Blueberry cheese rolls

·         1 pkg. (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

·         4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, softened 

·         2 Tbsp. sugar 

·         ½  cup blueberries, divided  

·         Oven to 375.  Unroll dough into four rectangles; firmly press perforations together to seal. 

Combine Neufchatel cheese and sugar; spread onto dough rectangles to within 1/2 inch of edges. Top evenly with blueberries. Bring opposite corners of rectangles together; press together to seal. Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake11 to 13 min. or until golden brown. 

Greek Egg Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 c chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 8 eggs beaten
• 1/4 c milk (or half/half)
• 1/2 c crumbled feta
• 1/2 c chopped bottled roasted red peppers (optional)
• 1/2 c sliced olives (optional)
• cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
• 1/4 cup packed fresh basil chopped
• 1/2 c onion/garlic croutons crushed
• 2 -3 tbsp parm cheese
• S/P

In cast iron skillet, cook onion/garlic in a bit of oil.  In bowl, beat eggs w/milk. Stir in cheese, peppers, olives, s/p, and basil.  Pour over onion mixture.  Cook. Med. high.  Use spatula to lift mixture and allow uncooked portions to get to bottom of pan.   While cooking combine croutons, parm cheese, 1 tbsl oil.  Sprinkle of fritta.  Broil 1-2 min until crumbs are golden.  Toss some fresh basil/cherry tomatoes on top

Avocado Egg Casserole

I love avocados and they go great with eggs and tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• 2-3 c shredded jack
• 2 cups shredded chedder
• 2 lg tomatoes diced
• 2 lg avocados cubed
• 3/4 c green onions diced
• 8 oz cream cheese cut into small chuncks
• 3/4 c milk
• bacon/ham/sausage/turkey--Optional

Spray 9X12 dish with nonstick.  oven 350.  Mix eggs w/milk.  Layer some of the cheeses in bottom of dish.  Layer avocados, tomatoes, onions, cream cheese on top.  Cover with remaining cheese.  Top with egg mixture.  Bake 45 min.  Cool before enjoying.  Great garnished with basil strips, parsley, and/or green onion slices. 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This makes 2 loafs; one to enjoy and one to give away.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Canola or Vegetable Oil
• 2 Eggs, whisked
• 1 Banana, mashed
• 1/2 Cup Honey
• 2 Cups Zucchini, grated

Oven to 350.  Combine flours, powders, soda and salt.  In separate bowl, beat vanilla, oil, eggs, banana, and honey until combined.  Combine dry into wet and stir in zucchini.  Pour into 2 greased 8X4 loaf pans.  45-50 min.

Whole Wheat Pancake/Waffle Mix

From weelicious.com

The mix gets stored in pantry and you just grab it the morning of pancake/waffle day.  So much easier than making the mix every time you want pancakes/waffles.

The Mix (makes 6 batches of approx. 4 pancakes/waffles)
Ingredients:

• 6 c white whole wheat flour
• 1/3 c sugar
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 2 tsp salt

Mix together. Store in pantry in closed container.

The Pancakes/Waffles
Ingredients:

• 1 large egg, whisked
• 1 cup milk (or buttermilk; or 1 c milk w/1 tbsp lemon juice to make buttermilk)
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup pancake/waffle mix

Whish together egg, milk, oil.  Whisk in mix.  Use waffle iron or pour onto griddle for pancakes.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Make the dough the night before so its ready in the morning.  The best part--no knead.  This recipe comes from Budget Bytes.

Ingredients:

Dough

• 2.5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 package instant or bread machine yeast
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1.5 cups water

Filing:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp milk

The night before make the dough. Combine all dough dry ingredients.  Add one cup of room temperature water. Stir until fully absorbed. Add more water, a little at a time, until there is no dry flour left in the bowl.  Form one ball of dough.  Cover and put in fridge over night.

In morning, take dough out and let it warm to room temperate.  Sprinkle it with flour. Stretch/roll it out into rectangle (11 X 14). (roll, add flour, roll, add flour).

Make filling by melting butter in microwave and combine with other ingredients.  Spread this over stretched dough.  Roll up dough (like jelly roll) tightly.  Cut the rolled log into 10-12 slices. Put slices in sprayed (non-stick) baking dish.  Allow the rolls to rise for 1 hr (or until doubled). 

Oven 425. 30 min.  Top with icing made by combining icing ingredients and stirring until smooth.

Baked Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 c milk
• 2 tbsp butter ,melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 c peanut butter

Combine all ingredients.  Spread in greased 9 X 13 pan.  Bake 350 for 25 min. 

Chocolate Banana Bread

Who doesn't love banana bread?  My kids like it better with...chocolate, of course.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 cup mashed bananas (about 3)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350.  Spray loaf pan with cooking spray.  Beat sugar, eggs, & oil in large bowl.  Add banana and vanilla and mix at low speed.  In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Beat into banana mixture just until combined.  stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into pan.  60-70 mix.  Cool and enjoy!

Sticky Breakfast Ring

This is easy for a weekend breakfast.  It looks pretty and the kids (and adults) love it.  

Ingredients: 

• 2 tubes refrigerator buttermilk biscuits or 1.5 to 2 tubes Grand buttermilk biscuits
• 3 tbsp butter melted
• 1/2 c pancake syrup
• 1/3 c packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4-1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts (whatever you have on hand) 

Spray a fluted bundt pan with non stick spray.  Combine butter and syrup in small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts.  Place 1/2 syrup mixture in bottom of pan.  Sprinkle 1/2 sugar mixture on top.  Lay biscuits on bottom, overlapping edges closely together to form a ring.  Top with remaining syrup and sugar mixtures.  Bake 20-25 min in 375 oven.  Cool, invert and eat!

French Toast Casserole

So good.  Makes extra for freezer.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb loaf Italian Bread
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or chopped mixed nuts
• 4 eggs
• 2 c. milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp butter, melted 

Cut bread into one inch cubes (about 14 cups). Place half of the bread cubes in a greased 9x13 inch-baking pan. Place the cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl or measuring cup. Cover the container with plastic wrap and cook on 100% power for 30 seconds. Stir it with a spoon, cover again and cook another 2 minutes. It should be completely melted. Stir half of the sugar and all of the extract into the cream cheese. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the bread cubes (it will not completely cover them). Sprinkle the nuts over the cream cheese layer. Top with remaining bread cubes. In a bowl, beat the remaining sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and melted butter together. The egg and milk mixture will make about 3 cups for each recipe. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread cubes. Either bake 350 for 35 min. or slide the pan into freezer bag, seal and freeze. Slide the pan into a labeled two-gallon freezer bag, seal and freeze.

Ham Hash Brown Casserole

The kiddos like this; its a good brunch potluck dish; and it makes a great freezer meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 (32 oz) package frozen hash brown potatoes
• 8 oz cooked ham, diced
• 2 10.75 oz cans condensed cream of potato soup
• 1 16 oz container sour cream
• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1.5 cup parm cheese

Grease 9X12 baking dish (I generally split this into several bread loaf pans).  Mix all the ingredients except for parm cheese.  Spread evenly into dish.  Sprinkle with the parm cheese.  Freeze or bake 1 hr.

Smoothies!

In an effort to get the kids to eat more greens, and to use up some of the greens from the garden, I'm going to experiment with smoothies.  I've collected various recipes and have/will make them our own.

Stomach Smoothies

Did you know ginger helps with tummy aches? 

Option 1: 

• papaya
• peaches
• pear
• 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
• mint leaves

 Option 2:

• carrots
• 1 green apple (peeled, cored)
• 1-2 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
• 1 cup orange juice
• honey to taste

Morning Smoothies

 

Option 1:

• 1 banana
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt or 1/2 cup milk
• flax seed
• honey to taste

Option 2: 

• 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup frozen berries  

Option 3:

• pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1-2 mangos (peeled) or frozen
• honey to taste

 Green Smoothies 

Option 1:

•  1 banana
• frozen fruit (peaches, strawberries, etc.)
• bunch kale
• approx. 1/2 cup milk (any kind--soy, almond, coconut)
• flax seed

Option 2:

• 1-2 bunches spinach
• 1-2 cup frozen/fresh berries
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup milk
• honey to taste
• flax seed

Option 3:

• 1 avocado
• 1 banana 
• kale (leaves only)
• 1-2 cup milk
• 1/2 lemon juice

Option 4:

• watermelon chunks
• Kale
• Ice

Option 5:

• parsley
• kale
• frozen berries 
• 1 banana
• 1 cup juice
• juice of 1 lemon