Tomato/Green bean salad

1 cup fresh green beans (trim the ends)

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (cut in half width wise)

1 Tbsp fresh basil (cut into strips) [In a pinch, you can use 1 tsp dried basil]

1/2 tsp garlic (minced)

Cooking Spray

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450. Place green beans on a baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Put in oven for about 15 minutes. While green beans are baking, mix tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt and pepper together. When green beans are finished, mix them into the tomato mixture.

Makes 1 serving

Dot: 1

Pork and Kraut in the Crock

Ingredients

-1 (4 pound) pork loin roast

-2 teaspoon caraway seeds

-salt and pepper to taste

-1 bag of sauerkraut, with liquid

Directions

-Cut pork loin, if necessary, to fit in the slow cooker.

-Season with caraway seeds, and salt and pepper to taste.

-Pour sauerkraut over the roast

-.Cook on High for 1 hour, then cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours. Internal temperature of the roast should be at least 160 degrees F.

Makes 16 servings (3oz pork + kraut (freebie)

Dots: 4

Closing out 2011.....

I will fully admit that I slacked off posting recipes... what can I say, life gets in the way sometimes.

2011 has brought several ups and downs.... I married my phenomenal husband, spent lots of great moments with family and friends, and fell victim to the teenage years! Looking towards 2012, I see things getting better and better :)

2012 starts the most common New Year's resolution... losing weight! I rejoined Weight Watchers last week with new resolve to finally finish what I started 10 years ago! Therefore, the focus of my recipes for 2012 will mainly be healthy eating. I predict most of the recipes will be budget friendly and easy to prepare. I will try to post the "dots" to go with each recipe.

So to each and every one of you, thank you for following my blog. I hope you are enjoying the recipes and enjoying them with your family!

Jen

Monkey Bread

Cheap, fast and easy breakfast!  Smells AMAZING!  I did not use raisins or walnuts, I used pecans and it was delicious!

****SAFETY NOTE:  Do NOT use a 2 piece tube pan for this.. the hot syrup will seep out into your oven or possibly on you!

Thank you to LuAnn Connolly at allrecipes.com !

Ingredients

• 3 (12 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube/Bundt® pan.
2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan. Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan. If using nuts and raisins, arrange them in and among the biscuit pieces as you go along.
3. In a small saucepan, melt the margarine with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the biscuits.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Do not cut! The bread just pulls apart.

Quick and Easy Parmesan Tilapia

• Thanks to Phoebe for the recipe!
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• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons mayo
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
• 2 pounds tilapia fillets

Preheat your oven's broiler. Grease  line broiler pan with foil.

In a bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayo and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.

Arrange fillets in a single layer on the broiler pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.

Stovetop Breakfast Cups

Can never go wrong with stuffing at any meal!

1 box stuffing mix
12 eggs
shredded cheese
bacon bits or crumbled sausage (cooked)

Preheat oven to 350.

1.  Prepare stuffing according to directions on box.
2.  Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
3.  Press stuffing into each cup.  Press it up the sides to make a deep cup in the center.
4.  Crack an egg in each cup.
5.  Sprinkle bacon bits or crumbled cooked sausage on top of each egg.
6.  Cover the top of each with cheese.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.  Let cool about 5 minutes and serve.  (I find running my Pampered Chef citrus peeler around the edges to loosen them is helpful.  A knife would work equally well, just be careful of scratching your pan!)

Great reheated for a portable breakfast!

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp parsley flakes

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix cheese, crumbs and seasoning together in a bowl.  Roll chicken in crumb mixture, coating each piece thoroughly.  Place chicken on a nonstick baking sheet.  Bake 20-25 minutes.