warm water

How to Do It 

Cream butter and sugar together, add eggs then molasses and beat well. Mix all spices plus the baking soda in flour, then add to mixture. Pour water over mixture until you can see that it's moist. Work into a ball and cut into small patties. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

This week's meal plan (Subject to change)

Sunday: BBQ steak, roasted sweet potato, balsamic mushrooms, Parmesan zucchini spears, and garlic bread

Monday: Potluck so I have no idea! I'm making Molasses buns, a NFLD tradition! Stay tuned for recipe and photo!

Tuesday: Beef stir fry with leftover steak from Sunday's supper. See recipe Beef and Zucchini Stir Fry

Wednesday: Chicken fajitas

Thursday: Invited out to supper, will make a dessert though and I will post that!

Friday: Potluck birthday party! Still not sure what I'm bringing yet but I'll post it once I do!

Saturday: Roasted beets (balsamic vinegar, orange juice and olive oil),  herb-roasted red potatoes (basil, oregano, olive oil), sauteed green beans and corn with garlic and ginger, and stuffed chicken breasts.

Our Meal Plan

I know it's the middle of the week already but I thought it would be helpful for future meal ideas to post this.

Sunday: Chicken and Jiggs Dinner (SO yummy!)

Monday: Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

Tuesday: Homemade hamburgers, roasted red potatoes and spinach salad

Wednesday: Chicken ginger stir fry with multi-grain baguette and balsamic dip (I totally experimented here!)

Thursday: Fresh pasta with homemade pasta sauce and garlic bread

Friday: Homemade pizza with homemade pizza sauce

Saturday: Weight Watchers Linguine Chicken Alfredo 

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

I made this yummy dish for our Monday night potluck and it was a hit! I really enjoyed it also, it had a really nice smooth flavor.  Here's the source. I forgot to take a picture, but you can see it on Kraft's website. Enjoy! 

What You Need

1-1/2 cups multigrain penne pasta, uncooked

1 pkg. (283 g) fresh baby spinach leaves

1 lb. (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1 tsp. dried basil leaves

1-1/2 cups (1/2 of 700-mL jar) pasta sauce( I used organic tomato basil)

1-2/3 cups (1/2 of 796-mL can) diced tomatoes, drained (I didn't use)

1/4 cup Light Cream Cheese Spread

1 cup Part Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese, divided

2 Tbsp. Parmesan Light Grated Cheese

Make It

Heat oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water for the last 1 min.
Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken and basil; cook 3 min. or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Add pasta sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in cream cheese spread until melted.
Drain pasta and spinach; return to same saucepan. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon into 2-L or 8-inch square baking dish.
Bake 20 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Bake 3 min. or until cheese is melted.

Homemade Bread Recipe

I made this a couple of months ago but my goal is to make whole wheat or multi grain bread next time! This was very yummy though but white bread does not agree with my tummy! Here is the source for the recipe and I can't copy and paste too well so you'll have to check it out, sorry! Here's the result though!!

Little tidbits that I forgot to include!

I forgot to include a photo of the granola bars I made a few weeks ago. They are SO yummy and you can make them as healthy (or unhealthy) as you would like. 

Granola Bar Recipe

Here is the little Valentine's gift I made for my fiance. It was so yummy, not the best looking but it was much cheaper then going to the store that makes these!

Here's how I did it!

Things you need:

Strawberries

Pineapple

Cadbury milk chocolate bar

Kale (the green stuff)

Kabob sticks

Tea pot (or vase)

Paper towels

Cookie sheet

Parchment paper

First, I washed and then dried the strawberries and placed them on the cookie sheet lined with more paper towels. And do not remove the stocks, just wash and dry them very well.

Next, I cut the pineapple up and carved it into the somewhat of a heart shape. You could use a cookie cutter but I opted not to. I placed the carved pieces in the fridge covered in a bowl.

Then, I melted the chocolate in the microwave at 30 second intervals making sure not to burn it. Once melted I dipped the strawberries in the chocolate making sure to cover everything except a little red and the stock. Once dipped, I placed them on the cookie sheet now covered with parchment paper. After all strawberries are dipped, place in fridge until chocolate is harden completely (about 2 hours).

Once the strawberries are ready you can arrange the fruit in the container of you liking. Be sure that you plan to give or serve this in a short while otherwise just keep the fruit the way it is until your ready. I basically stuffed the kale into the tea pot and stuck the kabob sticks with the fruit into it. It was very yummy! Enjoy!