Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Allen and I had a serious craving for Chinese food. So, I decided to cook some for us. I'm trying to eat healthier and this was right up my ally.  I couldn't find a recipe I liked because I don't like mushrooms or water chestnuts. The recipe below is what I came up with. I had most of the ingredients on hand. This dish could be gluten free if gluten free items are bought. It was kinda spicy so go lighter on the chili paste or heavier if that's what you enjoy! 

Ingredients (Makes 4 servings)

1

lb  ground chicken

1/4

cup  minced onion

2

tablespoons  olive oil

2

tablespoons  teriyaki sauce

1

tablespoon  soy sauce

1

teaspoon  minced ginger

1

teaspoon  thai chili paste

1/4

cup  shredded carrot

2

cloves  minced garlic

1/3

teaspoon  salt

1/3

teaspoon  black pepper

1

teaspoon  sugar

1

head Lettuce, Butterhead

Directions

Heat pan with olive oil and brown chicken with minced onion. Add salt, pepper, and carrot and stir.

In a bowl mix the rest of the ingredients besides the lettuce,

Pour the mixture into the pan with the brown chicken and bring to a simmer.

Once most of the liquid is reduced. turn the chicken off and cool.

Wash and dry lettuce.

Fill lettuce leaf with a spoonful of mixture and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (177.8 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 304 Calories from Fat 141

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15.7g 24%

Saturated Fat 3.3g 17%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 101mg 34%

Sodium 882mg 37%

Total Carbohydrates 5.5g 2%

Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%

Sugars 3.4g

Protein 33.9g

Vitamin A 4% • Vitamin C 4% Calcium 3% • Iron 11%

Spicy Sausage and Spinach Pasta

I was looking on pinterest earlier today and ran into this gem. It's was called Spicy Sausage Pasta from Kevin and Amanda. I thought it looked wonderful and cheesy. Just what my husband enjoys. I read through the ingredents and thought I could wing it from what was in the kitchen if i just changed a few things. I used cajun sausage, added frozen spinach, and used mozzarella. Like I said that that is just what I had on hand and I wanted to add a veggy. I left off the green onions because neither of us like them.

I hope that you try this recipe out and it is a hit in your household. Allen really enjoyed it! :D

Spicy Sausage and Spinach Pasta

• 6 oz  -- Cajun Sausage
• 1/2 medium onion 
• 6 oz -- frozen spinach
• 1 can -- rotel
• 2 cups -- chicken broth
• 1/2 cup -- whole milk
• 8 oz -- pasta
• 1 cup -- mozzarella 
• 1/4 tsp -- garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Slice sausage in half long ways and thin slice into thin half moons. Dice onion into small pieces. Cook sausage in a skillet on medium until golden brown. Add the onions and cook until they are also golden brown. Then, add the frozen spinach and cook until the spinach has melted. 
2. Add the can of rotel, chicken broth, whole milk, garlic powder, and pasta. Bring to a boil, place a lid on your skillet and simmer on low until the pasta is cooked through (about 15 minutes). 
3. Uncover and taste and then add the salt and pepper you think it needs. Top with mozzarella and let it get melty and wonderful. 
4. Enjoy! (This makes 4 servings. Nutitional facts from caloriecount.com.)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (447.5 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 429 Calories from Fat 150

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 16.7g 26%

Saturated Fat 6.4g 32%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 110mg 37%

Sodium 1128mg 47%

Total Carbohydrates 47.6g 16%

Dietary Fiber 2.4g 10%

Sugars 8.8g

Protein 22.3g

Vitamin A 89% • Vitamin C 33% Calcium 34% • Iron 24%

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

S'mores Pudding Pie

All around the internet people are CRAZY about S'mores... and so is my husband. I have seen s'mores cupcakes, s'mores cookies, s'mores brownies, s'mores trifles, and s'mores pie. This make me want to join into the insanity and make some s'mores, too! Allen and I decided on me making a s'mores pie. I searched all over and found this recipe from A Southern Fairytale. Her recipe looked really easy and tasty!

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Then, make the graham cracker crust. Mix: 4 Tbsp of butter melted, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of your pie plate and press flat. I used the bottom of my measuring cup. Bake for 12 minutes. 

While the the crust is baking get out a big bowl and mix 2 boxes of chocolate fudge pudding, 2 cups of milk, and 1/2 container of cool whip. 

Take the crust out of the oven and pour the filling onto the crust and smooth. 

Next, get your mini marshmallows and top the pie. 

This took forever to do in a circle but its really cute when you get finished!

Now, turn your oven to Hi BROIL, pop that baby into the oven leaving the door open and watch it closely so you can take it out when its perfectly brown!

Time to EAT! Allen's favorite part! When you cut into the pie you and hear the crunch of the mellow. That crunch it so addicting and my favorite pie. I would say make this pie just to hear the crunch! 

Place the piece of pie onto a plate then ENJOY! 

Recipe: S'mores Pudding Pie

Ingredients

Crust

• 1/4 C sugar
• 4 Tbsp butter melted
• 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs

Filling

• 2 boxes chocolate fudge pudding
• 2 C milk
• 1/2 tub of cool whip

Topping

• 2 C mini marshmallows

Instructions  

1. Pre-heat oven to 350
2. Mix 1/2 C of graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 C sugar, and 4 Tbsp of butter melted in a pie plate and flatten with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for 12 minutes. 
3. While baking, mix 2 boxes of chocolate fudge pudding and 2 C milk until smooth. Then, fold in 1/2 tub of cool whip. 
4. Take crust out of oven and place the filling onto the crust. 
5. Top pie with marshmallow.
6. Turn oven on broil, place pie in oven, leave door open, and watch pie brown. Take out when top with toasted. 
7. ENJOY!

Apple Blueberry Pie

My husband, Allen, LOVES pie! It is his favorite dessert for sure. The problem with him loving it so much is I'm not that good at making it. My crust will turn out too dry, too wet, over-cooked, under-done, or it just tastes bad. My main fear is that it will NEVER be as good as his grandmother's, Didi, blueberry pie that is his favorite. Well my friends today I decided to try again.

This is Didi.

Normally, I buy the Pillsbury pre-made crust from the refrigerator section at Wal-Mart, BUT not today. I didn't feel like going 5 minutes down the road to the store to get one. I decided to make my own crust. (And I sure am glad I did)  I found this recipe at allrecipe.com. After the crust was refrigerated for about 4 hours, I began to think about what I wanted to put in the crust. An idea began to flow through my head so fast it made me tired and I wanted to do something easy. I had some green apples in the fridge, but didn't know how many. I looked and I had 2. Moments later, peeled, cored, doused in lemon juice, covered in cinnamon and sugar I realize it wasn't enough to fill my crust. What oh what can I do? What else do I have in this house to use? Blueberries! We have tons of frozen blueberries from Didi's blueberry plants last year. Yes! I poured some blueberries into the bowl, added some more sugar, and cornstarch. It's going to be wonderful.
I rolled out my cold crust to fit my pie pan and still have it lapped over the side, fit it into the pan, and poured the filling into the crust and folded the extra crust over the top. In the oven you go pie! See you in about 50 minutes or until you're golden brown.

This is how the pie came out! Yummy!

 The pie came out WONDERFUL! Even Allen said so.. so that must be true. ;)
Recipe below:

Apple Blueberry Pie

• 2 medium granny smith apples
• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoon of cornstarch
• pie crust
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 egg beaten

Make pie crust from pie crust recipe above. Refrigerate for 4hours.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. 
Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces, put into bowl, and cover with lemon juice.
Add blueberries, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch to the apples and stir.
Roll out pie crust to fit into a pie pan and still over lap.
Fit the crust into the pie pan and pour filling into the crust. Fold the over lapping crust over the filling.
Brush the beaten egg over the showing pie crust and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake the pie for 50 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly!

ENJOY! I know I did!

-Erin