Sherry Strawberry "Jam" and Brie Grilled Cheese

Well I've been sitting on this recipe for a couple weeks as anyone who follows this blog will know.  Between being away from town camping, and then kids being gone we've been working through left overs and truthfully a fair bit of eating out. 

Kids are home for a week here and it's time to finish off the recipes from the last eating list.  So today I broke out this recipe and here we go:

Original Inspiration recipe here.

Strawberry Jam:
1 cup sherry (or Red wine)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup strawberries sliced
3 tbs Flour (cornstarch would be preferred!)

Put the Sherry (or Red wine), water and sugar into the pot.  Bring to a simmer for several minutes and then add teh sliced strawberries in. Simmer for a couple more minutes.  While this is going on create the slurry to thicken with mix the flour/cornstarch with just enough cold water to dilute it. First off- flour was NOT the plan.  Cornstarch is the original recipe calls for and what I planned for- until I discovered I am OUT of it.  OK really it possibly has never existed in my pantry.  SO a quick Google panic and I put flour in instead.  They say 2-3tb's for each tbs of corn starch.  So i used 6tbs but ended up only putting 1/2 of that in.  So in the end I only used the 3Tbs so that's what I've got in the recipe. Stir in and once it thickens up a bit remove from heat- pour into a container and place in fridge for a couple hours to set.

Of course after all that panic over not having cornstarch and the completion of the above i found gelatin in my pantry.  Color me embarrassed I guess that could have been an option too!

Creates 2cups- approximatly 16 (2 tbs/servings) servings
WW points/serving: 1!

For the sandwhich- fairly simple make just like a grilled cheese. We make our own bread often so this was standard white bread made via our bread maker. Butter the outside of the bread- place a slice of brie cheese on and then some jam- cook until melted and golden brown!

WW Points for 1 Sandwhich with 1 oz brie, 1tbs butter and 2tbs jam: 10

What would I change? The jam tastes good straight from the container- but a bit more sugar could be used. As well i think this would be TO DIE FOR with a big stronger cheese- especially cream cheese!

Mudroom Closet Make Over

Well I hate to admit but my mudroom closet was a sad story. We put some shelves in last year (it came with just a shelf around the top) and that helped but things were never organized from the original move in.  It's been the go to pile- something needs to move? toss it in the mud room closet!
My summer plan involves organizing and rearranging several key areas of the house this summer.  We don't have the cash to do major renovations- but simple organization is easily done on a budget.

I started with Home Depot- where I had priced out the best cheap containers. Two sizes $3.98 and $4.98! Can't beat that! They aren't the strongest- but they are clear- have a flip top lid and work.  Great for this kind of thing where we'll just be in and out of things a few times a year. The label maker came out and even though the boxes are clear they are labeled so even the kids can figure out (hopefully) where things go.

Before: note this is after I cleared out the floor- the closet is just about 3' deep and has shelves on both short ends and across the long side.

A lot of stuff hit the garbage bin, the donation bin and a few things moved to the shed (Horse stuff) where they really belonged.  But most of this did enter back in. Christmas Ornaments fit into 3 bins- 1 large and 2 'mini' and voila our after (Sorry you can't see the floor but it's pretty much empty.  There is one box (air mattress and pump) with my dog grooming dryer and my rolling container that has all the dog grooming stuff.  On the other side of the floor is winter boots that still fitthe kids for next year and the rolling frame for the air mattress.

What's that? There's shelf space- yes sir there is.  And floor space! it's great!

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Yes the next day in recipes was a bit late coming.  We've been off showing dogs and camping the last two weeks and the kids have been off at their dad's.  So I've been burning through left overs and doing some tent trailer cooking.  We're back home and now ready to get back onto our cooking.

Original inspiration for this recipe comes from here.  By the time I got to cooking this today we were short on a few ingredients so this is what i've tossed in the pot:

1 can Cream of Chicken Condensed
1 can Cream of Celery Condenced
3 medium potatoes peeled and sliced
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 chopped onion
3-4 breasts Chicken- deboned (we used 3)
2 packages Biscuit dough.

Place soups, potatoes, onion, celery, juice and chicken into crock pot and cook on high.  Our crock pot has a meat probe so we cooked until the chicken was almost done (about 4 hours).  Then tear up and put in the two packages of biscuits and cook until no longer raw on low (about 1 hour).

I'd add carrots in and some other crunchy veggies- broccoli would be good in this- to add some more color to the dish.  Kids loved it and everyone had seconds!
This will be great on this rainy day!

Servings: 8
WW Points: 11

Peanut Butter Banana French Toast

Ooh my all the kids gave this two thumbs up.
Original inspiration recipe here

8 Slices Bread
4 tbsp Peanut Butter (light)
2 Large bananas
2 large eggs
4tbsp Orange Juice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp Powdered sugar
Syrup 

Mix Eggs, orange juice, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl.  Slice bananas and create 4 PB banana sandwiches. Then it's just like making french toast.  Personally I like to pour my egg mixture on a plate- and find that easiest to dip my bread in.  Take the whole sandwich dip each side and then cook just like french toast in a pan-until the egg is golden. I use non stick pans so don't spread anything in it-but if your pan is not- use a pat of butter to prevent sticking.

Serve with syrup and powdered sugar. Delicious!!!

Servings: 4
WW Points: 11

Philly Cheese Steak- Sloppy Joe style

This was super easy to make.  Original inspiration here

1 pound ground beef (extra lean)
1/2 softball-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 tablespooon Worcestershire sauce
1/1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
8 dinner rolls- we used President choice's flat buns

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk 1%
1 cup provolone, shredded (light)

Brown meat, add pepper and onion, and cook until veggies start to soften. Add stock, steak sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Let simmer.

While cooking start the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a pot- mix in the flour.  Add milk and simmer until thickens slightly.  Add in cheese and remove from heat- stirring until melted.

We served it with the Quinoa mac and cheese from yesterday.  I think it would rock with sweet potato fries and some grilled veggies!

Servings: 8
WW Points: 8

Quinoa Mac and Cheese

Well yes- i was going to pair this up with the cheesesteaks- but I've been ditched by my son and me and my daughter are not that hungry- so we'll bump that to another day.  But we did make the Quinoa Mac and Cheese.

Original recipe here

Prep 15 minutes- Cooking 35
How I made it

• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
• good pinch of salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup 1% Milk
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese- Light
• 1/4 Cup Panko bread crumbs (optional)
• Vegetables of choice (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F 
 Cooked the Quinoa per normal in a pot (New for me we've never used it before- other then for the parrots!) One it's sitting and steaming prepare the other ingredients.  


Saute vegetables until soft.  


In a large bowl whisk eggs and milk. Fold in cooked Quinoa, salt, garlic, cheese (reserve some to sprinkle on top) and if chosen vegetables.  Spread onto a large greased cooking dish (9x13)
Top with remaining Cheese and if you choose Panko bread crumbs. 


Cook for 30-35 minutes @ 350F 

Makes an entree or a side dish.  Try different additions- hot sauce, sour cream, different types of cheese! 




Servings: 8 (Side portion size)
WW Points (not including any vegetables or toppings added) but does include Panko: 5