Busy Bee Lifestyle

Potluck Recipes

Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans

Ingredients

1 T. butter
1/2 c. pecan halves
1 T. brown sugar
1 ounce package fresh baby spinach (I also make this salad with a combination of fresh baby spinach and baby greens)
1 large granny smith apple, cored, sliced and then cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese
2 T. olive oil
2 T. white vinegar

Directions

Melt butter in small frying... Read more »

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

1-2 head fresh broccoli
1/2 c. red onions, chopped
1/2 lb. bacon
2 1/2 T. vinegar
1 c. Hellmann’s mayonnaise
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. grated mozzarella cheese

Directions

Cook bacon (I make it easy and buy the already cooked bacon in the refrigerator section of the market) and crumble into pieces
Chop up top of broccoli into bite size pieces
Mix broccoli, onions,... Read more »

Crackle Barrel’s Hashbrown Casserole

Ingredients

2 lbs. frozen hash browns
1/2 c. melted margarine
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pint sour cream
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions

Mix the above ingredients together and bake in a 11″ x 14″ baking dish for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.  or until brown on top.

Cookie Pizza

Cookie Pizzas
Ingredients:

1 roll (18 oz.) Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies.  (I think that you could use the chocolate chip cookie dough as an alternative.)
½ c. creamy peanut butter.  (You could also use regular icing instead of peanut butter.)
1 ½ c. assorted candies for toppings.  (No hard candy.)  Try raisins, M&M’s, candy corn, chocolate chips, or mini... Read more »

Roasted Carrots with Maple Syrup

Ingredients

2 lbs. peeled baby carrots (buy these prepared at the market)
3 cloves garlic, mashed plus 8 cloves, unpeeled
3 T. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c. maple syrup

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees
On a rimmed baking sheet, toss together all ingredients, except the syrup
Roast for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and fork tender, stirring several... Read more »

Pasta and Smoked Mozzarella

Ingredients

1 lb. penne
1 bunch (1 lb.) broccoli, trimmed
1/4 c. unsalted butter
1/2 c. flour
1 quart milk
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)
2 c. cooked turkey chunks (from the deli counter)
1 lb. smoked mozzarella, diced

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease a 13″ X 9″ baking dish with cooking spray.
Cook penne according to... Read more »

Fabulous Meatloaf

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 large bell pepper, chopped
3/4 of one small can evaporated milk
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 packages of crackers (sleeves of a cracker like Ritz)
1 bottle A-1 Sweet and Tangy Steak sauce
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 of a medium sized bottle of ketchup

For Glaze

1/3 c. dark Karo syrup
1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c.... Read more »

Main Dishes

If you don’ t have time to cook, don’t overlook KFC!  Fried chicken is a perennial favorite and tastes great at room temperature!
Another good idea is your best chili recipe!  Bring your chili in your own crock pot! 
If you’ve got some spare time on your hands, consider making my recipes for a fabulous meatloaf and... Read more »

Feta, Tomato, Orzo Salad

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. orzo
4 scallions thinly sliced
1/3 c. olive oil
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 lb. feta cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cook orzo according to package directions.
Drain and rinse with cold water.
Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, scallions, salt and pepper.
Toss together orzo, dressing, tomatoes and feta cheese.
Serve cold or at room temperature.

White Pizza Dip

Ingredients

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb and Garlic Soup Mix
1 16 oz. container sour cream
1 c. (8 oz.) ricotta cheese
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4c. chopped pepperoni (this is optional, but I included it, just using turkey pepperoni.  I also added more than 1/4c.)
1 loaf French or Italian bread, sliced or cut into large cubes

Directions

Preheat... Read more »