MissQuoted's Random Thoughts

These are insanely easy to make and delicious! The cheddar cheese will enhance the heat of the jalepeno and the cream cheese will mute the pepper’s heat a bit — both versions are good, it just depends on your preference for hot tastes. Usually these are appetizers, but I did serve these over white rice as a main dish. Enjoy!

Photo by Linda Doell

INGREDIENTS:

• Jalepeno peppers, each cut lengthwise in half and de-seeded. Take the inner white part out too if you don’t want as much heat.
• Turkey bacon
• Cheddar Cheese
• Neufchatel Cheese or Cream Cheese

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fill each jalepeno half with either a slice of cheddar or a dollop of Neufchatel cheese
• Wrap a strip of turkey bacon around each pepper half. I used large peppers for this, so a full slice of bacon just covered the pepper.
• Cook 20 to 25 minutes, depending on how crispy you like the bacon.

SMOKED SALMON RAVIOLI

MAKES 48 RAVIOLI

Photo by Linda Doell

1, 3-oz. pkg. of smoked salmon (I used wild-caught, smoked Alaskan salmon)
2 cups Skim Ricotta Cheese
1 Tbsp. Dill Weed
1 pkg. of wonton wrappers

DIRECTIONS

1. Drain salmon and mix in medium-sized bowl with ricotta cheese.
2. Add dill weed to mixture and thoroughly mix.
3. Put about a teaspoon of the salmon mixture in the middle of a wonton wrapper, brush the edges with water and press together to seal it and fold the edges over.
4. Cook about 5 to 6 minutes in boiling water. The ravioli will float when done.
5. Serve with a light cream or Alfredo sauce

MEAL IDEA: Smoked salmon ravioli with grilled asparagus spears and a green salad.

photo by Linda Doell

This is a quick, simple soup that packs a lot of flavor. If you want extra heat, use a medium to hot salsa. This is a good soup to use leftovers as well and can be adapted for your needs.
SALSA CHICKEN SOUP WITH GARLIC BISCUITS
(serves 4; cost with listed ingredients, $9)

3 1/2 cups of fat free chicken broth
2 (9 oz.) cans of cooked chicken breast
1 cup of frozen spinach leaves
1 container (12 oz.) of fresh mild salsa
1 cup of dry egg noodles
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 can of butter biscuits
garlic powder

Put all of the ingredients except the biscuits into a pot. Bring to a boil and cook until the noodles are tender.

To make the biscuits: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place biscuits on a non-stick baking tray and sprinkle garlic powder on top of the biscuits and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.