Broccoli, chicken , Potato Parmesan

As my husband is more a Meat and POTATO type guy I thought since last time I used Rice.. I would try potato this time.

• 2 tbs vegetable oil
• 1 pound of small red potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 1 can ( 10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Broccoli Cheese Soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
• 10 ounces cooked chicken strips
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the oil in a 10 inch skillet over med heat. Add potatoes. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir the soup, milk, garlic, broccoli and chicken into skillet. Sprinkle with cheese, Heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender

This was fast, easy and sooo good! I think ham would taste wonderful in it too.

Quick & Easy Chicken, Brococoli & Brown RIce Dinner

It was a crazy busy running around day and wanted to make something quick. Lets see.. I had boneless skinless chicken breast in the fridge, broccoli in the freezer, cream of chicken soup and instant Brown rice... what do you know.. this recipe called for it all !!!

•  1 tbs Oil
• chicken * 4 boneless skinless breast*
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 can Cream  of chicken soup
•  1/4 tsp paprika
•  1 1/2 cups instant brown rice
•  2 cups broccoli

Heat the oil in a 10 inch skillet over med-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until it is well brown on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
Stir in the soup, water, paprika, in the skillet and heat til boiling.
Stir in the rice and broccoli to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Return the chicken to the skillet. Sprinkle the chicken with additional paprika and black pepper.
Cover and cook 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

Chili cheese dogs in beach blankets/ muffin pizza's

I had the grandkids here for dinner and decided that was a good night for some quick meals.

Chili cheese dogs in beach blankets

• 1 tbs oil
• 1 pound of ground beef or turkey
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 2 tsp onion
• black pepper
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 1 ( 13.8) tube refrigerator pizza dough
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 hot dogs. * beef, turkey, tofu*

Preheat oven  to  400.
Heat oil in small pot over med-high heat. Add the meat to the pot and brown. Season the meat with the chili powder, onions, garlic and pepper. Add the tomato paste to the pot and stir it around for a minute, then add 1/4 cup water to help loosen the tomato paste and get it incorporated. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat.

Roll out the pizza dough into a big rectangle. Cut the dough in half lengthwise with a small knife. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces across so that you end up with 8 small rectangular pieces of dough. Across the center of each place a couple spoonfuls of chili sauce and sprinkle a small handful of cheese on top. Set the dog on the dough and wrap and roll the pizza dough around the dog as you would for pigs in a blanket, sealing in the chili and cheese. The nubs of each end of the dog should be peeking out. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes or until golden!!

Muffin Pizza's

• English muffins
• pizza sauce
• toppings of your choice. * onion, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni cheese ect*

Heat the oven  to 400

break the muffins in half and layer a small amount of sauce on each side. Add your choice of toppings  and top with cheese. Put in over til cheese is melted.  * if using onions or peppers saute til tender before putting on muffin*


Add a salad and raw carrots and you got supper!!!

Breaded Blue Hake with baked mac and cheese and Garlic seasoned Veggies.

In a attempt to warm up the house and not have to start the fire I decided to bake in the oven. * I know what you are thinking... it is almost the end of April.. well today  was very windy and cool..*

Baked Mac and Cheese

• 3 Tbs of butter
• 2 1/2 cups of uncooked macaroni
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 lb of sharp cheese
• 1 qt milk
• 1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Place butter in a 2 qt casserole dish and place in oven to melt butter.
Take out of oven and pour macaroni into casserole dish and stir to coat with butter. Sprinkle the pepper and crushed red pepper and toss to coat. Toss lightly the cheese into the casserole.  Pour milk over all . DO NOT STIR!!!!!! DO not cover while baking. Cook 1 hour.

Now I used triple cheddar cheese, taco cheese along with Swiss. It was sooo good. And easy. But just remember.. Do NOT stir after adding the milk.

• Yellow squash
• green beans
• broccoli
• red peppers

Take and toss them all in a microwave safe bowl.  Put in alittle water and cook on high til tender. Bring out and toss fresh minced garlic on the veggies...

It was a quick and filling meal... everyone loved it... but who wouldn't love mac and cheese!!

Leftovers with Oriental Cauliflower

Taking a day off and having Chinese we always have alot of leftovers. Knowing this I saw a recipe to go along with them.

Oriental Cauliflower

• 1 med head cauliflower, broken into florets
• 3 tbs cold water, divided
• 1/2 cup celery diced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 tbs butter
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tbs chicken bouillon granules
• 2 tbs cornstarch
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• dash of pepper

 Place cauliflower in a microwave safe dish. Add 1 tbs cold  water. Cover and microwave on high for 6-7 minutes or until tender, drain and set aside. In a 1 qt microwave safe bowl, combine celery, onion, parsley and butter. Cover and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until tender. In a small bowl, combine hot water and bouillon until dissolved. In another small bowl, combine the cornstarch and remaining cold water until smooth. Add soy sauce, pepper and bouillon; mix well. Stir into celery mixture. Microwave, uncovered at 70 % power for 3 - 4 minutes til the sauce comes just to a boil. Stirring after every minute. Pour over cauliflower.

While this was cooking I took the sesame Chicken and warmed that in a pan on the stove. Heated up the rest of the rice to go along with it.

It was VERY good!!! The Cauliflower was just tender enough without being mushy. It would go good with pork too!

Carolina Riesling Pork Chops with whole wheat linguini and mixed veggies

Trying a more elegant dinner I saw this recipe.

• 8 boneless 1/2 inch-thick pork chops
• 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
• 8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons fresh  lemon juice
• 2 cups of Riesling
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy saute pan. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Remove chops from pan and set aside.
Reduce heat, add garlic to pan. Cook and stirring for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until simmering, 5 minutes. Add lemon juice and Riesling.

Return chops to pan, cover and simmer on low heat until chops are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove Chops and set aside.
Add Heavy cream to pan juices and continue cooking on low until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon onto pork chops and noodles.


It was SOOOOO good. Everyone had seconds! 

Cranberry-stuffed Chicken with mashed potatoes and corn

What could be better on a nice dreary raining day then to stuff a chicken and smell it cooking when you walk in the door?

• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter- divided
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 3 cups herb-seasoned stuffing croutons
• 1 cup corn bread stuffing or crumbled corn bread* I used crumbled corn bread*
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 roasting chicken * 5 to 7 pounds*
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp poultry seasonings
• 1/4 tsp sage

In a skillet, saute celery, onions and cranberries in 1/2 cup butter until tender. Stir in garlic, stuffing and enough broth to moisten. set aside. Place chicken with breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Combine pepper, poultry seasonings and sage, sprinkle over inside and outside of chicken. Loosely stuff with cranberry mixture. Melt remaining butter and brush over chicken. Bake uncovered at 350 for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until juices run clear.

Make a few mashed potatoes and corn and there you have a nice comfort food for a rainy cold day! I really liked the tartness of the cranberries in the stuffing.

Grilled burgers two ways with slaw

It was a wonderful and warm day finally in cold Pa. We hit 78 degrees! So with that in mind... and knowing the next day it was only going to be 40 and raining... I grilled outside.

Not sure if everyone would want the same burger I decided on two. Steakhouse burgers and Buffalo Blue Cheese.

Steakhouse

• ground beef
• 1/3 cup bottled steak sauce
• 2 teaspoons horseradish
• black pepper
• 4 scallions, roots trimmed, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Mix the beef, steak sauce, horseradish pepper and scallions in a bowl until well blended. Do not over mix. Shape into patties no bigger then 1 inch thick. 

Grill

Buffalo Blue cheese

• ground beef
• 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tbs minced garlic
• 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 3 tbs butter
• 1/4 cup hot sauce

Mix all but the butter and hot sauce together. Don't over mix. Shape into patties no more then 1 inch thick.
 As you grill mix the butter and hot sauce together in a saucepan and heat.  After grilling the burgers pu them in the butter/sauce mixture and turn to coat a few times.

 I then made a cole slaw to have with the burgers. Some like to put it on top of the burgers.

• 1/2 med head of cabbage * or use preshredded bagged*
• 1 med onion minced
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
• 1/4 cup salad dressing
• paprika

Mix all together and set in refrig. This is tangy one not a sweet one as there is no sugar added.  VERY GOOD!!! and easy

Easy Tex-Mex Bake

Tex-Mex is quickly becoming one of the most requested flavor combinations.  And this recipe makes it Low fat.

• 8 oz uncooked thin mostacciolli
• 1 pound ground turkey breast
• 1 pacakge ( 10 oz) of frozen corn, thawed and drained
• 2/3 cup bottled salsa * hot or med depending on how spicy you like things*
• 1 16 oz container low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 egg'1 tablespoon minced cilantro
• 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
• 1/4 tsp cumin'1/2 cup shredded monterey Jack cheese

Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt. Drain and rinse and set aside
Spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add turkey, cook over high heat until no longer pink. Stir in salsa and corn. Remove from heat.
Preheat oven to 350. Combine cottage cheese, egg, cilantro, white pepper and cumin in a small bowl.
Spoon 1/2 turkey mixture in bottom of 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch baking dish. Top with pasta. Spoon cottage cheese mixture over pasta. Top with remaining turkey mixture. Sprinkle Cheese over. Bake 25 - 30 minutes or until heated through.


It was very good. It was alot lighter . But great on taste.

Slow cooked Vension with Japanese rice with peas and Mini banana whole wheat muffins

I grabbed some venison steaks out of the freezer and put them frozen right into the crockpot. I added

• 2 * 28 oz * cans of tomatoes
• 1 med onion chopped
• 1/2 tsp crushed  red pepper

turned it on low and cooked for hours..

I got out my oriental cookbook and decided on Japanese as the Chinese are not the only ones who prepare fried rice.

• 1/2 cup oi,l butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup sliced green onion, including some of the green top
• 1/4 cup parsley
• 10 oz package frozen peas
• 4 cups cooked rice, hot or cold
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• dash or two of liquid hot pepper seasoning

In a fry pan, heat the oil, add green onions and parsley and saute just until limp and bright green, about 3 minutes.
Add the peas to boiling water and bring back to boiling, remove from heat, drain and set aside.
 Add the rice, soy sauce, hot pepper seasoning and peas to frying pan. Stir over heat, being careful not to mash rice grains, until thoroughly heated.

I loved this recipe... I put the meat over the rice with alittle of the juice from the crockpot... yummy

I had picked up Bananas at the store that were perfect for banana bread. But knowing Lyra loves muffins I decided to try mini ones.

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
•  1/2 cup oil
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup mashed bananas

Mixed them all together and put them in the mini muffin pan.

Spaghetti and Miniature meatballs...

Trying to add more flair.. I thought I would try spaghetti SQUASH... Now I am not really a squash person. But everyone said I would love it. 

I cooked the squash in the microwave. I stabbed it a few times with a knife before putting it in. Cooked it til it felt squishy *lol* sorry not very technical here .  After it cooled a bit I cut it open removed the seeds and took 2 forks and scraped the * spaghetti* out. 

Meanwhile I  took

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp pepper

shaped them into small meatballs. Place them on  a rack and baked uncovered for 20 minutes at 400.
I then took

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup chopped onion

and saute them for 3 to 4 minutes. In to that pan I added

• 1 6oz can unsalted tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 tsp basil, pepper oregano and crushed red pepper

 Stir well and then added the meatballs, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour stirring occasionally.  I then  put this over the spaghetti ...

It was very good. And for someone with food allegry the squash would work for it.