Pioneer Woman's Broccoli-Cheese Soup

Mmmmm..... delicious!  This soup was so easy and tasted so good.  I served mine in a bread bowl toasted and it was so yummy!  This is fast enough to make on a weeknight and makes enough to eat for a few days.  The only issue is deciding what texture I like my broccoli-cheese soup.  Next time I think I'd blend it for longer than I did this time.

HERE is the recipe.  Perfect for a cold winter's night!

Aloha Cake

We had a luau over the weekend and I made Aloha Cake.  It was a piece of cake to make ;) and it turned out delicious. I love cold cake and this one is kept in the fridge.  It's very tropical tasting and I will definitely make this in the summertime.  I had a piece the second day and I think it was better than it tasted on the first.  I love when that happens!  You should definitely make this as a little escape to paradise.

Pioneer Woman's Key Lime Pie

Pie, pie, me oh my, I love pie.  At least key lime pie.  This was SO delicious! I used the key limes (or Persian limes, I don't really know) from my Bountiful Basket this week.  Of course Pioneer Woman doesn't disappoint.  This is soooo limey (which I adore), and so good with whipped cream.  It was totally worth all that man power of squeezing limes for 15 minutes.

I can't wait to have another piece.

MAKE IT!

penne with spinach, garbanzos and feta

I made this recipe from Cooking Light last night.  It was SO quick to throw together - and for someone like me who is starving by 5 PM, fast recipes are perfect.  I made my pasta with wheat penne instead of cavatappi.  It was pretty good - not amazing, but good, and worth making again for an easy work night meal.

Pioneer Woman's Baked Lemon Pasta

I made Pioneer Woman's Baked Lemon Pasta for dinner.  Instead of parsley I used basil.  Instead of white spaghetti I used whole wheat.  It was extremely easy to make, quick to throw together and DEEEE-LISH!  I will use this recipe again and again.  I want to try it cold next time -- in the summer.

I served it with hard crusted garlic bread.  YUM!!!

Chocolate Raspberry Ganache Cake

Of all the many things I've baked and cooked, this surpasses all.  

This is THE.BEST.THING.I'VE.EVER.MADE.

I made it for my husband's birthday & he said he wants it every year for his birthday for the rest of our lives.

Not only did it taste amazing but it looked pretty good too, I think.  I almost cried at how it turned out.

I'm in love.

The brilliant person who thought this one up is my hero.  HERE is her original recipe.  I almost don't want to share it in hopes that I'm the only one who will ever make it and get credit for doing so.

Red Velvet Cake Pops with Vanilla Candy Coating

I used my new Babycakes Cake Pop Maker to make from-scratch red velvet cake pops with vanilla candy coating for Valentine's Day.  This was my first try with the cake pop maker and I think it went splendidly well for how awful I am decorating treats.  They turned out delicious & adorable.

Curried Couscous with Broccoli and Feta

I made this Curried Couscous the other night and my husband loved it!  I don't love raisins, so that was my only real complaint.  That and the fact that I was hungry like an hour after dinner.  Next time I would serve this alongside baked chicken or something.  It was really flavorful though, and SO fast.  I loved how fast it was to make.  I'd recommend it if you like curry flavored dishes.  It's also pretty healthy!

Chipotle's "Skinny" Cilantro-Lime Rice

I served another Skinny Taste recipe with the Slow Cooked Sweet Barbacoa Pork - Cilantro-Lime Rice.  I looooovvveeee Chipotle's rice and this really does taste just like it.  I loved it!  And it was easy to make and went well with the pork.  


Chipotle's "Skinny" Cilantro Lime Rice
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes  
Servings: 4 • Size: 3/4 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 201.0 • Fat: 3.4 • Carbs: 37.4 • Fiber: 0 • Protein: 4.0 g 

• 1 cup extra long grain rice or basmati rice
• 1/2 lime, juice of
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
• 3 tsp vegetable oil

In a small heavy pot, add rice, water, 1 tsp oil and salt. Boil on high until most of the water evaporates. When the water just skims the top of the rice, reduce to low andcover about 15 minutes. Shut off flame and keep covered an additional 5 minute.

In a medium bowl, combine chopped cilantro, lime juice, rice and remaining oil and toss until completely mixed.

Slow Cooker Sweet Barbacoa Pork

I've been using a lot of recipes from Skinny Taste lately and I love them!  I loved her take on healthier barbacoa pork.  I made it yesterday and I'm hooked!  I'll definitely make this again.


Slow Cooked Sweet Barbacoa Pork
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: about 10 • Serving Size: 3 oz • Old Points: 4.5 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 202.5 • Fat: 6.3 g • Protein: 26.2 g • Carb: 11.5 g • Fiber: 0.6 g 
Adapted from Favorite Family Recipes

Ingredients:

For the Marinade:

• 2.5 lbs pork loin roast, all fat trimmed
• salt and pepper
• garlic powder
• 6 oz Coke zero
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (unpacked)
• 1/4 cup water

Step 2

• 8 oz Coke zero
• 6 oz can sliced green chilies
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp chipotle chili powder (to taste)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (unpacked)

Directions:

Season pork with salt, pepper and garlic powder and place in the crock pot. Add 6 oz of coke and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Marinate refrigerated for a few hours or overnight turning meat at least once while marinating.

Remove crock from refrigerator, add water, and cook on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily). Remove pork from crock pot and discard any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork with two forks.

Step two: In the crock pot, combine 8 oz coke, green chilies, tomato sauce, chipotle chile, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle chili powder and remaining brown sugar.

Put shredded pork back in the crock pot and combine with sauce. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, cover and cook on high 1-1/2 hours more.


Instead of using garlic powder I used fresh minced garlic.  I served mine with black beans, Chipotle's cilantro-lime rice, avocado and a little bit of cheese on top.  


Recommended!  

Rosemary Skillet Steak

I made this for dinner last night.  The seasoning was so good!  We loved it.

2 ribeye steaks
Salt
Pepper
Rosemary
Olive oil

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Cover the steak with salt, pepper and as much rosemary as you'd like (I used about a teaspoon per steak).  Lay the steak in the oil and let cook for 5 minutes (do not touch it).  Turn the steak and let it cook for 7 minutes (do not touch it).  Voila!  Super yummy.

Green Bean Potato Salad

I made this Green Bean Potato Salad last night and served it with steak.  It's pretty healthy and tastes really good.

Green Bean Potato Salad (adapted from this recipe)
1 lb. green beans
8 small red potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt
Pepper

Boil potatoes.  Boil green beans.  Mix together with the last four ingredients.

Simple & delicious!

Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake is to die for!  It was easy to make but takes some time.  I recommend only baking it for 45 minutes rather than 50 -- maybe even 40.  It was pretty crispy on the outside edges.  But some people said they liked it that way.  I can't wait to make this again in the summertime!  It was a hit.  SO delish.  Find out how to make it here.

Pioneer Woman's Hot Artichoke Dip

For the Super Bowl I made PW's Hot Artichoke Dip.  It was extremely easy to make & was so delicious!  I served it with little pieces of baguettes and crackers.  Everyone loved it!

Here is her recipe.

You should make this.  I will definitely make it again for a party or shower.

Chicken, Rice and Asparagus

This isn't really a recipe.  I made it the other night because I had chicken and asparagus and bought a box of Rice A Roni's rice pilaf to go with it.  It was fast, easy and healthy.  I'm trying really hard to make healthy dinners.  I used lemon pepper seasoning on the asparagus with olive oil and baked it in the oven for about 15 minutes, and used the same seasoning on the chicken (which I also baked).  Pretty delicious and nutritious!

Feta and Couscous Stuffed Peppers

This is my new favorite healthy recipe! It tastes sooo delicious. I added some mushrooms to the veggie mix and used caraway seeds instead of fennel. This makes a ton -- way more than the recipe says. We will be eating it for a couple of days - and that's a good thing.  The only downside is it's not super duper filling... you'll probably need a snack after. 

Here is the recipe.

This one is a keeper!