Pear, Brie, and Fig Quesadillas

Ingredients:

1/2 wheel brie cheese

1 firm pear, cored and chopped (peeled if desired)

6-8 dried figs (I used mission figs bought in the produce section), chopped with scissors

2 flour tortillas

Directions: 

Place thin slices of brie cheese (leave rind on if desired) on 1 half of flour tortilla. Top with pear and fig pieces. Cover with additional thin brie cheese. Fold tortilla over and place in a frying pan at medium-low heat, cover and cook on one side until golden. Flip carefully and then cook on the other side. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut into wedges and serve. 

Crockpot Pulled Pork for Tacos

Ingredients:

1-2 cups of your favourite salsa - blended if you want to remove chunks

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon brown sugar, if desired

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1-2 lb pork tenderloin

1 package soft tortilla shells

taco toppings:  grated cheese, peppers, onions, corn, salsa, sour cream

Instructions:

Place salsa and spices into crockpot and stir well. Place pork loin on top and scoop some of the sauce on top. Cook on low for 8 hours. When done, shred the pork using two forks. Serve in warmed tortillas with desired toppings.

BBQ Spare Ribs

I don't have a lot of experience with doing ribs, but I needed to find something different to make.  I was in a rut of making the same thing over and over again.  

This is a recipe from my Mom-in-law and it was super easy and very tasty.

I cut the pork ribs (2- 2 1/2 lbs) into sections and baked them on a foil lined pan for an hour at 350.

Then I mixed up this sauce:

1 tbsp celery seed
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 - 10oz tin tomato soup

I transferred the ribs to a roaster, dumped the sauce on top and baked it for an hour at 350, uncovered.

There were no left overs.  The sauce is great over rice.

Smartie Cookies

I tried a new cookie recipe and we really like these.  It seems like we're forever needing to have something to put into school and work lunches, so I like to change it up once and a while.

- 1/4 cup white sugar

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1 pkg instant vanilla pudding

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1 cup soft margarine

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 2 1/4 cups flour

- Smaries, chocolate chips or anything else you choose (I opted for mini m&m's)

Mix ingredients in order given.  Bake for approximately 12 minutes at 350F.  Watch them closely. Vanilla pudding can be substituted with chocolate for a different taste.

Chicken Penne Casserole

It's not very often I try a new recipe and it turns out well enough that I would consider making it again. Thankfully, today that was not the case.  This was delicious and pretty simple to put together.

- 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup chopped red and green pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 15oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded mozza cheese*

Cook pasta.  Meanwhile, in a large pan saute chicken, peppers, garlic and seasonings in oil until chicken is no longer pink.  In food processor puree tomatoes until no big chunks remain.  Add to chicken mixture.  Stir in broth.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Drain pasta.  Toss with chicken mixture.  Spoon half the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Sprinkle with half mozzarella cheese.  Repeat layers.    Cover and bake at 350  for 20 minutes.  Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through.

Serves four adults.

* I used marble cheese as that's what I had on hand.

Chili

Chili is chili right?  That's what I thought until I tried this recipe.  Sooooo good!!  Still basic ingredients but this combination is a tasty one.

- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 chopped onion
- Green pepper (or any other color)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp mustard
- 2 cans pork and beans
- 1 can kidney beans
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- 1 can tomato soup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar

Brown first 3 ingredients.  Add remaining ingredients.  Simmer for about an hour and a half.
* I left out the kidney beans this time around, but I love them, so will add them in next time.
**We enjoyed this with multi-grain chips from Costco.  :)

Pistachio Salad

This is always a favorite to take to a family gathering.  Yum!

- 1 pkg instant pistachio pudding (dry)
- 1 (19oz) tin pineapple tidbits
- 1 (10oz) tin mandarin orange segments
- 1 cup whipped topping
- 2 bananas
- 2 kiwi
- Grapes

Mi dry pudding with pineapple juice and pineapple tidbits.  Drain tin of orange segments and add to the pudding mixture.  Add whipped topping to pudding and fruit mixture.  Slice bananas, kiwis and grapes.  Mix this into the salad.  Chill and serve.  Makes 1 medium sized bowl.