A BAKE, A SHAKE, A CAKE AND A SALAD!!!

WOO HOO!!! That's what I REALLY wanted to say next to that title!!;D
How are you guys? Our weekend was ok.Trisha was in the local newspaper again as one of the youngest scholars in High School with her photo and parents' name too!(Yup! That's only glory I get!;D)She also had her SAT exam on Saturday,so we had to stay put at home, couldn't do much other than working a little on my veggie patch.
But I got busy on Sunday as you can see,cooked like crazy and enjoyed it too.Took photos at lightening speed before kids get their paws on them!;D

What's on the menu?!
Chicken and Broccoli Bake,( Vegetarians,skip chicken ,add more vegs!)
Summer Apple Salad,(Going Lite for MBP!)
Asparagus with Sesame and garlic Butter,
Texas White sheet cake for dessert,
and wash them all down with a California Sunshine!!(AFAM!)
All these dishes are from "Taste of Home" magazine,an excellent Mag if you really want authentic homely recipes written by various authors.

Our Sunday lunch:

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole:
Here is a very tasty and healthy casserole with all goodness of Chicken and Broccoli with creamy Cheddar cheese sauce.You can skip the meat and add more veggies for a scrumptious lunch.Hope you will try.

You need:1 package(10 oz) frozen cut broccoli,1 lb chicken tenders, diced into bite-sized pieces, 1/2 cup sliced red onions, 1 tbsp butter, 1 can (11 oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup+1/4 cup water or stock, 1/2 tsp ground mustard, 2tsp Mrs.Dash spice mix,salt and pepper to taste, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup French fried onions,store bought.How to:Preheat the oven to 350. Cook the broccoli, drain. Keep it aside. Heat butter in a pan, add onions, when soft, add chicken pieces and saute until they are white. Stir in soup+water, mustard, salt, heat until it bubbles. In a casserole dish, arrange 1/2 the broccoli, top with 1/2 the chicken, layer 1/2 the grated cheese, repeat the layers. Sprinkle 2 tsp of Ms. Dash spice in between layers or on top, salt and pepper, and sprinkle French fried onions on top. Put it in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.Serve warm.

Summer Apple salad:
Make this fabulous cool and lite salad for a hot Summer day!!It feels so good have this not so sweet salad/dessert! Chill it for an hr at least for a wonderful and tasty salad.Enjoy:)

You need: 1-2 red apple, cored and sliced thin, 1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained, 1/2 cup celery, sliced, 1/2 cup grapes sliced, 1/4 cup sliced baby carrots, 1/4 cup Peaches and Pears (canned is fine),1/4 cup Orange segments,3 tbsp finely chopped walnuts(mix these with 1 tsp lemon juice).
For dressing: mix 3 tbsp cup fat free cream, 1 tbsp sugar,1 tsp Apple cider vinegar,pinch of salt.
How to: In a large salad bowl, combine apples, pineapple, celery, grapes, carrots, oranges,walnuts and lemon juice. In a small bowl, combine cream, sugar, and pinch of salt. Mix and pour it over the apple mixture, toss to coat.Chill and serve garnished with Orange segments or slices.This is going to Coffee from 'Spice Cafe' MBP "Going lite!" event, hosted this month by miss gorgeous herself!!Thank you coffee!:)
I am choosing this salad from this site with my own additions to make it even healthier.

Sesame-Garlic Asparagus:
Asparagus stir-fry!! Fresh,crunchy and deliciously spiced side dish.I should have used fresh but couldn't get tender ones.Canned Asparagus was ok but little soft.Please use fresh for this recipe.


You need: About 8-10 young tender Asparagus Spears(I usually do this with fresh ones.This time I couldn't get the young spears,so I bought a can!Big mistake!!:D Use fresh ones like I did here. 1 tbsp butter,1/2 tsp Garlic pd,2 tsp Sesame seeds,salt and pepper.
How to: Heat a pan with butter,add sesame seeds.Add in the whole Asparagus spears and saute for 2 mints.Don't need to cook too much,just until tender-crisp.Sprinkle salt,garlic and pepper,take off the heat and stir well.



California Sunshine:
What a cool way finish off the meal! This is originally called "Orange Julia or Julius".It not only looks beautiful,tastes delicious too chilled, served in a great looking tall glass.You can 2% milk too to cut the down the calorie even more.DO NOT use regular fat free milk though!



You Need: 1 can (6 ounce) frozen orange juice, concentrate, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 non-fat dry milk powder OR fat free half and half milk, 1 tsp vanilla essence, 1/2 cup cold water, 10 ice cubes, few oranges for garnishing.
How to: In a blender, combine the first five ingredients, and process at high speed for 1 minute. Add ice cubes, one at a time, blending until slushy. Serve, garnish with orange slices.
Note: For a fancy glass edge, dip the rim of the glass into orange juice and then in sugar. Chill in the fridge before you pour in the juice. This is going to Sharmi from 'Neivedyam' blog for AFAM "Orange". Thanks for hosting Sharmi:)






White Texas sheet cake:
Texas sheet cake is light,easy and delicious,very handy for the kids to grab and go or as a after school snack.Add a squeeze of food color to make even more attractive.You can add Egg substitute if you don't eat Eggs.


You Need: 1 cup butter, 1 cup water, 2 cups plain flour or Cake flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 eggs beaten, 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking Powder.
For frosting: 1/2 butter, 1/4 cup milk, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract,1/4 cup chopped walnuts or use store bought vanilla frosting(heat with 3 tbsp water)to spread thinly and sprinkle Walnuts.
How to:
1. In a large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil, remove from the heat.Cool a little, stir in the flour, sugar, sour cream, vanilla, salt and baking soda,beat until smooth.Add Eggs beaten and mix well again.
2. Pour into a greased or sprayed with no-stick oil 15"x10"x1" baking sheet, bake at 375 F for 20-22 mins OR until the cake is golden brown, invert gently on a rack which is on the bigger cookie sheet to catch the icing and cool for 20 minutes.

Click on the image to see step by step pics:


For frosting; combine butter and milk in a saucepan, bring to boil, remove from heat. Add sugar and vanilla, mix well. Stir in walnuts,spread over cooled cake or use store bought vanilla icing,add color,walnuts and spread it thin. Cut into squares and serve.




Sumeet!
I got my brand new mixer within 5 working days of ordering from Canada!! Super duper fast (free!) shipping from Sumeet. Blades are slightly thinner than the old Sumeet but grinds better. I made Orange Julius(above) with whipper blade,works great!:)


Have a great weekend.See Y'all with RCI dishes next! Kids' school is over this Friday and they are going to literally hang around me for 2 1/2 mnts! AH..!!! HELP!!!!!;D