Yummy and Quick Dip Recipes for the 4th of July

Quick and easy 4th of July recipes can be hard to find. It is my pleasure to share a few recipes that I have found. Most 4th of July recipes center around grilling outside or the BBQ. So, let me pass along a few quick and easy recipes that can accompany that kind of meal. All of the recipes are for larger crowds. The first recipe will fool anyone into thinking you have spent a lot of time preparing this great salsa. The recipe an also be amended to your own taste without great effort.

Ron's Salsa

1 Jar pre-made salsa, about 12 oz.

2 standard cans of Mexican style stewed tomatoes

1 bunch fresh cilantro (can find in grocery by the fresh parsely)

? diced onion

1 clove minced garlic or 1 tsp. garlic powder

1 bunch diced green onions

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. sugar ( to cut acid)

Choose whatever heat you want in your pre-made salsa. Put stewed tomatoes in a large bowl and use a hand blender to chop up tomatoes to the size you prefer. Add all other ingredients. We prefer a lot of cilantro, but you can adjust it to your preference. Cut off the roots of the cilantro and use everything else. Chop the cilantro, along with leaves and stems into tiny pieces and mix in. Try to let set in the refrigerator overnight, for the flavors to mingle. Great with corn chips, vegetables, taco salads, grilled meats, etc.

Another quick and easy recipe for the 4th is a great dip that our family has amended over the years. We are asked to bring it to most gatherings and there is never anything left.

Creamy Dip

1 sm. bottle ranch dressing

1 smallest jar of real mayonnaise

1 8 oz. sour cream

2 tsp. dill

1 tsp. garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic

1 tsp. celery seed

2 stalks celery, minced fine

1 sm. onion, minced fine

? tsp. celery seed

? tsp black pepper

? red pepper flakes

? tsp cumin

? tsp oregano

salt to taste

Mix all of the above together and let set in the refrigerator overnight. This allows the flavors to mix well. We use this dip for a vegetable tray. Our friends have expanded its use to buffalo wings and even gyros. Enjoy!

Our last contribution to the 4th of July festivities is a great dip for fruits. It is really quite surprising the first time you try it. This recipe tastes just like caramel but is much better for you.

Cream Cheese Caramel Dip

2 blocks of cream cheese-must be room temperature

? cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 tsp vanilla

Mix well and leave in refrigerator until serving. Then, put out about 15 minutes before serving. Although, best with apples, it is great with most fruit. I have used this recipe over a warm coffee cake as a drizzle. YUM!

I hope that everyone enjoys the quick and easy recipes that we use for the 4th of

July.

By Brenda Gibson

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Feed Your Hungry Guests with These Easy Quick 4th of July Recipes

Do you have guests coming over for the holiday but you spent too much time shopping for fireworks? Here are some quick and easy recipes that are sure to please your hungry crowd.

Raspberry Spritzers

This refreshing punch is easy to make and wonderful to drink. You better have extra drinks because once your guests taste this festive red drink it will go fast!

10 ounces raspberries (fresh or frozen)
1 12 ounce can frozen cranberry juice cocktail concentrate (thawed)
1 12 ounce can frozen pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
2 two liter bottles ginger ale (chilled)

Process raspberries in a blender until smooth. Strain and discard seeds.

Combine puree with juice and lemonade concentrate in a 1.5 gallon container.

Stir in ginger ale right before serving.

Makes 5 quarts.

You can easily turn this into Raspberry Daiquiri Spritzers by adding rum to the mixture or Raspberry Margarita Spritzers by adding tequila.

Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Everything goes into the food processor, blend, chill and enjoy!

2 cloves minced garlic
1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup lemon juice
? cup roasted red peppers
? teaspoon dried basil

In a blender or food processor, combine garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini and lemon juice.

Add roasted peppers and basil.

Process until the peppers are finely chopped.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and chill until you are ready to serve.

Serve with pita bread or pita chips.

BBQ Sandwiches

This is a favorite easy recipe taken from Southern Living's Easy Weeknight Favorites cookbook. It is great for a party, tailgate, or a simple dinner.

1 (2 pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed
2 medium onions, chopped
1 12 ounce can cola flavored beverage
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 ? tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 ? teaspoons beef bouillon granules
? teaspoons dry mustard
? teaspoons chili powder
? to ? teaspoons ground red pepper
3 cloves minced garlic
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
6 hamburger buns

Place roast in a 3 ? to 4 quart slow cooker; add onion

Combine cola and next 7 ingredients

Cover and chill 1 cup sauce.

Pour remaining sauce over roast.

Cover and cook on high 6 hours or low for 9 hours or until roast is very tender.

Remove roast with chopped onion from cooker with slotted spoon and stir meat with 2 forks.

Combine reserved sauce with ketchup and butter in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated.

Pour sauce over shredded meat, stirring gently. Spoon mixture onto buns.Makes 6 servings.

Beer Brats

10 bratwurst
1 large yellow onion
2 Granny Smith apples
2-3 12 ounce bottles of beer

Heat grill to medium heat.

Place the bratwurst in a heavy-duty foil pan.

Peel the onion and trim off the ends. Slice the onion in half and then slice it into 1/8 inch slices. Arrange the slices over the brats.

Core the apple and cut in half. Then cut into 1/8 inch slices and arrange over the brats and onions.

Pour the beer in the pan until the contents are covered.

Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve on buns with mustard, sauerkraut, or your favorite toppings if you don't like sauerkraut.Makes 10 servings.

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Oatmeal Brownie Drops

These delicious desserts are easy to make and popular with your family and/or guests. They are great with some homemade ice cream or a cold glass of milk.

1 large box (22.5 oz) brownie mix (using 2 eggs and vegetable oil)
1 ? cups uncooked oats (regular or quick)
1 cup of walnuts or pecans if desired
? cup powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350? F.

Mix all ingredients (including oil and eggs called for by box mix) until well blended. Cover and let stand 30 minutes so that oats can absorb liquid.

Drop rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes until tops look crackled and satiny. Remove with spatula and cool on a wire rack.

Lightly dust with powdered sugar.

Makes approximately 32 cookies.

Chocolate Crock Pot Cake

Using the crock pot keeps the kitchen clean and minimized the work for a delicious dessert that your guests will love.

4 chocolate cake mix
? cup vegetable oil
1 pint sour cream
4 eggs
1 box chocolate instant pudding
1 cup water
6 ounces chocolate chips

Spray crock pot with cooking spray.

Place all the ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a large bowl and mix well.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour into crock pot and cover with lid. Do not lift lid while cooking.

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours depending on size of pot. Serve warm with ice cream.

Makes approximately 8 servings.



By Mick Donovan

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Hearty yet Easy Hamburger Recipes for Busy Moms

One of the busiest times for most moms is late afternoon. The kids are returning from school, your husband is coming home from work and you are far from getting everything you wanted to do that day done. You may even be coming home from work yourself. What is everyone asking you for? Dinner.

I work at home and my most productive time is in the afternoon. Dinner always sneaks up on me and by that time I simply dont want to cook. Although Id like to be the mom that cuts, chops and saut?s to produce exotic recipes Im afraid Im not. I do however have a set of tried and true recipes I use for those extra busy days when I dont have time to follow a complicated recipe. These are quick, easy to prepare and always leave my family happy.

Lasagna

1 pound ground beef
1 large jar Prego spaghetti sauce (any variety you wish)
1 16 oz block of mozzarella cheese
1 package (block) yellow or white sharp cheddar cheese
1 small container ricotta cheese
1 box lasagna noodles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil nine lasagna noodles until they are soft and flexible. Brown hamburger in skillet, drain any grease and then add sauce to hamburger and set aside. Slice cheddar cheese into quarter inch strips and slice mozzarella into ten slices.

In large glass or metal cake-sized baking pan first spoon in a thin layer of your meat sauce. Then lay down three noodles side by side across the pan. The next layer will be your cheddar cheese. Lay out the pieces side by side to cover noodles. Then add your next layer of noodles and spread ricotta cheese over the noodles. The remaining layers are sauce, the last three noodles and the rest of your sauce.

Bake this in your oven for 30 minutes. After thirty minutes you should lay your mozzarella cheese across the top of the lasagna. Bake an addiction fifteen minutes or until cheese is bubbly and slightly browning. Let lasagna sit for ten minutes and serve.

You can substitute shredded cheese for your block cheese to save even more time. If you use shredded mozzarella on the top shorten the last segment of cooking time to ten minutes.

This recipe takes a while in the oven but the prep time is short and its easy to throw together!

Tacos

1 taco kit (should include shells, seasoning and sauce)
1 pound ground beef
1 package shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 medium tomatoes
1 head of lettuce
1 container of sour cream (optional)

Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain any grease. Add water (per instructions on box) and seasoning to meat and set on low heat until seasoning is no longer watery. Chop lettuce and tomato and put in bowls. Heat shells according to directions and open cheese and sour cream.

This meal can be done in ten minutes and you family can make their own tacos exactly as they like them. If you like your tacos really spicy add some jalapeno peppers to the mix.

Cheeseburger Hoagies

1 package hoagie rolls
1 pound ground beef
onion and garlic powder
cheese (your choice, I use white American cheese)
toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomato, Italian dressing, mayonnaise)

Brown ground beef in skillet. Sprinkle on garlic and/or onion powder to taste and drain of any grease. Turn off heat and spread cheese over meat and cover. The cheese will melt as you prepare rolls and toppings.

Slightly brown hoagie rolls in 250-degree oven (optional) and then add meat and cheese to the roll. Top hoagie as desired.

Pizza Burgers

1 pound ground beef
1 jar pizza sauce
1 package slice pepperoni
1 package pizza cheese
1 package hamburger rolls

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using ground beef to form thin burgers and fry them in a skillet. Once burgers are thoroughly cooked remove from skillet and place on a cookie sheet. (You can lay down a sheet of tinfoil for easier clean up.) Put a spoonful of sauce on each burger followed by a few slices of pepperoni. Top with cheese and bake until cheese is melted. For added flavor you can add Italian seasoning or chopped up pepperoni to your burgers before frying.

Meaty Nachos

1 pound ground beef
1 package taco seasoning
2 packages shredded cheese (sharp and mozzarella)
1 jar jalapenos
1 bag of tortilla chips
1 container sour cream

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Brown ground beef in skillet and mix in taco seasoning as directed on package. Spread out tortilla chips on baking sheet. Sprinkle seasoned beef over chips and then put both types of cheese over meat and chips.

Heat in oven until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let cool for five to ten minutes. Sprinkle jalapenos over the top and serve with sour cream for dipping.


By Amy Mullen

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Easy Recipes for Healthy Finger Food Snacks

Americans love to eat. According to the American Dietetic Association diabetes, digestive diseases, heart disease, and weight control plague Americans because of our sedentary lifestyles. We eat when we watch TV. We eat when we read or study. Most people eat three big meals a day, when six or more small meals or snacks would be beneficial.

Snacking isn't bad. It is what we are eating that causes weight gain and a compendium of other health problems. Try keeping healthy finger food snacks around the house to encourage healthy snacking.

Fruit Kabobs Are a Delicious and Healthy Finger Food Snack
Fruit kabobs are scrumptious and easy to make. You can make fruit kabobs any time of year, depending on what fruit is in season.

In the summer time make cool and juicy kabobs out of fresh pineapple, watermelon, and honeydew melon. You may substitute or add cantaloupe, green or red grapes, mango, or papaya.

Berry lovers will enjoy snacking on blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, or strawberry fruit kabobs mingled with banana slices, or cheese.

Our typical fruit kabob consists of apples, bananas, and grapes.

If fresh fruit isn't readily available try fruit packed in its own juice, or pear juice. Stay away from fruit packed in heavy syrup because of the high sugar content. Canned fruits that make mouth-watering kabobs include pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, raisins, and dried fruits.

Serve larger portions of fruit kabobs on skewers and small servings on toothpicks. Store fruit kabobs in an airtight container in the refrigerator to have a healthy finger food snack on hand at all times.

Have a Healthy Snack of Peanut Butter and...
You can do more with peanut butter than make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Peanut butter gets the best crunch for your calories on celery, creating a high fiber and protein finger food snack. Peanut butter on apples is an appetite pleaser for anyone from toddlers to adults.

Combine a few of your favorite fruits with a dab of peanut butter between each one and have peanut butter fruit kabobs. It's almost like eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the white carbohydrates.

If you have to put peanut butter on bread, use toasted whole wheat bread. Cut it into triangles like a small peanut butter pizza. You may top it with tiny, thin slices of strawberries, grapes, or oranges instead of jelly or jam.

Snack on Homemade Trail Mix
Yes, I know you can buy ready-made trail mix at the grocery store, but it is more expensive and full of salt, sugar, and preservatives. Make your own trail mix that is low calorie, high in fiber, deliciously crunchy, and readily available when you get the munchies.

Any flavor of Kashi cereal makes a super base for a trail mix. Kashi is always full of granola and that means fiber. Kashi is also low in sodium and preservatives. Throw in raisins, yellow raisins, and dried cranberries; add almonds, walnuts, or unsalted peanuts. This is one snack food I have trouble eating in moderation, but it is a lot healthier than a pre-packaged trail mix that includes lots of sugar and even a few M&M's to make sure I enjoy it. The raisins and cranberries give your homemade trail mix just enough sweet and flavor.

Other trail mix ingredients may include: dates, dried apples, dried apricots, plain granola found in the cereal aisle, and other nuts.

Corn Tortilla Pizzas Are Fun Finger Food Snacks
Spread a little bit of salsa on a corn tortilla. Sprinkle with your favorite cheese, such as Monterrey Jack, or Cheddar. If you like add dried tomatoes or peppers to taste. Bake until cheese melts. Don't microwave, because you want the tortilla to get toasted and become a little crunchy.

Cut into bite sized servings to munch on through-out the day.

Appetizing Veggie Finger Food Snack
Use whole wheat bread or corn flour tortilla cut into circles approximately 1-2 round. Use a small round lid, cleaned well, or an empty medicine bottle, cleaned well, as a cutting tool. Top the bread circles with cucumbers. Sprinkle a little cumin on top for flavor or add a sprinkle of diced onions using a touch of low fat mayonnaise or dressing as a bonding agent.

Enjoy eating healthy snacks with your family and you will all feel better and you may lose a little weight, too.

By Lenora Murdock

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5 Cheap Fast and Easy Recipes

As a housewife and stay at home mom, I am always looking for ways to feed a family on a budget. I am by no means a professional when it comes to cooking so quick and easy is the way to go for me. Here are five of my favorite cheap and easy recipes that even the pickyest of kids will love.

Zesty Chicken Saute
Serves:4

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 6 ounces each), defrosted if frozen
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Place all the powdered ingedients in a gallon-size zip lock bag, seal and shake to mix the spices.
Place the chicken breast between two sheets of wax paper and pound them with several whacks of a meat mallet or rolling pin so they are an even 1/2 inch thick.
Place the chicken pieces in the bag with the spices, seal it, and shake until the chicken is coated with the spice mixture. Set aside.
Heat the oil in an extra deep 12 inch skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned on the first side, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook until no longer pink in the center, another 4-5 minutes.
Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve.

Chicken Rotini Toss
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 - 1 1/4 lbs. chicken
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (28oz.) crushed tomatoes
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 lb. rotini pasta, cooked, kept warm
Parmesan cheese

Cook chicken and onion together until chicken is no longer pink.
Add tomatoes and soup, heat to a boil
Add pasta, cook until pasta is tender
Season to taste
Add cheese over top and serve

Spaghetti
Serves:4

Ingredients:
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (16 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 lb cooked ground beef
1/2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
6 oz. spaghetti noodles

Cook beef as usual
Cook noodles until tender.
Heat tomato sauce and add all spices and worcestershire sauce. Once its heated add in cooked beef and mix. Then add mixute to noodles and serve

15 Minute Chicken & Rice
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom or crema of chicken soup (your choice)
1 1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups minute white rice - uncooked

Heat oil in a skillet, add chicken and cook until browned and no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken.
Add soup, water, paprika, pepper, stir and heat to a boil.
Stir in rice and top with chicken, cover and cookon low heat until rice is tender.
Serve.

Chicken Quesadillas
Serves:4

Ingredients:
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
8 - 8 inch flour tortillas
Salsa

In a small bowl combine soup, cooked chicken, 1/2 cup of cheese, and jalapenos (if using them), mix together
Top half of each tortilla with 1/4 cup of chicken mixture, spreading evenly within 1/2 inch of edge. Moisten edges of tortilla with water, fold over, pressing edges to seal
Place on a baking sheet
Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and serve with salsa.

By Sherri Comer

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How to Make an Easy Baby Butter Bean Soup

Y'all know how I love easy recipes that taste great. This morning I went to out porch with my coffee and I could see my breath...Soup Time has arrived. I have the soup simmering as I write this and I think I'll call the Queen Goddess to stop after work and get a loaf of that sage olive bread we love so much. I gotta figure out that recipe but that's for another day. My littlest grandchild is Alivia. Her Uncle Goliath has nicknamed her Oliver... Oliver loves butter beans so this soup is just for her...

Oliver's Baby Butter Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound smoked sausage diced (use your favorite)

2 Cups celery finely diced

1 Softball sized onion finely diced

3 carrots grated

2 Tablespoon minced garlic (more if you dare)

?+ stick butter (butter is better)

? cup all purpose flour

4+ cups chicken stock (can or box OK)

1 15oz can yellow Hominy drained

2 16oz can baby butter beans drained

1 15oz can diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

? teaspoon each Sea Salt and Black Pepper

1 teaspoon red peeper flakes (optional)

Directions:

In a large stock pot over med-high heat melt butter, add celery, garlic, onions, carrots, saute till all are soft, add sausage stir for a min or two. Add flour and stir some more, flour should be smooth (ie:no lumps) and fully incorporated, add everything else turn heat to high. Add remaining ingredients and stir till rolling boil. Lower heat to simmer for 25-30 min. Serve with a smile...

Notes:

I like this with a crusty bread and an ice cold green salad. Oliver likes it just as is but More Papa!

This does re-heat well. It will hold in the refrigerator for over a week or in the freezer for 6-8 months.

If you like the convenience of a crock pot meal. Saute in a skillet all steps till add everything. Put everything in crock pot at this point and walk away for 12 hours or more. I put this in crock pot at midnight once and we ate at 7pm the next night.



By Alban Mehling

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Three Easy Recipes for Holiday Treats

The Holidays and baking seem to go hand in hand. What makes this time of year even more special is the fact that most of us have several recipes that we fix every year and our family and friends come to expect these special treats. I wanted to share three of my tried and true recipes with you, not only because they are easy, they are also delicious.

Here is the first of my Holiday Cookie Recipes. It's a basic sugar cookie that you roll out and cut with cookie cutters. It makes a very nice cookie for decorating. For forty years, I have just called them Humpty Dumpty Cookies.

2 cups sifted flour

1 ? teaspoon baking powder

? teaspoon salt

? cup butter

? cup sugar

1 egg

1-teaspoon vanilla

1-tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat with creamed mixture. Pour creamed mixture in with the dry and stir. Add the tablespoon of milk to make the dough stick together well.

Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes. Roll out on floured board to ? inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters in desired shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 6 - 8 minutes. Remove from sheet and let cool before decorating. Makes approximately 24 cookies.

The next recipe is another cookie recipe that I have had for years and years. It was handed down from my Mother. It is a delicious oatmeal type of cookie. We call them Aggression Cookies. It is super easy and it makes lots and lots of cookies!

3 cups Brown Sugar

3 cups margarine

3 cups flour

6 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together by mashing and squeezing with your hands. Form into 1-inch size balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Grease the bottom of a small glass with some margarine and dip the glass into a little granulated sugar. Use the glass to flatten the cookies. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.

Makes 15 dozen cookies.

The last recipe is not a cookie recipe, but it is so gooey and good, it is always a hit. We like this for Christmas brunch. In our family, it's called Monkey Bread.

1 package of 24 frozen dough balls
1 box butterscotch pudding, not instant

? cup butter

? cup brown sugar

? teaspoon cinnamon

? cup chopped nuts

Mix all of the dry ingredients together, including the nuts. Lay dough balls (frozen) into greased shallow baking pans, about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle dry ingredients over the dough balls. Dot with the butter. Cover loosely and leave out on counter overnight. The dough will thaw and rise.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Uncover and bake until bread is lightly browned and dry ingredients and butter have melted together and look like caramel. Serve warm.

I hope you will be inspired to try one or all of these recipes. They are easy and always crowd pleasers. Enjoy your holidays and happy baking!

By Roberk

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Quick and Easy Hors D'oeuvres

Hors D'oeuvres are often the hit of the party - if they're prepared properly. But many hostesses fret too much over the Hors D'oeuvres when they really don't need to worry. Expensive Hors D'oeuvres are usually no more impressive than less costly recipes. Of course, as any good hostess knows, not all hors d'oeuvres are suitable for all guests so having a variety of hors d'oeuvres is the best plan.

One quick and easy hors d'oeuvres that you can make is, of course, cheese crackers. Plain cheese crackers won't do, though. Try various crackers with assorted cheeses. For a different take on that same hors d'oeuvres add things like pepperoni, olives, pickles, or other meats. Or try different meat salads on the crackers, such as chicken salad.

Use English muffins to make another great hors d'oeuvres. Spread pizza sauce on each bagel and top with pepperoni bits and cheese. Bake until golden brown. Slice the tiny pizzas into four equal size pieces and serve.

Cook cocktail wieners in barbecue sauce with a spoon full of grape jelly. The jelly and barbecue sauce together gives the wieners a sweet-and-sour taste that is divine. Serve by placing one wiener on a slice of cheddar cheese held together with a toothpick. You can also boil the cocktail wieners in beer with hot sauce until the liquid has almost evaporated. Stab with a toothpick and serve.

Use scoop-type chips and fill with different goodies. The chips are shaped like a mini bowl and are perfect for holding chili and cheese, taco-flavored meat with cheese, or even crab salad. Or, just put a dab of salsa and a dollop of sour cream in the scoop then sprinkle with cheese.

Use mini pastry shells to make any number of hors d'oeuvres. Bake the shells until golden brown and fill with deli salads or meat mixtures. Or mix up a tuna salad at home and place it in the browned shells.

Choose small, but not tiny, tomatoes at the grocery store. Cut off the top and use a melon ball scoop to remove seeds. Fill with cottage cheese and serve. Or, fill the tomatoes with a warm mix of hamburger, onions and cheese.

Use thinly sliced ham or other luncheon meats to make various hors d'oeuvres. Stack three pieces of the meat together and spread cream cheese on the stack. Lay a green onion at one end and roll shut. Cut in half and secure with toothpicks. Or, replace the onion with a chili pepper instead.

Deviled eggs are always a great hors d'oeuvres and are easy to make. After boiling the eggs and cutting them in half scoop out the hard boiled yolk. Put all the yolks into a small bowl and mash with a fork. Stir in mayonnaise until creamy but still thick and add mustard until very creamy. Add the tiniest pinch of sugar to eliminate the sour taste of the mustard. Arrange the eggs on a tray and sprinkle with paprika.

Serve fruits or veggies on a toothpick and your guests will love them. Place a cherry on a toothpick followed by a small slice of pineapple. Or a slice of cucumber topped with cottage cheese is great. Use your imagination and keep in mind that hors d'oeuvres should be as pleasant to see as to taste.

If you're not serving dinner you may wish to have a round or two of assorted meat, fruit and vegetable hors d'oeuvres followed by some dessert hors d'oeuvres. Dip banana chunks in melted chocolate and insert toothpick. To hold the chocolate to the banana try dropping a small chunk of paraffin into the chocolate. Or make it more attractive by skewering a strawberry then the banana. There are many hors d'oeuvres that can be made using inexpensive ingredients and little time.


By Emma S

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Roast Chicken And Roasted Root Vegetables

Easy dinner recipes make life so much easier for us.

As much as we want to make healthy food choices for ourselves and our families, busy lives sometimes makes it difficult. With a few easy dinner recipes in your recipe box it's a cinch.

This is a complete meal that bakes in the oven at the same time. With just a little bit of preparation time you can pop the whole meal in the oven and go off to spend your time doing things other than stirring and watching. Come back in a bit and dinner's done. Couldn't be easier or more delicious.

Roast Chicken

1 whole chicken, about 3lbs
butter
salt and pepper
1 whole bulb of garlic (optional), with the outside papery layers removed

Preheat the oven to 375?F.



Wash and dry the chicken. Thoroughly rinse and dry the inside cavity as well. Salt and pepper the cavity and place the whole bulb of garlic inside.

Take your finger and slide it under the breast skin. Place dabs of butter in 2 or 3 spots on each side of the breast, under the skin. Take about 2 ounces of softened butter and spread it over the chicken with your fingers. Salt and pepper the outside of the chicken to taste.

Arrange the chicken in a covered roasting pan. Roast at 375?F for about 1 1/2 hours, basting occasionally to keep it moist.

Carve and serve.

Roasted Root Vegetables

Potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 wedges
Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into slightly larger wedges or sliced straight across into thick slices
Sweet onions, peeled and cut into wedges
Carrots, peeled and cut into long thick sticks
Olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
Salt and pepper

Begin preparing the vegetables as soon as the chicken is in the oven.

Oil a 13x9 glass baking dish. Place the cut vegetables in the baking dish. Drizzle oil over the vegetables and mix to coat them all. Salt and pepper the vegetables. Sprinkle dried rosemary over them.

When the chicken has been in the oven for 30 minutes, put the vegetables in. Roast the vegetables, uncovered, for about 1 hour, until all are soft. The onions will be a bit carmelized and nice and sweet.

Note: Try varying the vegetables in the mix. Parsnips would be nice as well. You can also add a bit of garlic if you are a garlic lover.

That's it! Dinner's ready!

By: Karen Ciancio

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Four Tasty And Easy Camping Recipes

When you are camping out you do not have to put up with snacks and dehydrated dinners. Nor do you have to make cooking seem like a chore. Using a few easy camping recipes you can eat as well as you do at home. Part of the fun of camping is experimenting with different ways and types of cooking. Below are four tasty recipes for you to try.

Camp Stew:

Ingredients.
One and a half pound of ground beef.
Two medium sized carrots.
One medium sized onion.
Five medium sized potatoes.
One large tin of peas.
One packet of onion soup mix.

Instructions.


Cook the meat in a large pan until nicely browned. Chop the carrots, onion, and potatoes, and add to the meat. Make up the soup mix with enough water to cover all the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook with the lid on until the potatoes are tender. Add the peas and simmer for a further five to ten minutes until they are hot.

Hobo Dinner In Foil:

Ingredients.
Four medium sized potatoes.
One onion.
One pound of ground beef.
Quarter of a cup of water.

Instructions.
Peel and slice the potatoes, and the onion. Place the ground beef into a container and add the water, mix together well and then add the potatoes and onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide into three or four portions and wrap with double thickness of tin foil. Place onto a medium to hot grill for about forty minutes, carefully moving occasionally. Open with caution and serve with some bread rolls.

Chicken In Foil:

Ingredients.
One small green pepper, chopped.
Half of a small red pepper, chopped.
Ten button mushrooms, chopped.
One teaspoon of butter or margarine
Four chicken breasts.
One can of pineapple slices.
Four sixteen inch squares of tin foil.

Instructions.
Divide the peppers and mushrooms into four equal portions. Coat a small area in the centre of each piece of tin foil with the butter or margarine. Place one portion of the peppers and mushrooms onto the greased area of tin foil, place the chicken breast on top and a pineapple slice on top of the chicken breast. Season with salt and pepper and fold tin foil over securely so there are no leaks. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients so you have four individual servings. Place onto hot grill or coals for approximately Fifteen minutes, then turnover for another ten to fifteen minutes.

Baked Potatoes With Bacon Wrap:

Ingredients.
Potatoes.
Bacon.
Tin foil.

Instructions.
This is a really cheap and easy camping recipe. Scrub enough potatoes (for the amount of people to be served) in water and pierce several times with a fork. Wrap the potatoes in a layer of bacon and then wrap with tin foil with the shiny side inside. Place in the hot coals of your camp fire and turn occasionally. Check that they are cooked by piercing with a fork; if it slides into the potatoes easily then they are done. Serve with whatever vegetables are available, or beans etc.

These are just four easy camping recipes for you to try out, but with a little imagination and some trial and error, I am sure that you will be able to come up with many more of your own.

By: Mick Legg

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Chicken Tender Recipes Easy & Quick To Prepare!

These chicken tender recipes are easy, quick and delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So put your hat on and get ready for some quick easy chicken tender recipes:

>> Turkey or Chicken Tenders

1 1/4 lb Fresh turkey tenderloin Or boneless chicken breast 1 1/4 c Divided oat bran cereal 1 t Salt 1/2 ts Pepper 2 lg Egg whites 2 tb Lowfat evaporated milk 1 t Paprika 1/2 c Peanut oil

Cut turkey tenderloins or chicken breasts into 6 slices by cutting cross the turkey carefully with sharp knife. Pound tenders to 1/4 inch thickness. Slit around edges to keep from curling. Blend 1/2 cup of
the oat bran cereal with salt and pepper and coat tenders. Whip egg whites lightly with milk.



Blend remaining 3/4 cup oat bran with paprika. Dip meat into egg whites, then into oat bran paprika mixture. Place on baking rack and allow 5 minutes to dry. Heat peanut oil in large frying pan until hot. Brown tenders 2-3 pieces at a time for 3 minutes per side, or until crusty and brown. Drain well and serve with a low-fat dip.

>> Crispy Chicken Tenders

1 c All-purpose flour 1 ts Poultry seasoning 2/3 ts Paprika 1 ts Onion powder 1/2 ts Garlic powder 1/4 ts Salt ds Pepper 1 Egg 1 ts Milk 3/4 lb Chicken tenders Cooking oil

Combine dry ingredients in a plastic bag. In a bowl, lightly beat eggs
and milk. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture and shake off excess. Shake a few chicken pieces in the bag at a time, coating well.

In a large skillet, heat 1/4 in. of oil over high heat; brown chicken on all sides. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking for 10 minutes.

By Nathalie Sanders

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Chicken Stew Recipes Easy & Quick To Prepare!

These chicken stew recipes are easy, quick and delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So put your hat on and get ready for some quick easy chicken stew recipes:

>> Chicken Ratatouille Stew

4 Chicken breast halves; skin -- bone, 1 cube 1 Jar spaghetti sauce -- (30 ounces) 1 medium Eggplant; peel -- chop coarse 2 Tomatoes -- chop coarse 2 small Zucchini slice 1 Green bell pepper -- 1 pcs 1 large Onion - chop 3 Cl garlic - mince 1 teaspoon Dried basil leaves 1 teaspoon Dried oregano leaves

In large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Pour into 3-1/2 to 4 qt crockpot. Cover; cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.

Cut chicken and sausage into bite sized pieces. Add onions, peppers,
celery, potatoes, picante sauce & broth. Cook of 1 to 1/2 hours or
pressure cook meat for 10 minutes then cook all ingredients for 30
minutes.



Do you like chicken picante? These are great. See below the simple recipe that I have prepared for you.

>> Chicken Picante Stew

1 pound kiebasa, lean - chopped 1 pound chicken breast, no skin, no bone, R-T-C - cut in 1 piece 32 ounces chicken broth 24 ounces picante sauce 1 bell pepper - chopped 1 cup celery - chopped 4 potatoes OR - diced 1 3/4 cups rice

Cut chicken and sausage into bite sized pieces. Add onions, peppers,
celery, potatoes, picante sauce & broth. Cook of 1 to 1/2 hours or
pressure cook meat for 10 minutes then cook all ingredients for 30
minutes.

By Nathalie Sanders

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Easy To Prepare Gourmet Desserts And Recipes

A gourmet dessert is truly gourmet when it is made from the highest quality ingredients: the freshest dairy products, farm fresh eggs, fresh fruits and nuts. You can complete a special meal with an equally unique gourmet desserts prepared for less than $1.00.

Types of Gourmet Desserts

There are many kinds of gourmet desserts. Here are just a few

Banana mango: this exotic desserts might have a cream cheese icing. This is a mango cake with a burst of juicy mango chunks with flavorful banana. Or Stick Toffee, this is also called a sticky date cake, a favorite gourmet desserts in many parts of the world.

Cheesecakes also are a delicious gourmet desserts.

How about Lemon Cheesecake topped with the tangy surprise of lemon curd and a dash of vanilla? Or perhaps Cappuccino Cheesecake baked with coffee and chocolate, two flavors that will instantly addict your guests to this flavorful gourmet desserts. A New York Cheesecake is a flavor that will always please, with its hint of vanilla and lemon on a graham cracker cookie crust.

Preparing Your Own Gourmet Desserts

There are gourmet desserts available in your supermarket, but preparing your own gourmet desserts is a special surprise for your family. Here is a recipe for a classic yellow cake:

4 eggs, whites and yolks separated
1 ? cups sugar
2 ? tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
? cup margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
? cup sweet milk

Beat the egg whites until frothy; add ? of the sugar. Stir. Add the margarine. Put into refrigerator to chill. Make a separate mixture of the egg yolks and beat continuously while alternately adding the milk and flour. Fold the egg yolk and flour mixture into the egg white mixture. Pour the whole batter into two 9 round pans. Bake in a 350 degree for at least 25 minutes or until a tooth pick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean. To give this gourmet dessert a worthy topping, try maple icing, caramel frosting or a butter cream icing.

Another great gourmet desserts is a treat called Moms Cherry Delight. Cream cheese is the special ingredient in this gourmet desserts. The ingredients are:

1 Large Can of Cherry Pie Filling
1 Envelope Dream Whip Desserts Topping
1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1 Cup Sugar
3 oz Softened Cream Cheese

This is a very easy, yet elegant gourmet dessert. First, mix the cream cheese and sugar until is blended completely, set aside. Prepare the Dream Whip according to the instructions on the box. Fold the cream cheese mixture into the prepared Dream Whip. Now pour the mixture into the pie crust. Smooth the top, and then pour the pie filling over the cream cheese mixture. Chill for a short while in the freezer. Now enjoy this special, yet easy, gourmet dessert.

By: Melinda Carnes

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Easy Recipes For Cholesterol Afflicted Folks

Having a high level of cholesterol often gives a way to the regulated diet. And these dietary measures make you compromise on your favorite dishes and recipes. You often feel annoyed of dietary restrictions as you can't devour delicious dishes in order to avoid fat and lipid content. If you happen to be one with this opinion that dietary restriction means no more recipes that could entice your taste buds, you carry a totally wrong perception.

Even while afflicted with high level of bad cholesterol you can enjoy a host of recipes that are equally tasty. These high cholesterol cuisines are free of fats, lipids and all other content that may intensify deposition of low density cholesterol. Most of these recipes possess low carbohydrate.



A good number of these recipes are prepared with poultry meat, spinach, beans, fishes and asparagus. Usually recipes with great fat content are modified to be suitable for people with high cholesterol. For example, contents of general Spinach Quiche recipe could be changed to suit high cholesterol condition. For that, instead of egg only egg white could be used. In place of regular cottage cheese fat-free cottage cheese can be taken. Similarly fat free substitutes of all fatty products could be added to the recipe. The resulted recipe happens to be equally delicious.

A good number of desserts could be prepared on the same line of fat substitution. In dessert preparation butter could be substituted by unsaturated margarine or canola oil. In the same way skimmed milk is used instead of milk. Sugar content is also suggested to be minimized for cholesterol free desserts.

One recipe that is considered equally good for cholesterol patients as well as blood pressure and heart patients is Mexican Cheese Quesadillas. This cholesterol free recipe is made up of wheat flour, fat free sour cream, jalape?o, cheese free of fat and tomatoes. It also includes salsa prepared by onion.

Southwest Veggie Dip happens to be a very popular recipe among folks afflicted with high cholesterol. Ingredients of this recipe are fat free cheese, tomatoes, skimmed milk, chili pepper and one or two green vegetables.

Cholesterol chicken chili is another popular recipe. This chicken chili is prepared with extra cloves of garlic and beans. Other ingredients are tomato, onions, chili powder, green chili and oreganos. Even normal chicken chili could be enjoyed by high cholesterol patients.

In addition to these there are number of other delicious recipes that could be consumed even if you possess high cholesterol level. So don't compromise on the urge of your taste buds and keep devouring these cholesterol free recipes.

By: Ashish Jain

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Chicken Crockpot Recipes Easy & Quick To Prepare!

These chicken crockpot recipes are easy, quick and delicious. Just check these out and I'm sure you'll be amazingly surprised.

So put your hat on and get ready for some quick easy chicken crockpot recipes:

>> Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken

1 Celery - chop 1 Green pepper - chop 1 Med Onion - quartered 4 tablespoons Tapioca quick-cooking 4 Chicken breasts- boned - cut 8 ounces Pineapple chunks unsweetened 1/3 cup Dark brown sugar - packed 1/3 cup Red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon Soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon Ginger - ground Rice -- hot cooked

CROCKPOT: Put vegs.in bottom of crackpot. Sprinkle tapioca over vegetables. Place chicken atop vegs.

Combine all other ingreds. Except rice in a small bowl. Pour over chicken. Cover crackpot and turn to low and cook for 8-10 hours. Before serving make rice. Serve over rice. Leftovers can be reheated in microwave.

OVEN: Put vegetables in bottom of a greased pan. Sprinkle
vegs with tapioca. Add chicken to pan. Combine all other ingreds. Except rice in a small bowl. Pour over chicken. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake in 300 deg. oven for 2 hours. Before serving make rice. Serve over rice.

>> Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

2 Med Onions; peeled, sliced 3 lb Chicken; cut up 2 c Garlic; minced 1 c Tomatoes; 16 oz 1 c Tomato sauce; 8 oz 1 ts Salt 1/4 ts Pepper 1 1/2 ts Dried oregano; crushed 1/2 ts Dried basil; crushed 1 Bay leaf 1/4 c Dry white wine Spaghetti; cooked

Place onions in slow cooker. On top of onions place chicken pieces,
garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, herbs and wine. Cover
pot.

Cook on low 6 to 8 hours, or high 3 to 4 hours. Serve chicken
with its sauce on spaghetti which you have prepared. Leisure Living
Guide to Slow Cooking.

By Nathalie Sanders

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Easy Elegant And Traditional Southern Breakfast Recipes For Mother's Day

Make this Mother's Day unforgettable with one of these breakfast menus, or use your imagination and substitute.

An Easy and Delicious Mother's Day Breakfast

Quick and easy but delicious, the breakfast casserole is put together the night before. A delicious cantaloupe smoothie and easy muffins make this breakfast memorable.

Western Ham and Egg Casserole

Make this casserole the night before, then refrigerate and pop it in the oven in the morning.
Ingredients:

8 slices white bread, crust removed, cut into cubes
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups cubed, cooked ham (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk



Preparation:

Place bread cubes in a lightly greased 12x8x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese, ham, onion, and green pepper. Whisk together eggs and milk; pour over ham and cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours. Remove from refrigerator; let stand for 30 minutes. Bake, uncovered, at 350? for 40 minutes or until set.

Western ham and egg casserole serves 8.

An Extra-Special Mother's Day Breakfast

Here's an elegant breakfast for anyone who loves to cook. Perfect for Mother's day or any special occasion breakfast. For a touch of indulgence, serve this breakfast with champagne and orange juice Mimosas.

Eggs Benedict - Fruit Compote With Pears
Sour Cream Cinnamon Rolls
Strawberry Smoothies or Mimosas
Hot Coffee or Tea

Southern Breakfast

Here's a traditional Southern breakfast, from grits to biscuits and gravy.

Grits
Scrambled Eggs Deluxe
Ham with Red Eye Gravy
Biscuits with Sausage Gravy or Pecan Pancakes
Orange Juice, Hot Coffee, or Tea

Always remember to add a bud vase with her favorite flower to give any breakfast in bed that special touch. Dont forget the cards and her other gifts too, she will start out the day with a HUGE smile on her face and go to work showing off what her family did for her.

By: Nicola Kennedy

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Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy

If you want to acquire health friendly vegetarian recipes for your cooking delight, quickly and easily, then please keep reading, as this may be the most important article you have ever read about healthy vegetarian Food!

Why do we say this? Well, because we know that you want to eat tasty food that is also healthy, and we have the solution you've been looking for!

See, we know how hard it is to have a combination of health friendly and tasty recipes, and although it's taken a while, we have created the perfect answer for you! Now, you can finally use our course to acquire a collection of amazing vegetarian recipes and make a healthy transition to a vegetarian lifestyle!

It Seems Incredible That You Can Get An Amazing Collection Of Vegetarian Recipes And Make A Healthy Transition To A Vegetarian Lifestyle!



You may be wondering who we are to say we can solve your problem? Well, we have a newsletter where you can acquire health friendly vegetarian recipes to help you live a healthier life. As you can see, we're very qualified to show you the ropes, and have the experience and knowledge to help you!

Well, here's just a quick sample of what you'll discover:

Have a free monthly newsletter!

Acquire heart healthy diets!

Prolong your life by properly taking care of your heart!

Vegetarian recipes for your delight!

People can enjoy our recipes no matter what age group they belong to!

All this and much, much more!

You Deserve To Make A Healthy Transition To A Vegetarian Lifestyle!

How about it? We told you our course is the best thing to hit the culinary profession since sliced bread! We know you want ALL the details about Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy...so you can get your concerns addressed immediately!

Finally get everything you've been looking for! Now you can get exactly what you want for a fraction of the cost, and without the countless hours it would take to put this all together on your own!

So, we're going to send you directly to the web page that explains Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy in complete detail. Everything about Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy is right here for you NOW!

By Jose Medellin

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Quick And Easy Peppery Spinach Quesadillas

This is one of the most delicious and easy healthy dinner recipes that you will find. Not only is it extra yummy, but you don't have to stand at the stove all day muttering under your breath. You're done in about 15 minutes!

Here's what you'll need to create this quick and easy meal

1 medium package whole wheat soft tortillas
1 package of fresh baby spinach
1 8oz package low-fat mozzarella
1 can organic black beans
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 jar veggie salsa of your choice

First, you will heat the beans on medium low heat until they are hot. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and spray a cookie sheet or pizza pan with non-stick spray.



This really is one of the greatest healthy dinner recipes. There is practically no cooking involved! Plus your kids will actually eat the spinach when prepared this way! Chop your baby spinach finely.

Get 8 tortillas ready and spoon about 2-3 tbsp of the heated beans on one side of each tortilla. Sprinkle a dash of pepper on the beans, and add a tablespoon or two of the mozzarella cheese.

Place these in the oven, open, for about 8 minutes, or until the cheese is nice and melted. Take them out of the oven and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of spinach to each tortilla.

Fold the tortillas while the cheese is still hot, and cut each one into 4 quarters. You can dip these in the salsa, and they are yummy!

If you love a little spice in your food, sprinkle a dash of cayenne pepper on each quesadilla before you put it in the oven. There are so many healthy dinner recipes you can find, if you just use your imagination and creativity. Enjoy!

By: Amy Bass

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Convince Skeptics With Easy Vegetarian Recipes

If you are thinking of following vegetarian diet for certain causes - religious belief, health reason, economic reason, animal rights - you will face a barrage of uninformed arguments from skeptical relatives and friends. A common argument about vegetarianism is the difficulty of preparing vegetarian meals. Don't get swayed or discouraged by this argument because there is a lot of choice for vegetarians. A vegetarian diet consists of ordinary everyday foods like grains, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. Legumes and starches like potatoes and rice are also part of the diet. Fish, poultry, and dairy products can also be incorporated depending on what type of vegetarianism you follow. These are all available in your average grocery store. Also, there is a variety of easy vegetarian recipes available in many sources.

Books, magazines, newsletters, and even TV shows are veritable sources of healthy vegetarian recipes. You will not miss anything because the choices are limitless.

Vegetarian meals do not deviate much from a regular diet except for the absence of meat. Skeptics argue that this could mean missing out on essential proteins. But this is hardly true nor correct. All healthy vegetarian recipes are well-balanced. They have the required amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, and protein. Examples of protein choices are legumes, nuts, beans, fish, poultry, dairy, and the popular tofu. Calcium, a mineral often associated with milk, is not missed either. Middle Easterners and native Africans are known to have strong teeth and bones but their diets rarely contain dairy or meat. They get their calcium from vegetables and root crops. So there is no reason you couldn't get your calcium requirements from vegetarian foods. In terms of nutrition, a vegetarian diet is even superior to diets with meat. There is less fat and bacteria that enter the body which can cause heart diseases and infections. You can watch meat lover bloat and get fat while maintaining your own healthy body with vegetarianism.

After proclaiming that you are eating healthier with vegetarianism, you'd think that the non-believers will stop bugging you. But no, they're back and possibly bearing the most difficult question for hedonists. They'll ask if you're not depriving yourself of the hearty pleasure and satisfaction only the flavor of meat can give. Fret not because vegetarianism has an answer to that. When vegetarians state that there are easy vegetarian recipes, they don't just mean easy to prepare but also easy on the palate. Contrary to what the skeptics are thinking about vegetarian meals (you know, limp lettuce and carrot sticks), vegetarian meals are flavorful and varied. Recipes range from curries, soups, burgers, steaks, hotdogs, casseroles, pasta, and delicious desserts all made with true vegetarian goodness. In fact, vegetarian meals are more flavorful because they make full use of herbs and natural flavors unlike meats which use a lot of salt.

If your friends and relatives still won't stop bugging you about your vegetarian diet, get a load of healthy vegetarian recipes and cook them a feast. When they see that you didn't even break a sweat preparing the delicious feast, they'll be convinced of the ease of vegetarianism. Give them copies of easy vegetarian recipes and don't be surprised if they'll ask you to go produce-shopping in the following days.

By: Elizabeth Gilley

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Easy Low Fat Recipes And Your Health

For the person whos constantly going back and forth between one diet or another, there never seems to be much fun in their lives. I should know as Ive been yo-yo dieting for most of my adult life now. I would go from one diet plan to another and stick with it only long enough for it to work a little. At which point Id get tired of it and go back to my rounds of binge-eating. Naturally this wasnt healthy, and only by a great effort on my part have I now decided to turn my whole life around. Instead of alternately bingeing and dieting Ive now decided to go the healthy route and am now going in for sensible eating ideas and regular exercise. Ive also resorted to using a few really tasty low fat recipes to help me in my new get-fit regime.

I decided to try out some easy low fat recipes because when I first started on my sensible eating plan, I found there werent really too many things that I could eat that were also good for me and tasty.

I had always scorned any low fat foods and meals since they didnt seem to taste very good, but since then Ive learned a lot, and have found great ways to make easy low fat recipes that tickle my taste buds.

A few years ago sadly enough this wasnt the case and it was really difficult to get any really good tasting low fat recipes that could satisfy your hunger at the same time as well. Or at least that was my perception at the time. Luckily I found out that I was wrong and that if you prepare your meals with care using some easy low fat recipes you could turn out a dish to rival any of the ones swimming in fats.

Eating low fat meals is just another sensible way to contain your excess food and fat intake. Having easy low fat recipes on hand however, just makes it all the more easier for you to stick your new plan. Think about it, if you have to slave over the stove for a long time only to produce something thats only slightly edible, and has no compensation of fats in it either would you really do it? I didnt think so. Everyone needs motivation to do something and using easy low fat recipes is one the best ways that Ive found to stay on my sensible eating regime.

These recipes need not be hard to remember, and they dont need to utilize a lot of ingredients either. So you can either have them handy on a few card sheets, or you could just stick them up on the refrigerator for them to be in plain sight always. Whatever you decide though, Ive found that easy low fat recipes are my ticket to getting my life back into order, and my weight back into a good balance.

By: Shabi

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Easy And Refreshing Fruit Salad Recipes

Fruit salad is probably one of the easiest and tastiest things in the world to make. Any seven-year old can whip up their salad in no time at all. In fact, for a real bonding time with your kids, you can involve them in the kitchen and have fun whipping up this fabulous desert.

This is particularly popular during the summer when fresh fruits abound, however, summer or winter, it doesn't really matter as fruits grow all year round. There's really nothing to putting together fruit salad rcipes. The secret is really just in picking out the best fruits. Below are fantastic fruit salad recipes you can do in your very own kitchen:

CRANBERRY APPLE SALAD:*

Dressing Ingredients:
2/3 cup Sour Cream


1/3 cup mayonnaise

Salad Ingredients:
2 medium (2 cups) apples, cubed 1/2 inch
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 rib (1/2 cup)
celery, chopped

1.Combine sour cream and mayonnaise in small bowl; set aside.

2.Place apples and lemon juice in large bowl; gently toss. Add all remaining salad ingredients. Add dressing; toss to coat. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

FRUIT SALAD WITH CITRUS-CILANTRO DRESSING

1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained (or better yet, 2 1/2 to 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks)
3 grapefruits, peeled and sectioned
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 mango pitted, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons honey

1.Combine pineapple, grapefruit, strawberries and mango in a large serving bowl; set aside.

2.In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, lime juice and cilantro. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain and discard cilantro. Stir in honey. Pour over fruit mixture and toss until evenly coated.

FLUFFY PISTACHIO FRUIT SALAD

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, not drained
1 (4-serving size) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 (12-ounce) container non dairy whipped topping, thawed
2 large bananas, sliced
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 (17-ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Pour instant pudding mix into a large mixing bowl. Add pineapple, and mix well. Mix in nondairy whipped topping. Stir in bananas, marshmallows, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges.

By: Low Jeremy

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Basic Quick Mix and Recipes

With an easy basic quick mix, you can make a wide variety of inexpensive homemade biscuits, breads, and other baked goods. This mix is easy to make and store and great for any family on a tight budget.

Basic Quick Mix Recipe

10 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/4 c. nonfat dry milk

1/3 c. baking powder

1 tbsp. salt

2 c. vegetable shortening (room temperature)

Measure flour into a large bowl. Stir in baking powder, dry milk, and salt, mixing well. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to mix shortening into other ingredients until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Storing mix:

Store basic quick mix in a ziploc bag or container with a tight lid. This mix can be stored at room temperature about 2 weeks. Will keep a couple of months in refrigerator or freezer. Bring mix to room temperature before using.

Using mix:

Do not sift mix for recipes. Stir lightly before measuring mix. When measuring mix into a bowl, level off measuring cup with the straight edge of a knife.



Basic Biscuits

2 c. basic quick mix

1/2 c. water

Stir together quick mix and water. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board, kneading lightly. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with biscuit cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.

Note: For drop biscuits, increase water to 2/3 cup. After mixing flour and water together, drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. 1/3 c. grated cheese can be added to dough before dropping onto cookie sheet.

Basic Muffins

2 c. basic quick mix

4 tsp. sugar

1 egg, beaten

2/3 c. water

Stir sugar into quick mix. Add water and egg. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 c. full and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Variation: Add 1/2 c. of favorite chopped fruit.

Basic Pancakes

2 c. basic quick mix

1 tsp. sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 c. water

Stir sugar into quick mix. Add water and egg. Pour pancakes onto heated griddle, turning pancakes when bubbles appear on the pancake surface.

The Internet is a great source for more quick mix recipes. Just type quick mix recipes into your favorite search engine!

By Rachel Paxton

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