Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Grilled Chicken Tostadas


These were so delicious and even healthy! I served them with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole and Susan's homemade salsa. It has a lot of directions, but it really isn't complicated! Recipe and Picture courtesy of FamilyFun.com.

MARINADE:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 3 to 4 limes)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil (plus more for brushing the tortillas)
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

TOSTADAS
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4 ounces each)
8 small corn tortillas (5 to 6 inches in diameter)
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack, or more if desired
1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce

Optional toppings: salsa, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, green onions


Step 1
Place the chicken thighs in a gallon-size zip-lock bag and add all the marinade ingredients. Press the air out of the bag and seal it. Turn the bag to thoroughly coat the chicken, place it in a bowl, and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight), turning the bag occasionally. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 20 minutes before you want to start grilling.

Step 2
Prepare a charcoal fire or set a gas grill to medium-high, close the lid, and heat until hot -- about 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3
Remove the thighs from the bag and discard the marinade. Grill the chicken until it's no longer pink inside, about 4 to 5 minutes per side on a gas grill. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for about 5 minutes before cutting it into 1/2-inch strips.

Step 4
Lightly brush both sides of the tortillas with vegetable oil. Grill them on each side until they turn slightly brown, about 1 minute on a gas grill. Before removing the tortillas from the grill, sprinkle each one with 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Step 5
To serve, layer the tortillas with shredded lettuce, the chicken strips, the remaining cheese, and any additional toppings. Serves 6 to 8.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Fresh Salsa

Fresh Salsa
1 large can of petite diced tomatoes (Hunts), or equivalent of fresh
1 large sweet onion (Walla Walla) chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro chopped
juice from 1-2 limes
small pinch crushed dried thyme, or about ½ teaspoon fresh
1 - 2 teaspoons salt

Mix together & refrigerate for an hour or so. Enjoy!

Recipes on a Budget

PITA PIZZAS Melissa Higgley - any size or brand of pita (I suggest the papa pitas from Costco) - spaghetti sauce - cheese - any other toppings you like - you could try bib sauce and chicken - cook at 450 for ten minutes. Cost comparison: large 1 topping delivery pizza about 17$ you can make 5 ham and pineapple pita pizzas for 5$ or 17 for 17$ bonus- easy dinner for dad to make - only takes about 20 minutes.

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup Emily Sorensen
1 can of each: diced tomatoes and green chilies (use 2 cans of chilies if you want it spicier).
2 cans chicken broth
1 can re-fried beans
1 can corn, drained
1 can shredded chicken breast

Combine tomatoes and broth in a medium saucepan. Stir in beans and corn. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes stirring frequently. Add chicken and heat through. Top with tortilla chips, sour cream and cheese.

(This is a great recipe because it's simple, fast, you can just open cans from your food storage! It is also low fat, but delicious!)

Southwest Chicken Cami Russell
Combine the following in a large skillet with a lid:
2 cup water
1 package taco seasoning (¼ cup)
1 cup salsa
Add 2 large chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into strips
and place on medium high heat until boiling. Stir and reduce heat to low;
simmer for 10 minutes.
Add:
2 cans drained and rinsed black beans
2 cups minute rice
Replace lid and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
Garnish with any or all of the above: shredded cheese, sliced olives, corn, sour cream

Yummy Healthy Fudge Roshelle Pulsipher
2/3 C canned milk or light cream
1 2/3 C sugar
1 ½ C mini marshmallows
½ C chopped nuts
½ C strained cooked pinto beans
1 ½ C chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar and milk in pot and boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Add remaining ingredients and stir until marshmallows dissolve. Pour into buttered pan cool and cut into squared.

German Pancakes Susan Olson
Set oven to bake at 350º. Select glass bake-ware - you may use 3 quart size or 2 – 9x9 or 1 9x9 and 2 smaller, 4 small rounds are what I prefer. Cooking spray each dish (especially the bottom) and place 3 – 4 tablespoons butter between them (about 1 T. in each dish or 2 T. in bigger dish, etc.) Place in heating oven, and while dishes heat and butter melts mix together in a blender:
4 eggs
2/3 cup flour
2/3 cup milk
About ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon or so vanilla (optional)
Cover and blend. Stop blender and thoroughly scrape sides with a rubber spatula. Cover and blend again until smooth.

Carefully remove hot dishes with hot pad; then dump mixture from blender, proportionately between hot dishes. Bake for 18 – 24 minutes depending on size of dish and desired doneness. Serve with syrup. Jazz them up with on or more of the following: sliced bananas, fresh or frozen berries, sautéed apples (below) whipped cream and or a sprinkle of powdered sugar, apricot syrup or other home made syrups or jams.

Sautéed Cinnamon Apples
Slice apples into bite-size pieces (I prefer thin, about ¼ inch). Heat a sauté pan for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Once hot, cooking spray and add a little butter. Add apples and sauté, (stirring frequently). Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar when they start looking tender. Serve hot over German pancakes or French toast.

Fettuccini Alfredo Karen Mortensen (I like this Alfredo recipe best, it’s easy, fast and yummy)
12 oz. fettuccine noodles – cook according to package direction in a large pot.
1/2 cup butter
1 cup unwhipped cream (can substitute milk, but will not be as creamy)
1 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper.
Drain noodles; turn off stove and add butter - return to burner, leaving stove off. Add half the cream and toss thoroughly. Add salt, pepper, garlic, and ½ of the Parmesan cheese. Toss again. Add the rest of the cream and toss, the rest of the Parmesan cheese, toss and serve immediately

Variations: Add grilled chicken and /or steamed veggies: broccoli, julienne carrots, etc.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Marbled-Chocolate Banana Bread

So, I've been in the mood for banana breads lately. These are my two favorites!

This recipe and photo are from Cooking Light

Yield 1 loaf, 16 slices (serving size: 1 slice)


Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 eggs)
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Cooking spray


PreparationPreheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add banana, egg substitute, and yogurt; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist.
Place chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl, and microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until almost melted, stirring until smooth. Cool slightly. Add 1 cup batter to chocolate, stirring until well combined. Spoon chocolate batter alternately with plain batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Swirl batters together using a knife. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 183 (23% from fat)
Fat: 4.7g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.4g,poly 0.2g)
Protein: 3.1g
Carbohydrate: 33.4g
Fiber: 1.3g
Cholesterol: 8mg
Iron: 1.1mg
Sodium: 180mg
Calcium: 18mg

Banana Muffins


These are sooo moist and very banana-y! :) The recipe and the photo are from Martha Stewart

*I never use the extra bananas for garnish unless I'm making them for a special occasion*

Makes 12 Muffins or 36 Minimuffins
4 (1 1/2 to 2 pounds) ripe bananas, plus 1 for garnish (more if making mini muffins)
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream (I use fat-free plain yogurt and they turn out great!)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan, regular or mini, with paper liners.
Peel four bananas, and place them in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until mashed, about 1 minute. Add brown sugar, oil, and egg; beat until smooth. Reduce speed to low. Add flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; beat until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; beat until combined.
Fill muffin liners three-quarters full. Slice remaining banana into 1/8-inch-thick rounds; place a slice on each muffin. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes for regular muffins and 20 for mini, rotating pan halfway through. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Store, covered, at room temperature.

Monday, March 30, 2009

English Trifle

I made this last night for all of my local nieces and nephews - and it was super yummy. Just in time for spring and summer fruit! (sorry, no picture. I should have because it was beautiful!)

English Trifle

2-8 or 9 inch white cake layers, cooked and cooled (I used angel food cake)
2 pints fresh strawberries
1/4 c. sugar
2 bananas
1/4 c. orange juice
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 (3.5 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding (I used french vanilla)
2 c. milk
1 c. heavy whipping cream
slivered almonds (didn't have any)

Slice the strawberries and put sugar on them (you can omit this). Cut up bananas and put orange juice on them (I also didn't do this). Whip cream until it has stiff peaks, add alittle sugar to it. Whip pudding with milk and then mix with whipped cream.


Then tear up cake into 3/4 inch pieces. Layer in trifle bowl:
cake, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, pudding mixture - then repeat.

It was super good, but you can also do your own sort of thing. The original recipe didn't say for you to mix the cream with the pudding, but that's what I did. You could leave that out, and just put some whipped cream on the top at the end.


do you have any good trifle recipes? I must admit - I want to buy a bowl!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

chicken alfredo pasta

I had this at a friend's house last Sunday and it was so delicious! I didn't take a picture of it...sorry!

3-4 chicken breasts (sliced)
2 jars favorite Alfredo Sauce (Bertolli's is good but I still prefer homemade)
1 jar (oil packed) sun dried tomatoes (DRAIN ON PAPER TOWEL BEFORE ADDING)
3-4 garlic cloves (minced)
3 shallots (diced)
1 package sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 package Fettuccini noodles (or you can use Penne if you prefer)
1 bag shredded parmesan
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh italian parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

heat a large deep skillet with olive oil (about 4 tbsps) and saute the chicken on medium heat. Add shallots and garlic when chicken is cooked through. Add mushrooms and cook for about 8 minutes. Boil water for pasta and cook pasta according to directions on box then drain pasta and let it sit. Add Alfredo sauce, tomatoes, basil and parsley to chicken. Then add 3/4 package of parmesan and stir together. Take 9X13 pan and pour noodles first and then top with the chicken sauce and the rest of the cheese. Bake until bubbly.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Roasted Vegetables


4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese
4 tsp. olive oil
3-4 Chicken breast
4 cups chopped vegetables( 1 cup broccoli, 1 cup sweet potato, 1 cup red or yellow bell pepper, 1 cup squash)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Mix together 2 of the minced garlic cloves with the cheese and 1 tsp of the olive oil. Pat the garlic-cheese mixture onto chicken and place in baking dish. Toss cut up veggies with 3 tsp. of olive oil and the other 2 garlic gloves and salt and pepper. Put the veggies around the chicken in the baking dish. Cook for 20 -30 minutes until your chicken and veggies are done.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Lemon-Butter Salmon & Broccoli Penne


2-3 Salmon Fillets (salt and peppered)
3 cups of dry whole-wheat pasta or multi-grain
2-3 cups of cup up Broccoli
1 tbsp of butter
1/2 cup low-sodium Vegie broth
1 lemon juiced and zested
2 tbsp of corn starch mixed with 1/4 cup of the Vegie Broth
2 garlic cloves, minced

Broil or Grill Salmon for about 8 minutes or until done.Cook Pasta according to package directions. When pasta is almost done add broccoli and cook another 2-3 minutes.Whisk together melted butter, broth, lemon zest and juice, and garlic in a saucepan. When slightly boiling add the cornstarch mixture. Cook until thick. Toss the sauce with the drained pasta and broccoli. Serve pasta and add Salmon to the side or on top. I also like to add some Parmesan Cheese on top of all.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Greek spaghetti with chicken


We just tried this one tonight and it was really yummy! I adapted it from a similar recipe that I found online. The original had some harder to find ingredients and didn't list amounts for everything...here is my version:

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 diced onion
2 garlic cloves diced
2 cans of diced tomatoes with liquid
1 1/2 cups cubed, skinless, boneless chicken (not cooked-I just used 8 tenders because that's what I had in the freezer)
1/2 can Black and/or green olives, pitted and halved (I tried it with black for the kids' sake)
artichoke hearts (optional-I used about a 1/2 cup and chopped them to bite-size pieces)
1 tbs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
salt and pepper
5 oz of feta cheese (other options would be cream cheese or goat cheese. I happened to have cream cheese in the fridge so I used that. It was yummy, but I think the feta would be even better!)
1 lb pasta (it was great with spaghetti noodles)

*Brown chicken in olive oil with onion and garlic. Add other ingredients except cheese and pasta and simmer until liquid is reduced by about half and tomatoes are falling apart. You will want start the water for your pasta now (make sure to salt the water well). When sauce is reduced and tomatoes are falling apart, add cheese and cook until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat. Once your noodles are done and drained combine them with the sauce and enjoy!
*Sprinkle the top with toasted pine nuts and you can use it for company with a nice simple arugula salad!
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