Jamie's Cranberry Spinach Salad

1 T butter
3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn
1 cup dried cranberries
2 T toasted sesame seeds
1 T poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp minced onion
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook and stir almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and let cool. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the toasted almnds and cranberries. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, and vegetable oil. Toss with spinach just before serving. 

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and it is so delicious. They gave it 5 stars and I would do the same.  I cut out the poppy seeds because I didn't have any and used red wine vinegar instead of white for the same reason.  We also really like feta cheese so I put some of that on as well but it would be good without. This is definitely going to be my new go to salad! 

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

These are so yummy! I couldn't wait to eat them. They have all my favorite things in them!

1/3 C Cream Cheese
1/4 C salsa verde
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
3 tbsp chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions

2 C shredded cooked chicken
2 C grated pepper jack cheese

small corn tortillas
kosher salt
cooking spray

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add salsa verde, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 tbsp of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place plan in oven and back for 15- 20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

This recipe is from OurBestBites.com

Pad Thai

4 cups water
1 package(6-8oz) rice stick noodles
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup water
3 T packed brown sugar
3 T fish sauce or soy sauce
3 T soy sauce
1 T vinegar
3/4 tsp ground red pepper
3 T vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 eggs, beaten
12 oz frozen shrimp, thawed (I use 2 chicken breasts, chopped and cooked)
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
3 cups fresh bean sprouts
4 medium green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves

In saucepan, heat water to boiling. Remove from heat; add noodles (push down so them get covered). Soak noodles 3-5 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water. In the meantime, stir lime juice, 1/3 cup water, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, red pepper and 1 T of oil until well mixed; set aside. In nonstick wok, heat remaining 2 T oil over medium heat. Cook garlic and onion until it starts to brown (1-2 minutes). Add eggs. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring gently until scrambled but still moist. Stir in noodles and lime juice mixture. Increase heat to high. Cook about 1 minute, tossing with 2 wooden spoons, until sauce begins to thicken. Add remaining ingredients except cilantro. Cook 2-3 minutes. Top with cilantro and garnish with additional peanuts and green onion.

This is such a good recipe for pad thai. We don't make it too often because it makes a huge mess and takes a little bit of work. I love easy and simple but every now and then it is fun to have a nice meal. Enjoy!

Rasberry Dessert

2 cup flour
2 cubes butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 package cream cheese
1 cup powder sugar
1 (29 oz) tub cool whip
1 package raspberry Danish Dessert
1/4 cup sugar
2 cup raspberries

Crust:
Mix flour and brown sugar, cut in butter. Crumble with hands and spread on cookie sheet. Bake 400 degrees 8-10 minutes. After 4-5 minutes turn pieces over. Cool, then crumble, and put in 9x13 pan.

Filling:
Combing cream cheese, powder sugar and cool whip. Mix well. Spoon over crust.

Topping:
Make Danish Dessert according to pie glaze directions. Add sugar and raspberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

One of my neighbors made this for a church activity and it was so delicious. I love raspberries and so it was divine to me, a little rich maybe but still so good.

BBQ Ranch Chicken and Cheddar Pizza Roll um' Ups

1 Roll Pillsbury Pizza dough in can
1/4 cup ranch dressing
2 cups prepared shredded BBQ chicken
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Open can of dough and press into rectangle. Spread or drizzle ranch dressing evenly over dough, then top evenly with chicken, cilantro and cheddar cheese. Starting at long end roll dough into a log shape. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 inch pieces and place onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a side of ranch for dipping.

I found this recipe here and decided to try it out last night. Very delicious and super easy. I pressed the dough to thin so mine didn't have quite enough crust for my liking. Also I just used can chicken, because I was in a hurry, and dumped BBQ sauce on it and it was still delicious.

Teriyaki Marinade

1/4 cup water
1 T packed brown sugar
3 T soy sauce
1 T lemon juice
1 T vegetable oil
1/8 tsp pepper
1 clove garlic, finely chopped

In shallow dish or plastic bag, mix all ingredients. Add about 1 pound meat. Seal and refrigerate at least one hour but no longer that 24 hours.

This is super delicious for kabobs!

Strawberry Delight

1 large angel food cake, cubed
2 boxes danish dessert
4 cups strawberries, chopped

Cream Cheese Filling:
2 cups cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tub cool whip

Beat first three ingredients together. Fold in cool whip (or if you want to get really fancy you can make your own whipping cream).

In glass dish, layer the angel food cake, strawberries, cream cheese filling. Make sure the last layer is the cream cheese, then decorate the top with extra strawberries.

This is really delicious and great in the summertime. My picture once again doesn't make this seem all that appetizing but it really is. Next time I might only do half the cream cheese filling because it made tons and my favorite part is the angel food cake and strawberries.