Berry Smoothie

The other day I was craving a cherry smoothie, which is strange because I'm not a huge cherry fan.  Since cherries aren't in season yet, I just went to the store and bought frozen cherries.  They are so very good for you and this smoothie is awesome.  The kids don't even realize they are having such a healthy snack because they are enjoying it so much!
Berry Smoothie
1C frozen cherries
1C frozen blueberries(optional)
1C strawberries
1/2C orange juice
1container cherry yogurt, or your choice
1C ice cubes
1 banana
Add the liquid first and then the rest of the ingredients and blend on high until mixed. YUMMY!

In our house we LOVE smoothies...all kinds! The Spring weather and longer days of sunshine give me so much more energy! My garden is all planted and my spinach has been growing beautifully. I have  made sandwiches with it and now today a smoothie.  This is one secret that is ok to keep from your kids...don't tell them it is in there and they will love it.  My kids went with it's green food coloring, or mom put a lime in it!!LOL  I did try to tell them the truth, but they just laughed and said why would anyone put veggies in a smoothie, so I just smiled and went along with what they wanted to think.  A smoothie can be so good for you(if you leave the ice cream out!) and they are so refreshing and there is something about drinking your fruits and veggies that just give a person extra energy.  This smoothie may sound gross or strange, but it is awesome and packed full of health.
Green Monster Smoothie
1C grapes, make sure you throw out the stems
1C orange juice
1carton vanilla yogurt
1-2C ice
1-2C baby spinach, stems removed
1 banana
1-2 apples, cored and cut up
Pour oj, yogurt and ice into blender. Then add the grapes whole, spinach whole, and apple and banana cut up into chunks. Blend until smooth.  Since the apples do have the skins still on, which is where the fiber and lots of other nutrition is, then the smoothie does have tiny peels, but it didn't bother my tastebuds a bit.  I only used one apple, but next time I will use two because the apple flavor is awesome.  If you think it tastes at all like spinach then just cut back on it, or throw in other stuff to cover it up, like another banana. ENJOY!

Green Fruit Salad

This recipe is to celebrate St Patricks Day. It is cool, refreshing and green! It makes me smile because it reminds me of Spring!  Feel free to add any fruits you want.  My mom makes a weight watchers version of this and uses sugar free pudding mix, cool whip, and adds a light vanilla yogurt. Then for the fruits just use a can that has no syrup and is in its "own juice."
Green Fruit Salad
1tub cool whip(can use light or sugar free)
1small pkg instant pistachio pudding
1 20oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
1can pears, drained, cut up
You can also add 1C mini marshmallows, the spring colored ones would be cute!
Mix the pineapple with juice with the pears and add the pudding and mix until thickened. Add cool whip and stir and refrigerate until serving.

Spinach Mushroom Pasta

This is a yummy version of an Olive Garde favorite..but I added to it! Add or change those ingredients according to what your family prefers. Next time I will add fresh asparagus. If you do this, just add asparagus cut up into chunks into the boiling pasta water during the last 5 minutes of cooking time and this will cook it enough to then add to the dish.  This pasta dish would also be excellent with grilled chicken or shrimp!
Spinach Mushroom Pasta
1pkg linguine (I had fettucini, so that is what I used)
1pkg fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 whole pkg fresh baby spinach, or 5-6C.
1pkg (8oz) cream cheese (use light and save calories!)
11/4C milk ( I used 2% and it was plenty creamy)
1-3t minced garlic (I like the 3t)
1/2pd bacon, sliced into bite size pieces
1t salt
1/2t pepper
2T butter
Boil pasta and drain. In a skillet, cook bacon and save 1T drippings. Add garlic and mushrooms to the bacon and drippings and add mushrooms and cook for a few minutes while stirring. Add spinach(it will look like too much, but it will shrink) and stir until wilted. Add cream cheese that is cubed up and milk, butter and salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium until the cream cheese is melted. Drain pasta and add to the sauce and toss well. YUMMY! Leftovers heat up great too!

Candy Cane Hearts

These are so cute and I'm making them for my daughter's kindergarten Christmas party. My daughter had so much fun helping me open the candy cane packages and shaping hearts out of them and then doing the sprinkles at the end.  I found the easiest way to open the packages of candy canes is just use scissors.
Have fun!  I also did this to oreos, just dipped them into the white bark and sprinkles with crushed peppermint or red sprinkles.
Candy Cane Hearts
mini candy canes (two per heart)
white almond bark
sprinkles, or crushed peppermints
Place candy canes together to make a heart shape. Melt white almond bark and put into ziploc bag and cut corner tip and squeeze enough into each heart mold to fill. Quickly sprinkle before it dries. Let sit and harden.

Mexican Chicken

The month of December is busy enough without having to worry about "what's for dinner????" This is a quick meal that comes together fast and everyone enjoys it.
Mexican Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1-2C salsa(I make my own)
1 (8oz)pkg cream cheese, SOFT
1-2C mexican shredded cheese
1pkg taco seasoning (optional)
Grease a 13x9 dish and place the chicken in it. If you have a smaller family use less chicken and a smaller dish and if you have a bigger family use two dishes and double the ingredients.  Mix the soft cream cheese with the salsa and if you want an extra flavor punch add the package of taco seasoning. Mix well.  Pour over the chicken and COVER with foil and bake for 30minutes at 350. Take out and sprinkle cheese on top and bake another 30 minutes. I have also added corn to the last 30minutes of cooking time.  This creates a wonderful sauce that you serve over the top of the chicken and you could top spanish rice with this too!

Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops

I've been making this dish for a long time. It is SO easy and very yummy and only has a few ingredients!  The other day at the grocery store my timing was just right with the meat department guy and he was putting out newly marked down meat and I grabbed the porch chops for next to nothing....I love when that happens!  This dish makes a wonderful gravy that you have to serve over mashed potatoes, or rice.
Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops
4-6 pork chops
1pkg ranch dressing mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup, (or any combo of two cans)
Spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray and place the pork chops inside. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the ranch seasoning package.  Put the soups on top. Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours. Serve the pork chops with mashed potatoes and use the leftover sauce/gravy to put on top! You could easily add carrots to this dish too.