Lip Smacki'n Smothered Chicken

This is such a yummy meal!! A very good comfort food. I serve it over some brown rice. It's one of my top chicken recipes.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil

1 Cut up whole chicken (3-3 1/2 lbs)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

3 green onions, cut into 1- inch pieces

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour

2/3 C. soy sauce

7 C. hot water

2 tsp. onion powder

Directions

1. Heat oil in deep 12 inch skillet over low heat for 5 minutes. Sprinkle chicken with salt and 1/2 tsp. of the black pepper; place in hot skillet. Cover chicken with yellow and green onions.

2. Cook chicken over medium heat for 10 minutes; turn chicken. Cook 10 minutes longer or until golden brown. Reduce heat to low; cook 5 minutes longer. Turn; cook 5 more minutes.

3. Remove chicken from skillet. Place in a large pot (dutch oven); set aside.

4. Continue heating skillet over low heat. Stir together flour, 1/3 C of the soy sauce and 4 cups of the hot water in a medium bowl with a wire whisk or fork until smooth.

5. Cook flour mixture in hot skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk or fork, until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in remaining water, 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition, until smooth.

  6. Stir in remaining 1/3 c.  soy sauce, the onion powder and remaining 1/4 tsp. black pepper. Pour gravy over chicken in the large pot. Reduce heat to low. Cover  and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. ( Gravy may stick to the pot) 

Skillet Lasagna

This is by far the fastest way to make lasagna!! It can be made in 30 min!! You don't have to worry about layering at all!! It might not look as pretty on a plate, but it sure taste just as good!! The only thing I changed was I added hamburger to it, but you can add or substitute whatever you would like.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup mushrooms, chopped

 

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans Italian diced tomatoes, drained
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 3 basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup skim ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup part skim mozzarella cheese
• 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• About 6 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into thirds & fully cooked
• 2 tablespoons parsley (dried or fresh)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms and cook until garlic is fragrant, about one minute. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, salt and pepper. Cook mixture until it thickens up a bit, around 5 minutes.

 

2.Add noodles to skillet and stir into the mixture well. Add scoops of ricotta cheese over the noodles; add in mozzarella and Parmesan. Stir in parsley.  Cook about 2 more minutes, or until mixture is thick.
3.Serve immediately with additional basil or parsley.

Crepes

I usually make crepes every weekend, or I try to. They are so easy and quick. Just a different type of pancake. You don't have to make crepes just for breakfast though, there are lots of recipes for dinner type crepes. I will try them soon :) You can put anything in/on crepes. My favorite is fruit. Some people add cream cheese too with the fruit. I'm not a big cream cheese and fruit person though. My favorite is peaches in cherry kool aid and then whipped cream on top. I got that from my Grandma. With this Crepe recipe I usually double it. 

Ingredients

1 C. flour

2 eggs

1/2 C. milk

1/2 C. water

1/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. butter

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot. 

 

 

This is how the boys eat their crepes, just rolled up with syrup and powdered sugar.

Now for the Cherry Kool Aid sauce...

Ingredients

1 C. cold water

Cherry kool aid in the big container, that has sugar already added. 

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

 1/2 can of Peaches, diced 

Directions

1. Put the cold water into a bowl and mix in the  kool aid, you can make it as strong as you would like. After the kool aid is to your liking, add the cornstarch. Whisk together so there are no lumps in the mixture.

2. Put the kool aid mixture into a saucepan and turn the heat to high. Bring to boil. If the mixture isn't as thick as you would like, put a tablespoon or 2 of cold water into a bowl and mix with more cornstarch. Add that to the sauce mixture in the saucepan.

3. Add the peaches to the sauce. Let it boil for a minute and then take it off of the heat.

4. Pour on top of the crepes and serve while hot.

You can add whipped cream on top for extra goodness :) 

 

 

 

Stir Fry Pictures

I know I already posted about stir fry, I just wanted to put up some pictures of it :) I love taking pictures of food. It just doesn't talk back to you and it's always ready to be photographed :) I'm still practicing so they aren't perfect yet. I can't wait until I can do this more :) 

 

Ranch Chicken Drumsticks with Asparagus

If you're tired of seasoning chicken with just salt and pepper, here's something you can try. I like it on drumsticks or thighs, it tastes better ( to me ) to keep the skin on.

What you need...

12 chicken drumsticks

1 packet of ranch mix

All you have to do is preheat the oven to 350 degrees,  if your chicken has bones in or not determines the time to cook them. With the bone usually 50-55 minutes. With out the bones 25-30 minutes. While the oven is preheating, put the chicken into a casserole dish or any other oven dish that you have. Take the ranch packet and sprinkle over the top of the chicken.

Put the chicken in the oven, *see above for times

I love my chicken crispy so I put it in the oven for 5-10 minutes longer :)

Take it out of the oven,

serve and enjoy!!

For the Asparagus all I did is cut them up, and saute them with 1 Tbsp olive oil, and 1 clove of garlic, pressed. Cook that on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately with the chicken.

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Bell Peppers

This was the first time we tried this recipe, and we all loved it! Even my 3 year old liked it :) That's when you know it's good! It is a very easy and yummy meal!

What you need....

8 oz. Thinly sliced Roast Beef ( I actually used the really thin sliced meat by the hamburger)

8 slices of provolone cheese

2 large green peppers

1 medium sweet onion

6 oz. baby bella mushrooms

2 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Directions.....



1. Slice peppers in half lengthwise, remove ribs and seeds.

2. Slice onions and mushrooms. Saute over medium heat with butter, olive oil, minced garlic, and a little salt and pepper. Saute until onions and mushrooms are nice and caramelized. About 25-30 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

4. Slice the roast beef into thin strips and add to the onion/mushroom mixture. Allow to cook 5-10 minutes.

5. Line the inside of each of the peppers with a slice of provolone cheese.

 6. Fill each pepper with meat mixture until they are nearly overflowing.

7. Top each pepper with another slice of provolone cheese.

8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese on top is golden brown.

Serve and enjoy!!!

Chicken Enchilada Pizza

1 package refrigerated pizza crust
1/2 medium onion
1 jalapeno pepper
8 ounces Colby & Monterey Jack cheese blend
2 cups diced, cooked chicken breasts
1/2 cup green taco sauce
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro


DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Unroll pizza dough onto pizza tray, stretching dough to cover bottom. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until crust is brown.

3. Coarsely chop onion and jalapeno. In a bowl, combine onion, jalapeno, 1/2 cup of cheese, chicken, taco sauce, and garlic, and mix well.

4. Remove crust from oven. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over crust. Top with chicken mixture and remaining cheese. Bake 6 to 7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Slice tomatoes into quarters, and coarsely chop cilantro. Sprinkle over pizza. Slice pizza and serve immediately.

Easy Meatball Stroganoff

This recipe actually comes from Pampered Chef. They use their deep covered baking dish and put the meatballs in the microwave.  I don't have mine yet so I brown mine on the stove in some oil, then put them into the oven to finish baking. The whole family loves this recipe!! Super easy!! I'm sure you can freeze the meatballs too, ahead of time. I dish this over egg noodles.

MEATBALLS

1 pound ground beef (ground turkey also tastes good)

2 Eggs

1 C. crushed corn tortillas ( I use Sun chips in the Green bag)

1 packet of onion soup mix

1Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1tsp. salt

SAUCE

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 cup milk

2-3 cloves of garlic, pressed

1tsp. salt

fresh parsley, coarsely chopped (1Tbsp reserved)

Pre - heat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix all of the meatball ingredients together in a large bowl. Form into balls. Heat up a skillet on medium high heat. Brown the meat on each side for 5 min. Put the meatballs in a casserole dish and bake for 30 min. While the meatballs are cooking add all of the sauce ingredients together in another large bowl. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and continue to cook them for 10 more min. Cook the egg noodles. Serve while hot. Put the remaining parsley on top as a garnish. This makes about 4 servings. I usually double the recipe and use the left overs as lunches.

*Again sorry for the iPad pictures

Hobo Dinner

Some of you might be asking what is a hobo dinner? It's pretty much when you haven't gone grocery shopping and you just put things together to make a yummy meal. Mine usually have hamburger, potatoes, corn, and green beans. But you can add whatever sounds good to you. Tonight I didn't have any potatoes so I added kidney beans and tomatoes.

First get all of your ingredients together and mix them in a bowl.

Next you need to get some tin foil and cut them into little pieces big enough to make little packets for your food. I like to lay down my meat first and then put the toppings on top of the meat, or you can just mix it all together. Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees.

You can season everything however you like, I just put season salt and pepper on the hamburger. If you put the hamburger down first, then put the toppings on top. Make sure you do not add too much or your packet will not close.

To make the little packets, bring the sides up together and then roll. Then do the ends. Make sure that they are tight so the juices from the food doesn't run out. I put the packets onto a cookie sheet, I think it's easier to take out of the oven. You can also just set them on the oven rack. If they have potatoes in them bake it for 40-50 mins. If they don't have potatoes,  bake them for 25-30 mins.

These are also a good meal for when you go camping! Or you can cook them on the BBQ for a quick summer dinner.

No Crust Quiche

Quiche is perfect for breakfast or for a brunch. You can even serve it at a baby shower, or bridal shower. This is such an easy quiche to make just mix everything together and bake it! Plus you can put whatever you want in it. You can kind of think of it as an omlette in an oven, so whatever you like in an omlette you can put in here.

3 eggs beaten thoroughly

1/4 tsp. salt

Dash of pepper

1/2 c. cooled melted butter

1/2 c. half and half or milk

1/8 tsp. mase

1/8 tsp. dried mustard

*Mix the above ingredients well together

Then add 2/3 cup Bisquick, mix well

1 c. cheese

1 c. cubed ham

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 small green pepper, cubed

*After that, mix the rest of the ingredients into the bowl

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the mixture into a PAM sprayed pie pan. Cover loosley with tin foil ( it will raise). Bake for 45 min. The last 15 min take off the foil. No more than 10 min extra bake time, if needed. It will look undone in the center.

I like to add spinach, broccoli, and red onion.

(Sorry for the picture it was taken on my IPad)

Chicken Stir Fry

I love chicken stir fry!! My kids also love it because it has rice with it :) My boys love rice! I guess you get used to it when you live in an Asian country :)  

6 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces 
1 Tbsp minced garlic
 1 1/2 tsp Olive Oil, divided
 1 1/2 Tbsp honey
 1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 
1/8 tsp salt
 1/8 tsp pepper
 1 cup broccoli florets
 1/3 cup mixed bell peppers, cut into strips
 1 tsp cornstarch
 1/2 Tbsp cold water

* In a large nonstick skillet, stir-fry chicken and garlic in 1 1/2 teaspoons oil for 1 minute. Add the honey, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until chicken is lightly browned and no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, stir-fry the vegetables in remaining oil for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Return chicken to the pan; stir to coat. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into chicken mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Serve with rice.

 Yield: 2 servings. Number of Servings: 2

 Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 2 Amount Per Serving 
 Calories: 205.3 
 Total Fat: 4.7 g 
Cholesterol: 49.3 mg
 Sodium: 434.2 mg 
Total Carbs: 19.7 g
 Dietary Fiber: 1.9 g 
 Protein: 22.0 g

 I LOVE green onions so I add them on top of it all! I love thigh meat so I usually do half thigh and half breast. You can serve over rice or with some fried rice. Very good :)