Spinach dip

This is one of my favorite dips, it's so easy

Spinach dip from the recipe on the packet of Knorr vegetable soup mix

1 packet Knorr vegetable soup mix
1 box frozen chopped spinach defrosted and squeezed dry
2 cans sliced water chestnuts recipe calls for one but I like two
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
chopped green onions to taste

Mix everything and serve, I like it right away like in the picture it does firm up chilled. I serve with jicama, cucumber and radish slices

Stuffed zucchini

Easy as 1 2 3. We had a yard sale on Saturday with some of our neighbors, I was exhausted and forgot to harvest the zucchini in my garden so they got huge. I decided to make stuffed zucchini with them.

1 Raw zucchini halves.

2 Then stuffed and topped with cheese.

3 Baked and ready to devour.

Here's what I did.

Stuffed zucchini

2 large zucchini halved and seeded (I chop one half of one zucchini for the filling)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or any ground meat)
1 medium onion chopped
1/2 orange pepper chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
garlic to taste chopped (I used 6 cloves)
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon pappys 50% less salt seasoning
1/2 teaspoon herbamare seasoning
pepper to taste
2 cups grated cheese (I used mozzarella)
parmesan cheese to taste

Scrape seeds out of zucchini making a well for the stuffing, chopping one half of one zucchini for the filling. Brown ground beef with everything except spaghetti sauce and cheeses. When sauteed stir in some of the cheeses and spaghetti sauce. Fill zucchini and top with more cheese, bake on a foil lined cookie sheet at 375 for 45 to 60 minutes. If it browns to fast you can cover it with foil towards the end. You don't need giant zucchini you can make it with smaller ones just fine.

Bonbons

I got to thinking when I made a magic shell topping for some ice cream that it might work to cover little squares of ice cream to make bonbons, so I tried it. They turned out delicious and so cute!

I took a slice of ice cream that had been in the freezer, sliced it in little squares and then put it back in the freezer to make the magic shell coating. I used half a lindt 85% chocolate bar broken up with a couple tablespoons of coconut oil melted it in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds till almost melted then adding a couple squirts of liquid stevia. I used a wooden skewer to pick up the squares of ice cream. First I covered the bottom with chocolate and rested them on a foil lined cookie sheet that had been in the freezer then I put them back in the freezer for a few minutes, when the shell hardens up I take them out again and using a skewer to hold them while I spoon the melted chocolate mixture over the top and sides, then back in the freezer they go. Make a lot they get eaten up fast!

Roasted bone-in chicken breasts

I usually roast whole chickens but I got some nice bone-in chicken breast on clearance for .50 a lb. Chicken breasts are so good roasted. All I did is sprinkle some Pappys 50% less salt seasoning, a couple tablespoons of softened unsalted butter and roasted on 425 for 30 to 45 minutes. They are nicely browned and juicy.

Swallowtail in my garden

I'm so excited to share, my garden had a visit from a swallowtail butterfly, I believe it was just hatched and was drying it's wings in the sun.


Now if I only could get some pictures of my hummingbird visitors!

Strawberry ice cream

I picked up some luscious strawberries from the farmers market and my family all voted to make ice cream with them.

Strawberry ice cream

2 cups cold cream
2 cups strawberry puree
2 tablespoons strawberry torani syrup
2 tablespoons xylitol
2 pasteurized eggs (instructions here)
few drops of stevia
1 cup diced strawberries

assemble everything except diced strawberries in a bowl, chill, then churn in ice cream maker for 30 minutes add diced strawberries and enjoy with your family.

Cinnamon pork rinds

It does sound weird, I know it did take me a while to actually try making these but they are so good!!!

In a bowl with a lid put an ounce of pork rinds cover them with a couple of teaspoons of ground cinnamon put the lid on a shake up then add a couple of tablespoons of granular splenda and shake again. These are so good if you just have to have something crunchy and sweet.