Fruit and Veggie Kabobs

Since I have all of these fruits and vegetables from the food co-op:

I have been trying to plan my dinners around what I have.

I saw this recipe and got the idea to do some kabobs.

I used these veggies and fruits:

Green pepper, mushrooms, orange pepper, mango, purple onion and pineapple.

Marinade:
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1/4 c. pineapple juice
2 Tbl. Brown Sugar (a little more if you want it sweeter)

2 cloves of garlic

salt and pepper

If you have wood skewers soak them in water first.

Mix this all together and pour over vegetables. Let them marinate for a couple hours.

Put them on skewers and then you can grill them or I broiled them.

I put some foil over a cookie sheet and broiled them for about 10 minutes, turning them every couple minutes.

Serve with rice.

Crispy Bean and Corn Burritos

Sort of like a crisp bean burrito from Taco Time with less fat (and no mexi fries).

Crispy Bean and Corn Burritos

1 can Refried beans (I used the fat free kind)
1/2 can Green Chili Enchilada sauce
1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
6 flour tortillas (mine were large, you could do more smaller ones)

butter



Combine the beans, enchilada sauce and the corn and heat on the stove top. While the beans are heating up spread a little butter on one side of each tortilla. When the beans are heated through put a couple scoops into each tortilla, add some grated cheese and then roll up tucking the ends in. (Butter side should be on the outside.) Put in glass baking dish, Bake at 475 for about 12 minutes, until tortillas are brown and crispy.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/3 cup canola oil (original recipe called for shortening)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 heaping cup mashed bananas
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (originally white flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp soda
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to the creamed mixture alternating with bananas, beating well after each addition. Add choc chips.
Pour into a greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 bread pan. (I usually double or triple recipe)
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Berry Smoothie

I never measure, so this is my best guess.
7-10 frozen strawberries
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
1/3 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 a banana
1 tsp flax seed (optional, but adds omega-3's)
equal parts OJ and skim milk. Maybe start with 1/4 cup each.

I add the OJ and milk just enough to get my blender going. This makes enough for a large smoothie for me and a taste for anyone who is hanging on my legs asking for some.
Pictured with banana chocolate chip bread.

Pizza Rolls and Bread Sticks

This picture is before baking. They rise in the oven like sweet rolls. (My camera ate my "after" picture.)
Pizza dough
spaghetti sauce
grated cheese
toppings of your choice: I did pepperoni's and fresh mushrooms. I've also had BBQ sauce and chicken.
Use your favorite pizza crust recipe or use this recipe.
These are made like sweet rolls, except with Pizza toppings.
Preheat to 350 degrees.
After first rise take half the dough and roll out to 1/4 inch. Mine was about 28 inches long, maybe 14 wide. Spread with spaghetti sauce. Chop up your toppings and sprinkle over the sauce. Sprinkle on the cheese and roll up starting on the long end. Pinch closed, then use floss to cut into 2 inch sections and place on greased baking sheet. You can let them rise a little or just bake them immediately for 25 minutes. I ended up with 14 pizza rolls. They're big, so one was plenty for me.
I used the other half of the dough to make breadsticks.
Roll out another rectangle a foot long and 1/4 inch thick. Brush with butter, sprinkle with parmesan. Use pizza cutter to slice in one inch slices. Twist and place on greased baking sheet. Let rise or bake immediately 16 minutes at 350.
Serve with ranch and/or pizza sauce.

Chocolate Oat Squares

1 cup plus 2 TB butter, softened, divided
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp vanilla, divided
3 cups quick-cooking oats
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
1 tsp baking soda
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In mixing bowl, cream 1 cup butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Combine oats, flour, 1 tsp salt, and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture. Press 2/3 of the oat mixture into a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan.
In sauce pan, combine s.c. milk, chocolate chips, remaining 2 tsp butter and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and add 2 tsp vanilla.
Spread over the oat crust. Sprinkle w/ remaining oat mixture. Bake 22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.
Original recipe came from Taste of Home magazine November 2000 and contained 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Terriyaki Sauce

1/4 C Soy sauce
1 C water
1/4 tsp garlic salt
5 T brown sugar
2 T honey
2 T cornstarch
1/4 C cold water

In a sauce pan combine all but cornstarch and 1/4 c water. Mix cornstarch and cold water in a cup and disolve. Add to sauce in pan. Heat over medium heat stirring often until thickened.

I serve this with stir fry veggies and spaghetti noodles. YUMMY! It's a good dipping sauce too!
Makes about 1 1/2 C.