Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Quiltermama, this recipe is for you. You requested some veggie side dishes for a Christmas dinner ... I have several good ones already listed here (check the labels to the left). But, here's another one that is very impressive when served but very easy! You will probably want to double this recipe. As listed below, it serves 4 to 5 people.

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz) of WHOLE green beans (make sure you get the whole green beans, the long ones ... not the cut or French cut)
4 to 5 slices of breakfast bacon
2 tablespoons of cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
Course ground black pepper to taste

Drain beans. Arrange beans into 4 to 5 bundles and place each bundle on a slice of bacon. Wrap bacon diagonally around beans and tuck ends under or secure with toothpicks (remember to remove the toothpicks before you serve them). Put the bundles in a shallow baking dish. Drizzle vinegar over bacon and grind course ground pepper over the bacon. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes until bacon is brown.

Broccoli Rice & Cheese Casserole

I cannot believe I have not posted this sooner! With Thanksgiving being tomorrow, I thought I would share. Happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for!

This is one of the items I'm bringing to my parents' Thanksgiving meal (along with Do Ahead Mashed Potatoes). It is the best I've ever eaten, and I got it from my sister-in-law, Terry. She is also a fabulous photographer and you can see and buy her work at Art.com.

Ingredients

1 small onion, chopped
1/2 c. of chopped celery
1 pkg (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 Tbsp. butter
16 oz. of Velveeta - can use the light version and save some calories
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (undiluted) - could use 98% fat free
1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk
4 cups of cooked rice (2 cups uncooked) - could use brown rice and up the fiber

In a large skillet over medium heat, saute onion, celery and broccoli in butter for 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in cheese, soup and milk until smooth. Place rice in a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Pour cheese mixture over; do NOT stir. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

I've done this with all low fat items and it is just as wonderful and no one knew ... even the picky eaters.

You can add chopped, cooked chicken for a complete meal if you don't want to serve it as a side dish.

Taco Seasoned Squash

CeCe shares her new veggie creation with us! Thanks, CeCe!

I cooked turkey tacos (I am on LA weight loss so....). I really have never associated "turkey" with anything good except baked turkey for Thanksgiving so this was a HUGE stretch for me. Anyway, after scooping out all the turkey meat/ taco mix , I noticed there was a lot of stuff left in the skillet. Lots of seasoning, bits of turkey browned....I thought there has got to be a way to use this to cook this yellow squash that I was FORCING myself to make. (I don't like many veggies unless they are fried. So LA weight loss and I have been chatting about new ways that I might be able to eat them). I cut the squash super thin and peppered them. Sprayed the skillet (left all the stuff in it and just sprayed lightly on top of it), and added the squash. I browned them on either side. OH MY GOSH.....my son and I fought over the whole skillet. IT was the best squash I have ever had and tasted fried but it really wasn't!! ; I tried it again the next day without all the taco seasoning. It was almost as good so I ate it again! There goes another vegetable that I can eat!! Yahoooo!

CeCe