Low Carb Pizza

I found this recipe on pinterest...and although I am not really "watching" what I am eating right now, I just had to try this really low carb pizza. I had everything on hand today, so I made this "pizza" for lunch. The crust does not really harden enough to get crisp, so be prepared to eat it with a fork. Other than not being able to hold it and eat it like regular pizza, it was actually really good and something different; especially if you are craving pizza and trying to cut some carbs out of your diet!

Ingredients:

- 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened

- 2 eggs

- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

- garlic salt
-  black pepper

- 1/2 to 3/4 cup pizza sauce (I used Ragu spaghetti sauce)

- 1 cup mozzarella cheese

- pepperoni slices

*Or any toppings you perfer

Mix together cream cheese and eggs. Add a little garlic salt, pepper and the parmesan cheese, stir together until well combined. Pour into a greased 13x9 baking dish.

 Bake at 350' for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, before adding remaining ingredients.

Spread pizza sauce on cooled 'crust'. Top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.

Put back into oven at 400' and bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is nice and bubbly.

It was so yummy and very satisfying if you are wanting some pizza, without all the carbs and bread! Definitely one of my new favorite healthy recipes!

*If you are trying to watch your fat intake as well, I'm sure this recipe would be just as good and even more healthy with low fat cream cheese, low fat mozzarella cheese and turkey pepperoni.

Chicken Pot Pie

I love a good, creamy (semi-) homemade chicken pot pie...Hello comfort food, especially on a cool, Fall day! I made this recipe up a few years ago after experimenting in the kitchen and just throwing stuff together and it turned out wonderful. This recipe makes enough for two pies. You could eat one (or both) and freeze the other for another time, or give one to family or friends. 

Ingredients:

- 2 bone-in split chicken breasts

- garlic salt

- season salt

- 1 bay leaf

- black pepper

- ground thyme 

- celery salt

- 5 carrots, peeled and chopped

- 1 1/4 cup frozen baby sweet peas

- 1 can cream of mushroom soup

- 1 can cream of chicken soup

- chicken broth (saved from boiling your chicken breasts)

- 4 frozen pillsbury pie crusts. 

* The pie crusts comes 2 to a package. I bought 2 deep dish (for filling) and 2 regular size (for topping).

Place chicken in pot and add enough water to just cover the chicken. Season the water with a good amount of garlic salt, season salt, black pepper, celery salt, ground thyme and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until chicken is done.

Take chicken out of broth, let cool and chop into chunks or shred. Set aside.

Strain chicken broth and put back into pot, add chopped carrots, a little salt and pepper, and about 1 tsp sugar. Bring to a boil and cook carrots 10 to 15 minutes on medium high heat. (This makes the carrots, very flavorful and tender.) Remove carrots with slotted spoon. 

*Reserve chicken broth for later.

In large bowl, add cooked chicken, carrots, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, 1/3 cup of reserved chicken broth and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix together and pour into your 2 deep dish pie crusts.

Remove frozen regular pie crusts from pan and center upside down on top of filled pies. Let thaw a few minutes, crimp edges together.

Bake at 375' for 30 to 45 minutes. About half way through, brush 1 tbsp of softened butter on each pie. Makes for an even better, buttery crust!

Let cool about 10 minutes before serving. Mmm, soo good!

It doesn't come out in a pretty pie slice, but sure does taste yummy!

Spicy Spaghetti

This is my simple spicy spaghetti recipe. When I say simple...I mean it, because I use (gasp) store bought sauce! Yes, I use Ragu...I have always loved the flavor of it and I just add some meat, spices and fresh onion to it to make a yummy, spicy and flavorful sauce. Every time I make this spaghetti it's a huge hit with all my family and friends. I've had a lot of requests to post my recipe. So, here it goes y'all...very good and super simple!

Ingredients:

- 1 jar Ragu sauce (any flavor is fine but my favorite is the sautéed onion and garlic)

- 1 lb ground beef

- 1 small onion, chopped

- garlic salt

- season salt

- freshly ground black pepper

- 1 tbsp sugar

- crushed red pepper

Sauté your ground beef in pot, until brown. Drain excess fat and set aside.

Add a little olive oil to same pot, add chopped onion and a sprinkle of garlic salt, season salt and black pepper. Sauté on medium high heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, you want to caramelize them and get a nice golden brown color.

Like this.

Add cooked meat back to pot and pour in Ragu sauce. I've never measured my seasonings before but since I'm blogging and sharing my recipes, I'm trying to be more exact and better about measuring. So, I added about 3/4 tbsp of garlic salt, 3/4 tbsp season salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper and a good sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper (did not measure that). You can adjust seasonings and crushed red pepper to your taste. If you like super spicy, add more. Just be careful...the longer the sauce sits and simmers in pot, the hotter it gets.

Bring to a light boil, cover and reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. 

Serve with your choice of noodles. My favorite with spicy spaghetti sauce is angel hair. What's yours? :) And of course, you can't forget the crusty, garlic bread!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This strawberry pretzel salad is a recipe my mom has made for years, everyone in my family loves it. It is so good! It's a sweet, salty, savory and creamy dessert. A must try if you had not had this yet. 

Ingredients:

- 2 cups crushed pretzels (make sure to measure pretzels after they are crushed)

- 1/2 cup melted butter

- 8 oz cream cheese, softened

- 6 oz pkg strawberry jello

- 1 1/4 cup sugar

- 8 oz Cool Whip

- 2 cups boiling water

- 16 oz frozen, sliced strawberries (let sit out and thaw a little)

Crush pretzels, I find it easiest to place them in a big plastic bag and smash with rolling pin.

Mix pretzels, butter and 1/4 cup sugar together and press into 9x13 in. pan. Bake at 325' for 10 minutes. Cool Completely.

Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and cool whip together. Spread on cooled crust. Make sure to spread evenly and all the way to edges to seal. You do NOT want your jello mixture to seep through and get to the pretzel mixture. (I have messed this recipe up a couple times and it's not pretty!)

In separate bowl, pour 2 cups boiling water over jello mixture, mix well. Add frozen strawberries. Place in refrigerator to cool for about 30 minutes or until starts to thicken up a bit.

Pour strawberry jello mixture over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate for a couple hours or until firm.

This is such an awesome recipe. LOVE the salty, buttery pretzels with the sweet jello and creamy whipped center! Delicious!

*TIPS*

-Do NOT follow jello package instructions, its calls for way too much water.

-Make sure to seal cream cheese mixture to edge of pan.

-Chill jello mixture just a bit before pouring over cream cheese mixture.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie

So, I have never made white chocolate macadamia nut cookies before...and I actually didn't even realize how much I LOVED them, until my husband got one the other day from Subway. I took a bite of his cookie and oh my gosh, it was sooo good! I decided that I needed to bake some...so, I did...and they were amazing!! One of my new favorite cookies right now. I love the creamy and silkiness of the white chocolate  and the salty crunch from the macadamia nut. YUMMY!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened

- 1 cup sugar

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 2 1/2 cups flour

- 1 cup white chocolate chips (or more)

- 1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

In an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, mix well. Gradually add flour and baking soda, mix until well combined. Stir in white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.

This cookie dough was the best stuff ever!! As you can see :)

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350' for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool before removing from cookie sheet. 

AMAZING!! Eat a whole bunch of them with some ice cold milk and enjoy :)

Layered Salad

Here is my version of a layered salad, well my mom taught it to me (of course) so I guess you can call it her version. :) You can add or omit ANY ingredients you would like with this salad. Sometimes I add crispy, crumbled bacon and tomatoes on top, other times I leave it out and just top with fresh parmesan shavings. This salad is so yummy and versatile!

Ingredients:

-  1 head of iceberg lettuce, chopped

- 2  celery stalks, chopped

- 1/2 small red onion, chopped

- 1 small green pepper, finely chopped

- 3/4 to 1 cup frozen young green peas, partially thawed

- 1 cup mayonnaise

- 1 tablespoon sugar

- salt & pepper to taste

- fresh parmesan, shaved

Add a little salt and pepper to chopped lettuce. Start layering lettuce, celery, onion, green pepper and peas in a large bowl. (Glass looks best, so you can see all the layers.) Mix mayo and sugar together. Spread over salad to seal. Top with parmesan shavings. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

*Top with any additional ingredients you would like. (croutons, bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, tomatoes, etc...it's all up to you! ENJOY!

Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie

Sometimes in the morning I do not have much of an appetite, but I am hungry...just nothing sounds good. (yes, even being 8 months pregnant!)  So, I decided to make a green smoothie this morning and it was amazing! I LOVE spinach and arugula in my smoothies, I know it sounds a little weird if you haven't tried it...but trust me, it really is so good! Just give it a try. This smoothie is pretty healthy, no added sugars...just fresh fruit and some veggies and a little milk. You can add anything you like and make it your own.

YUM!!

Ingredients:

- 1 banana

- 3 or 4 strawberries

- a couple handfuls of baby spinach & arugula

- about a cup of milk

- handful of ice

Mix all ingredients together in a blender and that's it! 

The arugula and spinach gives it such a nice, fresh and spicy taste. I can't tell you enough how much I love this green smoothie!! Leaves me feeling great and refreshed. (Unlike some days when I eat a egg and cheese biscuit or other fatty foods for breakfast, that leave me feeling sluggish and tired all morning.)

Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

I'm sure everyone probably knows how to cook cauliflower...but just in case, I wanted to share this easy and yummy way of roasting cauliflower. I hardly think to buy or cook it, but I bought a fresh head of cauliflower the other day and roasted it last night with some garlic and parmesan cheese and it turned out great. Simple and healthy recipe, my kids loved it too!

Ingredients:

- 1 head of fresh cauliflower, trimmed and cut into chunks

- olive oil

- garlic salt

- black pepper

- parmesan cheese

Toss together cauliflower, some olive oil, garlic salt and black pepper in a baking or roasting pan. Bake at 375' for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.  Top with a handful of parmesan cheese and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown. 

Honey Garlic Crunch Chicken

I have seen this double crunch honey garlic chicken floating around Pinterest for a while now...and I have finally gotten around to trying it out for myself. I made a couple small adjustments to make it my own and it turned out fabulous! It was such a tender, moist chicken with a nice spicy crunch and yummy sauce. Such a simple recipe, you have to try it!

Ingredients: (for the chicken)

- 2 chicken breasts

- flour

- garlic salt

- black pepper

- ground thyme

- ground nutmeg

- cayenne pepper

 Mix seasonings together with flour.

Cut your chicken breasts in half, making 4 chicken cutlets. If chicken is still thick, place between plastic wrap and pound thin using a meat mallet. (this makes really tender chicken)

Make an egg wash using 1 to 2 eggs and a splash of milk. 

Season chicken with salt and pepper, then dip chicken in spice and flour mixture. Dip chicken in egg wash, and then back into flour mixture once more, coating well.

Heat a skillet to a medium heat with some vegetable oil, covering the bottom. 

Fry on both sides about 4 to 5 minutes each, turning once, until you get a nice golden brown color.

Ingredients: (For the sauce)

- 3 garlic cloves, minced

- 3/4 cup honey

- 1/4 cup soy sauce

- 2 green onions, chopped

- 1 tsp ginger (fresh or ground)

- a little crushed red pepper (if you like spicy)

Saute minced garlic in olive oil on medium heat until softened. Add honey, soy sauce, green onions, ginger and crushed red pepper. Simmer together for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Pour sauce over chicken and serve.

 I served with white rice and garlic roasted cauliflower. It was delicious!

Twice Baked Potatoes

I have had a request to post about my twice baked potatoes. These are awesome and easy to make; perfect pairing with a nice grilled steak. I love to make these when I have a big crowd  for dinner, because it's just as easy to make 8 (or more) if you're already making 2. You can make them in advance and store in the refrigerator until it's time to twice bake them and serve...that way you aren't scrambling to make everything at once while you have guests and other things to cook. Another good thing about these potatoes is, nothing has to be exact. You can add any ingredients you like and however much you want. My secret to making these twice baked potatoes taste amazing is adding a little mayonnaise and some creamy Velveeta cheese. YUM!

Ingredients:

- 4 baking potatoes

- 1/2 stick of butter

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup sour cream

- splash of half n half (milk or heavy cream is fine too, whatever you have on hand)

- season salt (Lawry's is the best, and I use this stuff on everything...get some!)

- garlic salt

- black pepper

- 1/2 to 3/4 cup Velveeta cheese 

- handful of cheddar cheese for topping 

*You can add green onions, bacon bits, etc..anything you want!

Wrap your potatoes individually in aluminum foil. I like to rub a little olive oil, salt and pepper on my potatoes before wrapping in foil. (it makes for a tasty potato skin). Bake at 400' for about 1 hour or until done. (You can test for doneness by gently squeezing the middle of the potato, using a pot holder. If it gives in easily to your touch, it is done.)

Let potatoes cool, before slicing them lengthwise and gently scooping out the potato flesh, leaving about 1/4 inch of potato on the skin. (careful not to tear or pierce the shell)

In a bowl mash potato flesh, butter, mayonnaise, sour cream and a little half n half together, mix well. (If seems a little dry add more half n half.) Add seasonings to taste. Add your Velveeta cheese, I used the block  kind and cut small chunks or you could get the shredded. Add as much as you desire. Stir together. Spoon fillings into the potato shells. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350' for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are heated through and cheese is nice and bubbly.