BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA

BBQ Chicken Pizza:

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into small pieces
1 Homemade Gourmet® Season 'n' Steam BBQ Chicken Sandwich Mix
½ cup ketchup
½ cup water
2 prebaked pizza crusts
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided

Toppings of Your Choice:
Cubed Pineapple
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomato
Diced onion
Sliced jalapenos

1. Place meat in steamer bag, close and place in microwave. Cook on high for 4 minutes. Using an oven mitt, carefully remove bag from microwave, open and stir meat. Reseal bag and return to microwave. Cook on high an additional 4 minutes. Once again, using an oven mitt, remove bag from microwave. Drain liquid off meat (drain liquid off meat by tilting the bag to one side to allow the liquid to pour out using the vent holes on the side of the bag or by slightly opening one end of the zipper seal).


2. While meat cooks, prepare the sauce by combining the mix, ketchup and water in a small bowl; stir well. Spread 3 tablespoons of sauce on each pizza crust. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over each crust.


3. Pour remaining sauce into drained steamer bag and stir until all meat is coated. Reseal and place back in microwave. Cook on high for 2 minutes. Stir one last time and spoon equal portions onto pizza crusts.


4. Place pizzas in oven preheated to 350 degrees or on a preheated grill on medium heat. Cook until cheese is completely melted and crust reaches desired crispiness, about 15 minutes. Add your choice of toppings. Slice and serve warm.

Serves 8 (2 slices).

Understanding 'Use By' Dates

Understanding ‘use by’ dates and using them to your advantage


Let’s provide a few definitions first:
Homemade Gourmet uses a “best if used by” date (or use by date): Homemade Gourmet stamps all mixes with a “Best if used by [date]” and a lot code under the label. The lot code provides the information needed to determine the exact manufacture date. This is the date by which the user -- either you or your customer -- should aim to use the product; it is not an expiration date. "Best if used by" dates are the food manufacturer’s estimate of the date after which a product is no longer at its peak flavor and quality. Manufacturers voluntarily place this date on the packaging as a general guide. Most foods are OK to consume after the use-by date but may be lacking in flavor or freshness.

Other terminology used in the industry, but not by Homemade Gourmet:
Sell by date: This date is for vendors (typically grocers) — not consumers. Homemade Gourmet does not use “sell by” dates, but for your reference the “sell-by” date on groceries is meant to notify your grocer to pull the product off the shelf. While consumers shouldn't purchase foods beyond their sell-by dates, foods past their sell-by dates are not necessarily spoiled. If the product has remained unopened and there aren't any signs of spoilage, it may still be OK to eat.

Expiration date: Just as the word indicates, this is the date on which a food is expected to spoil. Expiration dates are typically used on fresh foods (not dry mixes like Homemade Gourmet seasonings), but they are not required by federal law. You should not consume or taste foods past this date.

Beating the Recession and Cooking for Dummies

To learn more how to save grocery money and how to cook for dummies watch this quick video.

http://cbs4denver. com/recession/ Homemade. Gourmet.meals. 2.953072. html

Mary Lou Garcia
Homemade Gourmet Consultant
www.homemadegourmet.com/marylou

LAST CHANCE!

Get them while they last!

Homemade Gourmet updates its line every season,
and with spring coming soon, these products are
going away, either for a while or forever.

If they’re among your family’s favorites, stock up now.

These products are retiring and will be available while supplies last
beginning Feb. 28, 2009. Don’t miss out on these:

• BBQ Wing Sauce Mix
• Honey Chipotle Wing Sauce Mix
• Sesame Ginger Stir-Fry Mix
• White Pizza Sauce Mix
• Homemade Pizza Party Collection
• Minestrone Soup Mix
• Butterscotch Blondie Mix


These fall/winter seasonal products are seasonal, so they’ll be back in the autumn, but for now they’re only available while supplies last beginning Feb. 28, 2009:

Entrees & Soups
• Cornbread Casserole Mix
• Shepherd’s Pie Casserole Mix
• White Chicken Chili Mix
• Beef and Barley Stew Mix
• Lucky Bean Soup Mix
• Creamy Corn Chowder Mix
• Bonnie’s Blue Ribbon Chili Mix
• Creamy Italian Casserole Mix
• Louisiana Gumbo Mix
• Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
• Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup Mix
• Tomato Basil Soup Mix

Breads & Desserts & Beverages
• Mocha Cappuccino Muffin Mix*
• Carrot Cake with White
Chocolate Frosting Mix
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie Mix*
• Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix*
• White Chocolate Cran-Orange Cookie Mix*
• Tomato Basil Bread Mix
• Grandma’s Buttermilk Pie Mix
• Cranberry Margarita Party Blender Mix
• Chocolate Pecan Cheesecake*

Collections
• Chinese Supper Collection • Tex-Mex Fiesta Collection

*The ones with chocolate chips won’t be back until October, so if your family loves them, get them now

$104.50 in Free Product in February!!

Now is the time to join the Homemade Gourmet® family and receive free products! Is now the time for you to make a difference for your family?

What would you do with extra income this year?

Everyone eats and there is a huge opportunity to grow and achieve whatever you wish! Become a member of our great team, make new friends and make a difference!


Scenario #1 GOOD DEAL
Starter Kit ($100 Value) $ 39
$400 Retail Product Order @ 40% discount $240
1 Host Meal Kit ($6.50 value) $ 2
FREE Walk the Talk Product Preview ($104.50 value) FREE
Total cost (not including shipping/tax) $281
Approximate GRAND TOTAL Value of What You Receive = $611.00


Scenario #2
Starter Kit ($100 Value) $ 39
$600 Retail Product Order @ 40% discount $360
1 Host Meal Kit ($6.50 value) $ 2
FREE Walk the Talk Product Preview ($104.50 value) FREE
Total cost (not including shipping/tax) $401
Approximate GRAND TOTAL Value of What You Receive = $811.00


Scenario #3 BETTER DEAL
Starter Kit ($100 Value) $ 39
$800 Retail Product Order @ 50% discount $400
2 Host Meal Kits ($13 value) $ 4
FREE Walk the Talk Product Preview ($104.50 value) FREE
Total cost (not including shipping/tax) $443
Approximate GRAND TOTAL Value of What You Receive= $1,017.50


Scenario #4 BEST DEAL
Starter Kit ($100 Value) $ 39
$1,000 Retail Product Order @50% discount $500
2 Host Meal Kits ($13 value) $ 4
FREE Walk the Talk Product Preview ($104.50 value) FREE
Get Cookin’ Quick reward: Logo’ed rolling cooler ($60 Value) FREE
Total cost (not including shipping/tax) $543
Approximate GRAND TOTAL Value of What You Receive = $1,277.50


♥♥ Value is Approximate – Not an official Homemade Gourmet® Document. Scenarios shown above assume
a person joins Homemade Gourmet® as a new Consultant from 2/1/09-2/28/09

Flamenco Chicken Stuffed Peppers

6 bell peppers, color of your choice
4 teaspoons Homemade Gourmet Chicken Enchilada Soup Seasoning
½ cup diced tomatoes with green chilies
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
6 tablespoons milk
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 package Homemade Gourmet Spanish Rice Mix, prepared 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 13x9x2 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cut off tops of peppers and scoop out seeds. If necessary, slightly trim the bottom of peppers so they will sit up in the baking pan.
Prepare sauce. In a large sauce pan, combine enchilada seasoning, diced tomatoes, Velveeta cheese and milk. Heat slowly over medium heat until cheese is melted, and stir often to prevent burning.
In a bowl, combine chicken with sauce and Spanish Rice; stir until well blended.
Spoon chicken mixture into pepper shells and top with cheddar cheese.
Cover and bake 45 to 60 minutes or until peppers are soft. Serves 6.

Leaping Lords Cheesecake

Leaping Lords Cheesecake

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 package Homemade Gourmet Basic Cheesecake Mix
4 ounces Three Musketeers candy bar or any candy bar of
your leaping lord's choice (about 1 cup chopped)
8-ounce container whipped topping, thawed and divided
chocolate cookie pie crust

Beat first three ingredients together until smooth and creamy, stir in candy pieces and half of the whipped topping.
Spoon mixture into crust. Chill 2 hours or overnight.
If desired, top with remaining whipped topping and garnish with additional chopped candy bar. Serves 8.

Chicken Swimming with Apricots

Chicken Swimming with Apricots

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ cup pitted dried plums
½ cup dried apricot halves
2 tablespoons Homemade Gourmet Garlic Lemon Seasoning
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup red cooking wine (optional)
1 tablespoon honey
8-ounce package angel hair pasta, prepared

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker with plums and apricots on top.

Combine seasoning, orange juice, wine and honey; pour over chicken.

Cover and cook on low 6 hours or on high 3 hours.

Serve over prepared pasta. Serves 6.

Cranberry Sweet Bread Loaf

Cranberry Sweet Bread Loaf

1 Homemade Gourmet® Basic Sweet Bread Mix
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
8 ounces mixed-fruit applesauce
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup nuts, chopped (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine oil, eggs and applesauce and add to bread mix. Add cranberries and nuts.

2. Pour mixture into greased 5x8 loaf pan. Bake 60 to 80 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serves 10.

Huevos Burritos

Huevos Burritos

½ pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons Homemade Gourmet Taco Soup Seasoning, divided
2 cups egg substitutes (equal to 8 whole eggs)
½ cup light sour cream
½ cup prepared Maria's Salsa
½ cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
12 low-fat whole wheat tortillas

Optional toppings: Additional prepared Maria's Salsa, cheese, sour cream

Brown beef with water and 1 tablespoon seasoning. Set aside; keep warm. In greased skillet combine eggs with remaining seasoning; scramble eggs until thoroughly cooked.
Add sour cream, salsa, cheese and warm seasoned beef. Heat on medium low until cheese is melted.
Warm tortillas slightly if desired. Spoon scrambled egg mixture into tortilla, roll up burrito style and serve warm with desired toppings. Serves 6.

Garlic Basil in an Italian Pear Chicken recipe

Italian Pear Chicken

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken (or partridge) breast
4 tablespoons Homemade Gourmet Garlic Basil Seasoning
24-ounce can pear halves with juice, undrained
½ cup water

Place all ingredients in a freezer bag. Seal and smoosh! Before freezing, label as Italian Pear Chicken and list cooking options:
Bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Defrost and place entire contents in a baking dish. Cover and bake for 45 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.
Slow cooker: Defrost and place entire contents in slow cooker. Cook on high 4-6 hours or low 6-8 hours.

Hot Dill Dip

Hot Dill Dip

2 tablespoons Homemade Gourmet® Mock Spinach Seasoning Dip (you won't use the whole mix packet)
10.75-ounce can cheddar cheese soup
8 ounces sour cream
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)
Tortilla chips for serving

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine all ingredients except Parmesan cheese. Heat on high for 2 to 3 minutes and stir.
If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; serve with tortilla chips.

Baked French Toast breakfast

Baked French Toast

16-ounce loaf French bread
8 large eggs
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon salt
1 Homemade Gourmet® Spiced Dip Mix
1 teaspoon vanilla

Praline Topping
1 cup butter, softened
1 Homemade Gourmet® Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
½ cup brown sugar, packed
¾ cup pecans
½ teaspoon nutmeg
maple syrup or honey for serving

Slice bread into 1-inch slices. Arrange the slices in a generously buttered 13x9x2 baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.
In a large bowl, combine eggs, half-and-half, milk, vanilla, Spiced Dip Mix and salt; beat with mixer or whisk until blended, but not too bubbly. Pour over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the mixture, spooning some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil; refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine praline topping ingredients (apple crisp mix, brown sugar, pecans, nutmeg) in a medium bowl and spread evenly over bread.
Bake for 55-60 minutes, or longer; until puffed and golden. Serve with maple syrup or honey.

Cranberry Poinsettias

¼ cup Homemade Gourmet® Cranberry Margarita Party Blender Mix*
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup orange juice
3 cups crushed ice
½ cup vodka**


1. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix on high for 1 - 2 minutes or until desired consistency is reached. Pour in glasses and serve. Garnish with orange slices or mint leaves, if desired.
2. To make this on the rocks, pour all ingredients, excluding the ice, into a pitcher and stir until the mix is completely dissolved. Serve over ice. Garnish with orange slices or mint leaves, if desired.

Serves 6, 8-ounce glasses for each recipe
*This mix will make 4 recipes for a total of 24, 8-ounce glasses.

**To make a non-alcoholic version, omit the vodka and follow all other directions as written.

Cranberry Sweet Bread Loaf

Cranberry Sweet Bread Loaf

Ingredients:
1 Homemade Gourmet® Basic Sweet Bread mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
8 ounces mixed-fruit applesauce
1 cup dried cranberries (craisins®)
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Stir together, bread mix, oil, eggs and applesauce. Add cranberries and nuts.

2. Pour mixture into greased 5"x8" loaf pan. Bake 60 to 80 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

3. For muffins, fill 2/3 full, (yields about 18), bake 13 to 18 minutes.
For mini-loaves (yields 4 to 6), bake 25 to 30 minutes.
For mini-muffins (yields about 3 ½ dozen) bake about 10 minutes.

Comments: Craisins may be chopped into smaller bits to have more fruit pieces throughout baked product.

Cook Time 10 minutes
Preparation Time 10 minutes

Cranberry Orange Scones

Cranberry Orange Scones

Servings Per Recipe: 15 servings

1 Homemade Gourmet® White Chocolate Cran Orange Cookie Mix

1-1/4 cups regular flour
1-1/2 tablespoons baking powder
2 sticks cold butter/margarine, cut into chunks
1 cup cold buttermilk

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove chocolate/craisins packet from mix and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cookie mix, flour, and baking powder. Using a pastry cutter or two knives to cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly. Stir in chocolate/craisins packet. Add buttermilk and stir until all mixture is moistened.

3. On a generously floured surface, knead dough 15-20 times until dough is no longer sticky. Pat dough flat in rectangle about 1 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes, approximately 3 inches in diameter, with knife or cookie cutter.

4. Place scones 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake about 15 minutes until lightly browned on top.

Cook Time 15 minutes
Preparation Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Cranberry Almond Lemon Cake

Cranberry Almond Lemon Cake

Ingredients:

1 Homemade Gourmet® Lemon Blueberry Muffin Mix
1 package instant lemon pudding
4 eggs
1-1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1-1/4 cup fresh cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease bundt pan. In a large bowl, combine bread mix, lemon pudding, eggs, sour cream and oil, beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes on medium speed.

2. Fold in cranberries and almonds. Pour batter into the prepared Bundt pan.

3. Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick insert in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. Invert the pan on a wire cooling rack and release the cake. Cool completely.

4. Generously dust with powdered sugar just before serving.