Jalapeno Popper Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

4 slices bacon
2 Tblsp bacon grease
1/2 large onion, diced about 1 1/4 c
2 jalapenos, sliced
1 lb elbow mac

Sauce
4 Tblsp butter
5 Tblsp flour
2 c milk
1/4 c heavy cream
S&P
pinch of nutmeg
2 oz cream cheese
1 Tblsp hot sauce
2 1/2 c grated cheddar cheese
1 c grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 c grated provolone cheese
1/4 c blue cheese crumbles
1 c cooked shredded chicken, optional

Topping
1 c corn flakes, crushed
1/3 c blue cheese crumbles
bacon

Cook bacon, remove bacon. In grease saute onions and jalapenos until soft, about 6 minutes. Boil water, salt water, cook pasta till almost done. Heat oven to 350. In pot melt butter, whisk in flour then whisk in milk, cream, s&p and nutmeg. In crease heat to medium high and stir until thick. Remove from heat, stir in cream cheese and hot sauce. Mix until smooth. Pour pasta, onions and jalapenos into sauce. Stir to coat. Stir in cheeses and chicken. Pour into buttered casserole dish. Add toppings. Bake 20-30 minutes.

Mashed Potato Cakes

1-2 c mashed potatoes
1/2 c shredded cheese
1 egg
s&p to taste
Mix well, melt butter in frying pan. Take small amount flatten into cake and fry 5 minutes on each side. Serve with sour cream and salsa.
I added diced green chilis into the mix.

Chicken Taco Chili

1 onion, diced

1 can black beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can tomato sauce

1 can corn

1 can diced green chilis

taco seasoning

cumin

chili powder

chicken breast

fresh cilantro

I cooked the chicken breast with some of the spices in the crock pot. Drained and shredded the chicken and then added everything else in and cooked for a few hours longer on low in the crock pot.

I added jalapeno slices as well.

Quinoa fruit Salad

1/2 cup quinoa

1 cup water

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup cubed ripe mango

1/2 cup cubed cucumber

1/2 Tblsp dried cranberries

1/2 cup cubed jicama

Cook the quinoa as directed on package. Let cool. Chop all fruit to same size as berries. Add all together.

Lemon Basil Dressing

1 1/2 Tblsp olive oil

2 Tblsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp lemon zest

10 basil leaves chopped finely

salt & pepper

Wait to cut the basil till right before you serve the salad otherwise it turns brown.

Recipe from Relief Society get together. The cucumber was not a favorite, might leave it out next time.

Pico de Gallo

6 medium tomatoes, diced

1 medium onion, diced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

2 to 4 jalapenos, minced

pinch of garlic powder

salt and pepper

1/2 cup cold water

Mix all together, keep refrigerated.

Granola

Mix together:

7 cups oatmeal

2 1/2 cups wheat flour

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup coconut

1 cup almonds, slivered or chunky pieces

1 cup dry milk

Liquefy in blender:

1 1/2 tsp maple extract

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1 cup oil

1 Tblsp salt

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all together, divide between 3 or 4 cookie sheets. 250 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir at fifteen minute intervals. Store in air tight container.

Other add ins:

chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries etc.

Honey Rice

3 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup raisins

2 cups milk

1/2 cup honey

2 Tblsp butter

1 tsp lemon zest

1 Tblsp limeade juice

dash of cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

In large saucepan add rice, raisins, milk, honey & butter. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Stirring just enough so that it doesn't stick. Stir in limeade juice & lemon zest. Top with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Crock pot orange chicken

Ingredients:
• boneless chicken breasts, chopped into small chunks
• 1/3 cup flour
• olive oil
• 1/2 T salt
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 3 T ketchup
• 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or throw it in the microwave for 45 seconds)
• 4 T brown sugar

In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.

Pour the flour in a small bowl.
Cover the chicken breast chunks in flour and shake off the excess.

Pour a small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour-covered chicken.

The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked since it's going in the crock pot.

After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into the crock pot.
Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and give the pot a stir.

Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3.

Serve over rice and even add veggies if you want a healthier meal.

Oriental Chicken Salad

Bag of mixed greens

15 oz mandarin oranges, drained

slivered almonds, toasted

chicken (frozen fully cooked, canned or breasts)

Dressing:

1/4 c mayo

3 Tblsp honey

1 1/2 Tblsp white vinegar

dash of olive oil

1 tsp dijon mustard

Orzo, Tomato, Zucchini Salad

2 oz orzo, cooked & chilled

1 small zucchini, peeled, cut into long thin strips

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups tomatoes, diced

1/2 c mozzarella cheese

1/4 c onion, diced

1 Tblsp lemon juice

2 Tblsp fresh cilantro

3 Tblsp olive oil

1/8 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Lay zucchini on a paper towel, sprinkle w/salt, cover w/paper towel to soak up juices. In bowl mix tomato, cheese, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, olive oil & seasonings. On plate place orzo, top w/zucchini, top w/tomato mix. Enjoy

We are not big zucchini eaters in our house and I was surprised that all of this got eaten. It was super easy to make and actually tasted okay for having zucchini in it.

Recipe from www.food.com