crispy taco bowls...

Zucchini dough (1 large zucchini, shredded, 1 large egg, 1 cup pepper jack cheese)
Taco flavoring for the shell (add more or less to taste):
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

After mixing the dough, make three circles on a greased cookie sheet (you can make more if you use smaller bowls). Sprinkle either with your own taco seasoning mix, use what I've listed above as a recommendation, or use a scant amount of pre-prepared taco seasoning mix from the store (storetaco mix renders the recipe not induction friendly due to sugar).

Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.

Remove from oven.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease inverted bowls in a jelly roll pan (you don't want them to slide off of a cookie sheet and break). Flip the crusts over the bowls, so that the bottom of the crust is facing the ceiling (this will help the crust to cook evenly).

Bake these for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

Let the bowls cool slightly.

Using a spoon, bowl-side of the spoon down, very gently run the spoon underneath the taco bowls to loosen them from the glass. Work your way carefully around the bowl. If you have to force the crust, it needs to rest slightly longer.

Once the bowls are separated from the crust, let the crusts rest on a cooling rack for several hours or overnight. I found that the longer these rest, the more crispy they become.


Makes 3 large shells.

Optional ideas for toppings.

chopped fresh spinach
broccoli sprouts
spicy hamburger meat
cheese
fresh tomato
black olives
sour cream

Crepes

This is a recipe we use whenever we want to have Breakfast for Dinner. We also use it for when the kids don't want to eat anything else. Which means we are having these tonight for sure!! Serve with a side of hash browns and crisp bacon. Enjoy!

1 Cup flour
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup milk
2 eggs
3 Tbl butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt

Put flour and powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Add milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth. Heat a 6 inch skillet over medium high to high heat (a setting of 6 works perfectly). Spray with Pam. Pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet, spreading it thin so it covers the bottom of the skillet. Cook until slightly browned. Turn and brown the other side. Remove the crepe to a wire rack or a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Respray the skillet after each crepe. Makes 10-12.

My favorite way to have these is with butter, whipped cream and Nutella. Val prefers them with butter, powdered sugar and whipping cream.

39 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life for 2008!

THANKS SHAUNA!

39 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life for 2008!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you
have to.

3. Buy a DVR, tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty o f water... Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously . No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

3 5. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey, I'm
thinkin' of ya!

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Chicken Lasagna

2 chicken breasts
1 26.5 oz can Spaghetti Sauce
6-9 Lasagna Noodles Soft ( all depends on how big a pan you use)
Cheese
1 1/4 water

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Cook chicken and cut in squares then cook again and chop with food chopper.
3. Boil noodles until soft. not to soft like a spaghetti noodle still needs to be a little hard.
4.Add spaghetti sauce to chicken once its done cooking.
5. Lay noodled in bottom of rectangle cooking pan, then add meat mixture, cheese and top with more noodles and repeat the process until the mixture is gone.
6. Add water around edges of pan and cover with tin foil, place in oven and cook for about 40 mins.

Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad

4 sesame seed hamburger bun tops

1 small red onion, divided

2 plum tomatoes

3/4 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. finley diced dill pickles

2/3 c. ketchup

1 tbsp. yellow mustard

8 c. thinly sliced romaine lettuce

1 c. (4oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425. Slice bun tops into 1/4 in. strips. Arrange in a single layer on pan. bake 8-10 mins. or until lightly toasted. Remove to cooling rack; cool completely.

2. Slice half of the onion crosswise into thin rings. Remove and discard stems from tomatoes; cut tomatoes into quarters lengthwise and slice crosswise. Set the onion and tomatoes aside.

3. Cook ground beef in (8in.) pan over medium-high heat 5-7 mins. or until no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbs. Chop remaining onion half. Finely dice pickles. In bowl combine chopped onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard. Add cooked ground beef; mix well.

4. To serve, arrange lettuce on large serving platter. Spoon beef mixture over lettuce. Top with cheese, tomatoes and sliced onion. Arrange hamburger bun croutons around edge of platter. Serve immediately.

Yeild: 6 servings

Nutients per serving: Calories 250, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 5g., Cholesterol 55mg, Carbohydrates 20g, Protein 20g, Sodium 730 mg, Fiber 3 g.

Space Saving Genious!

Here's a nutty idea to share with friends and family when they run out of cupboard space!

Moving into our new Townhome took us from

...15 cupboards and 6 large drawers...

to 7 cupboards and 4 small drawers...

(not to mention losing a walk in pantry)

So the ingenious wife came up with this space saving idea. She got a plastic shoe holder and put it on the inside of one of the small closets, and we use it for all of our spices. Brilliant! On occasion I'm tempted to throw on a pair of Oregano-Cinnamon high heels and paint the town red with food coloring...but as of yet I've withstood the urge.

Readers Digest Brownies

So I was reading the Readers Digest last month, and one of the articles in it was the best brownie recipes. I was excited to see that as I am always looking for new recipes. I got even more excited when I saw the winner of the brownies was from Layton. Kind of fun!

1 Cup Butter
2 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup cocoa
4 eggs
1 1/2 Cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Grease13 x 9 pan. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
Top with bag of mini-marshmallows
Bake 3 minutes more

Frosting
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 Cup butter
1/3 Cup cocoa
1/3 Cup evaporated milk

Cilantro Cream Sauce

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 (7 ounce) can tomatillo salsa
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Directions:
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, pepper, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl.
Makes 2 cups

Add the sauce to your favorite pasta and serve with tortillas...I just love this real authentic mexican food.