Delicious Pumpkin Bread

In a large bowl combine:

1 large can pumkin

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ginger

1 1/2 tsp cloves

1 1/2 tsp salt

Mix well!

Then add:

5 eggs

3 1/2 C sugar

2 C oil

4 1/2 C flour

1 1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)

3 C chocolate chips

This recipe fills 10 mini baking tins so it makes a ton!  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Brownie Covered Oreos

I found this recipe over at the Picky Pallet. I think it would be a great neighbor gift.

1 Brownie mix (or use your own brownie recipe)

1 package Oreos, I used the Holiday ones

White chocolate, melted for drizzle, or Wilton White frosting pen works great

White nonpariels Sprinkles

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie batter according to package directions. Leave in mixing bowl. Dip Oreos in brownie batter then place in bottom of cupcake tins that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until brownies are cooked through (doesn’t take long). As soon as you remove, take a plastic knife and run along edges, (this is VERY important so you get the cookie out with brownies not stuck to pan :)

2. Let cool for 5 minutes, remove drizzle with melted white chocolate or the Wilton White icing pen, sprinkle with nonpariels and EAT! Enjoy :)

Makes entire package of Oreos

**Some are having a hard time getting theirs to look just like mine, so here is the exact muffin pan I used. Apparently all muffin pans are shaped different!!

Tex Mex Turkey Chili

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds cooked turkey breast, chopped or shredded
44 ounce can pork and beans
14 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups chopped bell peppers, any variety
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
hot sauce, to taste
shredded cheese, optional, for garnish
sour cream, optional, for garnish

Directions:
Place all ingredients except hot sauce and garnishes into slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add hot sauce to taste. Serve with optional garnishes.StumbleUpon.com

Blackened Chicken Salad

I know it's not the right season.

Blackened Chicken
Ingredients:

* 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
* 2 Tablespoons blackening seasoning
* 5 - 6 c. Romaine lettuce, chopped
* 1 cup diced watermelon, peaches or blueberries (any combination will work)

Method:

Preheat grill. Pour seasoning in a gallon size zip top bag. Dry chicken breasts and place 2 at a time in the zip top bag. Zip the bag shut and shake until chicken is evenly coated with seasoning. Place chicken on preheated grill and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from grill and slice. Serve over lettuce and fruit. Drizzle with Sweet Cilantro Lime Dressing.

Sweet Cilantro Dressing
Ingredients:

* ¼ c. cilantro
* ½ c. light mayo
* ¼ c. honey
* ¼ c. cream
* 1 T. freshly squeezed lime juice

Method:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until nicely pureed. Serve over blackened chicken salad.

Chocolate covered pretzels

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
(you can substitute white chips also)
10 eight inch pretzel rods (check Aldi's, Walmart or Target)
Assorted sprinkles
Waxed paper

Melt 3/4 c. chocolate chips in microwave on medium power until melted.
(or you can melt all the chocolate chips in a double boiler)
Then add the remaining 1/4 c. of chocolate chips and stir well.

Fold a piece of wax paper in half, open it up, and pour the sprinkles down the crease.
Dip and spoon chocolate on half of each pretzel rod, and then gently roll/press the chocolate
covered part in the sprinkles. Place on another piece of waxed paper to set, and chill for
about 15 minutes in the refrigerator.

After the chocolate and sprinkles have set, place in large cellophane bags (Hobby Lobby has them in the cake decorating section~make sure you buy the extra long bags so the pretzels will fit) and tie with ribbon and tag made from scrapbook paper. (I get my red and white striped ribbon from Walmart)

Cranberry Salsa

This sounded really good to me. I'm going to make it soon if I can just figure out what some of the ingredients are. I'll let you know how it goes.

Chop these ingredients and toss them together in a bowl.

2 stalks celery

2 stalks bok choy

7 baby carrots

1 large anaheim pepper

1 cup fresh cranberries

1 red onion

2 tablespoons cilantro

Add a can of whole cranberry sauce.

And a can of stewed tomatoes (forgot the picture, but you know what it looks like).

Then add the vinegars. I couldn’t find the ones I had used originally with this recipe, but it’s easy to substitute with any vinegars you choose.

4 tablespoons roasted garlic vinegar (originally hoty pepper vinegar)

2 tablespoons raspberry blush vinegar (originally cranberry spice vinegar)

Mix together.

Divide in half and pulse each half in blender a few times.

Chill and serve with tortilla chips.

Zucchini Garden Chowder

2 med. zucchini, diced (I used 1 zucchini and 1 summer squash)
1 med. onion, diced
1 TB. parsley
1 tsp. basil
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 c. water
3 chicken boullion cubes
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can evaporated milk
1 pkg. frozen corn or 1 can drained
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

Saute onion, zucchini, and butter with seasonings until just tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Stir in water, boullion cubes, and lemon juice. Mix well, bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, milk, and corn. Bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer 5 min. or until corn is tender. Add cheese.

Corn, Black bean and Avocado Salsa

2 cans black beans rinsed and drained
1 can corn
2 avocados peeled,pitted and diced
1/2 cup purple onion
1 cup cilantro finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
juice of 2 fresh limes
zesty italian dressing
In a medium bowl combine beans,corn,avocados,onion, and cilantro. Mix gently. In small bowl mix together salt,pepper,lime juice,and dressing. Pour over bean mixture , toss and serve immediately or cover and chill

Destiny's Biscuit Cups

I call them the name above because I stole the recipe off of the back of my turkey bacon package and can't remember now what they were called! This recipe is so easy and so delicious that my friends from work made me give them the recipe. They make for a great breakfast or appetizer for any party.

1 10oz can of biscuits
1 block of cream cheese
2 eggs
1 cup mozzarella/feta cheese (I used ½ feta & ½  mozzarella. You can use your fav. cheese but these are yummy!)

2 tbsp of milk
¼ cup of green onions (I used white onions because I didn't have green)

1 muffin pan
5 slices of turkey bacon

In a small bowl throughly beat your milk, cream cheese, and eggs.  Add your green onions and cheese into the bowl and stir lightly. 

Cook 5 pieces of turkey bacon until crisp. Chop up into small pieces.

Grease your muffin pan and place each biscuit of dough in the slots.  Press firmly in the middle bringing the dough up around the sides and about ¼ in over the tops. 

Sprinkle the bottom of each cup with a little bit of turkey bacon.  Spoon your cheese mixture (a little more than ¾ full) into each cup.

Cook in the oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on your biscuits because all ovens are different and they may cook faster.

Press a few pieces of chopped turkey into the tops of each biscuit and ENJOY!

Easy Aloha Salad

I spent about $7 for a salad like this at the mall the other night. A few simple ingredients and I made my own at home and I like it better than the one at the mall! I even like it without a drop of dressing! So if you're like me and are trying to eat a few more salads this year...this one is simple and yummy!

Just add as much or as little as you want of the following items:
chopped Romaine lettuce
chopped deli ham
shredded mozzarella cheese
pineapple tidbits
basil (I used maybe 1/4 tsp. dried basil for a personal sized salad)