My husband has been out of town for the last few weeks, so for dinner my kids have been eating handfuls (really. handfuls. like scooping it with my hand.) of whatever I can find in the fridge. And me, well, I've been eating like a junior in college, minus the beer. Okay, mostly minus the beer. Now that Kevin is home, I feel like an idiot in the kitchen. Nothing sounds good; everything sounds hard. I usually love to cook, but lately I feel tired of the old standbys. I try to avoid recipes with a scores of ingredients--if I can mime making it, then it is good in my book. What are some of your favorite weeknight standbys?
Apple Chicken
Defrost some chicken breasts on the counter (even though you are really not supposed to do this. I guess it is unsanitary, but, well, see aforementioned "handful" note). I shoot for four, but you could do up to six. Lay a slice of provolone cheese on each breast. Dump a can of undiluted cream of something soup on the chicken. (I like celery, but mushroom would work too). In a small saucepan, melt a half a stick to one stick (depending on your day) of butter and toss with a box of stuffing mix. Add chopped apples, onion, celery, walnuts...anything else that strikes ya. Pour on top of chicken and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Serve with something green. Or not.
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That recipe sounds great. i am going to try it.
I love the crockpot. I love to put dinner on and forget about it till it is time to eat. Put 4-6 chicken breast frozen in the crock pot with a can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup, a 16 oz. jar of salsa and cook all day. Shred chicken and serve over rice.
Also another is take a pot/rump roast frozen with cut up potatos, onions and carrots surrounding it in a 9x13 pan pour over the top of the meat a mixture of dry onion soup mix and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Cook 4-6 hours in the oven covered at 250. The meat just falls apart.
Here is my new fancy favorite. It is very fallish and easy to make but still makes me feel like a real cook. It is so good I have made it 3 times in 3 weeks. Taken from the Real Simple magazine...
Fennel-crusted pork loin with roasted potatoes and pears
1 Tbsp. fennel seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
2 pounds boneless pork loin
2 red onions, quartered
1 lb. small white potatoes, quartered (I used red)
3 firm pears (such as Bartlett), cored and quartered.
Heat oven to 400 F. Using the bottom of a heavy pan, crush the fennel seeds. In a small bowl, mix the seeds, the garlic, 2 Tbsp. of the oil, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Rub the mixture over the pork then place the pork in a large roasting pan. In a bowl, mix the onions, potatoes, pears, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and the remaining oil. Scatter around the pork and roast until cooked through, about 70 minutes (internal temperature 160.) Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the roasted produce
Ok, I think we need some sweet recipes too. Here is one fitting for the season. Here you go Brandy.
PUMPKIN BARS
beat 2 cups sugar
with 1 cup oil
then add
2 tsp baking soda
4 eggs
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
finally,
add 1 regular size can of pumpkin
Pour this mixture into a greased jelly roll pan (it needs to be big-I use two smaller ones instead)
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min
ICING for pumpkin bars:
1 lb powdered sugar
1 stick of butter (softened)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tsp vanilla
Beat together, ice bars when cool.
On the pumpking theme. Here is one more of my favorites. I prefer this to pumkin pie! Always a hit at get togethers.
PUMPKIN CAKE
reserve 1 cup of dry yellow cake mix, then mix the rest of the cake mix with 1/2 cup melted margarine & 1 well beaten egg
Press mixture into the bottom of an UNgreased 9 by 13 pan
Beat together
1 can of pumpkin
1 large can of evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 well beaten eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pour over cake mixture
Mix 1 cup of reserved cake mix
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
cut in 1/4 cup margarine
sprinkle on top
bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes
Serve with cool whip!!
I excited about trying some new recipes. I get so stuck in a rut with the same old stuff. Thanks for sharing !!!
Here is a favorite standby of mine, that is simple and tasty.
Pork Chops and Black Beans
4 3/4 inch pork chops (with bone)
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tbs olive oil
1 15 oz can black beans 9drained and rinsed)
1 cup salsa
1 tbs parsley
1 can corn (drained)
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Rub pepper on pork chops. Cook in skillet in hot oil on med-high heat for 4 minutes or until brown, turning once. Remove from pan.
in same skillet combine beans, salsa, parsley, corn, and cooked rice. Add chops, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 5-6 minutes or until no pink in chops or juices run clear.
Remove chops and stir cheddar cheddar in mixture.
Scoop mixture onto plate and top with pork chop
Does anyone have any great soup recipes? I've tried several on-line or cookbook recipes, but none have turned out to be very good.
If anyone has agood cut out cookie recipe-- please share!
This is a pretty good potato soup recipe-- though not a good "left-over":
3 med red or white potatoes, cubed
2 c water
1 sm onion, chopped
3 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
3 c milk
1/2 tsp sugar
1 c chedder cheese, shredded
1 c cooked ham, cubed (I don't use)
1/2 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbs of chopped gr onion for garnish
boil water; add potatoes and cook until tender; drain-- reserve cooking water; set aside
melt butter in pot; saute onion until tender
add flour; season w/ salt & pepper
SLOWLY add milk and whisk until smooth; add reserved water (add more water if need to make up a total of one cup), potatoes, sugar, cheese, and ham
simmer over low for 30 min-- stir frequently
add parsley and garnish
Another fave-- is a little spicy
Thai Chicken pizza
pre-baked pizza crust
peanut sauce
8 oz diced chicken (I use 2 bags of the already made/diced from store!)
1 cup (or more) italian cheese- shredded
1 bunch gr onions- chopped
1/2 c fresh bean sprouts (optional)
1/2 c shredded carrots
preheat oven 400
spread sauce on crust
layer carrots, chicken, cheese, gr onion on top and bake 8-10 min
top w/ bean sprouts
one last recipe! I make these for the adults and make my four year old just a plain cheese quesadilla
chicken pesto "pizza"
sm flour tortilla
4-8 oz diced chicken
jar pesto
petite diced tomatoes (italian or plain)
8 oz mozzarella cheese
mix tomatoes, chicken and cheese in bowl
spread pesto on tortillas and top w/ above mixture
heat a couple tbs of oil in skillet and cook like a quesadilla (leave open, though)
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