3 Boys And A Dog » Recipes

GIVEAWAY: Scharffen Berger… Long Name, Great Chocolate

Momof3boys — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:56:04 +0000

LOL! I couldn’t think of a good title for this post, I just kept thinking, “Man! They have a long name.” So, there ya’ go.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate is a more expensive line, but it is really yummy! I was sent some cocoa powder and baking bars to use in whichever recipe I chose. I went with:

DELUXE DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces SCHARFFEN BERGER 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons SCHARFFEN BERGER Natural Cocoa Powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

2 large eggs

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup whole milk

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Melt the Scharffen Berger chocolate in the top of a double boiler or in a stainless steel bowl set over simmering water. Be sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. When the chocolate is melted, remove from the heat.

Stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Set aside. Using a standard mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy. Slowly add the sugar and mix until the mixture is completely smooth and soft. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the salt and the vanilla, and then add the melted chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated. Add the milk and beat until combined. Finally, add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated.

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake the cookies until they are just barely firm on top when lightly touched but are still very soft underneath, about 7 minutes. They will get firmer as they cool. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool. They will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

OMG! YUM! I really don’t know what else to say, it is darn good. My husband and I went to the Dominican Republic years ago and watched the whole cocoa making process then tried some. You just can’t beat fresh and handmade…. Scharffen Berger comes pretty darn close!

Two lucky winners will each receive 1 baking bar and 1 cocoa powder! (20 dollar value each)

REQUIRED: Visit the Scharffen Berger website, look around, then come back and leave me a comment telling me something you learned or want to try.

BONUS #1: Like Scharffen Berger on FaceBook

BONUS #2: Follow Scharffen Berger on Twitter then tweet about this contest. The easiest way is to click the RT button at the top of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, twitter, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Follow me on Twitter

#5. Fan Me on FaceBook

#6. Put my button on your blog.

#7. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

CONTEST ENDS: JULY 23rd at Midnight CST

OPEN TO: USA and CANADA

RECIPE: Baked Ham and Ziti Casserole

Momof3boys — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:05:25 +0000

Recipe Courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

OMG! It is 9:40 at night and I just realized that I didn’t have a post go on. I have been so busy trying to get my Back 2 School Bash set up that I totally spaced on actually blogging. Gotta get organized, I guess!

Baked Ham and Ziti Casserole – Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

Comfort food at its best; also a great make-ahead meal – Serves 4 at $2.04 per serving

Ingredients:

8 oz. Barilla PLUS® Penne
12 oz. fresh Broccoli Florets
8 oz. Wellsley Farms® Ham Steak, 1″ dice
White Sauce – see Pasta Primavera Recipe
¾ cup Sargento® Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp. McCormick® Whole Peppercorns (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Add pasta to large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water. Cook 4 minutes.
2. Add broccoli florets to pot with pasta. Cook until vegetables are tender and pasta is al dente, about 6 minutes.
3. Drain immediately and transfer to large serving bowl. Add ham and toss to mix.
4. Prepare white sauce. While still hot, add shredded cheese and stir until melted.
5. Stir in peppercorns (optional) then immediately pour sauce over pasta-vegetable mixture. Toss lightly to mix and bake 30 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve immediately

BJ’s is currently offering a Free 60-Day Trial Membership which can be activated between now and July 5. The risk-free, trial membership includes full member benefits including savings and no surcharge. A basic 12-month membership is $45. Here is the link where you can find and print the pass to take to any BJ’s club.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has over 180 locations in 15 states. Click here for a detailed listing of locations by state.

*DISCLAIMER: BJs supplied the photos and recipes for my In The Kitchen With Kelli Series. I was not sent any product or money for posting these.*

RECIPE: Weight Watchers Mexican Chicken Chili

Momof3boys — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:34:52 +0000

This is one big pot chili! It freezes well, though so make it up and freeze half for later. Instant meal in a week or two. I LOVE meals like that. ~Kelli

Mexican Chicken Chili

Serves 10 - Prep 30 minutes - Cook 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:

6 bone-in skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 onions, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes in puree
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer or 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1. Combine the chicken and enough water to cover in a large, heavy pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through, about 12 minutes. Drain the chicken, reserving the cooking liquid. Cool the chicken, remove and discard the bones, and coarsely shred the meat.

2. Meanwhile, place the same pot over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, cocoa powder, oregano, and coriander and cook until the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, beer, salt, and 3 1/2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Bring to a simmer; reduce the heat to medium low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour.

3. Add the beans. Simmer, uncovered, until the chili thickens, about 30 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and simmer until heated through.

Per serving (1 1/2 cups): 239 Cal, 6 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 44 mg Chol, 488 mg Sod, 26 g Carb, 8 g Fib, 22 g Prot, 103 mg Calc.

DISCLAIMER: Reprinted from the book Weight Watchers Eat! Move! Play! With permission from John Wiley & Sons Inc.

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Menu Plan Monday: StarKist Review and Giveaway

Momof3boys — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:21:47 +0000

There is a ton going on in this post, so be sure to read it all the way through.

Where am I? I hope everyone had a happy Father’s Day! We spent the first part of the day being super lazy and the second part of the day running from place to place as fast as we could because we decided to go on a mini-vacation! I just came up from the awesome pool at The Grand in Point Clear, AL and am trying to get the post done so I can get some rest before getting up bright and early to go find internet access to actually POST it. Yeah, no wireless in these rooms! Uggh… (UPDATE: Never found wireless.. am home now)

Get Healthy With Tuna! Eating more StarKist Tuna might just be the trick to making you a healthier, happier person. It’s a natural source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids that supports heart-health, promotes brain and eye health and may have a role in reducing symptoms of depression. Check out www.starkist.com for tasty tips on how to incorporate tuna into your everyday life in delicious and healthy recipes. Go ahead — eat StarKist tuna and get ‘kist for good health!

Pucker Up For a Chance To Win CASH from StarKist Tuna! Check out Charlie on Facebook and submit your best fish-kiss photo for a chance to win a cash prize! To enter, click on the “Sweepstakes” tab on the StarKist Facebook page and follow the prompts to upload your fish-kiss pic! When you upload your fish-kiss pic to StarKist’s Facebook fan page from June 3rd through June 30th, StarKist will make a donation to Share Our Strength, a national organization dedicated to ending hunger in America!

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Click here to read the StarKist Best Fish-Kiss Sweepstakes Official Rules before entering: http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/38810/rules

My Menu Plan – since I am not home, I have no idea what we will be eating. LOL!

Monday: Something quick on the way home from Point Clear

Tuesday: We have leftover soup from this weekend

Wednesday: Crockpot Roast and potatoes sounds really good to me.

Thursday: I am thinking “more leftovers”

Friday: Lemon Pepper Tuna and Bean Salad – Start to Finish 10 minutes Makes 6 servings

1 can (15-ounce) no-salt-added organic navy beans, rinsed and drained
3 pouches (4.5 ounces each) Zesty Lemon Pepper Tuna, StarKist Tuna Creations
1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber
1⁄2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1⁄4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 jalapeño chili pepper,* chopped
Salt
9 cups packaged spring salad mix

1. In a large bowl, toss together beans, tuna, corn, cucumber, yogurt, parsley and chili pepper. Season with salt.

2. Divide salad mix among 6 chilled plates. Divide tuna mixture among the plates.

*NOTE: Because chili peppers contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chili peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.

GIVEAWAY: One reader will win 10 pouches of StarKist tuna in a variety of flavors! How do you like that?

REQUIRED: Tell me your favorite Tuna Recipe – be sure to include the actual recipe in the comment or a link to the recipe!

BONUS (3 entries): Enter the Fish-Kiss contest! Upload your fish-kiss pic to StarKist’s Facebook fan page

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, twitter, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Follow me on Twitter and share this contest by pressing the green “Tweet” button at the top of this post.

#5. Fan Me on FaceBook

#6. Put my button on your blog.

#7. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

CONTEST ENDS: June 28th at Midnight CST

OPEN to USA and CANADA!

RECIPE: Toasted Ravioli

Momof3boys — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Toasted Ravioli – Recipe Courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

Save time and money with BJ’s Wholesale Club! They have a new set of recipes designed to feed a family of four for less than 12 dollars!

Toasted Ravioli Recipe: Great for game night, Serves 4 at $2.64 per serving.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. Joseph’s Spinach and Mozzarella Ravioli
½ cup Milk
1 cup Progresso® Italian Bread Crumbs
2 cups Wesson® Vegetable Oil
¼ cup Locatelli® Grated Romano Cheese
2 cups Rozzano® Fresh Bruschetta, for dipping

Directions:

1. Heat oil in cast-iron or other heavy skillet until thermometer reads 375º.
2. Pour milk and bread crumbs into individual shallow dishes.
3. Dip ravioli in milk, shaking off excess, and then immediately into bread crumbs.
4. Carefully add ravioli to hot oil a few at a time. Don’t crowd pan. Cook ravioli until golden-brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, turning halfway so that they cook evenly.
5. Carefully remove first batch of ravioli from pan with slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels while second batch cooks.
6. Sprinkle with grated cheese and serve with warm bruschetta.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has over 180 locations in 15 states. Click here for a detailed listing of locations by state.

*DISCLAIMER: BJs supplied the photos and recipes for my In The Kitchen With Kelli Series. I was not sent any product or money for posting these.*

RECIPE: Pasta Primavera with a Basic White Sauce

Momof3boys — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:47:34 +0000

Recipe Courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

Pasta Primavera– Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

A classic dish loaded with healthy veggies. Serves 4 at $2.44 per serving

Ingredients:

8 oz. Barilla® Linguine
1 small Summer Squash, thinly sliced
10 oz. Asparagus Spears, 2″ pieces
8 oz. Green Giant® Baby Carrots, quartered lengthwise
1 cup Berkley & Jensen® Grade A Fancy Peas, defrosted
1 recipe White Sauce (below)
¾ cup Sargento® Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Grape Tomatoes (Optional)

Directions:

1. Add pasta to large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water. Cook 4 minutes.
2. Add all vegetables except peas to pot with pasta. Cook until vegetables are tender and pasta is al dente.
3. Drain immediately and transfer to large serving bowl. Add peas and toss to mix.
4. Prepare white sauce according to recipe. While still hot, add ½ cup shredded cheese and stir until melted.
5. Pour cheese sauce over pasta-vegetable mixture and lightly toss to mix.
6. Serve immediately garnished with remaining ¼ cup shredded cheese and Grape Tomato halves (optional).

BASIC WHITE SAUCE for pasta primavera Makes 2 cups.

Your microwave’s cooking times may vary. Please watch carefully.

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp. Land O’Lakes® Sweet Butter
4 Tbsp. Gold Medal® All-Purpose Flour
2 cups Milk
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Melt butter on high in 1-qt., microwave-safe bowl, about 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Stir in flour, using spoon to break up lumps, until smoothly blended.
3. Add milk, salt and pepper and stir until completely blended.
4. Microwave on high, pausing to stir every 30 seconds or so, until sauce is thick and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Variation: Add 2 cups of shredded Cracker Barrel® Sharp Cheddar Cheese and toss with cooked elbow macaroni for mac and cheese.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has over 180 locations in 15 states. Click here for a detailed listing of locations by state.

*DISCLAIMER: BJs supplied the pasta primavera photos and recipe for my In The Kitchen With Kelli Series. I was not sent any product or money for posting these.*

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RECIPE: Angel Hair Frittata

Momof3boys — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Recipe Courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

Times are changing! The economy is getting worse and people are reverting back to meals of the 50’s. We are eating out less and cooking in more. Doing that, it is easy to run into a boring recipe routine. BJ’s Wholesale has developed 7 recipes that serve four people for less than 12 dollars. Yes, frugality and family are “in” right now and BJ’s Wholesale is here to help us feed our families on less. Each recipe costs $2.75 or less per serving! These meals cost less to prepare when you purchase the ingredients at BJ’s rather than a grocery store. Shoppers can save more than 30% off supermarket prices at BJ’s, which is also the only wholesale club to accept manufacturer’s coupons in addition to its own, helping to trim your grocery bill.

Angel Hair Frittata – Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

A solid brunch item – or for brinner (breakfast for dinner). Serves 4 at $1.72 per serving

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp. Rozzano® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 small Zucchini, sliced
1 Tomato, seeded and chopped
1 Green Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic, finely minced
2 Tbsp. Black Pearls® Sliced
Black Olives
½ tsp. McCormick® Basil
Leaves, crumbled
4 Eggland’s Best Eggs
Salt and Black Pepper
½ cup Locatelli® Grated Romano Cheese
6 oz. Barilla® Angel Hair, cooked al dente

Directions:

1. Heat 2 Tbsp. of oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté fresh vegetables and garlic until tender, about 3 minutes.
2. Stir in olives and dried herbs. Set aside to cool.
3. Preheat broiler. Beat eggs and cheese in large bowl. Stir in vegetables and pasta and season with salt and pepper.
4. Heat remaining oil in large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Pour egg mixture into pan and spread with spatula until veggies and pasta are evenly distributed.
5. Cook until eggs are set and golden-brown on bottom.
6. Immediately place skillet under broiler. Cook until top is set and golden-brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully remove pan from oven.
7. Loosen edges with butter spreader. Carefully invert pan over large plate and slide frittata out.
8. Cut into 4 wedges and serve immediately.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has over 180 locations in 15 states. Click here for a detailed listing of locations by state.

*DISCLAIMER: BJs supplied the photos and recipes for my In The Kitchen With Kelli Series. I was not sent any product or money for posting these.*

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RECIPE: Tortellini salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

Momof3boys — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Tortellini salad Recipe Courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

In an effort to save money, families are spending more time at home and whipping up favorite family meals. Doing that, it’s all too easy to fall into a recipe rut. BJ’s Wholesale Club has developed seven recipes that serve four people for less than $12. In fact, each recipe costs $2.75 or less per serving! These meals cost less to prepare when you purchase the ingredients at BJ’s rather than a grocery store. Shoppers can save more than 30% off supermarket prices at BJ’s, which is also the only wholesale club to accept manufacturer’s coupons in addition to its own, helping to trim your grocery bill. BJ’s offers products in an array of sizes, so smaller families can easily shop there without buying in bulk.

Tortellini salad – Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

With grilling season approaching, this salad is a light alternative to heavy, mayo-laden pasta side dishes. Serves 4 at $1.47 per serving

Ingredients:

Dijon Vinaigrette (recipe below) or similar bottled dressing
1 lb. frozen Mama’s Home Style 5-Cheese Tortellini
2½ cups Fresh Broccoli, chopped
3 medium Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 Green Onion, chopped

Directions:

1. Cook pasta until almost al dente, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add broccoli to pot with pasta and cook just until pasta is al dente, about 1 minute more. Drain immediately.
2. Rinse pasta and broccoli in very cold water until completely cooled. Drain thoroughly.
3. Combine pasta and broccoli with rest of vegetables in large bowl.
4. Prepare vinaigrette according to recipe. Add to pasta and vegetables, reserving 1/ 3 cup. Toss to coat.
5. Chill overnight.
6. Bring to room temperature before serving and drizzle with reserved vinaigrette.

DIJON VINAIGRETTE (for tortellini salad recipe)

Ingredients:

3/ 8 cup Wesson® Canola Oil
3/ 8 cup Rozzano® Balsamic Vinegar
½ cup Grey Poupon® Dijon Mustard
¼ cup Land O’Lakes® Half and Half
1 tsp. McCormick® Dried Italian Seasoning
1 clove Garlic, minced

Directions:

Pulse in blender or whisk until thoroughly combined

BJ’s Wholesale Club has over 180 locations in 15 states. Click here for a detailed listing of locations by state.

*DISCLAIMER: BJs supplied the photos and recipes for my In The Kitchen With Kelli Series. I was not sent any product or money for posting these.*

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Recipe: Loaded Chicken Breasts

Momof3boys — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:20:39 +0000

I made this last night and it was to die for! You know when you just don’t want anything on your menu plan and you have waited to long to defrost anything? Well, that happened to me last night! So, I just made something up and it turned out wonderful!

Ingredients:

4 – Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
Shredded Mild Cheddar
Bacon Pieces
Teriyaki Marinade
Salt
Pepper
Red Pepper & Garlic Herb Seasoning

Directions:

Spray Pan with Pam and heat on medium heat
Take Chicken breast halves straight from bag in freezer and rinse the ice crystals off under tap water. Then, lie flat side down in heated pan.
Sprinkle top of chicken breasts with seasoning, then coat with Teriyaki.
Cook on one side for 14 minutes then, flip and cook for about 14 more minutes.
Cover chicken with bacon pieces and top with shredded cheddar. Turn off heat and cover pan. Allow to sit about 10 minutes.

We all LOVED this! In fact, it has been added to our “Meals We Like” spreadsheet. I served it with Spanish Rice and Steamed Veggies. The four chicken breast halves served my family of five with enough left over for my lunch today.

RECIPE: Oatmeal Cherry Cookies

Momof3boys — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:30:17 +0000

Please welcome Carly to 3 Boys and a Dog as she shares a yummy sounding cookie recipe. I have not made it yet, but man it sounds GREAT! ~Kelli

As someone with a serious baking addiction, I know how dangerous it can be to whip up desserts all day long and have to stare at them until other people come along. Often, portions of the dessert end up mysteriously disappearing throughout the day until the evening, when the homecoming troop complains about the picked-over offerings.

That’s why I like cookies—they’re easy to make, and they can be shut away and put out of sight so that I can focus on other things and go retrieve one when I really want a special treat. These cookies are a quick, delicious dessert that’s made with whole grains, but you’d never know it. The oats add texture to the finished treats, which are surprisingly light, and the wheat flour is virtually undetectable. The cookies are modified from a recipe available at Cooking Light," where they won first place in the magazine’s “Desserts” contest category.

INGREDIENTS

3 T. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. white whole-wheat flour or whole-wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 c. rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
6 T. unsalted butter (3/4 stick)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. dried cherries
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 oz. very dark chocolate, chopped
3/4 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. turbinado sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, mix the flours with the oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir briefly with a whisk.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. When it’s melted, take it off the heat and stir in the brown sugar. Add the sugar and butter to the oat mixture, and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until well combined.

Stir in the egg and vanilla, and then fold in the dried cherries, dried cranberries, and the chocolate pieces. Chill the dough in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the dough from the freezer, scatter a work surface with a light coating of flour, and coat your hands with flour. Break the dough into two pieces, and roll each piece into a log between 10 to 12 inches long.

Dip a sharp knife into water, and cut each log into 15 slices. Roll each slice into a small ball, and place the balls on two parchment-paper-lined baking sheets.

Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, and cool them until they are firm enough to move onto racks.

When the cookies are cool, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler over low heat. Dip a corner of each cookie into the melted chocolate chips, and return the cookie to its baking sheet of parchment paper to cool and solidify. If the warm chocolate begins to harden in the saucepan, return it to heat for a few moments. After you have dipped all the cookies in the melted chocolate, sprinkle the turbinado sugar over the chocolate portions.

Refrigerate the cookies for 20 minutes or until they are firm.

This post was contributed by Carly Schuna, who writes about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.com.