Bacon Cheddar Chicken Salad (and Beer Bread!)

Because I am always on the go and there is always someone else looking in the fridge for something to eat, the other day I decided to put together a large batch of chicken salad to keep on hand for those "refrigerator grazers" - you know the ones!   This chicken salad has become a popular treat in my house and I hope you will enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

2 T Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon
1 1/2 c. Mayonnaise (hubby prefers Miracle Whip when I make it just for him)
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 cups cooked, diced chicken breast (I use canned chicken to make this up in a jiffy - sometimes use 3 cups)
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
Green Onion, sliced

Simply combine all ingredients, mix well and chill.  Spread on your favorite bread or simply enjoy with crackers or celery sticks for a nutritious snack! 

Our family particularly likes it served on Tastefully Simple Beer Bread.  To make a more "sturdier" bread for sandwiches, I simply add 2 eggs to the mix before baking.  As you can tell from the picture below, someone could not even finish making their sandwich before taking a bite! Yummo.......

Enjoy!

Tina

If you would like to order any Tastefully Simple products or see what others products there are available in that product line, please feel free to go over to www.tastefullysimple.com/web/jrucker.  Or, if you would like, please feel free to come join the fun on my family's facebook business page for more recipes, tips, giveaways and more!

Twice "Baked" Potatoes

Well, yesterday was our 4 year wedding anniversary.  Since a weeknight and not payday yet, we decided to put off a "date night" until the weekend and just stayed at home with daughter and new grandbaby.  I figured dinner should be more than a frozen pizza or hot dogs tonight, so I went through the pantry to see what I had I could try and -  lo and behold I had some red potatoes raising their little hands to be used, so tried a new recipe and boy am I glad I did!  I swear these little suckers tasted like something I cooked on for hours and something you would find in a fancy-shmancy restaurant! But they are EASY and FAST!

Ingredient List:

Size B Red Potatoes (these are the smaller mid size potatoes, kind of around size of an egg)
Tastefully Simple Onion Onion Seasoning Blend
3 T mayonnaise
3 T sour cream
4 oz shredded mozzarella
2 oz shredded parmesan
Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon


First thing you are going to do is cut your potatoes in half crosswise.  Then using a melon baller or spoon, scoop out a small well in the potato (about 1/2" deep) and line potatoes up in pan (see picture below)  I used Pampered Chef's Small Ridged Baker. Since these are made in the microwave, be sure to use a pan small enough to fit your microwave and spin while in there.

Sprinkle potatoes with a little Onion Onion and then cover with parchment paper and microwave 9-12 minutes until potatoes are done (Soft when poked with a knife tip).

While potatoes are cooking, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, cheeses and 1 1/2 TBSP of Onion Onion.  When potatoes are done you are going to fill each well with the filling.

Recover potatoes with parchment paper and microwave for an additional  1-2 minutes to get cheese all melty and warm.

Remove potatoes and sprinkle with Bacon Bacon.  I would also sprinkle these with some chopped green onion but my bare fridge did not have any to use last night.

And Enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

Fiesta Meatballs

Finally pulled out the crockpot and put it to good use over the weekend!  Glad I did because these meatballs were a HIT.  Well.....except for my daughter who over the last few months has decided anything with "flavor" is "HOT" and spicy.  I personally don't like much "spice" to my food either, but I think these were delish and had great flavor!  First gather your ingredients:

 

Ingredients:

 

1 lb frozen meatballs, thawed (I actually doubled the recipe at the last minute and used one bag thawed and one not)

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 cup water

1 1/2 T Tastefully Simple Fiesta Party Dip Mix

1 1/2 T Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic Seasoning Blend

4 oz shredded Cheddar Cheese

 

You simply throw all the ingredients in your Crockpot (except for the Cheese), stir together and cook on Low for at least 2-3 hours, but can cook for up 8 hours.  Would not recommend much longer or meatballs may get too mushy and fall apart.

 

Right before you are ready to serve, sprinkle the meatballs with the cheese and replace lid until cheese is melted.

 



And Enjoy!!!  You could eat these over pasta, enjoy as appetizer bites or simply eat alone.  Or, perhaps put on a hoagie bun for a meatball sub!! YUM. I may have to try that next time.

Enjoy!

Tina

Need to order the Tastefully Simple spices featured in this recipe?  Check out www.tastefullysimple.com/web/jrucker

Healthy Lifestyle Living - Grilled Ceasar Salad

Yes, me and the hubster are in our mid-40s and although we have tried the "dieting" thing over the last several years, nothing ever sticks because we never do it "together".  Three weeks ago I announced I was changing my eating habits and within 24 hours the hubby jumped on the boat with me.  It is sooooo much easier when you are both heading in the same direction!  Now to get the kids "on board" and we will be doing something!

Last weekend I decided I wanted to break down and try a "grilled salad" like I had been hearing about.  No - I don't mean a salad with a slab of grilled chicken on the top, but I mean an actual "grilled" salad!   Well, since I do NOT even touch our grill, that means I had the idea, but hubby had to implement it. He is good at it, as long as I give him the recipe and instructions, he doesn't mind at all pulling that baby out the garage and grilling away.

So......this is what we ended up with.  Looks delish?

 

 

Easy Peasy!!! To say the least! See below for the recipe I threw together using my favorite Tastefully Simple products!

Ingredients:
Romaine Head/Heart of lettuce
Olive Oil
Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt
Black Pepper
Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon
Parmesean Cheese (grated)
Plain Bread Crumbs


Slice Romaine in half lengthwise keeping the end intact.
Drizzle Olive Oil on lettuce (both sides) along with seasoning with Seasoned Salt and Black Pepper
Place lettuce cut side down on piece of foil on grill.  (medium to high heat) and Grill for 2 minutes.  (If you want a more "charred" lettuce with grill marks you can place directly on the grill grid.)
Flip lettuce over and sprinkle with Bacon Bacon, Parmesean Cheese and Bread Crumbs (in that order) and grill for another 2 minutes.
Drizzle with Ceasar Salad dressing and Enjoy!  - - The salad is tasty enough to even enjoy without the dressing!

Let me know what you think!

Tina