Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Do you enjoy a good pizza but find delivery too expensive? Then you should enjoy this recipe. It is quick and easy but still tastes gourmet. And at a fraction of the price.

• Pizza dough (You can find it in the refrigerator section of your grocery store or if you'd like to make your own try this recipe. It makes two medium pizzas.)
• Garlic Alfredo Sauce (one jar will make about three medium pizzas)
• Frozen Spinach, chopped (Again one box will make about three medium pizzas depending on how generous you are with your toppings.)
• Bacon bits
• Frozen grilled chicken, chopped (pre-cooked)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Cheddar cheese

Spread your pizza dough on pizza stone or baking sheet. Top with Alfredo sauce. Thaw spinach in microwave and squeeze out water. Add toppings as generously as your family desires. Cook for 20 minutes at 375 degrees or as indicated on your pizza dough package.

Spicy Carrot Soup

This soup is a bit spicy, so I wouldn't serve it as a main dish. But it makes a good side dish or appetizer or even a mid afternoon snack. The pureed vegetables give the soup a nice creaminess.

• 3 tbsp oil
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 16 oz carrots (chopped)
• 1 large potato (peeled and chopped)
• 3 cups V8 (and 3 cups water)

Heat oil in deep saucepan. Add vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook until softened (about 15 minutes). Add liquid and spices then cook an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

Puree the mixture. If necessary gently reheat.

Moroccan Beef over Rice

This is a nice dish when you are tired of standard American fare. It also works well wrapped in a tortilla and served for lunch, but I prefer it over rice. Also, I use dehydrated chopped onions. (You can find them in the baking section of your grocery store.) If you are using fresh onions you will need to fry them in olive oil before cooking the beef.
This recipe only requires 10 to 15 minutes of active cooking. But it does need to cook unattended for about 25 to 30 minutes.

• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 2 cups ground beef
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 dried chopped dried apricots
• 1 can diced tomatoes, strained
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/3 dried cranberries
• 1 cup V8 juice

In a large skillet combine beef and onions. Cook until browned.

Use garlic press. Then add garlic, coriander and bay leaf to beef. Cook an additional minute.

Add apricots, tomatoes, tomato paste, cranberries and juice. Cook uncovered on medium low for 25 to 30 minutes. (If you are not using instant rice add one cup rice and two cups water to a small saucepan. Heat to boiling. Cover. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.)

Discard bay leaf. Serve over rice.

Mini Breakfast Muffins

These muffins make a great breakfast when you are running a little late or are otherwise crunched for time. Or you can use them as a tasty snack at anytime. One note before you make them, be sure and use paper muffin cups because these muffins will stick to the pan if you don't.

• 1/2 cup and 1 tbsp pitted dried chopped dates
• 1/2 water
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup and 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line muffin pan with paper cups.

In small saucepan bring to boil dates and water. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile sift together flour, baking powder and sugar.

Stir in baking soda and butter into saucepan. Stir till butter melts.

Beat eggs. Add eggs, vanilla and date mixture to flour mixture. Mix until combined. Pour into paper cups. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. (Please note that the baking time is for mini muffins - larger muffins will require more baking time.)

Strawberry Smoothie

If you are looking for a quick snack for your kids that is better for them than cookies or chips would be try making this delicious treat. It has the consistency of a milkshake and the chocolate gives it a rich taste. You could also add a cup of strawberry yogurt. (You could try other flavors but I don't guarantee your results. :) )

• 10 frozen strawberries
• 4 ice cubes
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup

Add ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Taco Soup

This is an easy and quick soup to make. It is also fairly inexpensive and my family loves it. My daughter (she's a toddler) like to pick out the individual chili beans and pieces of corn. The spices are also easily modified to suite your family's tastes.
I like to serve the soup with chili cheese bread. I'll try to get that recipe in here too.

• 2 cans chili beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
• 1 package frozen corn (16 oz)
• 1 lb hamburger
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika

In the morning combine chili beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, chili powder and paprika to crock pot with 3 to 4 cups of water. Set to low heat.

About an hour before meal time place the hamburger and onion in a skillet. Sprinkle with remaining garlic salt. Brown. Drain excess grease. Add to soup.

Enjoy.

Mochico Bread

If you are allergic to wheat flour or would just like a sweet bread I recommend this rice bread. It is actually sweet enough to use as cake. You could top it with a dusting of powdered sugar or a honey glaze.
It's very heavy and kind of spongy. The sponginess will increase as the bread cools. (Although at my house it tends to get eaten so fast it doesn't have time to cool.

Ingredients:

• 3 Eggs
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 can coconut milk
• enough regular milk to make a total of 3 cups (about 2 cups regular milk)
• 1 box mochico rice flour (2 cups)

Combine wet ingredients and baking powder. Beat until well blended. Stir in rice flour. (Take care as rice flour is very fine.)

Grease and lightly flour an 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the top is brown (approximately one hour). Rising will deflate when the bread cools.