Hells Yeah Broccoli

I'm not kidding when I say that I eat this stuff like candy...so tasty but super healthy!

2 large bunches broccoli
olive oil
salt n pepper
4 garlic cloves minced
1 lemon
parmesan cheese

Take 4 to 5 pounds of broccoli (I just got two large bunches), cut into florets (but relatively big ones.) 

Dry them THOROUGHLY. That is, if you wash them. I saw an episode of Julia Child cooking with Jacques Pepin once when Pepin revealed he doesn’t wash a chicken before putting it in a hot oven: “The heat kills all the germs,” he said in his French accent. “If bacteria could survive that oven, it deserves to kill me.” By that logic, then, I didn’t wash my broccoli; I wanted it to get crispy and brown. If you’re nervous, though, just wash and dry it obsessively.

Now, it’s easy. Put the broccoli on a cookie sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. (She says 5 Tbs olive oil, 1 1/2 tsps kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper, but I just eyeballed it.) Now add 4 garlic cloves that are peeled and sliced and toss them in too.

Roast in the oven 400* 20 to 25 minutes, until “crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.”
I shook the pan around a bit as it went, but not sure that’s necessary.

When it’s done, take it out of the oven–and here’s where it gets really good–zest a lemon over the broccoli, squeeze the lemon juice over the broccoli, and 1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

recipe found here

Sonic's Cherry Lime-ade

1 can frozen limeade concentrate,

1- 2 liter bottle Sprite,

Juice from 1 10 oz jar cherries

Simply put it all together.. tough huh?

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

did you see this recipe on Our Best Bites?

i am eating them right now and they are nigh unto corn nuts. super good.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

·         1 cup margarine or butter

·         1 cup white sugar

·         1/2  cup brown sugar, loosely packed

·         2 eggs

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         2 cups all-purpose flour

·         2/3 cup cocoa powder

·         3/4 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

·         1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
m&ms for the top (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In large bowl, beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press M&Ms onto the tops.

Bake for 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Spiced Apple Bread

Spiced Apple Bread

1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3 Tablespoons milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 apple, peeled and chopped (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 2 8x4 loaf pans.

In large bowl, combine applesauce, sugar, oil, eggs and milk; beat well.  In separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.  Add the dry to the wet and stir until smooth.  Fold in the pecans and apples.  Pour batter into prepared pans and sprinkle the tops with brown sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 mins, or until toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have to write this down now. I just made this up today and it turned out reallllly good. I did not measure anything, I was just grabbing and dumping so the measurements I post are just guesses.

I had some pre cooked chicken already in the fridge and just went from there.

Place all these in a crock pot:
2-3 cooked/shredded chicken breasts
2- 10 oz cans green enchilada sauce
1 can chicken broth
2 cups water
1 small can green chilies
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 Tbs minced garlic
2 teas onion powder
1 teas salt
1 teas pepper
2 teas cumin
1 teas chili powder
Give all these ingredients a stir
Then add:
10ish oz frozen corn
1 handful of chopped cilantro

Cook on low for 7ish hours.
Top with tortilla chips and cheese!
Trevor and I LOVED it!

Whole Wheat Bread

Whole Wheat Bread 

1 1/3 cups warm water
1 heaping Tablespoon yeast
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons oil (more if you prefer)
3 1/2 cups (appx) whole wheat flour (I use freshly ground white wheat, but the stuff in the bag is prob fine)
1 teaspoon salt
1 heaping Tablespoon gluten  (optional)
1/2 Tablespoon dough conditioner (optional)

Combine water, yeast, sugar, and oil in the Kitchenaid.  Add 2 1/2 cups of the flour, the salt, gluten, and dough conditioner, and start mixing on speed 2.  When it's well combined, add the rest of the flour slowly and watch the bowl, when the very middle of the bottom comes clean as it mixes, you have enough flour. (I usually use about 3 1/2 cups total.  Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the weather.)

Let the mixer knead on speed 2 for about 7 minutes.  (You may need to knead a little longer if you don't use the added gluten and dough conditioner. I use the window test, pull off a tiny chunk and stretch it gently between your fingers, if it forms a see-through-ish window before tearing, you have kneaded enough.)  Turn out and shape into loaf, put in greased pan.  Let rise in a warm place (I use a slightly warmed oven) for about 25 minutes, then preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crust looks nice and brown on the top and sides.  (I use a long skinny pan like the store loaves, and I bake for 23 minutes.  Probably longer cook time in a fatter loaf pan.)

Turn out immediately to cool on wire rack, butter the top.  It's best if eaten within the first two days.