Strawberry Sorbet

Sorbet is so flavorful! It's bursting with fruit and feels so much more healthy than ice cream, since it omits the heavy cream. I mean, you know you're still eating sugar, but you the main ingredient is fruit! And you just can't go wrong with strawberry.

Strawberry Sorbet

3 1/2 c strawberries (remove stems)
2 T lemon* juice
Juice from 1 orange
1 c karo syrup
2 egg whites

Place all ingredients in the blender and liquify. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and mix until solidifies (about 25 minutes).


*can substitute for lime juice for a strawberry lime sorbet. If doing so also replace the orange juice for lime juice (3 T, so 5 T total lime juice).

Cherry Apple Chicken Salad

I hate cooking in the summer! It heats up the house and makes me miserable. So we do a lot of grilling, salads, and crockpot meals. This recipe combines grilling and salads. It's easy and delicious with a hint of sweet. And the chicken makes it hearty enough to be a main course.

Cherry Apple Chicken Salad

2 Chicken breasts (grilled, cubed)
1 granny smith apple
48 red cherries
Fetta cheese
Almond slivers
Spinach
Raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Fill 4 salad bowls with spinach (or your favorite lettuce mix). Top with chicken, apples, cherries, cheese, almonds and salad dressing. Enjoy!

Yields: 4 servings

Mango Sorbet

The best part of summer is frozen treats! We love eating and making ice creams and sorbets. I made this recipe for my husband and it turned out to be the best sorbet we've ever made! We gobbled down the entire batch almost instantly. And mangos are on the shopping list to make more soon. It's delicious topped with fresh chunks of mango, strawberry or raspberry.

Mango Sorbet

6 ripe honey* mangos (peeled and cut off pit)

juice of 1 orange
1/3 c lemon juice
1 c sugar
2 medium egg whites

Place all ingredients in the blender and liquefy. Place in your ice cream mixer until it reaches a thick consistency (about 25 minutes). Place in a freezer friendly container and freeze for 2 - 4 hours.


* or substitute 3 regular mangos

Spicy Tater Tot Casserole (Crockpot)

I've been desperate for recipes that don't require using the oven lately. It's been hot out and I hate heating the house up by cooking! So I altered this recipe to gluten free, and it was a fun change from our normal meals. We love tater tots, so we couldn't help but enjoy this meal!

Spicy Tater Tot Casserole

1 pound ground beef, browned
1 can RoTel, We used mild but you could easily use a hotter variety
1 16oz package of frozen Tater Tots (I bought a 5 pound bag because they were cheaper and just covered the top of the crock pot with them)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 small onion
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

In a skillet, brown beef. Drain the fat and add onion and RoTel. Pour mixture into the bottom of your crockpot. Stir in the Cream of Chicken Soup substitute. Pour tater tots across the top and gently press into the mixture. Cook for 2 - 3 hours on low. About 30 minutes before serving, top with shredded cheese.

Yields: 4 servings


If you threw in some scrambled eggs, this would make a delicious breakfast casserole, or wrapped in a tortilla, it would make a tasty breakfast burrito!

Quesadilla Sandwhiches

I made this out of desperation! It has been way too hot here for me to have any desire to bake a loaf of bread. I really wanted a sandwich, and so I decided to experiment. The results were so fabulous I made it again the next day. And again the following day. It reminds me of a toasted sub and is so versatile. You could use whatever toppings you wanted.

Quesadilla Sandwich

Corn Tortillas (2)
Margarine
Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese (shredded)*
Roast Beef*
Lettuce*
Tomatoes (cubed)
Mayo

Lightly butter two corn tortillas on one side each. Brown the buttered side of the first tortilla and set on your plate. Place the second tortilla (butter side down) on the pan and top with cheese and roast beef. When browned and cheese is melted, carefully remove and place on plate. Top with lettuce and tomato. Lightly put mayo on the second tortilla and place on top. Cut in half and enjoy!

Yields: 1 serving


* Use whatever combo of cheese and meat you want! Swiss and ham would be heavenly, Chicken and Munster sounds tasty, and spinach is a delicious lettuce substitute. Also, feel free to add other toppings (like avocado). Just be careful not to add too much, because it will be harder to eat with too much on it.