Tuesday, December 31, 2013

EASY CHEESY NACHOS

EASY CHEESY NACHOS
★★★★

GREAT FOR A QUICK SNACK

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

RESTAURANT STYLE TORTILLA CHIPS
PICANTE SALSA
SHREDDED CHEDDAR OR MEXICAN CHEESE


HOW TO MAKE IT:

PLACE TORTILLA CHIPS ON A MICROWAVABLE PLATE. LAYER PICANTE OVER CHIPS FIRST THEN COVER WITH SHREDDED CHEESE. MICROWAVE FOR 30 SECONDS OR UNTIL CHEESE IS MELTED. DON'T COOK FOR TOO LONG OR THE CHEESE WILL GET CRUNCHY.

EASY PEASY.


TIP: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A LARGE BATCH, PLACE INGREDIENTS IN SAME FASHION ON A BAKING SHEET LINED WITH FOIL THEN COVER WITH FOIL AND BAKE AT 375 DEGREES FOR 5-8 MINUTES.

SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 BOX WHOLE GRAIN SPAGHETTI
1 LB. GROUND MEAT
1 JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE
GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE (OPTIONAL)
GARLIC POWDER (OPTIONAL)
SALT
PEPPER
1/2 YELLOW ONION (OPTIONAL)

HOW TO MAKE IT:
BROWN MEAT IN A MEDIUM-SIZED SKILLET WITH CHOPPED ONION. SEASON MEAT WITH SALT, PEPPER, AND GARLIC POWDER. DRAIN MEAT RETURN TO SKILLET, REDUCE HEAT TO LOW AND ADD IN SPAGHETTI SAUCE. ADD PARMESAN CHEESE TO SAUCE TO THICKEN. IN SEPARATE POT COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS.

TRY THIS: IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND LIKE THINGS SPICY ADD IN SOME CHILI POWDER AND/OR TABASCO (SMOKED CHIPOTLE FLAVOR IS THE BOMB). THE TABASCO WILL CHANGE THE FLAVOR, BUT IT'S YUMMY.

CW CREATION

Thursday, December 26, 2013

JESSICA'S PASTA SALAD

JESSICA'S PASTA SALAD
★★★★★

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 BOX SPIRAL PASTA
CHERRY OR GRAPE TOMATOES (WHOLE OR HALVED)
1 RED BELL PEPPER 
1 YELLOW BELL PEPPER 
1/4 CUP BLUE CHEESE OR FETA CHEESE CRUMBLES
ITALIAN DRESSING (I USE WISHBONE HOUSE ITALIAN)

HOW TO MAKE IT: COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS ON BOX. ONCE COOKED STRAIN AND RINSE WITH COLD WATER. LET PASTA SET TO REMOVE ALL EXCESS WATER. CHOP PEPPERS INTO 1 INCH BY 1/4 INCH STRIPS. IN A LARGE BOWL, ADD PASTA, PEPPERS, DESIRED AMOUNT OF CHEESE, TOMATOES AND DRESSING. STIR, COVER, AND CHILL IN FRIDGE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES.



BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1 BAG OF SALAD 
RANCH DRESSING
FROZEN BONELESS BUFFALO CHICKEN
SHREDDED CHEDDAR OR BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLES
PICANTE SALSA
TORTILLA CHIPS

HOW TO MAKE IT: FILL BOWL 3/4 WITH SALAD, ADD A COUPLE TABLESPOONS OF SALSA, SPRINKLE WITH CHEESE, ADD DRESSING. CRUSH A HANDFUL OR SO OF CHIPS INTO THE MIX. HEAT FROZEN CHICKEN BASED ON PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS. CUT CHICKEN INTO BITE-SIZED BITS AND ADD TO SALAD. THEN DEVOUR. (BECAUSE, YES, IT IS THAT GOOD.)