Microwave Mandarin Chicken

Found this recipe on all recipes--I was surprised that they recommended cooking it in a microwave, but thought I'd give it a try. It turned out great! This was good and everyone ate it--definitely a keeper!

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves

2 TBS brown sugar

2 TBS cornstarch

1/2 C teriyaki sauce

1/4 C apple juice

1 TBS vegetable oil

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges

Hot cooked rice (I used jasmine)

2 green onions, sliced (optional)

Directions:

1. Pound the chicken to 1/4" thickness & place in a greased 2 qt microwave safe dish.

2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar & cornstarch, stir in the teriyaki sauce, apple juice, oil & garlic

3. Drain the oranges, reserving the juice--set oranges aside. Add the juice to the teriyaki mixture. Pour over the chicken.

4. Cover and microwave on high for 8 minutes.

5. Baste the chicken with the sauce--cover and cook for 3-5 min longer or until the sauce is thickened.

6. Serve over rice, garnish with the oranges & onions.

(side notes for future: add a little s&p/garlic salt to chicken breasts before pouring teriyaki mixture over them)

**serve with steamed veggie, fresh broccoli or asparagus

Homemade Spanish rice

Also from Lisa...

Ingredients:

1 C rice (not minute)

1/4 C oil

8oz can tomato sauce (& 3 cans of water)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

1. mix the 3 seasonings together in a small bowl, set aside.
2. in a skillet, saute the rice in the oil until it is lightly browned

3. when the rice has browned, add your water & tomato sauce to the skillet

4. toss your seasonings in, stir & bring to a boil--reduce to a simmer, cover your skillet & cook for approximately 20 minutes

This goes great with those enchiladas! Soo much better than a boxed version!

Chicken, Black Bean & Bacon Enchiladas

These are sooo yummy! I have to thank Lisa F. for this recipe and the Spanish rice that goes great with it (I'll include on a separate post)!

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut in small cubes

3 slices bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled (this is actually step #2 below)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 C picante sauce, divided

1 (16oz) can of black beans, drained & rinsed

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C sliced green onions

8-12 flour tortillas

1 1/2 C shredded monterey jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 & lightly grease a 9x13 pan

2. *cook crisp the 3 slices of bacon, remove bacon to paper towel to cool, then crumble it

3. stir fry chicken & garlic in the fat left over from cooking the bacon (until chicken is no longer pink / may also drain off some of the bacon fat if there is too much)

4. stir in 1/2 cup picante sauce, 1/4 C water, beans, red pepper, cumin & salt. Simmer over low heat for approx 10 min, stir in green onions & crumbled bacon.

5. Spoon 1/4 C mixture down center of each tortilla, top with the cheese, roll up & place seam side down in the baking dish. Spoon remaining picante sauce evenly over enchiladas.

6. Bake at 350 for 15 min--then top with the remaining cheese & bake for 5 more minutes.

7. Serve & top as desired (i.e. shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, black olives, sour cream)

*(side note for myself: the bacon boosts the flavor, but if wanting the bacon flavor to stand out more, may try increasing the amount of crumbled bacon from 3 slices to 5??)

The Birthday Cupcakes & Frosting

This is the best cupcake recipe I have ever found...it is easy because it is just a doctored up cake mix. You can freeze them and alter them using different flavors cake mixes too.

We call them The Birthday Cupcakes at my house because everyone in my family always request them to be made for their birthdays. Enjoy!

The Birthday Cupcakes
24 paper liners for cupcake pan
1 package plain butter recipe golden cake mix
1 package cream cheese, at room temp
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
4 large eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Place the cake mix, cream cheese, sugar, water, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend on low speed with a mixer for 30 seconds or until the ingredients are well blended. Stop machine and scrap sides.

Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes more scraping down sides, if needed (VERY IMPORTANT STEP to make sure to do it at least this amount of time!). The batter should be smooth and thickened. Spoon/scoop 1/4 cup batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling it 2/3 of the way full.

Bake cupcakes until they are golden and spring back when lightly pressed to your finger (I go by the box directions on baking time). Place on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes.

Birthday Cupcakes Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
6-8 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes). With mixer on low speed, add 6 cups sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix until light and fluffy. If necessary, add remaining 2 cups of sugar until you reach desired consistency.

Shrimp and Mushroom Casserole

Per Paula Deen recipe...
"This recipe can be served as a main dish with a green salad and French bread or as a side dish with steak."

8 T (1 stick) of butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups half & half
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 (13 1/4 oz) can of sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped
garlic powder to taste
buttered bread crumbs for topping (I used a sleeve of Ritz crackers tossed with a little butter)

Preheat oven to 350. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour, then slowly blend in half & half, stirring constantly. Sauce with be thick. Do not brown. Add mushroom soup, sliced mushrooms, and Parmesan. Fold in shrimp. Add garlic powder to taste. Pour mixture into buttered casserole dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Preschool Spinach Salad

I got this recipe from a girl at our preschool. Really easy and a little different that the normal spinach salad with strawberries (the apples in it are yummy!)

I made it using spinach, granny smith apples (sliced thin), feta cheese, and walnuts. Toss with the dressing recipe below!

2 T fresh lemon juice
2 T white wine vinegar
1/3 c sugar
1 T oil
1 t poppy seeds (optional)

Steaks with Peppercorn Sauce

I made this last night for Kevin's birthday dinner...it was yummy! And the easiest way to make a steak -- I don't think we will ever grill them again! I do think on the sauce I would use 1 T of mustard instead of the 2 T it calls for, but it was good fixed as is.

Thanks Pioneer Woman!

Ingredients
■2 whole Beef Fillets Or Other Good Steaks
■2 Tablespoons Butter
■Kosher Salt And Freshly Ground Pepper
■2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
■¼ cups Brandy
■2 Tablespoons (additional) Brandy
■½ cups Heavy Cream
■1 Tablespoon Good Peppercorns, Crushed
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Melt butter in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. When skillet is hot, brown steaks on both sides, about 45 seconds per side. Place skillet into the hot oven for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and remove steaks to a separate plate.

Return pan to stovetop over low heat. Add Dijon and brandy, then whisk together. Add heavy cream and crushed peppercorns, whisking to combine. Allow to bubble for about 45 seconds, then remove from heat.

Spoon sauce over steaks and serve.

Incredibly Yummy & Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

1 cup Picante Sauce
2 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups frozen whole kernel corn
1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 soup can water
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into strips
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

Stir the picante sauce, soup, chicken, corn, beans, water and cumin in a 4-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
Stir the tortillas, cheese and cilantro into the cooker. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.
Time-Saving: Or you may cook this recipe on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 4 hours 15 minutes

Easy Skillet Pork Chops

This is the recipe I talked to some of you about last night at dinner. I got it from an older lady at my church from growing up (she catered and was a great cook!)It is very EASY and really good served over rice.

4 pork chops (about 1 lb)
2 T. oil
1 can cream of celery
1/3 cup water

Brown chops in oil. Pour off drippings. Stir in soup and water. Cover and simmer 45 minutes until tender. Stir every now & then.

Pioneer Woman's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Another soup recipe!

I made this today and it is GOOD...glad I made extra to freeze for later too. As for alterations: I think next time I will put a can of hominy or corn in it and I used 1 can of black beans and 1 can of pinto beans and I liked it like that (instead of 2 black beans the recipe calls for).

Enjoy!

Ingredients

■ 2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
■ 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
■ 1-½ teaspoon Cumin
■ 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
■ ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
■ ½ teaspoons Salt
■ 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
■ 1 cup Diced Onion
■ ¼ cups Diced Green Bell Pepper
■ ¼ cups Red Bell Pepper
■ 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
■ 1 can Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies
■ 32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock
■ 3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
■ 4 cups Hot Water
■ 2 cans Black Beans, Drained
■ 3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
■ 5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches

■ Garnishes:
■ Sour Cream
■ Diced Avocado
■ Diced Red Onion
■ Salsa Or Pico De Gallo
■ Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
■ Cilantro

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix.

Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.

Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.

Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed—add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.

Ladle into bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese, if you have it! (The garnishes really make the soup delicious.)

Potato and Ham Soup

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and tried it today....delicious!  My kids (who don't love potatoes) loved it too.  It reminded me alot of the creamy new potato soup at Cafe Express, but had more flavor.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes (I used new potatoes and left peel on)
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
3 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (I used 2%)

Directions

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.  (I topped each bowl with grated cheese)

**It would be easy to add carrots or green beans for a little more nutrition.

**I will probably try it next time without the ham (although it was great this way!) and top it with crumbled bacon, green onions and cheese just to change it up.

Another Tortellini idea...

Sausage & Tortellini Soup

with Spinach

I ordered some mild italian sausage from our food company and needed a way to prepare it; I found this soup recipe & with the cold weather, thought I'd give it a try. Plus I'm on a new tortellini kick since I discovered the Buitoni whole wheat cheese tortellini (this stuff would be awesome with any kind of pasta sauce!) but it was especially good in this soup recipe.

The key to this recipe is in sauteing the onion and garlic in the rendered sausage fat to enhance the flavor of the broth--it rocks!

Ingredients:

1 TBS olive oil

1 lb italian sausage (sweet, mild, hot, whatever kind you prefer)

1 onion, chopped fine

2 garlic cloves, minced

6 C low sodium chicken broth

1 bay leaf (I omitted this)

1 9-ounce pkg cheese tortellini

3 C baby spinach (just eyeball it & add to your liking)

S&P to taste

Directions:

1. Heat oil in dutch oven over medium high heat--cook sausages, rolling occasionally, until browned all over (about 8 min). Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and pour off all but 1 TBS fat from the pot.

2. Cook onion in sausage fat until softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add broth and bay leaf, scraping up any browned bits, and bring to boil.

3. Cut browned sausages into 1/2 inch rounds and add to pot. Stir in tortellini and simmer over medium heat until tender, 6-8min (I cooked my tortellini separately, according to pkg directions & then added it). Stir in spinach until just wilted. Season with s&p. Serve.

Banana-Cinnamon Cake

I sometimes take my ripe bananas and make banana bread or muffins. This time I decided to try something new--this was really good and would be great for a brunch (also got this idea from bettycrocker.com)

Ingredients:

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1/2 C water

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 medium)

1/2 C butter, softened

2 tsp ground cinnamon

3 eggs

1/2 C chopped walnuts

Cinnamon Glaze:

1/2 C cream cheese frosting (I used store bought, but you could make your own)

2-3 tsp milk

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon to sprinkle on top

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350--grease bundt pan

2. Beat cake mix, water, bananas, butter, cinnamon & eggs with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Pour in pan.

3. Bake 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto plate, remove pan & let cake cool completely (about 2 hours). Stir glaze ingredients (except for cinnamon) in small bowl until its thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle cover the cake and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Caesar Tortellini Salad & a quick dessert idea

Got this salad idea from bettycrocker.com and the dessert idea was included; both were keepers!

Ingredients:

1 pkg (9 oz) refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini (found these in the deli section @ Walmart and got the whole wheat kind)

1 bag complete Caesar salad mix

1 medium tomato, chopped

1/4 C bacon bits

1/4 C fresh ground pepper

1. Cook & drain tortellini according to pkg directions; rinse with cold water, drain.

2. Toss tortellini, salad mix ingredients, tomato, bacon bits & pepper. Serve immediately.

Quick & Easy dessert idea:

Heat canned cherry pie filling (or apple, etc.) and top with granola & whipped cream!

Rolled Steak Florentine

I am making this tonight and it has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. It is pretty easy and has really nice presentation (and looks like it was hard to make) when served over rice. My boys love it too...and a great way for them to eat spinach!


1 1/2 lb flank steak (sometimes I use sirloin tip steak if I can't find flank)
garlic salt
pepper
12 oz cream cheese, softened
10 pkg chopped spinach, thawed and drained well
Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can beef broth
2 T flour
kitchen string

Pound steak and sprinkle lightly with salt. Combine cream cheese, spinach, pepper, Worcestershire and onion. Spread over steak and roll up. Tie kitchen string around steak to make it stay together while cooking. Pour broth over steak. Bake 1 hour at 350, uncovered. Transfer meat to a platter and keep warm. Combine flour and 1 cup water and stir into broth. Cook until thickened. Serve meat sliced into 1/2" slices over rice (white or wild) and top with gravy.