Four Bean Salad

Four Bean Salad

 

Preparation Time: 6 minutes
Microwave Time: 3-6 minutes depending on microwave

12 oz frozen green beans, thawed and drained of any excess water
1 10 oz can baked beans (not drained) (*12 oz can will work too)
1 10 oz can lima beans (drained) (*12 oz can will work too)
1 10 oz can dark red kidney beans (not drained) (*12 oz can will work too)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped onion
1 Tbs olive oil
1 (1 lb.) can kidney beans, drained
salt and pepper to taste

In a microwave safe bowl, combine chopped onion and olive oil, and microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes, or until onion becomes soft and translucent. Combine the onion, and remaining ingredients until fully mixed, in a microwave-safe casserole dish.  Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes at a time until warmed all the way through.

Best Bacon Cheese Dip prepared in a microwave!

World's Best Bacon Cheese Dip

"Served warm, this dreamy, creamy cracker dip combines Swiss and cream cheeses with bacon, green onions, and mayo."

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup mayonnaise

8 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded 2 green onions, finely chopped 4 buttery round crackers, crushed

Directions:

1.	Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2.	In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese with mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in Swiss cheese, onions, and bacon. Place bowl in microwave, and cook 2 minutes. Remove, and stir well. Return to microwave, and cook 2 to 4 minutes more. Sprinkle crushed crackers on top. Serve warm with crackers.

A few fun food facts...

-The first carrot grown was purple. In the 16th century, the Dutch made orange carrots by breeding pale
yellow ones with red ones.
-The largest head of lettuce on record weighed 25 pounds! Americans eat about 30 pounds of lettuce every
year.
-The largest apple on record weighed over 4 pounds, as much as a half gallon of milk. Apples are 25% air, which is why they float in water. Apples are more efficient than caffeine at waking you up in the morning.
-Lollipops were first made in New Haven, Connecticut in 1908 by George Smith.  They were named after a race horse of the time, Lolly Pop.
-Splenda is 600 times sweeter than sugar.

It's all about Chicken...

Answer these 4 questions below correctly and win a free CJ's combo in the Cave!

Boneless, skinless breasts, shallots or scallions, chicken stock, lemon juice, capers and butter...are collectively the essential ingredients of which chicken recipe?

parmigiana

tagine

piccata

tandoori

Chicken Cordon Bleu simply would not be the same without its key ingredients. Which of the following below is NOT one of these essential items?

Boneless, skinless breast halves

Sliced ham or prosciutto

Cottage or ricotta cheese

Swiss or Gruyere cheese

One well-known chicken dish involves chicken rolled around herbed butter. This dish is named for which Eastern European city?

Moscow

Warsaw

Prague

Kiev

The following, breaded chicken cutlets covered with parmesan and mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, describes which lovely chicken recipe?

Piccata

Scallopine

Parmigiana

Cacciatore

Introducing Bready!! Gluten-free breads freshly baked in Mather!

Introducing Bready^®, the first and only gluten-free bread machine specially designed for people with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. At long last, bread lovers who can't tolerate gluten can enjoy delicious breads and cakes fresh and warm from our own kitchen—without mixing, mess, or a scavenger hunt for hard-to-find ingredients.
Bready uses gourmet bread and cake mixes formulated from the finest all-natural ingredients. All you have to do is slice and enjoy the comforting goodness of the best homemade, gluten-free bread available. We started using this machine in Mather today and hope our gluten-free friends enjoy the product. Stop by Mather and get a slice of heaven in our YOUR SPACE section of Mather.

Pork Ramen Alfredo via Robert Irvine!

 Ingredients

• 2 packages pork ramen noodles
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced parsley leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Cook the ramen noodles according to package directions. Drain the excess liquid from noodles and set aside. In a medium saute pan, over medium-high heat, add the cream and butter, and heat until the liquid begins to simmer. Reduce the heat to medium, allowing the liquid to reduce by a little more than half. This should take 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Parmesan, mascarpone cheese and parsley. Fold in the cooked ramen noodles, reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to thicken for 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Enjoy!!

Our YouFirst customer satisfaction program

http://youtu.be/-dnwhPPt0mc

Top 10 power foods and what they can do for you...

Think beer and soda have all the nutrients you need to succeed and stay healthy? Not exactly. Swap your late-night college eats for these 10 superfoods to power through your day.

Yogurt
A nonfat version of this snack is low in calories and high in calcium, helping you maintain a healthy weight and strong bones. Plus, it’s full of good bacteria to keep your intestines in check.
Blueberries
These tiny berries are packed with vitamin C and fiber, plus they boost your immune system and regulate your digestive system. They are bursting with antioxidants, which reduce the free radicals that cause aging and tissue damage.
Avocado
Though avocados sometimes get a bad reputation for being high in fat, the good news is that it’s actually the good kind of fat that improves cardiovascular health. The heart-healthy benefits, combined with anti-cancer antioxidants, make this a serious superfood. Don’t knock the guac!
Spinach
Popeye’s favorite vegetable is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, iron and vitamin C. Spinach keeps bones strong, prevents eye problems and lowers the risk of certain cancers.
Bananas
This tropical fruit contains high levels of potassium, which helps keep blood pressure at a normal level and promotes heart health. Eating bananas regularly also improves digestive and kidney health.
Salmon
This fish contains vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, protein and two B vitamins, a combination that almost guarantees cardiovascular health. The omega-3 fatty acids improve your mood and get your mind in tip-top shape.
Lentils
A serving of lentils provides over 60 percent of your daily recommended value of dietary fiber, which means you’ll stay full longer, and your digestive system will get moving and stay regular.
Pumpkin seeds
Looking for a healthful snack? Munch on some pumpkin seeds -- they’re not just for Halloween anymore! The phytosterols in them lower cholesterol.
Eggs
Everybody’s favorite breakfast food is packed with tryptophan, an essential amino acid that regulates your appetite and improves your mood. Plus, the high levels of protein make your hair shiny and give your skin a healthy glow.
Brown rice
Swap your white rice for brown to get 88 percent of your daily value of manganese, a mineral that gives your body an energy boost. Manganese also aids in the production of hormones released to reduce stress -- essential for college.

Chicken Ranch Tacos in 10 minutes!!

 


Ingredients:

1/2 cup ranch dressing 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix, divided 1 tablespoon mild chunky salsa 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 8 (6 inch) corn tortillas

shredded lettuce 1 tomato, chopped 4 green onions, sliced 1 (4 ounce) can sliced black olives 1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced (optional) 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1.	Combine ranch dressing, sour cream, 1 teaspoon taco seasoning, and salsa in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
2.	Toss chicken with remaining taco seasoning. Cover bowl loosely with wax paper or plastic wrap. Microwave chicken until chicken is heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes.
3.	Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds to make them pliable. Place a scoop of chicken on the tortilla and top with lettuce, tomato, green onion, olives, avocado, cheese, and a spoonful of the ranch dressing mixture.