Veggie Lasagna

This Lasagna is a little messy, but very delicious. It's made with Zucchini slices instead of pasta. You can use just vegetables, ground turkey, or ground beef. In this recipe, I used lean ground turkey.
I also used a square Pyrex dish, since it's the perfect size for the zucchini.

German Chocolate Cupcakes

This frosting is fantastic! I got tired of corn syrup being in frosting recipes or too much sugar in the pre-made stuff. So, I created my own recipe using evaporated milk. I must warn you, it's delicious and you'll probably want to just eat it. This recipe is a big crowd pleaser amongst kids and adults.

Summer Pico Salsa

Super easy summer dish. Great for outdoor parties, a side dish with some tacos, or an afternoon snack.
In a large bowl, toss the following together:
1 15oz. can of no salt added black beans (drained)
1 15oz. can of no salt added corn (drained)
1 Small red onion chopped
1/3 Cup chopped cilantro
3 vine tomatoes diced
2-4 Jalapenos finely chopped (depending how spicy you want to make it)
1 Lime juiced

Now add your seasonings:
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Stir everything together and serve with chips or on top of your favorite meal (fish, tacos, chicken, etc...)

Margherita White Pizza Roll Ups

 

 

I had Homeslice Pizza a couple of weeks ago and thought, hmm maybe I should use this Pillsbury crust I have and make a Margherita Pizza. Even better make pizza roll ups that are easier to share and are great leftover. These can be made with all mozzarella cheese or, like I did, you can mix cheeses. This is a white pizza, so there isn't sauce. Although I created an Italian herb sauce that's pretty darn delicious. This recipe was completely trial and error, but it turned out fantastic and I will definitely make it again. Super easy!
*Note, I would roll out the pizza dough more than I did, it fluffs up quite a bit when you bake it. You can also make miniature roll ups by cutting the dough vertically in half then slicing 6 horizontal rows. This would make 12 roll ups instead of 6.

Servings: 6

Italian Herb Pasta

Pick your pasta- I like to use a mixture of whole grain, but you can also use one type. This sauce is super easy to throw together and amazingly tasty, but not too heavy.
*This recipe should make 4 servings (If you're like me 3 servings for my boyfriend and 1 for me).

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Sautéed Veggies

Make fantastic spaghetti easily with homemade meatballs and some fresh julienne style squash.

This is a three step process...

My favorite Guacamole

The best guacamole your taste buds have ever had....you ready for the secret?
Orange Juice...no, not Minute Maid. Fresh squeezed orange juice. Fresh squeezed is always the best, including the lime in the recipe. I've been making this for quite some time and it's always a recipe people remember and want to know why it's so delicious. This recipe makes enough to share with 4 people. You can also half the recipe if you would like to make enough for one- with a little leftover for a snack :). So here it is..

Best Mexican Martini

Simple Mexican Martini for that Friday night we all need and look forward to after a long work week. Let me start off with a few things...never use sweet and sour mix in a Mexican martini, it will ruin it. Also, using a crappy tequila will also destroy your drink. Use a good silver tequila 100% Agave (I love the Toro de Lidia tequila, it's reasonable and fantastic quality--very smooth). Last, but not least, use real lime, not the lime that's "squeezed" for you in a

Mexican Martini Ingredients:
2oz Silver Tequila 100% Agave
1oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
1oz Orange Juice
1/2 lime squeezed
1oz Sprite
Splash of Olive Juice (optional)
Martini Shaker and Martini Glass

Shake over ice and serve in a martini glass with or without salt. Garnish with lime or olives. Serves one person.

4th of July Cheesecake

 

 

I love making this 4th of July Dessert, it's super easy and always a crowd pleaser. 

Patriotic Cake Balls

 

4th of July is around the corner, and of course I had to come up with a clever dessert to take to the office. Cake balls are always popular and delicious. So I thought, red white and blue cake batter and turn it into an American flag by coloring the chocolate. I also decided that I would go light on the food coloring for the red and blue cake by doing blueberries and strawberries. Now you do not have to do this, but I thought it was a fun idea. The recipe will work just fine with white cake mix divided into three amounts so food coloring can be added to two of the pans. I've also done homemade cake mix and icing, but it's time consuming and not exactly necessary for cake balls.

You will need:

3 cake pans greased (round or square)

3 Bowls for separating the cake/frosting

1 box (16.25oz) White Cake Mix

1 container (14oz) of Cream Cheese Frosting

Food Coloring

1 package of any white chocolate of your choice (I use the melting bark blocks)

*1/2 pint of Blueberries (too many blueberries will make it turn more of a purple)

*1/2lb of Strawberries (make sure they are ripe)

Sprinkles (preferably some with stars or at least patriotic colors)

Toothpicks or bamboo skewers for dipping

I also used a box lid and an empty egg carton for drying the cake balls.

*I did not make these into cake pops, but you can easily do so by buying some lollipop sticks at a craft store, dipping the tip in some of the melted chocolate and then pushing that into the cake ball before freezing so they stay in place.

*Optional

 

Rainforest Cafe Drink Recipes

Have you ever gone to a place, had a drink, and wanted to be able to recreate that drink at home? Well, to me, Rainforest Café is one of those places that has great tropical drinks that can be made at home for a fraction of the cost. Now you can...