Simple Mini Chicken Cordon Bleu

In a hurry for a quick meal, yet easy and delicious? Try this cheat recipe for chicken cordon bleu. I tried making them mini-sized tonight. It worked so well, I don't think I will ever go back! They were the perfect serving size for kids.

Ingredients:

4 large chicken breasts, pounded flat

8 strips of ham

8 chunks of swiss cheese

Flour

Salt and Pepper

Garlic Salt

Mushrooms

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup sour cream

Pound your chicken breasts flat. Cut each into two rectangles and place a peace of ham and a chunk of cheese inside each one. Roll, cinnamon roll style and inset a toothpick to hold it all in place. Dredge in flour and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown in olive oil until browned on all sides. Remove toothpick. Place chicken in a 9x13 pan. Leaving the drippings in the frying pan, saute the mushrooms and then add the cream of mushroom soup, broth and sour cream. Cook until mixture comes to a low boil. Pour over chicken and back at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve.

Yogurt Parfait

This was my breakfast this morning.  And although its entirely too simple to make, it IS delicious and it looks yummy layered in a pretty cup.  Perfect for breakfast or anytime of the day!

Ingredients:

Vanilla, light and fit yogurt

Granola

Fresh fruit (or frozen)

Layer berries, granola and vanilla in your parfait dish.  Serve.

Turtle Bars

These bars are so rich and delicious. One bite and you won't be able to stop. They are perfect for any occasion and I'm always asked for the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 tsp. soda
1/3 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup quick oats
2 cubes softened butter

Mix above ingredients (mixture will be crumbly). Spray a 9x12 pan. Spread 2/3 of above mixture on bottom of pan. Press down to flatten. I use my mini rolling pin to make it really good and smooth. Bake 7-8 minutes at 350.

Remove and sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips and drizzle the caramel sauce over the chocolate chips. Put remaining mixture over the top. Put back into the oven and bake an additional 10-12 minutes.

Caramel Sauce: 35 caramels and 4 TBSP. milk, melted together either in microwave or on the stove. Be careful not to scald.

Loaded Twice Baked Potato

These potatoes are heavenly. Definitely not low calorie, but sometimes, isn't eating bad worth it?Ingredients:

8 large russet potatoes

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

2 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup butter

Milk to desired consistency

1/2 cup choped green onion, leaving a few to sprinkle on top

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, seperated

Take four, washed potatoes and bake in oven at 425 for one hour. Remove from oven and cut, lengthwise in half. Scoop out centers and save for later. Peel the remaining four potatoes and cut into chunks and place in a sauce pan with water and bring to a boil until tender. Drain the water off of the potatoes and whip in the sour cream, scooped out centers from the other potatoes, butter, parmesan cheese, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, garlic salt, pepper, green onions and milk to desired consistency. Fill all 8 halves of the potatoes, mounding the potatoes in the skins. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and green onions and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Favorite Banana Bread

Try this banana bread recipe and you won't need to go searching for another one ever again. It's moist and packed with flavor. One tip....blend your bananas in your blender. It gives the bread such a smooth texture. I make smaller loaves, so my bread only takes about 40 minutes to bake. One batch makes one larger loaf pan. Double the batch and you can make two smaller loaves.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2-3 bananas, blended
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil

Mix really well in mixer, then add:

• 1 cup flour (I prefer bread)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Pour in greased pan and bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Makes 1 loaf.

Key Lime Bars

Here's a tart and tangy recipe for all you lime lovers out there!  I absolutely loved it!  I added gingersnaps to the graham cracker crust and it compliments the lime perfectly!

Crust:
2 cups finely grated graham crackers, gingersnaps and vanilla wafers, equal parts
2/3 cup sugar
10 TBSP. Melted Butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stir together crumbs, sugar and butter.  Spread in the bottom of a 9x13 pan at bake for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

Filling:
6 large egg yolks
2 tsp. lime zest, finely grated
1 cup key lime juice
2 cups sweetened condensed milk

Beat the egg yolks and lime zest until thick, about five minutes.  Slowly pour in sweetened condensed milk.  Beat on high for about five minutes until thick.  Slowly add key lime juice and whip just until blended.  Pour onto prepared crust and bake for 10 minutes until slightly set.

Topping:
2 cups heavy whipping cream (for the top)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Fresh fruit to garnish

Whip heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.  Scoop on top of bars and garnish with fruit.

Apple Bread with Streusel Topping w/Optional Caramel Glaze

Simply Delicious.  I love the added caramel glaze, but if you want to save the calories, it's still divine without.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 TBSP. lemon juice

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 apples of your choice (I like gala), peeled and chopped in food processor

Streusal Topping:

2 TBSP. flour

1 TBSP. Sugar

3 TBSP. Brown Sugar

1 TBSP. butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Beat in eggs, lemon juice and vanilla.  Add the four mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until moistened.  Add apples and stir gently to combine.  Spoon half of the batter into a buttered 9x5 inch loaf pan.  Sprinkle with streusal topping.  Spoon remaining batter into the pan and sprinkle with the remaining topping.  Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool before slicing.

Streusal Topping:  Combine all the ingredients in a small ziploc bag.  Mix together until crumbly.

Optional Caramel Glaze:

4 TBSP. butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Melt the butter in a small saucepan.  Add the sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved.  Add whipping cream and bring to a low boil for 2 minutes.  Pour glaze over the bread.