Thursday, March 27, 2008

Vietnamese Egg Rolls

  • 1 lb. ground beef (or pork or turkey--I used turkey)
  • 1 package coleslaw mix (found in refridgerated section of produce dept.)--it usually has shredded cabbage and carrots
  • 2 cups vermacelli glass noodles (I have only been able to find these at Asian markets so I just stock up whenever I go)
  • Approximately 30 egg roll wraps (also found in the refrigerated section of the produce dept. or at Asian markets--the ones at Asian markets are usually cheaper and tastier but not as convenient as running to the grocery store)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1-2 egg yolks
  • oil for frying
  • Sesame Ginger dressing for dipping (I used Newman's Own "lighten up!")

Brown the ground meat and drain excess grease/water. Allow to cool. Place coleslaw mix in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, smash mixture in between your fists in order to release as much water from the cabbage as possible (I don't know why you do this but it's how I was taught). Add ground meat and mix with coleslaw.
Fill another bowl with approximately 5 cups of lukewarm water. Add glass noodle to water until completely submersed. Let soak for a couple of minutes until noodles are soft and flexible. Drain water and pat dry with paper towels until all of the excess water is soaked up.
Add noodles to cabbage mixture. At this point I usually take a pair of kitchen scissors and cut the noodles several times. It just makes it easier when rolling the egg rolls if the noodles aren't so long. Mix noodles well with cabbage/meat mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
Using the egg roll wraps, one at a time, take a small amount of mixture (approx. 3-4 tablespoons) and roll it up in the wrap. Seal with a dab of egg yolk (If you are confused about how to roll the wraps, check the back of the wrap package--I think they have pictures and do a much better job of explaining than I could). Repeat until all wraps and mixture have been used.
Fry egg rolls in oil until lightly browned. Serve hot with dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Posted by Sara P.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Nanaimo Bars


Nanaimo Bars

Mix following ingredients in top of double boiler, before turning on heat:
5 T. cocoa pwd.
½ c. sugar (mix cocoa and sugar together)
½ c. soft butter (be sure to use butter not margarine)
1 beaten egg

Cook and stir above ingredients until mixture resembles custard (pudding).
After mixture is cooked, add 1 tsp. vanilla

Blend following ingredients together, and then add to above mixture:
2 c. graham wafer crumbs (22 singles)
1 c. flaked coconut
½ c. chopped walnuts (I didn’t add these)

After mixing the 2 mixtures together, pack into a 9”x9” square pan.

Icing for Nanaimo Bars:
Cream ½ c. butter
Add: 2 T. birds custard powder
3 T. milk
2 c. sifted icing sugar
Spread icing over chocolate base. Let stand 15 min. (in refrigerator)
Melt 4 squares of semi-sweet chocolate, with 1 T. butter, over hot (not boiling) water.
Butter helps the chocolate spread more evenly.
Spread over icing. Refrigerate. Cut with hot knife.

ENJOY!!! - Laura Lee

Friday, March 7, 2008

Sal Picao

2-3 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
3 Granny smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 small can yellow corn, (not creamed corn)
1 lb bacon, cooked to crispy and chopped/crumbled
3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise (enough to coat)

Combine above ingredients and refrigerate for a couple of hours. ***One recipe night I didn't have the time to peel the apples, so really it is just up to your preference.

Enjoy!
Becca Fluhman

Monday, March 3, 2008

Sparkling Limeade

1 cup lime juice (about 6 limes)
3/4 cup Splenda sugar
1 teaspoon lime zest
42-ounce bottle sparkling water (I used lime flavored sparkling water)

1.) Combine lime juice, Splenda, and lime zest in a large pitcher. Stir.
2.) Add sparkling water. Stir.
3.) Serve over ice. (I froze the extra lime flavored sparkling water into ice cubes and used those!)

ENJOY!!!

SERVES 6 (12 oz. glasses)

I hope this works.....this is the FIRST post I have ever made on any blog.....I'm in the dark ages and I don't have a blog....yet.

Haylee Mollerup :)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Sante Fe Chicken

Sante Fe Chicken

INGREDIENTS
Marinade:
Juice from 3 limes
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seed
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
2 whole breasts boneless, skinless chicken
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

Mix together marinade ingredients in a bowl (I prefer to put all ingredients in a gallon-sized ziploc bag--that way I can mix them up and let the chicken marinate without dirtying any dishes!), stirring thoroughly. Pour marinade into a large ziploc bag or shallow baking pan. Cover baking pan and refrigerate for one hour (or longer if you have time--the longer the better!).

After one hour, when the chicken has absorbed all the flavors of the marinade, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle. Serve over rice with low-fat sour cream, lime wedges, and salsa.

Posted by Sara P.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Red Velvet Cupcakes

The cake part is "healthy," but the frosting I used wasn't...Better a little healthy than not at all. :) You could use Fat Free Cool-Whip as icing if you wanted.

Ingredients:
For Cupcakes -
1 cup Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Cake Mix, Devil's Food
1 cup Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Cake Mix, Classic Yellow
Two 25-calorie diet hot cocoa mix packets
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1/2 oz. red food coloring
1 tsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/8 tsp. salt

Frosting:
3/4 stick of butter of margarine (melted)
3 oz. cream cheese (I used Fat Free), softened
2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 cups powdered sugar


Directions: Place half of your chocolate chips (2 tbsp.) and the contents of both cocoa packets in a tall glass. Add 12 ounces of boiling water, and stir until chips and cocoa mix have dissolved. Place glass in the freezer until mixture is cold (about 30 minutes). Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once the cocoa in the freezer has chilled, give it a stir, and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Add the cake mixes, egg substitute, remaining chocolate chips, red food coloring, 1 tsp. Splenda, and salt. Using a whisk or fork, mix batter for about 2 minutes (until smooth and blended). Batter will be thin, but don't worry, your cupcakes will puff up once baked. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups, and spray lightly with nonstick spray (or spray the pan with nonstick spray). Evenly spoon batter into the pan. Place pan in the oven, and bake for 15 - 20 minutes. Cupcakes will look shiny when done. For frosting: Melt butter in microwave, add cream cheese and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add 1 c. powdered sugar and stir. Continue to add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Once cupcakes have cooled completely, evenly spread the frosting over them. Enjoy! MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Posted by: Nikki Hook

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Poppyseed Pecan Salad

I got this fun salad recipe from my mother-in-law.  I wasn't sure what to call this salad and as I am writing this the heater in my townhouse is out (and we are freezing!).  My husband suggested I call it "broken heater salad,"  but because that has absolutely nothing to do with what is in the salad, we decided to come up with something else.  After much deliberation, here is the recipe for Poppyseed Pecan Salad:

2 bags romaine lettuce
1 med avocado
1 can diced pears
1 small pkg crumbled feta cheese
4 oz candied pecans

To candy pecans:
Sprinkle a little less than 1/4 cup sugar in a saucepan. Cover with 4 oz chopped pecans.  Put on medium high heat and heat (do not stir) until sugar starts to melt. Once sugar starts to melt, toss pecans with spatula until sugar is completely melted and pecans are coated.  Turn onto wax paper to cool. 
  
Mix all ingredients and serve with poppyseed dressing.

Poppyseed dressing:

Mix all ingredients in blender.

3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp dry ground mustard
1 1/2 tsp poppyseeds
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp worcestershire sauce

Pour dressing over salad just before serving.  Enjoy!

Shauni Frost