Honey Chicken Kabobs

Honey Chicken Kabobs

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 zucchini, sliced

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, pepper, and garlic. Reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken and vegetables in a large Ziploc with the rest of the marinade. (I marinated the chicken and veggies in different bags). Marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours. The longer it marinates the better.
Preheat grill to high heat.
Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread the chicken and vegetables onto skewers.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

BBQ Chicken Wraps

The other night my husband and I ate at Red Robin and I ordered their Whiskey River BBQ chicken wrap. I switched out the tortilla strips for their onion straws and it was so good. I decided to try and recreate it at home. We were really happy with how they turned out!

BBQ Chicken Wraps

4 chicken breasts
BBQ Sauce
4 large tortillas
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
shredded lettuce
French's french fried onions
Ranch dressing

Grill your chicken. During the last 15 minutes of cooking brush the BBQ sauce on the chicken. When chicken is done remove it from the grill and cut it in to strips. Warm your tortillas in the microwave. Place your chicken strips down the center of the tortilla, leaving some space at both ends. Pour a little more BBQ sauce on chicken if desired. Add cheese, onions, lettuce, and top with ranch dressing. Fold in the ends of the tortilla and roll up. Cut the wrap in half and serve.

Cheese Ball

This is a quick, easy, and delicious cheese ball. My friend had made it for a bridal shower a few weeks ago, and I couldn't get enough. I had never made a cheese ball before, but I wanted to try it out so I made it for a baby shower this weekend. It was still just as good, and I was surprised at how simple it was to make.

Cheese Ball

2 packages cream cheese, softened
5 green onions, chopped
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained really well
seasoned salt, to taste (about 1 tsp)
1 - 2 cups pecans, chopped

Mix cream cheese, green onions, crushed pineapple and seasoned salt together. Form in to a ball. Roll in chopped pecans. Cover with saran wrap and place in fridge until ready to serve. Serve with crackers and/or veggies.


Recipe courtesy Ad'Lynn Martinez

Sprite Potatoes

We tried this recipe about a year ago and really liked it. Then somehow I forgot about it. My husband was really excited when I told him we were having them again. You might look at the recipe and think that it just doesn't work, but it really does. The bacon, the cheese, the onions and then the sprite adds just a touch of sweetness. They are really good!

Sprite Potatoes

1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 lb. bacon, chopped
5-6 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
9-10 baby carrots, sliced thin
seasoned salt
onion salt
garlic salt
salt
pepper
1-2 cans Sprite

In a large pot/skillet saute onion and bacon together until onion is translucent and bacon is crispy. Add potatoes, carrots and seasonings to taste. Stir together. Add sprite, just enough to cover the potatoes.
Cover and bring to a boil, simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender and most of the liquid has reduced.
Cover generously with grated colby jack cheese or cheddar cheese and let stand for 3-5 minutes, or until melted. Enjoy!!

Recipe courtesy Tasty Sensations

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Pasta Fagioli Soup

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup onion, diced
4 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, undrained
1 can (15 oz) great northern beans, undrained
2 cans (8 oz) tomato sauce
12 oz V-8 juice
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
pinch of red pepper flakes
8 oz shell pasta
Parmesan cheese, grated

In a large pot, brown ground beef and drain. Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, saute for about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except for pasta and cheese. Simmer for 1 hour. With about 10 minutes left, cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta, then stir into soup. Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipe adapted from Cooking With Mandy

Cold Szechuan Noodles

My friend Katie brought this salad to a party a few weeks ago, and I couldn't wait to make it again! Yum, it is so good!

Cold Szechuan Noodles
recipe courtesy Katie Wenerstrom

3 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp oriental sesame oil
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
4 oz oriental noodles or broken up spaghetti, cooked and drained
3 cups cooked and shredded chicken
1 cup finely chopped red cabbage
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 shredded carrots
1 red or green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts

In small bowl, combine oil, honey, sesame oil, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and red pepper flakes; blend well. Rinse cooked noodles in cold water to cool. In large bowl combine cooked noodles, chicken, cabbage, onions, carrots, and bell pepper. Pour dressing over salad; toss to mix. Salt to taste. Sprinkle with peanuts.

Refried Beans

I had heard great reviews about this recipe from multiple friends, so I was excited to try it. I knew it cooked in the crock pot all day, so in the morning I looked at the recipe so I would be prepared and cook it long enough. To my dismay I learned I was supposed to soak the beans over night. My husband was going out of town, looking forward to what I had told him we were having for dinner, and I wasn't going to change my plans. So I altered the recipe a little, and they still came out really good. I will put the changes I made to the original recipe at the end so if you are on top of things you can do it the right way, or if you are not (like me) you can do it a different way, that still tasted really good.

Refried Beans
adapted from Katie's Recipes

3 cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can chicken broth
1 Tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt

Add all ingredients into an oven safe pot and cook in the oven at 200 degrees for 5-6 hours. (Or you can put it in a crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours). Take out some of the juices. Blend in a food processor or blender until desired consistency. If it is too thick you can add some juices back in.

If you want to use dry beans: Soak 1 lb. dry pinto beans over night and drain. Instead of the one can of chicken broth add 2 cups water and 3 cups chicken broth to replace it. Add the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot. Cook on high 6-8 hours.