DAY 65 RECIPE: CHEESEY CHICKEN POCKETS WITH BACON AND RED PEPPER

Hi there! I missed yesterday! I know! I was actually taken out for a birthday celebration dinner by my wonderful girlfriends! Had such a great time and really loved having my friends around!
Anyhow, I will also be on ANOTHER brief hiatus while I go up to Lac La Biche and  pack up my house, so we can move back to beautiful BC!
I will be back at this ASAP! (End of next week).
For now here is tonights, quick and tasty recipe:
DAY 65 RECIPE:

CHEESEY CHICKEN POCKETS WITH BACON AND RED PEPPER


INGREDIENTS:
2.5 OZ Cream Cheese
1 Cup Grated Aged Cheddar Cheese
1 Pkg Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
8 Slices Cooked Bacon
4 Slices Chicken Breast Slices (Deli Style)
1/2 Small Red Pepper, in thin slices
6 Green onion, halved

DIRECTIONS:
Beat together cream cheese and cheddar with a mixer for 2 minutes.
Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.
Unroll crescents and separate into 2 pieces (4 little triangles in each one)
Pat the dough out a little, just to slightly flatten and spread out.
Spread a thin layer of cheese mixture over each piece of dough, not quite to the edges (about a 1/4 inch away).
Lay 2 pieces of chicken slices on each piece of dough.
Now top chicken with bacon(4 pieces per square).
On one half of each dough square, place about 4 strips of red pepper and 1/2 of the green onions.
Fold dough squares in half and press all side together; flip the ends up and squish together.
Place on a parchment lined sheet pan in the oven for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve.

DAY 64 RECIPE: HEALTHIER FRENCH TOAST

Yesterday we had such a lovely dinner and had so many leftovers that I thought I would post our lunch recipe from today, as dinner was last nights leftovers. So I made a healthier version of french toast and it is so yummy! Can't even tell that it is healthy! Enjoy! (If you can't tell, my son, Riley, is VERY fond of this....Can you see his little fingers?)
DAY 64 RECIPE:

HEALTHIER FRENCH TOAST


INGREDIENTS:
1 Whole Egg
2 Egg Whites
1 Tbsp Skim Milk
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Vanilla
4 Slices Whole Wheat Bread
Baking Spray (like PAM)

DIRECTIONS:
In a pie plate or a bowl, beat together, egg, egg whites, skim milk, salt and vanilla.
Coat a non stick fry pan with baking spray and bring to a medium heat.
Cut each piece of bread in half, and dip each piece briefly in the egg mixture. Place in pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
To keep these healthier, top with fresh fruit and a SMALL sprinkling of powdered(icing) sugar.

DAY 63 RECIPE: CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH SMOKED CHEDDAT CHEESE SAUCE

This was the recipe from yesterday, March 17th 2010. I did not get a chance to post it until now, as yesterday was my birthday! Busy times! And yes, I did make my own birthday dinner. Haha. It is one of most favourite dishes (aside from cotton candy) so I like to make absolutely sure that it will be made to my exact specifications. Anyhow, here it is, amazing and delish (thought I must say, the picture does not do it justice!) Try it and Enjoy it! The Applewood smoked cheddar gives the sauce a wonderful flavour!
DAY 63 RECIPE:

CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE


INGREDIENTS:
1 Package of Cheese Filled Tortellini, 700g
Water
1 Tsp Salt
6 Tbsp Butter
6 Tbsp Flour
3 Cups Milk
2 Cups Shredded Aged Cheddar Cheese
1 Cup Shredded Applewood Smoked Cheddar
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large pot, bring water to a boil (about 8 -10 cups). Add 1 tsp salt and tortellini. Boil for about 8 minutes or until tortellini is tender. Drain and place into a large casserole dish.
In a larger sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter. Sprinkle flour over butter and stir together. Cook for 2 minutes, while continuing to stir. Slowly add milk, stirring to mix together and make smooth. Keep cooking on medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (about 10 minutes). add all cheese, 1tsp salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
Pour sauce over tortellini, mix together to coat. bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, to ensure everything is fully heated through.
A nice addition to this is to add some shredded mozzarella on the top before baking.

DAY 62 RECIPE: HEARTY BEEF STEW

This has been a crazy day and things are so nuts I can't even begin to explain! I did, however, manage to make dinner and get the recipe ready for the blog! Enjoyed by all and hopefully for you too!
DAY 62 RECIPE:

HEARTY BEEF STEW


INGREDIENTS:
1 LB Stew Beef
1 Tbsp Oil
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
2 Ribs Celery, Coarsely chopped
1 Large Onion, coarsely chopped
1 Cup Sliced Carrots (thick slices)
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
3 Tbsp Butter
3 Tbsp Flour
5 Cups Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Water
4 Medium Potatoes, cut in 1" pieces
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Cup Frozen Peas
1/2 Cup Frozen Corn

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large dutch oven over high heat.
Add beef and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Brown beef for about 6 minutes.
Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic; sauté another 5 minutes. Remove beef and veggies from dutch oven. Add butter to pan and melt. Sprinkle flour into pan, stir constantly for 2 more minutes. Slowly add broth stirring constantly, 8 minutes. Mix together cornstarch and water, immediately pour into pot (slowly). Cook 4 more minutes. Put beef and veggies back into pot, reduce heat to low and let simmer 1 hour. Stir 3 times throughout. After the 1 hour, add potatoes, Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp pepper. Let simmer another 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until potatoes are tender. When the potatoes are done, remove from heat and stir in the frozen peas and corn. Let sit 3-5 minutes and serve.

DAY 61 RECIPE: PAN SEARED PORK STEAK

Hello my wonderful readers! Due to unforseen circumstances, my post for last night was unable to be posted. But here it is now! Tonights recipe will be up in a few hours, after it is made and consumed:) These pork steaks are nice and simple, tender and moist. Hope you all enjoy!
DAY 61 RECIPE:

PAN SEARED PORK STEAK

INGREDIENTS:
PORK STEAKS:
4 1" Thick Pork Steaks
2 Tsp Garlic Powder
2 Tsp Onion Powder
2 Tsp Paprika
2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Oil
SAUCE:
Pan Drippings from Pork steaks
2 Tbsp Flour
1 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Cup Chicken Broth


DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat oil over high heat in a non stick fry pan. Meanwhile, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika on a plate.
Coat both sides of each pork steak in the seasoning mix, and place in heated oil.
Sear for 2 minutes on each side.
Transfer steaks to a casserole dish and cover with foil. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes.
Reserve drippings from fry pan.
SAUCE:
Over a medium heat, melt butter in with the pan drippings. Add flour and stir constantly, cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly add chicken broth, stirring constantly until thickened about 8 minutes. Pour over cooked pork steaks

DAY 60 RECIPE: CUCUMBER SANDWICHES(TEA PARTY!)

Today we had our dear friend Liz come for lunch and a visit. Since Liz is British, we thought it would be fun to have a kind of "Tea Party" theme for lunch. It was lovely and the kids loved the little sandwiches!  I did make some peanut butter Tea party sandwiches for them though! We actually made six different kinds of little Tea Party sandwiches, and today my recipe is one for Cucumber Sandwiches.We also served the White Chocolate Cheesecake that I started last night for our dessert! I hope you all enjoy them! I know our British Friend Liz sure did! Thanks for coming over Liz! We had a great time and really enjoyed your company!
DAY 60 RECIPE:

CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 Large Long English Cucumber, THINLY sliced
3 OZ Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbsp Miracle Whip
1/2 Tsp Paprika
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
3 Slices White Sandwich Bread
3 Slices Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
1 Tbsp Butter

DIRECTIONS:
In a smallish bowl whip together cream cheese, miracle whip, paprika, salt and garlic powder until smooth.
On one side of each slice of bread spread a thin layer of butter. On top of butter layer, spread a layer of cream cheese mixture (about 1 tbsp per slice of bread).
arrange cucumber slices on all three pieces of white bread to cover.
Place whole wheat bread slices on top.
Carefully cut all crusts from sandwiches. Now slice sandwiches into quarters.
Serve immediately.