Great Appetizer

Spicy Garlic Ranch Chicken Tenders

Spicy Garlic Ranch Chicken Tenders

I used Koch Foods Cravers Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Breast Strips, 24 oz. bag from Wal-Mart for my chicken tenders. I was very happy with these tenders, they were very big and meaty compared to most tenders I've purchased in the past. Although, you may use whatever brand you prefer, and I chose the whole gain as a healthier choice. I cooked them per the instructions on the bag. Then I made of the Spicy Garlic Ranch Sauce.(See ingredients below, for a small batch of sauce) I then tossed the cooked tenders in the sauce and baked them at 400 degrees for about 5 more minutes. Then served with Ranch or Bleu Cheese, and enjoy! :)

 

 

 

 

Spicy Garlic Ranch Sauce:

• 1/2 cup Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• 1/2 Frank's Red Hot Sauce
• A pinch of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• Cook on a stove top in small sauce pan, or microwave 

The Village Tavern, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Mine & My Mothers Favorite Restaurant

I can't even express what I wonderful place this is to eat! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Lock Haven area. Not only is everything homemade and absolutely delicious, but everyone that works there is family. When you go there often, they treat you as though you are part of their family as well. Also. my favorite part of my meal at The Village Tavern is before my meal even comes out. As soon as you sit down they give the table a basket of homemade Italian bread, and a small dish of homemade peppers that are GREAT! You can purchase a quart or a pint to take home with you.


Please visit and like their Facebook page at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewvillagetavern?rf=100536046673271


Contact Information:
525 E Bald Eagle St, Lock Haven, PA 17745
(570) 748-6128

Simple Dinner Side

Shells, Cheese, and Broccoli

My best friend sometimes asks me what to have for a side with salmon, or pork chops. I know its sometimes a struggle to come up with new things to have. Most people resort to a potatoes of some form, but that can get old after awhile. So I tried this last night for a side with just sandwiches.

I had fresh broccoli left over from something else that I had made, so I boiled that until it was tender. Then I added the cooked broccoli to a box of Velveeta Shells & Cheese and little bit of extra cheese.

The World's Healthiest Food

The Avocado

I sometimes try to work avocados into dinners and lunches. Cooking for two guys that never want to try anything new or healthy it's hard to do, it's like tricking a little kid into eating their vegetables.

 

What you can put avocado in:

• Sandwiches
• Salads
• Burgers
• Guacamole

 

They have several health benefits being a super food.

• Promote heart health
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Carotenoids
• Cardiovascular
• Regulates blood sugar
• Anti-Cancer benefits

How to select the right avocado at the store:

A ready-to-eat avocado should be slightly soft, and the color should be green in color with hints of a dark purpleish/black color. Another way to tell is the top of the avocado , if you take the little stem off and it looks light green underneath then it is ripe.

Hours after you cut on an avocado they start to turn a yucky brown color there are several things that you can do to prevent this from happening but what I found that works the best is lemon juice. If you rub or squeeze a lemon on the avocado it will prevent it from getting brown so quickly.

Preparing an avocado:

I usually make a cut evenly the whole way around the avocado, and then twist it so it comes apart from the pit. Then I take a spoon and scoop it out away from the skin, and scoop out the pit the same way, then you can slice it however you wish to.

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant

2105 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803
(814) 826-2362

Authentic Mexican Cuisine


It is very inexpensive for the amount of food you get, your meals always come out quickly, and they are always steaming hot and delicious.

For Lunch Today!

Spicy Black Bean Burgers

Most grocery stores carry the Morning Star brand of Spicy Black Bean Burgers
Low fat chipotle mayo
Cheese of your choice, I prefer pepper jack
Onions
Tomatoes
Avocados
Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats

Classic Family Dinner

Homemade Meal

 

This may be a very time consuming to make but it will definitely be both it because your entire family enjoy it.

 

• Ham
• Green Bean Casserole
• Scallop Potatoes
• Cole Slaw
• Dinner Rolls

French Onion Dip

French Onion Dip

Perfect football game snack!

Easy and cheap to make for a football game snack.

Lipton French Onion Dip Mix

~Follow the instructions on the package

Honey Mustard Dip/Dressing

Honey Mustard Dip

Perfect for football game parties!

Simple to make & delicious

Honey Mustard Dip/Dressing Mix

~Follow the instructions on the package

Healthy Egg Salad

Egg Salad

For lunches this week, I am making healthy egg salad sandwiches.

 

Items you will need:

• 8 large hard boiled eggs
• Low Fat Hellmann's Mayo
• Avocado
• Onion
• Tomatoes
• Whole wheat bread

 

Directions:

1. Place 8 eggs in a large saucepan and cover with cold water 1 inch.
2. Bring them to a boil and cook for 1 minute
3. Cover saucepan and remove from heat
4. Set aside for 8-10 minutes
5. Drain eggs and let them cool completely before trying to peel
6. Slice up peeled eggs and mix them with 2/3 of the low fat mayo
7. Slice up the onions, tomatoes, and avocado
8. Finally, prepare your sandwich.

 

Kitchen Table Center Piece

Decorate with mason jars

Simple Stromboli

Fast, Easy Dinner Idea

This meal was just enough to feed my teenage brother, my father, and myself.

 Ingredients:

• 2 cans of Original Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

*Listed below are the ingredients that I used, but you may use your favorite pizza/Stromboli toppings

• Roasted red bell peppers
• Hot pepper rings
• Provolone cheese 
• Ham
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Marinara sauce

 

Instructions:

• Preheat over to 375 degrees
• Pull apart crescent rolls, but leave them in the small rectangular pieces
• Form a circle with the pieces on a greased pizza pan (you can lay some of it out over the edge because you will be folding it up later)
• Layer your toppings towards the middle of the circle you made with the crescent rolls
• Then fold the ends towards the middle to cover everything up, you may need to pinch some of the seems together to keep it from coming apart
• Bake for about 20 minutes and serve with marinara sauce

 

 

Asparagus Fries

Yummy twist on asparagus

 

I usually purchase a large bag of asparagus from Sam's Club because it's less than anywhere else and you get more.

 

Ingredients:

• 2 large beaten eggs
• 1 cup of Panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup of  grated Parmesan cheese, I used Kraft

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Cover large baking sheet with oil olive
3. Combine bread crumbs and cheese on a large plate*
4. Beat eggs in a large bowl
5. Dip asparagus in eggs and then in bread crumb and cheese mixture, coat well
6. Place asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet
7. Bake for 15 minutes until asparagus becomes crispy

*Cover large plate with plastic wrap before putting bread crumb and cheese mixture on it to make clean up easier.

 

 

 

 

 

Need A Cake?

I

Sweet Tooth Bakery  in State College, Pennsylvania makes fantastic cakes!

Craving Sweets?

A place you must visit!

If you like frozen yogurt, you will LOVE Sweet Frog!

Visit http://sweetfrogyogurt.com/ to learn more

Chicken Noodle & Cheesy Vegetable Soup

My Favorite Soup!

Chicken Noodle & Cheesy Veggie Soup

This soup is very inexpensive, super simple, quick to make, and absolutely delicious!

 

         What you will need:

• 2 boxes of Lipton chicken noodle soup
• 1 small block of Velveeta cheese
• Fresh vegetables:
• Baby Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli

 

I normally cook the vegetables separately, let the cheese melt on them, and then add them to the soup. You may cook the soup per the directions on the box.

 

**Helpful Hint: Be careful not to heat the soup to a boil after adding the cheese and vegetable because it may burn or taste burnt.

 

 

One of my favorites :)

Chicken Alfredo with Fresh Asparagus

This meal can be made in about 30 minutes or less and it delicious! :)

Ingredients:

• Grilled boneless skinless chicken breast
• Vegetable pasta
• Your favorite alfredo sauce, I prefer to use Bertolli Alfredo Garlic Sauce
• Roasted fresh asparagus

*you can serve this a garden salad and garlic bread

What's for dinner tonight!

Pork Chops, Roasted Baked Potatoes, & Asparagus

What you'll need to make it:

• Pork chops
• Red skinned potatoes
• A bundle of fresh asparagus

I like to marinate my pork chops in Lawry's Steak & Chop Marinade, and then boil the potatoes whole for a few minutes until they become soft. After that I roast them in the oven at 400 degrees, lightly sprayed with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, and cut slits in them. I do the same exact thing with the asparagus.

 

Hot Chocolate

Inexpensive, cute gift to hand out to family & friends during this cold weather

Supplies that you will need:

• Wide mouth mason jars
• Hot chocolate mix
• Mini marshmallows
• Baileys

Visiting State College, Pennsylvania?

You must stop and try the Waffle Shop!

It's one of the best places to eat in State College, but you better get there early they only serve breakfast, bunch, and lunch.

Quick & Healthy Dinner Idea

Steak Salad

When my family is busy, and I don't know what else to make, this is my go to meal.

All you will need is:

• Your favorite cut of steak (seasoned or marinated as you like)
• Lettuce of your choice (iceberg, romaine, spinach)
• Shredded cheese of your choice, I used sharp cheddar cheese
• Your favorite salad toppings (olives, peppers, onions, bacon bites, cucumbers etc.)
• Your favorite dressing
• French fries



Steak Salad