Easy Peasy Caramel Rolls

From my step mom, Linda

Grease 9x13 pan & put 20 Rhodes Rolls in pan.

Sprinkle on top:
1 package butterscotch pudding [not instant]
1/2 c brown sugar
cinnamon
1/2 - 1 c chopped pecans [optional]
Drizzle 1 stick melted butter over top

Grease foil & cover pan. Leave overnight.

Rolls rise gloriously.

Bake at 350F for 30 mins. Invert on pan.

Relish in deliciousness.

Cucumber Tapa

I tried these at AFIT recipe club. They were AMAZING!

serves 4

Ingredients:

    2 seedless cucumbers (about 1 lb each), peeled if waxy
     2 T extra-virgin olive oil
    1 tsp sherry vinegar
    2 oz. feta cheese, diced
    ¼ tsp kosher salt
     Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
     1 T fresh oregano leaves, chopped

Directions:

1.     Slice the cucumbers lengthwise, and remove any small seeds.  Cut 1 cucumber half into ¼-inch dice and transfer to a small bowl.  Add the olive oil, vinegar, feta cheese, salt, and pepper, and toss well to combine.  Add the oregano, and toss again.

2.     Use a vegetable peeler to remove 1 or 2 long strips of the peel (if the cucumber is already peeled, remove a strip of the flesh) from the underside of each of the remaining 3 cucumber halves so they will sit without tipping.  Spoon the cucumber-and-feta mixture into the long trough of each half.

3.     Slice cucumbers crosswise on a slight diagonal into 1½-inch pieces, and serve immediately.

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

from my friend Lindsay

Ingredients
12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds (not cores) removed
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
16 ounces fresh salted mozzarella
12 fresh basil leaves, julienned
Directions
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with the garlic, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 2 hours until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize. Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature.

Cut the mozzarella into slices slightly less than 1/2-inch thick. If the slices of mozzarella are larger than the tomatoes, cut the mozzarella slices in half. Layer the tomatoes alternately with the mozzarella on a platter and scatter the basil on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Serve at room temperature.

Granola Loving Hippy

Because let's face it, I am one. I got these recipes from my friend, Kathy

Granola with dried fruit
3 c. Oats
1/2 c. Ground flax
1/4 c. Brown sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 c. Pepitas [lightly salted
1/2 c. Sunflower seeds (lightly salted)
1/2 c. Sliced almonds.

Mix well.

In another bowl mix (1) 12oz apple juice concentrate, tsp vanilla, 2 1/2 TBL safflower oil.

Stir and add it to the oatmeal mixture. Bake at 300*F for 50 minutes, stirring every 10 min or so. Add 2 cups of chopped dried fruit (craisins, prunes) bake for five more min. Allow to cool. It will still be soft until it cools. Then it gets really crunchy.

Chocolate granola
3 c. Oats
1 c quinoa
1/3 c ground flax seed
1/3 c of each, pepitas, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds
Sea salt 1/4-1/2 tsp
2/3 c cocoa powder
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c juice [apple, pear, peach, etc]
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 TBL safflower oil

Mix the dry ingredients, then the wets, then combine. Taste a pinch and adjust the sweetness. Before adding more sugar though, try adding a bit more salt. It brings out the sweetness and flavors. Add chocolate chips after it cools if you want.
Bake at 250* for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The lower temp is to avoid burning the chocolate.

Smoothies!

Yes, more smoothies because I LOVE them!

Avocado Pear
1/2 ripe avocado
1/4 c silken tofu, drained
1/2 c pear juice
1 T honey
1/4 t vanilla
1 c ice

Nutritional Jazz: 332 cal; 16 g fat; 5 g protein; 46 g carb; 14 mg sodium; 33 g sugar; 81 mg calcium

Peach Raspberry
1 c fresh or frozen sliced peaches
1 banana, sliced
1 c fresh raspberries
1/4 c unsweetened almond milk
1 c ice

Nutritional Jazz: 239 cal; 2 f fat; 14 g fiber; 4 g protein; 47 mg sodium; 32 g sugar; 96 mg calcium

Blueberry Green Tea Smoothie
1/2 c frozen blueberries
1/2 c frozen strawberries
1/2 c chilled unsweetened green tea
3/4 c plain low-fat yogurt
2 T flaxseed

Nutritional Jazz: 241 cal; 5 g fat; 10 g fiber; 14 f protein; 131 mg sodium; 23 g sugar; 354 mg calcium

2-in-one post Oatmeal/ Hot rice cereal

 Oatmeal w/ Blueberries, nuts & bananas
serves 1

Ingredients:
1/2 c rolled oats
pinch cinnamon
pinch salt
1/2 c blueberries
1/2 small banana, sliced
1 T chopped, toasted walnuts
1 T maple syrup
2 T fat free [or almond milk]

Directions:
1. In pan, cook oats, cinnamon, and salt in 1 c of water til tender, about 5 mins. Stir in berries and transfer to a bowl.
2. top w/ banana, nuts, syrup & milk

Nutritional Jazz: serving size: 1 1/2 c; 337 cals; 8 g fat; 7 g fiber; 162 mg sodium; 25 g sugar; 2 mg iron; 92 mg calcium

Hot Rice Cereal with nuts & raisins
serves 1

Ingredients:
3/4 c cooked long grain brown rice
1/2 c low fat milk [or rice/ almond milk]
1 1/2 t maple syrup
1 T chopped roasted almonds
1 T golden raisins
Ground nutmeg or cinnamon for taste

Directions:
1. In medium pan bring rice, milk and syrup to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally until thickened slightly, about 3 mins.
2. Top w/ almonds and raisins. Sprinkle on spice for taste.

Nutritional Jazz:  301 cal; 5 g fat; 4 g fiber; 9 g protein; 63 mg sodium; 18 g sugar; 198 mg calcium

Auntie Etta's Spaghetti Sauce

From Sam's sweet aunt. We LOVE this sauce!

Cook:

1 lb. hamburger

1 lb. jimmy dean hot sausage

When cooked add...

2-3 T crushed Italian seasoning (the spice not the dressing)

1 large onion chopped fine

7-8 cloves of garlic smashed and chopped

1 large green pepper chopped fine

1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

Add it all to the meat to cook a bit

Add:

4 (15 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes

4 (15 oz.) cans tomato sauce

2 small cans tomato paste

a little crushed red pepper flakes

a little lowry's seasoning salt

May need  a little salt and pepper

Stir & let cook all day.  The longer it cooks the better it is!