Sift Flour no more!

Tip O' The Day:

(don't get your hopes up, I'm not sure I can do this on a daily basis, but it sounded good!) ; )

I was on this fabulous website the other day (who doesn't love that place!?!) and found one of the comments to have some amazing advice.  I love to bake, and part of the recipe has always said to "sift the flour" before you measure.  Seriously???  I have not sifted flour since ye ole days when I was a young thing playing with the flour  . . . and making serious messes . . . . but I digress.

One of the comments suggested using a regular whisk, stir the flour (whilst still in the flour tupperware--or whatever you keep yours in), which has the same effect as sifting, only lots less messy and much more time efficient.

YAAY!!!

New Foodie Site!

I just found the MOST FUN site--it is my new fave because not only does it have amazingly tempting recipes (I want to try them ALL!), but it has a recipe for the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette at Cafe Rio!

Seriously, JACKPOT!

We go through this stuff like water . . . I did ask a worker at the famed restaurant if he could sell me the recipe without being shot, and he was a little more than hesitant.  He said they use three different recipes to make this one, so it wasn't really give-out-able.  I think he was just worried about being shot.

Anyway, go check it out!

New Favorite Dinner!

These turned out SOOOOO good!  Rave reviews from eldest son and husband, and trainer too.  (yes, I try to bribe them but it hasn't worked out very well thus far.)  They are even good the next day when they're are not so crispy, although I'm sure if you warmed them in the oven they'd be crispier than microwave-warming . . . . just sayin'.  Anyway, this is a recipe from one of my favorite websites.  I had a couple necessary changes, so those are in blue.  Seriously yummy. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken Flautas

1/2 c sour cream

1/2 c Lawry's Mexican Chile & Lime Marinade with Lime Juice, divided (I couldn't find this, so I used one of those powder mix envelopes that sounded similar--it was for a Baja Lime marinade for fish or chicken.  I mixed it up like the package directed, then used it for the sauce inside the flauta, some with the chicken, and some with more sour cream for dipping)

1 lb chicken, cooked and shredded

flour tortillas

1/2 t cumin

salt and pepper

1 c cheddar jack cheese, grated

1.  Mix sour cream and 2 T of the marinade in a small bowl.  Mix chicken and the remainder of the marinade in another bowl.  Set aside.

2.  Microwave tortillas until softened (usually only 10-20 seconds.  I actually didn't do this as I used them right out of the bag and they were fine.) : )

3.  Spoon about 2 T sour cream mix on tortilla, spreading across center.  Top with chicken, then about 2 T cheese.  Roll up tightly and place seam-side down on a baking sheet. (I used about 12 of the smaller-size tortillas and filled a cookie sheet.)

4.  Spray with cooking oil so they get crispy and bake at 425 for about 15 minutes or until they are crispy and brown.  Serve with more of the sour cream sauce and/or guac and salsa.  Yum!

: )

Yummy-licious Post-Workout Smoothie

Today I ran.  And ran.  And then was made to do nasty ab exercises on top of it all.

Again.

It really is my fault, I keep going back.  As one of my trainers was leaving today, he said, "Don't you just love Sean?" (my other trainer) "Of course!" I replied "He's your best . . . torture device."

OK, so that last part was probably not-so-under-my-breath, but needless to say, they get results, and that's why I go, right?  And they're really great guys, funny, and fun to talk to, which helps ; )

So today, craving some fruity goodness and not having any cash (or time to drive to the smoothie-makers), I decided to make one, so here you go:

Peach-Mango Love

1 1/4 c Pina Colada Crystal Light from Uraguay (ok, I realize that not all of you have this precious commodity, so you can use apple juice instead.  Pineapple juice would be yummy too.)

1/2 c frozen mango chunks

1/2 c frozen peach chunks

1 coconut sorbet from Costco's box mix of frozen love

1 T protein powder

Yum.  Satisfying and totally delicious, and something I don't have to share.  (Mostly because no one else likes the pina colada thing, but hey, their loss!)

Now if it would just help me not be sore tomorrow . . .

; )

4:00 Cravings

are best answered with this:

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

1 c sugar
1 c corn syrup

mix in a pot, and bring to boil.

add 1 c peanut butter and remove from heat, stir until smooth.  Pour over

6 c rice krispies

spread in a 9x13 pan (I greased mine with pam, but am not sure if that was necessary--they were perfectly easy to get out, though!)

melt 1 c choc chips and 1 c butterscotch chips in microwave, stir until thoroughly combined and pour over top of rice krispies.  Cool, cut, and satisfy! ; )

Citrus Lemonade

1 container of frozen limeade
1 container of frozen lemonade
8 servings worth of strawberry lemonade mix (like Countrytime)
1 two liter container of Sprite
sliced fruit (as desired--lemons, limes, strawberries without tops)

Mix and serve!

White Cake with Strawberry Topping

1 white cake mix
1-8 oz cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1, 8 oz cool whip (I actually prefer to use the "real" stuff, so I get a pint of whipped cream and make it myself)
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 box Danish Dessert, strawberry flavor
4 cups sliced or chopped strawberries

Cake – Mix according to directions on the box. Pour batter into flat jellyroll pan and spread evenly. Bake at temp. indicated on box. Cake should be done after about 25 minutes. Check by inserting a toothpick in the middle. Let it cool.

White Topping – Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, cool whip, and lemon juice with electric mixer. Beat until well mixed and fluffy.

Strawberry Topping – Cook Danish Dessert according to “pie glaze” directions on back of box.

When you are ready to eat, spread white topping on top of cake and then put Strawberry topping on top of white topping.

from this fun site!