Yakisoba

I love Asian food. Specifically, Japanese food. And I love how quick this meal is! Literally like 10 minutes...

Ingredients

Yakisoba noodles (you can find them in the produce section usally by wonton wrappers and such. I use two packages because I love the left overs!)
Chopped Veggies
(I use chopped broccoli, baby corn, water chestnuts, red bell pepper, onion, cabbage, snap peas, carrots, whatever I've got etc. about 1-2 cups. If you're in a big time crunch, use a pack of frozen stir fry veggies!)
Cooked chopped chicken
(I cut my chicken breast up into chunks and cook it in the same wok or frying pan I am going to use to cook the noodles. It cooks so fast if you chop it first.)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1/2 cup of water
1 tbsp olive oil
** some yakisoba noodles come with sauce packets, I usually throw those in too just for a good time. If not, you can add more soy sauce, ginger, garlic, to taste.

Directions

Cook your chicken through and leave in pan
With heat on medium - Add chopped vegetables and a few tsp of water
Add 1 tbsp olive oil, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic and any other seasonings you want
Cover and let cook
Add yakisoba noodles and water and stir. Allow to simmer and steam on medium for 3-5 minutes.
Serve! Yum!

Corn and Butternut Squash Chowder

I took this from my Sister Alicia's Blog and it is so yummy!! But then again, what isn't good with creamy butternut squash??

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 5 cups)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 box (10 ounces) frozen corn, thawed
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) vegetable broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
Nutmeg

In a large heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high; add squash and onion. Cook until onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Add corn and curry powder; cook until curry is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add broth and simmer until squash is tender, about 25 minutes. In a blender, blend half the soup until smooth. Return to pot and stir in cream; Add nutmeg to taste, a dash or so. heat through over medium-low (do not boil).

Not Even a Recipe Burritos

These burritos are SO easy because they are really just directions. Not even a recipe. But what you'll need is:

Chicken (One breast halved per person)
Black Beans (One can is good for 3-4 Burritos)
Rice Sides or Rice a Roni (One bag is enough for about 4 burritos)
Tortillas (One per burrito)

Okay so just cook your chicken and chop it up. I cook mine in a frying pan with just a tiny bit of olive oil after I've chopped it into small chunks. Heat your beans. And cook your rice as desired. I like Rice Sides because they cook faster and tend to have more flavor. I usually use either the chicken flavor or the Mexican or Spanish rice.
Layer each topping inside a warm tortilla and serve with sour cream, ranch dressing, salsa, etc.

I know this seems easy and way too bland to be good but its really surprisingly super good. So easy, I don't even consider it a recipe.

Journey Cakes

This recipe is from my mother-in-law. SO yummy!! We served appetizer sized at our wedding and I made full size for dinner last night. Always so yummy and SO SO easy!

Ingredients:
2 Packages Crescent Rolls
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can medium olives sliced
1 pkg Brown Gravy Mix
1/4 cup water

Directions:
Brown your meat and drain fat off. Add brown gravy mix and just enough water to moisten. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile... slice your olives and shred your cheese and preheat your oven according to the crescent roll directions.
When your meat is cooled, add cheese and olives and stir together.
Roll out one crescent roll and fill with beef mixture. I like to use a rolling pin because it rolls out nicer but you can just press it out to the sides if you would rather. Close it up and place on cookie sheet according to crescent roll directions. Cook for 11-13 minutes or until barely golden brown. Serve!

PS these are great as a freezer meal and leftovers are AWESOME cold or warm.

Roasted Tomato and Herb Pasta

What you need:
12 ounces pasta
5-6 cups cherry tomatoes
5-6 smashed garlic cloves
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 cup fresh chopped herbs, i.e. basil, parsley, oregano, chives etc.(I've used dry when I don't have any fresh and its still yummy)
Parmesan for serving if you want
Chicken grilled and cut in strips if you would like

Directions:
Turn on your oven to 400°
Meanwhile: Cook the pasta as normal, strain and return to pot when done
Meanwhile: On a cookie sheet, stir and toss around the tomatoes, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the oil, half teaspoon salt, and a little less than half a teaspoon pepper.
Roast the tomatoes in the oven... about halfway through toss them once, until they begin to pop open, (20 to 25 minutes)
Add the oven mixture to the pasta with the chopped herbs and remaining tablespoon oil.
Serve with the Parmesan and oil if you would like. Chicken can easily be added to this dish if you want!

Brown Sugar Salmon

This yummy Salmon dish is SO easy to make and so yummy!

All you need:
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 c. + 2-4 tsp. packed brown sugar
4 Salmon fillets
1 tbsp. butter, melted
(opt.) 4 thin slices lemon

What to do:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a rectangular or deep square dish depending on how big your fillets are, pour your lemon juice and sprinkle your 1/4 c. brown sugar. I prefer to cover mine with foil for easy clean up first!
Place fillets flat in dish and drizzle melted butter over the top.
Bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes and turn.
If you want to... it does add some nice garnish, place 1 slice lemon on each salmon fillet
sprinkle with 2-4 teaspoons brown sugar (or more if you want).
Bake until fish flakes easily with fork, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Serve with juices from dish.

Atlantic Salmon

Teriyaki Chicken

You will need:
4-6 Boneless skinless chicken breast (I prefer halved)

Sauce:
½ cup sugar
5/8 (1/2+1/8)cup soy sauce
1/2 - 1 tsp powdered garlic
dash ginger

Mix sauce ingredients and bring to a boil in deep frying pan or sauce pan
Drop in chicken and cook until done (20-30 minutes depending on thickness of chicken)

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

My favorite ever comfort food casserole recipe from my very own mama!

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

4 cups chicken cooked and cubed (can also use turkey)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
16 oz. sour cream
2 cups water
1 boxes chicken stove top stuffing

Mix sour cream, soup and water. Prepare stuffing according to directions. Mix chicken, soup/sour cream
mixture, and stuffing. Pour into freezer bag and freeze. When thawed, bake in greased 9x13 , at 350
for 40 minutes.

Stuffed Chicken Scallopine

If you don't have fontina I would recommend substituting parmesan =)

Ingredients
6 (4 1/2 to 5 1/2-ounce) chicken cutlets, pounded thin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 sage leaves
3 ounces grated fontina cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, halved
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Special Equipment: toothpicks

Directions
Place the chicken cutlets on a clean work surface, narrow end facing you. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place one sage leaf crosswise on each of the pieces of chicken. Sprinkle each of the pieces of chicken with 1/2 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of fontina cheese. Roll up the chicken and seal with one or two toothpicks.

Warm the olive oil and halved garlic clove in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken. Brown the chicken on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and remove and discard the garlic. Add the wine and simmer for 2 minutes while scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.

Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes and red pepper flakes in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the tomato mixture to the reduced wine in the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors marry.

Return the chicken to the pan. Simmer the chicken in the tomato sauce for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken over and simmer until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the pan. Season the tomato sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon the tomato sauce onto serving plates or a serving platter. Slice the chicken into 1-inch rounds. Remove the toothpicks. Place the chicken over the sauce and serve immediately.

*Giada*

Classic Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 egg, lightly beaten
8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix all meatloaf ingredients well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf.

Topping:
Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf. Bake for 1 hour.

AMAZING! And super moist, not even a little dry

*Paula Deen*

Crab Cakes

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells
1/3 cup crushed crackers (recommended: Ritz)
3 green onions (green and white parts), finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne pepper
Flour, for dusting
1/2 cup peanut oil
Favorite dipping sauce, for serving

Directions
In a large bowl, mix together all
ingredients, except for the flour and peanut oil. Shape into patties and dust with flour.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, carefully place crab cakes, in batches, in pan
and fry until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip crab cakes and fry on other side until golden
brown, about 4 minutes. Serve warm with preferred sauce.

Paula Deen's Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients
•2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained
•1 cup mayonnaise
•1 cup grated sharp cheddar
•1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
•2 eggs, lightly beaten
•2 cups crushed crackers
•2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, mayonnaise, cheese, soup and eggs. Mix well with a metal spoon. Place the mixture in the prepared baking dish. Top with the crushed crackers and pour the melted butter evenly over the crackers. Bake for 35 minutes or until set and browned.

Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken

What you need:

3 or 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/4 cup Sun Dried Tomato dressing from Kraft

1 tomato chopped

1 tbsp dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh

What you do:

Put the chicken in a ziploc bag with about 2 tbsp. of the dressing as a marinade. Shake it up, turn it over, get it covered - then stick it in the fridge

While this is marinating for about 10 minutes, you can chop up your tomato and basil if necessary and get a pan out to grill the chicken.

Place the chicken on the grill or pan and let it cook, covered, for about 5 or 6 minutes.

While this is grilling, combine your tomato, dressing, and basil.

Turn your chicken over and pour your mixture over the top. Continue to cook, covered, for about 8 minutes or until your chicken is done.

Right before you serve, you can grate some mozzarella or parmesan cheese over the top for extra flavor.

Enjoy!

Rigatoni with Squash and Prawns

This is from the kitchen of Giada DeLaurentis. I LOOVE her Italian foods. She does awesome work and is usually pretty reasonable with her time and ingredients list.

Anyway, this is a great one for fall with the squash and garlic! mmmm..

Ingredients

* 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
* 1 pound butternut squash, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 teaspoon salt, plus 1 teaspoon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1/2 teaspoon
* 1 cup vegetable stock
* 1 pound rigatoni
* 1 pound prawns, peeled and deveined
* 3/4 to 1 cup whole milk
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Saute until the squash is golden and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the squash is very soft, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the squash mixture to a blender or food processor and puree.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

Meanwhile, warm the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the prawns with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Add the prawns to the pan and cook until just pink, about 3 minutes.

In a large pot over low heat combine the cooked pasta, pureed squash mixture, and 3/4 cup milk. Stir to combine. Add the remaining 1/4 cup milk if the sauce needs to be moistened. Add the cooked prawns, basil, and cheese. Stir until warm and serve.

Gyoza

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground sausage browned
1/2 a cabbage head finely chopped
1 yellow onion finely chopped
garlic to taste
1/4 cup soy sauce (more to taste)
1 package Amazuya (or any other brand) Gyoza or pot-sticker wraps
Oil to fry.

Directions:
Brown Sausage in a frying pan or wok with about a teaspoon of minced garlic. add onions until cooked. Add cabbage and allow to cook before adding soy sauce and more garlic to your taste. stir all together and remove from heat. Put a small spoonful in the middle of one Gyoza wrapper. Dip your finger in water and run your finger around the edge of the gyoza. Now fold the two sides together and pinch with fingers or press with the edge of a fork until sealed tight. Place gyozas into a pan with hot oil and fry until barely browned on both sides. Remove and place on paper towel to absorb oil. Layer as necessary depending on how many gyoza you have made. Enjoy!
**I like transferring the meat and onion and garlic to a large pot before adding cabbage to let it cook down so its easier to stir around.

Mediterranean Chicken Packets

I'm making this for dinner tonight =) Its from Martha Stewart Everyday Food. Fantastic Recipe Magazine!!!

Ingredients (Serves 4.)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
4 artichoke hearts (from a 14-ounce can), quartered
12 Kalamata olives, halved and pitted
4 teaspoons capers
1/2 cup crumbled feta (2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place four 12-inch squares of parchment paper or heavy-duty foil on a work surface. Place a chicken breast on one half of each square, leaving a 2-inch border; season with salt and pepper.
Dividing evenly, top chicken with tomatoes, artichokes, olives, capers, and feta. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and oil. Fold parchment over ingredients, and crimp edges to seal.
Place packets on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until chicken is opaque throughout, 20 to 22 minutes.

Easy Crockpot Chicken

Super Easy and just an all around "comfort food" type meal.

Ingredients:
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Chicken Gumbo Soup

Directions:
Mix the soups and pour over chicken in crockpot. Cook for 3 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.



... I told you it was easy =)

Beef Stroganoff

30 Minutes or less, perfect.

Ingredients:
1 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
1 Tbsp. oil
1 can (8 oz.) mushroom pieces and stems, undrained
2 beef bouillon cubes
4 cups (8 oz.) medium egg noodles, uncooked
1 container (8 oz.) Sour Cream

Directions:
BROWN steak with onion in hot oil in large skillet.
STIR in 1-1/2 cups water, mushrooms and liquid, the bouillon cubes and noodles. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover. Simmer 10 to 12 min. or until noodles are tender.
STIR in sour cream; cook an additional 2 min., stirring occasionally.

Low Sodium, Low Fat Chicken

Low Fat. Low Sodium. Just the way I like it!

Heat about 2 tbls Olive oil in a frying pan. Place 2 chicken breasts in the pan about one minute each side. Sprinkle with your favorite Mrs. Dash seasonings (I used original blend) and cook another 2 minutes each side. Continue to cook covered as much as possible (of course flip the chicken over every now and again) Low Sodium and Seriously good. Who knew???

Rosemary Lemon Chicken with Prosciutto

MmmMmmm... just made this tonight, it's from the food network and it is seriously good!!

Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
Leaves from 2 small sprigs fresh rosemary
1 whole chicken, quartered (about 3 pounds) ** I use chicken breast **
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/2 lemon, juiced

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put a cast iron or other ovenproof skillet large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer, or a small roasting pan, over medium heat and get it good and hot. Drizzle the pan with a 3-count of oil. Add the prosciutto and rosemary and cook, stirring, until the prosciutto is crisp and lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Push to 1 side of the pan. Season the chicken on both sides with a generous amount of salt and pepper and add it to the pan, skin side down, in a single layer. Cook for about 5 minutes until the skin begins to set and crisp. Turn and cook 3 more minutes. Turn the chicken again, stick the pan in the oven and roast until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 30 more minutes. ******** see below
Take the pan out of the oven. Remove the chicken and prosciutto from of the pan and arrange on a platter with rosemary and prosciutto sprinkled on top, keep warm while you prepare the pan sauce. Pour out all but about 1 tablespoon of the rendered chicken fat and return the pan to the stovetop. Stir in the stock and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, scraping up the flavors stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until reduced to a syrup, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the pan sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

***** Since I didn't use a whole chicken I cooked covered just like you would cook chicken breast normally and it turned out perfect =)