Cajun Chicken Pasta

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 8oz block cream cheese, cut into pieces
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup milk
16 oz pasta of choice

Saute the chicken on medium-high heat in the olive oil until no longer pink.  Add onion, green pepper and garlic.  Cook the vegetables until soft and blackened for flavor.  Add the Old Bay seasoning and pepper.  Meanwhile cook the pasta according to package.  Turn heat to low and add the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and milk.  Cook until cheeses are melted, stirring frequently.  Mix cooked pasta and tomato, stirring to coat.   May add additional seasoning if desired.

Crock Pot Roast Chicken

1 roasting chicken

1/4 cup margarine

4 cloves garlic, peeled and whole

1/4 onion

spices for seasoning...I use salt, black pepper, red pepper, paprika and rosemary

Remove neck and guts from chicken.  Rinse and pat dry.  Crumple 4-5 pieces of aluminum foil (size of ping-pong balls) and place in crock pot.  Rub garlic on chicken and stuff the garlic and onion in the cavity.  Liberally rub the chicken with margarine and spices.  Cook high one hour and low for 6-8 hours.  Serve warm or can use in recipes.  You may strain the broth and use for a gravy.

Southwestern Quiche

6 strips bacon, cooked until crispy
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup pepper-jack cheese, grated
1 pie crust, thawed
salt and pepper to taste

Cook bacon in frying pan until crispy.  Drain on paper towels and chop.  Saute onion, pepper and garlic in bacon grease until brown.  Drain if necessary.  Whisk eggs in bowl and add milk and cheeses. Add bacon and vegetables.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Pour in pie crust.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Makes 4 generous servings.

Roasted Garlic

I cooked roasted garlic this weekend, and if can imagine, garlic can be sweet!  If you don't have a garlic roaster, you can wrap the garlic in foil and place in a muffin tin.

Cut off tops of whole garlic cloves.  Remove the outer skins only.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until brown.  Remove the rest of the skins  and eat whole or may crush and use as a topping.  Yum!

Fresh Broccoli Salad

2 large crowns fresh broccoli, rinsed and florets removed
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1 small package of real bacon bits or 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
1 small red or white onion, chopped
1/2 cup mayonaise
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Mix the first four ingredients together.  Mix the last 3 ingredients together for the dressing.  Combine both.  Chill before serving.  Optional:  dried cranberries, golden raisins or nuts can be added for another flavor.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I'm making this tonight for my honey!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 box Stove-Top stuffing mix
1 can crushed pineapple in juice, divided
1 green pepper, chopped
3/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix hot water and margarine in bowl until margarine melted.  Add the Stove-Top and the provided herb packet to water and combine.  Add the green pepper and 1/2 of the can of pineapple.  Spoon stuffing mixture on chicken and roll tightly and secure on toothpicks.  Place in dish seam side down.  Add remaining stuffing in the middle.  Mix the remainder of the pineapple, vinegar, brown sugar and ginger and top the chicken.  Bake for 30 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.

Jalapeno-Honey-Lime Chicken

Healthy eating!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 jalapeno, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Wash the chicken and place in gallon zip-top bag.  Place next 7 ingredients in blender or food processor and process until smooth.  Place in bag and marinate at least 6 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven 400 degrees or grill on medium heat.  Remove chicken and discard marinade.  Cook 20 minutes or until juices run clear.  While baking, baste with following several times:

1/3 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 jalapeno, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Yes, the baste is the same as the marinade.  You cannot baste with the marinade because it has come in contact with raw food.

Pizza Crust

Need to make a quick, easy pizza crust? Never fear!

1 cup warm water

1 package rapid rise yeast

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon honey

olive oil

Mix water and yeast in large bowl. Add honey and stir. Mix flour and mix well. If dough is too dry, may add water one tablespoon at a time. Drizzle with olive oil and sit in warm area for 10 minutes.

Press dough in greased pizza pan. Cook 425 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and top with pizza toppings of choice. Place back in oven and bake another 7 minutes or until cheese melted. YUM!

Plum Pie

6 ripe plums, washed, pits removed and sliced

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cloves

1 egg, beaten

extra sugar for garnish

Pie pastry for double crust (can make your own or use store bought)

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Mix plums, sugar and cloves in sauce pan, cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until plums are soft. Place in pie shell, top with additional crust, seal edges. Cut four vent holes in top crust. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 30 minutes or until crust is brown.

Chicken Nachos

The ultimate game snack! Makes 4 large servings.

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced or 1 1/2 cup chopped chicken (deli-style)

1 package taco seasoning

2 tablespoons olive oil

2/3 cups water

1 bag restaurant-style tortilla chips (I use Tostinos)

Toppings of choice: lettuce, tomato, cheese, jalapeno, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, etc.

Sautee chicken in oil until no longer pink. Add water and taco seasoning, heat until boiling. Reduce heat to medium and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Place chips on oven-proof plate, divide chicken mixture over chips. Sprinkle cheese on top, place under oven broiler to melt cheese. (Optional, may skip these steps)

Top with your toppings of choice. WARNING! THIS IS MESSY! (BUT GOOD!)

Red Skin Potato Salad

8 small red potatoes, scrubbed clean

3 green onion, chopped

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

3 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped

2 Tablespoons sweet salad cubes

Slice potatoes into 8 cubes. Boil over high heat for 15 minutes, until soft. Drain and rinse with cold water. Mix mayonnaise, mustard, bacon, salad cubes and onion together and mix with potatoes just until coated. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate before serving.

Chicken Under a Brick

Yes, the title is true! Go to your garden or local Lowe's and purchase two bricks. Double wrap with heavy-duty foil.

4 chicken breasts, pounded thin

3/4 cup olive oil

2 stems fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon dried

4 cloves garlic, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

Mix the olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper in large Ziploc bag. Add chicken. Refrigerate and marinate 4 hours or overnight.

Heat extra olive oil in a large saute pan on medium-high heat. Add chicken, two breasts at a time and place foil-covered brick on top. Cook 4 minutes each side, or until no longer pink.

The brick helps to press down the chicken to make the outside more crispy.

One Dish Lasagna

1 pound hamburger

1 jar spaghetti sauce

2 cup pasta noodles

1 cup ricotta cheese

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Brown hamburger in non stick pan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water for 5 minutes. Mix spaghetti sauce and pasta with hamburger in the pan used for browning hamburger. Cook, covered on low heat for 7 minutes. Stir in ricotta, sprinkle mozzarella on top. Remove from heat and cover with lid. Let sit for 5 minutes, until mozzarella melts. Serve immediately.

Yummy Meat Loaf

1 pound ground sirloin

1 pound sausage

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1 green pepper, finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon brown mustard

1 tablespoon Worcestershire

1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Sautee the onion, green pepper, garlic with the olive oil on medium heat until soft and browned. Mix all ingredients with hands in large bowl, just until blended. Place in a glass loaf pan. Bake 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

Meatloaf sauce:

1 small can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons jalapeno jelly

1 tablespoon sugar

Combine ingredients in small saucepan, heat on medium until combined and jelly melted.

Remove meatloaf from oven and drain. Top with sauce. Heat in oven for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Slice and serve.

Roasted Chicken with garlic and rosemary

1 whole chicken

1/3 cup whipped margarine

1/2 medium onion

5 cloves garlic

1 stem fresh rosemary, leaves removed

salt, pepper, paprika to taste

Remove neck and insides of chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out, pat dry. Rub garlic on inside chicken and stuff chicken with onion and garlic cloves. Refrigerate overnight. Loosen skin on breast side with handle wooden spoon, careful not to break skin. Rub chicken and breast meat with margarine. Place chicken on baking pan, breast side up, tucking wings under chicken. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt, pepper and paprika. Bake 350 degrees for 2 hours or until juices are clear. Baste with drippings and bake 10 minutes on 425 to brown. Let rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve immediately.

Snow Cream

In honor of the first snowfall in Surry County...here is the recipe for snow cream I used tonight. The boys enjoyed it!

1 gallon fresh snow

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups milk

Mix well in large bowl. Leftovers can be frozen, but will affect quality. Enjoy!

Homemade Whipped Cream

I am VERY good at multi-tasking; I am on vacation and am blogging a recipe.

This topping can be used for the previous recipe; Key Lime pie or can be used for other things...use your imagination.

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons fine powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chill the bowl and mixer beaters for 15 minutes in refrigerator. Pour whipping cream in chilled bowl and whip on high until soft peaks formed, or it starts to look like whipped cream. Add sugar and vanilla, again whipping on high, just until mixed. Serve immediately or refrigerate. This makes you not want to buy Cool Whip again!

Key Lime Pie

I swear it's so easy, my kids could do it!

1/2 cup Nellie and Joes key lime juice

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3 egg yolks

1 graham cracker crust

Mix first 3 ingredients and pour into pie crust. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with whip cream or my favorite, chocolate drizzle. Yum!

Dorito chicken

I'm on a roll! This sounds weird, but my kids LOVE it!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 bag Doritos, crushed

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

Mix the mayonnaise and Italian seasoning in bowl. Coat the chicken breasts with the mixture. Roll the coated chicken in Doritos and place on metal baking sheet. Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Yum!

If you want it extra-greasy, drizzle melted butter on top before baking.

Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

Sorry I haven't posted lately, I have been ...Ahem...concentrating on things other than food lately.

Anyway, Here is my Broccoli-Cheese casserole recipe with my super-secret ingredient which makes it creamy!

1 package Pict-Sweet Broccoli Florets (who wants to eat the stems anyway?)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 egg

3/4 cup cheddar cheese

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (garlic makes everything better!)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

AND...1/2 cup mayonnaise!

Topping:

1 sleeve Ritz, crushed (can also use bread crumbs or Pepperidge Farm dressing in desired)

1/4 cup margarine, melted

Steam broccoli according to package. Drain. Add other ingredients and stir to combine. Place in a greased casserole dish. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Potato Soup Done Easy

The easiest potato soup recipe ever! No peeling, no chopping, no problem!

1 package frozen southern-style hash browns or 2 packages Simply Potatoes (found in refrigerator section)

2 cartons low sodium chicken broth

1 package country gravy mix (the white gravy, not brown and NOT sausage)

1 can cream of potato or cream of onion soup

Mix chicken broth and potatoes in large pot, cook on medium heat for 10 minutes or until hot. Remove one cup of soup mixture and mix with gravy mix. Add to pot. Add cream soup, stirring well. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender. Garnish with topping of choice, such as cheese, chopped bacon or chopped onion. Makes 6 servings.

Baked Brie

Another one from my mom!

1 wheel brie cheese, rind removed

1 tablespoon jelly of choice (I use homemade strawberry)

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 Pillsbury pie crust (refrigerator case)

Place cheese in pie crust, top cheese with jelly. Fold pie crust over top of cheese and jelly. Place in brie baking dish or a small round ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake on 375 for 20-25 minutes until cheese melted and pie crust browned.

If you want a less sweet brie, roasted red peppers can replace the jelly..also good!

4 ingredient Chili Beans

Can it be done? Yes it can! 4 ingredient Chili Beans and they are YUMMY!

1 pound hamburger cooked and drained

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 or 2 cans chili beans or kidney beans, depending on taste, drained

1 packet chili seasoning, such as McCormicks

Mix all ingredients together and place in crockpot or large pot. Cook on low for 2 hours.

Serve in bowls with garnish of choice. Can also be made without beans for hamburgers or hotdogs.

Recipe courtesy of my mother!