Quick Snacks or Side Dishes

I have a great side dish. Well, I cannot take the credit. My friend K made this recipe while I was over one day and my kids not only loved it, but I did too. I had never thought to really incorporate these ingredients mostly because I did not think my kiddo's would ever go near them. They GOBBLED this up and asked for more! Oh yes, yes they did <3

Pasta Salad:

Box of pasta (these were the spiraly ones. I am going to get some gluten free ones)
Head 0f Caulif.
Head of Broccoli
Baby Carrots
1 bottle of Italian Dressing

Cook pasta. While pasta is cooking up chop the veggies and add into a large bowl. Mix it all together. Once pasta is done drain and run over cold water. Mix the pasta in with the veggies and then cover with bottle of dressing. Stir all until everything is coated with Italian Dressing.

You can serve this on the side of almost anything. Also use it as a great afternoon snack for the kiddo's. I don't have a picture of this one, but will soon.

Do you have any great pasta's that you cook up during the summer??? Please do share!

Well, until next time. The famous words from "Dear John" I'll see you soon then! <3

Now.. Back to our regularly scheduled program :)

What else would I have for you but a chicken recipe? Pork Chops! Oh yes I did. We have been eating a lot of these lately, mostly so we could have another option besides chicken. We aren't big on steaks, so this is a nice alternative since I don't like fish.

Molasses Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Compliments of It’s a Keeper
www.everydaytastes.com

1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons coarse-grained Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 (3/4-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed

Combine first 3 ingredients in a Ziploc bag, reserving a few tablespoons for basting. Add pork to bag and chill for 8 hours.

Cook, covered with grill lid, over medium-hot coals (350° to 400°) about 20 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 160°, turning once.

Serve this us with a green salad, broccoli, or cauliflower. What for a pasta recipe that would also go great with this.

What is your favorite part of grilling? Mine is that there are basically NO pots, pans, or dishes to clean up. In the summer we use a lot of paper plates. Yes, I know not so green, however, a great alternative for us so we aren't running the dishwasher every five seconds.

Interruption for Money Saving Idea's

I had a post ready for another good non cooking meal. However, I read a article today on saving money for your kids' college education. I found this extremely helpful and would like to share it with you.

Go over to www.momsplan.com to check out the guest post on affording your child's college education.

Go HERE for the article. Are you saving money for your child's education already? How are you working towards that goal?

Happy Monday!!!

HELLO Friends! Hope you are all having a fab Monday! <3

Before I jump into the recipe for today, I wanted to tell you some exciting news. I have officially decided to make cakes! Not all the time or professionally, but I have had a few customers who so graciously paid me to make a cake. How cool is that?! Paid to make a cake?! I still can't really get over it. I got to do something I love and get paid. That doesn't happen often. At least not often enough.

I made a cake for a bridal shower this past weekend and now have 2 other jobs lined up. So if you are in the market for a cake let me know. It is a DEEEEElish homemade butter-cream frosting decorated Fabulously! :) I'm pretty cheap really. I only charge between 25-40 depending on size and length of time spent on it! :)

Now on to the recipes to try this week.

Ingredients:

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing, divided

1 tomato, finely chopped

1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions:

HEAT grill to medium heat.

COVER half the grill grate with sheet of heavy-duty foil. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag. Add 2 Tbsp. dressing; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing.

PLACE chicken on uncovered side of grill; cover with lid. Grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine remaining dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil.

TURN chicken over; place on foil. Top with tomato mixture. Grill, covered, grill 8 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).

prep time 5 min

total time 29 min

makes 4 servings
Thanks Kraft Foods


I realize there have been a lot of chicken recipes, but look for some grilled pizza and quesadilla recipes coming this week! Also don't forget to turn in a recipe or tell us what your cooking to save of heat in your house during these HOT summer months!

Family Business

Hello all! How have you been cookin'? Any yummy non oven meals you want to share? Don't forget to leave a comment or email me at jbnemecek@hotmail.com with your recipes. I would LOVE to spotlight you with a recipe of the week.

The last couple of days we have been having some family time. The hubby's sisters are in town, so there have been play-dates, meals, and chaos. That is why there have been no new recipes for a couple of days.

On another note, we got a TRAMPOLINE! Yes, we finally found one that we like. Well, actually my amazing mom did, but nonetheless there is a trampoline in our back yard. Before you ask, YES there is an enclosure and YES we are safe with it. We would not put our kids in harm on purpose. We are very well aware of the risks and see no reason they wouldn't be safe on it. So that being said. They LOVE it! I will post pictures soon.

Stay tune for next week. I have a few meals up my sleeve! You will need no oven, just a grill and a handsome man doing the cooking! :) *I know we can dream right* Seriously though, if you can get your hunny behind the grill.. DO IT! :) Give yourself a break and let them do the cooking!

Hope you all have a FAB weekend and we will see ya soon <3

Grilled Chicken Salad

Now that you have made the yummy kebab's it's time to use the other 6 that we stored.

Grilled Chicken Salad

• 8 c. mixed greens
• All chicken and veggies left over
• 4 oz. feta cheese
• 1c. drained and rinsed canned chickpeas
• 12 pitted kalamata olives
• 3TBL balsamic vinegar
• 2Tsp. Dijon mustard
• 3/4c. EVOO

Place greens in a large shallow bowl. Arrange chicken and veggies on top. Scatter cheese, chickpeas and olives on salad.

Combine balsamic and mustard in a small bowl. While whisking constantly, drizzle in EVOO. Season with salt and pepper. Toss salad with about 1/2 c. vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
Picture and recipe from All You Magazine.

Chicken Kebabs with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

The one thing I love as much as freezer cooking is leftovers. Yes, you heard that right mom! I am a known leftover hater, however, the more I had to cook every night the more I realized leftovers rock. I had a hard time with this at first, but there is nothing better then cooking a good supper and having a yummy and easy leftover lunch for the next day.

This next recipe is from All You magazine. If you don't subscribe I highly suggest looking into it. Not only is it full of recipes it is full of coupons! This magazine has paid for itself a couple times over because of the coupons.

Chicken Kebabs

1/2c. canola oil
1/2c lemon juice (or 3 lemons)
4 tsp. Cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
2 tsp. paprika
4 cloves of garlic, smashed
3lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into pieces (I know that sounds like a lot but stick with me!)
2 red peppers, seeded and cut into pieces
3 small zucchini, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 small summer squash, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 c. yogurt, plain
2 tbsp. tahini
2 red onions halved, each half cut into quarters

In a bowl, whisk oil, 1/2c lemon juice, and seasonings. Pour half into a separate bowl. Add chicken to on bowl; turn to coat. Toss veggies in another bowl. Cover bowls; chill for 2 hours.

Make sauce: whisk yogurt, tahini, 1 TBL lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cover and chill.

Preheat grill, remove chicken and veggies from marinade; thread chicken, veggies, and onions onto 12 metal skewers.

Lightly oil grill rack, grill turning until chicken is cooked through. Set aside 6 kebabs to cool. Serve remaining kebabs over brown rice(optional), with sauce.

When reserved kebabs have cooled, remove chicken and veggies wrap well and refrigerate.

***Check back tomorrow for the recipe to use for the 6 kebabs you didn't use! ***

Buffalo Chicken Salad

First up on our no cooking with the stove recipes is this fabulous recipe by lifeasmom. She is actually in the middle of writing a cookbook all about freezer meals. How amazing is that!? I know right? She has SEVERAL amazing idea's that can be used for meals. You will see a lot of her recipes mostly because I use a LOT of her recipes for my own family. I do tweak them for our liking and to make some more figure friendly, but they are still amazing.

Buffalo Chicken Salad
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders1 Tablespoon Tabasco sauce
2 Tablespoons melted butter, cooled ( I will honestly omit this when I make it to help make it more figure friendly)
1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
mixed greens, spinach or torn romaine lettuce
2 ribs celery, chopped
grape tomatoes
Blue Cheese Dressing
chopped green onion (optional)
chopped cilantro (optional)

Place the chicken breast tenders in a medium bowl. Drizzle the Tabasco sauce and butter over the tenders. Toss to coat. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle 1 to 2 Tablespoons over the chicken tenders, tossing to coat. Allow flavors to blend for 15 minutes before cooking on a hot grill. Allow cooked chicken to rest while you assemble the salad.

Layer mixed greens, grape tomatoes and chopped celery on each serving plate. Drizzle dressing over each salad. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Top the salad with sliced chicken.

Don't want to grill 2 nights in a row??? Well, double you batch so that the next night you have....

***WRAPS! Wraps are easily portable and not as heavy as sandwiches, making them light fare for hot nights. Grill up a batch of Buffalo Chicken Breasts that have marinated while I assembling lettuce, chopped tomatoes, tortillas, and a blue cheese dressing.

Summer Cooking

Now that it is summer I'm guessing most of you do not want to turn on your oven or stove! I am working on a series of "non-cooking" recipes. There will be several grilling, sandwich, and salad idea's. I am hoping to find between 10-20 for you. I will be posting them 2-3 times a week so be sure to check back often for fun new idea's.

I am also working on doing some frugal fun idea's with the kiddo's! I'm hoping to post 1 a week for you guys through the next couple of months!

Lots of fun things to come! :) First recipe will be posted tomorrow so be sure to come back! <3