Orange Julius

My mom used to make this for us when we were kids. I always remember it tasting good but it just doesn't satisfy my tastebuds like it used to. I rate this a 3 and if you don't eat it immediately after fixing it rates at more of a 2.

6 oz can orange juice concentrate

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

1/2 cup water

12-15 ice cubes

Blend in blender all ingredients except ice. Add ice cubes one at a time to mixture. Serve immediately.

Grilled Chicken & Asparagus Pasta

This is a wonderfully refreshing pasta dish. It was on one of the morning talk shows last year and I just had to try it. We all instantly fell in love with it! I rate this a 5!


2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces
1-1/2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed
1 pound bow tie pasta
¼ cup butter
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken stock
Zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
Salt & Pepper
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Boil water, add asparagus and cook to tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Rinse with cool water, set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. In large skillet over low heat, combine butter, garlic, cream and stock. Stir in salt, lemon zest, and juice. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add chicken, cheese and drained pasta. Cut asparagus into 1-2 inch pieces on diagonal. Toss ingredients together. Turn off heat and allow sauce to thicken and ingredients to heat. Season with salt and pepper.

Meatballs

I've purchased frozen meatballs from the grocery store and from Sam's Club and have been somewhat underwhelmed with the quality. I feel like oftentimes they are cartilage balls with meat sprinkles. I've been trying to learn how to make them better so I will like them and tried a meatloaf recipe I found in my BHG cookbook. Of course I changed it. We recently purchased a vegetable juicer and I was looking for another way to use the vegetable fiber leftover after juicing. So Court, this is for you!

I rate this a 3 because although, they were very good, (Christian asked for thirds!) I think they could even be better. (And when I get a good sauce recipe for them besides marinara on spaghetti, I will post a picture.)

2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. salt
pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. sage or basil (I used sage)
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
crumbs from 2 slices bread
1-2 c. fiber from juicing carrots & celery

Beat eggs, add spices and breadcrumbs, then mush in meat. Form into balls and brown in oiled skillet. Cook about 5 minutes, browning all sides then finish cooking in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
I imagine they could be frozen after they were cooked for future use.

Kali's Whole Wheat Bread

This has got to be the best homemade bread I've ever had and it came from the beautiful kitchen of Kali S. I'm glad she said it would be okay to post it. Thank you Kali!


2 Tbsp. Saf-Instant yeast
5 c. very warm water
11-14 c. whole wheat flour (she grinds wheat right on the spot!)
⅔ c. oil
⅔ c. honey
2 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. vital wheat gluten
2 Tbsp. dough enhancer


Make a sponge with the yeast, water and 5 cups of the flour by combining in a mixing bowl and letting it sit for 15 minutes. Add the other ingredients, adding flour last, 2 cups at a time until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but is still slightly sticky.
Pour a little oil on the counter and turn dough out.
Cover with a dishtowel and let rise another 15 minutes.
Using a bread knife, cut into equal quarters. Take one quarter, rub a littl oil on it and with a rolling pin, roll it into a big rectangle (to remove any bubbles). With fingers, roll up.
Tuck in the ends and place in loaf pan.
Cover and let rise another 1-2 hours or until at least doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 -25 minutes or until done.

I rate this a 4.5 only because I don't think I could actually eat the whole thing in one sitting.

Spring Green Fruit Salad with White Chocolate Dressing

I found this salad recipe that has white chocolate vinaigrette dressing. For our next Enrichment Night we are having an all-chocolate dinner and we needed a semi-healthy course that included chocolate. My husband doesn't care for fruit salad and the fact that he actually loved this recipe makes me rate it a 5!!!


Salad:
1 (15 ounce) can Mandarin oranges (reserve juice for dressing below)
5 ounces pre-washed spring greens
2 cups fresh strawberries, quartered
1/2 pint blueberries (optional)


Dressing:
1/4 cup Champagne wine vinegar (I just used wine vinegar)
1/3 cup reserved Mandarin orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup white chocolate chips (I used more than 1/4 cup for a sweeter taste)
3 tablespoons olive oil


Directions:
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine vinegar, reserved orange juice, salt and sugar. Gently heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in white chocolate until melted. Set aside to cool. Do not refrigerate as chocolate will set. Before serving, slowly whisk in oilve oil. Serve dressing tossed in salad or on the side.

Sticky Buns

These are the Rhodes Butterscotch Pull Aparts and they are so tasty. This photo is while they are still rising prior to going in the oven.

24 refrigerator rolls, cut in half(or you can make your own-I have in the past)
1 small box NON-INSTANT butterscotch pudding mix
1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar

Spray bundt pan with cooking spray. Dip roll halves in dry pudding mix and layer with pecans. Sprinkle remaining pudding mix on top. In a saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar over medium heat and stir until a syrup is formed. Pour over rolls. Cover and let rise until double in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Immediately turn onto serving plate and serve warm.
We like to use very cold rolls and let them rise overnight for fresh hot rolls in the morning.
I give this recipe a 5 rating because even if I'm full, I seem to be able to stil fit a serving of this. SO YUMMY!