Monday, November 16, 2009

Nov. 16th -21st

CHINESE LEMON CHICKEN

Ingredients:

2 1/2lbs boneless-skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1” cubes)
Marinade-
2 tablespoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt
Batter-
2 large eggs
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch white pepper
1 Tbs. milk
oil (for frying)
Sauce-
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup chicken broth
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¾ teaspoon salt
3 slices of lemon (peeled)
2 tablespoons oil
yellow food coloring (optional)

Step 1: Place cut chicken breast pieces into a bowl and mix with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Step 2: To make the batter – beat 2 large eggs with 1/4 cup of cornstarch, a pinch of white pepper and baking powder. Coat the chicken with the batter.
Step 3: Heat deep fryer to 350 degrees and deep-fry in batches until chicken is fully cooked. Drain on paper towels and set aside. You can also cook the chicken using a wok if you don’t have a deep fryer.
Step 4: Now, to make the lemon sauce – combine 1/3 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 3/4 teaspoon salt (if using food coloring you can add it now). Mix until well combined and add 3 slices of lemon to the sauce mixture.
Step 5: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in your wok and stir in the lemon sauce mixture and heat until well mixed and sauce becomes clear. Remove lemon slices and pour the sauce over the chicken and mix. Best served with rice.


AMY'S POUND CAKE

1 1/2 C. Butter
3 C. sugar
6 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 3/4 C. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
3/4 C. milk


In a large mixing bowl cream butter, add the sugar and mix well. Beat in eggs and vanilla on med. speed. In separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Alternately add flour and milk to butter batter. Once batter is mixed well, pour into a greased and flour bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with fresh strawberries or French Vanilla ice cream.


CHEATERS VERSION OF CHICKEN BROCCOLI ALFREDO

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken
1 small bag frozen broccoli florets cooked
2 boxes Pasta Roni Fetuccini Alfredo

Cut up chicken in 1" cubes and cook until done. Cook broccoli according to preference. Prepare pasta according to directions on back of box. Add chicken and broccoli the last 3 min. of cooking.



TASTY TURKEY MEATBALLS

I can HONESTLY say that I made this recipe up! It was simple and QUICK, just what I like!

2 rolls of Jenni-O Ground Turkey
1 roll Ground Pork Sausage
2 eggs
1 package turkey flavored stuffing
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Mix Turkey, Sausage, Stuffing and eggs together. With and ice cream scooper, scoop out meat and form into a ball. Place in 11x13 casserole dish. Once meatballs are done, if you have meat leftover, use it to add to the smaller size meatballs. This recipe will make 24 good sized meatballs. Place in oven and bake at 375 for 45 min. Remove dish from oven, pour jar of sauce over meatballs and sprinkle cheese on top. Place back in oven for additional 10 m in.


BROILED GARLIC ASPARAGUS

When I make this, I usually have to tell my boys "No more Asparagus until you eat the REST of your dinner." I know, sounds wrong huh!

1 lb. fresh Asparagus
3-4 Tbs. melted butter
Garlic Salt

Lay Asparagus evenly on a cookies sheet. Drizzle melted butter over and sprinkle generously with Garlic Salt. (I prefer the Lawreys Garlic Salt to all others) Place top oven rack on top setting and set oven to broil. Place asparagus in oven for3-4 min. Turn Asparagus over and return to oven for additional 3-4 min. Remove and serve. DELICIOUS!!


PUMPKIN SPICE RICE KRISPIE TREATS

Had a crazy idea and went with it, turned out pretty good! At Halloween time, Hershey Kisses came out with flavored Kisses, I bought the Pumpkin Spice one. While making the "normal" Rice Krispie Treats, I also melted the Kisses with the Marshmallows. They came out with a very subtle hint of pumpkin spice, perfect for Thanksgiving time! Experiment and try another flavor for your family!! My husband thought the idea sounded gross, then ate half the tray when they were done!!


KIDS RECIPE: TATER DOGS

2 cooked hot dogs
2 servings instant mashed potatoes
2 Tbs. shredded cheddar cheese

Quick and easy recipe my 6 year old LOVES to help make. Cut hot dogs length ways. Lay on plate open faced. (cut side up) Spread mashed potatoes over top and sprinkle with cheese. Place in microwave for a few seconds until cheese is melted. Serve and eat


Friday, November 13, 2009

Nov. 8th - 13th

Okay, so I'm back home and enjoying getting back to my regular routine. First things first, what do I have in my freezer and pantry that I can make for meals and what do I need to go shopping for? The rest of this week will be meals with stuff I already have. A few items might need to be purchased though.

CHICKEN ALFREDO SOUP

This is another favorite of my boys. (Not my husband though, he can't eat broccoli so I usually make it on a night when he has to work!)

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken (I like the thighs for this one)
6 C. water
8 oz. angel hair pasta
6 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
1/2 onion diced
3 C. milk
3 C. 1/2 & 1/2 (For thicker soup use real cream)
1 1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese
1 package frozen broccoli florets cooked
2 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsp. pepper

Cut up chicken and cook ahead of time. Set aside. In large soup pot over Med-Hi heat, pour in water& bouillon cubes and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add onions and pasta; cook for 2 min. Add milk, cream, seasonings & chicken. Mix well and let heat up for approx. 5 min. Add cheese and broccoli. Let simmer until cheese is fully melted, about 15 min. Serve immediately but be sure to have spoons and forks to eat this with! French bread on the side goes great!


HAM & BEAN SOUP

1 1/2 lb. dried Navy Beans
7-8 C. water
1 pkg. Ham Hocks
1/2 onion chopped
2 celery stalks finely chopped (optional)
1 Tbs. salt (approx.)
2 C. chopped cooked ham
2 tsp. pepper

Pour beans in a dish and pick out any rocks or broken pieces. Pour into large soup pot with water. Add onions and Ham Hocks and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to Med. heat and let boil for approx 5 hours. In the middle of the boiling time, add seasonings. (Add the salt slowly and taste for preference) The last hour, add the cooked ham. If you have dogs, they will love the Ham hocks. These are mainly just for flavoring, NOT TO EAT!!


MEATLOAF

There are A LOT of recipes for this out there and after reading several of them, I kind of combined a few and came up with my own recipe! The boys love it so I kept it!

1 1/2 lb. ground hamburger
1 1/2 lb. ground pork sausage
1 package stuffing mix (I use the cornbread flavor)
2 eggs
1 small onion chopped
2/3 C. BBQ sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 C. ketchup
4-5 slices raw bacon

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, place hamburger, sausage, stuffing, onions and eggs. mix together will with your hands. Add in BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Mix again. Shape into a casserole dish. Spread ketchup over top and lay bacon over. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour. DRAIN ALL GREASE WHEN DONE!!


BANANA PUDDING DESSERT

1 5 OZ. packet French Vanilla Pudding Mix
3 C. milk
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Small container Cool Whip
3-4 Bananas sliced
Vanilla Wafers

Mix pudding, milk and Condensed Milk. Once thick, FOLD in Cool whip. In 11x13 in. casserole dish, line bottom with vanilla wafers. Place sliced bananas on top. Pour pudding mix over bananas and place in fridge to set. Just before serving, Place more Vanilla Wafers around edge of dish or crumble over top.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Nov. 1st -7th

This will be a short week for me since I am leaving for California for my mothers wedding. Might do some cooking there though, if it's anything worth sharing, I'll post it! HAPPY NOVEMBER!!

CHICKEN STEW

1 lb. boneless/skinless thighs
3 C. chicken stock
3 C. water
1/2 C. chopped celery
1 C. chopped carrots
1 C. diced red potatoes
1/2 onion chopped
3 crushed cloves garlic
1/2 TBS. Poultry Seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
sprinkle of rosemary & celery salt (optional)
1 C. pearl barley (NOT THE INSTANT!!)


Place ALL ingredients in a crock pot on LOW for 5 hours. The barley needs at LEAST that long to cook in a crock pot. Turn off and shred chicken. This is a yummy recipe that you can add whatever veggies you like.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Halloween Recipes!!

I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday recipes that we enjoy at our house.

EASY CARAMEL

Thanks to my girlfriend Angela, this is a memorized recipe that we have found many uses for lately!

1 C. butter
1 C. brown sugar
1 C. white sugar
1 C. light corn syrup
1 small can sweetened condensed milk

Pour ALL ingredients in a saucepan and place on MED. heat. Let fully melt and simmer stirring constantly. (lower heat if boil is too hard) The longer it boils, the darker and chewier it will be. Use the candy ball method to test. Place small bowl of water nest to the pan. With the spoon you are using to stir, drip a little into the water. If the caramel forms a ball and is firm, it is done. If you want it firmer, keep boiling and test again.

We have used this recipe over popcorn, dipping apples or just pour into a greased cookie sheet and let set. Cut into squares and enjoy as caramel pieces!

CARAMEL APPLES

Use above caramel recipe. We then melt chocolate and white chocolate almond bark to dip the caramel apples in and coat with our favorite candy toppings. Crushed heath bar, crushed Oreos, chopped nuts, cinnamon and sugar, mini M&M's, etc...


WITCHES FINGERS

This was a new one this year and it was a lot of fun!

1 bag pretzel sticks
1 C. Peanut Butter
2/3 C - 1 C. powdered milk
2 Tbs. honey
1 pkg. slivered almonds

In a mixing bowl, mix together peanut butter, powdered milk and honey. Add more milk to make mixture more doughy. Once fully mixed, take about 2 tsp. dough and shape around a pretzel stick to look like a finger. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Place a slivered almond at the tip for a fingernail. Use a toothpick to draw lines for knuckles.


BLOOD CUBES

Use a DARK type of fruit punch or Cranberry Juice. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. (For extra fun, you can put in gummi worms too) Before you serve these, you'll want to take them out and let them begin to defrost a little to a slushy stage. Place cubes in a glass of Sprite and watch the color dissolve, it looks like blood swirling in water!


APPLE BITES

Slice 2 apples red or green, spread one side of each apple with some peanut butter. Place 2 small marshmallows on each apple. (peanut butter side) Put 2 slices together with skin side facing you, should look like a mouth with teeth.