Baked Ziti is one of those classic, “everybody makes this dish” – but I never did until I saw this super simple recipe. You can add herbs of your choice, if you like. Add some Italian seasoning if you want. Or not. I used ready made spaghetti sauce with basil and garlic, and with the garlic called for in the recipe, it was good. Use the refrigerated package of shredded parmesan – or grate your own. This is also a very dense recipe so you won’t need a large serving. In fact, we made three meals (9 servings) of this and served it with a medium sized green salad and simple fruit dessert. I’m told it’s traditionally served with garlic bread – but we skipped that in pursuit of our staying (relative) low carb goal. We’re not big tomato sauce fans so this was just right, but if it seems ... [Read More]
easy
Easy Beef Enchiladas
These easy, versatile beef enchiladas are packed with flavor and sure to become a family favorite. This recipe takes about an hour to come together, as written. However. . you know we’re all about quick and easy at our house so here are some time savers: 1) Prepare double or triple batches of the enchilada sauce to freeze for later use. 1a) Or use canned sauce. (Mild, of course!) 2) Brown ground beef when you bring it home from the store and freeze it. Measure out two cups of browned and cooled ground beef. Zip it in a quart freezer bag and you have a pound of ground beef ready to go. 2a) Prepare double of triple batches of filling and freeze for later use. For either one; thaw ahead of time OR 3 minutes on 50 percent power in the microwave will let you break it apart and finish ... [Read More]
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls -- a yummy takeoff on a certain peanut butter filled chocolate cup. They are easy to make with only five ingredients and go together very quickly. Plan for time - and space in the freezer - so they set up firmly before dipping in melted chocolate. You can use melted chocolate chips for dipping. I prefer the melting chocolate wafers with a bit of coconut oil added. I've also used almond bark with coconut oil. Practice does help! (These Peppermint Patties were my first attempt at dipping candy.) Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Print Prep time 20 mins Total time 20 mins Creamy peanut butter filling wrapped in chocolate. Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: cookie Serves: 30 Ingredients 1 ½ ... [Read More]
Bacon Wrapped Bourbon Mustard Pork Loin
Bacon brings this pork loin roast to a whole 'nother level. It's natural saltiness and smokiness adds complexity to the spicy kick of the bourbon mustard. The mustard brand used in this recipe (Stoneridge) has some crushed seeds in the mix which adds more kick and a bit of texture. I chose a thick cut bacon. Each slice is twice as thick as a standard slice of bacon --- mmmore bacon flavor and it will hold its shape better through cooking and slicing. I also precooked the bacon for a couple of minutes to give it a richer color. You don't want to fully cook the bacon because the remaining bacon fat will baste the pork loin as it cooks, keeping it juicy and tender. Don't forget to remove the toothpicks before serving! Bacon Wrapped Bourbon Mustard Pork Loin Print ... [Read More]
THE Best Sweetened Iced Tea
Iced tea. Just right sweet. Smooooooth and full-bodied taste with absolutely no bitterness. Best served with the clink of ice cubes. Wheels has become the resident iced tea maker and all around expert. And this recipe is for THE best sweetened iced tea. Ever. And it is so easy to make! Wheels starts with a good brand of tea. Luzianne or Lipton are available almost everywhere. Stock up when they are on sale. His preference is the big one gallon tea bag from Lipton. Start with four cups of water in a microwave safe container and microwave for 90 seconds. Add the tea bags, pushing them into the hot water with a spoon so that they are covered. Steep -- let them set in the water -- for a few minutes to let the water draw out the flavor. Smaller tea bags will need ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
