Dill Pickle Fries

Our new favourite way to have roasted potatoes!  Adapted from this 

recipe

While pickle juice is hard to find, really salty water is a decent substitute. 

Taco Stuffed Shells

Adapted from here

Leftover Ground Beef Taco Meat
Large Pasta Shells
4 Oz Cream Cheese
1 C Salsa
1 C shredded cheese

Prepare shells as directed.  In a frying pan reheat taco beef and add cream cheese.  Stir until melted.  Spread half salsa on the bottom of baking dish. Fill shells with 2 tsps of beef and place in baking dish.  Top with remaining salsa and cheese.  Cover and bake 15-25 minutes, remove cover and bake another 15 minutes.

Easy Crescent Rolls

I borrowed the recipe from here.

Place all of the following in your bread maker.

2 C warm water
1 egg
1/2 C melted butter
1 1/2 C flour (give or take)
2/3 C dry milk
2 tsp salt
1/4 C sugar
2 tbsp yeast

Use dough setting.  When complete place onto floured surface and divide into two equal parts.  Roll 1/2 dough into a large circle.  Using a pizza cutter make 8 cuts going through the center of the circle.  Roll each cut piece from the long end forward.  Place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet to rise.  (Sometimes I cook them without rising, other times I leave them for hours).  Bake at 375F for about 12 minutes.

Brussel Sprouts with cranberries, pecans & blue cheese

Brussel sprouts are my new favourite veggies.  They are an awesome vehicle for great tastes.  I borrowed the recipe from here.

Brussel Sprouts (halved)
1/3 C cranberries (I used low bush, they were tiny and frozen)
1/3 C pecans (I would toast these next time)
1/3 C blue cheese
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup

In a large skillet heat oil and pan fry the brussel sprouts.  After 4 minutes add the cranberries and cook until tender crisp.  Add the pecans.  Drizzle the whole mess with vinegar and syrup and stir to coat.  Remove from heat and top with blue cheese.

Chicken, Bacon, Peach Kabobs

I found this delicious recipe at  http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/barbecue-chicken-peach-kabobs-bacon-113927.aspx 

To feed my family of four, I used the following....

3 peaches, cut into 6 pieces each

8 bacon slices, cut in half along the length

3 chicken breasts, cut in cubes

Favourite BBQ sauce

Bamboo Skewers 

Soak skewers in water.  Sandwich a peach slice between two pieces of chicken and wrap bacon, position skewer. Fill skewer with 2 bundles each. 

Preheat BBQ grill, place skewers on grill and brush with sauce. Turn and grill until chicken is cooked through. 

Croutons

It's a lame recipe, but one of the few consistant things I make every week!

Bread (usually sour dough or focaccia), cut in pieces
Garlic Oil
Italian Seasoning
Salt
Garlic powder
Onion Powder

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and toss to coat.  Bake on a cookie sheet at 350F for about 20 minutes, stirring every 7 minutes.

Raspberry Yogurt Muffins

I found this delicious recipes on Pinterest http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2013/01/20/raspberry-yogurt-muffins/ and then tweaked it a wee little bit.

3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups Vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups flour
2 – 2 1/2 cups oats
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups frozen berries

Beat oil and brown sugar till combined. Add egg one at a time until blended smooth. Stir in powder, soda and salt. Alternate adding remaining wet ingredients (yogurt and sour cream) with the dry ingredients (flour and oats) until just combined. Fold in frozen berries.

Bake at 400F in lined muffin tins for 20-22 minutes!