I made my first recipe I found from Pinterest last night. It turned out so good. It was so quick and easy, it is on the list for meals again in the future. It is a weight watchers recipe, and according to the website, it only is 4+ points. I don't know if that's good, but if so, definitely make this. It took me maybe 15 minutes to make the whole thing. Shrimp is good because it's packed with protein, and low in calories. The cilantro and lime really give this dish some magnificent flavor. You can serve it over rice, salad or pasta, or eat it by itself.
Because I love it, I also made some garlic bread, and we had some salad for our veggie. I apologize there are no pictures. It was gone before I could get some. I will make it again soon!
4 servings, Calories: 197, Fat: 4g, Protein: 36g
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 pounds of shrimp, deveined and shelled
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 lime
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat, with the oil in the pan. Add shrimp when oil is hot (be careful for splatters). Season with salt and pepper. Heat on one side about 2 minutes.
2. Flip all shrimp, and add garlic. Saute a few more minutes, being careful not to overcook. (Shrimp is usually done to a darker pink color).
3. Remove from heat, squeeze lime and add cilantro to shrimp. Toss, and serve hot.
Friday, February 3, 2012
BJs Irish Root Beer
After going to BJ's Brewhouse for the first time a few months ago, and having their delicious Irish Root Beer, Clint and I decided to find a recipe/make our own that matched their recipe. It may be a little stronger than what they serve, but it is so so good.
Ingredients:
1 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey (I'm sure other whiskey would work too)
1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
1/2 oz cream
12 oz Root Beer
Directions:
1. Add the ingredients into a chilled glass in the order above. Top with cold root beer. Serve!
*You do not have to add the cream, BJ's Irish Root Beer doesn't have cream in it. It just makes it a little creamier and tastier.
Ingredients:
1 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey (I'm sure other whiskey would work too)
1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
1/2 oz cream
12 oz Root Beer
Directions:
1. Add the ingredients into a chilled glass in the order above. Top with cold root beer. Serve!
*You do not have to add the cream, BJ's Irish Root Beer doesn't have cream in it. It just makes it a little creamier and tastier.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Fudgy Oatmeal Bars
These are a favorite treat, but rarely made because they are so rich. My mom used to make these when we had Girl Scout get togethers at our house. They are so delicious, and I guess for one bar, aren't too bad for you. When I have nutrition facts available for a recipe, I will add them under the recipe and pictures. As I'm sure you've noticed, I don't always have pictures to go along with my recipes. I'm trying to remedy that. It's just taking a little longer that I hoped. Bear with me!
Ingredients:
Topping
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups quick cooking oatmeal
Filling
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions:
1. Set aside 2 Tablespoon of the butter. In a large mixing bowl beat the remaining butter (6 Tablespoons) with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and baking soda. Beat until combined, scrape sides if needed. Beat in eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in the oatmeal.
2. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine the 2 Tablespoons butter, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in the 2 Tablespoons of vanilla.
3. Press two thirds of the topping mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10 inch baking pan. (A 9x11 works fine too). Spread filling evenly over the oats. Dot remaining topping mixture onto filling.
4. Bake in a 350F oven about 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Filling will still look moist. Cool, cut into bars.
*Nutrition Facts per bar:
Cal: 146
Total Fat: 6g
Sodium: 68mg
Carbs: 21g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
3% vitamin A, 3% calcium, 4% iron
Ingredients:
Topping
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups quick cooking oatmeal
Filling
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions:
1. Set aside 2 Tablespoon of the butter. In a large mixing bowl beat the remaining butter (6 Tablespoons) with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and baking soda. Beat until combined, scrape sides if needed. Beat in eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in the oatmeal.
2. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine the 2 Tablespoons butter, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in the 2 Tablespoons of vanilla.
3. Press two thirds of the topping mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10 inch baking pan. (A 9x11 works fine too). Spread filling evenly over the oats. Dot remaining topping mixture onto filling.
4. Bake in a 350F oven about 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Filling will still look moist. Cool, cut into bars.
*Nutrition Facts per bar:
Cal: 146
Total Fat: 6g
Sodium: 68mg
Carbs: 21g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
3% vitamin A, 3% calcium, 4% iron
Guacamole
This recipe is my dad's guacamole. A lot of people don't like chunky. I like both, and have served both at parties. This one is less chopping, more dumping things into a bowl and mixing. If you have kids, this is a good recipe for them to help with because you have to squash the avocados!
Ingredients:
3-4 large avocados, or 5-6 small avocados
favorite salsa (we use Pace)
Lawry's season salt
1/2 lime
Directions:
1. Cut avocados in half, taking out the seed, and scoop into a bowl. With the bottom of a cup mash the avocados until they're semi smooth.
2. Add salsa to your taste, usually about 1/3-1/2 a cup. Sprinkle with season salt and the juice from the lime. Mix together and serve with your favorite chips.
*To remove avocado seeds, you can gently work it out with a knife. Or, you can stick it with the knife, and turn it while removing.
Ingredients:
3-4 large avocados, or 5-6 small avocados
favorite salsa (we use Pace)
Lawry's season salt
1/2 lime
Directions:
1. Cut avocados in half, taking out the seed, and scoop into a bowl. With the bottom of a cup mash the avocados until they're semi smooth.
2. Add salsa to your taste, usually about 1/3-1/2 a cup. Sprinkle with season salt and the juice from the lime. Mix together and serve with your favorite chips.
*To remove avocado seeds, you can gently work it out with a knife. Or, you can stick it with the knife, and turn it while removing.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Chicken Fingers
This is my recipe for chicken fingers/tenders/bites, however you want to make them, you can. I've made chicken tenders several ways, but last week I did something different, and they turned out really great. I'm not big on corn starch, and only had a little bit so I decided to use it.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup corn meal
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders (12-14 strips)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup mustard
oil for frying
Directions:
1. Mix together eggs, milk and mustard in one container. Mix dry ingredients into another. Clean off chicken strips.
2. Let chicken sit in egg mixture, until they're coated, or even for 30 minutes or so. Sometimes I make that part and stick it in the fridge until I'm ready.
3. Heat oil in a pan to 375F. On my stove, that's around 4.5 on the dial.
4. Once chicken is coated with egg, places pieces one at a time in flour mixture until coated. Place on a plate until ready to fry.
5. Put chicken one at a time in the oil. You will cook about 6 minutes per side. The outside will be a nice golden brown.
6. Place each finished piece on a plate covered with paper towel to soak up excess oil. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup corn meal
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders (12-14 strips)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup mustard
oil for frying
Directions:
1. Mix together eggs, milk and mustard in one container. Mix dry ingredients into another. Clean off chicken strips.
2. Let chicken sit in egg mixture, until they're coated, or even for 30 minutes or so. Sometimes I make that part and stick it in the fridge until I'm ready.
3. Heat oil in a pan to 375F. On my stove, that's around 4.5 on the dial.
4. Once chicken is coated with egg, places pieces one at a time in flour mixture until coated. Place on a plate until ready to fry.
5. Put chicken one at a time in the oil. You will cook about 6 minutes per side. The outside will be a nice golden brown.
6. Place each finished piece on a plate covered with paper towel to soak up excess oil. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Kristen's Margaritas
My dad taught me how to make margaritas when I was old enough to reach the bar...okay, maybe not that early, but around 14 or 15. I had my first sip around that age, and on my 18th birthday, I got to go to Mexico with my family and a friend and had my first Mexican margarita. Basically lime juice, tequila and salt. As good as it was...it was so strong and being 18, and not having had that much to drink, my friend and I were having to concentrate on the tiles walking out of the restaurant. It was a fun experience and trip, and I will always remember that good time.
Since then, I have made several margaritas for my parents, aunt and uncle, friends, my husband and myself. When we plan for margaritas at a party, I am automatically the designated margarita maker. Here is my recipe, hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
6 oz Jose Cuervo Original Margarita Mix *(If you're on a budget, whatever mix is fine)
1 oz Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila *(Again, budget tequila is fine. You can also use the silver tequila)
1 oz Cointreau
limes
Directions:
1. In a shaker, shake the ingredients with ice.
2. Cut limes in halves, then quarter. Rub lime across the rim of a margarita glass, then dip in salt (or sugar, whichever you prefer). Add ice to the glass.
3. Pour margarita into glass and enjoy!
*You can also use this same recipe for frozen margaritas. I recommend using around 1/2 a shot more of tequila and cointreau as well as a full shot of mix to counter the ice.
Since then, I have made several margaritas for my parents, aunt and uncle, friends, my husband and myself. When we plan for margaritas at a party, I am automatically the designated margarita maker. Here is my recipe, hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
6 oz Jose Cuervo Original Margarita Mix *(If you're on a budget, whatever mix is fine)
1 oz Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila *(Again, budget tequila is fine. You can also use the silver tequila)
1 oz Cointreau
limes
Directions:
1. In a shaker, shake the ingredients with ice.
2. Cut limes in halves, then quarter. Rub lime across the rim of a margarita glass, then dip in salt (or sugar, whichever you prefer). Add ice to the glass.
3. Pour margarita into glass and enjoy!
*You can also use this same recipe for frozen margaritas. I recommend using around 1/2 a shot more of tequila and cointreau as well as a full shot of mix to counter the ice.
Avocado and Mango Salsa
This is my dad's recipe. I make this a lot when we have people over. The taste is just so...yum. I don't know any other word to describe it. It's sweet, salty, hot, savory, everything in one dip.
Ingredients:
3-4 large avocados, or 5-6 small
1-2 mango (depending on how much you want)
1 lime
1-2 serrano peppers (also depending on how much heat you want)
Lawry's Season salt
Directions:
1. Dice avocados, and mango mixing in a medium size bowl.
2. Slice the serrano pepper if you like a kick in each bite, or dice it into smaller pieces so it's not a huge attack. Mix in with the avocados.
3. Cut lime in half, squirt 1/2 into the mixture.
4. Season with the season salt, around 1/2 a teaspoon. You may want more, depending on your taste.
5. Serve with your favorite chips. Like the Chunky Guacamole, we like to serve this with the black bean chips or the fiery chipotle chips.
Ingredients:
3-4 large avocados, or 5-6 small
1-2 mango (depending on how much you want)
1 lime
1-2 serrano peppers (also depending on how much heat you want)
Lawry's Season salt
Directions:
1. Dice avocados, and mango mixing in a medium size bowl.
2. Slice the serrano pepper if you like a kick in each bite, or dice it into smaller pieces so it's not a huge attack. Mix in with the avocados.
3. Cut lime in half, squirt 1/2 into the mixture.
4. Season with the season salt, around 1/2 a teaspoon. You may want more, depending on your taste.
5. Serve with your favorite chips. Like the Chunky Guacamole, we like to serve this with the black bean chips or the fiery chipotle chips.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)