Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 (8-ounce) cans pineapple chunks in juice, drained
• 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 3 cups hot cooked white rice

1. Combine first 12 ingredients in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Serve over rice.

**This is on our meal list for this week!

Recipe: Baked Ziti

1 package of uncooked ziti (16oz)
1 cup chopped onion (I usually a little less since I am not a huge onion fan)
1 pound of lean ground beef
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (48 oz)
1 egg
1 container part skim ricotta cheese (15 oz)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (8 oz)
1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Cook pasta according to package direction.  Drain.

2. Meanwhile chop onion.  Place onion, ground beef, garlic in skillet.  Cook and stir over medium heat until beef is no longer pink.  Remove from heat.  Drain.  Stir in sauce.

3. In small bowl beat egg.  Add ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, parsley, and black pepper.  Add 1/4 parmesan cheese to mixture.

4. To assemble casserole, place cooked ziti in baking dish.  Add 6 cups of the meat sauce and mix well with ziti.  Spread ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta.  Top with remaining meat sauce.  Bake 1 hour.  Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Continue baking for 10 minutes or until bubbly.

**This recipe does make a pretty big portion so I usually cut it down a bit!  This is super yummy and a great comfort food for the cooler weather!

Recipe: Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

Here's the magical recipe:

• 1 Pound Ground Meat (Beef or Turkey)
• 1 Egg
• 1 Box Stuffing Mix
• 1 Cup Water

Mix everything together, smoosh it into a loaf pan, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

**I made this Tuesday night and it was sooo yummy!  And I really not even a fan of meatloaf but it was really good! The girls even liked it!!!  Double bonus!

My version.... yum!

Weekly Mean Plan: Week 6

Last week I feel off the bandwagon for meal planning.  But this week I am ready to try some new recipes!!Maybe its because its chilly and I am looking for some comfort food :-)

Monday - Chicken (Recipe called Worlds Best Chicken) - see below
Tuesday - Meatloaf
Wednesday - Penne & Volka Sauce
Thursday - Chicken/Side Dish: Orzo w/ Parmesan and basil
Friday -Baked Spaghetti




The World’s Best Chicken
Serves 4
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Rosemary

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, syrup, and vinegar. Place chicken breasts into 9×13 baking dish. Season with salt & pepper.
• Pour mustard mixture over chicken. No need to marinate.   
  
• Bake for about 35-50 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Season with rosemary.  

Weekly Meal Plan: Week 1

With these crazy week nights its a MUST that I meal plan for the week.  If not we will literally eat out EVERY night, just simply because its easy and quick.

I have decided I am going to blog about it weekly that way I can keep track and so I can share some yummy recipes!

Monday - Chick-Fil-A (This is our really late night, dance class ends at 6:30p)
Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday - Chicken Dish
Thursday - Chicken on the grill w/ Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
Friday - Crock Pot Pizza Casserole (See below)

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 Box Spiral Pasta (uncooked but rinsed)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup sliced pepperoni
• 16 ounces pizza sauce or pasta sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Spray Large Crockpot 6qt or larger with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the onion, garlic and green bell pepper. Drain excess fat.
3. Rinse pasta and place in the crock-pot with drained ground beef mix. Stir. Pour Pasta sauce and 1/4 cup water over noodle mix.
4. Top with shredded Mozzarella.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 -8 hours (no peeking)

Recipe: Chicken Dish

Ingredients

• 4-6 raw chicken breasts
• Potatoes 
• Green beans (fresh or canned-really any green veggie would work. Broccoli is good, too).  

Arrange in 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with a packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a melted stick of butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Recipes: Chicken Kiev

·  1  tablespoon chopped green onion

·  1  tablespoon snipped fresh parsley

·  1  clove garlic, minced

·  1/2  of a 1/4-poundstick of butter, chilled

·  1  egg, beaten

·  1  tablespoon water

·  1/4  cup all-purpose flour

·  1/2  cup fine dry bread crumbs

·  4  skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

·  Salt and black pepper

·  1  tablespoon butter

·  1  tablespoon cooking oil

Directions:

 1. In a small bowl combine green onion, parsley, and garlic; set aside. Cut chilled butter into four 2-1/2x1/2-inch sticks. In a shallow bowl stir together egg and water. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl. Set aside.

2. Place a chicken breast half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet pound chicken lightly into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with one-fourth of the green onion mixture. Place a butter piece in center of chicken piece. Fold in sides; roll up. Repeat with remaining chicken.

3. Coat chicken rolls with flour. Dip in egg mixture; coat with bread crumbs. Dip in egg mixture again; coat with with additional bread crumbs. (Coat ends well to seal in the butter.) Place coated chicken in 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Cover and chill for 1 to 24 hours.

4. In a large skillet melt the 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat; add oil. Add chilled chicken rolls. Cook about 5 minutes or until golden brown, turning to brown all sides. Place rolls in a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F). Spoon any drippings over rolls. Makes 4 servings.

Recipes: Meatball Sub Casserole

1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. pepper
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1-lb. pkg. frozen meatballs, thawed
28-oz. jar pasta sauce
1 c. water

 

Arrange bread slices in a single layer in an ungreased 13"x9" baking pan; set aside. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasonings; spread over bread slices. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese; set aside. Gently mix together meatballs, spaghetti sauce and water; spoon over cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 4.

It's Bunco Night!

It's Bunco night tonight, woot woot!  I love that we do this once a month.  Its a girls night out, great friends, yummy food, and lots of laughs!  Of course we are always trying new recipes we have all found on Pinterest.  Last Bunco I made the Caprese Skewers and Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle.  Both were so delicious!

This month I am going to try two new recipes.  I love trying new things!  Sometimes they are really good and I have had a few that were ehhhh.

Caprese Salad with Grape Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil

.

4 - 5 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves

1 lb fresh imported Italian mozzarella, cut into 1/4 - 1/2" cubes

1/4 cup extra virgin, first preseed Italian olive oil

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar for a more mild flavor)

10 - 15 large fresh basil leaves (to taste)

Italian sea salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh Italian bread

.

Toss together the tomatoes, mozzarella, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Tear the basil into large pieces and toss into the salad.

Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve immediately (can be refrigerated to serve a little bit later too).

Serve with fresh, crusty Italian bread.

Mini Apple Pies

 

Don't they look so yummy?!  I can't wait to try them!!!  I just hope they turn out as good as the picture!  Stay tuned!

Happy Friday!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Recipes: Confetti Mac and Cheese

Gotta love Pinterest for all of these great recipes.  This one is super simple but I am hoping my girls like it since they are a fan of Mac and Cheese.  We'll see!

1 - Box of Mac and Cheese

1 cup - Frozen Peas (cook)

1 cup - Carrots

Handful - Broccoli

Super easy!  I hope its a hit in our house!  Sounds soo yummy to me!

Spaghetti with Sauteed Chicken

Tonight's dinner... let's hope its good!

Spaghetti with Sautéed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes 

Ingredients: 

• 2 skinless chicken breast halves, diced in 1 inch cubes
• cooking spray
• 1/2 tsp each of dried oregano and dries basil
• kosher salt and fresh pepper
• 8 oz spaghetti (high fiber or low carb) I used Ronzoni Smart Taste
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
• 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh basil

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add chicken. Cook about 3-4 minutes, until no longer pink. Remove chicken and set aside.

Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.

While pasta cooks, add olive oil to skillet on high heat. Add garlic and sauté until golden brown (do not burn). Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium-low. Sauté about 4-5 minutes. When pasta is drained, add pasta to tomatoes and toss well. If pasta seems too dry, add some of the reserved pasta water. Add fresh basil and chicken and toss well. Serve and top with good grated cheese.

My Version - Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

One of favorite new recipes!  They are soooo yummy!

http://www.floridahoganfamily.blogspot.com/2012/05/recipe-parmesan-roasted-potatoes.html

Recipe: Caprese Skewers w/ Balsamic Drizzle

Ingredients:

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar

• cherry or grape tomatoes

• mini mozzarella cheese balls (could use regular sized ball, and cut into bite-sized pieces)

• fresh basil leaves, cut in half if large

• salt & pepper

• toothpicks

Directions:

1. Bring balsamic vinegar up to a boil in a saucepan, then lower heat to medium and simmer until it’s the consistency of very thin maple syrup, about 10 minutes. Pour into a bowl and let cool.

2. Cut tomatoes in half. Thread a mini mozzarella cheese ball, basil leaf (fold in half if large) and a tomato half onto a tooth pick. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, then drizzle cooled balsamic reduction on top.

*This is another Pinterest find!!  Love that site!

Recipe: Bowtie Skillet Lasagna

Yummy recipe I came across from Life as a Lofthouse (Food Blog).

Bowtie Skillet Lasagna

10 ounces Bowtie or Farfalle noodles
1 pound lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 (24 ounce) jar Spaghetti sauce ( I use 'Ragu' Traditional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sour cream


Directions: Boil noodles in a large pot of water, according to package directions. Drain water.

Meanwhile, cook ground beef in a large skillet until browned. Drain grease. Add cooked noodles to ground beef and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Stir together.

Add spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese and sour cream to the beef and noodles. Carefully stir together to combine.

Turn heat to low, and continue to cook and stir until mixture is thoroughly heated. About 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

4th of July Treats

Since the 4th is just next week!  I thought I would share with you some of the yummy treats I found on pinterest!  I can't wait to make some of these!  They all look so yummy!

**Click on the picture and it will direct you to the recipe!  Enjoy!

Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad

It's a rainy Monday... not much to blog about but I did get to pin some yummy recipes from Pinterest!!  Ahhh I love that site!  Enjoy!!

Ingredients

• 12 ounce corkscrew shaped pasta
• 1/2 cup milk
• 12 ounces lean bacon
• 3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup mayo (i used 1/4 cup mayo and 1/4 cup greek yogurt)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 4 tablespoons chopped chives
• 5 heads Bibb lettuce, quartered, or 5 cups chopped romaine hearts

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs. Drain and toss with the milk in a large bowl; set aside.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 tablespoons drippings from the pan. Add the tomatoes, thyme and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through; season with salt and pepper.  Crumble the bacon into bite-size pieces; set aside 1/4 cup for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and the tomato mixture with the pasta.

Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream and 3 tablespoons chives with the pasta until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon chives. Serve at room temperature.  

My Version - Crock Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

This was AMAZING!  One of the best meals (Crock Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken) that I have made from Pinterest!  I will be making this again REALLY soon!

Recipe: Crock Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

3-Ingredient Crock Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

• Archer Farms Hawaiian-Style Barbecue Sauce
• 4-6 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 20-oz. can pineapple chunks, drained

Spray your Crock Pot with nonstick cooking spray.  Place chicken breasts on the bottom of the Crock Pot.  Pour the entire bottle of barbecue sauce and can of pineapple chunks over the chicken breasts.   Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours or until chicken pulls apart and shreds easily.  Serve over rice.

Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 medium red potatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Cut the potatoes in wedges.

In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, garlic, and paprika and set aside. Next, toss the potatoes and oil together in a mixing bowl then add the bowl of cheese and seasonings and stir to coat.

Arrange them on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes then remove from oven and turn over all the potatoes. Bake for another few minutes until crispy and golden.

***These were sooooo yummy!  The hubby LOVED them!  Thank goodness for pinterest and all of these awesome recipes!