Butternut Squash Ravioli Won Tons

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Vegetables, Wonton Wrappers July 11, 2014 Leave a comment

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Spinach Pesto uses supermarket wonton wrappers to create a shortcut weeknight ravioli treat.

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2.5 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated and divided
  • 3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 36 wonton wrappers
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

6 quarts water

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.

  1. Place squash halves, cut sides down, on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
  2. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until tender. Cool. Scoop out pulp; discard peel. Mash pulp.
  3. Combine oregano, squash pulp, and butter in a large bowl.
  4. Stir in 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
  5. Working with 1 wonton wrapper at a time (cover remaining wrappers with a damp towel to keep them from drying), spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons squash mixture into center of each wrapper.
  6. Moisten edges of wrapper with beaten egg; bring 2 opposite corners together. Pinch edges together to seal, forming a triangle. Repeat procedure with remaining wrappers, squash mixture, and egg. Cover ravioli loosely with a towel to prevent drying.
  7. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Add half of ravioli; cook 3 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.
  8. Remove ravioli with a slotted spoon. Repeat procedure with remaining ravioli.
  9. Add ravioli to pesto; toss gently to coat. Arrange 6 ravioli on each of 6 plates; sprinkle each serving with 1 teaspoon walnuts.

Pesto

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped, and divided
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons organic vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

 

  1. Place garlic in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped.
  2. Add remaining 1/2 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) cheese, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, spinach, basil, and 2 tablespoons walnuts.
  3. With processor on, slowly pour oil, broth, and juice through food chute. Process until well blended. Place pesto in a large bowl.

Sautéed Zucchini Noodles

Dinner Ideas, Weight Watcher Friendly June 30, 2014 Leave a comment
Zucchini Noodles with Butter

Zucchini Noodles with Butter

I purchased a handy little gadget that makes noodles out of zucchini, more like spaghetti. I wanted a vegetarian dinner tonight so I pulled out a sweet onion, portobello mushrooms, fresh garlic, coconut oil, and butter. I love vegetables that have flavor and zucchini by nature does not have much flavor on its own, so I pulled out my bottle of red pepper flakes too. If you do not have a zucchini noodle maker, just use a vegetable peeler and peel long strips from your zucchini. I was amazed how tasty and filling my dinner was, this recipe will be added to my cookbook. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. WW point =6

Ingredients

  • 1 small zucchini, wash do not peel
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 3 fresh garlic cloves, sliced on the long side
  • About 1 cup of any other vegetable you enjoy such as sweet peppers, mushrooms, broccoli florets, spinach or cauliflower
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
  • 1 tsp of coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter (use real butter)
  • ½ tsp of kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp of red pepper flakes

Directions

  1. Put your zucchini into the noodle maker and twist until your zucchini is a little stub. Or using a vegetable peeler peel long strips of zucchini until the zucchini is all whittled down.
  2. Chop your onions into a pile, slice your other vegetables, chop your parsley into another pile
  3. Peel your garlic cloves and slice them lengthwise into small strips
  4. Heat a wok or other heavy pan on medium-high with 1 tsp of coconut oil
  5. When oil is hot, add onions, and vegetables (except fresh spinach, add that last)
  6. Saute until soft
  7. Push the vegetables to the side of the pan and add butter
  8. When butter is melted, add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, add zucchini noodles and sauté for 3-4 minutes in hot butter
  9. Sprinkle red pepper flakes and salt over vegetables in pan and stir together
  10. Serve hot

Kitchen Moxy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dessert June 7, 2014 Leave a comment

Choc ChipThis is the only chocolate chip recipe I use. The cookies are soft, chewy, sweet, and tasty.  I have been using this recipe for so many years now and truthfully, I don’t remember where I got it. My son, who does not eat sugar, and lives a very healthy lifestyle, does fortunately make an exception during the holidays when I bake cookies and this is one of his favorites.

Kitchen Moxy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, line cookie sheets with parchment paper

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/4 cup of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup butter (softened)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 package (4 oz) Instant Pudding mix (vanilla)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 bag of chocolate chips (*see note)
  • 1/2 half bag of mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup of chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

  1. Mix flour with baking soda, set aside.
  2. Combine softened butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and Instant Pudding Mix together. Beat until creamy and smooth.
  3. Beat in eggs one at a time until combined.
  4. Stir in flour mixture on low speed until combined.
  5. Stir in chocolate chips, and nuts with a wooden spoon, batter will be stiff.
  6. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. I prefer to use parchment paper but if it is not available, drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, remove and let cool on racks.

*NOTE:  I use Hershey chips, and love extra chocolate in my cookies, you can eliminate the mini chips and the nuts if you prefer.  You can also use chocolate instant pudding mix in your batter rather than vanilla for Chocolate Chocolate Chips.

Also, if you only want to bake half the batter, roll 1/2 of the batter in a log and wrap with plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and pop in the freezer for later.

Baked Potato Skins

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Side May 26, 2014 Leave a comment
Loaded Potato Skins

Loaded Potato Skins

Crispy cheese potato skins, baked to a crisp, then topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream and green onions. Don’t stop there, consider topping with sliced jalapenos, chopped chilies, black or green olives, diced tomatoes, shredded chicken, use your imagination! As an appetizer in restaurants, potato skins have been around since approximately the 1970s with T.G.I. Friday’s having documented making them as early as 1974. These skins are not deep fried as original recipes call for, they are twice baked at high temperatures; leaving the skins crispy and the meat tender.  I eat pot stickers as a dinner why not loaded potato skins?  Served as an appetizer or a main entree, make enough because they will go fast!

• Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

Ingredients

  • 6 small to medium sized russet baking potatoes (total 3 pounds)
  • Olive oil
  • Canola oil or coconut oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 6 strips of bacon
  • 4 ounces grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced, including the greens of the onions

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F

    1. Rub potatoes with olive oil and bake in a 400°F oven for about an hour until the potatoes are cooked through and give a little when pressed.
    2. While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon strips in a frying pan on medium low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Let cool. Crumble.
    3. Remove the potatoes from the oven and let cool enough to handle. Cut in half horizontally. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out the insides, reserving the scooped potatoes for another use, leaving about 1/4 of an inch of potato on the skin.
    4. Increase the heat of the oven to 450°F. Brush or rub canola or coconut oil (or another high smoke point oil) all over the potato skins, outside and in. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
    5. Place on a baking rack in a roasting pan (do not use a cookie sheet, it will warp, use a roasting pan or broiler pan that can take the heat). Cook for 10 minutes on one side, then flip the skins over and cook for another 10 minutes.
    6. Remove from oven and let cool enough to handle.
    7. Arrange the potato skins skin-side down on the roasting pan or rack. Sprinkle the insides with freshly ground black pepper, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Return to the oven. Broil for an additional 2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven. Use tongs to place skins on a serving plate. Add a dollop of sour cream to each skin, sprinkle with chopped green onions. Serve immediately.

Baked Eggs in Ham Cups – easy

Breakfast, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff May 10, 2014 Leave a comment

baked eggs ham crispsNeed a great breakfast for mom that is easy and delicious? Try this recipe. You can leave your eggs whole or beat them with your vegetables and cheese.  Serve with a side of roasted red potatoes, steamed asparagus and fruit salad.  You can substitute the shallots with a small red or sweet onion, use your favorite vegetables, if you don’t have sour cream, substitute plain yogurt. The possibilities are endless. You can’t mess this up. Makes 6

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup finely chopped shallots
• 2 cups of any vegetables you love, suggestions: chopped mushrooms, chopped red pepper (or jarred roasted red peppers)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil or butter
• ½ cup of your favorite shredded cheese
• 2 tablespoons of sour cream or yogurt
• 6 slices of Virginia Ham
• 6 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1. Melt and heat your butter, or coconut oil, or olive oil in a large pan on medium heat
2. Sauté your favorite vegetables, and the chopped shallots until soft. Stirring often.
3. If adding spinach, slice it into small pieces – add last after your vegetables are softened just to wilt it. You don’t want mushy spinach.
4. Spray your muffin tins with baking spray, this recipe makes 6
5. Line each muffin cup with a slice of ham, ends will stick up and hang over the sides. baked eggs ham crisps2
*If making scrambled egg cups: using an egg beater or fork, beat your eggs with 2 tablespoons of milk, a pinch of salt and pepper, divide your sautéed vegetables in each of the muffin cups and pour egg mixture into each cup using a ladle. Sprinkle a tablespoon of shredded cheese on top of each cup.
*If leaving eggs whole, divide the sautéed vegetables among the 6 muffin cups 

  1. Crack one egg into each cup, sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper
  2. Sprinkle a tablespoon of shredded cheese on top of each cup
  3. Bake for 15 minutes until eggs are set and cooked to your likeness

Cooking Endive

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Lite and Weight Watcher Recipes, Salads, Side, Vegetables May 7, 2014 Leave a comment

EndiveI received two little endives in my bountiful basket and wanted to do something special with them rather than just cut them up and add to my salad. I decided to cook them. Endive belongs to the chicory genus, which includes several similar bitter leafed vegetables. I am talking about the little bullet shaped endives, not the curly leaf or chicory. Endive is rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially in foliate and vitamins A and K, and is high in fiber. Endive has a bitter-sweet taste, actually I thought it was very savory, almost nutty. I served it up with my baby potatoes and flounder; it made a very filling side dish. Let your kids eat these little “boats” with their fingers. Make it fun.
endive2Here are a few suggestions on how to enjoy your endive:
1. Slice endive in half lengthwise; I kept the root end intact as it will hold the leaves together after sliced. I brushed both halves with olive oil, and sliced a fresh garlic clove into very thin slices and put the slices in between the endive leaves. I sprinkled with kosher salt and pepper, and a little garlic powder. I put my endive in my small oven with my potatoes at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. When I removed them from the oven I sprinkled some balsamic vinegar over them.

2. Slice your endives in half. Sprinkle cut side with kosher salt and pepper, and any other seasoning you might like. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy pan along with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Place the endive halves cut side down in the pan, cook on medium-high heat until they are brown. Add ½ cup chicken broth and simmer until almost all liquid is gone. Remove from pan sprinkle with Kosher salt, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar
3. Brush sliced endive with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper, a little Parmesan cheese and grill on the BBQ until lightly brown on both sides.

Maple Bacon

Appetizers, Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff April 24, 2014 Leave a comment

maple baconMaple glazed bacon, who doesn’t love the smell and taste of bacon, dress it up with a coating of pure maple glaze and you have a gourmet dish or appetizer. Glazed maple bacon can add a savory note to desserts, just crumble the bacon into maple flavored frosting for cupcakes.  Or consider sweet and savory appetizers; wrap maple bacon around sweet potato slices, or asparagus before baking. Wrap around prawns or cream cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers, or small smokey links before baking. Maple syrup adds a sweet note to thick-cut bacon slices, which are obviously delicious served right  alongside pancakes, eggs or waffles.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (use the real stuff)
  • 12 slices good-quality thick-cut bacon
  • coarse ground pepper (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

  1. Pour the maple syrup into a shallow bowl and give each bacon slice (both sides) a generous dip in the syrup.
  2. Lay the bacon on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper if desired.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the bacon over and bake until it is crisp at the edges and caramelized on the bottom, another 10 to 15 minutes.*Note: this cooking time is depending on the thickness of your bacon, keep an eye on it while baking so it does not burn, especially if using a thinner bacon.
  4. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
  5. Lift the slices from the liner so they don’t stick after cooling. Cool for about a minute, transfer to a long platter to serve.

Chocolate Coconut Clusters

Dessert, Fun Stuff March 29, 2014 Leave a comment

 

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

In the never ending quest for healthy food and a healthier diet I have been convinced by my son and his wife to try Coconut oil in place of vegetable, or canola oil, and even butter. I did my research and have found that Coconut oil can positively affect our hormones for thyroid and blood-sugar control. People who eat coconut oil also tend to have improvements in how they handle blood sugar since coconut can help improve insulin use within the body. Coconut oil can boost thyroid function helping to increase metabolism, energy and endurance. It increases digestion and helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut oil can help restore normal thyroid function. When the thyroid does not function optimally, it can contribute to higher levels of bad cholesterol. Use Coconut oil to fry with, to bake with and to add to everyday dishes like Oatmeal, tea, or coffee. Use on vegetables in place of spreads or butter, Coconut oil is a great moisturizer for hair and skin, use organic if using on skin or for massage. Studies have shown that you can consume to 2 tablespoons daily for healthy benefits.

Chocolate Coconut Clusterscoconut clusters

Ingredients:

  • 1 (5 oz) bag Flaked or shredded coconut- unsweetened
  • 2/3 cup melted coconut oil + 1 TBSP
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. In medium bowl, mix coconut flakes, 2/3 cup melted coconut oil, vanilla, and almond butter until well mixed.
  2. Using hands, form into 1 inch balls and put on a plate.
  3. Put the plate in the freezer until the clusters harden completely.
  4. Once the clusters have hardened, melt the chocolate in a double boiler with 1 TBSP coconut oil until smooth.
  5. Dip the clusters into the chocolate and put back on a plate or in a small baking dish
  6. Put them into refrigerator and eat once they get cold.
  7. Enjoy the awesome mixture of crunchy chocolate shell and chewy coconut center!

Chicken Stew Soup

Dinner Ideas, Side, Soup, Vegetables March 29, 2014 Leave a comment


Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

Ingredients

One 2- to 3-pound chicken fryer, cut up
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
16 ounces frozen home-style egg noodles
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Splash of half-and-half, optional
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh parsley

Directions

Start by putting the chicken in a pot and covering it with water. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot. Set the chicken aside to cool briefly.

Shred the chicken with 2 forks, reserving the bones. Return the bones to the pot and boil for 20 minutes. Remove the bones from the pot and discard.

Add the shredded chicken, carrots, celery and onions to the pot. Then add the salt, pepper, thyme and turmeric. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the noodles; no need to thaw them first!

Finally, mix the flour with 1/2 cup water until smooth. Stir the flour mixture, the splash of half and half (if you’re into that kind of thing) and the minced parsley into the pot. Simmer until the noodles are tender, about 15 minutes, tasting and adding more salt if needed at the end. The soup should be thick and stew-like and your kitchen should smell like home.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chicken-and-noodles-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Vanilla Butter

Bread, Dessert, Fun Stuff, Vanilla Bean Butter March 29, 2014 Leave a comment

I love using my favorite spice, vanilla bean.  I have offered other culinary delights using vanilla beans to this blog. Do a search for Vanilla, you will find recipes for: Vanilla Bean Syrup, Vanilla Bean Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Bean Sugar Cubes, Vanilla Bean Sea Salt, Vanilla Bourbon Sauce.  Any of these items packaged nicely would be a wonderful gift during the holidays.  Enjoy

Vanilla Butter

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 whole vanilla bean

Directions:

  1. Whip the softened butter, and sugar, mixing with an electric mixer until the sugar dissolves and butter is fluffy.
  2. Add the caviar from the vanilla bean by splitting the bean lengthwise with a sharp knife, stir the seeds into the butter until totally combined.
  3. Serve with warm biscuits, muffins waffles, or pancakes.
  4. Store butter in refrigerator.

The fun with this butter is that you can add other ingredients to the butter after whipping with the sugar and vanilla bean.  Some suggestions are: 1 tablespoon of honey, Bourbon, or ground roasted almonds.  Consider using fine white sugar in place of the brown sugar and add a tablespoon of organic lavender flowers, purple chive flowers, chopped rose petals, or marigold petals.  Whatever the occasion calls for.  Use your imagination but be sure if you do add flowers, they are edible.