Christmas Brunch

Christmas Brunch for 15-20 people

Menu: $150

• Baked blueberry ring
• Cream filled strawberries
• Sweets: christmas bark, gingerbread cookies, mini meringues 
• 24 mini GF carrot cake cupcakes
• Baked swiss cheese & ham rings
• Sweet bread
• Berries - 3 types
• Quiche
• Sausage links
• Bacon
• Tangerines
• Apple Cider
• Coffee
• Coco

Ingredients to Buy

• 2 cans croissant ready to bake
• 2 8oz cream cheese
• Swiss Cheese
• Sliced ham
• 2 lemons
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 quart strawberries
• 1 can whip cream 
• 2 costco quiche
• 2 packages Costco Sausage
• 2 packages Bacon
• 1 box Trader Joes Gingerbread men 
• Firelog 
• Coffee 
• Carrots
• GF Flour
• Pumpkin sweet bread ingredients 

3 Days Before Prep

• Grocery shop
• Bake sweet breads

2 Days Before Prep

• Clean house
• Bake carrot cupcakes

1 Day Before Prep

• Prep cream for strawberries & ring: 
• Mix 2 softened cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 4 tbs lemon juice, lemon zest
• Precook sausage and bacon, slightly underdone
• Set up table, trays, coffee cups, etc
• Cheese and ham wraps- prep in pan

Morning of Prep:

• Fill strawberries with cream, top with whipped cream
• Prep ring: lay out croissant dough into a rectangle. Spread with cream, cover with blueberries. Roll and then cut. Turn cuts on side and put into a ring on a greased baking sheet. 

1 Hour Before Brunch

• Bake ring: 350 for 25 min
• Bake quiche: 350 for 45 min
• Warm bacon and sausage
• Make coffee

Grandma's Chicken and Artichoke Casserole

3 packages frozen art. hearts (or 2 of the the large jars Costco sells)

4 cups cooked chicken, cubed

3 cans creme of chicken soup ( I buy it at dollar tree store)

1 1/2 cups best food mayo

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp curry power

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar

1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs

3 tablespoons melted butter

Cook artichoke hearts, if you buy the frozen ones, adding a little olive oil and garlic powder.  Drain.

Arrange artichokes in a large pan.  Spread chicken over the top

Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder, mix well

Pour over chicken and then sprinkle with grated cheese.

Brown bread crumbs in butter and sprinkle on top.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Clean Eating > Summer Menu 1

Weekly meal for 4 people, about $150 with most of the produce organic

Dinners:

• Salmon and squash 
• Salad with chicken
• Chicken pitas with corn
• Beef Fajitas with black beans
• Zucchini Pasta 
• Sausages with Potato Salad 

Lunch Entrees:

• Turkey sandwich
• PB + Banana sandwich
• Salad Rolls
• Tuna salad and crackers
• Pita pizzas

Snacks:

• Melon slices, carrots and hummus
• Apple slices, cheese stick
• Melon slices, zucchini pizzas
• PB toast, orange slices
• goldfish crackers and hummus, apples
• cottage cheese with fruit, orange slices

Breakfasts *:

• Foccacia and eggs
• Veggie Omelet
• Oatmeal
• Avocado toast
• Southwest omelet
• Smoothies
• Baked Oatmeal

Grocery List >  Meat:

• beef sirloin, 1.5 lbs
• pepperoni, 6 oz package
• Keilbasa Sausage, 14 oz
• Salmon, 1.5 lbs
• chicken breasts, 8

Grocery List >  Dairy:

• Eggs, 18 
• Milk 2%
• Cottage cheese
• Hummus
• Mozzarella ball
• Cheese sticks
• Tofu, extra firm

Grocery List >  Produce:

• lettuce head
• tomatoes (pint cherry)
• bell pepper, 5
• eggplant
• zucchini, 5
• baby carrots, small bag
• cucumber
• mushrooms, pre-sliced
• acorn squash
• corn, 4
• potatoes, 4
• red onions, 3
• cilantro
• spinach
• garlic
• avocados, 3
• berries or grapes
• peaches, 6
• apples, 3lb bag
• bananas, bunch
• watermelon
• oranges, 4

Grocery List >  Breads:

• Foccacia with tomato and Parmesan
• Middle Eastern bread (or pitas)
• Whole grain bread or low sugar sourdough
• Whole grain crackers
• Tortillas

Pantry Items (already have)

• Vegginaise spread
• Oatmeal
• Canned tuna

Leftover Lentil Stew

2 cups BBQ chicken
1 cup roasted bell peper
1 cup roasted onion
2tbs garlic
1 can tomatoes, undrained
1 can blackbeans, liquid included
1/2 cup bacon buts
1 cup red lentils
2 cups chicken broth
1 tbs chili powder
1 tbs smoked paprkia
1tsp cumin
1 tbs thyme
2 tbs flax powder


warm lentils and bacon in oil for 1 minute. Add broth. Once luqiid is absorbed add all other ingredients, and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with corn bread.

Epicurean Coffee Rubbed Salmon Tacos

Salmon Rub:

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Costa Rica coffee, highest grind setting
1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
1/8 cup ground tumeric
1/8 cup curry powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1/8 cup black pepper, coarsly ground
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp garlic salt

For Ensalada:
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1/2 Anaheim pepper, chopped
2 leaves green cabbage, chopped
1/2 tbs lime juice
3 filets salmon filet

mesquite chips for smoking
Fresh corn tortillas
1 lb cotija cheese, crumbled

Mix rub together. Cover salmon filets with rub. Smoke fish, cover with foil and let cool.
Mix ensalada together, set aside.

Mix salmon and ensalada.

Oatmeal Cookies, chewy

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup (1 stick butter) softened
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3 cups Quaker® Oats (old fashioned, uncooked)
- 1 cup raisins

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 8 to 10 minutes

Yield: 4 dozen

Instructions for the Best Oatmeal Cookies Recipe:

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Pro Tip: I always use a high grade vanilla. It makes a big difference in all my recipes. I highly recommend using Vanilla from Mexico. It’s the best I’ve ever tasted. Here are a few good ones inthis link.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. I used the Artisan Metal Works baking mats for the perfect cookie every time.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered. Note the time frame can take a little longer depending on the size of your cookie too. Bake until golden brown.

Best Burger Seasoning

2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic salt

Mix and sprinkle over patties. Be sure to butter and toast the buns to serve!