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Cinco De Mayo Recipe~ Baked Chipotle Chicken Flautas

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
ChipotleFlautas

Do you celebrate Cinco De Mayo at your house? We don’t have a huge celebration here, but we do usually try to head out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, or make a few Mexican favorites here at home. I have a couple new recipes I think I might try for our Cinco De Mayo celebration this year, including this recipe from Mission Foods.

Baked Chipotle Chicken Flautas

Serving Size: 5

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast meat
  • 1 (10) ounce can of reduced-fat & sodium cream of chicken soup
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 (4) ounce can of diced green chile peppers, undrained
  • 1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 10 Mission small flour tortillas
  • 2 teaspoons canola oil mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of ground chipotle pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Mix all above ingredients (except flour tortillas, canola oil, and ground chipotle pepper) in a medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat.
  3. Place about 3 tablespoons of the chicken filling along the edge of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla up more tight than loose. Put a toothpick through the middle of the flauta to hold in place. Place on a sprayed large baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together the canola oil and ground chipotle pepper.

Lightly brush the flautas with the oil mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool. Remove toothpicks and slice each flauta on the diagonal. Transfer on your favorite fiesta platter, sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with low-fat sour cream and salsa.

I’m a fan of any recipe with cilantro in it. I think I’m a cilantro addict! I can’t wait until I’m snipping it fresh from the garden again in a few weeks.

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Spring Rice Krispy Treats

April 3, 2010 By 2 Comments
spring-flower-rice krispy treats

Here’s a fun spring treat idea you can make with your family! These Rice Krispies Treats® are also perfect for welcoming the warm weather of spring and summer.

Rice Krispies Treats® are so darn easy to make, and who doesn’t like them? I love the commercial when the lady sprinkles flour on her face so it makes her look like she’s spent hours in the kitchen when she brings out her Krispy treats.

Your kids will love helping you make and decorate these delicious spring treats. You can wrap them up for a spring party, or a garden tea. They’d also be fabulous for a Mother’s Day brunch.

Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies Treats® Springtime Flowers
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows – or – 4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies®
Canned frosting
Assorted candies

How to make it:

  1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
  2. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
  3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into flower shapes. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. Best if served the same day.

Microwave Rice Krispy Treat Directions:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Special Notes

  • For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
  • 1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
  • Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
  • Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.
  • To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Kellogg’s has reduced the sodium content of Rice Krispies to meet current consumer flavor- and nutrition-preferences. Rice Krispies Treats made with the lower sodium cereal taste great without any added salt, but, if you desire, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the butter before melting. Continue with recipe as directed.

Make them for treats for grandmas, aunts, mother in laws, and good friends for a special homemade Mother’s Day treat.

Image and recipe courtesy of Kellogg’s

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Spring Inspired Bouquets and Centerpieces

March 22, 2010 By 3 Comments
au ciel YGC centerpiece 3

Today I have some spring inspired bouquets and centerpieces for you to check out. When you think of flowers for spring, you immediately think pastels.

This spring, I want to challenge you to think outside the box, and take a look at these beautiful springtime bouquets and centerpieces from Minoo Hersini, Creative Director at Au Ciel Design Studio.

For me nothing says spring like green. These arrangements feature lively yellows, greens, whites and cream colors. Don’t be afraid to switch it up and be unique when you’re planning your spring bouquets!

One thing I love to include in my centerpieces is the unexpected, like fruits and vegetables, or herbs. Don’t forget you can add some of these elements into your spring or Easter arrangements.

Bringing in a little sunshine in a vase can definitely brighten a rainy spring day.

I could see several of these as fabulous Easter table centerpieces, for an Easter brunch.

Hopefully these lovely centerpieces will inspire you with ideas to create your own spring arrangements. You can check out more of Minoo Hersini’s spring decorating ideas at Au Ciel Design Studio.

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The Lenox Peeps Easter Collection

March 18, 2010 By 1 Comment
Lenox peeps basket

I absolutely love the Lenox Peeps Easter Collection! My favorite piece is this Lenox PEEPS Easter Basket. Aren’t those Bunny Peeps peeking over the edge sooo cute?
The basket would be fabulous as an Easter table centerpiece, along with this Lenox PEEPS Bunny and Chick Salt & Pepper Set.

Both the Lenox Peeps Basket and the Lenox Peeps Salt and Pepper set are hand painted, and constructed from Lenox fine china. Both also feature 24-carat gold rimming for an extra special touch.

Give your Easter party a whole Peeps theme. Use some Peeps for cupcake toppers, dip a few in chocolate, or make some Peep s’mores for your guests.

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Spicy Maple Bacon, Popcorn and Almond Buckets

October 19, 2009 By 1 Comment
Popcorn buckets

It’s fall party season, so today I thought I’d share a fun recipe from Diamond Nuts, and Pop Secret that would be great for fall parties. I think these popcorn buckets are really a cute idea! You can change the container, and the color of the tissue paper and you can use this for any party theme.

This recipe is from Chef Tina Salter, a cookbook author and creator of exclusive recipes for Diamond Foods. You can find more recipes for easy entertaining at the Feed Your Fingers website.

Popcorn buckets
Spicy Maple Bacon, Pop Secret Homestyle Popcorn with Diamond Almonds
Makes about 7 c.

  • 6 c. Pop Secret Homestyle Popcorn, popped
  • 12/3 c. (6 oz.) Diamond Sliced Almonds
  • 1 t. chipotle chile powder
  • 1/4 c. maple syrup
  • 3/4 c. bacon bits
  • 1/4 c. chopped Italian parsley
  • 1/2 t. sea salt crystals
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread Diamond Sliced Almonds on a large baking sheet. Toast, stirring occasionally, about 8 mins.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the toasted almonds, Pop Secret Homestyle Popcorn and chipotle chile powder; toss well.
  4. Add the maple syrup; toss again. Transfer the mixture to baking sheet; bake, stirring occasionally, until dry and toasty, about 20 mins.
  5. In a large serving bowl, combine nut and popcorn mixture, bacon bits, parsley and salt; toss well. Serve immediately.

Image and recipe fromDiamond Foods

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Outdoor Lighting Ideas For Fall Parties

September 28, 2009 By 3 Comments
paper jack o lantern fall party lighting

Just because the days are getting shorter, it doesn’t mean you have to move the party indoors. Fall is a great time to have an outdoor party. Kids love hay rides, bonfires, scavenger hunts, wiener roasts, and haunted houses.

I thought I’d put together a few outdoor lighting ideas for your fall party.

Autumn Leaves Paper String Lights

Autumn Leaves Paper String Lights are a great festive and decorative item for adding color and light to a fall or autumn party. Each string light has 10 lanterns, each made from molded paper to recreate autumn leaves.

Paper Jack-O-Lanterns ( set of 3)

This Set of 3 Paper Jack-O-Lanterns make for great Halloween lighting decorations, hang them indoors or outdoors. Each set of 3 includes a large (19.75″diam), medium (17.75″diam) and small (15.75″diam) lantern. Each lantern is made of paper with wire frame construction.

Bamboo String Lights

Decorate and light your garden or deck with these Bamboo String Lights. The natural tones will add a touch of uniqueness and understated elegance to any space. It comes with ten dyed bamboo lanterns and a white cord with end-to-end plugs.

Multicolor Accordion Paper Lantern String Lights (set of 10)

This beautiful Set of 10 Multicolor Accordion Paper Lantern String Lights will go great with fall color, and add a splash of color of their own. These paper lantern string lights come in a boxed set including ten accordion shaped paper lanterns in a variety of colors. Each accordion paper lantern features a floral print bottom with a hanging tassel.

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Pumpkin Serving Dishes

October 26, 2007 By 2 Comments

It’s a great time of the year to have pumpkins, so what else can you do with a pumpkin besides carve it?

Pumpkins make great serving dishes for harvest or Halloween parties. Just cut off the top, like you were going to carve the pumpkin. If you’re creative carve a fancy scallop, or decorative pattern along the top. Scoop out the seeds and pulp. Don’t forget to bake the seeds!

Coat the inside of the shell lightly with cooking oil and bake the pumpkin at 350` until the flesh of the pumpkin is tender. It makes a great serving container for sweet potatoes, pumpkin soup, cranberry dishes, and more. If you use the shell right out of the oven, the warmth of the shell will keep your dishes warm for up to a half an hour, especially if you put the lid on.

You can also do this with miniature pumpkins to make adorable individual serving dishes for soups, or fall deserts.
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