Noosa Yogurt....Oh my!

I was toodling through Whole Foods the other day.....and decided I'd grab a quick snack.  I love to grab a yogurt, get a utensil on the way out, and enjoy.

I spied a new option - Noosa Yoghurt.  In a couple interesting flavors....Blueberry (YUM!), Mango, Strawberry-Rhubarb, Peach, Raspberry and Honey.   I read the label and finally just decided to try it.  If you go to their website above and like their Facebook page, you can get a coupon for your purchase.

YOU HAVE TO GO TRY THIS YOGURT!!!  Oh MY goodness!!

From what I've read, this is Australian-style yogurt from Colorado.  I don't care where it's from.  I sent my oldest son back to Whole Foods to get more....got EngineerHubby his favorite peach...and also trying the Mango.  Raspberry is next up!

Please treat yourself...I've heard this is also available at Target, but I have not verified.

3 Ingredient Mango Chicken

Lookie over here!!  3 ingredient chicken dish!  How easy is that?

I saw this recipe over at Ask Anna - Mango Chicken.    I immediately thought my guys would love this.  But here is a funny, slightly amazing story:

We ended up going to the W*almart my husband does NOT prefer to go to, but it was late and the closest to us.  This particular store is always super busy and is not in the greatest area.  Not a good idea to go there at night, frankly.  (We live in the 8th highest crime area in the country....'nuff said.)

I'm looking all over for the "Pineapple Salsa" and cannot find it - not in the salsa section, not in the produce, not anywhere.  I stop and ask a guy who has come out with a rack of frozen items to stock the store and he stares at me confused.  Thinks I said "Pineapple Sauce".  

Long story short, no less than 6 (SIX) W*almart employee males decide they are GOING to find this salsa for me.  Did they want a distraction from their stocking job?  I have no idea.  But it was hysterical.  These men were on a mission.  We went everywhere - they were determined.  The frozen foods manager just KNEW he had seen this but couldn't find it either.  He got the produce manager out and he swore it was never in the produce section.  After 15 minutes, they told us to go ahead and finish shopping but they WOULD find it and find us.

So 15 minutes later, we are in the yarn section and Carl, the main guy on the hunt yells, "Here she is!!  I KNEW I'd find you!!" and he handed us the elusive Pineapple Salsa, telling me it was on the salsa aisle but ACROSS from the other salsa. Paul Newman makes it.  We needed to check to see if it had onions, but after all THAT much work, we couldn't not buy it.  lol  

I was super duper impressed.  Those guys didn't stop - amazing customer service.  As we checked out, I asked for a manager....always gets eyebrows from the checker.....and told the manager how impressed I was, how great they were, I named names.  She lit up....so NOT expecting such a compliment.  I'm sure they mostly get complaints.  lol  

Now guess what is our favorite W*almart?  Guess that taught the hubs a lesson, eh?  

So here I am making this dish (it DID have onions after all....poor hubs can't read that small print I guess....so only Holt will be enjoying this dish (onion allergies).  

Mango Chicken

2 chicken breasts

1 jar Pineapple Salsa

1 1/2 cups chopped mango, frozen (I didn't remember frozen and got fresh)

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.

Put chicken breasts in dish.

Cover with pineapple salsa.

Put mango on top.

Cover dish with foil.

Cook for 40 minutes or until chicken is done.

How easy is that (after you find the pineapple salsa which might take a while.....)?

 

Verdict:  Holt loved it, said it was a little spicy, and next time could I put more mango, less salsa.

Enjoy!

I may be joining THESE parties.

Heinz 57 Meatball Stroganoff

Saw a recipe at Beach Brights blog and tweaked it to suit our family.  It turned out amazing and my boys scarfed it down in one meal.  None for hubs nor I.  lol  Guess I will learn to double one of these days.

We have a serious onion allergy in our family and no one likes mushrooms, so this recipe version works great for us.

Heinz 57 Meatball Stroganoff

onion and mushroom-free

1 lb ground hamburger (I used ground turkey)

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten

salt

pepper

3 Tbl. Heinz 57 sauce (split)

2 Tbl. milk

2 Tbl. oil

2 Tbl. corn starch mixed with a little water

1 can beef broth (I used vegetable bouillon for broth to avoid onions)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 bag egg noodles

If you have a "normal" family, this should serve 4-6.  If you have grown boys, double the recipe!  

Combine the hamburger, bread crumbs, beaten egg, salt, pepper, 2 Tbs. Heinz 57 sauce and 2 TB. milk.   

I'm allergic to turkey and cannot touch it, so I used this masher.

 

Form into 24 meatballs. 

Hubby was a sweety and formed these for me.

Cook the meatballs in the oil until browned.  Remove the meatballs to drain on a paper towel. 

While these cooked, I fixed the vegetable broth.  Just under 2 cups of water, boiling and put in the boullion cube to dissolve.  Major onion allergies and almost all regular broth includes onions.

Just before meatballs are done cooking, start your noodles in boiling water.

Because I am not using any onion, you won’t have extra drippings.  Use the drippings that remain (around 2TB worth – if you have more, drain.)  Add the flour/corn starch mixture for thickening. 

Add the beef broth and add back in the meatballs.

Simmer for 10 minutes.  When almost ready to serve, add the sour cream.

Hubby did the sour cream for me so I could take the photo.

Heat thoroughly and serve over the cooked egg noodles.

Our boys LOVED this.  Yours will too!

I will be linking to THESE parties.

Turkey Potato Casserole

This is very similar to the casserole at Cracker Barrel, but we omitted onions and added ground turkey (ground hamburger would be fine also.)  Holt, our 18 yr old, helped make this with my husband as I was down and out with pain one day.  He was impressed how easy this was and with his first helping, the casserole was half gone.  (You'll see the photo we got - not soon enough!)

You will need the following ingredients:

1 package frozen hash browns (1 lb. 10 oz, usually)
1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef.

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 pint sour cream

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1. Fry ground meat in skillet.  Drain fat.

2.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

3.   Put in a greased 9X13 pan and cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until brown on top.

We didn't get a photo fast enough of the cooked casserole.  This is how much was left after Holt got his first and second servings.  Yikes!  (Ladies, if you have young boys, prepare NOW!!!)
Needless to say, this is REALLY good!  This would also be great for breakfast.

ENJOY!

I will be joining THESE parties.

Fluffy Icing Love Affair

As far back as I can remember, I have LOVED what my mom called "fluffy icing".  I've never been a fan of traditional cake icing and always scrape it off and give to someone else.  But for the last 44 years, EVERY year my dear mother makes my "special" cake - Homemade Angel Food cake with Fluffy Icing.  Usually pink or purple, although I've requested green, blue, red.......

Lucky me - NO ONE in my family can stand this cake.  So more for me!!  This last June, however, my 18 yr old did try it and loved it himself.  For both of us, this icing has a marshmallowy  (is that a word?) taste and texture.

But, I cannot find it ANYWHERE near me!!  I've checked online and many people are also complaining.  But guess what??!!!  Amazon.com sells it!!  I was able to buy 12 boxes and got them in 2 days.  SO EXCITED.  They don't expire until May of 2012, so no worry there.

Fluffy Icing Through Amazon.com

 

Instructions are simple- add 1/2 cup boiling water to the contents of pouch.

Then, use your mixer  - 30 seconds on low to mix thoroughly.  Then 5-7 minutes on high until stiff peaks.

I then went to find food dye and we didn't have any!!!!!!!  ACK!!!!!!! lol  I've never kept it white (or I should say, my mom never kept it white.  lol)

If you have not tried this, you must check your local grocery stores.  If not, order it online.  You won't be sorry!

My cake from this year!!!  Thanks MOM!!!

Quickest Hamburger Casserole Ever

More family cookin', as requested!   Because of a lifetime of family allergies, we prefer simple dishes with few ingredients.  Here ya go!

Hamburger Pork'nBean Casserole

1 lb. hamburger

1/2 cup chopped onion (omitted due to onion allergy)

1 lg can Pork n' Beans

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tbs. Mustard

1 cup Ketchup

Brown hamburger and onion.   Drain.  

Add remaining ingredients.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour. 

 Enjoy!

I might be linking up to THESE parties.  

Creamy Cheeseburger Soup

Ok, y'all - THIS will be your new soup of the year.  Your family will bow down and thank you profusely for fixing this.  And it is so easy!  Here is what you need:

• 1 package ground beef
• Onions, garlic, seasonings, bell peppers, optional
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 cups diced potatoes
• 4 tsp. butter, melted
• 4 tsp. flour or 2 tsp. corn starch
• 2 cups light cream 
• 8 oz. Velveeta cheese

I forgot to take the photos the entire process, so here you go:

• In a soup pot, brown the ground beef. 
• 
  
• Once browned, add the beef broth and onions/other seasonings to your taste (I add only beef broth).
• 
  
• Bring to a boil.
•  
• Add diced potatoes (and bell peppers if you choose).

• Cover and simmer 12 minutes.
•  
• Bring back to a boil.
• 
  
• Get a saucepan and melt the butter.  
• 
  
• Stir in the flour or cornstarch. I use cornstarch (use half the flour requirement).

 

• Cook butter and flour/cornstarch for 2 minutes.
• Add to soup, stirring.
• 
  
• Reduce heat and add cream, cheese and pepper if you desire.

I messed up and added the cream to the butter/flour mixture instead of soup.

• Stir until cheese melts.
• 
  
• Serve.

I doubled the recipe but used half the cheese and it is STILL creamy.  I also messed up and used full whipping cream instead of light cream, so we have quite the rich, creamy soup!

And did I take a photo when it was done?  NO!!!!!  GRRR.    So here is a photo of it today after being in the refrigerator.  See how creamy it is (with half the cheese!)

If you have teenagers in the house, I recommend you double this on the first go round.  It is THAT good!!

I will be linking to THESE parties!

Enjoy!