Broc & Mac

From: 100 Days of Real Food

This is one of my new loves, and therefore a common fall back recipe.  I just love this creamy macaroni and cheese.  With broccoli it makes for a great one dish meal - especially when it's just the Dude and me for dinner.
I've adjusted the measurements to fit our serving size.  But please check the website above for the original recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup of dried pasta noodles, cooked
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup milk
1 cup freshly grated block cheese (I like marbled cheddar.  Grating your own is important for the proper creaminess)
Lawry's seasoned salt to taste (my weakness.  It's not mac & cheese without Lawry's)
1 head fresh farmer's market broccoli (or just store bought is good, too. :)

DIRECTIONS
In a saute pan boil about 1" of water.  Add the broccoli and cover to blanch/steam.  Cook to desired tenderness.
Melt the butter in a pan over medium-low heat.  Whisk in the flour and continue whisking for about 1 – 2 minutes until the roux  starts to darken. (I had to learn from Joy of Cooking how to make a roux after a couple rounds of funky tasting Broc & Mac)
Turn the heat down to low and quickly whisk in the milk. Turn the heat back up to medium and keep whisking until the mixture starts to thicken and all lumps of flour are dissolved.
Stir in the grated cheese and once it melts mix in the cooked noodles. Season with salt.

Caleb's Breakfast Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce
1 mashed banana
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup quick oats
1/3 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 400 degrees.  beat milk, applesauce and egg.  Stir in fruit.  Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Add to mixture in bowl.  Add quick oats and stir.  Pour in muffin cups.  Bake 18-20 minutes.

This can be used with 1 cup of a variety of fruits.  Also I always substitute applesauce for oil but you can use oil.  The muffins in the photo have no oats... I forgot. Oops

Spicy Veggie Quesadillas

From Favorite Brand Name Fresh Foods

INGREDIENTS:
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
8 6-inch flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

DIRECTIONS
Spray a non-stick skillet with cooking spray.  Heat over medium heat.  Add veggies and spices and cook until veggies are crisp-tender.  About 4 minutes.
Spoon vegetable mixture evenly over one tortilla. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and cilantro.  Place another tortilla on top and heat on skillet sprayed with vegetable spray. 
Cut before serving.

Baked Parmesan Chicken

From The New American Heart Association Cookbook.
 
INGREDIENTS:
Vegetable oil spray
6 boneless chicken breasts
bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 Tablespoon fresh parsley
1/2 Tablespoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Lightly spray a cookie sheet with cooling rack on it with vegetable spray.

In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, paprika, garlic powder and thyme.  Pour milk into another bowl .  Rinse and trim fat from chicken.  Pound to 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick.  Dredge chicken in milk then bread crumbs.  Place on cooling rack.

Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn over and bake for another 10 minutes.

Sloppy Joes

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp chili powder

DIRECTIONS
Brown ground beef with onion and pepper.  Drain.  Return to pan and mix in ketchup, mustard and chili powder.  Heat through

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

INGREDIENTS
1 egg
1 apple, chopped
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup flax seed meal
1 cup flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Crack egg into mixing bowl and beat slightly.  Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until just moistened. 
Scoop into greased muffin tins.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Chocolate Cobbler

from http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/my-grannye28099s-chocolate-cobbler/

INGREDIENTS
1 cup All purpose flour
2 tsp Baking powder
¼ tsp Salt
7 Tbsp Cocoa powder, div.
1 ¼ c Sugar, divided
1/2 cup Milk
1/3 cup Melted butter
1 ½ tsp Vanilla
½ cup Light Brown Sugar
1½ cup Hot Tap Water

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa, and 3/4 cup of the white sugar. Reserve the remaining cocoa and sugar.
Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until smooth.

Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8-inch oval baking dish.
In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining white sugar (it should be 1/2 cup), the brown sugar, and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.

Pour the hot tap water over all. DO NOT STIR!
Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.
Let stand for a few minutes if you can hold yourself back. Serve with homemade ice cream using the gooey sauce to spoon over all.

Spicy Asparagus Pasta

from The Great PB&J Battle blog

INGREDIENTS
olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
½ tsp red pepper flakes
10 cloves garlic, minced
2 lb asparagus
Salt & Pepper
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 lb penne pasta

DIRECTIONS
Cook pasta according to package directions
Cook red pepper flakes in oil and butter for about 3 minutes. Add asparagus, salt and pepper to taste and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Add garlic and parmesan and toss with pasta