Recipe Thread

[GraciesMommy]

That cheese cake sounds extra yummy!
Too bad I don't like to cook but I will pass it on to someone who does and maybe they will make it and I will get some of it..lol

[guineapiglover4life]

I don't know any good recipes, but I hope to use some that are on here! Great recipes guys!

[AmberLee]

I made a simple chocolate cake for KAK's birthday, and she was kind enough to request the recipe. (I'd warned her it was from my WW group and a low cal, but tasty, way to celebrate...)

Cake:
Chocolate cake mix (I used one with pudding package, pick one you like...)
16 oz. canned pumpkin
1/2 to 1 cup water [Original directions call for 1/2 cup but it was too dry; I needed almost a full cup to make the batter consistency smooth enough to mix/pour properly.]

Topping:
1/2 container of low fat Whipped Topping (i.e. Cool Whip...)
1 pint of blueberries, washed, drained and chilled

Whip cake ingredients together to a smooth batter consistency. Pour into a greased (I used PAM butter spray) Bundt or Angel Food pan. Cook per instructions on cake box. (Temperatures and times vary per mix chosen.)

Test cake for done-ness with toothpicks. When done, let cake cool. 'Frost' cake with low fat Whipping topping.

Sprinkle cake with a favorite fruit or berry prior to serving. I used chilled blueberries.

[Hope this recipe isn't too disappointingly simple. It makes a very RICH, tasty, fudgy chocolate cake though. And at much lower calorie/fat count than most cakes on the market.]

[AmberLee]

I served this Herbed Cheese Ball as an appetizer. My sister prepared one just like it at Thanksgiving and I FLIPPED for it. YUM! It was still tasty after I modified almost every line in the recipe...


Herbed Cheese Ball

Herb measurements approximate...

1 TBSP fresh oregano (I subed 1 teaspoon dried oregano)
1 TBSP fresh rosemary (I subed 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
16 oz brick cream cheese (I subed fat free cream cheese)
1/2 c. shredded Cheddar (I subed a blend of white cheeses)
1 TBSP lemon juice (I skipped this. Couldn't get lid open!)
1/8 teasp. salt (I used a dash of salt and added some Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper herb salt substitute and dried parsley flakes)

Minced almonds to taste (I bought almond slivers; mixed them with pecan bits and halves....)

Mix first six ingredients thoroughly. Roll into log or ball; roll in almonds.

Chill before serving. Serve with chips or crackers.

[AmberLee]

My darling sister (PT Screen Name: TigerBlossom) made a second Cheese Ball that was as fabulous as the first. I'm posting it here, because I've been misplacing recipes lately, and want to keep this one for reference later.

Onion-Garlic Cheese Ball

1/2 small white onion, minced
1 clove garlic (I think I'd bake the garlic clove to 'gentle' the flavor)
Dash of Worchestershire Sauce
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Brick of Cream Cheese (softened)
Minced pecans

Mix the first 5 ingredients with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pecans. Shape into a ball (or log), roll in remaining pecans. Sprinkle with paprika and chill before serving.

Serve with chips or crackers, as prefered.

[AmberLee]

yummy.

Peanut Butter Dip
Serves 12 (2 points for 2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon = 1 point

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 container fat free vanilla yogurt
1/8 t. cinnamon (opt.)
1/2 cup Light Cool Whip

Mix all ingredients except Cool Whip together with a whisk until thoroughly blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip. Chill.

Serve with apples or pears that have been cut into slices.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I was just thinking about this thread yesterday.

Here is one of my favorite recipes. I don't usually like meatloaf, but I love this.

Spinach Meatloaf

1c meatless spaghetti sauce, divided
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1c soft whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4c finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground mustard
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry
1/2c shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

In bowl combine 1/4c spaghetti sauce, eggs, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, basil, oregano, & mustard. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well.

On a sheet of waxed paper, pat turkey mixture into a 12 in. x 8 in. rectangle. Sprinkle with spinach and cheese. Roll up "jelly-roll" style, starting with a short side and peeling waxed paper away while rolling. Seal seam and ends. Place seam side down in a 15 x 10 in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 50-60 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Heat remaining spaghetti sauce, serve over turkey.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for posting your recipes AmberLee. They sure were delicious.

[Tonya]

Ok, I think I'm on to something here. I just invented a dip that I think turned out awesome. Not only does it taste great, but it looks beautiful.

3oz (1/2 bar) of cream cheese
1 jar of Marshmallow creme (the kind you put on icecream)
Craisens (the dried cranberries)

Soften the marshmallow creme and cream cheese so that it mixes easily. Mix the two together. Fold in cranberries. Sprinkle top with nuts and cranberries for an added touch. Serve with wheat thins or pretzles.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Sheesh Tonya - reading that recipe reminded me of some of the weird things I ate when I was pregnant.

(I think the strangest was a blend of pickled onions and avocado, chopped in the blender, and spread thickly on toasted bread - yummy!!!)

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Originally posted by Ally Cat's Mommy
I think the strangest was a blend of pickled onions and avocado, chopped in the blender, and spread thickly on toasted bread - yummy!!!

YUCK!!

[AmberLee]

Don Juan's Mom made the yummiest Tomato Salad at the recent barbeque and she's sharing the recipe. YUM!

4 good-sized good quality (farmers market or backyard) tomatoes, cored and diced small
1 bunch curly-leaf parsley, stemmed and finely chopped
1/3 cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
1/4 cup or thereabouts extra-virgin olive oil
Dash white wine vinegar
Garlic salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Cook orzo according to package directions. After draining, rinse in cold water. Combine cooked orzo, diced tomatoes and chopped parsley in a bowl and mix well. Add olive oil, vinegar and seasonings and mix some more. Serve.

[AmberLee]

Jello Salad (My this feels lame ... are you sure you want it?)

1 large package Jell-o (I used Orange flavor)
1 or 2 single package of plain gelatine (how firm do you like it?)
1 small can Mandarian oranges (10 oz, I think...)
1 container of yogurt (I used vanilla when I discovered I didn't have orange flavor -- big surprise. )
~ 10 ice cubes
2 cups boiling water
~ 1/2 cup chilled water

Put tea kettle on to boil. Open the can of Mandarian oranges, separate the juice from the fruit. Place both in freezer.

Pour the Jell-o and gelatin into a large bowl. When water boils, pour 2 cups into the bowl; stir ~ 4 minutes until all gelatin is thoroughly mixed and slightly frothy. Remove the juice from the freezer and float ice cube in it till it measures 1 cup. Mix in the gelatine froth until fully melted. Fill the 1 cup measure with ice cubes, top off with chilled water to reach a full cup. Mix until ice is fully melted. Pour off ~ 1 and 1/2 cups of chilled mixture into another bowl. Put chilled orange slices in the gelatine mixture and refrigerate. (Note: this is probably starting to gel already.)

Whip the separated gelatine with the yogurt. When the fruited gelatine is stable enough to hold it, layer the yougurt/jell-o layer on top. Complete chilling. Best if cooled overnight before serving.

[Randi]

Today, I bought some fresh chicken liver. I wonder if anyone has a good recipe for it - or should I just spoil Fister and Pjevs?

[kittycats_delight]

I have some great chicken liver recipes but you can always spoil the kitties too.

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Apple Port Glazed Chicken Livers

1/2 c Apple juice concentrate; undiluted
1/2 c Port wine
3 tb Butter
1 lb Chicken livers
1/2 c All-purpose flour
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 ts Pepper


Prepare sauce by combining apple juice concentrate, port, and 1 tbsp butter in a small saucepan. Boil sauce until reduced to 1/2 cup. Set aside. Remove any bits of fat or grislte from liver and cut each in half. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a plastic bag. Drop liver pieces in a few at a time and toss to coat. Melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat and brown liver pieces, turning once. Cook until no pink shows when liver is cut, but do not overcook. Place livers in a serving dish and pour sauce overtop. Makes 4 servings.

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Chicken Livers Stroganoff

3/4 lb Livers, chicken
4 oz Mushrooms, sliced; drained
1 md Onion; chopped
3/4 c Vermouth
1/2 ts Rosemary, dried; crushed
1/4 ts Thyme, whole; dried
1 ts Salt
3/4 c Sour cream
Noodles; hot cooked


Combine first 7 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered 20 minutes. Stir in sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated. Serve over hot cooked noodles.

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Chicken Liver Marsala

1 lb Chicken livers
1/4 c Butter
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 ts Pepper
1/2 ts Sage
2 Slices prosciutto, diced
8 Bread triangles, sauteed
1/4 c Marsala wine
1 tb Butter


Cut livers in half, simmer in melted butter together with seasonings and prosciutto for 5 mins. Remove livers, place them on sauteed bread triangles Add wine to pan gravy, cook 3 mins. Add remaining butter, mix well, pour over the livers.

4 servings.