Tuscan Chicken

 Ingredients

•  1 small yellow onion, minced
  
•  3 cloves garlic, crushed/diced
  
•  1 cup tomatoes, diced
  
•  1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut horizontally (butterflying)
  
• 1 1/2 t salt, divided
• 1/2 t ground black pepper
• 1-2 T olive oil, divided
  
• 3 t dried Italian seasoning, divided
  
• 5 cups baby spinach
• 1 1/4 c heavy cream
  

Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and place in dish. Season all over with 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 t Italian seasoning. Allow to sit 15-30 minutes. 

2. Saute the onion and cook in 1 T oil, stirring occasionally until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning. Cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add 5 ounces baby spinach a handful at a time. Cook, stirring regularly, until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.

3. Add the Parmesan, 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices on the plate to the pan and cook until the chicken is cooked through and registers at least 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer, 4 to 7 minutes.

Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients:

1 T olive oil
1 T garlic, crushed or diced
1 T ginger, shredded or diced
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 chicken breasts, cubed
about 1/4 c soy sauce (to taste)
4-5 cups cooked rice
2-3 carrots, diced
1 c frozen peas
3 stalks green onion, diced
1 egg, scrambled
1 t sesame oil

Directions:

Sauté garlic, ginger and onion together in olive oil until onion is tender. Remove from pan while reserving as much liquid in the pan as possible. Add chicken and soy sauce to the pan and cook until no longer pink inside. Add back onion/garlic mixture. Add carrots and peas. Cook about 3 more minutes over med/high heat. Reduce heat to med/low. Add in rice, sesame oil, and scrambled egg and blend well.

Crispy, Deep-Fried Bananas

 Need something to do with those spotted bananas other than make banana bread?

 Mix together:

1 Cup self-rising flour

1 T sugar

¼ t salt

White corn Flour 1 ½ T

1 cup cold water

Allow batter to rest for 15 minutes.

4-6 bananas, sliced long/thin at an angle.

Dip bananas in batter. Deep fry in canola oil or vegetable oil. Place on a bed of paper towels on a plate to drain some of the oil.

Optional: Sprinkle with sugar or a cinnamon & sugar mix just after taking out of oil.

Moist and Delicious White Bread

Makes 2 (9-inch) loaves

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Resting time 1 hour 40 minutes

Total 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4½ teaspoons instant yeast (two 0.25-ounce packets)
• ¾ cup + 2⅔ cups warm water (divided)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
• 9 to 10 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted, for brushing)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir to dissolve the yeast in ¾ cup warm water. Let sit 5 minutes. Add remaining 2⅔ cups water, sugar, salt, room temperature butter, and 5 cups of the flour and stir to combine.
2. Gradually add enough of remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
3. Lightly grease top and turn it over so it is completely coated. Grease top again. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a draft-free place to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured surface. Gently press it all over to remove any air pockets. Divide the dough in two loaves and place into greased loaf pans. Cover loosely and place in a draft-free area until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Position an oven rack on the lowest setting and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
6. Brush the loaves with some of the melted butter. Bake the loaves for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating halfway through, until golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and immediately brush with more melted butter. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove from the pans. Slice and serve bread warm with butter or honey butter. Save the rest in airtight container.

Overnight Homemade Pickles

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
4 t salt
3 t pickling spice
2 t fresh garlic, diced
2 cups hot water
2 lbs cucumbers or other vegetable (cauliflower, asparagus, etc.), prepared

Directions:
Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add vinegar, sugar and all seasonings. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow liquid to cool. Place vegetables in a jar and pour liquid on top of it. Place in refrigerator overnight. Pickles will be ready in time for a fresh lunch or dinner treat.

Curried Chicken & Lentils

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breast, cubed
Oil or Ghee for frying
1 1/2 dry lentils
2 tsp curry powder
2 tsp garlic
2 cubes chicken bouillon
3 cups water
salt & pepper to taste

Sides & Toppings:
Hot cooked rice
Chopped cilantro
Plain Greek yogurt
Lime juice

Heat oil/ghee in a pan and add chicken. Brown chicken on all sides. Add curry powder and garlic. Cook and stir one more minute. Add water, chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then cover, reduce heat, and simmer until lentils are softened.

Serve over hot, cooked rice and top with cilantro, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and a splash of lime juice.

Variation: Add a can of low-fat coconut milk and another 1/2 - 1 tsp curry for a saucier dish.

Fresh Greek Salad

Chop and mix together the following ingredients. Use amounts appropriate to the number of people you are serving.

Grape Tomatoes, cut in two
Cucumber, peeled and chopped
Feta Cheese
Kalamata Olives
Fresh Basil, chopped
Red Onion, slivered and chopped
Artichoke hearts, chopped (optional)
Splash of Balsamic Vinegar

Garlic Flatbread

Ingredients

• 3 cups plain flour plus extra for dusting
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 6 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup milk

Instructions

• Combine flour, garlic powder, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the yogurt, oil and milk.
• Knead for about 1 minute until a soft dough is formed. Cover bowl and allow to rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
• Divide dough in half, then divide each half in 4 equal-sized pieces (you will have 8 pieces in total). Roll into balls and flatten to about 3 1/2 inches diameter.
• Lightly grease a nonstick pan with cooking oil spray (or a small brush of oil) over medium heat. Cook one piece for 2 minutes on one side. Lightly spray or brush the top over with oil/butter again before flipping. Cook until golden.
• To serve, lightly brush each piece with a small amount of butter, olive oil, or garlic olive oil (optional).

Greek Pork or Chicken Kebabs

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs boneless pork or chicken, diced into 1 1/4-inch cubes (or purchase pork stew meat)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 6 t minced garlic
• 4 tsp dried or fresh oregano
• 1 Tbsp fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• bamboo skewers 
• Tzatziki sauce (optional)
• Flatbread (optional)
• Greek salad (optional)

Directions:

Soak bamboo skewers in water for 5 minutes to prevent splintering. Combine olive oil, lemon/lime juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, coriander, salt & pepper in a gallon ziplock bag. Add pork or chicken and allow to marinate for 30-45 minutes. Heat up grill. Thread pork/chicken onto skewers and grill until no longer pink in the center. Serve with Tzatziki sauce, flatbread, and Greek salad.

Super Bowl Sunday Party Menu

Here are some suggestions for various entrees and snacks that would be great at any Super Bowl Party (or graduation party or large celebration.) I have included links to any recipes I have on this blog.

Main Dishes:
Posole or Chili
BBQ Meatballs
Empanadas
Sliders
Flatbread Pizzas

Sides:
Cheese-Stuffed Rolls or Fry Bread
Chicken Wings
Stuffed Jalapenos
Deviled Eggs
Potato Salad and/or Cole Slaw
Sushi
Relish Dish
Cheese Plate
Vegetable Plate
Overnight Pickles 
Loaded Potato Skins
Fruit Salad
Mini Quiches
Chips

Dips:
Cowboy Caviar
Guacamole
7-Layer Dip
Artichoke Dip
Salsa
Hummus

Beverages:
Sodas
Dole Whip

Desserts:
Brownies
Cookies
Cream Puffs
Fruit Bars

Spaghetti Sauce

1 pound ground lean beef (or 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage & 1/2 pound ground beef)
1 small sweet onion (or 1/2 large), diced
1 T garlic, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 large can tomatoes, diced
2 cans tomato sauce
1 t oregano
1 t basil
1 t thyme
1 T brown sugar, packed
1 t Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1 cube beef bouillon (or 1 t salt)

Brown ground beef and add remaining ingredients. Cook until flavors and well blended. Add extra of whichever seasonings you think are needed. You can place in a crock pot on low to keep warm while you cook the noodles or wait for company.

Serve with Caesar salad and garlic bread and Parmesan cheese.

Roasted Cilantro Lime Cauliflower

Ingredients:
1 large head of cauliflower, chopped into pieces
3 t diced garlic
3 T olive oil
1 1/2 t cumin
1/2 t ground red pepper
Salt to taste
3 T chopped cilantro
Juice of 1lime

Directions:
Place cauliflower in casserole dish. Sprinkle next 5 ingredients evenly over the cauliflower. Bake at 450 degrees for 25-30 minutes until cauliflower is done. Remove from oven. Sprinkle over lime juice and cilantro. Toss to coat evenly and serve.