Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups Honey Maid Graham Crumbs
- 1/2 cup sugar, divided
- 6 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 2 pkg. (250 g each) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened (I used Light Cream Cheese Spread)
- 3 cups cold milk, divided
- 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) Jell-O Lemon Instant Pudding
- 3 cups thawed Cool Whip Light Whipped Topping
Steps
1. MIX graham crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and butter until well blended
2. Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
3. BEAT cream cheese, remaining sugar and 1/4 cup milk with whisk until well blended.
4. Spread over crust.
5. BEAT pudding mixes and remaining milk with whisk 3 min.
6. Pour over cream cheese layer in pan. Let stand 5 min. or until thickened
7. Cover with Cool Whip.
8. Refrigerate 4 hours.
- Kraft Canada
Friday, 3 January 2014
Recipe: Banana Choco Chip Loaf
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Butter/Margarine (softened)
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 3 Mashed Ripe Bananas
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 3/4 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Steps
1. Mash bananas with a fork
2. Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl.
3. Add eggs to the butter and sugar, one at a time. Beat until smooth
4. Blend in the mashed bananas.
5. In a second bowl, stir flour with baking soda, baking powder and chocolate chips.
6. Add this to the banana mixture, and stir to moisten.
7. Transfer to a greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
8. Bake at 350˚ F for about 1 hour (until inserted toothpick comes out clean).
9. Let stand 10 minutes.
10. Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool.
11. Wrap to store it.
Optional
I didn't add the 1/2 tsp of salt, but I'm sure you could.
If you prefer nuts to chocolate chips, you can add 1 Cup of Chopped Walnuts.
- Company's Coming: Muffins & More
- 1/2 Cup Butter/Margarine (softened)
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 3 Mashed Ripe Bananas
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 3/4 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Steps
1. Mash bananas with a fork
2. Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl.
3. Add eggs to the butter and sugar, one at a time. Beat until smooth
4. Blend in the mashed bananas.
5. In a second bowl, stir flour with baking soda, baking powder and chocolate chips.
6. Add this to the banana mixture, and stir to moisten.
7. Transfer to a greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
8. Bake at 350˚ F for about 1 hour (until inserted toothpick comes out clean).
9. Let stand 10 minutes.
10. Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool.
11. Wrap to store it.
Optional
I didn't add the 1/2 tsp of salt, but I'm sure you could.
If you prefer nuts to chocolate chips, you can add 1 Cup of Chopped Walnuts.
- Company's Coming: Muffins & More
Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
• 1 flour tortilla (I used whole wheat)
• 1/2 cup diced cook chicken (we used the pre-cooked chicken from the deli, and I took the skin off)
• 1/4 cup green peppers
• 1 slice of cheddar brick cheese, cut into thin slivers
• 1 Tbsp. Salsa
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F
2. Cut up chicken into small pieces, cut green peppers into cubes, cut cheese into slivers.
3. Place tortilla shell onto baking pan.
4. Spoon salsa onto one half of the tortilla shell.
5. Add chicken onto salsa.
6. Place cheese slivers onto chicken.
7. Sprinkle green peppers on top.
8. Fold tortilla over.
9. Cook in oven for 10 minutes. Flip to the other side. Cook for another 8-10 minutes.
• 1 flour tortilla (I used whole wheat)
• 1/2 cup diced cook chicken (we used the pre-cooked chicken from the deli, and I took the skin off)
• 1/4 cup green peppers
• 1 slice of cheddar brick cheese, cut into thin slivers
• 1 Tbsp. Salsa
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F
2. Cut up chicken into small pieces, cut green peppers into cubes, cut cheese into slivers.
3. Place tortilla shell onto baking pan.
4. Spoon salsa onto one half of the tortilla shell.
5. Add chicken onto salsa.
6. Place cheese slivers onto chicken.
7. Sprinkle green peppers on top.
8. Fold tortilla over.
9. Cook in oven for 10 minutes. Flip to the other side. Cook for another 8-10 minutes.
Recipe: Stove Top Chicken/Turkey Pie
Ingredients
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 pkg (120 g.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken [you can use whatever brand you like!]
• 1 lb cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces [or use leftover turkey/chicken]
• 1 can low fat condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/3 cup light sour cream
• 1 cup part skim mozzarella shredded cheese
• 2 cups frozen mixed veggies, thawed and drained
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 400˚F.
2. Add hot water to stuffing mix, and stir until moistened. Set aside.
3. Place chicken in baking dish.
4. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese and vegetables together.
5. Spoon the mixture over the chicken.
6. Top with prepared stuffing.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Kraft Canada
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 pkg (120 g.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken [you can use whatever brand you like!]
• 1 lb cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces [or use leftover turkey/chicken]
• 1 can low fat condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/3 cup light sour cream
• 1 cup part skim mozzarella shredded cheese
• 2 cups frozen mixed veggies, thawed and drained
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 400˚F.
2. Add hot water to stuffing mix, and stir until moistened. Set aside.
3. Place chicken in baking dish.
4. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese and vegetables together.
5. Spoon the mixture over the chicken.
6. Top with prepared stuffing.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Kraft Canada
Recipe: Tender Italian Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
• 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup tomato or pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup italian dressing
• 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• pasta (your choice)
Steps
1. In 2 L microwaveable casserole dish, arrange slices of onions.
2. Add chicken thighs on top of the onions.
3. Combine sauce, dressing and oregano together in a bowl.
4. Stir sauce mixture over chicken.
5. Cook covered in microwave on MED-HIGH power for 13 minutes.
6. Stir in zucchini. Cook for 2-4 more minutes.
7. Add cheese.
8. Serve over pasta.
• 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup tomato or pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup italian dressing
• 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• pasta (your choice)
Steps
1. In 2 L microwaveable casserole dish, arrange slices of onions.
2. Add chicken thighs on top of the onions.
3. Combine sauce, dressing and oregano together in a bowl.
4. Stir sauce mixture over chicken.
5. Cook covered in microwave on MED-HIGH power for 13 minutes.
6. Stir in zucchini. Cook for 2-4 more minutes.
7. Add cheese.
8. Serve over pasta.
Recipe: Lemon Poppyseed Muffins [with a mix]
Ingredients
• Duncan Heines Lemon Cake Mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/4 cup poppyseeds
Steps
1. Put mix, eggs, water and oil in a large bowl.
2. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds (to moisten).
3. Mix at medium speed for 1 1/2-2 minutes.
4. Nearing the end of those 2 minutes, add in the poppyseeds and continue to mix.
5. Place paper baking cups into muffin/cupcake pan.
6. Pour two large spoonfuls of mix into paper cups
7. Cook for 18-20 minutes in 350˚F oven.
• Duncan Heines Lemon Cake Mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/4 cup poppyseeds
Steps
1. Put mix, eggs, water and oil in a large bowl.
2. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds (to moisten).
3. Mix at medium speed for 1 1/2-2 minutes.
4. Nearing the end of those 2 minutes, add in the poppyseeds and continue to mix.
5. Place paper baking cups into muffin/cupcake pan.
6. Pour two large spoonfuls of mix into paper cups
7. Cook for 18-20 minutes in 350˚F oven.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Book Review: Forgotten
Forgotten
by Catherine McKenzie
2012
367 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
Emma Tupper, a young lawyer with a bright future, sets out on a journey after her mother’s death: to Africa, a place her mother always wanted to visit. But her mother’s dying gift has unexpected consequences. Emma falls ill during the trip and is just recovering when a massive earthquake hits, turning her one-month vacation into a six-month ordeal.
When Emma returns home, she’s shocked to find that her friends and colleagues believed she was dead, that her apartment has been rented to a stranger and that her life has gone on without her. Can Emma pick up where she left off? Should she? As Emma struggles to recreate her old life, everyone around her thinks she should change – her job, her relationships, and even herself. But does she really want to sacrifice everything she’s working so hard to gain?
Rating: 4/5 Stars
My Review
I really enjoyed this book. I got it as a gift from Alex last Christmas, and I regret not reading it earlier. It was a "quicker" read, and definitely not as fluffy as I thought it would be. The dialogue was realistic, as were the characters - and I appreciated that. I could picture the events happening, and I personally enjoyed Stephanie as a character the most. Dominic was kind of annoying, and Craig was just weak. The main character was good and believable, and I enjoyed watching her interact with everyone, after they assumed she had died. There was definitely bits of humour in it. I'll be reading more of her books in the near future!
by Catherine McKenzie
2012
367 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
Emma Tupper, a young lawyer with a bright future, sets out on a journey after her mother’s death: to Africa, a place her mother always wanted to visit. But her mother’s dying gift has unexpected consequences. Emma falls ill during the trip and is just recovering when a massive earthquake hits, turning her one-month vacation into a six-month ordeal.
When Emma returns home, she’s shocked to find that her friends and colleagues believed she was dead, that her apartment has been rented to a stranger and that her life has gone on without her. Can Emma pick up where she left off? Should she? As Emma struggles to recreate her old life, everyone around her thinks she should change – her job, her relationships, and even herself. But does she really want to sacrifice everything she’s working so hard to gain?
Rating: 4/5 Stars
My Review
I really enjoyed this book. I got it as a gift from Alex last Christmas, and I regret not reading it earlier. It was a "quicker" read, and definitely not as fluffy as I thought it would be. The dialogue was realistic, as were the characters - and I appreciated that. I could picture the events happening, and I personally enjoyed Stephanie as a character the most. Dominic was kind of annoying, and Craig was just weak. The main character was good and believable, and I enjoyed watching her interact with everyone, after they assumed she had died. There was definitely bits of humour in it. I'll be reading more of her books in the near future!
Book Review: Crystal Cove
Crystal Cove (Friday Harbour #4)
by Lisa Kleypas
2013
320 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
On the island of Friday Harbor, magic is in the air—and destiny is a force too powerful to defy…
As the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, Justine Hoffman has the life she has always wanted. But there is still something missing: Love. A spell was cast on Justine when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. But she is nothing if not determined and eventually Justine finds a way to break the enchantment—never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow…
Rating: 2/5 Stars
My Review
This was an alright story. I gave it a try because it was a new author featured at the library. The plotline was a little off for me - the background of the main character wasn't really well explained. I understood that she was a witch, but it never went into detail about her relationship with her family, which I think would have made me understand her a bit more. There was a lot more sex than I was expecting (and I don't mind books with sex in them, but it just seemed to take over the plot and story). I don't know if I'll read more of hers. This just wasn't what I was expecting.
by Lisa Kleypas
2013
320 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
On the island of Friday Harbor, magic is in the air—and destiny is a force too powerful to defy…
As the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, Justine Hoffman has the life she has always wanted. But there is still something missing: Love. A spell was cast on Justine when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. But she is nothing if not determined and eventually Justine finds a way to break the enchantment—never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow…
Rating: 2/5 Stars
My Review
This was an alright story. I gave it a try because it was a new author featured at the library. The plotline was a little off for me - the background of the main character wasn't really well explained. I understood that she was a witch, but it never went into detail about her relationship with her family, which I think would have made me understand her a bit more. There was a lot more sex than I was expecting (and I don't mind books with sex in them, but it just seemed to take over the plot and story). I don't know if I'll read more of hers. This just wasn't what I was expecting.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
2008
274 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways
Rating: 5/5 Stars
My Review:
This was such a good book! It was written all in letters/telegrams between the characters, and they were all written elegantly but with lots of genuine emotion or humour in them. The book takes place in post WWII, and revolves around the lives of people living in the Guernsey Islands during the German occupation. I love that we got to meet such neat characters, and see how they all connected to one another. I enjoyed the main character Juliet, and I found her to be a really believable character. All the characters were quite believable actually!
The book was a refreshing read. It touched on serious topics like the effect of the war on citizens of Guernsey Island, concentration camps, and the reality of families being separated for those five years of horror. There was an underlying love story and it wasn't overpowering, which was nice for a change. It allowed us to focus on Juliet's story and Elizabeth's story.
I highly recommend this book to people who love to read good classics like Pride & Prejudice, because the language is just beautiful!
by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
2008
274 Pages
Synopsis from Goodreads
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways
Rating: 5/5 Stars
My Review:
This was such a good book! It was written all in letters/telegrams between the characters, and they were all written elegantly but with lots of genuine emotion or humour in them. The book takes place in post WWII, and revolves around the lives of people living in the Guernsey Islands during the German occupation. I love that we got to meet such neat characters, and see how they all connected to one another. I enjoyed the main character Juliet, and I found her to be a really believable character. All the characters were quite believable actually!
The book was a refreshing read. It touched on serious topics like the effect of the war on citizens of Guernsey Island, concentration camps, and the reality of families being separated for those five years of horror. There was an underlying love story and it wasn't overpowering, which was nice for a change. It allowed us to focus on Juliet's story and Elizabeth's story.
I highly recommend this book to people who love to read good classics like Pride & Prejudice, because the language is just beautiful!
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Recipe: Macaroni & Cheese
A classic family favourite of mine! Everyone loves a good homemade mac & cheese casserole. Here's the recipe for mine :)
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 cups elbow macaroni
- 5 Tbsp flour
- 5 Tbsp butter/margarine
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I prefer medium cheddar)
- 20-25 crushed crackers
Steps
1. Cook macaroni in a large pot.
2. Grease casserole dish.
3. Set oven to 350 degrees.
4. In a medium saucepan, melt butter/margarine, over medium heat.
5. Remove saucepan from heat and add flour. Mix in with butter. Put saucepan back on burner.
6. Add half the amount of milk and stir in. Let set for a bit.
7. Add the remaining milk and mix until starting to thicken.
8. Add half the amount of cheese and let thicken.
9. Drain pasta and add to casserole dish.
10. Pour sauce over pasta and mix in.
11. Add the remaining cheese and mix in.
12. Pour cracker crumbs over top and smooth.
13. Cook in oven for 40-45 minutes.
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