Kelli's Kitchen

Pizza Bites

Well, it's that time again, the packing of school lunches!  This is a tough one for me, I have a child who does. not. eat.  He is picky and social, a bad combination at the lunch room table.  I am constantly trying new things with him, to only have him return home with a full lunch box.   Last school year,  I tried letting him pack his own lunch and he only chose fruit.  He wanted nothing else.  Though I am happy he eats fruit, I know that he needs other things to get through the day.  I thought this recipe would be great since he like's pizza.  It is small and easy to eat since he would rather talk than eat, and it has some hidden goodness for his paranoid mother that is always worried about him eating.


Ingredients
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/4 cup chopped pepperoni or mini pepperoni
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup finely chopped spinach
2 teaspoon pizza seasoning or Italian seasoning
2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese


Directions
Pre heat oven to 375', grease a mini muffin pan or muffin pan well.
Mix all the ingredients until blended.  It should be a wet mixture.   Pour mixture into muffin pan.

Bake for 13- 15 minutes

Lawrenz Potatoes

The Lawrenz Potatoes!  The first time my husband brought me home to meet his parents I was introduced not only to my future in-laws, but this tasty potato dish.  This dish was so very easy but really made an impact on me.  It shows you how just simple food made a simple way can be extraordinary.  Like most things in life, it's the simple things, right?  My mother-in law added morel mushrooms to hers, these were picked by hand.  Morel mushrooms do add a great flavor but I did not have any of these on hand so I used button mushrooms.  The beauty of this dish is the ability to put what you have on hand in and it will just taste good.  It's a wonderful side dish for most anything.


Ingredients
4 small potatoes cubed
2 large carrots chopped
1 large yellow onion chopped
1/2 cup of chopped broccoli
1/2 cup red peppers sliced
1/2 cup mushrooms
2 bratwurst or other sausage link sliced (optional)
1 stick of butter cubed
2 teaspoons of Crazy Jane mixed up Salt  (or other seasoning salt)
salt and pepper to taste


Directions
Place 2 large pieces of aluminum foil on the counter. Place all the ingredients on the foil, and crumble the butter on top of the veggies.  Season the veggies with the seasoning salt, salt and pepper.  Wrap the veggies in the foil. 
You can grill these on the top rack for 20-30 minutes or bake them at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Protein Pancakes

Lighter Egg Salad

Well, summer is coming to a close, with school starting right around the corner.  This means the end of vacations, and vacation eating.  Yes, over the summer I do indulge. Visiting family all over the country allows me to justify the overindulgence of food and drinks.  It's time for all those extra summer pounds to come off and it's time to start paying attention to what I eat.  Now I have to listen to the skinny girl that lives in my head, that I dream of being one day, screaming at me while I try to get back to the gym and take off my summer indulgence.  I really dislike her!

This is a quick and easy light lunch with lots of protein.  You can always substitute the mayo for plain yogurt but be prepared for a tangy zip.




Ingredients:
2 whole hard boiled eggs, crumbled
4 hard boiled egg whites, crumbled
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 tablespoon low fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped stuffed Manzanilla Olives
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions
Mix all ingredients and Enjoy!

How to make Hard Boiled Eggs:
Put eggs in a large pot and cover with water.  Put on stove top over high heat.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes and then turn the heat off and let the eggs cool in the water.  This will allow them to continue to cook while cooling.

Zucchini Gratin

One word, CHEESE! Honestly who doesn't like cheese, and what's better then veggies buried in
cheese. This time of year I am over run with zucchini and squash. Though zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables I find myself getting tired of the same old recipes. This is so yummy and easy.  The kids even are inclined to taste it, since it is covered in cheese!

Ingredients
1 onion sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 or 3 large zucchini and/or yellow squash thinly sliced
8 oz grated smoked gouda


Directions
Pre-heat oven 450'
Heat olive oil in saute pan over medium high heat. Place onions in oil and saute until soft and translucent. 
While onions are cooking, place zucchini in a baking dish. I arranged mine along the bottom with them slightly overlapping. 
Once the onions are done pour them over the zucchini.
Then spread cheese over top.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, uncover and continue baking until cheese is golden brown.

Couscous Salad

School is out, the first of two big trips this summer is now behind us and I am back getting ready for the 4th of July! We will be doing what most Americans have planned.  Spending time outside, with friends and family, of course eating, all while enjoying fireworks.  This recipe is quick and goes with everything. It's perfect for a crowd and you won't have to worry about it spoiling in the sun. I put the salad in the endive leaves this time so it was easier for people to eat while standing around, you could also do this with chips or just serve as a side dish.


Ingredients
1 box roasted garlic and olive oil couscous
1 tomato chopped
1 cucumber chopped
1 yellow onion chopped
1 small can of sliced black olives
Juice of one lime
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup feta cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste


Directions
Cook couscous according to box instructions. Mix all ingredients well and serve. Seriously that easy!



 

Fathers Day Antipasto

Like most men, my husband loves meat and potatoes.  He has been a great sport with how I have changed our eating habits and rarely ever complains about dinner.  His favorite type of food is anything Italian, and when we were first married, I made pasta all the time.  I have since cut pasta dishes down to about once a week and it's usually whole wheat pasta.  Again, he never complains but on the occasion when I make something from the old days, his face is priceless.  This fathers day I am going to share some of his favorite dishes.  These little antipasto appetizers are great.  They are easy to make, great at a party or just to eat as dinner. This is a man-favorite in my house.

Ingredients:
Sliced salami
Cherry tomatoes
Marinated artichokes hearts
Fresh mozzarella pearls
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350'.  Using a greased muffin pan, place salami in the pan, making a cup shape. Bake in the oven for 8 to 10  minutes or until crispy.  Let the salami cups cool. Mix the other ingredients in a small bowl. Place mixture in each cup.