Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I'm so happy I discovered you




Sweet and Salty Wraps
(from ourbestbites.com)
  • fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • cooked chicken (I put mine in the crockpot with some poppyseed dressing)
  • feta cheese (I discovered this this year and love it!)
  • crumbled cooked bacon (optional- I don't like bacon and skipped this, but imagine it could be good)
  • craisins ( I skipped this too because I wasn't feelin' it but maybe next time)
  • poppy seed dressing (you can use Brianna's or the recipe below which is easy and great!!)
  • tortillas (I like the uncooked kind you cook at home but any you like will do!)
Combine all ingredients, place in tortilla, roll up and devour!  All the kids loved these, and this is my dream dinner!  Quick, easy, painless....yummy.  The saltiness of the feta goes excellently with the sweet dressing.  YUM.  We liked to dip them in additional dressing.  



Poppy Seed Dressing
Recipe from Our Best Bites


1/3 c. white vinegar
1 tsp. Kosher salt
A few turns of freshly ground black pepper
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. mustard
1 green onion, ends removed (I used about 1/4 cup yellow onion because that is what I had)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. poppy seeds

In a blender, combine vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, and mustard. While the blender is running, add the green onion. Continue running the blender and add the oil in a steady stream and is fully incorporated into the dressing.

Pour the dressing into a serving or storage container and whisk in poppy seeds. Serve over leafy greens.





Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta Feta Salad
(a salad version of the above recipe)

  • 16 ounces pasta- try the mini-size bowties!
  • grilled or cooked chicken, chopped
  • feta cheese, as much as you like
  • chopped fresh spinach
  • poppy seed dressing, about 1 cup or as much as desired
  1. Combine all ingredients and enjoy!  Delicious.




Sunday, August 8, 2010

S'mores bars- addicting and delicious






S’Mores Bars
(from realmomkitchen.com originally from cookingwithmykid.com) 
  • 1 stick of butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 king-sized Hershey’s milk chocolate bars
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 jar marshmallow creme/fluff
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (~7 full-sized graham cracker sheets, processed til fine)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan (I line my pan with foil or parchment paper for easy removal and cutting). Use an electric mixer to cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Set aside.
  2. Meanwhile,whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture until combined.
  3. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan.
  4. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side. (I used one because it was all I had and it worked fine).
  5. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff until all covered.
  6. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff.  (I used my hands to stretch it out as well as I could to cover the whole thing).
  7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned. Be sure to cool completely before cutting into bars. Makes 16 squares. 





      1. Now, I knew these would be tasty but I didn't know just how good they'd be until I made them!  How fun are they, with those layers and gooeyness??  Delectable.  
                                                  1.  

Fantastic grilled chicken! Try today!!


Grilled Chicken Cola Marinade
(from realmomkitchen.com)
  • 2  c. (16 oz) Coke or Pepsi
  • 1/3 c. soy sauce
  • 1 T minced garlic (I just threw in some garlic powder)
  • 1/2 c. brown sugar
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1 T lime juice
  • 6 chicken breasts (we like ours cut in smaller pieces- faster to cook evenly all the way through)
1. Combine all ingredients but the chicken in a medium sized bowl. Stir to incorporate well.
2. Add chicken to marinade and refrigerate for 4-24 hrs.  (I did about 6 and it was awesome!)
3. Discard marinade and grill until cooked through. (We cook ours over low heat about 20 minutes).

This chicken was so good!  My dad always makes the manti bbq chicken with soy sauce and sprite, and we love that recipe too, but this one is great in its own form.  Try it!