Broccoli and Cheese Manicotti

Manicotti is one of my favorite meals.  

This recipe is my basic way of making this dish 

. . . what I like about this recipe is the addition

 of broccoli to the cheese mixture.  Check out

the tips at the end of the recipe!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces manicotti shells
• 1 (32-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 ¹/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded mozzarella chesse, divided
• ¹/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• ¹/4 teaspoon salt
• ¹/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and well drained
• 2 cups spaghetti sauce
• 
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
    
2. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions; drain, rinse, and drain again.
    
3. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper. Add broccoli; mix well.
    
4. Fill each manicotti shell with about 1/3 cup cheese mixture and place in prepared baking dish. Pour spaghetti sauce over stuffed shells and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
    
5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until hot and bubbling.

Notes

• For an easy way to fill the manicotti shells, place the cheese mixture in a resealable plastic storage bag. Snip off a corner of the bag and squeeze the cheese mixture into the shells.
   
• For an extra burst of flavor, add 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg to the cheese mixture.

Source:  Mr. Food

Golden Chicken Casserole

The perfect recipe for leftover chicken and those basic

pantry items.  I always keep Bisquick on hand for making

quick biscuits  or these type of recipes. 

Make it light by substituting the "light" or "no-fat" versions 

of ingredients like chicken soup, sour cream and milk.

Ingredients

• 1 (10¾-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• ¹/2 cup sour cream
• 1 ¹/4 cups milk, divided
• 3 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
• ¹/2 teaspoon salt
• ¹/4 teaspoon black pepper
• ³/4 cup biscuit baking mix
• ¹/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 egg
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
    
2. In a 9- x 13-inch baking dish, combine soup, sour cream, and 1/2 cup milk; mix well. Add chicken, vegetables, salt, and pepper; mix well.
    
3. In a medium bowl, combine baking mix, cornmeal, egg, and remaining 3/4 cup milk; mix well then spoon over chicken mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
    
4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until edges are golden and chicken is warmed through.

Source:  Mr. Food

Carne Asada (Zesty Steak)

Although I am not really into beef, this is one of

those dishes where I will make an exception.  

Carne Asada is awesome with black beans

and rice . . . and don't forget some good bread.

Ingredients

• ¹/4 cup original flavor seasoned rice vinegar
• Zest of 2 limes
• ¹/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¹/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• 2 pounds skirt steak
• 
  

Instructions

1. In a large resealable plastic storage bag, combine the rice vinegar, lime zest and juice, the olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and cilantro, if desired; mix well. Add the steaks to the bag, and seal. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
    
2. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the steaks, discarding any marinade, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. Slice thinly and serve.

Source:  Mr. Food

Frozen Mojito Pie

Since our lime tree is bearing fruit this year (for the first time) and loaded with limes, I'm on the lookout for lime recipes.


This recipe can easily be adapted for a low fat diet by substituting cream cheese and whipped topping with the no fat or low fat varieties.  We have recently switched to no fat cream cheese and honestly can't tell much of a difference in taste, but it makes a huge difference in calories and fat.  I have also started experimenting with butter substitutes that you can cook with and the results have been very encouraging, although I have not experimented with baking yet.  Butter can also be substituted with coconut oil, which is solid like butter or shortening.


I'm not sold on the pretzel crust . . . any ideas?  I was thinking along the lines of a graham cracker crust . . .

Ingredients:

1 cup finely crushed pretzels

5 tablespoons butter, melted

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

Zest from 1 large lime

Juice from 1 large lime (if the limes you are using are really small, use two of them)

2 to 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint (I like it minty, so I use 3 tbsp. of mint)

2 cups Whipped Topping

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl mix together the pretzel crumbs and the butter.

Press the pretzels onto the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan, or a round pan lined with plastic wrap.

Freeze the crust for at least one hour.

In your mixer’s bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, zest, juice, and mint. Mix until well blended.

Whisk in the whipped topping.

Spoon the filling over the crust.

Freeze for at least 6 hours. Over night is best.

Carefully remove the pie from the pan and top it with some crushed pretzels and thin slices of lime.

Keep it frozen.

Source:  Foodbeast

Pina Colada Pie

Sandra Lee from the Food Network's Semi Homemade always

comes up with awesome recipes that are quick and easy!  When
I watched her program and saw her make this pie, I had to find
the recipe so I could share it.  Can't wait to try it out :)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup pineapple-coconut nectar (recommended: Kern's)
• 1 cup light coconut milk (recommended: Thai Kitchen)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract, divided
• 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding and pie filling (recommended: Jello-O)
• 1 cup shredded coconut meat
• 8 ounces whipped topping, divided
• 1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked (recommended: Marie Callender's)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut meat, toasted, for garnish

Directions

In a large bowl, combine nectar, coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon rum extract. Sprinkle pudding mix over liquid and whisk for 2 minutes. Fold in coconut and 1/2 of the whipped topping.

Pour into pre-baked pie crust and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Combine remaining whipped topping with 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. Top chilled pie with whipped topping and toasted coconut.

Recipe and Photo Source:  Food Network

Pecan Pie Pockets

While I'm supposed to be focusing on healthy food recipes,

 watching the Food Network Channel lures me to the

 sinful stuff that I'm craving.

  Paula Deen always comes through with some new awesome

 treats to try out for those times you just gotta be bad with food.

Photo and recipe source:  The Food Network Website

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Flour, for dusting
• 1 premade pie crust
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• Confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a Dutch oven or deep fryer, heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and eggs. Stir in the pecans, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer 10 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pie crust. Cut out rounds using a 4 1/2-inch cutter. Re-roll the dough as needed. Repeat the procedure with the remaining dough. Place 1 pie crust round on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush the edges of the crust with the beaten egg yolk. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of pecan mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and pecan mixture.

Fry the pies in batches until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Lightly dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Coconut Cake

I'm craving sweets!  

This Coconut Cake from Mr. Food caught my attention,

 not only because I love anything coconut, but it is one

of those cakes that uses a cake mix making it quick

and easy.  I also love the addition of coconut milk

 to the cake batter.  

I'm not sure if I'd like the whipped topping frosting

 . . . I'd use vanilla or cream cheese frosting instead,

adding some coconut milk.

UPDATE

We made this cake using commercial cream cheese

frosting with a little coconut milk added.  The cake

was awesome, however, it was a little too sweet with

that frosting.  Maybe the whipped topping frosting

isn't such a bad idea after all!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 cup water
• ¹/2 cup coconut milk, divided
• ¹/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (6-ounce) package frozen grated coconut, thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat the cake mix, water, 1/4 cup coconut milk, the oil, and eggs for 2 minutes, or until smooth. Divide the batter between the cake pans.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Using a fork, poke small holes in the bottom of the cakes.
4. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk evenly over each cake. Place 1 cake layer upside down on a serving plate and frost the top with some of the whipped topping. Sprinkle one third of the coconut over the topping, pressing it into the topping. Place the second layer over the first and frost the top and sides with the remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle the remaining coconut evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
5. Serve, or cover loosely and chill until ready to serve.

Turtle Cake

Kraft Recipes is my new favorite recipe blog :) 

Check out this quick and easy cake!

I love semi-homemade recipes!

what you need

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw.)

1 pkg.  (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

38   KRAFT Caramels

1-1/2 Tbsp. water

6 oz.  (3/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

16 NILLA Wafers

16   PLANTERS Pecan Halves

5 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided

make it

SPOON half the COOL WHIP into bowl; refrigerate to thaw. Return remaining COOL WHIP to freezer. Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 2 (9-inch) round layers, adding dry pudding mix to cake mix before mixing with liquid ingredients. Cool cakes in pans 10 min.; invert onto wire racks. Remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

MEANWHILE, microwave caramels and water in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until smooth, stirring every 45 sec. Cool slightly.

BEAT cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add caramel sauce; mix well. Blend in thawed COOL WHIP. Place 1 cake layer on plate; spread with half the cream cheese mixture. Cover with second cake layer; frost top with remaining cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

MICROWAVE frozen COOL WHIP and 3 chocolate squares in microwaveable bowl 3 min. or until well blended, stirring after each minute. Cool 10 min. Meanwhile, melt remaining chocolate squares as directed on package. Dip half of each wafer in chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Top with nuts. Refrigerate until ready to use.

SPREAD COOL WHIP mixture onto top of cake. Garnish with wafers. Keep refrigerated.

kraft kitchens tips

VARIATION

Substitute 13x9-inch pan for the round pans and increase baking time to 35 to 38 min. or until cake is done; cool completely. Continue as directed, spreading caramel mixture and chocolate mixture over cake in pan.

MAKE AHEAD

For a more fudge-like texture, store cake in refrgerator overnight before serving. Garnish with chocolate-dipped wafers just before serving.

HEALTHY LIVING

Trim 40 calories, 3 grams of total fat and 2 grams of saturated fat per serving by preparing with COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping, JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding, PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and Reduced Fat NILLA Wafers.