Granola bars

My friend Meghan introduced me to this recipe. I made them a couple days ago and they are so yummy! They taste like a dessert and I love that they use oatmeal, wheat germ and whole wheat flour.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups rolled oats
1/2cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup raisins (I did 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup chocolate chips)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 18-20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Citrus Summer Chicken

This is a great and easy Marinade for Chicken, and It is Citrus base so it is perfect for Summer!

Ingredients:
1 Lemon
1 Lime
1 Orange
2 Tbl Olive oil
2 Green Onion
2 Tbl Honey
Salt and Pepper

Preparation:
Zest the Lemon, Lime, and Orange into a bowl and then squeeze the juice from the 3 fruits and add it to the zest. Add Olive Oil, and Honey to the bowl and mix well. Chop the Green Onion and add it as well, mixing the entire mixture well. Season Chicken Breasts with Salt and Pepper and put Marinade over them in either a Ziploc or a glass dish. Marinade in the fridge for 2-4 hours, taking Chicken out 20 min prior to grilling. Grill the Chicken and Serve! Enjoy!

LITTLE THIMBLES SCIUE SCIUE (SHWEE-SHWEE)

This is my friend Chelsea's Recipe and it is so easy and delicious! I added Sauted Shrimp also for a little protein, grilled Chicken would be great too!

Ingredients:

1½ c ditalini pasta (I used Wheat Penne because that is what I had in the pantry, any would do)
¼ c good extra-virgin olive oil
2 t minced garlic (use fresh in a garlic press)
Plum tomatoes, chopped (I used a generous handful because I like tomatoes, use however many you like)
6 oz shredded (not grated) parmesaen cheese (I used a mix of Romano, Parmesean, and Mozzerella)
8 large fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
1 can of whole black olives
salt to taste

Preparation:

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook abut 8 minutes, al dente. Drain. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes & olives & saute until heated through. Add the cooked pasta. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the cheese and basil and toss to coat.

Fruit Salsa

This is so good! I got this recipe from my mom & every time I make it some one always asks for the recipe. Try it, you will LOVE it!

2 apples peeled, chopped (gala, granny smith, braeburn-you want the crispy ones)
2 kiwis peeled, chopped
1 cup strawberries, chopped
1 orange (you only use the juice from the orange & grade 1 tsp of the rind)
Combine all the above ingredients in a bowl.

*When you chop all the fruit, do not use a blender or food processor. I use a fruit/veggie chopper.

When all mixed together in your bowl add:
1 T. apple jelly
2 T. brown sugar

Serve with cinnamon chips. I buy my cinnamon chips at Food City, they also carry them at some bakeries.

Sprinkles Frosting Recipe

This was Stephanie's request. Katie posted this on her blog a long time ago and I just love this recipe. This is the ONLY chocolate frosting recipe I use now. Thanks Katie you seem to always know great recipes.

Sprinkles chocolate frosting:
6 oz. butter
pinch of salt
2 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/4 tea. vanilla extract
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Beat butter and salt in stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed, gradually add the sugar, until incorporated, stopping the mixer to occasionally scrape the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and chocolate, mix until combined, careful not to over mix and incorporate too much air.

I have never made this one I am a total chocolate fan but I can only assume it is every bit as good as the chocolate. Let me know what you think!

Cream cheese frosting recipe.
8 oz cream cheese4 oz butter
3 3/4 c. confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/2 tea. vanilla extract
1/8 tea. salt
Cream the butter, cheese and salt in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar until incorporated, then add the vanilla.

Spaghettie Pie

This is one of my favorite recipes. It works great when I know I am going to have a busy afternoon. I can make it in the morning and then put it in the fridge until dinner time. If it sat in the fridge all day then I cook it longer then 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
6oz Spaghetti 1/2 lb Ground Beef
2 Beaten Eggs 1/2 onion diced
2 TB Butter 1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup Shredded Cheese
1 cup Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese

Cook Spaghetti and drain. Stir in Butter, beaten eggs and Parmesan cheese. Form mixture into a 10 inch pie plate pushing noodles around the pie plate form(crust like). Spread cottage cheese or ricotta cheese on noodles. Cook onions and ground beef, add to spaghetti sauce. Spoon over cottage cheese or ricotta cheese and noodle. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 5 to 10 minutes more(until cheese melts).

Blender Whole Wheat Pancakes!

These are some of my favorite pancakes. It's great because you don't have to grind the wheat first the blender takes care of it for you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Blend 1 cup white wheat and
1 cup milk on high for 4 minutes

Then add
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil (I use olive oil)
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
Blend for 3 minutes
Pour on hot griddle and serve.