Wednesday, June 4, 2014

CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH GREEN BEANS

12 oz fresh green beans (340 g)
1/cup olive oil (60 mL)
1 lb boneless chicken breasts, diced (0.45 kg)
Seasoning salt, to taste
1/cup diced onion (125 mL)
1 tbsp minced garlic (15 mL)
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (250 mL)
1/cup whipping cream (125 mL)
 

First remove any strings from the green beans and then cut fresh green beans into short pieces.  Place in pot in boiling water and cook about 6 minutes.  Drain in colander over a large bowl.

In frying pan in half olive oil, cook half chicken until tender and turning brown in spots but make sure the chicken is just tender.  While cooking sprinkle chicken with seasoning salt, to taste.  Repeat with remaining oil and chicken.  Set chicken aside.

To frying pan add onion and garlic.  Cook over medium heat until onion is turning translucent.  Add beans, cover pan and cook until beans are done to your liking.  Add chicken back into pan.  Stir in Parmesan cheese and whipping cream.  Cook until cheese has melted and the sauce is to desired consistency.
 
Enjoy!!

Breakfast Sweet Potato Hash

Ingredients
  1. 1 large onion, sliced
  2. 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
  3. 1/2 tbsp ghee
  4. 2 Italian sausages, diced
  5. 2 sweet potatoes
  6. 3 tbsp fresh rosemary
  7. Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  8. 3 eggs
  9. Instructions
    1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sweet with parchment paper. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil and the ghee in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sprinkle with salt. Cook on low heat for 30-40 minutes, until dark brown and caramelized.
    2. Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes and chop into bite-size pieces. Place into a large bowl with the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil and rosemary.
    3. In a separate skillet, cook the sausages until browned. Add the cooked onions and sausages to the bowl with the sweet potatoes and toss. Season with salt and pepper.
    4. Spread out the sweet potato mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are soft and browned. Either refrigerate overnight at this point or proceed to the next step.
    5. Place the sweet potato hash into a cast iron skillet and make three small wells to crack the eggs into. Crack eggs into the skillet and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 425 degrees F until the eggs are set.
Enjoy!!


Creamy No-Roux Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

What You Need

Ingredients
1 pound pasta, any shape
1 1/2 cups whole or 2% milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2-3 cups shredded cheese, like cheddar, monterey jack, or colby
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon powdered mustard
Optional extras (cook before adding): Ham, bacon, onions, peas, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower
Equipment
Pasta pot
Sauce pan
Whisk
Spatula

Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta: Bring about 4 quarts of water to a boil over high heat in the pasta pot. Add the pasta and a tablespoon of salt. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Warm the Milk: When the pasta has finished cooking, prepare the cheese sauce. Begin warming 1 cup of the milk in the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and the flour until there are no lumps. When you just start to see tendrils of steam rising from the warming milk, whisk in the milk-and-flour mixture. Continue whisking gently until the milk thickens slightly to the consistency of heavy cream, 3-4 minutes.
3. Make the Cheese Sauce: Turn the heat to low and begin mixing handfuls of cheese into the milk. Stir in the salt and mustard. Stir until all the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Remove the sauce from heat.
4. Combine the Pasta and Cheese Sauce: In a large serving bowl, combine the pasta and 1/2 of the cheese sauce. Stir to coat the pasta evenly. Add the second half of the sauce and any extra add-ins.
5. Serving and Storing Leftovers: Serve the mac and cheese immediately while still warm. Leftovers will keep for up to a week and can be reheated in the microwave. If the sauce is a little dry after re-heating, mix in a splash of milk to make it creamy again.

Enjoy!

I made this last night with onions and peas it was awesome!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Quinoa with Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt, More To Taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 cups Red Quinoa
  • 4 cups Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Red Grape Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
  • 1 cup Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
  • 8 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella, Cut Into Small Cubes
  • 24 whole Basil Leaves

Preparation Instructions

Combine olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper in a jar. Put on the lid and shake vigorously. Set aside.
Prepare the quinoa by bringing 4 cups of water to a boil, then adding the quinoa. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Pour quinoa out onto a baking sheet and spread into a single layer to cool quickly.
Once the quinoa has cooled to room temperature, throw into a large bowl and toss in the tomatoes and mozzarella. Stir gently while adding 2/3 of the dressing. Stir in the basil. After everything is incorporated, give it a taste; add more dressing if it needs it, or reserve the rest of the dressing for another use. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
NOTE: It's best to make this at least a couple of hours ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Salad will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days; the mozzarella slightly softens as time passes, but it's still delicious!

Enjoy!

    Lasagna Rollups

    Ingredients

    • 20 whole Lasagna Noodles
    • Sauce:
    • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
    • 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
    • 1-1/2 pound Ground Beef
    • 1/2 pound Italian Sausage
    • 28 ounces, weight Canned Diced Tomatoes
    • 8 ounces, weight Tomato Paste
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 3 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Parsley
    • 3 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Basil
    • Filling
    • 30 ounces, weight Ricotta Cheese
    • 2 whole Eggs
    • 3/4 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
    • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
    • 1 Tablespoon Parsley, Minced
    • 1 Tablespoon Basil, Minced
    • 1 pound Mozzarella, Grated

    Preparation Instructions

    Boil lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and lay flat on a sheet of foil.
    In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and stir it around, cooking it until totally browned. Drain excess fat, then add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
    Make the filling by combining ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Stir to combine.
    To assemble, spoon a little sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan OR smaller disposable foil loaf pans. Spread 2-3 tablespoons ricotta filling on each noodle, then roll them up. Lay them sideways in the pans (4 will fit in the loaf pans, or you can fill a 9 x 13 inch pan with the rollups.) Top with remaining sauce, plenty of grated mozzarella, and grated Parmesan.
    If baking immediately, bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
    If baking from a frozen state, bake, covered in foil, at 350 for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes, or until lasagna is done.

    Enjoy!

    Chicken Spaghetti

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Cooked Chicken
    • 3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
    • 2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup
    • 2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
    • 1/4 cup Finely Diced Green Pepper
    • 1/4 cup Finely Diced Onion
    • 1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained
    • 2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot
    • 1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
    • Salt And Pepper, to taste
    • 1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

    Preparation Instructions

    Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.
    Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

    Enjoy!

    Tuesday, March 18, 2014

    Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

    What You Need

    1-1/2
    cups  multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked
    1
    pkg.  (9 oz.) fresh spinach leaves
    1
    lb.  boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
    1
    tsp.  dried basil leaves
    1
    can  (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
    1
    jar  (14 oz.) spaghetti sauce
    2
    oz.  (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
    1
    cup  KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
    2
    Tbsp.  KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
     

    Make It

    HEAT oven to 375ºF.
    COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and adding spinach to the boiling water for the last minute.
    MEANWHILE, cook and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 min. Stir in tomatoes and spaghetti sauce; bring to boil. Simmer on low heat 3 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasonally. Stir in Neufchatel.
    DRAIN pasta mixture; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella; pour into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray.
    BAKE 20 min. or until heated through; top with remaining cheeses. Bake 3 min. or until mozzarella is melted.

    Enjoy!