Homemade croutons

I love bread. I love croutons. I love olive oil and garlic and balsamic vinegar. It's only natural then that every once in a while I get on a crusty crouton kick and go a little crazy.

Any sort of day old bread (or fresh for that matter, but a little stale is better) will work, but definitely do not use your run of the mill loaf of bread from the grocery store. You need something more airy and rustic, like ciabatta, focaccia or a good loaf of skinny french bread.

Cut the bread into thin strips without squishing it. You'll need a good knife. Place strips on a parchment lined cookie sheet and preheat your oven to about 325 degrees.

While the oven is heating in a small bowl mix olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Coat each sliced piece of bread, on both sides with the mixture (if you don't have a kitchen brush, you could use a new paintbrush or maybe even just a spoon). Once it's ready to go you can add a little extra salt or even some balsamic vinegar to taste.

Put the bread in the oven for 5 minutes and watch it. After 5 minutes check to see if the bread is getting golden and crusty and then just watch it every additional two minutes or so until it's looking like you want it.

Pull out of the oven and let cool. As the bread cools, it will get even more crusty.

These are great to eat alone with an ice cold diet coke for lunch or you can actually put them on a salad.

Or load them up with some bruschetta and enjoy a nice appetizer.

Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad

I got this recipe from SkinnyTaste.com.

I added a bit of Arizona Dreaming, one of my favorite current spices. We put in on everything from popcorn to eggs. It is so good. Kind of limey, chocolatey, spicey and wonderful. If you want to have some let me know, so you don't have to buy any.

We also put this on tortillas which helps it be less healthy. But it was so refreshing and good.

Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 7/8 cup • Old Points: 4 pt • Points+: 5 pt
Calories: 210.4 • Fat: 9.2 g • Protein: 25.1 g • Carb: 7.8 g • Fiber: 3.6 g • Sugar: 0.6
Sodium without salt: 260.8 mg

1 lb jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined, chopped*
1 medium tomato, diced
1 hass avocado, diced
1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced fine
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 limes, juice of
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
salt and fresh pepper to taste

In a small bowl combine red onion, lime juice, olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper. Let them marinate at least 5 minutes to mellow the flavor of the onion.

In a large bowl combine chopped shrimp, avocado, tomato, jalapeño. Combine all the ingredients together, add cilantro and gently toss. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 3 1/2 cups.

Easy Taco Salad (frito pie) By Tanjie

2 (15oz) can kidney beans, drained or 1 cup dry beans, cooked tender (about 3 cups of cooked beans)

1/2 to 1 lb ground beef

1 tablespoon dry onion

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/8 teaspoon pepper

15 oz can tomato sauce

2 cups corn tortilla chips (fritos, doritos are good)

1-2 cups shredded cheese

start the kidney beans in the morning, bringing them to a boil in a quart of water, and then letting them rest for an hour. Then simmer them until they are tender and refrigerate them until suppertime. If you didn't want to cook your beans from scratch, you could use canned beans.

Cook your hamburger. Drain excess fat. Put the beans, seasonings, and tomato sauce in the skillet with the meat. Stir it all up and simmer it for a few min. to blend the flavors. If necessary you may add a little water, but remember you want it thick.

When the mixture is hot, turn it into a 9x13pan. Sprinkle the cheese on top, and tehn catter teh corn chips over all. Jab the mixture with a fork or spoon to coat some of the chips into the meat mixture. Place the pan in the oven and bake at 400 degrees for about 20min. When the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly, the dish is done.

To serve, place a handful of lettuce in a bowl. Top it with a big scoop of the tortilla chip meat mixture. Then add chopped tomato, onion and sour cream. Some like it with ranch dressing and a dash of red pepper flakes too.

*you can substitute a packet of taco seasoning for the spices, but it tastes way better with the spices.