Pear & Feta Salad with Red Wine Poppy Seed Dressing

My mom got this recipe from a lady in her neighborhood and I stole it from her.  This Pear and Feta Salad is so delicious and it even looks really pretty!  It's easy to make and always a hit with crowds.  The homemade dressing is my favorite part!

What you need:

Dressing:

1 bottle of Brianna's poppy seed dressing

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

Sugared Pecans:

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup pecan pieces

1 Tbs butter

Salad:

1 bunch of roman lettuce

6 cups spring mix

2 chopped or sliced Bosc or Anjou pears

4-6 oz feta cheese

craisins

For the dressing: combine the poppy seed dressing and vinegar in a small jar and shake well.  Refrigerate.

For sugared pecans:  mix together the sugar, pecans and butter in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until the sugar melts.  Make sure the pecans don't burn, they can turn really fast.  Spread a sheet of foil out and dump the pecans on it to cool.  Break apart when cool.

For salad:  Mix together greens, feta cheese,craisins and pecans.  Top with the delicious dressing and enjoy!  

Peanut Butter Granola

This granola is dangerously addicting and comes from my talented sister, Janelle.  Janelle is such a great cook and I've loved every recipe I've tried of hers.  Peanut butter granola is healthier than other granola recipes because it doesn't use any butter and hardly any oil.  I can eat a whole pan by myself!  I eat it plain, in yogurt, or my favorite, putting it with milk and putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Yummy!

what you'll need:

5 c. rolled quick oats

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. honey

1/3 canola oil

3/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp cinnamon sugar

optional:

1 c. chopped almonds added to the pan before cooking

1 c. raisins added after the granola has cooled

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients and spread in a 9x13 glass pan.  Cook for 8 minutes, take out and stir the granola around, cook for 8 more minutes.  Take out and stir.  Make sure to store the granola in an airtight container or it will go stale.  Enjoy!

Pork Carnitas

I found this recipe at http://wearychef.com and it is amazing.  These carnitas are so flavorful that I've been craving them ever since I made them a few days ago.  These pork carnitas are a must try!

What you need:

3-4 lb Pork Roast

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Onion Powder

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 tsp. Dried Cilantro

1 tsp. Cumin

2 tsp. Chili Powder

16 oz Jar of Green Salsa

1 Can of Beef Broth

1/2 Cup of Milk

12 Small Corn Tortillas

- Put the pork roast in a crockpot and cover it with all the seasonings.  Pour the green salsa and beef broth on top.  Cook on low for 6 hours or until the roast easily falls apart.

- When the roast is done, preheat the oven to 275 degrees.  Shred the roast and place on a baking sheet lined with foil.  

- Mix together 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup of the juice left in the crockpot and pour over the meat.  Cook 30 minutes for really soft and juicy pork or 45 minutes for more crisper meat.

- Heat up corn tortillas on the stove and dish meat into the tortilla.  Top with your desired toppings.  I liked cheese and guacamole.   

Enjoy!

Sticky Italian Chicken

This sticky chicken is another family favorite.  And once again, it's ridiculously easy!  Only a few ingredients to throw in the crock pot and you've got a delicious dinner.

What you'll need:

2-4 boneless chicken breast

1 packet of zesty italian dressing mix

1 8oz package of cream cheese

1 can of cream of chicken

3/4 cup of juice (use a light colored juice, I use white grape or white peach grape juice)

Put the chicken at the bottom of the crock pot.  In a bowl mix together the cream cheese (make sure it's softened), cream of chicken and juice.  Pour over chicken.  Sprinkle the dressing mix over the top.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.  Serve over rice or noodles and enjoy!

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

When I got married, my cousin, Julie put together a recipe book with recipes from her, my aunt, other cousins, and more.  I treasure this book!  It's filled with such great recipes.  This chicken and broccoli casserole is so good and easy that it's becoming a regular in our household.

What you'll need:

20 oz frozen broccoli

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup shredded cheese

2-3 chicken breast cooked and shredded

2 cans of cream of chicken

1 Tbs butter

1/2-1 cup bread crumbs

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp curry

Cook broccoli until barely tender, drain and line the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan.  Place the sliced chicken over it.  In a bowl, mix together the soup, mayo, cheese, lemon and curry.  Pour over chicken.  Top with butter and bread crumbs.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Serve over rice.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

I don't know if it's the nice spring weather or what, but I'm obsessing over salads lately!  This grilled chicken caesar salad pasta salad has so much goodness in it that it is a must try!  I found this recipe on www.sixsistersstuff.com and changed it up a little to fit my liking.  Take this salad to your Easter dinner this Sunday, and you'll be hit with the whole family!

What you'll need:

2 Chicken Breast Grilled and Sliced

1 Bunch of Chopped Roman Lettuce 

2 Cups of Cooked Penne Pasta- Chilled

1 Diced Cucumber

2 Cups of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes Sliced in Two

1/2-1 Cup of Parmesan Cheese

Croutons

Caesar Dressing (I love Newman's own Creamy Caesar, pictured below)

Mix everything together- just eye it and use what you want to your liking.  More or less of each ingredient, doesn't matter!  I put the salad in the refrigerator for a couple hours to chill all the ingredients and add the dressing just before serving.  Enjoy!

Salsa Chicken

Salsa Chicken is easily a family favorite at our house.  This recipe comes from my sister, Kim and I will be forever grateful that she introduced it to me.  I make it all the time and never get sick of it!  And the best part about it.. it only has 3 ingredients!!

What you'll need:

2-4 Chicken Breast

1 Can Cream of Chicken

1/2 Jar of Salsa (I suggest 24oz Jar of Pace medium picante)

Optional:

1 Can of Black Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

1 Can of Corn (Rinsed)

Cheese for topping

Place the chicken in the crockpot.  In a separate bowl, mix together the salsa and cream of chicken.  Pour over chicken and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4.  Serve over rice and enjoy!