Lemon and Garlic Roasted Chickpeas

Via Moderate Oven 

You can roast chickpeas a hundred different ways. I use the extra step of marinating here to infuse the chickpeas with lemon flavor, but you can make a simpler version just by drying the chickpeas then tossing with olive oil and any spice or seasoning that appeals to you. Experiment!

Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ to 2 cups cooked chickpeas
the juice of one lemon
1/4 teaspoon finely grated zest from the lemon
2 medium cloves of garlic, pressed or finely minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
freshly ground pepper to taste
½ teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon dried herb such as basil, thyme, parsley, rosemary, mint, etc (optional)

Directions:
Combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, lemon zest, and pressed garlic in a bowl. Mix well and allow the chickpeas to marinate for at least an hour.
Preheat the oven to 400.
Drain the chickpeas but do not rinse. Return them to the bowl then gently pat them dry with a paper towel. Toss them in the olive oil and salt, pepper, granulated garlic and herb of your choice. Spread the chickpeas on a lightly greased baking sheet in a single layer.
Roast the chickpeas for 30-40 minutes. Every 10 minutes or so, use a spatula to roll the chickpeas around for even browning. Some of the chickpeas may pop like popcorn as they cook, so be careful when you are stirring them. Take them out when they are crunchy and deep golden brown with some dark caramelized spots.
Try not to eat them until they’ve cooled enough to not burn your tongue. These are best eaten the day they’re made, but store extras in an airtight container at room temperature.

S'Mores Sandwish Bar Cookies

Via Hershey's Kitchen

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bars (1.55 oz. each), unwrapped
3 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions:
1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 8-inch square baking pan.

2 Beat butter and sugar until well blended in large bowl. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Press half of dough in prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes.

3 Arrange unwrapped chocolate bars over baked layer, breaking as needed to fit. Sprinkle with marshmallows; scatter bits of remaining dough over marshmallows, forming top layer. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or just until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. 16 bars.

Five Point Sloppy Joes

A super Melanie find!

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. Oil
1 onion, chopped small (I usually use only 1/2 of a large onion)
1 green pepper, chopped small
2 garlic cloves, minced (or a few sprinkles of garlic powder- so i don't have to buy garlic!)
1/2 tsp cumin (heaping)
1 tsp chili powder (heaping)
1 lb. ground turkey
1 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. brown sugar (packed)
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
hamburger buns

Directions:
1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the onions, peppers, and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the cumin and chili powder; when the veggies are coated with the spices, stir in the turkey.
3. Cook, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon, 3 minutes.
4. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, and salt.
5. Let the sauce bubble. Cook for approx. 4 to 5 more minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the turkey is cooked through.

*suppose to be 6 servings. Each serving is 5 points.

Robusto Pesto

Ingredients:

4 cups basil leaves

4 garlic cloves

1/4 c. pine nuts

1 c. extra-virgin olive oil

2 c. Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (finely shredded)
Coarse salt

Additional ingredients for bruschetta:
fresh mozzarella cheese (cut into slices)
tomatoes (cut into thin rounds)
onions (thinly sliced)
balsamic vinaigrette
Artisan bread (sliced)
basil leaves

Directions:
1. Put the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and about 1/2 cup of the oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse the machine on and off, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary, until the mixture is chopped but not pureed; add a bit more oil if necessary.
2. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the remaining olive oil or as much as you need to get a loose paste.  Then stir in the Parmesan cheese and add salt.  It should be fairly salty and somewhat gritty at this point.  If you're using it as a pasta sauce, the key is to thin the pesto with a few tablespoons of pasta water before tossing it with the noodles.  If you're spooning it over meat, fish or poultry, make it a little on the thicker side (you can easily do so by adding more cheese). 

To make bruschetta:
1. Drizzle olive oil on bread and toast in the oven. 
2. Add pesto thickly to bread.
3. Top with tomatoes and onions.
4. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette.
5. Top with one round of mozzarella and a few fresh basil leaves.

M&M Holiday Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 12-ounce package M&M’S®  Milk Chocolate Candies (red and green)

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies and nuts, if desired. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Use your slow cooker to make this creamy version of a classic dish.

Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoon (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
3 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cup (about 10-ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8 ounce box isn’t quite 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Add eggs. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen
Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Meat Filled Shells

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
4 eggs slightly beaten
1 c. Italian bread crumbs
1 c. shredded mozzarella
3/4 c. finely chopped onions
3/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
spaghetti sauce
grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Spread a thin layer of sauce in bottom of 13x9 pan.  Place shells open side down in single layer.  Cover with remaining sauce.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 F for 45 min.  Fills 36 shells (1 box). Serves 10-12 people.

Cheese Filled Shells

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ricotta (1 1b.~14 oz.)
3 eggs
1/3 c. sugar
1 c. plain bread crumbs
2 c. mozzarella shredded
1/2 c. parmesan cheese grated
2 Tb. parsley
3/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Mix all together and stuff shells.  This makes enough for one box of jumbo shells (36). Serves 10-12 people.

Pasta Dough (4 egg)

Ingredients:
3 c. flour
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 Tb. water

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients and then add 1 Tb. of water until dough is the right consistency.  For family, multiply the recipe by 3.  Dough needs to sit overnight.  Then, while using a pasta machine which is heavily floured, make pasta!

Grandma Dot's Mac & Cheese

Jon and I always bring this to pot luck dinners and there is never any left to take home...that's just how wonderful it is!

Ingredients:
8 oz. package of elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)
4 1/2 to 5 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups milk
2 large eggs (beaten)
1 1/4 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 stick of margerine
paprika

Instructions:
Cut up margerine into small pieces and spread in bottom of large 9 x 11 casserole dish.  Combine milk, eggs, salt and pepper in a seperate bowl.  Place cooked hot macaroni in casserole dish.  Sprinkle cheese and stir to mix (reserve some cheese to spread on top...about 1 cup).  Pour milk-egg mixture on top and stir.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Uncover. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika.  Cover and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Zero Point Cole Slaw

This is terribly yummy and addictive!  I could eat this at every meal...seriously!
Ingredients:
4 cups cabbage, shredded

½ medium English cucumber, thinly sliced
½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 medium green pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
½ tsp table salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 ½ Tbsp sugar
2 ½ Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped (optional)

Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, cucumber, onion, garlic, green pepper and carrot; set aside.


In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; pour over vegetables and toss to mix and coat. Chill in refrigerator, tossing once or twice, for about 1 hour.

Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Straight from a good source...Katie!!! Thanks for the sweet treat!
Makes 24

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can pumpkin puree (do NOT get canned pumpkin pie mix!!!)
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (also good with dark chocolate chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool completely in pan.
Lift cake from pan (using foil as an aid). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares. Restrain yourself from eating every last one of these.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

My friend Sarah sent this to me and I immidiately fell in love!!! Thanks buddy!

Ingredients:

Chicken:
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle Chile pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
Cooking spray

Sauce:
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon molasses
Remaining ingredients:
8 (2-ounce) sandwich rolls, toasted
16 hamburger dill chips

Directions:
Prepare grill.
To prepare chicken, combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture evenly over chicken. Place chicken on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; cover and grill 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 180°, turning occasionally. Let stand for 5 minutes. Shred with 2 forks.
To prepare sauce, heat canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook for 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 tablespoons sugar and next 5 ingredients (through pepper); cook 30 seconds. Stir in ketchup, vinegar, and molasses; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Place about 1/3 cup chicken mixture on bottom halves of sandwich rolls; top each serving with 2 pickle chips and top roll half.

Homemade Pizza Crust

I've never made this, but my friend Amy posted this on her blog and I know she is a fab. cook!

Ingredients:
3 cups warm water
8 cups of whole wheat flour**
1-2 tbsp. buttermilk, yogurt, vinegar, or lemon juice***
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp. dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp salt
**You do not have to use whole wheat. You can use white or a mixture of both. The whole wheat will make it better for you but you might want to soak the flour first. This makes the nutrients in the whole wheat more readily available for your body to absorb and use! To read more about soaking, go here.
***Only use one of these ingredients if you decide to soak your flour. Otherwise they are not needed in the recipe.

Directions:
1. Soaking: Combine 8 cups of flour, 3 cups water, 1-2 tbsp of acid medium (buttermilk, plain yogurt, lemon juice, or vinegar), and 1/4 cup of honey. Cover and leave on counter for 12-24 hours.
2. After soaking, activate the yeast in remaining 1/2 cup of warm water and 1 tsp honey. (If you decided not to soak your flour, then just dissolve the yeast into the water and honey and then add the rest of the ingredients and mix.)
3. Combine activated yeast, salt, and soaked flour mixture. You may need to add some more flour to make a moist but firm dough.
4. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Let it rise if you want a thicker dough.
5. Divide into 4 sections for 4 crusts.
6. Spread onto greased pizza pan. Top with sauce, your favorite meats and veggies. I usually cook it for about 10 minutes on 475 degrees. Then I take it out, add shredded cheese, and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until it looks ready. Serve and enjoy!