Raspberry Cream Salad

I don't know where my mom found this recipe, but I just about died and went to heaven when I tried it.  It's an all around easy recipe and takes like 2 minutes to prepare.  This is also very delicious with some graham crackers or pie crust in it.

Ingredients
32-36 oz. raspberry yogurt (32 oz. is a large container, 36 oz. is 6 single servings)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) tub cool whip
raspberries, fresh or frozen

Notes / Directions
Stir together yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, and cool whip.  Gently stir in raspberries and serve!

Homemade Granola

Ingredients
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup almonds
1 cup pecans
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup dried cranberries

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large saucepan set over medium heat, combine the oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, and almonds. Pour the warm oil and honey mixture into the oat mixture and stir until combined.

Spread the mixture evenly on two 12X17 inch rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring several times, until the granola is a deep golden brown. Cool completely before adding the dried fruit. Store in an airtight container up to 3 weeks.

You can vary the dried fruit: dried figs, raisins, blueberries, apples, etc.

Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip

Adapted from Jo and Sue

Ingredients

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

14 oz caramels, unwrapped

2/3 cup half and half

2 Crunch bars

8 apples

8 (1/2 cup each) mason jars

Notes / Directions

Heat up caramels and half and half on medium heat until caramels have melted and the mixture is smooth.  Put cream cheese and 1/2 cup of caramel in a bowl and stir until smooth.  Scoop and flatten an equal amount of the cream cheese and caramel mixture into each of the 8 jars.  Top each jar with the remaining caramel sauce.  Crunch up the Crunch bars and sprinkle on top.

To turn into gifts, place one apple on top of the jar and place in a small, clear, plastic gift bag or cover with saran wrap.  Tie shut with a ribbon.

Clean Eating - Chicken, Asparagus, and Potatoes

I love this because it's so simple and quick.  From start to finish is about 10-15 minutes.  There is practically no food prep and it's a healthy clean eating meal.  It avoids common food allergies like gluten and dairy.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1 lemon
2 potatoes
4 frozen chicken tenders
1 bunch of asparagus
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 garlic clove, minced
salt and pepper
olive oil

Notes / Directions
Heat up a large deep dish skillet to medium high heat.  Cut up potatoes into small cubes and place in skillet.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic.  Stir up and cover.  Stir every minute or two.  After about 4 minutes, push potatoes to the side of the skillet and place the chicken in their own little are. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and squeeze half of the lemon on top.  Replace lid.  When sides of the chicken begin to brown (after 3-5 minutes), turn over and stir the potatoes.  Add asparagus in their own corner.  Salt and pepper and squeeze remaining half of the lemon on top.  Replace lid.  Stir up potatoes and asparagus every once in a while.  Everything should be ready at about the same time.

Chicken could easily be replaced with fish and asparagus could be replace with broccoli.