Shrimp Cobb Salad

This was a wonderful take on a cobb salad! We all loved the taste and it was delicious the next day too... The presentation of this salad would be great for a potluck, especially if you take the time to layer it in a trifle dish. Since it was just us at home I didn't take the time to pretty it up, but it definitely tastes just as good either way! :) It was a refreshing meal on a hot day!

Shrimp Cobb Salad
(recipe found on pinterest via http://www.skinnytaste.com)

16 ounces large shrimp, cooked and cooled
1 tablespoon lime juice
chipotle chili powder and salt, to taste
6 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup corn kernels
2 tablespoons red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
juice of 1/2 a lime
1 seedless cucumber, chopped
2 cups diced tomato
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 cup mexican cheese blend

Rinse shrimp and chop into large chunks. Toss with salt, chipotle chili powder and lime juice. Set aside. Combine beans, corn, red onion, cilantro, juice of 1/2 a lime and salt to taste.

In a large glass bowl, like a trifle dish, layer ingredients beginning with lettuce, black bean mixture, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, cheese and ending with the shrimp on top.

Serves: 6
Points: 6 per 2 cup servings

Weekly Line Up 8/14-8/22

Since my oven is back up and running I did a lot of baking this week and I loved it! We are heading on a little family vacation this weekend and I was busy baking up some goodies for us to take along... chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, and some blueberry muffins for breakfast. We are all very excited to go and I have some new crockpot recipes that I am trying out for while we are gone. We are taking the camper so starting everything in the morning and then having it cooking while we are out having fun sounds like a grand plan to me! Have a great week - I know we will! :)

Tuesday - *Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Wednesday - Taco Night
Thursday - Hot Dogs
Friday - Lunch - BLT's and fruit/Supper - *French Dip Sandwich and Corn on the Cob
Saturday - Lunch - Eating out/Supper - *Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops
Sunday - Lunch - Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels/Supper - Eating out
Monday - Pizza
Tuesday - Taco Stuffed Shells
Wednesday - Taco Night

* New Recipes

Laughing Cow Wraps

This was a fabulous lunch for my kids this summer! You can use plain cream cheese but I think that the additional flavor of the laughing cow cheese gives it a little kick. Super yummy and a great way to get rid of some of the cucumbers that are filling up my kitchen from the garden! :)

Laughing Cow Wraps
(recipe found on pinterest via http://www.rachaelraymag.com)

4 tablespoons laughing cow cheese, whichever flavor you desire
1/4 cup cucumber, chopped
3 flour tortillas
1/4 pound sliced turkey

Stir together cheese and cucumbers. Spread on tortillas, top with turkey and roll the tortilla up.

Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin

This was a super tasty way to cook up pork tenderloin or roast... Talk about easy and with very few ingredients. We had this with corn on the cob and it made a fabulous meal! I didn't freeze it but I did use a frozen pork roast and put it straight into the crockpot. It was delicious and the whole family went back for seconds!

Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
(recipe found on pinterest via http://blogs.babble.com)

pork tenderloin (I used a pork roast since that is what I had)
1/4 cup grainy mustard
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, if desired
garlic clove, crushed

If freezing, place pork in zip lock bag. If preparing immediately place pork in crockpot. (I used a frozen pork roast). Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over pork. Freeze. To cook, place frozen pork into crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.

Hot Chocolate

I'm keeping this recipe in my back pocket for this winter! :) As part of the Secret Recipe Club that I am a part of I had found a few recipes that I was able to try even without my stove. I chose to post that day about the hoecakes recipe that she had on her blog but I also tried this fabulous hot chocolate. It was a little warm for hot chocolate but it still tasted delicious! The coconut milk gave the hot chocolate a different taste then normal and it was fabulous. I needed to do a little experimenting with how much milk to add in order to not have it quite so thick but once I got it right it was a great chocolatey treat to top off my night... that and a great book - perfect!

I halved this recipe and still had enough for a cup of hot chocolate for 4 nights. I stored the leftover hot chocolate mixture in the fridge and added milk and reheated as much as I wanted...

Hot Chocolate
(recipe found at http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com)

3 cups chipped dark chocolate (I used a bag of dark chocolate chips which was perfect for a half a batch)
2 cans coconut milk
4 tablespoons sugar
milk

Bring coconut milk to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add chocolate and sugar and whisk until completely melted. Mixture will be very thick. Add milk to create desired consistency.

Chicken Taco Chili

I love my crockpot for soups but with this summer being so incredibly warm (for Minnesota) I haven't busted out any of my favorite soups... We had a rainy day last week and it was the perfect time to make a soup - yay!! This was super tasty and would have been perfect with some corn chips sprinkled on top. Unfortunately that was a thought that I had as I was putting the soup on the table! :) Oh well, crackers work just as well...

Chicken Taco Chili
(recipe found on pinterest)

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn
1 (16 ounces) tomato sauce
1 (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 boneless chicken breasts

Combine all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours. Shred chicken and stir.

Weekly Line Up - 8/7-8/14

My oven is fixed!! Wahoo!! My excitement is running over and the first thing that I did yesterday was bake up a batch of peach crisp We just picked up our box of peaches from the fire department and it was time to celebrate! :) Oh how I have missed my oven...

I had already made up my meal plan for this week before I got the call that told me my oven part was in so a lot of my meals and treats for this week are still part of the crockpot and stovetop... We have a lot going on this weekend which means I have a chance to bring a few of the dips that I have been waiting for a chance to try... Definitely on a sweet treat kick this week! Can't wait to have a little more flexibility next week though!

Tuesday - waffles and side pork
Wednesday - Pizza Ranch
Thursday - *Garlic and Brown Sugar Chicken
Friday - *Skinny Mexican Burgers and corn on the cob
Saturday - *Mexican Dip (my part of the bean bag tourney and potluck we are going to.)
Sunday - *Cake Batter Bars and *Cherry Cheesecake Dip (lake trip!)
Monday - *Dunkaroo Dip (going away party for my cousin)
Tuesday - *Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Extras: *No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

* New Recipes