Recipe Swap Thursday

Therese hosts Recipe Swap Thursday and I'm going to try to join in when I can, so no promises of every week, but I thought I'd do it here on my abandoned cooking blog!! Tomatoes and Cucumbers Now this is probably a no-brainer, but when I think of my favorite summer recipe, it's these veggies! I make them a few different ways, together, apart, it doesn't matter!

1. Cut up tomatoes and/or cucumbers and add Balsamic vinegar, oil and salt and pepper
2. Cut up tomatoes and/or cucumbers and only add salt and pepper, the juices flow once you add that salt, I prefer course sea salt.
3. Cut up tomatoes and/or cucumbers and add mayo and salt and pepper
4. Cut up tomatoes and/or cucumbers and add Ranch dressing and salt and pepper
5. Cut up Cucumbers or zucchini and dip in your favorite veggie dip, we like to take this one on picnics!

Cheesy Fiesta Pie

Another great meatless recipe from my friend Brenda. This was also brought to our family when I broke my leg last year and has become a favorite.

Cheesy Fiesta Pie

1 pkg hash brown potatoes

4 cups very hot water

2 Tbsp butter, melted

1 egg slightly beaten

Cover potatoes with hot water. Let stand 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly and mix with melted butter and egg. Press potato mixture on bottom and sides of a ungreased pie plate.

Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

2 cups shredded Colby-jack cheese

1 can diced green chilies

2 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

Sprinkle cheese on potato crust. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over cheese.

Bake 35 minutes at 375 degrees.

Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Top each slice with sour cream and shredded lettuce.

Cheese Tortellini Soup

Last year, when I broke my leg, my friend Brenda, who is a vegetarian, made my Friday meals. I was excited about that, as I knew she would come up with some great meatless ideas.

She did not disappoint.

Cheese Tortellini Soup

Saute: 1 chopped onion

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Then add to the crockpot along with these ingredients:

42 oz vegetable or beef broth

14 oz stewed tomatoes (I used diced tomatoes with green chilies--this made the soup very hot, which hubby loved!)

1/2 cup mild picante sauce

1 tsp Basil

1 green pepper, diced

Simmer for hours, then 15 minutes before eating add

7 oz dried tortellini

The picture is shown before the soup is done, but it becomes a very red, salsa-looking soup.

Easy Ice Cream Dessert

Cool Whip

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Toffee Bits

Layer the ice cream sandwiches in a 13x9 pan, spread cool whip on like frosting, then add toffee bits.

Repeat layers for a double layer dessert!

Freeze and enjoy!

Pilgim Hats!

My good friend, Sarah, told me about these cute little Pilgram hat treats!

We are all pilgrims on the journey to Christ!

Fudge striped cookies

Mini peanut butter cups

white frosting

place cookies stripe-side down, on the top of the peanut butter cup, dollop a little frosting, and put upside down on the chocolate of the cookie.

Fun and easy for kiddos!

Easy Snack Mix

Easy Snack Mix

1 box of Golden Grahams

3 packages of yogurt covered raisons

(my kiddos like to pick out the raisons, so I put lots in!)

Layered Tortellini and Pesto Chicken Salad

This recipe is actually from my friend Brenda, who brought it to me when I broke my leg, it lasted all week for lunches and is such a beautiful salad to bring to potluck things!

 Layer in order given:
 5 cups torn romaine lettuce
 1 1/2 cups julienne carrots
 2 cups cooked/grilled chicken
1 cup thawed frozen peas
 1 pkg tortellini, cooked
 1 red bell pepper, chopped

 Dressing: 1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise 1/2 cup basil pesto 1/4 cup buttermilk For Sweetie Pie's Baptism, I did make a little extra, more peppers and peas and doubled the dressing to make sure there was enough.