Olive Garden Salad

Did I mention how much I love salads? 

I really do!  

This is another special salad I enjoy and got the recipe from my niece who makes it quite often.  When she serves this, she also serves Zuppa Soup (yum!) and breadsticks.  What a meal!

This is some of what you’ll need:

Doesn’t it look good already?!

OLIVE GARDEN SALAD

1 (12 ounce) bag iceberg garden salad (I used iceberg lettuce)
1/4 small red onion, sliced thin
6 -12 pitted black olives
3/4 cup pepperoncini pepper rings
1 -2 small roma tomatoes, sliced bite-size
1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned croutons
freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

For the dressing:

½ cup Mayonnaise
1/3 cup White vinegar
1 teaspoon Vegetable oil
2 tablespoons Corn syrup
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons Romano cheese
1 clove Garlic
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon Parsley flakes
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
1 tablespoon Sugar (optional)

In a large glass or wooden salad serving bowl, toss together the lettuce,
onion slices, olives, pepper rings, tomatoes, and croutons. Add dressing and toss to combine.

Sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese and black pepper to taste.

Serve chilled.

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Kool-Aid Pie

I’ve been on a Kool-Aid Pie kick lately.

And why not?!  They’re so easy!

I know they’ve been around for a while but it’s a new attempt at an easy and delicious pie.

I’ve had several elderly friends to pass away lately and I was looking for something quick and easy to take to the dinner for the family.    It’s kinda hard to make a complicated recipe when you work full time.  This recipe is exactly that…easy, that is, and delicious, too! You can change the flavor depending on what kind of Kool-Aid you use.

I’ve made three flavors…Strawberry, Lemon-Lime, and Orange.

Delicious…very easy…and perfect for Spring!

KOOL-AID PIE

1 graham cracker pie crust
1 pkg unsweetened Kool-Aid powdered drink mix
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 (14 ounce) can condensed milk
In a medium bowl, mix condensed milk and Kool-aid until well combined.  Fold in Cool Whip and spoon pie mixture into the graham cracker crust. Garnish according to flavor.  Chill for 2 hours and serve.

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And for my low carb readers…
3-INGREDIENT LOW-CARB LEMON ICEBOX PIE

from Jimmy Moore’s site.  Sounds yummy!

Yummy Low Carb Breakfast Pudding

 

This recipe has been around for a while!  But there’s a reason for that…it’s yummy and filling!

CJ’S BREAKFAST PUDDING

1/3 cup ricotta cheese (I use cottage cheese)
1 egg
3 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. flax meal
sugar free Maple syrup (I also add a packet of Stevia to sweeten)
Dash of cinnamon

Put first three  ingredients into a sauce pan and cook until thick, kinda like a cream of wheat consistency.  Stir in Stevia and flax meal.  Top with sugar free breakfast syrup and a pat of real butter if desired.   Serve warm.

*Recipe found at Low Carb Friends.

 

 

Inspiration Tuesday

(Graphics I created for a t-shirt)

Reader question

I’m thinking about adding some free clipart to my blog.

The question is…is this something you can use?  This would mainly be for my other blogging friends who maybe want to add a little something extra to the posts on their own site.

Just click on the design you want, download and save to your computer for future use.

See below for some simple examples of what I’m talking about if I’m not being clear.  lol  I’m writing this post in a rush, so forgive me.

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash – My Paleo Breakfast

I’m kinda new to this Paleo  way of eating, but I thought it’d be worth a try.  

According to my research, this recipe qualifies for Paleo.  If you know more than I do, please share your experience.  :)

Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

1/2 of a small sweet potato, cut into small pieces
1 large sausage patty (from the freezer section)
2 tablespoons diced onion
salt, pepper, garlic salt or garlic powder
1 tablespoon bacon grease (or coconut oil)

Sautee all together in a small skillet until potatoes are tender
and sausage is heated through. Serves 1.

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Here’s some nutritional data as per My Fitness Pal:

Cal 316
Carbs 19
Fat 23
Protein 7
Fiber 4
Sugar 5

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

Talk about decadent and rich!  That’s this ooey, gooey homemade mac and cheese recipe for the crockpot! When I tested it straight out of the crockpot, I could not stop eating it.  Total comfort food!

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
One 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick ) of butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
Two 10-ounce bricks sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
Dash of paprika
Cooking spray (I just buttered the dish)

In a large 4-quart slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray (or buttered), mix the macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, butter, salt, pepper, eggs and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes. (Mine was done in about 2 1/2 hours).  Turn off the slow cooker, stir the mixture and serve hot.

Cook’s Note: If you don’t have a slow cooker, grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan with butter, add the mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes.

recipe courtesy of Food Network

~Did I mention that my daughter has a guitar signed by Trisha Yearwood?  :)  It was a 15th birthday gift from her grandpa.

 

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SHARED WITH:

Vintage Recipe ~ Aunt Mary’s “Quick Crunchies” aka Rice Krispie Date Balls

I love looking through Aunt Mary’s little recipe box.  She was one of the best home cooks I ever knew and I always enjoyed eating at her house.

Many days she would call my mom at work and tell her the soup was on.   She almost always had homemade yeast rolls rising in muffin tins.  She’d sit the trays on her hot water heater behind the kitchen door.  I’d lift the tea towel that covered the rolls to inhale the yeasty smell of dough rising.

Good memories.

I found this quick little candy recipe in her recipe box.  I’ve been wanting to try a recipe with dates so I decided this one would work nicely.  This is just one candy I made during the past holidays.  Hope you enjoy!

Aunt Mary’s “Quick Crunchies” aka Rice Krispy Date Balls

1 stick butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 (8 oz.) chopped dates
1 c. pecans, chopped
2 c. crispy rice cereal
1 tsp. vanilla
coconut, for rolling

In saucepan, melt butter and sugar over low heat. Add dates and
cook 3 minutes or until mixture thickens and remove from heat.

Add nuts, crispy rice cereal, and vanilla. When cool enough to handle,
form small balls and roll in coconut.

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More of Aunt Mary’s Recipes

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Can there be anything better on a cold snowy day?!

I’m a little “under the weather” and this Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate made for me by my sweet younger brother just hits the spot.

Rich, creamy and darker than my photo…well, it’s just delicious and you’ll have to try it for yourself!  :)

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
5 ounces milk chocolate, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Warm milk and cream in a medium
saucepan over a medium-low heat.

Add chocolate, and whisk until melted and combined.

Continue to warm mixture until thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in
peanut butter until smooth.

Pour into mugs and enjoy!

Honey Yeast Rolls

For our family’s Sunday Potluck, I’m making Pam’s Honey Yeast Rolls with Honey Butter again.   Oh, and I’m trying Trisha Yearwood’s Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese!

I’ll try to be back  with pics and a review real soon!

Low Carb Lunch

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I’m left with 3 extra unwanted pounds!

What to do?  Get back to my low carb way of eating, of course!  :)

Here’s my low carb lunch today.

Check out my low carb induction page for more menu ideas and food pics.

It’s Almost Thanksgiving! Holiday Hits

It’s almost Thanksgiving and I enjoyed my first of three Thanksgiving meals with my family last night.  Good times and good food.

I know I haven’t posted a lot lately due to real life taking over and no time to share all the great things going on!  I wish I could just push a button and have a post with pictures pop up.   Wouldn’t that be so neat?!

I’ll be reminding us of some old fashioned high carb treats and some delicious low carb treats so be sure and scroll on down.

I’m so thankful for all my faithful readers and visitors.  Thank you for being here!

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I wanted to share some recipes that are already posted here that are great for the holidays.  I seem to make some of the these dishes over and over again ’cause they are so good!  :)

For those not so worried about their blood sugar…

Nutter Butter Banana Pudding

Brownie Crusted Butterfinger Cheesecake

Sopapilla Cheesecake   yum!

Coconut Macaroons

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Applesauce Nut Cake     (no eggs!)

Easy Chess Pie

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Heavenly Yeast Rolls

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And now for some LOWER CARB treats…

Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower with Bacon

Pumpkin Pie

Butter Pecan Creme Brulee

The best Chocolate Chip Cheesecake ever!

Blender Coconut Pie

Carbuik Muffins

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Cream Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Peppers aka Poppers!

More Low carb links:

LOW CARB

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Have a very safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Fruit Pizza

Fruit Pizza is one of my favorite desserts!

It’s a wonderful dessert during springtime or any other special time of year, say like the upcoming holidays!  :)

On this particular Fruit Pizza I used fresh strawberries, bananas, and kiwi but you can use your favorite fruits.

FRUIT PIZZA

1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) refrigerated sliceable sugar cookies, sliced
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
½ tsp. vanilla
4 cups assorted cut-up fruit (kiwi, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, drained canned mandarin
oranges)
1/2 cup apricot preserves*
1Tbsp. water

HEAT oven to 375°F.

LINE 12-inch pizza pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. Arrange cookie dough slices in single layer in prepared pan; press together to form crust. Bake 14 min.; cool completely.  (I used my Pampered Chef baking stone for bars and my cookie crust got a little crisp.)

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Spread over crust.

TOP with fruit.  Mix preserves and water; brush or spoon over fruit.  Cover and refrigerate  overnight.  (*I usually use Sugar Free Apricot Preserves.)

TIP-How to soften cream cheese:  Place completely unwrapped package of cream cheese on microwaveable plate.   Microwave on HIGH for 10 to 15 sec. or until slightly softened.

Snap On

For my photography friends…

 

Happy Friday!

Debate Dessert

My daughter has been making cakes for the debates and calling them the Debate Dessert.  :) Don’t know where she got that idea, but it’s been pretty popular around here.

Here’s her dessert cake for tonight…a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing in the middle and topped with Coconut Pecan Frosting.