Chicken Pasta Salad

This recipe comes from my Taste Of Home mag, which I LOVE!  I would recommend it to anyone in a recipe rut, or just looking to try something new.  I get the subscription (which I probably won't renew - there's so many recipes I already need to try!), but their website is great too.

"This recipe combines the coolness of salad and the zesty seasonings of pizza.  It's perfect for a warm-weather get-together"

1 pkg (12 oz) tricolor spiral pasta

2 cups cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 lrg green pepper, chopped

1 lrg sweet red pepper, chopped

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (i omitted this - not a fan of mushrooms)

2 cans (2-1/4 oz each) sliced ripe olives, drained

6 green onions, sliced

1 pkg (3-1/2 oz) sliced pepperoni, halved

1/2 cup vegetable oil (i used olive oil instead)

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain well.  In a large serving bowl, combine the cheese, chicken, peppers, mushrooms, olives, green onions, pepperoni and pasta.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.  pour over salad; toss to coat.  Cover and refrigerate until serving.  Toss before serving.  Yield: 14 servings (it really does make a lot).

Layered Ice Cream Cake

From Family Circle Summer 2007

Ingredients
15 chocolate and cream sandwich cookies (such as Oreo)
1 tablespoon milk
8 to 9 ice cream sandwiches, depending on size
1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream
1 pint Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
1 pint Chocolate Ice Cream
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed



* You pick your favorite flavors and use them.





Directions
1. Coat bottom and side of a 9-inch round springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line side with waxed paper, using spray to help adhere to pan. Trim paper to height of pan.



2. Finely crush 12 of the cookies in a food processor. Add milk; pulse just until mixture holds together. Set aside.



3. Unwrap 4 ice cream sandwiches. Working quickly, cut each in quarters. Stack strips of sandwiches on end, packing them snugly together, around waxed-paper-lined pan. Repeat with remaining sandwiches to form a stand-up edge. Spoon cookie crumbs into center of pan; press firmly over bottom. Freeze 1 hour.



4. Remove all 3 flavors of ice cream or frozen yogurt from freezer and let soften for 15 minutes at room temperature. Transfer mint vanilla ice cream to a small bowl and stir until good but firm spreading consistency. Repeat with cookies & cream and chocolate. Remove pan from freezer. Spread vanilla ice cream on bottom, then top with cookies & cream then the chocolate, spreading all layers level. Top with thawed whipped topping, swirling top decoratively. Crush remaining 3 sandwich cookies and sprinkle over cake. Return to freezer; freeze overnight.



5. To serve, remove side of pan, then waxed paper. Cut into wedges.

Bruchetta Stuffed Chicken

1 (14 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 (6 ounce) package seasoned stuffing mix
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup Italian dressing

Combine tomatoes, 1/2 cup of cheese, basil, and stuffing mix.
Stir until ingredients are combined and moistened. Take each
chicken breast pound it flat. Spread stuffing mix on each
chicken breast. Fold chicken in half and use toothpicks to
close them up and hold them together. Place in a lightly
greased baking dish. Drizzle with Italian dressing.
Bake for 40 Minutes at 350. 5 minutes before chicken is
done, sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Chicken Salad with Raspberry Dressing

My friend, Jori, posted this recipe on her blog today and it sounds FABULOUS! Thanks Jori-sorry I'm totally ripping this off your blog! I'm giving you credit though, so I know its all good:)



1 package baby spinach leaves

1 small can mandarin orange segments, drained

1/4 cup Red Raspberry Vinaigrette with Poppyseed Dressing(Raspberry Pecan is also great)

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled, sliced

1/2 cup Cashews

1/2 cup Coconut, toasted


Toss spinach and romaine with the oranges in large bowl. Add dressing; mix lightly. Top with the chicken; sprinkle with the cashews and coconut.

Porcupine Meatballs

1 can tomato soup
1 lb ground beef
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine egg, 1/4 cup soup, rice, salt, pepper, and onion. Add
beef. Mix all together and shape into meatballs. Coat a large
skillet over medium heat with oil. Cook meatballs and brown on
all sides. Mix remaining soup, 1/2 c. water and Worcestershire
sauce. Pour sauce over meatballs and cover with lid and simmer
for 20-30minutes , stirring every few minutes. Serve with rice
and enjoy!

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs, beaten
2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
3 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. raw, grated zucchini
3 c. flour

Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add zucchini. Mix all dry
ingredients (add more flour if needed). Bake at 350 degrees
for 50 minutes. *Add nuts and raisins if desired.

Spinach Dip

1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach
1 pint sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (1 ounce) pkg. ranch dressing mix

Cook spinach according to package. Drain
well. Chop spinach. Stir in rest of ingredients
and chill. This dip is great for vegetables or chips!

Hello Dolly's

These are sooo tasty!

1 Stick of butter

1 Sleeve of saltine crackers (crushed)

1 cup pecan bits (chopped)

6 oz chocolate chips

6 0z coconut flakes

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350*.  Put stick of butter in 9x13 pan, and place in oven, while the oven is preheating, until the butter melts. *Don't burn the butter!*  Evenly sprinkle crushed saltines over melted butter.  Add chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and coconut.  Drizzle condensed milk over top - from the outside in.  Place in oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes.  Let cool until crispy.  Cut and serve.

They might sound a little different, but you really have to try them.  They are delicious!  And easy for kids to make too.

Orange Glazed Chicken

2-4 chicken breasts
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin orange segments
1/2 cup orange juice(reserved from mandarin oranges)
4 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
cooked rice

Drain oranges and save juice. Combine orange juice, lemon juice, honey, soy sauce and ginger in a small bowl and set aside. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Combine flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a plastic bag. Add chicken and shake to coat. Brown chicken in a hot skillet. Add juice combination and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Potato Pockets

4 potatoes, julienned
3 carrots, julienned
1/3 c. onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c grated cheese
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp. pepper

Divide vegetables among 4 pieces of aluminum foil (18x12).
Top with butter, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Seal.
Grill or bake 15 to 20 minutes. Top with grated cheese to
melt.

Chex Muddy Buddies

9 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Heat chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter over
low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from
heat; stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over Rice
Chex. Make sure all cereal gets coated. Put powdered
sugar in a large paper bag (or Ziploc bag). Add the
cereal and shake until all the cereal is coated.
Pour in a bowl and enjoy!

Getting Kids involved in the kitchen....

My kids love to help me in the kitchen and I'm sure yours
do to. With summer approaching I wanted to find some fun
recipes I could do with my kids. Here are a few sites I found.....

Kids Central Kitchen

Kids Health Recipes

Family Fun Recipes

That's My Home

The Fun Place

What are some things you like to make with your kids??

Play Dough Cookies

I got this recipe from my blogging buddy Emily

3/4 C butter
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract
2 and 3/4 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
assorted food coloring (gel or paste works best)

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth. In a bowl combine flour,
baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed
mixture. Stir until soft dough forms. Divide dough into Fourths.
Tint each with a different food coloring. Wrap in plastic and
chill for two hours. Preheat oven to 350. Shape colors into
3/4 inch balls. For each cookie place one pink, one orange,
one green, and one blue ball together and roll to make
one giant ball. Roll into a 12 inch long snake, and then
starting at one end coil roll to make a cookie. Place cookies
2 to 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet to allow for
spreading. Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
Enjoy!!

Breakfast Cake

Cake:
1/2 c. oil
2 beaten eggs
1 c. milk
3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Topping:
1 c. brown sugar
4 Tbsp. flour
4 tsp. cinnamon
4 Tbsp melted margarine

Combine oil, eggs, and milk. Sift together dry ingredients; add to
milk mixture. Mix well. Pour 1/2 into greased 9x12 inch pan.
Sprinkle topping over mixture, then spread or dot remaining cake
mixture on top of topping. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 to 40
minutes.

Crock pot cordon Blue

4-5 chicken breasts
4-5 slices of Swiss cheese
4-5 slices of deli ham
1 can cream of chicken
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs

Place slices of cheese and ham on each chicken breast. Roll
up and secure with toothpicks. Place chicken in the bottom of
crock pot. Mix soup and milk. Pour over chicken breasts.
Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.