Easy Baked Apples!

This recipe made for a yummy breakfast! 

Picture from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

3 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1/4 cup whole milk

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish, or coat with non-stick cooking spray.

2.Place apples in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir spice mixture into apples until evenly distributed. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Spoon into prepared dish. Pour milk evenly over apple mixture.

3.Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until soft and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Recipe and picture from allrecipes.com
 
Enjoy ~The Mommy of 6 <3

Cinnamon Pear Frozen Yogurt

Another one of the low carb, low cal recipes!  You have to admit for a healthy recipe, I post some that are pretty yummy!!!

Picture from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can pear halves
2 cups vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions

1.Drain pears, reserving 1/2 cup of juice. Puree pears in food processor or blender.

2.Combine pears, reserved juice, yogurt, sugar, cinnamon and allspice in canister of ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturers' directions.
Recipe and picture from allrecipes.com
enjoy ~The Mommy of 6 <3

Black Bean Brownies

A healthier version of my favorite dessert!  Just add some vanilla bean frozen yogurt and fudge sauce, and this is one kickin' dessert!

Ingredients:
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

3 eggs
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.

2.Combine the black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, sugar, and instant coffee in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.

3.Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.

What has this baker been up too???

Well, here are some cakes I made this past holiday season!

 Our Thanksgiving cake, it also had a sign in back fo the turkey that said "save a turkey, eat a pig, Happy Thanksgiving" but it was kinda heavy, so it wouldn't stand up right.

The cookie table for the FRG Holiday social we had in December.  It was "Cookies with Santa"! Yes I made all of them, minus the bowl of pecans, and one box of cookies too the left.

 Our Christmas cake, and I am happy to say, I won first place in an online cake decorating competition!

 This beauty was the most delish German Chocolate Cake. 

These were some cadet cookies, I made for C3.  Aren't they cute!

~The Mommy of 6 <3

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Marsala

Pic from Allrecipes.com edited by me

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour for coating
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded 1/4 inch thick
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup Marsala wine
1/2 cup cooking sherry

Directions:
1.In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat chicken pieces in flour mixture.


2.In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium heat. Place chicken in the pan, and lightly brown. Turn over chicken pieces, and add mushrooms. Pour in wine and sherry. Cover skillet; simmer chicken 10 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink and juices run clear.
 
Serves 8
Enjoy, The Mommy of 6 <3

Rosemary Pork Roast

Rosemary Pork Roast

photo from allrecipes.com, additional editing by me.

Ingredients:
5 pounds pork tenderloin
1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
3-1/4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 cup chicken stock or white wine
roaster bag

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).


2.Rub the roast OR tenderloin liberally with olive oil, then spread the garlic over it. Place it in a roaster bag inside a roasting pan and sprinkle with the rosemary.  Pour chicken stock or white wine over the roast, and close bag.

3.Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Cinnamon Rolls

The best ever cinnamon rolls!

Picture from Allrecipes.com, further editing by me.

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
6 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened

Glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1.Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the butter; stir until melted. Add water and let cool until lukewarm.

2.In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, yeast, white sugar, salt, eggs and 2 cups flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

3.Divide dough into two pieces. Roll each piece into a 12x9 inch rectangle. In a bowl, stir together the cinnamon and brown sugar. Spread each piece with half of the butter, half of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough, using a little water to seal the seam.

4.Cut each roll into 12 slices using a very sharp knife or dental floss. Place rolls onto two 9x13 inch greased baking pans. Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

5.Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

6.To make frosting; combine confectioner's sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Add milk gradually until frosting reaches a spreading consistency. Spread over warm (but not hot) cinnamon rolls.
 
Recipe from Allrecipes.com
Hope you all enjoy the sweet goodness!!!  Oh these were so worth the extra calories! 
 
Mommy of 6 <3

Ginger Bread Man Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

Feel like a kid again with these soft cookies.  So many people asked me for these cookies or the recipe this past Christmas, adn they were a big hit at the FRG bakesales!  So here it is!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened (use vegan margarine and Ener-G v)
1 1/2 cups white sugar (or substitute)
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the orange peel and dark corn syrup. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and salt, mixing until well combined. Chill dough overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
3. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared pan. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes.

Christmas!

My family loves me... They knew exactly what a baker would love!  My hubby got me new blender with a food processor attachment, and my sister, well she made me this baby....

I was just saying I needed a new one too!  I love it!  Thanks Kari! 

~Mommy or 6 <3

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle soup

Nothing beats a bowl of fresh, homemade chicken noodle soup.

Picture from AnniesKitchen Blog

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups wide egg noodles
4 cups water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
12 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried parsely
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup frozen or canned carrots ( you can use fresh, but then you would have to cook until they were tender)
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
3 cups diced, cooked chicken meat

Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add noodles and oil, and boil 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool running water, then drain again.
2. In a large saucepan, bring broth, salt, parsely, and poultry season to a boil. Stir in celery onion, and carrots. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. In separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water together until cornstarch is completely dissolved, and gradually add to soup, stirring constantly.
4. Add noodles and chicken, and heat through.

Makes 8 servings.

This is yummy, and great in a crockpot too!  Great for snow ins as well!  Hope you enjoy!
~Mommy of 6 <3

Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and Bolts
Try this filling on-the-go snack for your very busy toddlers or dieting mommies!

Ingredients:
4 cups bite-size shredded wheat
1/3 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups pretzel sticks
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup raisins
garlic powder

Directions:
1. Spread shredded wheat out in a cake pan.
2. Cover with melted butter and sprinkle on some garlic powder to taste. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
3. Add pretzel sticks, peanuts and raisins. Keep in airtight container.
Serving size: 1/4 cup
With this being only 11.7 g of fat and 244 g of calories, its not that bad to snack on as long as you keep it dow to the recommended serving size!  You must pay attention to the serving size!  That is important!

Hope you enjoy!
Mommy of 6 <3

Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan

Picture from AnniesKichen blog

Low-Fat Chicken Parm
Yummy! Cheesy chicken with pasta sauce. This is the best Chicken Parm recipe I have found yet!  By not breading the chicken and frying it, you cut out so much fat!

Ingredients:
4 large chicken breasts
olive oil
salt
pepper
1 cup pasta sauce
8 oz. mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Heat the sauce in the microwave or over the stove until hot.
3. Pound the chicken breasts until they have a uniform thickness. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat enough oil to cover the pan in a nonstick pan over medium heat until hot. Sauté (or grill for even less fat) the chicken breasts until cooked through and golden, about 5 minutes on the first side and 3 minutes on the other.
4. Dip the chicken in the sauce and then add to a casserole dish. Pour remaining sauce over and top with cheese. Bake the chicken in the oven until the cheese is melted.

Serves 4
Recipe from Babyfit.com
~Mommy of 6 <3

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas


By using nonfat sour cream and yogurt, this recipe greatly reduces the amount of fat in the dish. Its yummy and healthy too!  My kids loved it as long as I keep the veggies to smal peices!  if they found a large piece they pulled it out!  LOL!  Gotta love kids!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded into bite-sized pieces
4 cups torn fresh spinach leaves
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 8 oz. carton of nonfat sour cream
1/4 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
2 tablespoons whole grain flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup 1% milk
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
6 whole wheat tortillas, 6-8 inces in diameter
1/2 low fat shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. In a medium sized saucepan, cook fresh spinach with a small amount of water, covered, for 5 minutes on medium-high heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, spinach and green onions. Mix well and set aside.
3. Make the sauce: In a medium sized bowl, combine sour cream, yogurt, flour, cumin and salt. Add milk and jalapeño pepper and mix well.
4. Pour half the sauce into the chicken and spinach mixture and mix well. Divide the filling among the tortillas. Fold opposite ends of a tortilla up about 1 inch over filling then fold the left and right sides over the folded end, overlapping.
5. Place filled tortillas, seam sides down on an ungreased rectangular baking dish.
6. Spoon remaining sauce over the tortillas and bake, uncovered, in a 350° F oven for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
7. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and let stand for 5 minutes.
8. Top with salsa and chopped green onions as desired and serve.
Serves 6

The best thing about this whole dish, is there is only 9.8 g of fat, 351 calories, 1.7 g sugars, but 36.2 g of Protein in one serving!  Now that is awesome!!!
Recipe from babyfit.com

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

These are totally yummy, and my kids love them, When I allow them to have this much sugar in one sitting!

Ingredients:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate chips
10 Large marshmallows (for an unique flavor use the  strawberry ones)
toppuings of choice (sprinkles, graham cracker crumbs, crushed oreos, crushed candy canes, etc.)

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch.

2. Dip the marshmallows in chocolate using a toothpick, lolly stick, or fork to hold them. Roll or sprikle your toppings, and place on waxed paper or aluminum foil, and freeze. Let marshmallows sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

You can even wrap them and give them away!  Add a cute little tag and put in a basket and give to friends or makes for a great visiting teaching gift! 

Enjoy,

Mommy of 6 <3 

 
Found the original recipe and pictures from Allrecipes.com ( I love this website)

French Toast Casserole!

Oh man, this is so yummy, and my kids LOVE IT!!!  A nic eway to make a hot breakfast for your family, and not break the bank, or slave over the stove for hours!!!  LOL! 



Original picture from allrecipes.com photo editing by me!



French Toast Cassarole

You can even make this the night before, wrap in cling wrap, and put in the fridge till morning, pull it out and bake in the preheated oven!  It is that easy! 
Ingredients:

8 cups bread cubes (I used 2 loaves of cinnamon swirl bread)

7 eggs

2 cups milk

1/2 cup vanilla coffee creamer or any flavor coffee creamer

1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar, divided

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons margarine, softened

1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup Chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter or spray with pam, an 9X13 inch baking pan.

2. Line bottom of pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, coffee creamer, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand for 10 minutes, or cover with cling wrap and put in fridge over night.
3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
4. Mix together brown sugar, remaining cinnamon, and pecans, and sprinkle on top.  Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden.

This is so yummy!  Try with variations like add:
1. 1/2 dried cranberries, blueberries, raisins or cherries.
2. mix 4 tablespoons cream cheese with 2 teaspoons sugar, and dot the top with it.
3.  mix in any pie filling, we love pie apples or pie cherries in this!  It makes it taste more like bread pudding than breakfast!
4. I just found this thing called fried apples in the canned fruit section and tried them in here as well!  Oh man, they were yummy!  

All of these variation can be made by mixing the fruit, nuts etc., in with the bread then topping with butter and cinnamon, etc.
Enjoy, 
Mommy of 6 <3 

Holiday punch

But really it is good anytime you are entertaining guest.  This was one of the easiest ever punches to make and really yummy.  You can adjust it to fit your taste buds.

Holiday Punch

Ingredients:
1 bottle of Sprite (or any 2 liter lemon-lime soda)
1 bottle of Cran-Raspberry juice
and about 2-2 1/2 cups whole, fresh cranberries

1. Pour the sprite and cranberry juice into punch bowl, then add cranberries.
2. Mix and its ready to serve. 

It is best if you refrigerate the juice and soda over night, before you use it.

Cinnamon Nut Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Nut Coffee Cake



Don't that look yummy!!!


Ingredients:
Cake:
1 cup butter softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon each almond, lemon, and vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

Filling:
1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.  Beat in extracts.  Mix in sour cream.  Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add too creamed mixture.
2.  Spread half the mixture in the bottom of a greased 9X13 pan or 10 inch fluted tube pan.  Make a well in the center of cake all the way around if using the tube pan. Combine filling ingredients.  If using a 9X13 sprinkle filling all over leaving a 1 inch space around the edge of pan, if using the fluted pan, sprinkle filling in the well you made.  Carefully cover with remaining batter.
3. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inswerted into the center comes out clean.  if using fluted pan cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack then cool completly.  If using a 9X13 cool completly in pan do not remove from pan. 
4. Combine glaze ingredients in a small bowl.  Drizzle on top of cake. and enjoy!

Makes 16-20 servings

Enjoy,
Mommy of 6 <3

Bonnie's Own Banana Bread

You will probably look at the ingredients, and think, what the heck, why would I go and put Miracle whip in my banana bread... Here is why, it brings out the banana flavor ten fold, and makes for a very moist bread!  I will promise you this is the most flavorful, and most moist banana bread you will ever eat! 

Bonnie's Own Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 Cup softened margarine
2 Cup of sugar
4 Eggs
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/2 Cup miracle Whip
1/2 Cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 Cup very ripe, (almost brown)banana, mashed (4 med. Bananas)
4 Cup flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in bananas, cinnamon, miracle whip, milk, vanilla, and bananas.

2. In a separate bowl mix together flour, soda and salt. Then add to banana mixture and stir by hand until well combined. Grease or spray two 9x5 loaf pans. Bake 50-60 minutes, 30 minutes for muffins.

Mommy of 6 <3

No Bake Cookies

These have to be the most yummy no bakes I have ever had, and lucky for you, I took pictures and wrote down the amounts while I was making it… They turned out so fudgy, and moist!

No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup milk
½ cup salted sweet cream butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
½ cup chunky peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats
½ cup finely chopped peanuts (I put mine in a food processor)
¼ cup peanut butter/ chocolate swirled chips



Directions:

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, peanut butter and oats. After cooling for 2 minutes, mix in peanuts and chocolate chips!!!

2. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Allow cookies to cool for at least 1 hour. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy you guys, they were totally yummy!

Mommy of 6 <3