A List of Recipes I Stole from Other People

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies

My favorite recipe for my all time favorite dessert is a very easy one to find-

It's on the back of the bag!
My variations- Don't cook them for more than 8 minutes, don't add the nuts, and add a little more salt then the recipe calls for.

2. Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 package of boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Franks Red Hot Bottle
2 Packages of Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Ranch Dressing
1 Package of Cheddar Cheese

To cook- Use Large Saute Pan
1. Boil chicken and shred once cooked fully
2. Melt cream cheese in pan (low heat)
3. Put in Frank's Red Hot and Ranch Dressing
4. Add shredded chicken and bring to slight bubble
5. Add shredded cheddar cheese
6. Enjoy with some scoops

My variations- I prefer blue cheese to ranch so I use that instead. I also use mexican cheese blend rather than cheddar. Additionally if I am not in a rush making this (or if I make it ahead of time) I place it in a pan and sprinkle cheese on top as well. Warm in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Veggie variation- This can be made without the chicken (I tried it!). Use half as much of the Frank's Red Hot and Ranch/Blue cheese dressing. Add blue cheese crumbles instead. I recommend extra cheese in the dip/on top.

3. [Chicken] Broccoli and Ziti

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/07/easiest-pasta-and-broccoli-recipe.html
This recipe is great but a little bland-

My variations-
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts cubed
1/2 Onion diced
Oil based caesar salad dressing (NOT CREAMY)
Two lemons or lemon juice
Parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Frozen broccoli
Pasta (I like ziti or bow ties)
Italian seasonings

1.Saute chicken till cooked in olive oil and place to the side.
2. Boil pasta and cook till al dante
3. In bowl mix 3/4 of a bottle of Caesar dressing with juice of two lemons (if you use lemon juice this is like 3:1 ratio dressing to lemon) and parmesan cheese. Add italian seasonings to taste. Whisk till blended.
4. Saute onion in a large saute pan with olive oil once slightly browning add chicken and pasta. Reduce heat to medium/low.
5. Pour frozen broccoli over the chicken and pasta.
6. Pour dressing/lemon/cheese combo over other ingredients and stir so evenly distributed.
7. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat till broccoli is cooked.
This meal is very quick to make and is YUM!

Veggie variation- The chicken is not the highlight of this meal by any means. Skip the chicken and just add a little olive oil to the saute pan before you put in the pasta. Maybe add some red peppers for color?

4. Black Bean and Corn Salad

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/black-bean-and-corn-salad-recipe/index.html

My variation- Rachel and I usually get along pretty well but when it comes to this recipe I think the only things she got right were the blacks beans, corn, and onions. Try this instead-
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1/2 red onion chopped
1 or 2 red peppers chopped
1/4 cup orange juice
1 TBSP lime juice
1 TBSP olive oil
1 fist full chopped cilantro
Pepper and salt

1. Chop onion and peppers and place in bowl.
2. Add cilantro, beans, and corn
3. In another bowl or in two cups (pour back and forth till blended) mix orange juice, lime juice, and olive oil.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Pour dressing combo over salad.
6. Now you can absolutely eat this right away BUT if you let it kind of marinade into the veggies and beans for a day (make in the morning and eat at night?) this tastes even better!!

5. Blush Pasta

Ingredients:
1 box shells/ziti
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 small jar alfredo sauce
Italian seasonings

1. Boil pasta till al dante
2. Pour pasta into colander
3. In pan mix diced tomatoes, italian seasonings and alfredo sauce then pour back in pasta
4. Transfer to casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes on 350

My variation- This recipe is seriously yum!!! It is a little heavy though on the calories (alfredo ugh) so if you swap in the light alfredo sauce (easy to find at the grocery store) and whole wheat or omega-3 pasta. The great news is that the sauce coats the pasta so even if you are cooking for a picky eater who "doesn't like whole wheat pasta" they probably won't even notice that you went for this option. ...But lets be real I still put parmesan cheese on top of the pasta and had a bread stick with it.