SHRIMP AND CITRUS SALAD

2 oranges

1/2 cup olive oil and vinegar salad dressing

12 oz cooked jumbo shrimp

8 cups mixed baby greens

1/2 cup sliced red onion

1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

From 1 orange, grate 1/2 tsp zest and squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice.  Slice orange flesh thin and reserve. 

In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, salad dressing and the zest. Transfer 1/4 cup to a small bowl and toss shrimp until coated.

Arrange greens, onion, and orange slices on a serving platter. Arrange shrimp on top and sprinkle with pepper. Serve with the dressing on the side.

basic recipe and photo First for women 2024

BEEF AND VEGETABLE STIR-FRY

4 cups fresh stir-fry vegetables

1 lb beef sirloin stick, stliced thin

2 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1/4 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

Toasted sesame seeds for garnish, optional

Fit a steamer basket or a large metal colander into a large pot. Fill bottom of pot with water, making sure it doesn't touch bottom of basket. Over medium-low heat, bring water to a simmer. Add vegetables to the basket and steam until crisp-tender, turning once, about 5 minutes. Remove the vegetables and set aside. 

Sprinkle beef with 1/4 tsp salt and 14 tsp of pepper. In a skillet, heat sesame oil over high heat. In batches, cook beef, stirring, until browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Return all beef to skillet and add the vegetables, teriyaki sauce and garlic. Cook, stirring, until heated through and liquid is thicken, about 2 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

recipe idea and photo First for women 2024

EASY FRIED GREEN BEANS

1 can full length green beans, drained

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp cornmeal
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt, optional
dash of freshly ground black pepper
butter for frying

In a shallow bowl or pie pan combine the flour, cornmeal, garlic, and salt, if using.  Pour the drained beans into the bowl, coat the beans and fry.  To fry, melt the butter in a skillet big enough to get all the beans in one layer.

allrecipes photo

BLUEBERRY COBBLER SMOOTHIE

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tsp ground flax seed
• 1 frozen ripe banana, sliced
• 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/2 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Divide evenly between two tall glasses.

Two servings, 280 calories each

Basic recipe and photo from Everyday Health a few years ago.

QUICK AND EASY CHILI-BACON CINNAMON ROLLS

1 pkg (17.5-oz) pkg refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

1 tsp chili powder

10 slices bacon

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. grease a 9-inch round cake pan.

Unroll the cinnamon roll dough. Sprinkle evenly with chili powderk then separate along perforations into five portions

Cook bacon in a very large skillet until just starting to crisp. While bacon is still warm, lay w lices on each dough portion; roll up and arrange in the prepared pan.

Bake until browned and tops appear dry, about 25 minutes. Frost with the icing. If desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts or crumbled cooked bacon.

Yield: 5 rolls

file photo for reference only

OVEN-BAKED FRITO PIE

I got this recipe 12 years ago on facebook. If I remember correctly, it was posted by Kim's Kraziness.

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 can (16 oz) chili beans

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

1 envelope low sodium taco seasoning

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (2% fat kind)

3 1/2 cups corn chips (Fritos)

1 1/4 cup fat free sour cream

Directions:

Cook ground beef until meat is browned; drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 c. of cheese. Sprinkle 1 cup corn chips in bottom of 8x8 baking dish. Cover with chili. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Spread sour cream over chili. Top with remaining corn chips and cheese. Bake 4-5 minutes longer.

photo was with the recipe

MUSHROOM QUESADILLAS

1 lb fresh mushrooms, chopped

2 or 3 jalapeno peppers, seeded & chopped
2 tbsp olive or canola oil
1/4 cup minced cilantro
8 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Salsa, if desired
guacamole, if desired
sour cream, if desired

Heat the olive or canola oil in a large skillet; saute the mushrooms and jalapeno peppers until they are tender most of the liquid is evaporated.  Add the cilantro and cook, stirring, for about a minute.  Remove skillet from the heat.

Heat another tablespoon canola or olive oil in another large skillet and add one tortilla.  Top with a half cup of the cheese, a third cup of the mushroom-pepper mixture and top with another tortilla.  Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until lightly browned.  Repeat process until you have used all the ingredients.  Add addition oil as needed.

file photo

Serve quesadillas with salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream, if desired.
Yield: 4 quesadillas 

CRISPY GINGER PORK CHOPS

2 pkg Shake 'n Bake Pork Seasoned Coating Mix

2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp ground ginger
8 (2 lb) boneless pork loin chops

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a shallow dish or pie plate combine the sesame seeds, coating mix, and ginger; dredge chops through the coating mix to coat well.  Place in a single layer in a baking dish or pan.

Bake chops 20 to 25 minutes until cooked through.  Good served with rice for an oriental-type meal.

Yield: 8 servings

Note: This is a Kraft Foods recipe.

EASY CUCUMBER-HERB-CHEESE DIP

Cucumber is so refreshing, perfect in dips!

1 block (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup finely shredded cucumber, drained well
1/2 shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp lemon juice

In a small mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients together until well blended.  Place in serving bowl, cover and chill a couple of hours or until ready to serve.

This dip is great served with assorted crackers and fresh veggies.

file photo

CONFETTI MACARONI SALAD

1 pkg (7-oz) elbow macaroni

3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 cup medium-fine chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen peas, thawed
2 tbsp chopped pimiento
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup mayo-type salad dressing
2 tbsp lemon juice

Cook the macaroni according to package directions, omitting any salt or butter; drain.

In a large mixing bowl gently combine all ingredients,tossing well.  If necessary, add up to another 1/4 cup mayo-type dressing.  Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Yield: serves 6 to 8

file photo