Appetizer -- Spinach, Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas with Pico de Gallo
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 15-oz. can black beans, drained
1 10-oz. package spinach, thawed
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
One quarter cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
6 - 8 flour tortillas
2 cups cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, grated

Heat olive oil in a skillet and add black beans, spinach, corn, cilantro and cumin. Cook for several minutes. Spoon onto one half of each flour tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Fold over and place back in skillet over low heat just long enough to melt cheese. Slice in half and serve with Pico de Gallo.

Pico de Gallo

2 cups Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
One quarter cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 serrano or jalapeno chiles, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
One third cup Mexican beer
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

The Skinny: For the Quesadillas, use light cheeses and fat free tortillas. Also, use fresh spinach and fresh sweet corn cut off the cob in place of the frozen corn.



Main Course -- Cobb Salad
1 head iceberg lettuce
6 cups spring greens
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
2 cups cooked chicken or turkey breasts, diced
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
One third cup bacon bits

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss. Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

Blue Cheese Dressing

4 oz. blue cheese
One half cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill until ready to serve.

The Skinny: For the salad, use skinless chicken or turkey and low fat cheese. For the dressing, use low fat sour cream.



Dessert -- Strawberry Pie
One quarter cup water
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
One half cup sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
6 - 8 cups fresh strawberries, you can slice the large ones and leave the small ones whole
1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
Whipped topping

Combine water and cornstarch and mix until dissolved. Heat a large saucepan and add sugar and lemon juice and stir until sugar is melted. Add water and cornstarch mixture and stir until mixture starts to thicken. Add strawberries for just a couple of minutes. Pour into pie shell and chill for 3 hours or more. Serve with whipped topping.

The Skinny: Use your favorite sugar substitute and fat free whipped topping.


Grocery List
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 15-oz. can black beans
1 10-oz. package spinach
1 cup frozen corn
One half cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
6 - 8 flour tortillas
2 cups cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, grated
2 cups Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion
2 serrano or jalapeno chiles
2 cloves garlic
One third cup Mexican beer
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 head iceberg lettuce
6 cups spring greens
2 hard-boiled eggs
2 large tomatoes
2 avocados
2 cups cooked chicken or turkey breasts, diced
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
One third cup bacon bits
4 oz. blue cheese
One half cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
One half cup and 1 tsp. sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
6 - 8 cups fresh strawberries
1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
Whipped topping

Yummmmmmmmmm....chickster. Yummmmmmmmmmm.

I'm on it!

Chick...you got me hungry...and you included everything but the dish washer...I'll cook if you'll clean up! Deal?

I second that Yuuummmmm! I made chicken Quesadillas the other day. this would be a nice change. Thanks!

Chickster, you put me in the cooking mood. Does that scare anybody? Today I made a banana pie (which I previously made with pineapple) and Indian Stew. I'm taking my bounty over to my son and daughter-in-laws house.

Its called bribery. This way, I get to play all day with my grandbeauties. I have no shame.

Indian Stew (been posted here before)

1 lbs (or more) of ground chuck or beef (your call)
1 15 oz can of chopped or diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can of whole kernel corn
1 can tomato soup
1/2 can water
2 Tablespoons of flour
2 Tablespoons of sugar
1 large onion (I use half)
2 Tablespoons of Bell Pepper (I used a whole one today)

Brown meat with onions and bell pepper. Drain. Add flour and sugar. Stir well. Add rest of ingredients and simmer on low for about 30 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

All Purpose, Try with Any Fruit Pie (Given to me by my good pal, Trish Terrell, mystery writer)
Stir the following together:

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

1 can crushed pineapple, well drained (or three bananas if ou want to change it up and try something different. Or what about cherries? That's for my next one, for sure!)

1/3 cup lemon juice

Fold in the following:

1/2 cup pecan pieces (I left these out)

Fill a graham cracker crust with the mixture. Can use a 9-inch chocolate crust. I used the regular kind.

Pour a tub of Cool Whip on top. (I used fat free) Okay, here's a note from me on this. I did not put the COOL WHIP on top. I folded it into the pie. It makes the pie just right and you can put the plastic lid back on the pie. It taste just as good, too.
Refrigerate until firm.

This was SO easy, but it is unbelievably good - and light. Perfect when you want something sweet but not heavy.

Jawjaw, have you seen a doctor recently? Are you running a fever???
You're cooking??

Ye-ah, I know, scary ain't it? My new motto is ...

I've got more time for misbehavin'
Since I been a micro-wavein'

you got fire extinguisher?

Well ye-ah...How do you think I know everything's done?

I'm not sure if this is good or bad -- but Hubbo's mom burned almost everything, so he actually doesn't care if food is burned some, because to him that's down home (Brooklyn tenement) cooking.

Not much incentive to be a great chef around here.