Kielbasa and Red Beans from halfmysize.com

I had this cookbook laying open on my cupboard, so I would have a reminder to make the casserole recipe on this same page.

It was lunchtime and I didn't have any leftovers when I saw this recipe...just tempting me to try it.

So I threw it together and we really enjoyed it.

Reminded me of the time we enjoyed chili over rice while on the beach in Hawaii 28 years ago this week - when we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. 

AAAHHHH - Sweet memories!!!!!!!

I appreciate that this cookbook gives nutritional info so you can fit it into the eating plan you're trying to follow.

Hope you'll enjoy it one day soon - we think it's delicious and will enjoy this simple dish again soon.

I used peach salsa and brown rice, because that's what I had on hand, but of course, you have that option to use what YOU have....

KIELBASA AND RED BEANS

(From halfmysize.com and The Better Baker)

1 - 14 ozs. pkg. smoked turkey sausage, sliced into 1/2" pieces

nonstick cooking spray

1 sm. onion, sliced or chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 - 15 ozs. can kidney beans, drained

1 c. salsa

(the peach salsa worked its 'magic' in this dish)

Salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes to taste

Dash of hot sauce, optional

Spray medium saucepan with nonstick cooking spray.  Saute garlic and onions about 2 minutes, until softened but not mushy.  Add smoked sausage; stir and cook sausage for 2 minutes.  Add beans, salsa, spices and hot sauce.  Just before it boils, lower heat;cover and simmer for about 25 minutes.  Serve over rice, if desired.  Serves 4

I didn't add salt or pepper while cooking, but added fresh ground pepper to the top when serving.

Nutritional info per serving: (doesn't include rice) Calories: 257; Fat: 5.3 gr., Fiber 4.3 gr.  

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY SUGARBEAR

TO MY PRECIOUS HUSBAND OF 43 YEARS!

MY MAN OF STEEL & VELVET....

HE'S THE

                                          L - Loving Leatherneck

                                          O - Outrageous Generosity

                                          V- Very Needed

                                          E - Eyes that still melt my heart 

        OF MY LIFE!


TIME SURE FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!


Here's a picture of us after Ron and his best buddy had just installed new backsplash (believe it or not, it's beautiful plastic) in my kitchen in the summer of '09!

(Only appropriate I would share a kitchen shot, don't you think? =)

My love of creating in the kitchen has surely added to our waistlines after 43 years!

As I placed in the dedication of my cookbook to him...he always eats anything I fix for him...what a guy!

A humorous story from our whirlwind wedding weekend...

Ron had just returned from his 3rd tour (2 voluntary) of Vietnam in February 1968. We had been engaged for about 9 months. (We began dating two weeks before he graduated from high school.  I was a sophomore).

A week before he was heading to South Carolina to go through USMC Drill Instructor school...we decided to get married.  We planned our wedding in 3 days! We had 150 guests at our ceremony!

Because of the short notice, we kinda figured we'd get fewer gifts and more $$.

When we walked into the reception room, there were two long tables piled high with gifts.

We received $7 in cash on our wedding day!

(Yes, someone put $2 in a card for us!=)

We still chuckle over that one.

Don't get me wrong - we were thankful...just surprised!

         <3  <3  <3  <3  <3  <3  <3  <3 

I just happened to come across this a few days ago...it's my post for our anniversary last year...if you have time, feel free to take a look-see....=)
We do love our country and the US flag!

HAPPY 42ND ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Easy Peasy Butterscotch Fiber One No-Bake Cookies

How can ya beat it? 

Three simple ingredients and a few minutes and you will have one delicious 'healthier' treat!

It may only make 9 cookies, but they are good-sized...'several bites' cookies!

If you like 'haystacks' made with chow mein noodles, you'll love these too.

Let me just say...I LOOOOVE THESE TREATS!!

I enjoy eating Fiber One cereal right from the box.  It's crunchy & sweet and has lots of good fiber.

Weight Watcher points (prior to PointsPlus) per cookie - 1 pt. or a (very low) 2

BUTTERSCOTCH FIBER ONE COOKIES

(From Halfmysize.com)

1-1/2 c. Fiber One cereal

2 Tb. reduced-fat peanut butter

1/2 c. butterscotch chips

In a medium glass bowl, combine peanut butter and butterscotch chips.  Microwave for 30 seconds; stir mixture and microwave for 20 more seconds, if necessary for mixture to melt.  Stir in cereal.  Drop cookies onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Refrigerate until firm.  Store in refrigerator.  Yield: 9 cookies

Nutritional info per serving: Calories: 104; Fat: 5.1 gr; Fiber: 4.9 gr.

DE-LISH!!

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight

Cherry Chip Cheesecake Bars - A Contest-Winning Recipe (5 Ingredients)

PSALM 34:8 - O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

I'm so honored and thrilled to be able to share with you my prize winnings from a recent dessert contest online at The Book Club Network!

I will share the winning recipe at the bottom of this post.  One of my all-time faves!!

Cherry Chip Cheesecake Bars.

I won a $100 gift card to a high-end kitchen store online - Chef's Resource - where they advertise 'tools for the serious home chef', and I also received two autographed books.... 

"Always the Baker and Never the Bride" is a humorous book written by Sandie Bicker. The other is a mystery - "Deadly Ties" - by Vicki Hinze.  I've been privileged to get emails from both these gals too.

I'm looking forward to reading both of these special gifts.

I decided I should get a 9" X 13" dish to bake the winning recipe in, so this is what I settled on...it is seriously gorgeous too!

It has glazed enamel on the inside and outside. I love that it has a gasket around the top so it fits tightly onto the bottom.  You can write on it with permanent marker and it washes off!  What a great feature!  It's also microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. 

You can't beat that combination!

I'm loving it! in my red, white & blue kitchen!

I also chose this set of star shaped ramekins by Le Creuset suitable for baking. Oh what fun it will be to use them all year long, but especially for patriotic celebrations!

Adorable aren't they???? I'm soo tickled for them.

Now for the winning recipe! It has only 5 simple ingredients! And it's easy to make too.

(I made them in the new dish the day after it arrived....what fun!)

WARNING:  This is not a low sugar recipe. =)

CHERRY CHIP CHEESECAKE BARS

1-18 oz. pkg. cherry chip cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 - 8 ozs. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 - 16 oz. tub cherry ready-to-spread frosting
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat cake mix (dry) and butter in large bowl on low speed until crumbly; reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9" X 13" X 2" baking pan. Beat cream cheese and frosting in bowl together on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs and blend well. Pour over crust - sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake about 45 minutes or until set; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cut into bars (or small squares as they are rich)  - refrigerate any leftovers.

(My daughter-in-love, Kym, has made this recipe using cream cheese frosting and it was wonderful too!)


I won $100 from the national publication - American Profile - a few years ago - for an awesome butternut squash casserole. I've been told it tastes like dessert.  *-*

AP has published 6 of my recipes in their Hometown for the Holidays cookbook also.

​


Linked to A Themed Bakers Sunday
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Breakfast from Halfmysize.com

(HA - I just learned this morning that today is National Cereal Day!  How about that?  I had already posted this beforehand.  I love it when that happens!=)

Something else I realized just this morning...this is my #300th post! YOWZA!
I'm sure my daughter is giggling because when she first set this blog up for me, I told her I couldn't imagine that I could come up with many posts??? Thanks Deb for having faith in me...=)

We love oatmeal at our house, and often enjoy it for our Sunday evening meal.  With whole wheat toast - MMM!   I love the crunchy texture along with the soft.

I'm trying to eat it a little more often after having been told my cholesterol is a tad high.

I was tickled to find this recipe in this great cookbook, especially because I've been making my own version for some time.

I can't imagine anyone - especially kids - not wanting to woof this down.

My mom would surprise us by putting a few chocolate chips under our oatmeal, so when we stirred it, it turned chocolate-y.  What a special treat!

My Grandma always fixed us oatmeal with raisins when she'd come to visit.

I still love those plumped up raisins!  Always reminds me of my grandma.  (She always seemed to burn our toast too, so I am rather fond of toast on the darker side even now!)  

Funny how that works huh?

Anyway - my version...that I have dubbed "No Bake Cookie Oatmeal' is prepared this way...

I

I hope that doesn't look disgusting to you! 

Once you know what it is, I think you'll say MMMM too!

I measure out my oatmeal and water according to package directions - I do prefer the old- fashioned oats with some real texture to them, but whatever kind you prefer is fine.  

Cook it in the microwave, then when I'm ready to eat it, I plop in a TB. of peanut butter, and add atleast 1 TB. LITE chocolate syrup.

Stir and you're ready to enjoy dessert for breakfast.

FYI - I compared calories/fat of the ff cocoa mix to the lite chocolate syrup...

The cocoa mix has 50 cals/0 fat per envelope

The LITE syrup contains 45 cals/.5 fat per 2 Tb.

So it really shouldn't change the nutritional value much at all.

Here's the original recipe:

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BREAKFAST

(From Halfmysize.com and The Better Baker)

1/2 c. (instant) oatmeal

1 env. fat free hot cocoa mix with calcium

1 Tb. reduced-fat peanut butter

1/2 - 3/4 c. water

dash of salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients. Cook over medium heat until thick or microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Serve warm. Serves 1.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 285; Fat: 8 gr.; Fiber: 5 gr.

Give it a try - and get healthy while enjoying this tasty dish.

Linked to Breakfast Inspirations Monday