BBQ Ribs

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 3 lbs. baby back ribs
• 1/2 cup Shirley J BBQ sauce mix, plus extra to season ribs
• 1 1/3 cup root beer (just a little less than a can I used the MUG brand)

1. Season ribs with Shirley J BBQ seasoning. You want a good even coating. Place ribs in fridge for 2 hours.
2. In a broiler pan, place the water and soy sauce in the bottom of the pan. Place the insert of the boiler pan on the pan. Your gonna create a nice steam bath for this ribs.
3. Place ribs on the pan. Completely cover the ribs in the pan with aluminum foil. You want it nice and sealed to keep that steam in there. Cook in a 200 degree preheated oven for 4-6 hours. low and slow is the trick here folks.
4. Meanwhile in a saucepan, combine the root beer and 1/2 cup Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix together and simmer for five minutes. Set aside until ribs finish in oven.
5. Remove ribs from pan and brush all over with about 2/3 cup of the bbq sauce.
6. Place the ribs on a preheated grill. We keep the temp in between high and sear. You want to get the sauce to coat the ribs and get a little charred. Cook for just a few minutes on each side. Serve with remaining sauce. Enjoy. Serves 4.

From: http://realmomkitchen.com/2133/shirley-j-bbq-ribs/

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes
• 3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste
• 1 pound Fettuccine
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
• 1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
• ½ whole Large Red Onion, Sliced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
• 2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• ½ cups White Wine
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• Cayenne Pepper To Taste
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• Salt To Taste
• Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.

Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

From the Pioneer Woman Cooks: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/cajun-chicken-pasta/

Breakfast Cookies

6 tbsp. unsalted butter
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. whole-wheat flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. regular oats
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c. chopped pitted dates
1/4 c. chopped almonds
1/4 c. sweetened coconut
1/4 c. dried cherries

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray two baking sheets with cooking spray, or cover sheets with silicone baking mats.

2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.

3. Remove the saucepan from heat, and add the brown sugar, stirring until smooth.

4. Combine the dry ingredients - flours, baking soda, oats, salt - in a separate bowl.

5. Add the butter-sugar mixture to the dry ingredients.

6. Whisk the egg gently in a small bowl, and add to the mixture, along with the vanilla. Add the dates, almonds, coconut, and cherries, and mix well.

7. Spoon the mixture by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared pans. Bake for 12 minutes or until tops are lightly golden and dry to the touch. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool slightly. Attempt to eat just one at a time.

B B Banana Bread

1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp dry milk powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. brown sugar (optional)
1 1/2 tbsp ground flax seed
1 egg
1/2 c. organic 1% milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/4 c. low fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 ripe bananas
1 c. chopped almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch pan with cooking spray.

2. Mix the dry ingredients (flours, baking soda, dry milk powder, salt, brown sugar, and ground flax seed) together in a medium bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg. To the egg, add the milk, melted butter, yogurt, and vanilla. Whisk until combined and mash in the bananas.

4. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry until just incorporated. Do not overmix.

5. Transfer batter into the prepared pan. Top with the chopped almonds, and bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. neufchatel (cream) cheese
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. confectioners sugar

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Beat on high with an electric mixer until creamy. Spread on top of cupcakes, banana bread, etc.

Carrot Cake Dream Bars

1 c. finely shredded carrot
1 egg whisked
1 tbsp orange juice
1/2 c. golden raisins
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 c. part skim ricotta cheese
2 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. old fashioned oats
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Combine the first 7 ingredients (carrot through ricotta cheese) in a large bowl.

3. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and the brown sugar. Add to the carrot mixture. Set aside.

4. In a separate medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oats through walnuts). Stir the carrot mixture into the dry mixture until fully combined. Do not overmix.

5. Spray and 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into the pan, and bake for 30 to 33 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. (Good if topped with cream cheese frosting).

Chunky Monkey Muffins

1 1/4 c. whole-wheat flour
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. ground flax seed
1 tbsp. 1 tsp. dark cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. semisweet chocolate chips
6 oz. low-fat vanilla yogurt
2 medium overripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 c. milk
1/3 c. natural smooth peanut butter (optional)
1 tbsp wheat germ

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Coat liners with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Measure out the flours, leveling with a knife, into a large mixing bowl along with the brown sugar, flax seed, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, baking soda salt, and chocolate chips. Whisk together until combined.

3. Combine the yogurt, bananas, egg, vanilla extract, oil, and milk in a separate bowl until thoroughly mixed (it's OK if there are chunks of banana)

4. Fold the banana mixture into the dry mixture just until combined. If using peanut butter, fill the prepared muffin cups 1/2 full with batter and then spoon 1 tsp peanut butter on top. Fill the cups with more batter until 3/4 full (if not using peanut butter simply fill the cups 3/4 full with batter). Sprinkle tops with wheat germ and put in the oven for 20 minutes or until the tops of the muffins look dry and spring back when touched in the center. Allow to cool on the stovetop.

Oreo Icecream Sandwich Cake

1/2 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

8 OREO Cookies, chopped (about 1 cup)

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches

POUR fudge topping into medium bowl. Whisk in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. Stir in chopped cookies.

ARRANGE 4 ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long piece of foil; top with half the COOL WHIP mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining sandwiches. Frost top and sides with remaining COOL WHIP. Bring up foil sides; double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.

FREEZE 4 hours or until firm.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon paprika
* 2 teaspoons onion powder
* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1 teaspoon chili powder
* 5 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)

Combine the first five ingredients; rub over chicken. Coat grill rack with cooking spray for grills or brush with olive oil before starting the grill. Grill chicken, covered, for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 170°. Yield: 5 servings.

From: http://realmomkitchen.com/2065/sweet-and-spicy-grilled-chicken/