Quinoa and Black Beans

SO I have been looking and trying different quinoa recipes and have been disappointed with past recipes. THIS recipe however, was delicious. I love quinoa, black beans and corn so this was one of my favs.

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
3/4 cup vegetable broth
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 c. corn
2 cans (15oz) black beans
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and saute till lightly brown. Mix quinoa into the sauce pan and cover with vegetable  broth and add cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper and bring to boil. Reduce heat and  Let simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in corn and simmer for five more minutes. Then add black beans and cilantro. YUm Yum Yum! This was a hit in our home.

Grandma's Carmels

This was my first time making candy and I have to say that I wouldn't do this again without my Grandma haha. But it was fun and worth it for the carmels.

Ingredients:
4 c. sugar
1/2 lb butter
4 c. whipping cream
3 c. karo light syrup
1 can evaporated milk (12oz)
1 c. chopped walnuts
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients, except nuts and vanilla. Make sure you have a HEAVY pan atleast 7 quart size and a thick bottom. Cook over high heat, stirring it continuously until it starts to bubble. Turn down heat to medium high and keep stirring until candy thermometer reaches 242 degrees. This takes about 1 hour. After this add nuts and vanilla, mix well and pour into WELL BUTTERED 15x10x2 pan and let cool completely.

When carmel is cooled turn over onto cutting board and cut into small pieces. Wrap with wax paper. This makes about 5 lbs of carmels. YUM YUM.

Easy Crock Pot Toast with potatoes

Ingredients:
3lb chunk roast
1/2 can beef broth
1 c. flour
1.2 tsp. garlic powder
1 med. onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bay leaf
dash of salt and pepper
three potatoes diced

Wash roast, season generously with salt and pepper and garlic powder. Coat with flour.

Place floured roast into an oiled skillet and brown slightly on both sides. While browning roast, add diced onions to skillet.

Transfer roast and onions to greased crock pot. Toss in whole garlic cloves and bay leaf. Pour 1/2 can beef broth over roast and add salt and pepper. Add potatoes on top and let it cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

Paula Dean's Pumpkin Cheesecake

DE-LIC-IOUS is all I have to say...

Crust:

• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

AMAZING Garlic Mashed Potatoes!

I wish I had a picture of my new creation but I don't because they were gone with in a blink of an eye. These are really garlicky which means that Josh and I LOVED them. Here are the ingredients:

5 Large potatoes peeled and steamed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 teaspoon salt
pepper (pinch)

After the potatoes are steamed well, beat them in the kitchen aid till they are mashed up well. Make sure you scrap the sides of the bowl to get them all. Mean while, in a microwave safe bowl, melt butter, sour cream, and salt then mix into mashed potatoes. Add the garlic and Mix Away! Poof! You have the BEST GARLIC MASHED POTATOES EVER!! Then... Call me up on the phone and invite me over for dinner so I can enjoy them too. hehe. But make sure you make two batches cause I will need one for myself. :)

Vegetable Stir-fry

Vegetable Stir-fry is one of Josh and I's favorite meals. We eat this at least once or twice a month. Its yummy, and pretty easy to make.

Ingredients

Rice noodles
Brocolli
Cauliflower
Tomatoes
Carrots
1/4 cup Teriyaki stir fry sauce

I don't even measure when making this. Just eye ball it and go to town! Cook your rice noodles and as those are cooking drizzle some olive oil on a large skillet and start steaming up those vegetables. When they are almost done add your noodles and sauce and mix them all together. Before I stopped eating meat, we used to add pepper bacon which added SO much flavor to this. Try it either way and I guarantee you will be satisfied. Plus you can add whatever vegetables you like, we add green pepper sometimes too.

Healthy Shrimp Tacos

These were TASTY! And easy to make.

Ingredients

Corn tortillas
2 Cups coleslaw mix
1/2 cup salsa
freshly chopped cilantro
grilled shrimp
Mrs. Dash Chicken seasoning
Olive oil

Mix coleslaw with salsa and add fresh cilantro. Drizzle a little olive oil on a skillet and heat it up. Cook the shrimp in the skillet with plenty of Mrs. Dash seasoning. Then make your tacos! We heated up the corn tortillas. SO easy and yummylicious!