Golden Chicken Cordon Bleu

Pounding... strike that, tenderizing a chicken is not the best way to "win friends and influence" new neighbors.  I was making a lot of racket with this one, and I'm sure they were wondering what was going on on the other side of the wall.  Then I think I made them all jealous with the delicious smells wafting through my front door when it was done.  I should have shared... that would have made some true friends... but alas, I was quite stingy... this one is "highly-labor-intensive" in my opinion.  People will try to tell you that is't not, but they are probably lying... just like the girl who whips up the cute ruffly dress for her daughter and tells you it was "SO EASY!" and it's almost like she's trying to rub in your deficiencies.  Nope, I'm going to be honest... anytime you have to layer and roll something up (particularly inside the tenderized breast of a chicken) and it involves carefully placed toothpicks, that automatically bumps it to a new level of difficulty in my book.
All that being said, it was quite scrumptious.  I took this one on because
A. I happened to have all the ingredients.  Swiss cheese doesn't show up in my kitchen often.
and B. I remembered learning to make it at a women's activity, and the lady was trying to tell everyone it was "SO EASY!" and I went home and told my hubby, "Well, I will never make that again!  Way too much work!"  And I just kind of wanted to see if I could actually do it.  Silly, I know... but I did it.  DELICIOUS enough that it might, just might make it off my "one-time-fix cooking bucket list." :)

*I doubled this recipe.  I felt like there was a lot of the flour mixture though- I had extra, but I guess that is better than being short, right?  I used a whole package of chicken, and I put the left-overs (including the wild-rice) to great use... stay tuned and I will tell you how.

Golden Chicken Cordon Bleu

Swiss cheese (3/4 ounce each)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 egg

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I added dried parsley and salt)

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness; top each with a slice of ham and cheese. Roll up and tuck in ends; secure with toothpicks.

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, paprika and pepper. In another bowl, whisk egg and milk. Place bread crumbs in a third bowl. Dip chicken in flour mixture, then egg mixture; roll in crumbs.

In a small skillet, brown chicken in oil on all sides. Transfer to an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. (I used a meat thermometer and it took mine at least 40-45 minutes) Discard toothpicks; drizzle with butter. Yield: 2 servings.

Nutritional Facts1 serving (prepared with reduced-fat butter) equals 501 calories, 23 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 172 mg cholesterol, 728 mg sodium, 23 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 49 g protein.

(Taste of Home) 

 

Honey and Brown Sugar Ham Glaze

I know I'm a bit late for the Easter Feast... or I suppose I could say I'm just early for next years. :)  Either way, here it is.   I thought this glaze was super simple to make, stuff you have on hand, and it brought big returns in flavor!

Honey and Brown Sugar Ham Glaze (Cookingnook.com)

2/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and brush over the ham. As the ham cooks, occasionally brush it with the extra glaze.

Chicken & Bacon Tart

I'm such a Simlple and Delicious fan!  I just organized my magazines and I realized I've been a loyal subscriber for six years now!  Worth every penny to me.  Especially when they pull things out of the hat like this- who would have thought to use pepper jelly with something like this?  But somehow, someway, the taste combined with chicken, bacon, and apples just totally worked.  AND it allowed me to use that obscure little jar I've had sitting around for a year not know what to do with. (My inspiration for trying this one out.)  Do people really spread that on their toast?  Spicy peppers in salsa... YES!  Spicy peppers in jam... NO THANKS.  Or at least that is what I thought before this one... thank goodness someone came up with a good use for it.  This was one Doug suggested I make for company... I love when he says things like that. :)  This is a winner... strange pepper jelly included!

Chicken & Bacon Tart (Simple and Delicious/Taste of Home)

1/4 pound bacon strips, cut into thirds (I cut them a little smaller and I think they were more manageable.)
2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 package (9 ounces) ready-to-serve roasted chicken breast strips
1/4 cup jalapeno pepper jelly (I actually used mango pepper jelly)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon. Saute onions and apples in drippings until tender. Stir in the chicken, jelly, thyme and salt.

On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Roll into a 10-in. x 9-in. rectangle. Transfer to a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Prick with a fork.

Spread chicken mixture over pastry to within 1 in. of edges. Sprinkle with cheese and pepper. Press edges with a fork, forming a decorative border.

Bake at 425° for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts

1 piece equals 693 calories, 37 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 76 mg cholesterol, 1,023 mg sodium, 65 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 28 g protein.

Brats in a Bun

It's my Dad's birthday, so it seems appropriate to post something "manly" that reminds me of he and my brothers.  I remember the boys heating up a "Polish-dog" or "brats" many a time.  When all the boys were home, Dad would get those really big economy packs, and I never believed they would get through them, but amazingly enough, they did.  Can you tell that this is something that I've never quite acquired a taste for?  Hot dogs and polish sausages rarely excite me.  Mr. Stumme and A.P. History ruined hot-dogs for me after the class reading "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair just before a school lunch of hot-dogs, so I felt I was being generous to give them a second chance.  I bought a package on sale and gave it my best shot, and.... not too bad.  I could almost join in with the big boys if it tasted like this... almost. :)
Happy Birthday Dad!

Brats in a Bun (by Lyd)

1 onion, roughly chopped

1-2 garlic cloves minced

1 T olive oil

1 tsp vinegar

2 T apple juice

1 package of brats

toasted buns

Pull out "George" or if you have a real grill, use it. :)  Throw on the brats (and no, I'm not recommending the naughty children, however tempting it may be, abstain.) Cook about 7-10 minutes until cooked through.  Meanwhile, saute onion and garlic in oil until transparent.  Add vinegar and apple juice and simmer for a minute or two.  Toast your buns (not yours, the bread buns, silly!)  Slop it all together on a bun and eat it like a man.

Quiche Lorraine

Though eggs and I don't always get along, I find it hard to resist a hearty slice of quiche.  I've got a few quiche recipes stashed away in here, but why not try a new one?  I find I can usually count on Betty to deliver, and she definitely did on the filling part- delish, however I would not recommend this crust recipe.  I have tried it before and it hasn't turned out well both times, so this time I finally got smart and left a note in the margin to leave this darn crust recipe alone. :)  But forgive the crust and love the filling... like I did.  Mmmmm.

Quiche Lorraine (Betty Crocker)

Pastry

1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

Filling

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled (1/2 cup)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese (4 oz)
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
4 large eggs
2 cups whipping cream or half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary). 
Gather pastry into a ball. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
Heat oven to 425°F. With floured rolling pin, roll pastry into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 9-inch quiche dish or glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in quiche dish. Unfold and ease into dish, pressing firmly against bottom and side. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of pie plate. Fold and roll pastry under, even with plate; flute as desired.
Carefully line pastry with a double thickness of foil, gently pressing foil to bottom and side of pastry. Let foil extend over edge to prevent excessive browning. Bake 10 minutes. Carefully remove foil and bake 2 to 4 minutes longer or until pastry just begins to brown and has become set. If crust bubbles, gently push bubbles down with back of spoon.
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Sprinkle bacon, cheese and onion in pie crust. In medium bowl, beat eggs slightly; beat in remaining filling ingredients. Pour into quiche dish.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 servings

Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes

Who doesn't love a twice baked potato? It takes a little extra tender loving care and a lot of extra creamy stuff :) but in the end, it's all worth it, right?! This one pleased the whole family... and how could it not? We're kind of Idaho people.... it's in our blood. (But even for those of you not "Idaho born and bred", I think you'll love it. :)


Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes (allrecipes.com)
4 large baking potatoes
8 slices bacon
1 cup sour cream (I did my plain yogurt substitution of 50/50 and it eased my concience. :)
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions, sliced, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
Bake for another 15 minutes.

Crescent Cristo Sandwich Loaf

This layered masterpiece is not only amazingly delicious, but it is packed with happy memories for me... every bite sends me into a fit of nostalgia. :)

When I was a young soon-to-be bride, and my soon-to-be hubby and I were needing some time together, my sweet new sister-in-law Chelsea offered to make us a picnic. I don't know why it just touches my heart to think of it even now- she spent all day putting together a special meal for us in the cute new picnic basket she had just received from her wedding and probably never used. She made us these heavenly sandwiches, and we could taste the love. :) I can remember how she carefully wrapped each one on foil so it would stay warm. It was one of our best dates and it made me love Chelsea- she has always been an amazing example of silent service and compassion. I think she gives up a lot for herself, and makes sure things are "just perfect" for others. She's just that kind of person- the kind that strengthens marriages. I'm lucky to have such a sweet sister!

Well, I couldn't help but think of her as I prepared these a few weeks ago for a little picnic date. Our schedules are busy, but we were able to meet for a picnic lunch on campus, and it was a fun walk down memory lane. BUT- my memories aside, you should try this one--delicious. The taste has stuck with me for over seven years and I finally just got around to recreating it. :) It's about time!!!

Crescent Cristo Sandwich Loaf (Pillsbury.com)

Loaf

2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ flaky dough sheet

2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted

2 tablespoons honey

6 oz thinly sliced smoked cooked turkey breast

6 oz medium sliced muenster cheese

6 oz thinly sliced cooked ham

1/3 to 1/2 cup SMUCKER'S® Red Raspberry Preserves

Topping

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon sesame seed

Heat oven to 375°F. Separate or cut dough into 4 long rectangles. Place rectangles crosswise on 1 large or 2 small ungreased cookie sheets (rectangles should not touch); if using crescent dough, firmly press perforations to seal. In small bowl, mix butter and 2 tablespoons honey. Brush over dough.

Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown; cool 15 minutes.

Grease 15x10x1-inch pan. Carefully place 1 crust on pan. Top evenly with turkey. Place second crust over turkey; top with cheese and ham. Place third crust over ham; spread evenly with preserves. Top with fourth crust; brush top with 2 tablespoons honey. Sprinkle honey with sesame seed.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown and loaf is hot. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 slices.

Fresh Mexican Corn Soup

After seeing all that corn I froze, I felt like I needed to feature it in a dish, and this is the yummy recipe that I found. This was a fun soup, and a great way to use up some of my frozen corn. I thought it had a good flavor. I actually came across it first by watching her video- that is always my favorite, because they make it look so easy and do-able.

Fresh Mexican Corn Soup (Ingred Hoffmann, Foodnetwork)
4 ears fresh or 3 cups frozen, thawed corn kernels
2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 slices thick cut bacon
1/2 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream, optional
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup queso fresco, fresh farmer's cheese, feta cheese, or sour cream, optional
Tortilla chips or fried tortilla strips, optional

If using fresh corn, scrape kernels from cobs using small sharp knife or spoon. Place half of the corn kernels in blender with tomatoes, 2 cups of broth, and oregano. Puree until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon, turning once until brown and crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Set aside. Add onion to bacon fat in saucepan and cook, stirring frequently until onion is soft and translucent. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
Add tomato-corn puree to saucepan with remaining 2 cups of broth. Bring to a low boil and add remaining whole corn kernels. Simmer over medium-low heat until thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally and remove any foam as it develops with a large flat metal spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix in half of the parsley and cream, if desired, and heat through.To serve, garnished with crumbled bacon, remaining parsley, crumbled cheese and tortilla chips or strips.

Pasta, Edamame, and Bacon

Took a little break there- we were on the road stranded with car trouble… well not the whole time, of course, but long enough! We actually had a really nice visit with family, just tough to look past a two day ride home where we replaced two tires and a couple hours down the road, our transmission went out. But on a happier note… I made this yummy pasta. :) (Here is a link to the video- you just basically toss soy beans in with cooked pasta and bacon and sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top.) By the way- isn’t that cellantani pasta cool? It just looks like a party!

Lyd’s Tip: This is one of Sandra Lee’s Round Two Recipes, but if you didn’t make the first round, it worked well to crisp up the bacon (cut into thin pieces) and then saute the onions and edamame in the bacon fat. It gives it a good flavor and skips a couple steps.

Round 2 Recipe: Edamame (Soy Bean) with Pasta (R2R from Sandra Lee)

• 1/2 pound bow tie pasta
• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1 cup leftover Sauteed Edamame
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, optional

Click here to see how she does it.

Cook pasta according to box instructions.

While pasta is cooking saute bacon in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until bacon is brown and crispy. Pour off half the excess bacon fat from the pan. Add the leftover soybeans and saute for 2 minutes. Add cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper and stir so that the pasta is thoroughly coated with the bacon fat. Transfer to serving bowl and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Sauteed Edamame:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (10-ounce) bag frozen shelled edamame, thawed

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, to taste and saute for 2 minutes. Add edamame and saute for 4 minutes until edamame are heated through and onions are tender. (Reserve leftover Sauteed Edamame for online Round 2 Recipe "Bowtie Pasta with Edamame.)

Use the leftovers from this recipe to make Edamame with Pasta.

Never Underestimate the Power of 4-H... whence came My Microwaved Egg McMuffin

I am a proud previous 4H'er. However, while my friends were shearing sheep and raising up baby pigs, I was taking "Microwave Cooking." No... I'm not making that up, there really was a microwave cooking class. (Which I completely loved, by the way, so keep your thoughts to yourself. :) I don't remember all the "nuked" goodness I produced, but there was one in particular that stuck with me... and aren't you lucky, because I'm going to share it with you. :) This was what I had for breakfast pretty much EVERY DAY during my college experience. It was quick, easy and delicious, and made all my room-mates jelous. But it has been quite a while, and the other morning, I remembered my little microwaved gem... never to forget again! :)

*I'm going to give a recipe for 1 serving, but you can crank as many out as you please. :) This is a really handy technique if you are just making 1 or 2, but if you are mass producing, you might just want to scramble up some eggs, unless you have several microwaves handy. :)

Microwaved Egg McMuffin
1 English muffin or prepared biscuit (I like to use whole wheat English muffins)
1-2 eggs
A little mayo and mustard
1 big slice of cheese
ham, bacon, or sausage patties

Cook meat of choice and have other ingredients ready for fast assembly. Spread mayo and mustard on toasted English muffin.

Spray a hot chocolate/coffee mug with pam-spray to lightly coat the bottom and sides. Crack 1-2 eggs in and stir well with a fork until yoke is ruptured (Am I allowed to use that word with regards to cooking?) and incorporated. Microwave for 1 minute if you are doing 2 eggs and about 40 seconds if you are making one (but they cook fast, so watch it close and don't let it explode. :) Let it cool for a second and use a spoon to loosen the edges.

Place cooked egg on a toasted English muffin with cheese and meat. I like to microwave for another 20-30 seconds to melt cheese and make sure it's hot. Enjoy your EASY, YUMMY breakfast!

Leftover Mashed Potato Soup

I had some leftover mashed potatoes from Christmas dinner this year, and this turned out to be a great way to use them up. It was flavorful and easy to throw together.

Leftover Mashed Potato Soup (Food.com)
2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
14 1/2 ounces chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
2 cups prepared mashed potatoes (leftover is great)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
(I also added a can of drained corn.)
2 scallions, finely chopped
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons cream or 2 tablespoons half-and-half

1 Cook bacon, and set aside to crumble.
2 In a large saucepan, cook onion in butter or dripping until softened.
3 Add chopped mushrooms and cook until tender and onion is golden.
4 Add chicken broth, salt, pepper, and paprika, stirring to mix.
5 Blend in mashed potatoes, stirring until lumps are gone.
6 Bring soup to a boil, then lower heat and add cheddar cheese, stirring until it is melted and smooth.
7 Mix in scallions, crumbled bacon, sour cream, and cream/half and half, stirring to heated through but not boiling.

Do-Ahead Egg Bake

Where is the time going?!!! We're already into the thick on December and I haven't posted! I've been a slacker... but I'm still cooking and I promise that I'll keep the recipes coming! Heres a fast "do-ahead" breakfast that might be a good one for when company comes. I love any breakfast you can make the night before. This is a good one for a big crowd- it makes a monstrous batch- we had A LOT of left-overs. I think if I make it again for our family, I will just make half. It was pretty good though- spinach can be tough to disguise. :)

Do-Ahead Egg Bake (kraftrecipes.com)
8 eggs
3 cups milk
8 cups French bread cubes (3/4 inch)
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
12 slices Bacon, cooked, crumbled
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided

WHISK eggs and milk in large bowl until well blended. Stir in bread. Add spinach, bacon and 1-1/2 cups cheese; mix lightly.
POUR into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cheese. Cover; refrigerate overnight.
HEAT oven to 350ºF. Bake, uncovered, 48 to 50 min. or until top is puffed and golden brown.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Healthy Living
Good news! You'll save 60 calories and 6 grams of total fat, including 3-1/2 grams of saturated fat, per serving by preparing with cholesterol-free egg product, fat-free milk, LOUIS RICH/OSCAR MAYER Turkey Bacon and KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese.

Substitute
Prepare using frozen chopped broccoli.

Note
You will need about 1/2 of 1-lb. French bread loaf to get the 8 cups bread cubes needed to make this recipe.

Easy (or Complicated) Tortellini Toss: You tell me.

A friend gave me a Pampered Chef catalog- I love looking through and wishing and wishing and wishing. They have a lot of awesome stuff for the kitchen... I just can't afford it. And then they'll say, "Oh of course you can, all you have to do is host a party, etc." Now I'm really not complaining (except maybe that I wish I had the funds) and I'm not trying to offend anyone. Let me tell you, I would ten times rather participate in or host a FOOD related party over candles, jewelry, or any other doo-dahs. Anyway, I'm done with my little "shpill" and all I was saying, was that I found this recipe in the catalog. I think they call this recipe "easy" because they use a microwave, but in my humble opinion, I really like the idea and food combination, but I would have left the microwave out of it. I think these instructions are ridiculous- not easy... 4-5 minutes here and whisk every 60 seconds there. And I think doing this in the microwave rather then a stove top complicates something that could have been quite simple. Making a white sauce over the stove is pretty simple. Making a white sauce in the microwave: complicated. Just shooting that out there for what it's worth. I also think the microwave gave this kind of a rubbery texture, but still a good idea- great ingredient combo. Try it out and tell me what you think. Or try it out the RIGHT WAY and tell me what you think. :) And sorry to sound to raunchy today. I really am happy- food does that to me... even when it isn't perfect.

Easy Tortellini Toss (The Pampered Chef)
3 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 cup 2% milk
2 1/2 oz Parmesan cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
1 (8 oz) slice deli ham (1/2 in. thick)
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 bag (16 oz) frozen cheese-filled tortellini
1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
6 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach leaves

1. Combine butter and flour in Classic Batter Bowl; whisk until smooth. Add pressed garlic and milk to butter mixture; whisk well. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 3-4 minutes or until thickened, stirring every 60 seconds. Add cheese; whisk until smooth. Dice ham using Chef's Knife. Add ham and black pepper to batter bowl. Mix well using Small Mix ‘N Scraper®; set aside.
2. Combine tortellini and broth in Deep Covered Baker. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 12-15 minutes or until tortellini are tender, stirring every 4-5 minutes. Add cheese sauce to baker; mix well. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir in spinach; cover and let stand 2-3 minutes or until spinach is wilted.

Yield: 6 servings

Nutrients per serving: (about 1 cup): Calories 330, Total Fat 14 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 21 g, Sodium 1280 mg, Fiber 4 g

Ham and Cheddar Scones... a happy home for dill!

What's the "dill" pickle? (My Mom always said that growing up!) Well, here is the deal, I have found a happy place for dill weed (besides a pickle)!!! I previously doubted the possibility- I have tried it in a few things and it's over-powering flavor makes everything taste "pickley" without the "perk," so this fabulous scone was a very happy discovery for me! Not to mention- IT IS DELICIOUS!!! I was about to label this under "Let there be LITE" but then I remembered... oh yes... that whole cube of butter. :) Which, by the way, I don't regret! And at least you can ease your conscience knowing there is whole wheat flour in there, and I used extra-lean turkey ham that tasted great. I sometimes like getting those little hams you can cut up yourself. They are great for things like this or cut up in eggs, etc. Anyway- these scones are wonderful. They make a great breakfast, snack, or I even sent some with my husband for a lunch. They were totally worth the work! So yummy!!!

Ham and Cheddar Scones (Better Homes and Garden Magazine)
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (2 oz.)
1/4 cup diced cooked ham
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill or 1 tsp. dried dillweed
3/4 cup dairy sour cream
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 Tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
Fresh dill (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment; set aside. In a large bowl combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese, ham, and dill. Combine sour cream, egg, and mustard; add all at once to flour mixture. Using a fork, stir just until mixture is moistened, Do not overwork.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough by folding and gently pressing it for four to six strokes or just until dough holds together. Pat or lightly roll dough until 3/4 inch thick. Cut dough with a floured 2-1/2- to 3-inch biscuit cutter. Reroll scraps as necessary, dipping cutter into flour between cuts. Place dough circles 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden. Cool slightly on a wire rack. Serve warm. If desired, sprinkle with fresh dill. Makes 10 to 12 scones.

(I wanted to mention that I had some trouble with the whole "biscuit cutter" process, so I ended up kneading the whole thing, rolling it like it says, and just cutting it into squares or something if you don't have one.)

Nutrition Facts
Calories237,
Total Fat (g)15,
Saturated Fat (g)9,
Monounsaturated Fat (g)4,
Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1,
Cholesterol (mg)61,
Sodium (mg)363,
Carbohydrate (g)20,
Total Sugar (g)1,
Fiber (g)1,
Protein (g)6,
Vitamin C (DV%)1,
Calcium (DV%)14,
Iron (DV%)8,
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Breakfast Burritos for Two (or FIVE)

This was easy to mix together and it has a good flavor. Doug loves stuff like this in the mornings. I'm an oat-meal and fruit kind of gal, but we have to make things fair, right?

Lyd's Tip: Make this the morning after you had sausage with your dinner. When you are cooking it up that night, just save a little bit for the next morning. It will save you that cooking time and hassle! All you have to do is throw it in.

Breakfast Burritos for Two (or 5 if you are like me and make it stretch. :)
(Simple and Delicious Magazine)
2 ounces bulk pork sausage
2 eggs (I added more eggs.)
2 tablespoons chopped tomato
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 teaspoons canned chopped green chilies
Dash pepper
2 slices process American cheese
2 flour tortillas (10 inches), warmed
3 tablespoons salsa
3 tablespoons sour cream

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, tomato, onion, chilies and pepper. Add to the skillet; cook and stir until set.
Place a cheese slice on each tortilla. Spoon filling off center on each tortilla. Top with salsa and sour cream. Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up. Yield: 2 servings.

Taco Potato Salad

Here is my little twist on a typical Potato Salad. I was playing around with some ingredients that I thought would work together, and it ended up being a pretty good mix. I think the sour cream just kind of brings it all together nicely, and everything is better with a little bacon! Makes a good summer side dish, and the main meal on a busy night! (That is what I did! :)

Taco Potato Salad (By Lyd)
1 pound bacon
1 onion, diced
2 1/2 pounds potatoes, halved (if Yukon or Red and peeled if other)
Salt
1 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon grill seasoning or coarse salt and pepper
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 packet Taco Seasoning (about 1 tablespoon)
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup sour cream
3 to 4 ribs celery with leafy greens, finely chopped
A generous handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

Fry up bacon until crispy. Remove from pan, and saute onion in drippings. Set aside.

Meanwhile, Place potatoes in pot, cover with water, bring to a boil then salt the water. Cook potatoes 12 to 15 minutes until tender.

While potatoes cook, combine spices and mustard with vinegar, whisk in olive oil, and sour cream, and add the cooled onions, celery and parsley to the bowl. Drain potatoes and toss them in dressing while they're still hot, they'll absorb more dressing and flavor. Toss in crispy bacon.

Alfredo Veggie Bacon Bake

I have been watching way to much FoodNetwork at my in-laws. (A real weakness.) I really like the show "Chopped" and every time I am cooking, I feel like one of the chefs competing with secret ingredients. It was my turn to cook at the Stewart house, and I was plum out of ideas... until I found a package of bacon, that is. (The secret ingredient.) I came up with this little casserole creation that made a big crowd happy! This is a WONDERFUL way to sneak in the veggies. I used a whole head of cauliflower and broccoli in this and you would NEVER KNOW! (This would be a good one with chicken too!)

Alfredo Veggie Bacon Bake (By Lyd)
1 package pasta, cooked and drained according to package instructions
1 lb bacon, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic minced
1 head cauliflower and 1 head broccoli, cut from stem- flowered in tact
1 bell pepper
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bottle Alfredo sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook and drain noodles. Place cauliflower and broccoli in a pot with about 1 inch boiling water. Put a lid on the pot and steam for about 5 minutes to soften veggies. When softened and cooled, roughly chopped and place in a 9x13 baking dish with drained noodles. Meanwhile, cook bacon well and saute onion, garlic, and pepper in some of bacon drippings. Place in baking dish and pour in Alfredo sauce over top and stir together. Sprinkle cheeses over the top and Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.

Creamy Pasta Alfredo

I know I have made something similar to this before, but this is such a quick and easy way to make "restaurant-rival" pasta Alfredo, that it is hard not to repeat myself. I like to add other veggies in it if I have them on hand- I'll put my additions in red. This is also a great way to use up left over ham- can you tell I made a big ham and I've been working through it! :)

Creamy Pasta Alfredo (Adapted from KraftFoods)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 chopped green onion
1-2 chopped bell peppers (I like to use red)
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, cubed
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) chicken broth
1 cup peas
1 avocado
1 pkg. Honey Ham, chopped
3 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 lb. mostaccioli, uncooked (you can use any pasta)
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
I also like to add salt,pepper, basil and oregano and add it to the sauteing onions to bring out the flavor.

SPRAY large skillet with cooking spray. (I just like to use a little olive oil.) Add onion (red pepper and I like to add the ham at this point.); cook 5 min. on medium-high heat until tender. Add cream cheese and broth to skillet. Bring to boil, stirring to mix ingredients. Add peas, ham and 2 Tbsp. of the Parmesan cheese. Keep warm.
MEANWHILE, cook mostaccioli as directed on package; drain.
TOSS hot mostaccioli with cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Healthy Living
Save over 25% fat per serving, by preparing as directed, using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese. You will also trim 30 calories!

Cooking Know-How
Use a large pot of water to cook pasta so it has room to move and won't stick together.
Do not rinse the pasta or the sauce will slide off. Toss hot pasta immediately with sauce for great coverage.

Easy Ham and Cheese Mini Pizzas

I have seen this idea in other places, and I'm sure you can get a lot more creative, but this is how we like to do it. The girls made these the other day. This is a great one for kids to put together. (Makes them feel quite important! :) Also great if you have left-over ham.

Ham and Cheese Mini Pizzas by Lyd
Whole Wheat English Muffins
1 small can of tomato sauce
Pizza Seasoning
Ham
Cheese

Spread tomato sauce over muffins, sprinkle pizza seasoning, and top with ham and cheese. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Guacamole BLT's

Here is a healthier version of the BLT. I might even say "tastier" too! The guacamole was awesome addition to an already excellent sandwich! Just moistens it up perfectly! I love making BLT's for dinner because it is so fast and everyone is happy! :)

Guacamole B.L.T.'s
Bacon
Lettuce
Tomato
Prepared guacamole dip/spread
cheese (if desired)
Hearty Whole Wheat Bread, toasted.

Spread the guacamole on the toasted bread in place of mayo or mustard, then layer other ingredients.

Hello B.L.T!!! Mmmm... you make my mouth water just to look at you!!! :)