Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Penne with Sausage and Escarole

This recipe has long been one of my family's favorites (the fonts aren't showing up right on my screen any time you see 12 or 14, it's actually 1/2 or 1/4).  I usually make it with spinach because, well, I haven't been able to find escarole.  But I found some this last shopping trip, so I decided to try it since that's what was called for. And I prefer the spinach. It's got more flavor.  This time I also didn't add any salt or black pepper, because I think that the sausage has more than enough salt in it to go around.

My kids couldn't get enough.  The only reason there was any leftover is because I specifically pulled some out so Matt could take some to work if he wanted.  The kids kept going until I told them there wasn't any more.


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Fajitas

This is one of my all-time favorite foods ever.  I love fajitas.

Really, they're quite simple to make, so this is another "lazy day" meal.

First off, I cut up and sauté chicken breast, and then I add onion, green and red bell peppers, and then a packet of seasoning.  I've tried several recipes for making my own, but I haven't really liked them as much, so I'm still on the lookout.

Roll them in a warmed tortilla (one day I'll have to premake a whole bunch of my own tortillas because homemade fresh ones are so much better), and then serve with cheese, sour cream, and chips & salsa.  Sometimes I add spanish rice.


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Cashew Chicken

It was this recipe.  I didn't flour the chicken first, because it was frozen, so I just stuck whole breasts into the crock pot with the sauce.  I added some chicken stock to give more liquid, and then when the chicken was cooked, I pulled it out.  I diced it and then added some corn starch in liquid to the sauce to make it thicker.  Served over brown rice.

It was pretty good.


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Taco Salad

This is another of my "lazy day" meals, mostly because it's so uncomplicated.  Matt doesn't ever really take this to work (he doesn't like meals that can't be "assembled" beforehand), but I thought it should go in my "cookbook" anyway.

First off I brown my meat (turkey, as always) with diced onion. Then I add a can of kidney beans.  Last of all I add taco seasoning to taste.  I have a big jar, so I can just had however much I want.  And I usually add a lot more liquid than it calls for so that everything can get mixed together and spread over the meat and beans, and then I just let it simmer until it cooks down.

I serve it over tortilla chips, topped usually with cheese, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, sour cream and salsa. (I used to add ranch dressing, too, it is "salad" after all, but I grew out of that! Now I just liberally sauce it with salsa.)


Monday, February 11, 2013

Teriyaki grilled chicken

This is one of my dad's favorite recipes.  Not only that, but since the outside cooking is my dad's realm, so my mother didn't have to do a whole lot, we had it often.  Today, it'll be done on my indoor grill.

marinade:
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients.  Put 4 chicken breasts in a gallon sized ziploc bag with the marinade and let rest for 2-4 hours (or more!)  Grill until done.

Tonight we're also doing a salmon filet for Husband. And E as well, since she has decided she really likes salmon.  Served with mixed steamed veg. and salad.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Chili Colorado Burritos

This is try #2 of this recipe.  The first time I used a brand of enchilada sauce that I had never used before (Las Palmas) and it was just too spicy for me (don't get me wrong, I love spicy stuff, but after being SO VERY sick through each of my four pregnancies, my esophagus just can't handle much anymore).  So I used a brand (I can't remember which!) that was milder.  I also added chopped onion and crushed garlic to the crock pot while it was cooking.  Turned out quite yummy when I could actually eat it without being in pain.

Served with Lipton's Mexican Rice side and chips & salsa.


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

This is a favorite of ours.  Everyone loves it except the 5 1/2-year-old, who has to be convinced to retry it every time, and then remembers she likes it.

I use this recipe.

Today it was served over brown rice with green beans and rolls.  Usually I try to match the ethnicity of the sides, but I didn't want to put forth the effort tonight.


Garlic lime grilled chicken

I started off with this recipe, however, I *really* didn't want to cook it in a pan and such.  So I eliminated the butter altogether and mixed everything else into a marinade, which my chicken sat in for 4 hours.  And then I grilled it.  I think next time I'll double the spices, it could have used a tad more flavor.

I served it with mixed steamed vegetables (I've only had the steamer for a week, but I am LOVING it!), and this yummy bread that had garlic baked into it.

I'm going to label this as gluten free, because I'm pretty sure the chicken is, even though the bread definitely wasn't. :p