Banana Pecan Muffin w/ Maple Glaze

Balsamic Chicken

3 boneless, skinless Chicken Breast

1 can Red Gold diced tomatoes with Basil Garlic and Oregano

1 Medium onion thinly sliced 

2 tbsp chopped garlic ( i used the already done stuff from the jar)

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp dried Italian herbs 

Pour the oil in the bottom of crock pot, add Chicken breast.  Salt and pepper each Breast, put onion on top of chicken, add the garlic  and herbs on top of the onion. Pour in the vinegar and top with the tomatoes.

Cook on high for 4 hours.

I severed mine over angle hair pasta.

Green Tomato Raspberry Jam

So I had this tomato plant that was just going nuts growing all over the ground so yesterday morning I went out to stake it and tie it up. While doing that it lost allot of green tomatoes, I hated the ideal of just toss them so I put um a huge bowl and washed them up. Then I goggled things to make with green tomatoes. So today I made Green Tomato Raspberry Jam. I wasn't so sure about this when i got the ideal to try it, OK that said ... on several websites it said you could mince the green tomatoes up or put them in the food processor. I don't have a food processor so I minced them up. Started that out and  well it was not looking promising so I got out my blender and  used the puree setting and started a second batch. First batch turned into candied green tomatoes second batch turned out amazing!!  Well it hasn't cooled yet but warm it is so good! I could see myself making allot of this and trying different flavor's!

2 cups green tomatoes

2 cups white sugar

1 package raspberry gelatin (3oz)

 Combine tomatoes and sugar in a large saucepan and bring 

to a boil over  medium heat. 

Stir and cook  20 minutes. Add the gelatin, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.

 Spoon into jars or, pour into freezer containers 

and refrigerate or freeze.

First batch- Didn't break down stayed chunky 

Personal note:
Just tried to sneak Charlie some of the new jam he didn't fall for it ... he like's these mini pancakes with blackberry jam. I made him six and then I stacked um well he must of been on to me because he opened each stack before he ate them. He looked at me and said "Your not gonna get me with that one" and "I'm not gonna fall for that trick"

Easter Dinner

Well this is the first Easter I did not make a Ham, I instead made us a prime rib! It was delicious! And Pretty Easy, I just rubbed it with Olive Oil , Salt, Pepper and a Little Steak Seasoning.  Then popped it into my Rotisserie for an hour and 20 minutes , let it rest for 30 minutes and yum!

Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Sorry forgot to take a picture..... But this was quick,  easy and yummy!!!




Ingredients 

1 1/2 lbs ground round beef
1 onion chopped
1-2 cups vegetables - I used Fresh  chopped carrots,  green beans, celery, and canned black beans
1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes (3 good sized)
8 tablespoons butter 
1/2 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice (I used garlic)

Peel and quarter potatoes, boil in salted water until tender. While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tablespoons butter in large frying pan.

Sauté onions in butter until tender over medium heat (10 mins). If you are adding vegetables, add them according to cooking time. Put any carrots in with the onions. Add corn or peas either at the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat has initially cooked.

Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Add salt and pepper. Add worcesterchire sauce. Add half a cup of beef broth and cook, uncovered, over low heat for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth as necessary to keep moist.

 Mash potatoes in bowl with remainder of butter, season to taste.

Place beef and onions in baking dish. Distribute mashed potatoes on top. Rough up with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. You can use the fork to make some designs in the potatoes as well.

Cook in 400 degree oven until bubbling and brown (about 30 minutes). Broil for last few minutes if necessary to brown. I cooked it in my toaster over and it took about 20 mins


Thanks Simply Recipes poster Elise for sharing this recipe!!

makes  4 servings

Chocolate Chip Blueberry Peanut Butter Cookies

Thanks to Lauren Lilling, this is her recipe  it was posted on Fox News.  

Ingredients

• 1 Cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 Cup salted creamy natural peanut butter
• 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 Large eggs
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/4 Cup fresh blueberries

Preparation

Step 1:

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 2:

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, set aside.

Step 3:

Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat peanut butter and sugars on high until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined. Reduce speed to low and stir in flour mixture just until combined. Stir in blueberries and chocolate chips.

Step 4:

Use a cookie dough scoop or tablespoon to place cookie dough balls (about 2 TB each) on prepared baking sheet. Note: the dough will be greasy, that is okay. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until cookies are brown around the edges.

Step 5:

Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack before serving.

These are pretty good!!!

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
• 1 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Greek-style yogurt
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 
  
• 2 salmon steaks
• 1 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 1 teaspoons lemon pepper
• salt to taste

Copycat Panera Bread Co. Broccoli Cheese Soup

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups half-and-half

2 cups chicken stock or bouillon

1/2 pound fresh broccoli (i chopped it up in to little bitty pieces) 

1 cup carrots, julienned (I grated it)

salt and pepper, to taste

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese

PREPARATION:

Saute onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half (this is called making a roux). 

Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 10 minutes. 

Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree (I did NOT puree it!). Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

Recipe from CDKitchen.com

Blender Cranberry Orange Muffins

Into mixing bowl Sift 2 cups of flour and 3 teaspoons baking power.

Into blender put:
1 cup fresh or defrosted cranberries
1 cup milk
Thin yellow rind of one orange
1 egg
3 tablespoons of soft butter or margarine
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cover and blend on High until cranberries are finely chopped. Pour over dry ingredients and stir just to moisten flour. Turn into greased muffin cups and bake at 400 for 25 minutes. (20 minutes for mini muffins)

Recipe from 1961 cookbook ( I found it online but now i can't find it to give that site credit)