homemade frozen yogurt

it is starting to get warm around here, which makes us crave frozen treats.  

who doesn't love the local frozen yogurt shop?  my budget doesn't.  not only is it expensive, but we have a peanut and treenut allergy that tends to make me a little nervous.  who can truly enjoy a treat with the kids with one hand on the epi-pen?!
like many of our foods - it's best for us to go homemade...

  here is where it doesn't get any easier... 2 ingredients  

32oz. plain yogurt {organic fat free is best, greek is even better}

3/4 cup sugar

whisk together and chill before pouring into the ice cream / frozen yogurt maker.  we use a simple cuisinart ice cream / yogurt maker.  yum.

marinated chicken

you really cannot go wrong with this marinated chicken {or what ever meat you like}.  there isn't a recipe {that's how i roll}, but go forward with confidence and know that this will be fabulous.  

i have listed the ingredients from most to least in terms of quantity needed.  just make sure you cover the meat.  

what you need: 

• wine or beer or coke
• soy sauce
• orange juice
• honey or brown sugar
• worcestershire sauce
• ketchup
• mustard
• onion powder
• garlic cloves or garlic powder
• salt and pepper

what you do:

1. salt and pepper each side of the chicken
2. add a diced clove or two of garlic or a few shakes of powder
3. sprinkle one side of the chicken with the onion powder
4. squirt mustard and ketchup over the chicken {about the amount you would put on a burger per chicken breast}
5. add a couple tablespoons of worcestershire sauce
6. poor a bit of honey or brown sugar over each breast
7. poor on some orange juice {maybe a half cup}
8. drench the chicken in soy sauce and wine {or beer or even coke}

it will look like this.  cover and keep in your fridge at least a couple of hours or over night.  

i use this for grilled, baked, kabobs, or stir fry chicken.  it is always a hit.  depending on your taste, you can make it more asian or more bbq'ish.  

have fun!

guacamole

thought i would share the easiest recipe i know.  i will try my best to estimate the measurements, but truth be told, i have never measured on this one.  once you try it you will understand why.  it is so easy and delicious, you really can't go wrong.  this is the one that ignites many requests...

what you need:  

1 avacado

3 tablespoons salsa

1 tablespoon sour cream

1/2 teaspoon onion powder or 2 tablespoons diced fresh onion

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

mash it all together with a fork.  we enjoy this as an appetizer, with our tacos or fajitas, on grilled chicken or burgers.  get creative. 

happy wednesday.

peppermint

my grandpa would have been proud...

mint chocolate chip ice cream, milk, peppermint sticks... blend, yum

mint chocolate covered pretzels

need a last minute gift for the neighbors, your mail carrier, or something yummy for a holiday party?

these are super easy, quick, oh so yummy, and kind of cute 

mint chocolate covered pretzels
what you need:  

• 1 bag large pretzel sticks 
  
• 1 bag of andes crème de menthe baking chips  
  
• 1 bag of andes peppermint crunch baking chips
  
• waxed paper on a cookie sheet
  
• cellophane wrap and washi tape 
  

melt the crème de menthe chips either on the stove or carefully in the microwave
sprinkle some peppermint chips on the waxed paper
dip the pretzel or drizzle the chocolate to cover the bottom 3/4 of the large pretzel stick
place on the covered pretzel on the sprinkled peppermint chips and sprinkle more peppermint chips over the pretzel 

i am not so patient, so I stick them in the freezer for a couple of minutes so I can wrap them and clean up 

  better taste one before they all go away... yum

happy 11.11

this recipe seriously takes a total of about 11 minutes... enjoy.  

this is the easy, low-fat version... just my style.  

chicken cobbler

1 1/2 cups heart smart bisquick 

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup parmesan cheese 

1 teaspoon onion powder

mix together, kneed a few times, roll to 1/2" thickness and cut with round cutter.

2 cans of homemade-style chicken noodle soup

1/2 cup skim milk

2 tablespoons flour, mixed in with the milk

combine soup, milk and flour.  bring to a boil then divide into large / individually sized ramekin bowls.  top each with the round biscuit.  cook in 450 oven for about 10 minutes, until biscuit is golden brown.  

sugar cookies

The kids are quietly settled in with a few crafts... ahh, the sounds of imaginations and sibling sharing.  

Here is the yummy sugar cookie recipe I promised.  It is the family favorite.  You must try it.  My 1 and 2 love rolling the dough and cutting the shapes.  

Good Sugar Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened 

8 ounces light cream cheese

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup skim milk

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1  teaspoon baking soda

4 teaspoons baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Prep your cookie sheets, I use parchment paper on my cookie sheets.
   
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar.  Add the eggs, milk, almond and vanilla extracts and mix until smooth.
   
3. In a medium bowl, sift flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.  Gradually add dry ingredients to the above mixture.
   
4. Chill for at least 1 hour.
   
5. Roll out dough very thin and cut out shapes.  You may need to chill and roll out a few times to get through all the dough.
   
6. Bake in preheated oven for 7-10 minutes.
   

Fabulous Frosting

A ton of powdered sugar

3 tablespoons hot skim milk

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 tablespoon meringue powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1.  Combine sugar and milk then add the butter.  Mix until smooth.
   
2. Mix in meringue powder.
   
3. Add vanilla and almond extracts until all is smooth and well mixed.
   

You can add more or less milk to get the desired consistency.  Martha tends to go more runny for a smooth look and the grocery store tends to go thicker for a spreadable frosting.  I went more thin in the photo above, I dipped the cookies in the frosting and sprinkled with sparkly sugar.

These cookies are just perfect. Lofty and light tasting.  Super delicious.