Another one from Skinny Taste ~ Cauliflower Fritters

I am trying to expand and try new food that I normally wouldn't cook with.  I would like my boys to be eating a wide variety of foods versus the same ole', same ole'.  My dear friend suggested that I try this new recipe with Cauliflower and I am so glad that I did.  I was pleasantly surprised!  I don't normally eat cauliflower but I will definitely start using this recipe on a regular basis.  The recipe comes from Gina's Skinny Taste.  Here is her original recipe:
Gina's Skinny Taste ~ Cauliflower Fritters Recipe

 Combine cauliflower, flour, garlic, eggs, grated cheese, parsley, salt & pepper.  ** I used white flour because I didn't have wheat flour on hand. 

Mix well and add water if needed

Add 2 tbsp oil in pan and use approximately 1/4 cup of mixture to form fritters.

 Cook until brown

Flip and cook other side.

Enjoy!  These are so yummy!  Me and my little belle had to snack on these while we cooked the remaining mixture!  I even had them cold for breakfast!  

Banana Nut Cookies with a pinch of Flaxseed

After our busy schedule this week, which now includes T-Ball for Will, I felt very neglectful of my family for eating out so much.  After doing some on-line searching for 'healthy recipes', I came across a recipe for cookies that looked yummy and healthy so I decided I would try them.  The recipe came from Gina @ Skinny Taste.  Here is her blog:  http://www.skinnytaste.com/ 

The original recipe is:
Chewy Lowfat Banana Nut Oatmeal Cookies

I altered this a bit, added more bananas, some flax seed, didn't have any baking powder, added an egg.....Yes, I am bad about not using measuring cups or spoons and just going with it.  Sometimes it is a success and sometimes I end up throwing everything away....this go around, I really liked them.  They had a good flavor and texture.  They are not my normal chocolate cookies that I make so it was a nice, refreshing change. 

Banana Nut Cookies
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup flax seed
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp butter
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 tbsp vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3 cups oatmeal

In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and set aside

Cream the sugars and butter together

Mix good

Add two eggs, vanilla...

Mix in bananas

Slowly add flour mixture in....

Stir in oatmeal, flaxseed and pecans

Mix well.....then bake @ 350 until brown

Baking Wishlist

Triple-Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake with Meyer Lemon Curd Fillin from Pretty.Good.Food

This looks AMAZING...what a good combination of flavors.  I can't WAIT to try this!  Her blog is:

http://www.prettygoodfood.com/

She has a lot of other delicious recipes there, too!

Bad to the Bone ~ Beer Can Chicken

Okay, I have to admit........I am a complete weirdo when it comes to meat.  I cut all the edges off my steaks on the rare occasion I eat them and I don't like to eat chicken off the bone...........or any meat off the bone for that matter.  Wings are a HUGE no-no.....there is no way I am putting my teeth on a chicken wing bone.  I guess there is always an exception to anything......and this chicken is mine.  It is delish!  Very tender and although it is on the bone (and I quickly take JUST the white meat off it so I can get that thought out of my mind) it is still a WIN in my book. 

You just take the chicken, half a can of beer and a lemon (or lime).......insert the lemon and beer can (1/2 full) into the chicken, season outside and grill for 3 hours @ 300 degrees.  Enjoy!

Grandma Belle's Birthday ~ Happy Birthday to the sweetest Grandma!

It is my Grandma's birthday today so we celebrated with a lunch yesterday.  We all made a dish or two and brought it down to Grandma's to have a celebration for lunch.  We had quite the spread! 

I tried the Pioneer Woman's ~ Best Lasagna EVER recipe and it turned out really good! 

Here is the recipe:
The Pioneer Woman's The Best Lasagna Ever Recipe

Here are pictures and how it turned out:

Browning the meats & garlic

Adding the tomatoes, paste and seasonings

Simmer for 45 minutes....Mmmmmmmmm

Set up your stations.....

Mixing the cheese....

Stations set up!

And build the lasagna...

Gotta have cheese!  I didn't have the slices so I used shredded....

the yummy meat and sauce...worth the 45 minute wait..........

Finished product, I have to agree with the Pioneer Woman - it is the BEST Lasagna EVER.

We also had to make a cake per Will's request....so here's the cake.................

I used a cake mix and added pudding.  I used my previous Fudge Recipe as the icing. 

We also love deserts.......so here are some more deserts...............

It was quite the spread and everything turned out so good!  We will be having a guest post from Annie Belle with her Squash Casserole Recipe which is the BEST!  ;)  Happy Birthday to the sweetest Grandma ever! 

Marshmallow Creme Fudge!

If you have not tried to make the fudge recipe with marshmallow creme, you should!  I made some for the kids.....okay, so I made some for MYSELF, the other night and it was so good!  I didn't put any nuts or vanilla in the recipe and I used milk chocolate chips versus the semi-sweet.  Very quick, very easy and it definitely satisfies that sweet tooth!

Marshmallow Creme Fudge Recipe (altered to my pantry)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 7 oz container marshmallow creme

Melt the butter, sugar & milk on stovetop.  Once it comes to a rapid boil on medium heat, let boil for 4 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips and marshmallow creme.  Stir good and pour into greased container.  Let cool.  See, easy, breezy...........then enjoy!

Spaghetti?? Pizza??? How about BOTH!

Mama Belle and I got ahold of a new recipe from my Auntie Mary G from Wisconsin.  She said they make it there all the time.  It was such an interesting recipe and new to us, so we had to give it a whirl!!  I don't know the name of it, but it's a combination of two favorites ~ spaghetti and pizza!  It was really good and the kiddos liked it, too. 

Spaghetti/Pizza Bake
Ingredients:
16 oz pkg spaghetti
2 eggs
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 c milk
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
Hamburger or sausage (about 1 lb)
32 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 tsp oregano
3 c mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Break spaghetti into 2 in. lengths; cook, drain and cool

In a large bowl beat eggs; add milk and 1 c mozzarella cheese, garlic powder and salt.

Stir in cooked spaghetti and mix well, Grease jelly roll pan.  Spread spaghetti mixture into pan and bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

Brown meat and drain while "crust" is baking.

Spread spaghetti sauce over baked spaghetti and sprinkle with oregano. 
Sprinkle 3 c cheese over sauce, top with meat. 

Bake 30 minutes and let stand 5 minutes before cutting. 

In a large bowl beat eggs; add milk and 1 c mozzarella cheese, garlic powder and salt

Stir in cooked spaghetti 

Mix well

Spread spaghetti mixture into pan

Bake at 400 for 15 minutes

Spread spaghetti sauce over baked spaghetti and sprinkle with oregano

Sprinkle 3 c cheese over sauce

Top with meat

Bake 30 minutes  

Let stand 5 minutes before cutting

Enjoy!