Cheese Board

I love taking a cheese board to a dinner party, you can play with so many different ideas of what to add.  Here are some of the items I always try to make sure I put on my cheese boards, just always trying to have a bit of something for everyone.

Items To Include:
-2 different types of cheese
-2 different types of crackers
-a nut (I used almonds here)
-1 or 2 meats
-olives
-a berry (I used raspberries)
-a citrus (I used clementines)

Cream Spinach

3 pounds of frozen spinach, cook according to package directions and then drain and squeeze out all of the remaining moisture
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces of cream cheese (I used reduced fat cream cheese)
1/2 cup of milk (I used 2%)
pinch of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a large saute pan sauce the butter, onions & garlic for about 5-8 minutes, then add the cream cheese and blend together.  Once that has incorporated nicely add the milk and make sure all is blended together and then add the nutmeg, salt & pepper.  Now add the drained spinach and mix well.  Spoon into a baking dish and top with grated parmesan cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.  Enjoy!!!!

Chili Peanut Chicken

Our family loves any food with an asian kick and let's be honest the kids love rice!

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1 teaspoon of dried ginger
3/4 of peanut sauce
1 tablespoon of Asian chili paste/sauce
1/4 cup peanuts (I crush them up)
2 green onions (chopped)

In a saucepan I turned to medium heat, spray with pam and then add the chicken and top with 1/2 of the salt, ginger and black pepper and cooke for 3-4 minutes, then flip the chicken and top with the remaining of the salt, ginger and black pepper.  Add lid to saucepan and let it start to cook and drop the heat to simmer.  then once you think the chicken is getting tender add the peanut sauce and then chili paste/sauce and replace with lid.  Just let it cook low and slow until you can shred the chicken.

Once chicken is cooked and you have shredded it you are good to go!

Serve on top of white rice and then top with crushed peanuts and green onions.

I also served with an Asian salad on the side for our veggie.

Enjoy!!!!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I was going to make taco pie for dinner tonight and then realized that I didn't have a taco seasoning packet at home, so why not try and make my own!

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano leaves
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (you could add an additional 1/4 teaspoon if you wanted more of a kick)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 Cumin

Mix all together, you can double or triple the recipe to make sure you always have some on hand.

Enjoy!!!!