I found/tried this recipe last week and was really pleased with how it all turned out.

There were a few things that I did differently due to our likes/tastes.

I omitted the cumin that was called for in the original recipe due to the fact it makes me quite ill.

Red pepper was used in place of that spice and I do not like to use salt in my cooking so I used onion powder.

The biggest was done on error but gave me a wonderful result and that would be using tomato paste. You can use the tomato sauce if you would like just reduce done the amount of water to 1 1/2 cups.

Excellent results and I will be making my own from this point on.


* Exported from MasterCook *

Ten Minute Enchilada Sauce

Recipe By: Brandi T
Serving Size : 8
Categories : sauces

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons self rising flour
1/4 cup chili powder
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
6 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon red pepper
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Stir in flour, chili power and red pepper reduce heat to medium, and cook until lightly brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning flour.
• Gradually stir in tomato paste, water, garlic powder and onion powder into the flour and chili powder until smooth - continue cooking over medium heat.
• Approx. 10 minutes or until thickened to your desire.
• Season to taste with salt and black pepper to taste.

Source:
"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ten-Minute-Enchilada-Sauce/Detail.aspx"
Yield:
"8 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 30 Calories; 1g Fat (18.1% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 208mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1 Vegetable; 0 Fat.

NOTES :
You can use 1 - 8 ounce can of tomato sauce and this will reduce serving size to 6.

Great tasting sauce!

Easy to make and so much better than the canned stuff.

This is a bit on the thicker side but you can add more water to thin it down some.

This recipe creates one moist tasty meal.

DH kept telling me that I can make it again and again.

I made an extra so there would be leftovers but uh... that never happened!

I made a little change to the recipe due to not having green chilies in the house and it was still a success.

Now to be honest I think the salsa worked out better in the long run.

Original Recipe

* Exported from MasterCook *

Crockpot Flank Steak

Serving Size : 4
Categories: Main Meal

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1 1/2 pound Flank steak
1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion -- sliced
1/3 cup water
3/4 cup Salsa -- ground
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the steak in oil.
• Transfer to crockpot.
• In the same skillet, saute onion for a minute or two.
• Gradually add the water, remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
• Pour over the flank steak.
• Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or until the meat is tender.
• Cut and enjoy!

Source:
"http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/fivestarcrockpotrecipes"
Yield:
"4 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 360 Calories; 21g Fat (54.2% calories from fat); 34g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 87mg Cholesterol; 604mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 5 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

Serving Ideas:

rice, baked potato, veggies, salad ..

NOTES:

* I substituted the salsa for the 4 oz of green chilies that were called for in the original recipe.

We are all enjoying our bicycles and go out a few times a week.

I have a son who has a need for speed.

Spencer....

You have to understand he never knew how to ride a bike until a few weeks ago.

Yes, really.

Never as a child did he want to ride his nice yellow BMX style bike nor for that matter did his big brother.

Now presented with new bikes they had no choice but learn.

Since Spencer has learned to ride .... he has two speeds fast and super sonic!

Seriously, he will start out going fast then he just takes off.

Poof! He is gone.

When we finally catch up to him, he has a blank stare like where we have been?

Jeez, I'm puffing away and sweaty when we meet up and bam! off he goes again.

There is no slowing him down and I think I now have my own personal trainer through my son.

This need for speed should prove to be quite interesting over the long haul.


Photo courtesy of djcodrin

There is nothing like a nice coffeecake on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and the paper.

I had so much sour cream left over from earlier in the week that was nearing the expiration date that I decided a nice coffeecake would be in order for us.

Off I went searching for a recipe and found a great one at the King Arthur website.

The recipe turned out very well even with all of my errors. *blush*

This coffeecake is tasty, moist and full of flavor.

Give it a try and enjoy!

King Arthur: Our Favorite Sour Cream Coffeecake

* Exported from MasterCook *

Our Favorite Sour Cream Coffeecake

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Breakfast

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour -- King Arthur
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream, light


1/2 cup sugar -- **These are items for the topping.**
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts -- chopped and optional

• Cream together the butter or margarine, sugar, and eggs.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the sour creamt, stir well after each addition.
• Grease and flour a 9 x 9-inch pan.
• Spread half the batter in the pan, and sprinkle with half the topping mixture.
• Repeat with remaining batter and topping.
• Bake the coffeecake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake tests done.
• Cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove it from the pan. (If baked in a 9 x 9-inch pan, you can serve it straight from the pan.)
• Place the cake right-side-up (topping up) on a plate to serve.

Source:
"http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/our-favorite-sour-cream-coffeecake-recipe"
Yield:
"12 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 294 Calories; 12g Fat (36.1% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 43g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 58mg Cholesterol; 330mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 2 Fat; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES :

• Moist, tasty and good
• You can sub yogurt for the sour cream and items can be low fat if you desire.
• Other baking dishes you can use: a regular-sized (9 1/2-inch) tube pan or bundt-style pan

This yummy meal was made last night and was a hit with 3 out of 4 family members really enjoying the recipe.
The sauce has a nice tangy taste from the salad dressing mix goes so well with the creamy sauce.
Mmm...


* Exported from MasterCook *

Italian Chicken with Cream Sauce

Serving Size : 5
Categories : Main Meal

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
3 large chicken breast halves without skin
1 package Italian salad dressing mix
1/2 cup water
8 Ounces Neufchatel cheese
1 can Cream of Chicken 98% Fat Free Condensed Soup
4 ounces mushrooms, canned
16 ounces Dreamfield Linguine

• Place the chicken in the crock pot.
• Mix the salad dressing with the water and pour over the chicken.
• Cover and cook on low for about 3 hours.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and soup until blended.
• Stir in the mushrooms and pout mixture over the chicken.
• Cook about 1 hour longer.

Serve over cooked linguine noodles.

Source:
"http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/fivestarcrockpotrecipes"
Yield:
"5 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving: 228 Calories; 12g Fat (46.5% calories from fat); 22g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 76mg Cholesterol; 839mg Sodium. Exchanges: 3 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

Serving Ideas: Nice tossed salad on the side

NOTES:

• You can use any type of noodles for this dish.
• We like to use the Dreamfield brand due to the low glycemic index and low carbs.

Boo!

Surprise!

Check it out!

I have a nifty new skin for my blog and I'm such a happy camper. :D

I was a bit tired of the woman in the tub and wanted to change things up a bit.

There are a few things that need to be added in but I will get them in over the next few days.

So, what do you think?

Check out Penny Lane Designs for top quality work, excellent communication and an eye for detail!

DH and I have been taking our new bikes out for spins and loving every minute of it.


I enjoyed watching the swans paddling around and even witnessed one taking flight.


The topper of the day was seeing a black swan, I have never seen one until that day.

DH snapped the pictures for me with his phone because I was simply enjoying the bike ride.

Pollen, pollen and more pollen.

Seriously, it is everywhere that you look.

Everything is colored yellow, cars, houses, roads and the animals bring it in from outdoors.

I live in an area that tends to have a higher concentration of pollen than most areas of the country.

I think it was 3 - 4 yrs ago we were number one in the country.

W00-Hoo!

NOT!

My daily pollen count has been 11.8 to 11.9 for the past week or so, I am looking forward to a few days of lower levels once we have some rain tomorrow. (Oh, thank you!)

Yesterday I went to the salon to have my hair done and we noticed that everyone that entered created pollen prints all over the floor. eew!

On Tuesday the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center stated we had 6,520 per cubic meter of air which is the highest number they have seen in years. Aren't we just so lucky?!

We are told that this should all be over by the end of the month.
Month?!
Really?!

Thank goodness I have my Allegra and Nasonex all filled up because I am going to need them.