Whole Wheat Apple Strudel Bread

Nothing beats warm toasted and lightly buttered apple strudel bread in the morning. A favorite brand of mine is Inn Keepers from Oregon and since finding it can be tricky I decided to make it myself... maybe a little healthier.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour
1 C packed Brown Sugar
1 Can Apple Pie Filling
3 med Apples (peeled, cored and diced)
2 Eggs
4 T Butter
1/4 C Apple Sauce
1 T Cinnamon
1 t Allspice
1 t Cloves
1 t Baking Soda
1 t Baking Powder
1 t Vanilla
1 t Mapline Flavor

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together place in bread making and set at a Cake or Rustic loaf with Medium Crust. If using the Oven place in oven at 350 degrees for 40-50 min and let set in pan for 10 min followed by allowing to cool and dry covered by a towel.

Danielle

Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

I have been dying to put this recipe together and thought it would take longer than it did... so when it took me less than 30 min from start to sitting down and eating I was pleasantly surprised! 

Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
(Cook Time: 15-20min Prep Time: 5-10min Serves 4)
Ingredients: 

• 3 Med-Large Tomatoes (cubed, reserve a 1/4 for later)
• 1 Box Noodles (Penne)
• 1 Can French Cut Green Beans (strained) (Can sub w/ chopped Asparagus just add to noodles when boiling instead)
• Spinach (lg bundle or bag largely chopped)
• 3 Garlic Cloves ( minced)
• 2-3 Chicken Breast (Cut into 1/4" strips)
• 3 Tb Olive Oil
• 1-2 Tb Italian Seasonings
• 1 Slice or Thick Cut Bacon (chopped)
• 1/4 C Pepperoni (cut into 1/4's)
• 1-3 Tb Balsamic Vinegarette
• Salt & Pepper to taste 

Cooking Instructions: 
Place sliced chicken in Frying pan (med-high) add Oil, salt and pepper. Add in Garlic, Bacon & Pepperoni and cover with lid. Reduce heat to med. While meat is cooking fill pan with well salted water & bring to boil. Add in noodles and cook till al dente. While noodles boil add chopped tomatoes to frying pan along with green beans, Italian Seasonings, Balsamic Vinegarette and Salt & Pepper. Stirring occasionally. Let cook for about 5 min then add in Spinach and reserved tomatoes. Stir well and cover with lid and reduce to a simmer. Once spinach is soft (not soggy) remove from heat and combine with strained Penne noodles. 


DaniW

Locked And Loaded Turkey Meatloaf

I was never a fan of meatloaf... until I found this recipe and now Im hooked!

Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf
(Prep/Cook Time: 10min/20 min or 10min/1hr Serves 8)

Ingredients

• 2lbs ground turkey
• 1 C bread crumbs
• 2 Eggs
• 1T Parsley
• 1/2 T Garlic powder
• 1/2 T onion powder
• 1/2 Onion chopped
• 1 C Carrots Juliened/matchsticks
• 1 C Spinach (Fresh) Chopped
• 1/2 C Zuchinnie Juliened/ choppped finely
• 1 C BBQ Sauce (Divided 1/2)
• 3-4 Strips Cooked Bacon (Crumbled)
• 1/2 Bell Pepper (Red, yellow or Orange) Chopped
• 1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Divided 1/2)

Cooking Instructions
Combined First 11 ingredients ( Turkey, bread, eggs, parsley, garlic, onion pwdr, onion, carrots, spinach, zuchinnie & BBQ sauce) into an even mixture. Place 2/3rd of Meatloaf mixture into well greased Deep Covered Baker or well greased Regular loaf pan. Create a Ditch in the middle of the loaf to hold the remaining ingredients ( bacon, bell peppers and cheese). Top with remaining meatloaf mixture and blend the "seam".

If cooking in Microwave cook for 15 min. Remove and top with remaining BBQ sauce and cheese then return to microwave for 5min and let stand for 5 min before serving.

If cooking in a regular loaf pan in Oven cook at 350 for 1 hour and let stand for 5 min before serving.

Quick Thai Lettuce Wraps

Valentines Day is the day of LOVE... This is the PERFECT dinner for two! No utensils need and plates are optional. If you want to make things interesting you can even feed your significant other! ;) 

Quick Thai Lettuce Wraps
(Prep/Cook Time: 30 min Serves 2-4)

Ingredients

• 1 Packet Knorr/Lipton Teriyaki Noodles Sides
• 3 Chicken Breasts (Frozen is fine)
• 1/3 C Stir Fry Sauce
• 1 Onion Yellow/White Chopped
• 2 Cloves Garlic Chopped
• 1 T Oil
• 1 T Sesame Seeds
• 1 LG Head of Iceburg Lettuce 
• 1 Package Rice Noodles

Cooking Instructions

Boil Chicken with Stir Fry Sauce, once fully cooked drain and set aside.
In same Stock Pot boil Rice Noodles, strain and set aside
In a deep skillet or sauce pan Saute Onions, Garlic & Sesame Seeds in Oil
Once sauted add in Teriyaki Sides Packet along with Water as instructed on label.
While Teriyaki mixture is boiling and simmering, stirring occationally, Chop chicken finely. We used a hand chopper that worked great or a food processor.
Add Chicken to almost finished Teriyaki mixture and fold in till mixed thouroughly.
Seperate Lettuce into whole leaves, removing the bottom stem stub makes this significantly easier! Layer into a pile for easy access!
Place Noodles in on dish, Teriyaki Chicken Mixture in another and Lettuce leaves piled in another!

To eat place noodles in lettuce bowl and top with Teriyaki mixture... enjoy! No forks, spoons or plates needed!

Easy 6 Ingredient Baked Ziti

Lighter on the cheese and just enough kick from the Italian Sausage!

Ingredients (yields 6-8 servings)

Prep Time:10 min  Cook Time:20min

• 1 box of Penne Pasta 
• 1.5lb Hamburger (Ground Turkey taste great!) 
• 1/2 lb (abt 3 Italian Sausage Links) 
• 1 ?oz Jar of Pasta Sauce (I use Ragu w/ Meat)
• 3/4 C Ricotta
• 2 C Shredded Mozzarella 

Cooking Instructions

Brown Hamburger/Turkey & Italian Sausage (Removed from casings first) and drain off grease. 

Boil & Drain Pasta and combine with meat

In a separate bowl combine Pasta Sauce & Ricotta

Pour Noodles & Meat in a 9x13 casserole dish

Fold in Sauce and top with Mozzarella

Cook at 350 for 20 min.  

Quick N Healthy Black Bean Chili

Ingredients (yields 8-10 servings)

Total Cook Time: 20-30 min Serves 8-10 

• 1.5 lbs of ground turkey or 90/10 hamburger
• 1 Pkt Chili Seasonings
• 2 C diced tomatoes (w/ juice)
• 1C(small) diced green chilies (w/ juice) 
• 3 C Black Beans (w/ juice)
• 1 C Corn (drained)
• 1 Boulion Cube (chicken)
• 3 C water
• 1-2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (Ground) if desired
• 1/3 C Dried Chopped Onions

Cooking Instructions

Brown meat, add in 1/2 of chopped onions. 
Once cooked strain and rinse. 
Return meat back to stock pot add in Chili Seasonings, Boulion Cube, Cumin, Cayenne (if desired) and remaining chopped onions and water. Bring to a boil and let boil for a few min allowing some of the water to cook off. 
While boiling add in Tomatoes, Chilies & Corn and allow to boil for apx 2-5 min. Stir occasionally to keep from scorching bottom. 
Add in Beans while boiling reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 to 15 min. 


Top with Sour Cream or Cheese Cubes and serve in a bread bowl! 


Dani

Kickin Taco Soup

A Panera Style Soup that can be made in well under 30 min. 

Ingredients (yields 8-10 servings)

• 1 lb Hamburger or Ground Turkey (browned)
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 3 cups water
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 can hominy
• 1 can diced tomatoes w/ chilies (Rotel)
• 1 packet taco seasonings
• 1 cup cubed Velveta cheese

Cooking Instructions

Brown hamburger in skillet w 1/3 packet taco seasonings.
Drain fat and transfer to med pot.
Add in water and bouillon cube.
Set on high and add in corn, hominy, tomatoes &  remaining seasonings then bring to a boil.
Add in beans followed by cheese, reduce heat to medium high continue to boil for a few min and then reduce to a simmer for 20 min stirring frequently so cheese melts thoroughly doesnt settle and scorch on the bottom.
Remove from heat. Top with sour cream & tortilla chips!

Stores and Freezes VERY well!

Perfect Potato Soup

Soup is SUCH a cold weather essential... warms you from the inside out! Cream based soups used to frustrate me because of the "add flour" to thicken ... and I always had clumps of flour no matter what I did. This recipe I used Instant Potatoes instead of flour and it was a HUGE success!!!

Ingredients:  (yields 8-10 servings) 

• ‎6-10 med/small white potatoes (cubed & boiled w or w/out skins)
• 1 cup chopped carrots (boiled w potatoes)
• 1 onion chopped
• 1/2 T butter
• 2 C Precooked Spiral Cut Ham (cut into cubes)
• 1 C heavy cream
• 1 can Evap milk (Fat free works great as well!)
• 2 C water
• 1 chicken boulion cube
• 1 can corn
• 1 can cream of chicken (reduced fat tastes just fine!)
• salt, pepper & celery salt to taste
• abt 2/3 C Instant potatoes (Add 1/3 C at a time till the consistency you would like)

Cooking Instructions:

Boil potatoes & carrots till tender then drain and set aside 
Return stockpot to stove & saute onions w/ butter inside of stockpot
once onions are ready add in water, chicken boulion cube and cream of chicken then bring to a boil. 
Add in corn & Ham and continue to boil for a few min add in potatoes & carrots & continue to boil for a few more min. 
Reduce heat to a simmer add in cream and milk. 
Season w salt, pepper (abt 1 Tbs) & celery salt (abt 2 tsp) to taste 
Use a potato masher to break up potatoes, carrots and corn a little (about 6 times) but not into mush!
Finally add in Instant potatoes 1/3 C at a time to thicken the soup up!

Enjoy!

Dani W

Welcome To My Food Blog!

W e l c o m e

My Name is Danielle... I have a "self proclaimed" knack for cooking food. I figure ... I might as well reserve my own little plot of cyberspace where I can dump all of my recipes. Let me know if you try any of them... ESPECIALLY if you made changes that made it better!