Week of Nov 16, 2014

Puttanesca

Sun - French Onion Soup
Mon - Beef Pot Roast
Tue - Beef Tamale Pie
Wed - Puttanesca
Thur - Chicken Ramen
Fri - Crispy Chicken Tenders

Beef Pot Roast
Ingredients
3 lb chuck roast
salt and pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb bag carrots, chopped or baby carrots
4 celery, chopped

Pot Roast Dinner

4 cloves garlic, pressed
6 medium red potatoes, quartered
1 tbsp thyme
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp browning liquid
5 cups beef or veggie stock
Directions
Brown roast in 2 tbsp oil on high heat preferably in the roasting pan or cast iron pot (Dutch oven) you will be using to roast meat in oven. Turning to brown on all sides. Remove meat. While still on high heat, add 1 cup of the stock, scrap pan. Add all other ingredients except potatoes to pan. Return meat and add enough stock so that liquid reaches about halfway up the side of meat. (Add more stock if needed) Bake covered with foil /lid for 3 hours at 350F. Turn meat over every hour. Remove meat. Add potatoes to pot, and return meat. the liquid should cover the potatoes. Add more HOT stock if need. Cover. Cook for one more hour or until potatoes are tender.
Roast should be fall-apart tender when done.
For Gravy:
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
mix together, whisk into drippings from roast pan on high heat. Boil, whisking constantly until thickness is reached.


Beef Tamale Pie
Tamale Pie
(6 - 9 Servings)
1 pkg. "JIFFY" Corn Muffin Mix
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix (divided)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can (14-3/4 oz.) cream style corn
1 can (4 oz.) green chilies, drained
1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
2 cups chicken or pork, cooked and shredded (I will using leftover beef roast)
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease an 11” x 7” pan.

Combine muffin mix, milk, egg, 1-1/2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, pepper, corn and green chilies. Pour into pan. Bake 30 - 35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine chicken or pork and remaining taco seasoning. Pierce top of cornbread with fork several times. Spread chicken or pork mixture on top. Spread enchilada sauce over meat. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 20 - 25 minutes.

Puttanesca 

Cook 6 sliced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup chopped black olives, 1/4 cup drained capers and 4 chopped anchovies in olive oil over medium heat until the garlic is golden. Add 1 cup water, one 28-ounce can whole tomatoes (crushed by hand) and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano. Season with salt and red pepper flakes. Simmer 15 minutes; stir in 1/2 cup chopped parsley. Add cooked fusilli and toss, adding up to 1/2 cup pasta water. Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-pasta-dinners.page-2.html?oc=linkback

Chicken Ramen Soup

6 (3 -to-5-ounce) packages dry or vacuum-packed ramen noodles (flavor packets discarded)
2 quarts chicken broth (homemade prefered, but not necessary)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped (optional, use any veggie you like)
12 scallions, chopped
2 celery stocks, chopped (optional, use any veggie you like)
2 cups shredded chicken (I will be using leftover chicken from Tuesday)
1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
In a large sauce pot, heat the broth. Add carrots, celery, 1/2 the scallons, and ginger. Cook until veggies are almost tender, then add chicken and noodles (do not break). Cook 3-5 minutes or until noodles are done. Remove ginger. Garnish with rest of scallions, if desired. Serve.
Other optional toppings: Sauteed mushrooms, Nori strips (seaweed), Shredded kale, Cubed firm tofu, Snow peas, Toasted sesame seeds, Sliced radishes, Bean sprouts, Kimchi, Watercress, Sliced jalapeno, Pickled ginger, Wasabi paste, Fried egg, Sesame oil, Sriracha, Soy Sauce.

Crispy Parmesan Chicken Strips (Pampered Chef)
INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) seasoned croutons, crushed

1 1/2 oz (45 g) grated fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup/125 mL packed)

1 tsp (5 mL) dried parsley

1/4 tsp (1 mL) garlic salt

2 egg whites

1 tbsp (15 mL) water

1 lb (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-in. (2.5-cm) strips

DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). In medium bowl, combine croutons, cheese, parsley and garlic salt. Whisk together egg whites and water in small bowl. Dip each chicken strip into egg mixture and then into crouton mixture, coating evenly.

2. Arrange strips in a single layer on Medium Round Stone with Handles. Bake 14-16 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

Yield: 4 servings. Nutrients per serving: Calories 250, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Carbohydrate 10 g, Protein 34 g, Sodium 510 mg, Fiber 1 g.

Week of Nov 9, 2014

Sun - Turkey Breast Dinner
Mon - Minestrone Soup
Tue - Turkey Quesidillas

Wed - Hot Turkey Sandwiches (using leftover turkey)
Thur - Sweedish Meatballs
Fri - BLT Pasta

Turkey Breast Dinner
1 Bone-In Oven Ready Frozen Jennie-O Turkey Breast, cook according to package
Mashed Potatoes
Steam Fresh Frozen Peas, cooked according to package.
Cook turkey according to package - frozen right into oven! But throw out the gravy and make your own.  GRAVY: Drain liquid into a pan to make gravy. Put on high heat on stove. Mix 2 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp flour with a fork. Mix butter.flour mixture into liquid. Stirring constantly, boil until desired thickness is reached (remember, gravy will thicken a bit after cooling).


Minestrone Soup
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes with basil and oregano
1 can tomato paste
1 can kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
1 bag (11 oz) frozen Italian veggies (zucchini, carrots, peppers)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 cup frozen green beans
Box of chicken or veggie stock
1 cup pasta, cooked and drained
1 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, pressed
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook onion in oil in a large stock pot until translucent. Add garlic, saute until fragrant. Add stock and tomatoes, heat on high until boiling. Add other ingredients. Heat on medium-high heat until hot. Taste, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese on top.

Turkey Quesidillas
6 Mission® Medium/Soft Taco Flour Tortillas
1 cup diced leftover turkey
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
1 cup Corn Salsa, prepared
Cooking spray

Instructions
Warm turkey. Place in bowl and set aside. Pour the two cheeses and corn salsa, into the bowl with the meat and thoroughly mix. Place an equal amount of the filling mixture on each tortilla. Fold each tortilla over to create a "half moon" and press down lightly.
 Coat the skillet or griddle with cooking spray and warm to a medium heat. Lightly brown each quesadilla for two to three minutes on each side until the cheese melts. Remove quesadillas from the pan and cut each into 3 wedges. Serve with the sour cream.

Sweedish Meatballs
1 batch of meatballs, browned
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 package powdered onion soup mix
1 can full of milk
1/2 cup sour cream
in a large skillet, mix soups and milk. Add meatballs and heat on med-high heat until meatballs are cooked all the way through. Mix in sour cream. Serve over white rice or egg noodles prepared according to package.
BASIC MEATBALL RECIPE -
2 lb ground turkey or pork bulk sausage (can also use ground beef, well seasoned)
1 1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/2 tsp salt1 tbsp olive oil, for turkey only, mix until completely combined. Using small scoop, spoon out scoop-fulls of mix. Drop into DCB. If desired, you can roll with your hand to make rounder. (This recipe can also be done stove top or oven, see below) Make sure balls do not touch. You will need to do this in 2 batches. Cover and microwave 5 minutes on high. Stir, and heat UNCOVERED 3 more minutes or until temp reaches 180F for turkey or 170F for pork/beef. Drain. Drop in next batch and repeat. Keep first batch warm.
While the 2nd batch is cooking, heat water and sauce. Cook pasta according to package directions. 
Drain meatballs when done. Mix with sauce, reserving half of the meatballs for tomorrow. Serve over pasta. Serve with cheese for topping, garlic bread and/or salad if desired.
STOVETOP: drop meatballs in large nonstick skillet - all should fit. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until done. OVEN: drop one ball at a time in a cup of the mini-muffin pan. Bake 375F until done.

(BLT Pasta) Bacon, Linguini & Tomato Toss

Recipe

 12 slices bacon, divided

 4 cups (1 L) chicken broth

 2 cans (14.5 oz each)  Italian-style diced tomatoes (3½ cups/875 mL)

 1 medium onion 

 4 garlic cloves, pressed

 1/2 tsp (2 mL) crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

 12 oz (350 g) uncooked linguini pasta

 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

 1 cup (250 mL) loosely packed fresh parsley, divided

 4 oz (125 g) cream cheese

 1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated

Halved grape tomatoes (optional)

1.         Slice bacon crosswise into 1/4-in. (6-mm) strips using Santoku Knife. Place into (12-in./30-cm) Skillet; cook over medium-high heat 8-9 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from Skillet; drain on paper towels. Drain Skillet, leaving 1 tbsp (15 mL) drippings in Skillet.

2.          Add onion; cook 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Carefully add broth tomatoes with juice, pasta, half of the bacon and salt. Simmer, covered, 9-10 minutes or until pasta is almost cooked but still firm, stirring occasionally.

3.        Finely chop parsley using Chef's Knife; reserve 1 tbsp (15 mL) for garnish. Cut cream cheese into cubes. Grate Parmesan cheese using Rotary Grater. Cut grape tomatoes in half, if using. Remove Skillet from heat. Stir in remaining parsley, cream cheese and grape tomatoes, if desired. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until pasta is tender and sauce is thickened. Serve with remaining bacon, Parmesan cheese and reserved parsley.

Yield: 6 servings Nutrients per serving: Calories 450, Total Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Carbohydrate 49 g, Protein 18 g, Sodium 1500 mg, Fiber 3 g

Week of November 2, 2014

Sun - Beef Enchiladas
Mon - Spaghetti alla Margherita

One Pan Chicken Meal

Tue Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Food Network)
Wed - One Pan Chicken Meal
Thur - Lemon Greek Chicken
Fri - Penne and Alfredo

Spaghetti alla Margherita 
2 cups cherry tomatoes
3 garlic cloves in skin
1/2 cup loosely packed, fresh basil
1 tbsp fresh, Italian parsley
1 cup diced or shredded mozerrella
1 lb spaghetti pasta
Sauted Mushrooms (see below)Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Preheat oven to 425F. Top, cut in half, and seed tomatoes. Lay out tomatoes and garlic on a sheet pan, coat with a few tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until tomatoes are soft and shriveled, and garlic is browning but not burnt/black, 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool 5 minutes. Remove garlic skin by squishing with a fork.
Cook pasta according to package. (Retain 1 cup of pasta water if blending sauce) Chop basil and parsley. Dice or shred cheese. Mash garlic.
You can either eat as is or blend sauce. AS IS: Stir ingredients together with spaghetti and balsamic vinegar, enjoy. BLENDED SAUCE: blend tomatoes, garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, balsamic vinegar together. Add water 2 tbsp at a time until desired thickness. Mix with pasta. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and herbs, enjoy.

One Pan Chicken Meal

2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast

6 medium red potatoes, quartered

1 lb fresh green beans

1 package dry Italian Dressing Mix

1/4 cup olive oil

Mix ingredients until everything is coated with oil and seasonings. Place in 9X13 baking pan. Cover with foil. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender.

Lemon Greek Chicken
INGREDIENTS

3 lemons, divided

1/4 cup (50 mL) olive oil

4 garlic cloves, pressed

1 tbsp dried oregano leaves

3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt

1/2 tsp (2 mL) coarsely ground black pepper

4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (2 1/2-3 lb/1.1-1.3 kg)

8 petite red potatoes (about 12 oz/350 g)

1 medium red bell pepper

1 medium red onion

8 oz (250 g) white mushrooms

DIRECTIONS
1 Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Using Zester/Scorer, zest two of the lemons to measure 1½ tbsp (22 mL) zest. Juice one of the zested lemons using Juicer to measure 2 tbsp (30 mL) juice. In Stainless (4-qt./4-L) Mixing Bowl, combine zest, juice, oil, garlic pressed with Garlic Press, oregano, salt and black pepper; mix well. Place chicken on center of Rectangular Baker or Large Bar Pan. Using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush, brush chicken with about 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the lemon juice mixture.

2 Cut potatoes in half using Crinkle Cutter. Cut bell pepper into 1-in. (2.5-cm) strips using Santoku Knife. Cut onion into 1-in. (2.5-cm) wedges. Thinly slice remaining lemon using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with v-shaped blade. Combine potatoes, bell pepper, onion, lemon slices and mushrooms with remaining lemon juice mixture in mixing bowl; toss to coat.

3 Arrange vegetables around chicken on pan. Bake 1 hour or until registers 180°F (82°C) in thickest part of breast, brushing chicken and vegetables with pan juices after 30 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings Nutrients per serving: Calories 630, Total Fat 35 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Carbohydrate 26 g, Protein 51 g, Sodium 590 mg, Fiber 3 g
U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving: 2 starch, 6 1/2 medium-fat meat (2 carb)

Cook's Tips:
The ingredients in this recipe can be easily cut in half to serve two. Proceed as recipe directs and bake on the Medium Bar Pan.

It's not necessary to peel the potatoes for many recipes. Simply scrub them well and pat them dry with a paper towel before cutting them into desired shapes. With the skins left on, the potatoes retain more flavor and nutrients.

Believe it or not, oregano was rare in the United States until soldiers returning from Italy after World War II raved about it. Oregano is a member of the mint family and has an assertive flavor that awakens tomato-based dishes, poultry and meats.

Week Oct 26, 2014

Sun- Mini-Make-Your-Own Pizzas
Mon- Baked Potato Chowder
Tue- All in One Chicken Dinner
Wed- Taco Tater Tot Casserole

Kids' Pizzas

Thur- Penne with Roasted Vegatbles (Food Network)
Fri- Halloween! Mummy Dogs

Mini-Make-Your-Own Pizza

Make Your Own Pizza Bar

Pillsbury recipe using Grand's Biscuits. I like to put out toppings and let the family make their own before baking. The kid's think it's fun!


Baked Potato Chowder
3 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 box stock (chicken or veggie), heated
4 large baker potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sour cream
3 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup minced chives
grated Cheddar Cheese
1/2 lb bacon, cooked crispy and broken up to chunks
Directions
In a large sauce pot, over high heat melt the butter and garlic. Cook over medium heat until fragrant. Add the hot stock and whisk to combine. Add potatoes. Add enough hot water to just cover potatoes. Stir in salt and pepper. Boil until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, cook bacon. DO NOT DRAIN potato water.
When potatoes are ready, mash in water with a masher. Leaving some lumps depending on how chunky you like your soup. Stir in the milk, cream, sour cream, and 1/2 the chopped bacon. Heat through. Serve in bowls with chives, cheese, bacon pieces and extra sour cream if desired.

Roast Chicken - 30 Minute Chicken (Pampered Chef)

Chicken:

1 whole chicken (3½-4 pounds)

1 tablespoon olive oil

All-in-One Chicken Dinner 

Lightly spray Deep Covered Baker with oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken cavity. Rinse chicken with cold water; pat dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat using Kitchen Shears, if necessary. Tie ends of legs together with cotton string. Lift wing tips up toward neck; then tuck under back of chicken. Place chicken on Cutting Board; brush with oil using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush.

For seasoning mixture, combine ingredients in Prep Bowl; mix well. Completely coat outside of chicken with seasoning mixture. Place chicken, breast side up, in baker.

Combine 1 cup each celery and carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces, and 3 cups red or russet potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces, in Classic Batter Bowl. Toss with additional seasoning, if desired. Arrange vegetables around chicken. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 35-40 minutes or until Pocket Thermometer registers 165F in thickest part of breast and juices run clear. Remove from microwave. Cover with lid and let rest 10 minutes (temperature will rise to 170F). Remove and use juices to make gravy.

Yield: 4-6 servings. Nutrients: per serving: Calories 490, Total Fat 29 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 165 mg, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 52 g,Sodium 450 mg, Fiber 0 g 

Variations:  Spice rubs and seasoning mixes give alternate flavors to your chicken.

(My) Gravy
drippings/liquid from baker
3-4 tbsp AP flour
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
Mix drippings and flour in a pan with a whisk until incorperated. Add in chicken broth and heat to a boil. Boil until the gravy comes to the thickness you like (remember it will continue to thicken off the heat for a bit). Taste, add salt and pepper as necessary.

Tater Tot Taco casserole

1 can of condensed nacho cheese OR tomato soup

            (cheese if you want extra cheesey, tomato is you want it more taco flavored)

1 (25-30 oz) bag of tater tots

1 lb ground beef

1 package of taco seasoning (or 3 tbsp of my taco seasoning mix)
1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper

1. Crisp tots in oven on a cookie sheet at 425F for 10 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tbsp taco seasoning on ground beef, brown and drain. 

2. Mix taco seasoning with soup.

3. Layer 1/2 the tots, 1/2 the soup, 1/2 beef, 1/2 the beans, and then 1/2 the cheese in a 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat. Bake at 350F until warm in center, about 30 minutes.

NOTE: you can also use salsa instead of condensed soup and taco seasoning, for a less rich, lower calorie dinner.

Week of Oct 19, 2014

Sun - Ground Beef Tacos Salad
Mon - Zuppa Tuscana
Tue - Fried Pork Dumplings
Wed - Hamburgers
Thur - Pork Chops
Fri- Spaghetti Marinara (boxed and jarred, according to directions)

Taco Salad

1 (about 11 oz) sack Doritos or any corn tortilla chips

1-2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (using left over from roast chicken) OR 1 lb Ground Beef, browned, crumbled and drained

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (optional)

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 package taco seasoning

1 cup lettuce or cabbage

3 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 can black beans

Handful cilantro leaves, chopped

Juice of 1 lime

Beef Taco Salad

2 cups each shredded Monterey Jack and sharp Cheddar cheese

Salsa and sour cream or salad dressing (optional)

Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning. Heat chicken and beans, on stove or microwave until hot. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, remaining onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and the juice of the lime in a large bowl. 

Layer salad: chips on bottom, then meat mix, veggie mix, handful of lettuce or cabbage, top with cheese, and salsa and sour cream or salad dressing.

Zuppa Tuscana

Zuppa Tuscana2 cups chopped kale
1 lb hot italian sausage
1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 box stock (chicken or veggie), heated
3 large baking potatoes, sliced
1 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper

In a large sauce pot, over medium heat cook sausage, chop into chunks. When no longer pink, remove meat but leave oil in pan.  Add garlic, and oil if there is less then 2 tbsp of fat in the pan. Cook over medium heat until fragrant. Add the hot stock and whisk to combine. Add potatoes. Add enough hot water to cover potatoes. Stir in salt and pepper. Boil until potatoes are tender. DO NOT DRAIN potato water.

When potatoes are almost done, add the kale and cook until kale and potatoes are tender. Stir in the milk and cream. Return sausage. Heat through. Serve immediately. (If left to simmer the potatoes will begin to turn into mush and disappear in the liquid.)

Pan Fried Pork Chops

4-6 (about 1 1/2 lb) pork chops

3/4 + 1/4 cup  milk

1 egg

3/4 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian)

Oil to coat the bottom of the pan (veg or canola)

flour coating:

1/2 cup AP flour

1 tbsp seasoning salt (such as Johnny's)

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic salt

To bread the chops you will need: 2 bowls, 2 paper plates, 1 non-stick cooling rack, a fork. Set up the assembly line: bowl with 3/4 cup of milk, paper plate with flour coating, bowl with 1 egg and 1/4 cup milk beaten together, paper plate with bread crumbs, and last the cooling rack. Put all the chops in the 1 st bowl. let set in the milk for 5 minutes. One chop at a time, place on the flour and coat with the coating. Dip in the egg mix. the place on the bread crumbs and coat the chop. Lay on the cooling rack until all chops are breaded.

To cook the chops, heat the oil in a large skillet (with a lid) on med-high heat. Add chops one at a time, being careful not to splatter yourself. Cover, and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the bottom side is golden brown and top is starting to turn from pink to white. Turn and cook until done. Middle of chop should reach 160F. Let rest 5 minutes on the cooling rack to drain oil. Serve with mashed potatoes and milk gravy (recipe follows).

Milk Gravy

About 1 tbsp Pan drippings from meat (chops, bacon, sausage, ect)

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp leftover flour coating (or AP flour + seasoning salt)

salt and pepper to taste

3 cups milk

Scrap the pan and get the chucks out. Melt the butter in the pan on high heat. using a whisk, add the flour coating mix to the pan, turn down the heat to low and stir for 2 minutes or until it smells nutty. Turn the heat back up to high and add the milk, constantly whisking. Boil until the gravy comes to the thickness you like (remember it will continue to thicken off the heat for a bit). Taste, add salt and pepper as necessary.

Week of Oct 12, 2014

Fried Rice, Egg Roll, Cream Cheese Ragoons

Sat - Baked Chicken and Dumpling Pie
Sun - Fried Rice and Egg Rolls
Mon -  Penne with Cream Sauce (Food Network)
Tue -  Mexajita Chicken (Slow Cooker Food Network Recipe)
Wed - Chicken Stuffing Casserole (Stove Top)
Thur & Fri - MOVING! Eating out

Baked Chicken and Dumpling Pie

chicken and veggies

1 lb cooked, diced chicken or turkey

1 can cream of celery or chicken soup

2 stalks of celery, diced

2 cloves of garlic, pressed

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 small bag of frozen mixed veggies

1 1/2 can of water

salt and pepper

Sauté the onion, celery and garlic until onion is translucent. Meanwhile, mix soup, water, salt and pepper in a 9x13 baking pan. Add all other ingredients, and mix together.

Baked Chicken and Dumplings

 dumplings - drop biscuits

2  cups flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp soft butter

4 tbsp shortening

3/4 cup butter milk (to make butter milk - add 1 tsp of white vinegar to 3/4 cup milk, let sit 2 minutes)

 Mix dry ingredients, butter and shortening in a large mixing bowl with a fork or pastry bender. Until it resembles peas. Add butter milk mix until it forms a dough. Scoop small dumplings out of the mix and drop into the pan on top of the chicken/veg mix.

Bake at 375 uncovered until the dumplings are golden brown and done all the way through. About 30-40 minutes.

Chicken Fried Rice and Egg Rolls
Egg Rolls:
1 lb ground pork or chicken/turkey
1 bell pepper
1/2 medium onion
1 cup fine shredded cabbage
1 carrot
2 tbsp Asian Seasoning Mix
Salt and Pepper
Egg Roll wrappers
In a food processor  shred bell pepper, onion, carrot, and cabbage. Sprinkle ground meat with Asia Seasoning Mix, salt and pepper. Cook ground meat and shredded veggies in a skillet, over med-high heat until meat is browned and veggies are soft. Use a spatula to crumble the meat and veg into very small pieces. (I prefer to cook meat prior to rolling to ensure it is done)
Use the directions on the egg roll wrappers on how to roll these together. Allow to cook in freezer for 5 minutes before frying at 365F until golden brown on both sides 3-5 minutes. keep warm in oven if necessary.
Rice:
1 lb cooked, diced chicken
3 cups cooked white rice
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp oil
1/2 cup peas and carrots frozen mix
2 eggs
Scramble eggs, warm up carrots and peas. In a non-stick skillet heat oil, vinegar and soy sauce on high - med-high. Add in rice. Stir until incorporated. Stir in eggs and carrots peas.

Stove Top Chicken Stuffing Casserole
1-2/3 cups hot water
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken
1/3 cup Sour Cream
Cook:
HEAT oven to 400ºF.
ADD hot water to stuffing mix; stir just until moistened.
PLACE chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix soup and sour cream until blended; pour over chicken. Top with stuffing.
BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is done.
kraft kitchens tips:
SERVING SUGGESTION: Serve with a steamed green vegetable, such as broccoli, and cold glass of fat-free milk.
SPECIAL EXTRA Top chicken with 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables before covering with soup mixture.
VARIATION Substitute 2-qt. casserole for the baking dish.

Week of Oct 5, 2014

Navy Bean Soup

Sun - Pizza
Mon - Navy Bean Soup (Ham and Beans)
Tue - Chicken Fajitas
Wed - Piroshki (Russian Meat Pies)
Thur - Chicken Stir Fry Noodles
Fri - Beef-a-roni

Navy Bean Soup

1 ham bone

1 pound navy beans, rinsed, sorted, soaked overnight and drained

2 (32 oz) boxes of stock (veggie, pork or chicken)

2 carrots, diced fine

1 celery, diced fine

1/2 onion, diced fine

4 cloves garlic, pressed

1 tbsp olive oil

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, on medium heat saute onion, carrot, garlic and celery in oil until fragrant. Add stock, heat to a boil (high heat). Add ham bone and bay leaves. Simmer for at least 3 hours on medium-low heat, stirring and checking liquid level and skimming fat off the top often. When beans are cooked, and the meat has fallen off the bone, the soup is done. Remove bone, leaves, and any large pieces of fat or cartilage. Continue boiling on high until thickness desired is reached. Add pepper and salt to taste. Serve.

If desired, you can put all ingredients in a slow-cooker for 8 hours on low, 4-6 hours on high, instead of on the stove.

NOTE: I will be making dough for "Grandma Long's rolls", using 1/2 the recipe (12 rolls) for dinner Monday and the rest of the dough Wednesday.

Prioshki

rolls

Beef and Onion Filling:
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp butter
1 each salt and fresh cracked black pepper, + 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups shredded provolone or swiss cheese 
Season beef with salt and pepper. Melt butter in large skillet, and onion add 1/2 tsp salt. Cook until translucent. Add beef, chop/crumble with spatula to get very small peices. mix with cheese.
Flatten dough (from Monday's rolls), and make into 12 squarges. Fill with scoop of filling and close. See video to see how to close.
OTHER FILLING OPTIONS

Beefaroni

1 lb ditalini or  macaroni

1 lb ground beef, sprinkled with seasoning salt

15 oz tomato sauce

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp brown sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Sprinkle ground beef with seasoning salt. Brown over medium heat. Drain. If pan is very greasy, use paper towel to clean out (about 1 tbsp of grease is okay). Return meat to pan.  Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package. Drain, keep warm. Mix tomato sauce, sugar and seasonings together. Stir sauce with meat in pan over medium heat. Stir in pasta. Mix until all pasta is covered and sauce is warm. Taste, add salt and pepper as needed.

Stir Fry 
1 lb of your favorite stir fry meat sliced thin (chicken, pork, whole shrimp, beef, etc)
2 tbs of Asian seasoning OR 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbsp hoisin sauce (found in Asian isle at grocery store)
1 tbsp honey
2 tbs oil for cooking meat
1 tbsp fresh ground ginger
1 bell pepper, sliced

1/2 medium onion, sliced

1/2 lb snow peas

1 can water chesnuts, drained

2 carrots,sliced

2 (3 oz) packages Ramen noodles - discard seasoning packets

Add oil into large skillet or wok. Add veggies and cook until almost done on medium heat, add meat and raise heat to medium-high, cook until cooked through. 

Meanwhile, cook noodles in boiling water from 3 mintues, drain.  

Add seasoning and noodles to meat/veggies. Stir and heat through. Serve.