New Year Meatloaf

New Year Meatloaf
Serves 8-10

I am always trying to strike that balance between what my husband loves about meatloaf and what I want to get out of meatloaf. So I browsed recipe after recipe. I looked through different articles talking about how to replace this with that to make a healthier recipe. What I came up with is below and did an amazing job hitting the mark on all accounts. So I called it a New Year Meatloaf to include that idea of healthy foods, without misrepresenting the idea that it is healthy. Gluten Free, by the way. I just included healthy options in the loaf, so for me, it's a healthier loaf than what I've known before. For my husband, it was exactly what he wanted.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup egg whites (or 2 egg whites)
• 3/4 cup rolled Oates, minced in a blender until they resemble fine bread crumbs (or use a hand chopper)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 TBSP coriander
• 1 TBSP chili powder
• 1 packet Onion Soup mix
• salt and pepper as preferred

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. In a bowl, mix the meat, carrots, bell peppers, onion, egg, egg whites, Oates, Parmesan, curry, coriander, chili, onion soup mix, salt, pepper, and garlic.
3. Mix with hands until thoroughly combined.
4. In a non-stick baking dish, form meat into a loaf shape.
5. Bake for 45 minutes.
6. Pull out, take off foil and spread the ketchup on top.
7. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
8. Serve with Cheesy Broccoli-Potato Mash.

Funfetti Cookies

Funfetti Cookies
About 20 cookies

This recipe was bopping around on Pinterest and I snagged up the repin. I made these as an incentive treat for Friday Freewrite Nummy Snack for my students. The cookies were easy and I could make a bunch quickly. When I made them, I tripled the recipe so that I would have enough cookies for everyone, plus co-workers, and my daughter and husband. They went over really well.

Ingredients

• 1 box of Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Spray a baking sheet with Non-Stick Spray.
4. Roll into about 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet. About 10-12 per baking sheet.
5. Bake for amount 8 minutes or until starting to brown around the edges. 
6. Place on a cooling rack. Store in a sealed container or Ziploc bag.

Note: By my last batch of cookies, they were baking faster, so just keep an eye on them.

Quick Ladybug Lunch Pizzas

Quick Ladybug Lunch Pizzas
Serves 6

These pizzas were inspired by Rachael Ray's kid-friendly ladybug pizzas, but I made them for the whole family using a whole wheat thin crust pizza. My 2-year-old daughter LOVED them! She felt like such a big girl!

Ingredients

• 1 package (3 crusts) Golden Homes Whole Grain Ultra Thin Pizza Crust
• 2 large Vine Ripe Tomatoes
• 1 package Sargento Reduced-Fat Provolone Slices
• 1 package Sargento Fat-Free Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 2 small cans chopped black olives
• 2-3 TBSP Contadina pizza squeeze sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400. 
2. On the crust, put a thin layer of sauce. 
3. Put 3 pieces of provolone on each pizza. Then sprinkle the sauced areas with the mozzarella, distributing evenly.
4. Thinly slice the tomatoes and layer them on the pizzas. Also spread out the chopped black olives across the pizzas.
5. Cook for 5-8 minutes, longer if you need the top cooked (move closer to the top of the oven). 
6. Salt and pepper to taste.

Zucchini Mini Margharita Pizzas

Zucchini Mini Margharita Pizzas
I had to use tiny zucchini based on availability at my grocery store, but it still works out just fine. You just get small pizzas.

Ingredients

•     2 small zucchini
•     1 medium tomato diced tiny
•     1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
•     1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
•     1 1/2 TBSP minced garlic
•     Tomato pizza sauce

Instructions

1.     Slice the zucchini into 1/4 in pieces.
2.     Grill or broil the zucchini on a rack for 15 minutes on Hi (if broiling).
3.     Preheat oven to 400F.
4.     Dice the tomato.
5.     When the zucchini is finished cooking, transfer to a cookie sheet or baking tray.Make sure there is space between the zucchini slices.
6.     I recommend using a tomato sauce in a squirt bottle and put one drop on each zucchini.
7.     Follow up with a little bit of garlic on each.
8.     Then take the mozzarella and sprinkle a bit on each, pushing down to spread the garlic and sauce.
9.     Now put a pinch of grated Parmesan on each.
10.     Top off each of the zucchini pieces with a tiny piece of tomato.
11.     Put in the oven until the cheese is melted. About 10-15 minutes.
12.     Season with salt and pepper as desired and serve.

Raisin French Toast Pudding

Raisin French Toast Pudding
Serves: 6+
I thought about bread pudding, but wanted to make french toast. I combined the two to make Raisin French Toast Pudding.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of raisin bread ripped into chunks
• 1 cup raisins
• 8 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
• 3 TBSP cinnamon
• 3 TBSP sugar
• 3 TBSP vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400.
2. In an 11x13 pan, either spray with a non-stick spray or use butter, then dust the butter with sugar to stop the bread from sticking. 
3. Take the chunks of bread and spread it out in the pan.
4. In a bowl, mix the eggs, half and half, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla extract.
5. Dump the mixture into the 11x13 pan with the bread and sprinkles the raisins into the mixture.
6. Mix so that all bread is covered with the liquid. Push bread down to soak up the mixture while stirring.
7. Cover with a loose dusting of cinnamon sugar if available.
8. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the eggs are cooked through.

Sweetened Condensed Milk Toast

Sweetened Condensed Milk Toast
Serves 4-5

Ingredients

• 1/2 loaf Italian bread 1/2 inch thick slices
• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

1. Place the slices of bread on a baking sheet and put them under the broiler until toasted.
2. When one side is toasted, pull out and immediately butter each slice.
3. Turn the slices over and put them back under the broiler. When done, butter those sides.
4. Sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon on each piece of buttered toast.
5. Then spoon about 1/2 tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk onto each slice. Put back under the broiler for 1 minute. Check to make sure its not burning.
6. Take out and serve!

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake
Inspired by Kraft Food & Family Spring '09. This is a really great recipe and there was pretty much nothing leftover for the next day. It was delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
• 1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen broccoli florets, thawed, drained
• 1 can (10-3/4 oz.) reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 lb. (8 oz.) VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400ºF.
2. Prepare stuffing as directed on package. We used the microwave directions, which made it quicker, since you bake it to be crispy.
3. Combine remaining ingredients.
4. Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with stuffing.
5. Bake 40 min. or until chicken is done and top is crispy.

Turkey Bacon and Cheese Crescents

Turkey Bacon and Cheese Crescents

Ingredients

• 1 package of Crescent Rolls
• 9 slices of Jennie-O Turkey Bacon
• 2 Cups Reduced-Fat Sargento Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
• Oregano
• Montreal Steak Seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Unroll the crescent rolls and peal apart the first triangle.
3. Lay one slice of turkey bacon on the triangle.
4. Then sprinkle a good helping of cheese from the larger part to the smaller part. 
5. Sprinkle a little Oregano in the middle, if you want a little seasoning.
6. Roll the crescent from the larger to the smaller.
7. Repeat for the rest of the rolls. Once slice of turkey bacon per crescent. 
8. Sprinkle a little Montreal Steak Seasoning on top before baking.
9. Cook until golden brown.

Nutella Crescents

Nutella Crescents
Serving: 4-8

Ingredients
1 package Big & Flaky Crescent Rolls
8 TBSP Nutella

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Open the crescent package and break apart the crescents into the pre-cut triangles.
3. Take 1 TBSP of Nutella and start at the largest end of the crescent and spread it a little over halfway up the triangle.
4. Roll the crescents and place them on a nonstick baking sheet. Repeat for remaining crescents.
5. Let bake until golden brown on the top.
6. Serve.

Note: You can also do this with jam.

Onion Rice

Onion Rice
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 cans Campbell's low sodium French Onion Soup
• 1 cup Uncle Ben's Rice (not instant rice)
• 1 TBSP butter

Instructions

1. Drain liquid from the French Onion Soup with a strainer into a measuring cup (try to use a measuring cup that will hold 2+ cups of liquid).
2. Put the onions aside to add later.
3. Check the rice packaging to see how much water you need for 1 cup of rice (usually 2 1/4 cup). Add water to top off the onion soup (check for extra liquid in the onions put aside).
4. Add the liquid, butter, and rice to a pot and bring to boil.
5. When boiling, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir and check.
6. When the liquid is absorbed, add the onions and finish cooking the rice until tender. Serve.

Note: Goes great as a side dish with broccoli, corn, and most meats.

I originally got this recipe from my mother-in-law, because it is one of my husband's favorite side dishes. I don't know where she got it from, but I've taken a long time to perfect the making, so when you make it, just feel out how it works for you. It is a really great side dish and reheats really well.

Baby Twice-Baked Potatoes

I was inspired by a recipe I saw through the Baby Bullet Facebook page and I could not wait to make them for my daughter. Then I realized they would make great little dinner party appetizers or little sporting event snacks, etc.

What I also thought was that if I made these for adults, I would not blend the mixture as much and make it more chunky, use different cheese and be more adult-taste-bud-friendly. You know your audience and can adjust as you see fit.

Baby Twice-Baked Potatoes
Serving: 1 (12m old baby)

Ingredients

• 4 baby red potatoes
• 3 small stocks of already cooked broccoli
• 2 baby carrots
• 2 TBSP freshly shredded Asiago cheese (half for sprinkling before baking)
• 1/4 cup vegetable broth

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Wash your potatoes, poke them, and put them on a baking sheet in the oven. Cook until tender.
2. Carefully cut in half and scoop out the middle. I stress carefully, because the skin might peel off. Don't panic, just keep going.
3. Put the scooped out middles, broccoli, baby carrots, vegetable broth, and 1/2 the cheese into a food processor (or bullet blender) and mix to a smooth consistency (for baby).
4. Refill the skins with the mixture and sprinkle the leftover cheese on top. Put back into over and bake until cooked through.
5. Let cool and serve.

Pineapple Risotto

Pineapple Risotto
Serves 4
Roughly 248 Calories per serving

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup arborio rice
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped into small bits
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup Barefoot Chardonnay
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple

Instructions

1. In a medium pot, cook the chopped onions with the butter until the onions are tender.
2. Add the arborio rice and coat well. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the Chardonnay and cook down.
4. Add the pineapple juice and cook down.
5. Heat the chicken broth in either a pan or in the microwave and add.
6. Cook the risotto down until tender and soft. A little give in the middle is alright, but cook to taste. Add more broth as needed until cooked down.
7. Finally, add the pineapple and mix thoroughly. Then add in the cheese and mix until fully combined.
8. Taste for seasoning (salt or pepper).

Frozen Banana Breakfast Smoothie

This recipe was inspired by the Chocolate Banana recipe I posted on here. It is a great breakfast and filling.


Frozen Banana Breakfast Smoothie
Servings: 1
Cook Time: 5 minutes (not including freezing)

Ingredients
1 large frozen banana
1 cup Light Silk Milk (or preferred milk)
6 oz preferred yogurt (I use fruit flavors)
1 tsp honey

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients into preferred blending device.
2. Hit blend until everything is perfectly incorporated.
3. Enjoy!

I usually buy the individual Dannon Light 'n Fit yogurts and just add one of the little squares into my Bullet cup. I have found that the Cherry flavor one is absolutely delicious, as well as the Pina Colada and Pear. Experiment to learn what your favorite flavor is.

Chocolate Banana Bullet Smoothie

For Christmas my mom made the best impulse present purchase ever! She got me a bullet. I think her first inclination involved making baby food for my daughter. Now I'm using it to make breakfasts and any chocolate cravings. I also prefer to drink Silk milk. It is a soy milk and I also started drinking chocolate silk milk. I saw a recipe on the side of the Silk soy milk carton that said I should freeze a sliced banana and then blend it with 1 cup of chocolate silk milk and 1 TBSP of honey. I used this recipe for my inspiration for a chocolaty delicious evening snack.

Chocolate Banana Bullet Smoothie
Servings: 2
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups Light Chocolate Silk Milk
1 medium banana, sliced and frozen

Instructions

1. Add Silk Milk and Bananas to your blending device.
2. Blend full blast until mixed together and smooth.
3. Enjoy!