Budget Travel

Lucky Charms No-Bake Ice Box Cake

SERVES 12 | ACTIVE TIME 30 Min | TOTAL TIME 8 Hours 30 Min

4 cups Lucky Charms Cereal (marshmallow and cereal mixture)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff
2 1/2 cups Lucky Charms marshmallows, divided

Add 4 cups Lucky Charms cereal to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is fine crumbs. Slowly pour melted butter in through the feed tube. Pulse until combined and crumbs are completely moistened.

Pour the crumbs into a 9” pie plate and press mixture onto the bottom and around the sides to form pie crust. Place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.

Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer, in a tall bowl. Whip until stiff peaks form. (In other words when you turn off the mixer and lift the beaters out of the cream, the cream stand up on the end of the beater). Place the whipped cream in the refrigerator while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Combine the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped cream and 1/2 cup Lucky Charms marshmallows until completely incorporated. Pour into the chilled pie crust. Smooth the filling into an even layer with a spatula. Pour the remaining whipped cream over top or you can pipe it into a decorative look. Sprinkle the 2 cups of remaining marshmallows around the edge of the pie.Freeze for 8 hours or overnight. Transfer to the refrigerator or allow to set at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Refrigerate overnight.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe developed by Donna Elick - The Slow Roasted Italian
Copyright ©2014 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.

reade more...

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

SERVES 8 | ACTIVE TIME 5 Min | TOTAL TIME 3 Hours 5 Min

3 bell peppers, sliced (I used red, orange and yellow)
1 medium white onion, sliced
2 seeded and deveined jalapenos, diced
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
2 1/2 - 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half (longways)
3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (recipe at bottom)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime

Add half of the peppers, onions, jalapenos and tomatoes to the bottom of a 5 quart slow cooker.
Layer chicken on top of vegetables. Sprinkle 1/2 of taco seasoning over chicken breasts and flip them over. Season the other side with the remaining 1/2 of seasoning.

Add garlic and remaining jalapenos on top of chicken. Then add remaining vegetables. Squeeze lime juice over top. Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

Remove chicken from slow cooker and slice into strips. Return to slow cooker and mix with tongs. Allow to simmer in juices for 10 minutes.

You can drain extra liquid from slow cooker or transfer liquid to a saucepan and cook until reduce and use as a sauce on your fajitas.

Serve and enjoy!

DONNA'S NOTES: The longer it cooks the more tender it will become. If you remove it sooner, you will be able to slice it. About 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Longer time will yield pulled chicken, which is equally delicious. If that is what you desire, remove chicken from slow cooker after long cook time and shred with 2 forks.

Homemade Taco SeasoningYIELD 3 Tablespoons | Equals 1 store bought packet

1 tablespoon New Mexico chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Combine seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and use as taco seasoning.
I quadruple this recipe and store it in resealable jars for easy use.

Recipe developed by Donna Elick - The Slow Roasted Italian

reade more...

Cheesy Sausage Jalapeno Popper Empanadas

SERVES 8 | ACTIVE TIME 15 Min |TOTAL TIME 35 Min

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 (5-ounce) package Jones Dairy Farm Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage Patties, diced
1 medium jalapeno, diced

1 large egg, beaten
1 package of puff pastry (2 sheets)
8 ounces Colby Jack cheese, shredded
kosher salt, for sprinkling
cilantro, chopped

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, sausage, and diced jalapeno. Mix until well combined. Set aside. In a small bowl combine 1 egg and a tablespoon of water. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.

Lay 1 sheet of puff pastry on a floured counter top and gently roll it out to about 8 by 8 inches. Use a 4-inch cookie cutter or bowl to cut the pastry into 4-inch rounds. Place the rounds on the baking sheet. Repeat with the second sheet.

Add a scoop of sausage and cheese mixture to the center of the puff pastry and top with Colby Jack cheese, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Pull the sides together to create a half circle and press the edges together to seal, pushing in any escapees that are on the edges.

Use two fingers to create a ruffle crimp around the edges or use a fork to crimp closed. Brush the tops of the empanadas with egg wash and sprinkle with salt.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Serve and enjoy!

reade more...

Cheesy Bacon Hashbrown Waffles

SERVES 8

1 (20-ounce) package Simply Potatoes Hash Browns
8 ounces thick cut applewood smoked bacon, cooked and diced (about 1/4" pieces)
4 ounces (1 cup) medium cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounces (1 cup) pepper jack cheese, shredded
3 large eggs, beaten1 teaspoon New Mexico chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
handful fresh parsley leaves, chopped (about 4 tablespoons)

Set waffle iron to medium-high and preheat. Reserve half of parsley for garnishing.

Combine all ingredients (including the remaining parsley) in a large bowl. Stir until well mixed.

Mist the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray.

Pour about 1/2 cup of the hash brown mixture onto the hot waffle iron. Use a spatula to spread the mixture into an even layer. Cook until golden and cooked through, about 3-5 minutes. Be aware the hash browns will release steam as they cook.

Remove from waffle iron and place cooked hash brown waffles on oven rack in a 200°F preheated oven until ready to serve. This will help keep them crisp and hot.

Sprinkle with reserved fresh parsley.
Serve and enjoy!

reade more...

Slow Cooker Cheesy Sausage and Potato Casserole

SERVES 6 | ACTIVE TIME 20 Min | TOTAL TIME 3 Hrs 20 Min

8 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon reduced sodium chicken base
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
1/4 yellow onion, diced
14 ounces hot smoked sausage, cut into moons (halved and sliced)
1 (20-ounce) bag Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes
2 cups (8 ounces) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In a 6-quart slow cooker combine cream cheese, butter, half-and-half, chicken base, and cayenne pepper. Whisk to combine. Sprinkle onion and sausage over the top. Layer potatoes on top. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, do not stir or uncover.

After 1 hour, stir and re-cover. Cook an additional 1 1/2 - 2 hours, until the potatoes are tender. Remove the cover and stir until the sauce is completely smooth, and the cream cheese melts into the sauce. Add 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese and the pepper jack cheese. Stir to combine. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup sharp cheese over the top of the casserole.

Cover and cook until cheese is melted, about an additional 30 minutes (a total of 3 - 3 1/2 hours). Remove cover and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Serve and enjoy!

DONNA'S NOTES: If you do not like spicy food, you can leave out the cayenne pepper. The smoked sausage and the pepper jack cheese will just give enough heat to warm your tongue.

reade more...

No-Bake Avalanche Cookies

MAKES 18 LARGE TREATS

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
16 ounces vanilla-flavored candy coating (Almond Bark or CandiQuik)
1 (15 ounce) jar creamy peanut butter
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Prepare 2 cookie sheets with a silpat mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

Place chocolate chips in the freezer, until ready to use.

Melt Almond Bark in a heat safe bowl, microwave at half power for 30 seconds at a time until melted and smooth. Meanwhile: Add rice krispies to a large bowl. Set aside.

Add peanut butter to Almond Bark. Stir to combine. Pour vanilla candy mixture over rice krispies. Stir until combined. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature (or until barely warm). Add marshmallows. Mix until combined. Add frozen chocolate chips. Stir to combine.

Use a 2 tablespoon scoop to portion treats onto prepared cookie sheet. Allow to set in a cool place, until firm. You can pop them in the fridge if your kitchen is too warm.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe developed by Donna Elick - The Slow Roasted Italian
Copyright ©2016 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.

reade more...

Cranberry Maple Donut Bread Pudding

SERVES 8 | ACTIVE TIME 10 Min | TOTAL TIME 60 Min

8-12 stale glazed cake donuts
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
2 cups half-and-half
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
6 tablespoons maple syrup
6 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons International Delight French Vanilla Creamer
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a deep 9" pie pan (or 9x9 baking pan).

Chop donuts into bite size pieces. You want enough donuts so that your pie plate is heaping, they will be pressed down later. Place them in the buttered baking dish. Set aside.

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl and add cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine. Add half-and-half, 4 tablespoons melted butter, 4 tablespoons maple syrup. Whisk until well combined.

Pour egg mixture over the donuts. Toss donuts to coat and press down into the egg mixture if necessary so they can absorb the mixture. Rest for 15 minutes. Add cranberries and toss to combine. Gently press the donuts into the pan so they will stick together, not so much that you flatten them.

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15-20 additional minutes, until it is set.

Meanwhile, add powdered sugar to a medium bowl. Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, creamer and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine.

Pour or drizzle frosting over warm bread pudding.

Serve and enjoy!

DONNA'S NOTES: If you are using fresh donuts, you can bake the cut pieces in the oven until they are dry and stale.

reade more...

Pages

.