Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:19:23 -0700 rozanne@scrapgirls.com (ScrapGirls Message Board) IP.Blog 60 teacher, a neighbor, your favorite friend or other
special person.

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cup red & white Valentine themed M&M candies
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

In a bowl, mix flour with baking soda and
baking powder. In a 1-quart wide mouth
canning jar, layer sugar, then M&M's, and
then the flour mixture. Be sure to press
each layer firmly before adding next layer.

With ribbon, raffia, or fabric, attach a tag to
the jar that says:

Happy Valentine's Day!
Here's how to make your "Valentine M&M's Cookies:

1. Empty contents of jar into a large bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Add 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine,
1 slightly beaten egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to
flour mixture.
4. Mix thoroughly.
5. Shape into walnut-sized balls and place
on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes,
or until edges are slightly brown.]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:47:48 -0700 Main Dishes
One Pot Tuna Noodle
POINTSŪ Value: 6
Servings: 5

12 oz Egg Free Wide Pasta Ribbons (Noodles), cooked and drained
2 cans Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 5 oz each, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 98% fat free
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
2 tsp table salt, optional
1 tsp black pepper, optional

Gently mix cooked and drained noodles with tuna, cream of mushroom soup, peas, milk, salt and pepper. Serve.

My review: the previous version we would make of Tuna Noodle include a whole block of Velveeta which was the way my husband loved it - which is the way his mother made it. So this one wasn't cheesy, but I was VERY okay with that. While it is one pot, I think next time I will put it into a casserole pan, top with a bit of breadcrumbs, and bake it a bit. I did add crushed red pepper flakes to my plated portion for added zip. I also think next time I will add more peas or maybe try other veggies - like maybe broccoli.

]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:00:07 -0700 Main Dishes
Spaghetti Casserole

2 lbs spaghetti
1 pkg turkey bacon (can use regular ole pork bacon if you prefer)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cans tomato sauce (29 oz)
1/2 cup sugar or so
Shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions; drain. Take bacon and cut it into 1" pieces or so and cook/heat on a baking sheet in the oven until a bit crispy. You can also do this in the microwave if you wish. It's hard to say how long so just keep an eye on it. To pasta, add bacon, onion, tomato sauce, and sugar. Add a handful of cheese into mix if you wish. Stir well. Taste as you might want to add a bit more sugar. Pour into a greased (I use cooking spray) baking pan. I have a deep 13x9" pan that I always use for this. If yours is shallow, you will definitely need another pan. Top with more cheese and bake until cheese is melted and golden brown.


*A few more notes: when I used to make this with pork bacon, I would fry the bacon and then when it was finished, remove the cooked bacon from the grease. Then fry the onion in the grease and add the sugar to this mixture over very low heat until the sugar is dissolved and then add this to the pasta mixture. Not as healthy, but some might prefer this method.

*Also, the cheese is something that varies. You don't have to use any mixed into the pasta, so I usually skip it or add only a small amount. I prefer to use most of the cheese on the top than within the dish to save on calories/fat. Also, I do the onion finely diced so it will soften while cooking in the oven, so I don't have to saute it. My family likes onion so this works fine for us. If yours doesn't, you might want to omit the onion.

*If making this for a smaller group, use just 1 lb of spaghetti and 1 can of tomato sauce and less sugar.]]> Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:07:29 -0700
Southwestern Rolls

1 package egg roll wrappers
2 avocados, cut into pieces about 1/2"
1 can black beans
1/2 tsp cumin powder
Juice from 2 limes
6 Roma tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, chopped (small bunch or so)
Oil

Rinse the black beans, drain and mix in a bowl with cumin. In another bowl, gently mix tomatoes, avocado, and pour lime juice. Take egg roll wrapper and put it on a plate with one corner facing you. Put one generous teaspoon each of beans and tomato/avocado mix in a line across the middle. Top with some cilantro. Wrap by pulling up corner pointing at you over the mixture and rolling part of the way up. Fold left and rights points of wrapper in over the mixture that you have rolled, and continue roll up. Dab the fourth point (the one that was pointing away from you) with a small amount of water and finish rolling, sealing moistened fourth point down onto roll. Heat about 1/2" vegetable oil to medium heat in a pan, fry rolls, turning to brown all sides. Drain & let cool a bit before eating.

Oh, I have made things like this (well, eggrolls) with baking them in the oven rather than frying -- although I can't remember if I've ever done these that way. I put on a cooking sheet that I've sprayed with cooking spray and then lightly spray the tops of the rolls with cooking spray. The wrappers do turn out a bit different.
]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:31:12 -0700
10 cups regular shaped salted pretzels
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp butter flavor

Put pretzels into a large baking pan that has been sprayed with a non-stick spray; set aside.

In a saucepan over low heat place corn syrup, sugars, salt and butter; mix well. When mixture is melted and starts to bubble lightly, place lid on pan for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds remove lid and stir with a clean spoon. This will help prevent any sugar or salt crystals from getting back into the syrup mixture. Turn temperature down and let boil gently for five minutes. Stir frequently while cooking. When mixture has cooked for 5 minutes, remove from heat add
baking soda and stir. Make sure all baking soda has been mixed through, the sugar will foam and this normal. Add butter flavoring and stir well. Pour hot toffee mixture over pretzels. Stir, making sure all pretzels are coated.

Place pretzels in a preheated oven at 225 degrees F. Every 15 minutes stir pretzels to coat with toffee mixture. Bake these for 60 minutes. When finished baking, remove from oven and pour onto a non-stick surface. Plastic wrap works well and there is little mess to clean up.]]> Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:02:49 -0700 Main Dishes April on the SG Welcoming Committee shared a yummy sounding recipe with the Scrap Girls team -- I bought the ingredients to make it this week. Figured I would post it here so I don't lose it:

Santa Fe Chicken

Combine the following in slow cooker:
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1/2 cup salsa
After stirring, add:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup more salsa
Cook on low for 3 hours. Then add,
1 (8 oz.) block of cream cheese
Cook one more hour. Serve over rice with flour tortillas.
I cook mine longer so the chicken shreds and has a chicken salad consistency.
The serving suggestion was on tortillas or with rice.

Note: I made a spanish rice to put this mixture on in a tortilla.]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:04:46 -0700
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups rolled oats
1 egg, beatern
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup raisins or chopped nuts
1 /2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix in shortening. Stir until mixture is crumbly. Stir in egg, pumpkin, oats and raisins (or nuts). Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake fifteen minutes or until done. About 5 dozen.
]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:34:27 -0700
Grandma's Holiday Jello Salad

• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
• 1 cup water (more or less depending on what's needed, see below)
• 2 (3 oz) pkgs lime jello
• 1 cup mayo
• 1 cup evaporated milk, canned
• 1 cup cottage cheese (small curd is usually what I use)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

In a large multi-cup measuring cup (I use my 4 cup Pyrex), add all of the reserved pineapple juice and
then add enough water to the juice to make a total of 2 cups. Pour into pot and bring just to a boil. Add
the lime jello mixes and stir until dissolved, remove from heat. In a bowl, stir together mayo and
evaporated milk. Stir in the jello mixture. Add pineapple, cottage cheese, and walnuts. Pour jello mixture
into a glass casserole pan or bowl. Refrigerate overnight - it does need at least 4 hours to set.



]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:52:01 -0700

• ScrapSimple Paper Template: Turkey Day Paper Special (available only for a very limited time here);
• ScrapSimple Paper Template: Turkey Day Paper
• Brush Set: Turkey Day Doodles
• ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template - Album: 4x6 Recipe Card
• Turkey Day Paper Super Mini
• A Victorian Bliss Collection Mini

Recipe:

Leftover Turkey Pomegranate Salad

1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
3 cups turkey, cooked and cubed
1 cup celery, sliced
1 cup apple, diced
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 cups mayo, or to taste
1/4 cup pineapple juice

Gently mix pineapple with turkey, celery, apples, seeds, and walnuts. In separate bowl, combine mayo and pineapple juice. Combine dressing with turkey mix. Serve on sliced croissants.

]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:51:48 -0700 Main Dishes here.

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We love Malibu Chicken -- which is sort of like Chicken Cordon Bleu but easier and it's my version of the dish that Sizzler restaurants make (no Sizzlers here so I had to adapt):

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Sliced ham lunch meat
Swiss cheese
egg & a bit of milk (I think I use 2 eggs, depends on how many chicken breasts)
flour mixed with a bit salt & pepper
Breadcrumbs

Optional:
Mustard
Mayonnaise

Okay...
Combine flour with salt and pepper. Mix up the eggs with some milk. Coat each chicken breast with flour (shake off excess), dip into egg mixture, and then coat with breadcrumbs.
Place chicken breasts on a greased baking dish, bake @400 degrees for about 30-35 minutes (I can't be sure exactly how long, I just watch them and know when they are done).
Pull out of oven and top with ham and then a slice of cheese on top of ham. Bake again until cheese is all melted

I combine mustard and mayonnaise to make a dipping sauce that is served with this chicken. I just mix up whatever I need until the mixture is right...it shouldn't really have a mayo taste, but more of a mustard taste (in my opinion). Maybe start with 1 tablespoon mustard to 1/4 cup mayo.

NOTES:
Oh, on the ham, I have used all different kinds...deli sliced, leftover ham from another dinner, cheapy ham lunch meat, a variety of thicknesses...it various. Lately, I buy a bag of Land O Frost thin sliced ham lunch meat and use about 3 slices per breast.

Also, some people might pound out their chicken to make it thinner, I am too lazy so I don't. You also might like to brown your breasts with a bit of oil in a pan -- I don't , as I want it as low fat as possible. Also, this meal could be done with Tyson or Banquet chicken patties -- you know the kind that are already breaded in the freezer section? They are already breaded, and round which is more the way Sizzler has theirs. I just personally prefer using the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:09:34 -0700