Cinnamon Glazed Pecans

I am a huge fan of nuts, pecans being one of my favorite varieties.  When we were driving home from our recent trip to Maryland, we stopped in North Carolina and were able to meet up with an older couple very dear to our hearts.  We had the best time catching up over lunch at Cracker Barrel, and I had the good fortune of being sent home with two bags of pecans they had shelled themselves!  

I've been snacking on them, and the other night I had a hankering for cinnamon glazed pecans, one of my very favorite treats to get when visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom.  I looked up some recipes and ended up using this one.  No joke, they tasted exactly like the ones I get at Animal Kingdom!  Not to mention the house smelled amazing.

Cinnamon Glazed Pecans

Preheat oven to 350.  

Melt 1 stick of butter and pour on aluminum foil lined baking sheet.

In large bowl mix 3 egg whites, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon.

Add 4 cups pecans and toss until full coated.

Spread pecans on baking sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Enjoy!  They taste unbelievable when warm!

Healthier Holiday (And Everyday!) Dishes

I have been meaning to share these recipes for over a month now, but time just got the best of me!  

When preparing my contributions for our family Thanksgiving dinner and dessert, I made some dishes that were rich and decadent and others that were healthier and lighter.  I wanted to share two of the recipes so you can enjoy them as well, whether at a festive holiday gathering or everyday mealtime around your table.

Our family has always had succotash at Thanksgiving.  This year I came across a vegetable bake that was a nice change from traditional succotash, but still included both lima beans and corn.  It was absolutely wonderful!  I am planning on making this tomorrow and looking forward to it already!

Corn, Lima, & Tomato Bake

Line the bottom of an ungreased casserole dish with 4 bacon slices (I used turkey bacon to keep it light).  Layer with a 16-oz. pkg. frozen lima beans and sliced tomatoes.

Add a chopped onion and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Add a 16-oz pkg. frozen corn and another layer of tomatoes, and once again season with salt and pepper.

Put four more slices of turkey bacon on top.  Cover and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours, or until lima beans are tender.  Uncover for final 10 minutes so bacon becomes crisp.

This dish is colorful, nutritious, and delicious!  A perfect something different when you are looking for a new side dish.

I also wanted to include a light dessert amidst my selection of rich ones.

And as you know, I have a true love for almost anything pumpkin - including pumpkin pie.  I don't, however, love pie crust.  When I came across a low-fat recipe for pumpkin custard it seemed like the perfect crustless alternative.  I was so pleased with how these individual custards came out - all the flavor of pumpkin pie without the heaviness of the crust!  They were also convenient to make the night before and refrigerate.

Individual Pumpkin Custard Cups

• 2 cups canned pumpkin

• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

• 8 egg whites

• 1/2 cup skim milk

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• fat-free whipped topping

Directions:


In a large mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg whites and skim milk until smooth. Add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt; mix well.


Spoon into 10 6 oz ramekins or custard cups coated with non-stick cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet or in a baking pan for stability.


Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until serving. Top with a dollop of whipped topping and enjoy.

Happy cooking and baking from my kitchen to yours!

A Taste Of Maryland

I know I've told you before how growing up a Maryland girl created in me a love for all things crab, shrimp, seafood, and Old Bay Seasoning.  There is nothing quite like the taste of Old Bay!  My cheeks pucker a little as I type this just thinking about its unique savory and spicy goodness.  Pass the steamed shrimp and vinegar, please!

A couple months ago my mom introduced me to a fabulous use of Old Bay and I have been meaning to share it with you!  If I remember correctly it may have been one of her Weight Watchers recipes, and it is an easy to make treat that is not bad for you!

You start by popping popcorn kernels in one of those microwaveable popcorn bowls where you don't have to add any oil or fat.  I put in a 1/3 cup kernels.  The thing is, you have to stay close by to listen for the popping to slow down because it can burn fast! In my microwave I figured out it takes about 2 minutes and 50 seconds, but yours could be completely different so don't leave the room or your house could smell like burnt popcorn in no time flat!

Once your popcorn is popped, put it in a large Ziploc bag or mixing bowl then either shake or stir it with a drizzle or two of olive oil...

Then sprinkle on some Old Bay and shake or stir until the popcorn is coated.  You can add just a pinch or be a little generous if you love it like I do!

This is a low calorie, high fiber, flavor loaded snack!

A little taste of Maryland, no matter where you may be!

Thanks, Mom!  You are still teaching me new things all the time.

A Taste Of Florida

A few weeks ago, my mom had us over for the most delicious fish dinner.  She served tilapia with homemade mango pineapple salsa, avocado and tomato salad, and other lovely sides.  Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious.  The tilapia was seasoned so beautifully, and it turns out it was thanks to this taste of Florida...

I had never heard of Everglades Seasoning.  My mom discovered it when she asked some questions while purchasing fish at Publix and they recommended it.  It is made here in the Sunshine State and has incredible flavor!  Tuesday night she made tilapia again, this time with rice, broccoli, and wedge salad.  Once again, the meal was fresh and delicious and the fish was seasoned to perfection.  After trying Everglades Seasoning a few weeks ago, I liked it so much I went to Publix and bought some.  I discovered that if you mix it with this...

And a little of this...

It makes for a quick and healthy but very tasty lunch!

I have no idea if you can find this in other states but it's sure worth looking for!  It looks like you can buy it online here. And locals, many of you have probably used this for years but if not, you're welcome!  ;)

Friday Night Meal Makeover: Baked Ravioli

On Friday nights, I like to make fun food - something that is tasty and extra yummy after a long week of school and everything else!  I also prefer to make something sort of easy so I don't have to spend too much time preparing, and can enjoy Friday afternoon with the kids.  This past Friday I tried something new before we headed off to the first football game of the season at the high school (gotta support our youth group students!), and it was a hit.  This Baked Ravioli was so super simple anyone could make it, even my girls out there who claim they can't cook!  Not only it is simple and delicious, but it will make your house smell soooo good while it bakes away!  And it is a budget friendly, filling meal!

You can type "baked ravioli" into your search engine and find several recipes right away.  I browsed some of these then took what our family would like and put this together.

Here's how easy it is to make...

Preheat your oven to 350.  Take two jars of pasta sauce (most recipes call for one but I like saucy pasta).  Spread one jar of sauce on the bottom of a pan (9x13 or 9x11 will be just right).  Take half of a large bag of frozen ravioli (as in, you don't even have to boil it first) and lay the ravioli in a single layer across the sauce.  Spread 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella across the frozen ravioli.  Next, spread another jar of sauce across the first ravioli/cheese layer.  Now take the other half of the frozen ravioli and make another layer.  Spread another 1/2 cup parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella across that layer.  Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes, then take off the foil and bake for another 20 minutes.

Dinner will be hot and delicious!

I served it with steamed broccoli, green beans, and ice water.  It made for a super easy, but very tasty, dinner!

This was an especially economical meal because we only ate half of it on Friday night. I thought we would eat the rest of it Saturday evening, but at the last minute Jimmy and I went out on a date (yay!), so we had it Sunday after church.  Pasta is one of the foods I actually love having for leftovers - sometimes it tastes even better the second time!  Jimmy picked up a fresh loaf of bread on the way home from church, I heated the ravioli in the oven, and a hot, yummy lunch was served!

Our family loves ravioli, and this baked version gave it a lasagna type richness and flavor without all the work - we will definitely be making this again soon!

"P" Is For Pitiful...And Pizza Sauce...And Pizza Braid

I had to laugh at myself when I took a second look at the shopping list I had scribbled down last Saturday morning.  It looked like this...

Have any of you ever had grocery lists that looked like this?  When I wrote down "pretty much everything else," I meant pretty much everything else!!  Things were just plain pitiful around here in our pantry!  I took a trip to Publix and spent a grand fortune, but saved a bunch as well - the BOGO's were awesome!!  I stocked up on some great items to have on hand for school lunches and after school snacks, and got us some food in this house as well.  Finally!

One thing I did have on hand, though, was pizza sauce.

My friend Laurie had come into town from Maryland.  We were talking on the phone a few days before she came down and I told her I had a strange request.  For some reason I was craving Don Pepino's pizza sauce, which I hadn't had in the nearly five years it has been since we moved here.  So far I have never seen it around in any stores, and I think it is the.best.pizza.sauce.ever.  I can eat it by itself I love it so much!  Laurie was the one who introduced me to this delicious sauce years ago, and I asked her if she would mind bringing me a can or two.  Well, thankfully she brought me not one, not two, but six cans of this pizza making magic!  I was itching to use some and had an idea for our Saturday lunch.

Have any of you ever made a braid from crescent rolls at a Pampered Chef party?  I remember the first time I saw and tasted one, and remember making a few as a young bride.  I had the idea to try making a braid using crescent rolls like I used to, but filling it with pizza toppings.  Here is what I used...

This looks really cool when finished, but it is honestly very simple.  You unroll the two cans of crescent rolls and lay them next to each other on a jelly roll pan or stone.  Roll them lightly to seal them together, then take a knife and make slits all the way down on either side of the dough.  When you are done rolling and cutting, it should look like this...

Take some pizza sauce and put a thin layer down the middle of the dough where it is not cut.

Then you add some cheese - I used one 8 oz bag.

Next, add whatever toppings you would like!  I did mine in sections...plain for good old, predictable Trevor; pepperoni for Jimmy and Madi; and green olives for me.

Then you make the braid, but don't panic, it's easy.  Just pull the sides over top the sauce, cheese, and toppings, alternating sides.  I gave mine a little twist at the top.  Try not to over-handle the dough so it doesn't get sticky.  When you are finished with the braid, pull the dough at the two ends up and seal them.

The Pampered Chef recipes that inspired me call for the braid to be brushed with an egg white.  Since I was making this pizza style, I simply added a little olive oil to the egg white, mixed it up, and brushed it on.

I then sprinkled the braid with parmesan cheese, Italians seasoning, and garlic salt. You could use other Italian seasonings or cheeses of your choice as well - whatever you want!

This is how it looked when it was about to go into the oven, which I had preheated to 375 degrees. (Yes, you see correctly, I didn't season Trevor's end.  I was afraid he might be suspicious of the green stuff!)

I started watching it at 20 minutes and think I pulled it out of the oven before 25 minutes.  The filling was hot, the cheese was melted, and the crescent roll crust was perfect.  I was excited to try this!

While the braid was baking, I heated up the rest of the pizza sauce from the can so we could use it for dipping...

And whisked together some Italian dressing, made a quick salad, and heated up a can of green beans for the kids.

This super easy dish turned out to be delicious!  Yes, it took a few minutes of prep time, but I promise you it is simple.  A fun, not too hard way to treat your family to something different and special!

Definitely perfect for a nice Saturday lunch at home!

Shortcuts

I wish I could be one of those bloggers who has a garden in her backyard and everything she cooks is homegrown and whole.  That would be pretty awesome.

But that is not our reality.

It might also be fun to be a blogger who after every weekend shares a new independent restaurant or two she dined in, posting pictures of delicious and unique (and costly) fare.

But that is not our reality either.

Here is our reality.

We are a mostly cook at home, eat at home family.  The majority of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks come right of our kitchen.  I know because I make them - and because I do the never ending stream of dishes! 

Eating out at restaurants is very rare.  Also rare are fast food runs (though we sometimes order pizza and you can bet we eat Chick-Fil-A every time we make a day trip to the beach!). I try to provide balanced meals and snacks on a budget to a family of four people, three of whom who have varying degrees of pickiness.  Ahem.  :)

I often have to do this in a hurry, though.  There are seasons that are extra busy and that is when it can get really tricky.  So I have definitely learned to take shortcuts to keep us eating at home.  I thought I'd share some of those shortcuts with you!

Take last Sunday afternoon, for instance.  I admit I didn't have a plan for a meal or the money to go out to lunch.  So after church, I ran into Publix hoping for some quick inspiration!  First stop, produce section.  Asparagus and lemon were on display, bagged spinach leaves were buy one, get one, and I picked up a bag of potatoes.  On the other side of the store I saw that they had rotisserie chickens on sale.  So there was a quick meal - when we got home I quickly chopped and boiled the potatoes to mash, sauteed the asparagus, and warmed the chicken in the oven to serve plain or on a spinach salad.  We had a filling lunch in about half an hour.  If I had to cook the chicken it would have taken much longer.

Another shortcut I use, even though it can be slightly more costly, is prepped and washed fruit.  We are crazy for these apple slices around here!  Trevor in particular will gobble them up which is great since he is my pickier child.  They come in handy at lunch time, or with peanut butter as a snack, or right out of the bag when we are at Disney or other outings since I always pack our lunches.

This if for me, myself, and I since I can't seem to convince anyone else in my family to eat grapefruit. But I love it and boy is this easier and less messy than cutting up grapefruit, especially for a busy mom.

When the individual packets are on sale, I will pick some of these up too.  Fresh and fast!

Another shortcut snack I go to is almonds.  I often buy the large bags of plain almonds, but my mom knows I love these Wasabi and Soy almonds that have a serious kick, and she bought me some the other day when she saw them buy one, get one.  (Ice cold bottled Coca-Cola is optional, but definitely a good paring on a hot summer day!  Don't worry - my main beverage is water.  These are just my occasional and very much enjoyed treats!)

Another shortcut I use is this squeeze from the tube, reduced sugar jelly.  I never thought I would use such a thing!  But somewhere along the way, probably as I was making my 987th peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I thought I would give this a try and never looked back.  It saves a little time, a lot of stickiness, and has half the sugar of the regular Welch's jelly.  Probably costs a few more cents, but worth it to me.

I love to bake, as you know, and always enjoy trying new recipes.  But sometimes I go to muffin mixes for a shortcut, and the Fiber One Blueberry Mix is absolutely one of our family favorites!  The house smells amazing when they are baking and come out of the oven.  These don't last long in our house, and are a quick and easy breakfast.

I would like to give whoever invented steam-in-the bag vegetables a hug!!  This is another shortcut I use all the time, and is worth a little extra money to me.  No pot to clean and delicious, perfectly steamed veggies in a few minutes!  My very favorite is the broccoli florets.  Though I still can't convince my kids to eat broccoli (I continue to make valiant efforts), Jimmy and I eat these all the time. We also like the mini corn on the cob, regular corn, peas, and have even made the rice a time or two.

And speaking of frozen foods, every now and then I will trust the Gorton's fisherman for dinner.  This is what I call a "Better Than McDonald's" meal.  If we are in a super hurry, I'd rather throw in some fish sticks, tots, and sweet potato fries than make a fast food run.  Fruit, canned green beans, or applesauce make for convenient side dishes. It's not fancy, or grown in my backyard, but it works.

Another shortcut meal I make now and then are sandwiches using Hormel Italian Beef.  Jimmy and I both love Italian Beef sandwiches and though these aren't as good as homemade or getting one from Portillo's in Chicago, they are actually pretty tasty. All you have to do is microwave the meat for four minutes.  I then put the meat on French hamburger buns with some of the au jus and provolone cheese, and put them in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes.  The buns get crispy, the cheese melts, and my husband is super happy!!  One package makes 6 sandwiches and is around $5 at Walmart or when it goes on sale at Publix.

I made these for dinner Saturday night.

I made a quick corn casserole, then also added steam in bag broccoli and canned green beans on the side.

Not only do I rely on these types of shortcuts, but also simple recipes like these that I have shared here before...

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Easiest Chicken Recipe Ever

Popover Pizza

And there are always good old standbys like spaghetti, tacos, and breakfast for dinner.

We are not always fancy.  I don't always have the budget or time to cook everything I would like to.  But we eat at home, as a family, even when we are busy.

I hope some of these shortcuts and ideas will help you do so too!