Scalloped Potatoes and Peas

My convenience store in my neighborhood has slowly been integrating their store brand of food products.  The great thing about this is the products are not only really good, but inexpensive as well.  They have a wide variety of products from spices and seasonings, dried fruits, nuts, soups, cookies, and two of my personal favorites potato flakes and a new favorite scalloped potatoes.  I made the scallped potatoes tonight, and decided to add some peas to give the dish some vitamin K, C, and A.  I loved it and truthfully I could imagine adding tomatos, mushrooms, green beans, tuna and or salmon.  It would be that easy and that good. 
Here is the very easy recipe and like a said many other foods would be just as good combined with the potatoes.
Ingredients
follow package according to instruction and make some or all depending on how many guests.
when done cooking add 1 can green peas and mix thoroughly. 

Baked Cheese Sticks $5.15

ingredients

1 tbsp water
2 egg whites.30
1 cup bread crumbs(2 slices of bread baked and ground up).40
1/2 tsp garlic powder.05
1/8 black pepper.02
6 pieces string cheese 3.60
3 cups flour.78


In small bowl beat eggs and water
in plastic bag combine breadcrumbs and seasoning
pour flour in bowl
cut cheese sticks in half
coat them in flour, then coat in egg and mix in bag of breadcrumbs
place in baking dish and chill for 4 hours
bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes
let stand 3-5 minutes
serve with marinara, salsa or on their own

cheese fondue $ 4.32

Ever since I had my cheesy tomato soup, Ive been thinking about more cheese. This cheese fondue is a made up recipe, because I couldnt find anything like this on the internet. I just knew I couldnt eat a pound of cheese, so I decided to cut the cheese amount, by using my old standby, pumpkin puree. Fondue is great with veggies or fruit, but I obviously didnt have that option, so I used chunks of wholewheat bread.

ingredients
3/4 cup chicken broth(or white wine).74
2 tbsp cornstarch .10
2 tbsp mustard .20
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2.78
1/2 cup pumpkin .50


bring broth to a boil and lower heat
mix cornstarch and mustard
add mustard mixture to chicken broth
when completely mixed, add cheese and stir constantly until cheese is melted
lower heat and add pumpkin
stir well
when completely mixed, remove from heat and serve

Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes $1.86

Here I go again, using pumpkin puree. I cant help myself it is so good and so good for our bodies.  Pumpkin has so many nutrients and it is so versitile, I never grow tired of it.  Starting with beta carotene, and vitamin E, A, C and K.  I can usually sneak it in food, but with mashed potatoes the orange color give it away. At first my family resisted, but then they came around and were pleasantly surprised.
serves 6
2 cups water
2 cups potato flakes .75
1 cup milk .12
1 cup pumpkin puree .99

Candied Spicy Cinnamon Walnuts $2.96

 

There are tons of nutrients and healing properties in cinnamon. Cinnamon contains fiber, protein, calcium, iron. Cinnamon also contains high amounts of vitamin A & C, along with minerals like zinc, potassium, and magnesium. Health benefits are mainly attributed to treating diabetic patients. The active ingredient helps regulate blood sugar levels, thus reducing diabetes related complications.

ingredients:
1 cup walnuts 2.40
1/2 cup sugar .33
1 tsp cinnamon .10
1 tsp pepper flakes .10

mix sugar, cinnamon and red flakes in small bowl
heat skillet on low and toss walnuts and sugar mixture in pan
move nuts around with spatula keeping attention to coating them with the sugar combination
mix and the sugar should begin to carmelize. As it carmelizes continue to mix
when sugar completely carmelized and walnuts completely coated with sugar mixture, remove from heat
place on tray to cool

when cooled place in bowl and cover

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits $3.19

2 cups flour .52
3 tsp baking powder .15
1tsp salt .05
1/2 tsp garlic powder .03
3 tablespoons butter .72
1/3 cup canola oil .30
1 heaping cup cheddar cheese 1.36
1/2 cup milk .06

In a bowl combine flour, garlic powder, salt and baking powder
cut in butter with a fork into drty mix, making sure the pieces are small
add oil and shredded cheese, slowly add milk
mix thoroughy until a ball is formed
drop 1/4 cup balls of dough on tray
bake in preheated oven for 15-17 minutes

Candied Walnuts $2.77

I love candied nuts. I have never really wanted to know how to make them because first of all, I thought they would be complicated to make, and also, I knew if I made them, I would eat way to many of them. Well, to my surprise, they were so easy to make, and too an even bigger surprise, I didnt eat too many, I ate them all. They were just so good. I wont be making them in the near future, because they are addictive. i made mine really plain with just sugar, but I think they would be great with cinnamon or even red pepper flakes, to give them a spicy kick.

Walnuts are super healthy as are all tree nuts, and although they are great mixed into yogurt, baked in a dessert, blended into a pesto or candied, consuming them alone is a great idea too. Nutrients that just 25 grams of walnuts provide, are abundant.
Regular intake of walnuts in diet help to lower total as well as LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL or "good cholesterol" levels in the blood, so they are very heart healthy. They are also very high in vitamin E which serves as an important antioxident. Walnuts are also packed with many important B-Complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B-6 and folates. So if there is no time to cook, or mix into something good, just grab a handful and eat them on there own. In the meantime check out how easy this candied recipe really is.

ingredients
1 cup walnuts $2.40
1/2 cup granulated sugar .33

recipe(you wont believe how easy)
heat skillet on medium
place both walnuts and sugar in skillet
start moving around the spoon immediately making sure the nuts are getting fully covered by the sugar
slowly the sugar will begin to carmelize, dont stop mixing
keep moving spoon, until sugar is completelyt csrmelized and walnuts are a golden brown
you have successfully candied walnuts

tuna mousse $3.20

I found this recipe in a magazine and the picture looked good, it looked easy and the ingredients were easy enough to work with, so i gave it a shot. Im glad I did, Im thinking of putting it on my appetizer menu for Christmas. It was rich and creamy and not a lot of fat, and lots of good nutrients.
Ingredients
1 can 10oz tuna $1.99
4 oz cream cheese
2 tablespoons half and half .12
2 teaspoon vinegar .05
2 teaspoon soy sauce .10

pulse tuna in food processor for 20 seconds, add vinegar and soy sauce, pulse another 20 seconds, add butter, piece by piece
when all in, run food processor until all smooth, this wont even take a minute
scrap sides, place mooth in a bowl, and smooth it into a nice shape ball
refrigerate atleast an hour so it sets
serve with crackers

Mexican Mini Quiche $3.29

These little egg muffins make a great breakfast or appetizer, I have served them for both. Also, I was making them for an adult crowd, so I used Rotel because I wanted a little kick in them, but they could be made with so many different ingredients. My son is happiest when they are made wth bacon, but then again he is happy when anythng is made with bacon. Next time Michael. Prep time for these quiches was approx 10 minutes and bake time 15-20, so very easy for an elegant meal or appetizer.

makes 12 minis
6 slices of bread(cut two rounds out of each slice of bread for bottom of muffin tin) .60
4 eggs .60
1 cup milk .20
1 cup shredded cheddar 1.00
1 cup Rotel .89

place rounds in bottom of greased muffin tin
evenly sprinkle cheese on top of all 12 muffin rounds
in bowl combine egg and rote
mix well
pour evenly over bread and cheese combo
bake in preheated oven 15-20

Remove let stand for a minute
place toothpick in center, if toothpick comes out clean, quiche should slide right out of pan by lifting a side with a fork or knife

Sweet Potato Tomato Soup $5.99

I do have to note this soup came out great and although I am not surprised, the recipe is pretty much all mine because most recipes I found called for so many "fresh" ingredients, I found myself getting so frustrated, I turned the computer off. I found 1 recipe that called for 9 "fresh" ingredients, one of them being super funky "freshly roasted and ground fennel seed", infact the only dried ingredient was "dried tarragon".(??) so if someone doesnt have dried tarragon and they go to the trouble and expense to purchase a jar, do they ever use up that jar?
Even before my blog, these little things in recipes bothered me. I think its ok to put the recipe out the way someone would make it, but I think it is important to give options. I love cooking and trying new thing, but I was the first to be turned off when the recipe either got to complicated, or the ingredients too expensive. So I can only imagine if I didnt have a lot of grocery store options(or none) never wanting to cook. This recipe came to me on a whim, I didnt know if it would be good because honestly, I love sweet potatos, but I never cooked with canned sweet potatos. I know Ive had them before because my ex motherinlaw makes the most amazing sweet potato casserole every Thanksgiving and uses canned sweet potaatos. I love that dish, and that reminds me, I need to finda a way to make that dish, but to "skinny" it up. It calls for way to much sugar and butter. Anyway, here is my vesion of Sweet Potato Tomato soup:
Ingredients:
1 can tomato sauce 10 ounces $1.79
2 Cans sweet Potatoes(rinsed and drained)14 ounces $3.00
2.5 ounce carrot baby food .85
2 tsp olive oil .20
1 tablespoon garlic powder .10
1 tsp black pepper .05
$5.99

heat oil in a soup pot
add garlic salt for 1 minute
add carrot, sweet potato and tomato sauce
simmer for 40 minutes stirring occasionally
let coo, run through food processor
simmer 10 more minutes, add black pepper
serve

Eggs Stuffed with Salmon $2.40

Ingredients:
4 eggs hard boiled eggs .60
1/2 cup canned salmon .95
2 tsp olive oil .20
1/4 cup green olives .50
1 tsp dried onion .05
2 tsp dried parsley .05
2 tsp black pepper .05
total $2.40

peal eggs and slice longways
remove egg yolk and place in bowl
combine all ingredients except egg whites in bowl and mix together
fill each egg white evenly

Develed $1.90

Deviled eggs are another tasty and simple way to serve eggs. Eggs are a nutrtional powerhouse that play an important role in maintaining a healthy diet. Eggs have been called a high source of high quality protein and amino acids that are indispensable for a healthy body. Eggs also defend and improve eyesight by preventing diseases like cataracts. I found you can be creative or very simple with your deviled eggs. This is a pretty basic recipe, but I have seen recipes where tuna, salmon, tomato, hot sauce, relish is mixed into the yolk. I think one can be as creative or as plain as desired. The true beauty of eggs are its versatilty, nutrients and of course the cost being so low(anywhere from .07, to .20 an egg) is normal, and I rarely see them for over .15 an egg, thats whole heck of a lot less then a piece of steak or fish!
heres what you need:

8 eggs hard boiled $1.40
1/4 cup mayonaiase .30
1 Tbsp prepared mustard .20


take the hard boiled eggs and remove from shell, carful not to break the eggs
slice once from top to bottom lenghtwise with a sharp knife creating two equal portions with an equal yellow in the middle. Next, separate the whites from the middle, saving each part. Place whites on a platter and place yolks in a resealable bag or a bowl. Add mayo and mustard to yolks and mix together with a fork first and then a spoon, until a smooth and creamy consistency. If usuing a a big, cut the tip of the bag forming a "cake decorating" type bag, and sqeezing from the bottom, fill each white of the egg with the yolk mixture. If yellows of egg are in a bowl, simple fill whites with a spoon. Top with paprika or dried parsley if desired. This serves 4 as a meal(two eggs-four halves to each person) or 8 as an appetizer.

Crab Cakes $5.95

Crab cakes are usually made with immitation crabmeat, and Ive never seen that available at convenience stores, but I almost always see canned crab available. I have also never made crab cakes before, but I have ordered it at many a resturaunt, and have come to realize that what is mixed in with the crab, attributes to a lot of the flavor and texture.
Crab meat provides mutltipe essential nutrients. It is particularly rich in vitamin B12, which, along with other other B vitamins, helps to convert food into energy. Crab meat also contains 20% of the RDA for phosphorus, essential to strong bones, and 40% for the trace mineral selenium, which acts as an antioxidant and helps with thyroid function and immunity. Most important, 3 oz of crab provides between 16-20 grams of protein, and that is essential to help a body maintain muscle and create cells.
serves 4-6
Ingredients
2 can 6 ounces crabmeat $3.98
1 egg .15
1 tablespoon olive oil .60
1 tablspoon mayonaise .20
1 tsp dijon mustard.05
1 tablespoon dried parsley .10
1 tsp paprika .05
1 tsp garlic powder .05
2 slices bread.20
6 wholewheat crackers .15

toast bread in toaster, or bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 10 minutes
in bowl combine: crab, egg, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, mayo, mustard, parsley, paprika, parlic powder and mix all together
crush crackers and bread in blender or by hand
add to crab mixture
Form into mini cakes 8-12, depending on how small or large you want them.
heat remaining oil in skillet, place crabcakes in skillet on medium and cook for atleast 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown
serve

Fondue Swiss cheese

I saw Susanne Somers on "The Talk" yesterday, and everytime I see her in an interview I get excited about feeling and looking good. She is 62, and looks amazing!! She talks about it all being about what you put in your body, and what is exiting about that for me is lots of her food suggestions(I think she has a top 12 superfoods) can be purchased at a convenience store. Nuts, berries(dried) salmon, eggs, dark chocolate, coffee, tomatoes(cooked). She ofcourse lists some fresh vegetables, and as usual, that is ofcourse the obvious better choice, but if not an option, one cant throw up their hands and say "Im out, let me get a bag of chips, there is nutrients in potatoes" There are options, and knowing them and utilizing what is offered is key to good health.

I found her fondue recipe on HSN and I thought it sounded good, and easy to make. I was missing dry mustard, but I added some red pepper flakes and a shake of garlic powder, and it came out amazing.
I have a full house of kids today, due to a blizzard(litterally!) we are having in the Chicagoland and our schools all being closed. Yikes.
aerves 4
8 ounces swiss cheese $2.29
1/2 cup mayonaise
1 cup white wine
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper

pour wine in microwaveable bowl
heat for 2 minutes until bubbly
remove add cheese, mayo and seasoning, stir until smooth and creamy
serve with crackers

3 Layer Salsa Dip

This is a dip that I have been making for 20 years, and I really dont know how one can go wrong with cream cheese, tomato and cheddar melted into hot bubbly creamy combo. I serve it with whole wheat crackers instead of tortilla chips and that provides fiber to health up this appetizer. Some, but not all of the Walgreens, carry blackbeans, so if yours does, include them in this salsa, that will provide even more protein,iron and fiber!! This recipe will take 5 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients:
serves 4
8 oz cream cheese $1.59
1 cup diced tomato
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

preheat oven at 350
in a 9x9 baking dish spread the softened cream cheese evenly on the bottom
mix rotel and black beans
top cream cheese with tomato bean mixture
sprinkle with cheese
bake for 15-20 minutes

serve with wholewheat crackers