~Banana Craisin Oatmeal~

Add 1 more ingredient-
1 sliced Banana

It's gotten a bit chillier in the morning!  Today it's s-n-o-w-i-n-g!  This kind of weather reminds me that a hot bowl of cereal filled with oats tastes so good for breakfast.  A bowl of Craisin Creamy Oatmeal!  Looking over at our fruit bowl "I spied" a Banana.  Before I knew it, the Banana was sliced & added into the pot with the other ingredients for our hot oatmeal cereal.  It was a change up in the flavor.  A great change with that added Potassium filled Banana!  WoW!!!

Treat yourself to this hearty fruit filled breakfast on a chilly day!  

Banana Craisin Oatmeal
     2 Servings 

Ingredients:
1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats 
1 Banana- cut into slices
1/4 Cup Craisins (Dried Cranberries)
1 and 1/2 Cups Soy Milk (or Milk)
1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Brown Sugar- as desired

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pot. 
2. Let stand 10 Minutes. 
3. Heat to a boil over Medium heat.
4. Stir & cook for 5 Minutes.
5. Divide between 2 bowls.
6. Add more (Soy) Milk!
7. Enjoy a great bowl of hot cereal!

What a great way to start the day!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"
Some were placed in the Tomato Sauce
Others were frozen

For the past year we've been eating less beef.  Really!  As a matter of fact it's not found very often on our grocery list.  In the warmer months, occasionally, we enjoy a yummy grilled cheeseburger.  But that's a treat on a HHH summer day.  I've been using lean Ground Turkey in many dishes where I would have used Ground Beef in the past.

A few days ago we enjoyed Turkey Meatball Grinders with low fat mozzarella cheese & sauteed Green Pepper strips.  Yes, a salad too.  Oh yum!  What a great tasting dinner! 

A one pound package of lean Ground Turkey yields about 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs.  There were extras to freeze & have for dinner on future nights.

• I use Egg Whites rather than Whole Eggs whenever I can while cooking. 
  (2 Egg Whites = 1 Whole Egg.)  
• For me quite often, Soy Milk is a replacement for Milk.  
• My Spice Rack contains the herbs.  :)            

Baked "Turkey Meatballs"

Oven Temperature:  375°F          Baking Time:  28- 30 Minutes 

Ingredients:

1 Pound (16 ounces) lean Ground Turkey
3/4 Cups unseasoned Bread Crumbs
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 Egg Whites
1/2 Cup Milk  (I use Soy Milk.)
1 Tablespoon dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Basil
1/4 teaspoon dried Chopped Onion
1/4 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix together- combining well.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F.
4. Cover a cookie pan with aluminum foil.
5. Spray foil with PAM.
6. Make 16- 17 Turkey Meatballs & place evenly on cookie pan.
7. Bake for 28- 30 Minutes in a 375°F oven. 
8. Remove from pan.

Each "Meatball" is moist, deliciously flavored & tastes so good in a toasted grinder roll that's filled with mozzarella cheese, sauteed peppers & tomato sauce.

The extra "Meatballs" freeze very well, too!  These are also so good served over spaghetti!

Do you prepare Baked "Turkey Meatballs"?

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

A bite of Raisins combined with marshmallows & Rice Krispies cereal!  Oh Yum!  I could not escape the thought of this chewy dessert!  The dessert I always had in the fridge waiting when my sons were "back home" from college.  I could purchase this treat that is also commercially made, but it just does not taste as good.  The packaged goodies are quite dry.  Really!

A  few weeks ago we stayed overnight in Boston.  In the hotel my hubby purchased one of the packaged goodies.  While eating it he mentioned it was quite DRY.  Well, it was commercially made & there was not a raisin to be seen inside the wrapped snack.  At that moment I knew I needed to make a batch in the near future. 

It was yesterday afternoon!  No one is home on semester break from college, it was for US!   Oh, yes, they are that good!  There's something about adding 1 Cup of Raisins into the pot when you are stirring the melted Margarine/ Butter + Rice Krispies cereal.  The Raisins give this treat that extra pizazz in taste & also moisture. 

They are SO easy to make!  Add a bag of Marshmallows to your grocery list along with the Rice Krispies cereal.  Make a batch!  Just remember not to get carried away & enjoy eating too many all at once.  Save some for later in the week!  :)

***A few Hints when making this snack:

• Remember the secret is to work quickly!  The melted marshmallows + butter/ margarine & cereal  will begin to stick together.  You need to get it into the baking dish.

• After measuring ALL of the cereal, place a little Butter/ Margarine on the bottom of the measuring Cup & spread with a paper towel or waxed paper.  Then it's much easier to press down lightly on the mixture (in the baking dish) with the bottom of the Cup.  Nothing sticks together!  

• I spray the 9" x 15" glass baking dish with PAM, so the bars will be removed easily after cutting.    
  

Raisin Rice Crispies Bars

Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons Butter/ Margarine
1 (10 ounce) package Marshmallows
5 and 1/2 Cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 Cup Raisins

Method:  

1. In a large pot (6 quart pot) melt 4 Tablespoons Margarine/ Butter over Low heat.
2. Add in 1 bag (10 ounces) Marshmallows, stirring until completely melted.
3. Turn off heat.
4. Add in 3 Cups Rice Krispies cereal, stir.
5. Add in 1 Cup Raisins, stir.
6. Then, add 2 and 1/2 Cups more Rice Krispies cereal, stir.
7. Place the mixture (will be sticky) into a 9" x 15" glass baking dish (sprayed with PAM).  Press down lightly with the bottom of the measuring cup. 
8. Cover with plastic wrap & place in fridge for 1 hour.
9. Cut into bars, place in covered container & store in fridge until serving.

***These are crispy & crunchy & so good! 

Before enjoying one, place a Raisin Rice Crispies Bar on a plate & microwave 7- 9 seconds & you will have a softer bar.

This is one of our fave treats from long ago!  It's all about the Raisins!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

Happy New Year!!!

 I Wish You

A Happy & 

A Healthy New Year!!!

Enjoy!!!