Easy Microwave Cauliflower and Cheese

Did you see my blog post from yesterday? 

If so, did you wonder "What was that orange stuff?" on the plate with the quesadillas?

I'm here to tell you today....

I don't eat enough vegetables, but...

I'm Crazy for Cauliflower, especially with Cheese.

I don't enjoy cleaning it...raw...cutting off the dark parts...breaking/cutting  it into pieces - and having it fly all over the place!

Nevertheless, I know it's good for me.

But give me a head of cauliflower and most likely this will be the way I want to fix it.

It's so easy and delicious!

Add a little water to the baking dish - cover with plastic wrap (or waxed paper) and zap until tender....then top with a mayo/onion/mustard combo...and cheese....

YUUUUUMM!!!

This is how I cut it into servings...

Just dish it up into servings - one big piece at a time.

I've had this recipe for many years and can't begin to remember where I got it, but do hope you'll give it a try.

MICROWAVE CAULIFLOWER & CHEESE

1 med. head of cauliflower
2 Tb. water
3/4 c. mayonnaise
1 Tb. onions, finely chopped
1 tsp. brown mustard
1/2 - 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Clean and core cauliflower.  Leave whole; place in 1-1/2 qt. microwavable casserole dish with water; cover with plastic wrap (or waxed paper if you avoid using plastic in the M/W). Cook at full power for about 10 - 12 minutes, until tender-crisp. (Be careful when removing plastic wrap so the steam doesn't burn you),
In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, onions, and mustard. Spoon mixture over top of cauliflower; sprinkle with cheese; cook full power for 1-1/2 - 2 minutes; uncovered.  Let stand 2 minutes before serving.

{Be sure to check in between cooking times, because of difference in microwaves}

Yield: 4 - 5 servings

What a great way to dress up our friend the cauliflower!! 

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Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Cheese
Weekend Potluck

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Chicken Quesadillas

I don't always celebrate this special holiday, but I'm always ready to

celebrate my favorite ethnic food - Mexican!  OLE!

I did take a couple of years of Spanish in high school.

You know how easily we lose things when we don't use them, right?...so I really don't remember much.

But I don't have to speak Spanish in order to enjoy eating it, right?

Hubby and I enjoy Chicken Quesadillas often and anytime I share this recipe, it seems it becomes a favorite for others as well.

OK - so here's another cream cheese recipe!

If you haven't figured it out already, cream cheese is my favorite product...so put that in my favorite ethnic food and I'm ready for a party...and probably a siesta after that.  *-*

If you don't care for cream cheese, I feel sorry for you...

I just can't help myself.  I loooove the creaminess and taste!

I use it in sooo many recipes.

This is definitely a very favorite dish!

Since I first tried this amazingly simple recipe, I've not looked back, and we just keep enjoying them every time I make them.

There aren't very many repeated dishes in my kitchen, but this is definitely one that is.

These are really very easy to put together...

I mix - by hand - equal parts of cream cheese and salsa.

After I cook the chicken and dice it, I add the chicken to the cc/salsa mixture, then place the ingredients inside a tortilla (we like whole wheat), add grated cheese and onions and some black beans if you want...

then use my foreman grill to cook them quickly.

OH YUM!!!  Or should I say...MUY BIEN!! 

Here's a basic recipe to try...add more cream cheese or salsa to your liking.

Quick & Easy CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

(From The Better Baker)

1 8 ozs. pkg. cream cheese, softened

3/4 - 1 c. salsa

3 c. cooked chicken, chopped

1 - 2 c. (mexican) shredded cheese (I used 2%)

1/2 med. onion, chopped

soft flour tortillas

black beans, sliced black olives, optional

Mix cream cheese and salsa until blended. Stir in chicken by hand.  To prepare quesadillas, spread chicken mixture over half of the tortilla, sprinkling with cheese and onion. Fold tortilla in half; heat until cheese is melted; serve with sour cream, if desired, and enjoy. Sprinkle beans or olives over cheese before heating.

I do love to use my foreman grill for ease in this recipe, but the tortillas can also be heated on both sides in a skillet.

Thought I'd also share this link for ideas for easy cheese & veggie quesadillas...

vegetarian quesadillas

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup

Spiced Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Granola

I was very intrigued when I found this recipe at Lisa's Sweet as Sugar Cookies.

I love crunch, so this granola really satisfies me.

And pumpkin isn't just for baking with in the fall...I love it all year long!

After I made it, I got a brainstorm to mix it with fruit and yogurt and make a parfait.  It was as good as it looks. 

I simply layered the granola with sliced bananas and yogurt. 

Of course, you could use whatever fruit you have on hand...even canned.

Delicious and nutritious!


PUMPKIN GRANOLA

1/4 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. brown sugar (I used 1/4 c. brown sugar blend)
2 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (I increased the spices)
1 tsp. kosher salt (I used sea salt)
3 c. old-fashioned oats
2 c. nuts (I used almonds)
2 c. dried fruits (I used dried apricots and assorted berries)


Preheat oven to 325F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add oats and nuts; toss to coat. Spread evenly on baking sheet and bake 30 min., stirring halfway through (I'd recommend letting it go for an hour). Stir in dried fruit and continue baking until oats are just crisp, about 10-15 min. more. Stir one last time; then set aside to cool completely. When hard, break into chunks and store in an airtight container.

I'm thrilled....My first blogging award!

As the saying goes....I'm as happy as a lark! *-*

I've been 'bestowed' this honor by my friend, Lark of Lark's Country Heart

She's a new blogging friend and I love her easy and 'country-fied' recipes.

Thanks Lark!! for sharing this with me...

(Stay tuned...Lark will have a guest post on my blog

in the next few weeks while I'm on vacation=)

Here are the RULES that come with accepting this award:


#1 You Thank the person who awarded it to You and list a link back to them.


#2 Tell (7) things about yourself. *Mine are listed below*


#3 Pay it forward by awarding it to (15) recently found new blogger.

#4 Contact the Blogger you have awarded & make them aware.
(This is what I needed time to do - TBB)

Here is my list:

1. I've been married to the same wonderful man for over 43 years and we are still madly in love! *-*

2. I'm proud to be mom to 3 special adults, and nana to 8 precious 'grands.'

3. My faith and my family are the most important things in my life. I love Jesus and stay busy serving Him in several ministries within our local church.

4. I had my own cookbook published in August 2010 and am still living in Dreamland. 

5. I love anything purple! Especially clothes.

6. I am blessed with the gift of encouragement and have a card ministry. I mail atleast 40 cards a month. I strongly believe in not allowing technology to allow us to lose the special touch of a handwritten note.

7. I'd been a nail biter/picker all my life, but the day I got the call my first shipment of cookbooks were coming, and I knew I would be doing booksignings, I had incentive to break that terrible habit...and let my nails grow out.  It's one of my greatest accomplishments in life! (It has also eased my concerns about laying in my casket with nasty hands - ha)


My list of new bloggers:

Angie - A'lil Country Sugar
Lisa - Sweet as Sugar Cookies
Betsy - My Five Men
Joelle - Joelle
Kay - Cooking with K
Amee - Amee's Savory Dish
Kagi - Sweetened by Kagi
Amber - This Mommy Cooks
Ron - The Old Geezer
Denise - The Bread Fairy
Marcia - Frugal Homekeeping
Lisa - Flour Me With Love
Miz Helen - Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Amanda - Eating in Winnipeg
Jamie - My Baking Addiction
Dorothy - Crazy for Crust

Waffle Iron Cookies

Have you ever tried this unique idea?

COOKIES BAKED IN A WAFFLE IRON???

I'm not kidding!

I've even won a BLUE RIBBON for this recipe at Just a Pinch Online Recipe Club.

I use to make these when my kids were young, and was tickled when I came across the recipe recently. 

They're as delicious as I remember them!

I took a picture from this angle because I wanted you to see how thick they are!

Quick & easy too.  I love that about any recipe.

And they bake fast - whoever heard of baking cookies for 45 seconds?  *-*

The dough is thick and fudgy, and the cookies are too.

I mix them by hand because it is so thick.

How fun to make 4 at once!

I frost them when they're cooled, but I wanted to be sure you got to see them pre-frosting. (I used store-purchased frosting, but use your favorite).

Fun huh?  Hope you and your kids will all enjoy this great cookie! 

WAFFLE IRON COOKIES

1/2 c. margarine

4 Tb. baking cocoa (I heaped them)

2 eggs

3/4 c. sugar

1 c. flour

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

In medium bowl, melt margarine and cocoa.  Stir in eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla and salt. Drop by teaspoonsful onto hot waffle iron, baking several at a time.

Bake about 45 seconds. (Each waffle iron temp may vary?) Frost when cool.

And if you really want to splurge, top a cookie with ice cream and fudge sauce!  YOWZA!!!!!!!!

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Linked to Sweets for a Saturday

              Sharing Sundays

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           Ingredient Spotlight - Baking Cocoa